How Grenades Work

Grenade Basics

Broadly speaking, a grenade is just a small bomb designed for short-range use. The idea of a bomb is very simple: Combustible material is ignited to produce an explosion --…     Read more >>

Why do apples turn brown when you slice them? How do you keep them from turning brown?

If you have read How Cells Work, you know that all cells contain thousands of enzymes. These enzymes do all of the work necessary for the cell to live its life. According to this…     Read more >>

Why do onions make you cry?

As any chef knows, cooking an onion produces a very strong aroma that most people enjoy. But cutting up an onion stings your eyes and makes you tear up uncontrollably. If you love to include…     Read more >>

How Earthquakes Work

As recently witnessed in China and Iceland, an earthquake is one of the most terrifying phenomena that nature can whip up. We generally think of the ground we stand on as "rock-solid" and completely stable.…     Read more >>

How Lightning Works

Lightning is one of the most beautiful displays in nature. It is also one of the most deadly natural phenomena known to man. With bolt temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and…     Read more >>

How does the morning-after pill work?

People can prevent unwanted pregnancies in many different ways. They can use condoms, oral contraceptives, injected contraceptives, IUDs, sponges and more. All of these methods can significantly reduce the chance of pregnancy. For example, condoms,…     Read more >>

How Lie Detectors Work

People tell lies and deceive others for many reasons. Most often, lying is a defense mechanism used to avoid trouble with the law, bosses or authority figures. Sometimes, you can tell when someone's lying, but…     Read more >>

What if I threw my car into reverse while I was driving?

This is one of those funny questions that pops up in lots of people's minds. As you're driving your car, you can imagine that it would be very easy to move the shifter into…     Read more >>

How Airbags Work

  For years, the trusty seat belt provided the sole form of passive restraint in our cars. There were debates about their safety, especially relating to children, but over time, much of the country…     Read more >>

How the Bermuda Triangle works

You won't find it on any official map and you won't know when you cross the line, but according to some people, the Bermuda Triangle is a very real place where dozen of ships, planes…     Read more >>

How Ghosts Work

Ghostly Encounters

People describe ghostly encounters in lots of different ways. People see apparitions or strange lights, sense a presence in a room, hear noises or feel a sudden drop in…     Read more >>

How does death by hanging work?

In the final days of 2006, former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein was hanged for the 1982 murders of 148 people in Dujail, Iraq. While capital punishment is still on the books in many countries around…     Read more >>

How the Berlin Wall Worked

The Berlin Wall stood for nearly 30 years, splitting the city of Berlin into communist East Berlin and democratic West Berlin. Born of the splintering of Germany by the Allies at the…     Read more >>

How to Get Better Fuel Economy

With fuel prices continuing their wild fluctuations, many consumers are demanding more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. Automakers have responded by offering gas-sipping subcompact cars and gas-electric hybrid vehicles. But what are…     Read more >>

What is it like to sleep in space?

When we settle into our beds at night, we usually experience a pleasant sense of unburdening. After a long day of walking, sitting and standing, letting gravity do the work and sinking…     Read more >>