Popular Mechanics South Africa - November/December 2021

In this issue

Launched locally in 2002, Popular Mechanics is the acknowledged voice of science and technology in South Africa. Underpinning its rich sci-tech content is an ever-changing mix of articles covering a broad range of interests, from automotive news and outdoor adventures to DIY projects and exploration of the universe.

The F-15EX is a worthy remix of a classic American fighter

THE US AIR FORCE has officially gone back to the future, placing an order in July last year for eight F-15EX fighters.

3 mins

Science confirms Plato's Theory: Earth is made of cubes

WHAT WOULD YOU get if you smashed the Earth into little bits? To answer that question, scientists from the US and Hungary ran a series of simulations illustrating the ways that rock fractures.

4 mins

Two mathematicians just solved a century-old geometry problem

IN 1911, GERMAN MATHEMATICIAN Otto Toeplitz first posed the inscribed square problem, predicting that ‘any closed curve contains four points that can be connected to form a square.’

4 mins

You've been conditioned to believe conspiracy theories. Or have you?!

A smart conspiracy theorist never wears a tinfoil hat. According to research by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students in 2005, tinfoil can actually amplify mobile communication and satellite frequencies, including those used by the Federal Communication Commission.

9 mins

THE FUTURE OF FARMING IS INSIDE THIS BOMB SHELTER

DEEP BENEATH THE STREETS OF LONDON, in a complex of bomb shelters left abandoned since the Second World War, something is growing.

10+ mins

The race to make cell-grown meats mainstream

ON 5 AUGUST 2013, CHEF RICHARD McGeown was in London, preparing to film a cooking segment on British television.

10+ mins

JAGUAR F-PACE SVR

A FASTER, more dynamic, and highly refined Jaguar F-PACE SVR recently debuted in South Africa. Positioned at the pinnacle of the brand’s performance SUV range, it boasts a compendium of premium enhancements from Jaguar’s SV team.

2 mins

Ford Ranger FX4

WHY DO South Africans love bakkies, and double-cabs specifically? They’re practical for hauling things, sure, but I suspect that’s not the main reason people buy them. I think it’s because they look good.

3 mins

Land Rover Defender 90 D240 S

WE REVIEWED the new Defender 110 in our June/ July issue, and since then the short-wheelbase ‘90’ has been launched in South Africa.

3 mins

How to use your 4WD system

WITH CROSSOVERS AND SUVS supplanting sedans as the default choice for everyday transportation, it’s common for any given vehicle to sport four or all-wheel drive (4WD and AWD).

3 mins

Read all stories from {{magazineName}}

Popular Mechanics South Africa Magazine Description:

The acknowledged voice of science and technology in South Africa

The South African edition of Popular Mechanics was launched in 2002 and has fast become the acknowledged voice of science and technology in South Africa. Underpinning its rich sci-tech content is an ever-changing mix of articles covering everything from automotive news and outdoor adventures to DIY projects. In essence, it explains how our world works.