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Why is there a need to convert analog signals to digital?
by Marshall Brain | December 31, 2009
You Asked: Why is there a need to convert analog signals to digital? — Ankit, Gwalior, India Marshall Brain Answers: One reason is to avoid degradation and corruption of the signal. This is one reason why CDs (which are digital) are preferred over vinyl records (which are analog). On a vinyl record, the pressure of [...]
The Optical Illusion created by perspective, nicely demonstrated
by Marshall Brain | December 31, 2009
Here is a great demonstration of the size illusion caused by perspective: It is related to the Moon illusion, as demonstrated by the animated diagram on this page: Why does the moon look so much bigger when it is near the horizon The illusion has practical effects – it is something that architects think about [...]
PS3 Supercomputers and TechStuff Gazes Into the Future
by Jonathan Strickland | December 31, 2009
It’s the last day of 2009 and I’m sitting in the unusually quiet headquarters of HowStuffWorks.com. There’s a skeleton crew here at the office. The official bubbling beakers have been cleared away, our steam-powered automatons sit lifelessly in the back corner and our Zoltar Fortune Telling Machine keeps telling me that I will meet a mysterious woman carrying a Google phone at CES next week. Clearly, it’s time to wrap up the year with a summary of the last two episodes of TechStuff for 2009.
Fiction and Film: How HowStuffWorks.com Escaped in ’09
by Tracy V. Wilson | December 31, 2009
All in all, I had a pretty good year this year — but I also had plenty of stuff I wanted to escape from. There was the swine flu epidemic, the ongoing recession and my own broken leg. That seems to be how it’s gone for a lot of us, so I took a cue from Stuff You Missed in History Class’ Katie Lambert, who compiled a list of history reading recommendations from the HowStuffWorks.com staff this fall. But I was more interested in fiction: the books and films we turned to so we could go someplace imaginary.
Today is the deadline to get your message on the KEO time capsule satellite
by Marshall Brain | December 31, 2009
For most of the last decade, organizers have been trying to launch a time capsule satellite that would return to earth in 50,000 years. The name of the satellite is KEO. Here is a description of the satellite: The satellite will carry several things, but one interesting aspect is a set of messages, stored on [...]
Blu-Ray 3D is ready, AMD to give a demo in CES 2010 – “Be prepared to experience something new next year. Blu-Ray 3D will be officially out, making movie viewing experience like never before…” First 3D Television Channel to Launch in the U.S. in 2010 – “Satellite cable provider DirecTV has a new satellite in [...]
How do we know when the Atlantic ocean ends and the Pacific begins?
by Marshall Brain | December 31, 2009
You Asked: How do we know when the Atlantic ocean ends and the Pacific begins? — Ashish, Bangalore, India Marshall Brain Answers: If you look at a map of the world like this… …You can see that there are three big oceans: The Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian oceans. Down near Antarctica there could [...]
Every year, auto manufacturers release concept cars. These vehicles often showcase unique features, such as a shape-changing body or innovative seat design. Yet these vehicles rarely make it into production — listen in as Scott and Ben explain why.
Understanding Magic #1 – “Best Coin Trick In The World”
by Marshall Brain | December 30, 2009
In the video, the magician claims that this is the best coin trick in the world. It is indeed a good trick and anyone could learn to do it. He demonstrates the trick, and then reveals how a magician pulls it off: If you are so inclined, you can fast forward to the 4 minute [...]
How New Year’s Resolutions Work and How to make your resolutions a reality
by Marshall Brain | December 30, 2009
It is the time of year for New Year’s resolutions. Where did this custom come from? Should you make a few of your own? And how do you improve your odds of success? Let’s take a look. The idea of celebrating the new year goes back thousands of years. In the western world it goes [...]
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