Popular Mechanics: Technology: Tech How-To Central

How to Quiet Your Loud Personal Computer

Anything that moves makes noise. And your personal computer is an assemblage of whirring, spinning, vibrating parts. Depending on your particular machine, this can amount to a comforting white noise, or an irritating background drone.

How to Set Up the Ultimate Desktop Recording Studio

With the right software and a few plug-in instruments, anyone (really, anyone) can be a rock star in his own home. Here's how to use a MIDI keyboard and software like M-Powered Essential and GarageBand to become the next Beck.

The (New) Home Theater Setup Guide

Just when you thought you'd mastered the mess of wires, plugs and ports required for HDTV and multichannel sound, the new era of networked home entertainment is changing everything-again. Here's what you need to know to hook up the ultimate home theater.

The Cable Guide: Know Your Computer and TV Wires

The lines between data, audio and video cables now completely blurred. And many devices can now communicate wirelessly. But that doesn't mean the world of wiring is simpler. There are more cables than ever-here's how to use them.

How to Convert a Netbook Into a Touchscreen PC

Tablet PCs may be the next big thing in computers, but netbooks are cheap and widely available now. Why wait for Apple (or TechCrunch) to do it for you? Here's how to make your own touchcreen PC, starting with an off-the-shelf netbook.

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How to Sketch By Computer (For Cheap)

The technology to translate doodles, sketches and ideas into detailed drawings is surprisingly affordably and acceptable. Here's what you need to get started-and tips to become a pro.

Does Cold Weather Injure Cell Phones? Abusive Lab Test

You know that cold weather can make your cell phone sluggish, or make a fully charged one read low battery. But can cold weather damage to your phone? We subjected six phones to progressively lower temperatures until they stopped working.

How to Get Dust off a DSLR Sensor: Digital Clinic

If your digital SLR camera doesn't have a function that removes dust automatically, over time, you may notice intrusive dots in your photographs. Here's how to clean your camera's image sensor without damaging it (or spending a lot of money).

How to Build a Powerful Home Theater PC for Less Than $500

Building a dedicated home theater PC used to be expensive and time-consuming. But today, the process is a lot easier-and cheaper. Here's how to build a tiny, loaded HTPC for less than the price of most off-the-shelf Blu-Ray players.

How to Eject Discs from Mac Pro Towers: Digital Clinic

A reader who no longer uses his Apple keyboard is having trouble ejecting CDs and DVDs from his Mac Pro. Here are several workarounds for the eject button-less computers.

How to Ditch Wi-Fi for a High-Speed, Ethernet-Wired Home

To take full advantage of your high speed Internet, you should hook up your networked appliances with Ethernet cables instead of slower Wi-Fi connections. PM shows you how to wire your home so that all your devices get real high-speed Internet.

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How to Get a More Connected, Intelligent Home Theater

HD was just the beginning. New screens, networked devices, remotes and video gear change what we watch and how we see it. Here is how to chase the ultimate home theater upgrade-and avoid buyer's remorse.

How to Use Less Energy in Your Home Theater

Surround sound systems are great for movies, but they can drain power and be overkill if you're just watching the weather report. Here's how to save money on your electricity bill without losing the immersive experience that your AV equipment provides.

How to Get Your Gadgets Off the Grid

Senior technology editor Glenn Derene shows that with a small wind turbine, generator, solar charging kit and two very powerful batteries, you won't have to abandon your gadgets (or beer fridge) after an emergency.

How to Install In-Wall Surround-Sound Speakers: DIY Tech

Speakers should be heard and not seen. So when PM tech expert Anthony Verducci decided that his standing home theater speaker towers took up too much space, he replaced them with five nearly invisible in-wall speakers. Here's how he did it.

Investigative Report: How the BP Oil Rig Blowout Happened

Three Mile Island, Challenger, Chernobyl—and now, Deepwater Horizon. Like those earlier disasters, the destruction of the drilling rig was an accident waiting to happen.

Deepwater Horizon - Drill Rigs - BP - Energy - Gulf of Mexico

How to Survive an Earthquake Disaster

Earthquake - Earth Sciences - Natural Disasters and Hazards - Japan - Asia

How to Make the Perfect French Fry

Take the common French fry. Copying the magic of even a simple oil-cooked potato at home requires diligence, resources and certain flirtation with danger. Here is the food science you need to know to get your fry on.

Potato - Food science - French language - French fries - Agriculture

How to Survive a Flood Disaster

Flood - Pakistan - Earth Sciences - Natural Disasters and Hazards - Natural disaster

James Cameron Designs 3D Camera for Mars Rover

When Popular Mechanics talked to James Cameron recently, he couldn't help slipping in some info on a project he's particularly excited about—designing a stereoscopic camera for the Mars Science Laboratory, launching Fall 2011.

Mars Science Laboratory - James Cameron - Mars - Mars rover - Technology

How to Prepare for a Hurricane Disaster

Hurricanes are one of nature’s most devastating forces—but there's plenty we can do to prepare for them. Self-reliant, community-minded individuals can help people get through a major event when all else fails. Here’s how.

hurricane - Earth Sciences - Atmospheric Sciences - Meteorology - Weather Phenomena

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NASA's Kepler Spacecraft Discovers Two New Exoplanets

Researchers announced today the discovery of two Saturn-size planets—and possibly a third the size of Earth—orbiting a distant star. Here's what the finding means for the future of the Kepler mission.

NASA - Kepler Mission - Earth - Space - Saturn

Top 5 Ways the Universe Could Wipe Out Humankind

Phil Plait, host of the Discovery Channel's new series Phil Plait's Bad Universe, is an expert on astronomical doomsday scenarios. Here, he outlines five things in the Universe that could spell the end for humankind.

Discovery Channel - Phil Plait - Television - Arts - Programs

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5 Better Ways to Spend Money Than on a FutureGen Clean-Coal Plant

Yes, FutureGen, the $1 billion Bush-era clean-coal project, is back from the dead as FutureGen 2.0. New name, same goal: to make a zero-emissions coal plant. The problem is, there's no such thing as truly clean coal power.

FutureGen - Fossil fuel power station - Clean coal - FutureGen 2.0 - Technology

The Real Price of Coal Mining: Investigative Report

Mining in deep underground chambers filled with explosive methane and massive machines is dangerous work. But it doesn't have to be deadly. PM investigates the real price of coal.

Coal mining - Methane - West Virginia - MIN - Technology

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3 Coal Mining Safety Problems—And How to Fix Them

Here's how to improve the odds for coal mining's industrial safety record.

Coal mining - Mining - Technology - History - Mining and Drilling

Next-Gen Coal Mining Rescue Robot

Sandia National Laboratories is trying to make coal mining safer and more survivable. Their answer: a remote-controlled robot.

Coal - Mining - Technology - History - Business

How NASA Will Get the Astronauts into Orbit: Tech Overview

In the previous piece, we discussed what the new Congressional-mandated heavy lifter might look like. In this one, we'll talk about what the astronauts will ride in to get to and from orbit.

NASA - Astronaut - Space - Technology - International Space Station

How Bad Is the Plastic Pollution in the Atlantic?

A recently released 22-year-long study provides a clear look into the huge problem of plastic pollution in the Atlantic Ocean, but raises an important question: After it enters the water, where is it all going?

Atlantic Ocean - Pollution - Environment - Canada - Earth Sciences

Are Plants Around the World Really Dying?

A new study reveals that plant growth across the globe has decreased in the past 10 years, despite the observed increasing trend of the prior two decades. How can this be?

Biology - Botany - Gardens - Plant - Horticulture

How to Safely Capture the Rain

Rain barrels are a popular aid for gardening, landscaping and cleaning at home. Before setting up your own rain barrel, here's what you should know about how to guard against disease and insure best water quality.

Garden - Rainwater tank - Rain - Water quality - Home

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Tips on Safely Capturing the Rain

Here are more safety tips to guard against bacteria and disease, insuring the best water quality and aesthetic presentation.

Water quality - Bacteria - Environment - Water Resources - Drinking water

Ambitious, Incredible DIY Telescopes

Many telescope makers start because making is cheaper than buying. Here are the coolest DIY telescopes from Stellafane—mirrors and all.

Astronomy - Telescope - Stellafane - Amateur - Business

What Will Get NASA to Space Next? The Many Possibilities

What will NASA's next heavy-lift vehicle and rocket system look like? Here are the many possibilities.

NASA - Technology - Space - Rocket - Education

How Will The Gulf Oil Spill Affect Public Health?

A new commentary penned by public health researchers outlines the health-related repercussions of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Deepwater Horizon - Environment - Oil spill - Energy - Petroleum in the Environment

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Investigative Report: How the BP Oil Rig Blowout Happened

How to Survive an Earthquake Disaster

Earthquake - Earth Sciences - Natural Disasters and Hazards - Japan - Asia

How to Make the Perfect French Fry

How to Survive a Flood Disaster

Flood - Pakistan - Earth Sciences - Natural Disasters and Hazards - Natural disaster

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James Cameron Designs 3D Camera for Mars Rover

How to Prepare for a Hurricane Disaster

NASA's Kepler Spacecraft Discovers Two New Exoplanets

Top 5 Ways the Universe Could Wipe Out Humankind

5 Better Ways to Spend Money Than on a FutureGen Clean-Coal Plant

The Real Price of Coal Mining: Investigative Report

3 Coal Mining Safety Problems—And How to Fix Them

Here's how to improve the odds for coal mining's industrial safety record.

Coal mining - Mining - Technology - History - Mining and Drilling

Presented By:

Next-Gen Coal Mining Rescue Robot

Sandia National Laboratories is trying to make coal mining safer and more survivable. Their answer: a remote-controlled robot.

Coal - Mining - Technology - History - Business

How NASA Will Get the Astronauts into Orbit: Tech Overview

How Bad Is the Plastic Pollution in the Atlantic?

Are Plants Around the World Really Dying?

How to Safely Capture the Rain

Tips on Safely Capturing the Rain

Here are more safety tips to guard against bacteria and disease, insuring the best water quality and aesthetic presentation.

Water quality - Bacteria - Environment - Water Resources - Drinking water

Ambitious, Incredible DIY Telescopes

Many telescope makers start because making is cheaper than buying. Here are the coolest DIY telescopes from Stellafane—mirrors and all.

Astronomy - Telescope - Stellafane - Amateur - Business

Presented By:

What Will Get NASA to Space Next? The Many Possibilities

What will NASA's next heavy-lift vehicle and rocket system look like? Here are the many possibilities.

NASA - Technology - Space - Rocket - Education

How Will The Gulf Oil Spill Affect Public Health?