Transport
Discover facts about transport. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Transport
A toilet malfunction forced German submarine U-1206 to surface during World War II.
A toilet malfunction forced German submarine U-1206 to surface during World War II. Its deep-water flushing system used a sequence of valves to work against…
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Early British submarines carried mice as air-warning sentries.
Early British submarines carried mice as air-warning sentries. Gasoline-powered boats faced dangerous fumes, and crews watched the animals for signs of…
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An elevator's close-door button may have to wait its turn.
An elevator's close-door button may have to wait its turn. Door timing can be programmed to allow passengers time to enter, so pressing the button does not…
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Commercial airplanes are struck by lightning approximately once a year, yet they have not crashed from a strike since 1967 due to some remarkably clever engineering.
Commercial airplanes are struck by lightning approximately once a year, yet they have not crashed from a strike since 1967 due to some remarkably clever…
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Soviet engineers in the 1970s strapped two massive turbojet engines from a Yak-40 passenger plane to the roof of a standard commuter train just to see how fast it could go.
Soviet engineers in the 1970s strapped two massive turbojet engines from a Yak-40 passenger plane to the roof of a standard commuter train just to see how…
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Thomas Fitzpatrick landed a stolen plane on a Manhattan street in 1956—and repeated the stunt two years later.
Thomas Fitzpatrick landed a stolen plane on a Manhattan street in 1956—and repeated the stunt two years later. The first landing brought him near a bar where…
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Some Boeing 747-400s still loaded navigation updates from 3.5-inch floppy disks long after the format vanished from ordinary desks.
Some Boeing 747-400s still loaded navigation updates from 3.5-inch floppy disks long after the format vanished from ordinary desks. The disks supplied current…
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British authorities during the Second World War mandated that farmers paint white stripes on the sides of their cows so that drivers navigating through mandatory blackout…
British authorities during the Second World War mandated that farmers paint white stripes on the sides of their cows so that drivers navigating through…
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Airport codes are identifiers, not always a city's initials.
Airport codes are identifiers, not always a city's initials. A three-letter code has to distinguish one airport from others, and names and conventions have…
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A longer route can beat a left turn for a delivery truck.
A longer route can beat a left turn for a delivery truck. Crossing oncoming traffic means waiting for a safe gap or a signal, with fuel burning while the…
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The shuttle's boosters were built in pieces that traveled by rail.
The shuttle's boosters were built in pieces that traveled by rail. Their four propellant segments were manufactured separately and assembled at the launch…
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USS Colorado uses an Xbox controller to aim its photonic mast.
USS Colorado uses an Xbox controller to aim its photonic mast. Cameras replace the traditional optical periscope, and familiar sticks and buttons let sailors…
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Ancient Rome pushed much of its cart traffic out of daylight.
Ancient Rome pushed much of its cart traffic out of daylight. A municipal law associated with Caesar restricted daytime wagon traffic, with exemptions for…
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France ordered wider trains and then had to trim the platforms.
France ordered wider trains and then had to trim the platforms. The mismatch exposed in 2014 affected about 1,300 platforms, according to a World Bank case…
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A heavy jet can shed fuel before coming back to land.
A heavy jet can shed fuel before coming back to land. Fuel adds weight that a long flight would normally burn away. After an early return, aircraft equipped…
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Massachusetts issued plates when motorists elsewhere still made their own.
Massachusetts issued plates when motorists elsewhere still made their own. The state began supplying registration plates in 1903, whereas earlier Boston rules…
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Wild animals run on wheels just for fun
Wild mice run on wheels placed outdoors, with open ground all around them. The wheel turns a natural urge to run into a tiny voluntary workout; apparently the…
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The first baby stroller was pulled by a goat
In 1733, William Kent designed an ornate, shell-shaped carriage for the Duke of Devonshire's children, and a small goat pulled it around the estate.
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Storks nested on people's homes before they entered baby stories
White storks build large nests on rooftops and other elevated structures, often returning to established sites. In European folklore they became bringers of…
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Walking via deep knee lunges shreds human thigh muscles
In a deep lunge, your front thigh doesn’t just push you forward—it catches and lowers your weight on the way down. That controlled braking strains the muscle…
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Tribes dragged heavy wooden frames behind local dogs
A wooden travois uses two long poles joined by a crosspiece, with the load riding between them and the poles dragging on the ground. Dogs pull the frame,…
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Why jugglers rode one-wheeled bicycles
With no handlebars to occupy their hands, jugglers could keep objects flying while their legs powered the bicycle. Balancing on one wheel made the trick look…
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Butterfly stroke began as a loophole in the rules
Swimmers discovered that lifting both arms over the water made breaststroke faster, and the rules did not initially ban the move. The workaround grew into…
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Shuffleboard requires absolutely zero athletic skill
The puck glides on a slick court, so a controlled push matters more than speed or strength. Players aim for distance and placement; the workout is mostly for…
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