Popular Mechanics

Discover the latest in technology, engineering, and tools with Popular Mechanics. Plus, get essential advice on your home and car, useful DIY ideas, in-depth explanations on how things work, and more!

Behind the Scenes

POPULAR MECHANICS EVERYWHERE

THE READER PAGE

LETTERS

LARGE PHOTO OF THE MONTH

THE FUTURE OF AERODYNAMICS • Maybe you’ve seen it: three lanes of midsize crossovers that could trade badges and nobody would notice. Those shapes are dictated by interior space, powertrain packaging, federal regulations, and production feasibility. But most of all, they’re designed for aerodynamic efficiency. When we started asking manufacturers around the country how that works, we realized that it’s not incredible that so many cars look so similar. It’s incredible that cars look different at all.

TRICKLE-DOWN AERO-NOMICS

HOW ACTIVE AER ODYNAMICS WORKS • The Lamborghini Huracán Performante’s unique technology: the ability to adjust its downforce not just between the front and back, but from side to side. Here’s how the next evolutionary stage of aerodynamics handles a corner.

THE QUIET SUPERSONIC JET • NASA HOPES YOU WON’T NOTICE ITS NEWEST EXPERIMENTAL PLANE.

THE PRIVATE SUPERSONIC PLAYERS

The Swarm Killer • The latest threat: swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles designed to overwhelm their under-equipped target. ISIS combatants abroad and hostage takers in the United States have started using squadrons of off-the-shelf drones to annoy, surveil, and even drop munitions. But there’s a new way to fight back.

ELECTRIC BIKES GET FASTER • Two wheels, three top speeds, no exhaust.

WAIT, IS THAT THING LEGAL?

The Car Lover’s Ride • The new Fast & Furious attraction at Universal Orlando packs as much thrill—and authenticity—as the movie franchise.

YOU COULD WIN!

ASK ROY • POPULAR MECHANICS’ SENIOR HOME EDITOR SOLVES YOUR MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS.

THE GREAT WHISKEY EXPERIMENT • If you ship whiskey on a river like they did in the 1800s, does it taste better?

The Digital Summer • Most gadgets are designed to keep you indoors. These five new ones will lure you outside.

THE DUPZYK FAMILY TRI-TIP RECIPE

GAS GRILL

THE BACKPACK BUILT TO CARRY THE KITCHEN SINK

THERE WILL BE BEER IN SPACE

TURN YOUR iPHONE INTO A PRO-GRADE LIGHT METER

GETTING STARTED IN… SURFING

“THEY’RE GOING INSIDE MY HEART .” • Professional skydiver JEFF PROVENZANO was invincible, until the day his heart stopped beating regularly.

FIVE-WORD REVIEWS

ROAD TESTED

1993 Cadillac Allanté

THE UNSTEALABLE CAR • In a modern car, even basic components are packed with technology. That’s why a 2016 Nissan Altima is so convenient, so safe—and why replacement headlights can cost more than $2,000. Those expensive parts have increased demand for black-market discount alternatives. Pair that with security gaps in features like remote unlocking and push-to-start, and auto theft is up: 4 percent in 2017, and 7.4 percent in 2016. So how can you convince an opportunistic thief to move on to an Altima that’s not yours? We tested three high-tech deterrents. And The Club.

ALWAYS OUTDOORS • MEET PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHER, SKI MOUNTAINEER AND RV ENTHUSIAST JASON HUMMEL

HOW TO CAMP IN 2018 • THE BEST GEAR, THE FARTHESTFLUNG SITES, AND A NEW WAY TO GET AWAY FROM THE CROWDS.

Book a Private Site • The sharing economy of Uber and Airbnb has come to camping. These three services open private lands to campers, offering greater privacy, amenities, and access.

AMERICA’S BEST CAMPSITES

Beyond Backpacking • Travel farther and faster with these three alternative camping methods.

Gear to Camp Smarter • Our picks for...