Related: Baseball's New Anti-Gravity Pitch
Daisuke Matsuzaka, Seibu Lions pitcher and World Baseball Classic MVP, claims he can throw gyroballs. (AP)Five years ago, computer scientist Ryutaro Himeno was testing super-computers by modeling the fluid dynamics of airflow around baseballs. ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Next-Generation Running Gear: Track Test
With companies like Adidas, Apple and Motorola pumping out a mishmash of hybrid gadgets from GPS cellphones to heart-rate shirts, the biggest current trend in fitness technology--the rise of "running systems"--has left even marathoners ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Football Physics: The Anatomy Of A Hit
It happens about 100 times a game in the National Football League: a bone-jarring tackle that slams a player to the turf. On the play shown in the photo above, Seattle Seahawks defensive back Marcus Trufant (23) drilled Philadelphia Eagles ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Plus: Football Goes Geek
The result is that a coach can quickly call up, for instance, every play that the Pittsburgh Steelers have run on third down and 3 yards or more, against a 40-over-front in cover formation, from the left hash mark, inside the 30-yard line ... in ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Archives: Evolution On The Gridiron
In 1941, with "Slingin'" Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins fast becoming the NFL's first great passing quarterback, Wilson purchased "The Duke" name from rival Spalding. Ever since, Wilson has been the official manufacturer of ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Diy Toy: Make Your Bike A Snowmobile
Ktrak's traction-boosting Rear-Drive Kit ($400), which consists of a composite wheel with a polyurethane track, is the first step in turning your mountain bike into a muscle-powered snowmobile. To complete the transformation, the Ski Kit ($130) ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Plus: High-Tech Brings High Stakes To Betting On The Big ...
Whether at Las Vegas casinos or online sportsbooks, establishments contacted by PM all set their lines by hand?with preparation beginning the moment the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago bears punched tickets to Miami. Chuck Esposito, the assistant ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
The Science Behind The Olympics
Forget the 4-minute mile. Shani Davis has skated 1500 meters--the "metric mile," or nearly 5000 ft.--in a world record time of 1:43.33, averaging more than 32 mph. It's all about glide, enhanced by Davis's superior body mechanics but made ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Barry Bonds Vs. Babe Ruth
So how do these two elite sluggers stack up statistically? A quick look at the numbers shows that Ruth took fewer games and at-bats than Bonds will have to, to get to 714 home runs. However, Forman insists there's more to the story. "People may ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Extreme Hobbies: From Supersonic Rockets To Ballistic ...
IT IS IN THE NATURE OF MAN TO blow off steam. Some guys get all the release they need from whacking golf balls across a grassy hillock, or debating baseball stats, or quietly tending gardenias in the cooler morning hours. A number of men brew ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
5 Infomercial Workout Machines: Get Ripped Or Ripped Off?
Jake shakes out to last place on Ferrigno's list. This strength-trainer machine relies on heavy rubber bands for resistance and offers seven core exercises, six of which are for the upper body. The resistance is sufficient only for mild toning ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
Revival Of The Coach Gun
Even hunters have taken note of the handy coach gun. Those who hunt grouse and woodcock, and pursue other heavy-cover wing shooting chores have found the short barrels are lightning fast for flushing out birds. Those models available in the ... [... more]
Popular Mechanics |
