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Media Platforms Design TeamFor all the hubbub about Nintendo’s motion-sensing Wii (remember the Wii?) getting gamers off their couches, the vast majority of the system’s games don’t require much physical exertion beyond a few well-timed flicks of the wrist.So perhaps the greatest innovation of the Microsoft Kinect—the new Xbox 360 peripheral that uses depth-perceiving cameras to scan your entire body for controller-free, arm-flailing gaming—is that, at least with certain games, you really can break a sweat....

With its ability to handle construction, demolition and even odd yard jobs, the reciprocating saw is a power tool that is virtually unmatched in its versatility. Today, the saws are easier to handle and pack more power. We put four new models to the test, loading each with a fresh blade and slicing through nail-embedded lumber and the PM House Sandwich, which combines every material you could ever encounter on a demo job....

Media Platforms Design TeamI just received a new credit card that has an RFID chip in it, but I’ve heard reports that thieves might be able to steal my account information from it. Should I be worried?It depends on whom you ask. The new RFID-enabled credit cards and key fobs do have unique security risks – foremost being the chance that some twerp with a souped-up scanner will read your card information from afar....

Media Platforms Design TeamIf you’re like most people, the only time you ever think about turbulence is when you’re 10,000 ft. in the air. And like most people, you probably encounter turbulence much more often than you think—while pouring milk into cereal, driving to work and even breathing.Until recently, little was known about the movement of turbulent particles. Because they are so small and move so fast, scientific understanding has been limited to Richardson-Obukhov law and a formula by George Batchelor—mathematical theories based on assumptions and predictions....

Media Platforms Design TeamI don’t care how careful you are with a chain saw—when you’re doing yardwork with one, you’re going to hit some dirt and instantly dull the chain. It’s inevitable. That problem is especially pronounced when you’re removing stumps. Pruning and cutting small trees in tight places is not as bad, but these trees often have dirt in their bark from being constantly pelted by lawn mowers and string trimmers....

Cochin International Airport (CIAL) in India has just accomplished a seriously impressive feat; it now generates all the power it needs to run from the sun. Thanks to 46,150 panels over 45 acres of space, the airport is the first in the world to generate more power than it actually consumes. CIAL started down the road to power self-sufficiency back in 2013 with a 100 kWp solar plant placed on the top of one of its terminals....

Media Platforms Design TeamLast week you might have seen the featured in the and elsewhere, taken by a big white balloon that floated lazily above midtown Manhattan. Tethered to a trailer and hovering 800 feet above the city streets, the balloon—nicknamed “Lucy”—sported high-tech cameras as it bobbed about in urban airspace that is normally restricted for aircraft.stunning overhead shotsThe New York TimesThe balloon shot this skyscraper footage for architects and real-estate developers surveying the area, offering them a unique view of urban architecture....

“Always drive on roads that are established and designated for motor vehicle travel. They might be dirt and gravel, but they are roads. Going off them can have dangerous consequences because you don’t know what’s ahead of you-or where you’re going.” 2. “Secure all of your cargo with bungee cords and nets. If you hit a bump, the stuff in the back will go flying, and you’ll get hurt.” 3....

We’re missing a whole lot of carbon dioxide. Scientists can measure how much CO2 human and nonhuman activities pump into our atmosphere, and they know how much carbon dioxide contributes to global warming as a greenhouse gas. Because Earth is absorbing more carbon dioxide than climatologists predicted, the planet isn’t heating up as quickly as it could be, despite recent, unanticipated escalations in carbon emissions worldwide. That extra CO2 is hiding somewhere, and tomorrow from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, NASA will launch a brand-new observatory dedicated to finding it–the Orbiting Carbon Observatory....

Take Siri to SchoolTired of Siri pronouncing things wrong? Next time she screws something up, tell her “That’s not how you pronounce X,” and then pronounce it for her. She’ll give it another try, and offer you a few options for how she now thinks she’s supposed to pronounce the word. Pick the one that sounds the best, and Siri will use that pronunciation from now on.2. Level UpNeed a level for a quick DIY project at home?...

Media Platforms Design Team Clayton, Ga. — Yamaha’s Star Motorcycles division made headlines this year when it took the wraps off the nearly 200-hp 2009 V-Max, but the $18,000 pavement scorcher isn’t exactly the best choice for sensible commuters or even most weekend warriors. It’s just a bit too radical. In contrast to the mad Max, Star’s new V-Star 950 and V-Star 950 Tourer combine a 942 cc V-twin engine with a low seat height and manageable curb weight—making it a solid bike for intermediate riders or those wanting to downsize from heavyweight cruisers....

Media Platforms Design TeamSonoma, CALIF.—Next to the Chevy Camaro, the Mustang Shelby GT500 is the year’s most anticipated performance car. With a 540-horsepower supercharged V8, new suspension, and the “Shelby” name plastered across the trunk, the hottest Mustang promised not only strong performance, but an exciting driving experience as well. We were naturally skeptical, considering that the last model couldn’t be confused with a driver’s car. So with our VBOX test gear in hand, we headed to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California to find out if this latest, $48,175 fire breather has the goods....

Media Platforms Design TeamLompoc, Calif. — It’s not where anyone would expect to find a research lab—a small hillside ranch and vineyard at the end of a half-paved road in the northern, rural part of California’s Santa Barbara County. Even if you get through the front gate, it’s easy to drive right past where all the mad science is going on. After all, it’s just a pole barn, and, from the outside, it looks overstuffed with enough hay to feed the ranch’s five horses for a year....

Media Platforms Design TeamThe weather over much of Western Europe on Sept. 4 was, in pilotspeak, severe clear–ideal conditions for the first flight of the world’s largest passenger airplane with “civilians” on board. Carrying nearly 500 Airbus employees, the A380 took off from Toulouse, France, where company headquarters are located, and circled Europe for 7 hours while the volunteer passengers tested everything from video screens to plumbing. Although a few bugs were discovered, including excessive condensation and variations in cabin temperatures that will require tweaks to the ventilation systems, the A380 achieved what Airbus set out to do 18 years ago: Fly more people far more comfortably than the iconic but now-aging Boeing 747....

Biomimicry has given us snake robots, mechanical jellyfish, and now it has solved one of the difficult problems in drone research: avoiding obstacles when flying in tight quarters, and recovering and remaining aloft when a mishap does happen.The wings on this new bat drone being tested by the U.S. Navy can fold and unfold, allowing it to maneuver precisely around obstacles without clipping its wings on them. The bot has even been tested with the ultimate endurance test: a researcher going after it with a steel rod....

1935 Duesenberg SJ SpeedsterThe winner of Best in Show this year was a pale yellow Duesenberg SJ Special called the Mormon Meteor. Named for its many world speed records at Bonneville, the Dussy was driven by former Salt Lake City Mayor and racer Ab Jenkins. He also drove it to work almost every day. In 1935 the car made national headlines when it set a speed record, traveling for 24 hours at an average speed of 135....

Media Platforms Design TeamLeading up to this week, there’s been a flood of opinions about the auto industry where so-called experts drudge up the usually canned ills that has brought the big three to its knees. The stereotypical maladies that plague Detroit include poor quality, cars no one wants to buy, and an over-reliance on trucks. One of our favorites was when Michael Moore, appearing on Larry King Live said, “We don’t need more crap from Detroit....

Media Platforms Design TeamFord’s vaunted reliability ratings have stalled, and their controversial MyFord infotainment system is partially to blame.The domestic brand once boasted top ten status in Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability ratings, but a confluence of unfortunate factors plummeted their rankings to a dismal second-to-last place out of 28 brands surveyed, despite several buzzworthy introductions like the Focus ST and CMAX Hybrid.CR cites three reasons for the drop: the aforementioned disappointment of MyFord/MyLincoln and its spread to more models, problems associated with new or updated Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus models, and the fact that three historically reliable vehicles– the Escape, Fusion, and Lincoln MKZ– were not included in this year’s analysis....

PC applications are becoming increasingly bloated, complex and expensive. And most users don’t even know half the features included in the software they buy. Meanwhile, open-source “freeware” applications are growing in both number and sophistication. They may not have all the bells and whistles of their for-sale counterparts but, sometimes, simpler is better.Document Creation FEEFREEMicrosoft Office Home 2007 ($150)OpenOffice (openoffice.org)Media Platforms Design Team+ Click to enlargeMedia Platforms Design Team+ Click to enlargeOpenOffice essentially clones the functionality of Microsoft’s Office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software), leaving out some of the more specialized features....

Q: My 1997 Honda Prelude with 155,000 miles was just coming up to it’s 3,000 mile oil change time and the red oil light came on. The oil was below the dip stick so I added 4 quarts. What could cause this if there is no leak?A: Let’s hope you haven’t damaged your engine by starving it of oil. Cars, even Hondas, consume oil. They consume more oil as they get older and the engine wears....