Popular Mechanics South Africa

The South African edition of Popular Mechanics was launched in 2002 and has fast become the acknowledged voice of science and technology in South Africa. Underpinning its rich sci-tech content is an ever-changing mix of articles covering everything from automotive news and outdoor adventures to DIY projects. In essence, it explains how our world works

SMALL SOLUTIONS

Popular Mechanics South Africa

Ready to roll

TRAILBLAZER

CALENDAR • UPDATE YOUR DIARY • THIS DAY IN HISTORY

TIME MACHINE • It made perfect sense at the time

Elon Musk says settlers will likely die on Mars. He’s right.

HARSHEST PLACES ON EARTH • These locales give the Red Planet a run for its money.

The US Air Force secretly designed, built, and flew a new fighter jet – in just one year

SIZING UP THE COMPETITION

So you think you know 2+2? Try again.

HOW 2+2=5 BECAME POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

The dawn of wireless electricity is finally upon us. This is how New Zealand will do it.

Power without wires

WORK SHARP PRECISION ADJUST

Can Science Cure Death? • It sure looks like it.

THE UNIFIED THEORY OF AGEING, ILLUSTRATED

AN EXPERT CRITIQUES INTRIGUING RAADFEST PRODUCTS • RAADFest presents some potentially compelling innovations in longevity. We asked Nir Barzilai, MD, director of the Institute for Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which ones might be too good to be true.

THIS INMATE USED HIS SOLITARY CONFINEMENT TO LEARN MATHS. NOW HE’S SOLVING THE WORLD’S HARDEST EQUATIONS.

MODULAR ARITHMETIC 101

CONTINUED FRACTIONS 101

Weather, or not? • In some areas, climate change means a drastic reduction in rainfall. It’s hoped that technology, such as cloud seeding, laser drones and geoengineering, will counteract it.

SKY′S THE LIMIT • The list of industries in which aviation drones are crucial tools is ever expanding. Drones are the now, and the future, and the ability to operate one is key. We spoke to drone pilot Oliver Lane from Darkwing Aerials, to gain an insider’s perspective of this burgeoning occupation.

How DJI’s Phantom drone brought aerial photography to the masses

DRONES FOR NEW PILOTS

GRIZZLIES BEARS • ARE RETURNING TO A HABITAT LOST A CENTURY AGO. THE ONLY PROBLEM? WE LIVE THERE NOW.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A GRIZZLY • ‘Most likely they’re going to go the other way,’ says Wayne Kasworm, grizzly bear biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. ‘They don’t want anything more to do with us than what we want to do with them.’ But you should have a plan for when an encounter is unavoidable.

The science of making alcohol-free beer

The low-down on low-alcohol beer

IT’S SUMMER. IT’S HOT … WHO REALLY WANTS TO COOK? • Sizzling summer days are here, so aside from a relaxed braai, no one wants to spend time cooking in front of a hot stove. That’s good, because we have just the dishes for you…

How to become a Scotch supertaster

3 BOTTLES TO TRY

LEARN TO MAKE MORTISE AND TENON JOINTS • Part three of our series on woodworking joints focuses on the time-honoured mortise and tenon.

HOW TO BE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO

Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI

Toyota Land Cruiser 300

How to prevent (and fix) surface rust

SOME US CARS MADE OF ALUMINIUM THAT DON’T RUST AND WEIGH LESS, BUT COST MORE:

Clever tips and lifehacks