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

REST AND RELAXATION

Popular Mechanics South Africa

‘Hold my drinks!’

CALENDAR • UPDATE YOUR DIARY • THIS DAY IN HISTORY

TIME MACHINE • It made per fect sense at the time

After 500 years, a mathematical principle has unlocked Leonardo da Vinci’s human heart mystery

Want a 20 metre robot to walk? Bend the laws of physics

If we draw graphs like this, we can change computers

The US Army’s super cannon is coming. Could it bring back battleships?

Can magnets and a giant claw save us from space junk?

Earth keeps pulsating every 26 seconds. No one knows why

Why a whisky’s age isn’t everything

It’s in your head • Do society and culture matter when it comes to shaping illness?

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE UP TO 32% • 12 ISSUES FOR ONLY R449

A firefighter’s guide to getting keys out of a locked car

Does anyone still make a million-mile car?

POWER RANGER • After a triumphant decade in its current guise, an all-new Ford Ranger will soon be hitting our roads. It’s enhanced and improved in every way, but what does that mean for fans of this highly anticipated bakkie?

GEAR & GADGETS • Must-have hardware for humans on the go

GUY BLUFORD has flown CESSNAS, U-2 SPY PLANES and the CHALLENGER SPACE SHUTTLE Here’s what he’s learned • ON 30 AUGUST 1983, Guy Bluford was a crew member aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger when it launched from Kennedy Space Station on its third mission, making Bluford the first Black astronaut to fly to space. Here he reflects on the importance of that achievement and the role he filled – and offers advice to young people seeking their way in the world.

SEE SPOT RUN • Spot, a quadruped robot dog built by Boston Dynamics, has made its way to South Africa. Highly agile, robust and durable, applications for this pioneering machine seem almost boundless.

SPOT GOES MINING

This camera was the best of both worlds

HOW TO MAKE A CAMPER IN A WEEKEND

HOW TO TURN YOUR SHED INTO A HOME OFFICE

KEEP ON GRINDING • A grinder is one of the most versatile power tools you can own. Go cordless, and it becomes even more useful. But should you buy a brushed, or a brushless model? We compared two Makita cordless grinders, to help you with your decision.

SUBSCRIBE TO POPULAR MECHANICS • Get 6 issues for only R199 (1 year) | 12 Issues for only R399 (2 years)

MAKE A PAIR OF FOLDING STOOLS • In part four of our series on woodworking joints, we put the skills learnt in the previous issue to the test, using mortise and tenon joints to make a set of folding stools.

HOW TO BE GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO • Malik Omer Zulfiqar, 32, Marketing Director at MB Malik Spor ts, Sialkot, Pakistan

Volkswagen T6.1 Kombi • Opinions on cars we’ve driven

Land Rover • Discovery D300 R-Dynamic SE

Clever tips and lifehacks