Transport
Discover facts about transport. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Transport
Mountain bike suspensions rely on air pressure
The fork traps air in a chamber, and compression makes that air push back against the wheel’s upward motion. Riders tune the pressure to their weight and…
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A jet-powered backpack brings the runway's heat dangerously close
The engines must produce enough thrust to lift both the pilot and equipment, directing hot exhaust around a human body. That makes layout, protective gear,…
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Some airplane armrests have a hidden release
On some seats, a small catch beneath the aisle armrest allows it to lift, making access easier. The mechanism is useful for passengers who need more room to…
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Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a major crime
A laser beam spreads across a cockpit and can dazzle pilots just as they manage takeoff or landing. In the U.S., aiming one at an aircraft is a federal crime:…
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Why orbit is basically falling sideways at 17,500 mph
An orbiting spacecraft is always dropping toward Earth. Its sideways speed carries it forward while Earth curves away, so the spacecraft keeps missing the…
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Phone users in a study missed a clown on a unicycle
Researchers observed walkers and found those talking on phones less likely to notice the unusual sight along their route. Looking ahead was not the same as…
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The tiny wing that makes flying easier
Air spills from the wing’s high-pressure underside toward its low-pressure top, curling into a swirling wake at the tip. A winglet redirects that flow and…
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Wheelchair solid tires completely prevent flats
Solid wheelchair tires have no air chamber to puncture, so a nail cannot turn them into a flat. The trade-off is a firmer ride: the tire has stopped springing…
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Military paratroopers rely on simple static canvas lines
A static line clips the parachute to the aircraft; as the jumper exits, the line pulls the canopy open. The soldier doesn’t have to find a handle in the…
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A tricycle balances for you—until the corner
Three contact points let an adult tricycle stand upright at a stop without the rider balancing it. But a rigid trike doesn't lean through a turn like a…
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Big Wheel tricycles locate pedals on the front wheel
On a Big Wheel tricycle, the pedals turn the front wheel directly, so there’s no chain running back to the rear axle. The front wheel does the pulling,…
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How cells take out their trash
A cell sends worn-out parts and other waste to lysosomes, tiny sacs filled with enzymes that break the material down. The cell reuses useful pieces and…
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The woman who pedaled a bicycle at 183.9 mph
At record speed, pushing air aside takes more effort than turning the pedals. A pace car cut that drag, and Denise Mueller-Korenek pedaled in the calmer air…
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Sleep-deprived pilots hallucinated phantom copilots
After flying alone for days, pilots including Charles Lindbergh reported seeing phantom copilots who chatted with them.
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Airplanes navigate utilizing overlapping radar zones
Air-traffic controllers track aircraft by radar, and overlapping coverage lets one controller hand a flight to the next before it leaves the first radar’s…
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Natural track luge features curves made entirely of ice
Natural-track luge curves start with the hillside, then crews shape snow and freeze it into banked turns. The ice itself becomes the wall that guides the…
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Public charging cables are constantly covered in street grime
A public charging plug lives in the street’s splash zone and passes through countless hands. Dust, road spray, and fingerprints build up on the handle—an…
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A Dutch team built a tandem longer than 180 feet
Guinness recorded a 55.35-meter tandem in Prinsenbeek in 2023. At that scale, fitting riders on the frame is only part of the challenge: the machine must…
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The ancient Greek who mapped the world with a grid
Eratosthenes laid north–south and east–west lines across the known world, giving places coordinates instead of isolated labels. A map reader could describe…
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Why drift trikes slide around every corner
Drift trikes put low-grip plastic sleeves over the rear wheels, so the back end slides when the rider turns. The front wheel still steers; the rear wheels…
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Tarmac pathways are strictly mapped for safety
Runway and taxiway markings give pilots a shared map of where aircraft move and where they wait. Clear routes reduce wrong turns and runway conflicts; the…
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Why elevator close buttons may do nothing
Accessibility rules give elevator riders a minimum time to board, and the Close button cannot cut that window short. It is less a command than a request…
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Your luxury car hides miles of copper wiring
Heated seats, infotainment screens, and sensors all need electrical connections, so modern cars can hide miles of copper wiring behind their sleek panels—and…
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When a monarch flies, the call sign changes
In Britain, an aircraft carrying the monarch uses the call sign “SOVEREIGN.” Air traffic control hears that word and knows the flight has royal status. Even…
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