Life's Little Mysteries Tech Archives
What's the World's Biggest Airplane?
August 10, 2010, Michelle Bryner, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
The world’s largest airplane has a wingspan that rivals the length of a football field.
View Full Article »
What's the Biggest Dam in the World?
August 02, 2010, Lauren Cox, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
At 50 stories high and with a span of more than a mile, one of the world's largest feats of modern engineering is not a skyscraper.
View Full Article »
Does Microwaving Vegetables Destroy Their Nutrients?
July 15, 2010, Stephanie Pappas, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
A team of researchers got out their cutting boards and put several methods of cooking to the test.
View Full Article »
How Do Fireworks Get Their Colors?
July 01, 2010, Michelle Bryner, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
Whether red, white and blue fountains or purple sparklers, each firework is packed with just the right mix of chemicals to create these colorful lights.
View Full Article »
Why Do Computers Crash?
June 21, 2010, Michelle Bryner, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
Imagine if you told a friend (one with the intelligence of a machine) to go to a hardware store to buy fruit.
View Full Article »
How Does an Atomic Clock Work?
June 21, 2010, Adam Hadhazy, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Atomic clocks are a bit more accurate than counting, "one Mississippi, two Mississippi...".
View Full Article »
What Does the 'i' in iPod, iPhone and iPad Stand For?
June 18, 2010, Michelle Bryner, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
Customers haven’t had time to stop and ask, what does the “i” really mean.
View Full Article »
What's Genetic Engineering?
June 15, 2010, Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Genetic Engineering is the process of using technology to change the genetic makeup of an organism - be it an animal, plant or even a virus.
View Full Article »
How Does Air Conditioning Cool the Air?
June 07, 2010, Benjamin Radford, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
There are two basic types of air conditioning, and they work in different ways.
View Full Article »
How Does a Virus Infect Your Computer?
June 02, 2010, Adam Hadhazy, Staff Writer
Though they're not a living thing like you and me, computers can get "sick" from viruses, too.
View Full Article »
Why Is Offshore Drilling So Dangerous?
May 28, 2010, Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Offshore drilling has been conducted at increasingly deeper and farther off shore sites in recent years, as shallow fossil fuel reserves and near-shore drilling locations become exhausted.
View Full Article »
How Is Uranium Enriched?
May 18, 2010, Stuart Fox, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Only a certain type of uranium works in nuclear reactors and bombs. Separating that type from the more common kind requires a great deal of engineering skill.
View Full Article »
How Are Fake Diamonds Made?
May 18, 2010, Heather Whipps, Life's Little Mysteries Contributor
Man-made diamonds can be whipped up in a laboratory in no time at all, yet they look and act remarkably similar to the real thing.
View Full Article »
How Do Solar Sails Work?
May 17, 2010, Stuart Fox, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
While blasting rockets have provided the energy for most space travel so far, solar energy may provide the boost for spaceships in the future.
View Full Article »
How Private Is Your Facebook?
April 29, 2010, Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
The popular social networking site Facebook has made the decision to loosen its user privacy restrictions, a decision that angered U.S. Senators and confused Facebook users.
View Full Article »
Is the Computer Mouse Destined for Extinction?
April 26, 2010, Stuart Fox, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
The first computer with a mouse became commercially available 29 years ago today. However, recent advances in interface technology may soon lead to the end of its use.
View Full Article »
Can Cell Phones Get Viruses?
April 23, 2010, Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Could Your Cell Phone Get a Virus When Use It to Check Facebook?
View Full Article »
Why Are Manhole Covers Round?
April 02, 2010, Sara Goudarzi
Round covers are also easier to manufacture, and they can't slip into the hole.
View Full Article »
Why Do Gas Station Pumps Slow Down Near End of Fill-Up?
March 31, 2010, Remy Melina, Life's Little Mysteries Staff Writer
Gas pumps slow down so that you’ll get the exact amount of gas that you paid for.
View Full Article »
Why Do Air Traffic Control Towers Have Slanted Windows?
March 24, 2010, Benjamin Radford
Many people assume that they are designed that way to prevent the sun's reflection or glare from blinding incoming pilots. But this explanation doesn't fly.
View Full Article »
Why Are Construction Cranes So Dangerous?
March 24, 2010, Jeanna Bryner
Construction cranes can be lethal in the wrong hands.
View Full Article »
What Makes Wheels Appear to Spin Backward?
March 23, 2010, Ben Mauk
Two competing theories are currently rolling around the academic journals for acceptance.
View Full Article »
Is Flying Safer Than Driving?
March 22, 2010, Heather Whipps
For flying to become as risky as driving in the United States, a packed commercial jet would have to go down once a month.
View Full Article »
How Was the First Battery Made?
March 22, 2010, Corey Binns
This was no Energizer Bunny.
View Full Article »
