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The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
News of a cheaper, lighter rocket belt gets the sci-fi geek in all of us excited. But as even the three main players in the human-flight business admit to PM, serious technical issues, delays and lawsuits stand between jet-propelled hype and practical liftoff.
California-based Thunderbolt Aerosystems announced this week that it would sell the sub-$100,000 ThunderPack TP-R2G2 (left) beginning this summer in a race with TAM's Rocket Belt (middle) and JetPack International Jet Pack H202 (right) for the DIY rocketeer's wallet. But the end game, engineers say, is long-distance, jet-fueled flight.
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KEYWORDS
Strictly speaking, you could the say the business of jet packs is, indeed, taking off. The number of companies looking to sell them to private consumers has increased by as much as 33 percent in the last week alone. And since the going assumption is that all human beings would like to be able to fly—not by plane or helicopter or oversize cannon, but strapped to a thunderous gadget with intuitive controls—that’s good news.
Then there’s the bad news. First, these jet packs aren’t what they seem: Jet-powered devices are in development (and models were tested as early as the '60s), but all models on the verge of availability are, in fact, jet-free and called, officially, rocket belts. Second, while last year there were two commercial rocket-belt manufacturers—Mexico’s Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) and Colorado-based JetPack International—there are now three: Thunderbolt Aerosystems, based in California, plans to start selling its ThunderPack TP-R2G2 rocket belt to customers this summer. Why is another entry in the fledgling human-flight business bad news? After all, three companies might be just enough to spur the kind of innovation that a healthy niche industry needs.
Well, that’s the problem with so-called jet packs: everything. It isn’t simply a matter of technology in its infancy—the eight-track paving the way for the cassette, or the Roomba for the domestic android. Rocket belts have been disappointing for decades, and although word of the sub-$100,000 ThunderPack has made the rounds online this past week, the hurdles have yet to be cleared. At best, today’s rocket belts are an excellent party trick, worthy of halftime stunts and air show demonstrations. At worst, they’re a marketing campaign for a product that no one’s actually supposed to buy. So here’s why it’s time to stop talking about rocket belts, for good, and get back to the business of making jet engines wearable.
Fly Weight
On a full tank, the new ThunderPack TP R2-G2 weighs between 170 to 182 pounds, depending on the type of fuel used (the slightly heavier model adds kerosene to the standard hydrogen peroxide mixture). The models offered by TAM and JetPack International, which we detailed in depth here, are lighter—but not by much, at around 139 pounds. Although rocket belts come with sturdy frames, they don’t include strength-boosting exoskeletons. Your back and legs are doing the heavy lifting, not only keeping you from buckling, but from topping over backwards like an overturned turtle.
According to Thunderbolt president Carmelo Amarena, the ThunderPack is easier on pilots than the competition's, since the weight sits on the hips instead of the shoulders. But what happens when you land while wearing a rocket belt? Apparently, knee injuries. JetPack’s resident pilot, Eric Scott, has suffered at least six of them, and Wendell Moore, one of the inventors of the original rocket belt, fractured his knee during a tethered test flight.
Jet packs might prove slightly lighter than rocket belts, thanks to dramatically improved fuel efficiency, but the real advantage would be better controlled landings. Amarena believes that a jet-powered device would make relatively gradual turns, particularly during low-speed operations, such as takeoffs and landings. And when your landing gear is made of flesh and blood, coming in “hot” is to be avoided.
Unfortunately, jet packs are going to be heavy. And if enough people buy them, someone is bound to lose control, and destroy his or her knees. But if tomorrow’s jet packs deliver on even a fraction of what these companies are promising, it might just be worth it.
Then there’s the bad news. First, these jet packs aren’t what they seem: Jet-powered devices are in development (and models were tested as early as the '60s), but all models on the verge of availability are, in fact, jet-free and called, officially, rocket belts. Second, while last year there were two commercial rocket-belt manufacturers—Mexico’s Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana (TAM) and Colorado-based JetPack International—there are now three: Thunderbolt Aerosystems, based in California, plans to start selling its ThunderPack TP-R2G2 rocket belt to customers this summer. Why is another entry in the fledgling human-flight business bad news? After all, three companies might be just enough to spur the kind of innovation that a healthy niche industry needs.
Fly Weight
On a full tank, the new ThunderPack TP R2-G2 weighs between 170 to 182 pounds, depending on the type of fuel used (the slightly heavier model adds kerosene to the standard hydrogen peroxide mixture). The models offered by TAM and JetPack International, which we detailed in depth here, are lighter—but not by much, at around 139 pounds. Although rocket belts come with sturdy frames, they don’t include strength-boosting exoskeletons. Your back and legs are doing the heavy lifting, not only keeping you from buckling, but from topping over backwards like an overturned turtle.
According to Thunderbolt president Carmelo Amarena, the ThunderPack is easier on pilots than the competition's, since the weight sits on the hips instead of the shoulders. But what happens when you land while wearing a rocket belt? Apparently, knee injuries. JetPack’s resident pilot, Eric Scott, has suffered at least six of them, and Wendell Moore, one of the inventors of the original rocket belt, fractured his knee during a tethered test flight.
Jet packs might prove slightly lighter than rocket belts, thanks to dramatically improved fuel efficiency, but the real advantage would be better controlled landings. Amarena believes that a jet-powered device would make relatively gradual turns, particularly during low-speed operations, such as takeoffs and landings. And when your landing gear is made of flesh and blood, coming in “hot” is to be avoided.
Unfortunately, jet packs are going to be heavy. And if enough people buy them, someone is bound to lose control, and destroy his or her knees. But if tomorrow’s jet packs deliver on even a fraction of what these companies are promising, it might just be worth it.
31. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Maybe you could make it like the one on iron man. Make a strong metal suit to go with it i.e. have the pack attached to the back, and then you would be able to land without harming your legs. Or they could do what i just said and modify the iron man suit so there are springs in the feet. Also then youd be able to go into space with it and you could be bulletproof - very handy for the islamic extremist terrorist. Also you could use it for manned exploration of Jupiter etc.
30. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Website: http://lonetruth.wordpress.com
Oh man, this is a Islamist Extremist Terrorists's DREAM MACHINE.
29. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I think that instead of having a pack or creating artificial legs, we should just make the whole thing a nice leather seat with the rocket underneath, so that it can weigh any amount, and nobody has to do any standing or bending or jumbing, or hurting knees.
28. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
If you added the weight of an exoskeleton / landing gear you might go over the weight limit for an ultralight - or simply become something above and beyond a "rocket belt". It's interesting that in the three photos in the article, the rocketmen have helmets but are not using the face shields. Maybe they couldn't reach them? They seem rather limited in mobility.
27. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I agree with #10. Incorporate a jet belt with one of the new exoskeletons. Problems of knee injuries solved, and you could have a lot bigger jet engines and carry more fuel without risk of too much weight on the pilot on landing. Also the jets would be attached to the exoskeleton and not the pilot, a little more safety buffer.
26. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I remember seeing a demo of a rocket belt / jet pack at the DuQuoin (Illinois) Fair in the 60's. It looked much like the illustrations in this article. I mostly remember the ear-splitting noise, but it flew maybe 15 feet off the ground along the race track for the length of the grandstand. Seems like not much progress since then
25. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The first practical jetpack that flies for 30 minutes will be launched on July 29th at EAA's big air show AirVenture - check out this link http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid626910413/bclid1369819620/bctid1646070798
24. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Website: www.projectjetpack.com
A glider wing is the way to go, but you must ensure that boost is preserved. Only through prayer are these breakthroughs achieved. I have achieved this very thing, which you may read about.
23. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I can not believe tat no one has raised the possibility that jetpacks(or rocket packs) could become actually "flying" human bombs. the explosive fuels could explode in mid-air or if something goes wrong! I imagine sseing a lot of "burnt" flesh all over!! Grotesque.
22. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
shouldn't it be better off to use nuclear fusion as catalyst alternative and water as fuel -buyer beware of radiation leaks if you crash land on some neighbor's pation while commuting to L.A.
21. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
If we have jetpacks why not use them for scientific research? They could be very helpful in studying objects in place where we cannot climb , fly or helicopter to.
20. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Just carry a pogo stick with you when you launch, and when you land, you're knees will be safe from harm, as the spring in the stick absorbs the impact.
19. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
All three of these vehicles are in fact rockets. A real "jetpack" would be airbreathing. I am working on such a device with a weight of around one-hundred pounds. also checkout rocketbelt.nl
18. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Regarding the weight on your back, why don't they just have artificial legs holding it up? They only need to be an inch taller than the pilot to keep the weight off his back. You could then take off standing on a 1 inch platform. And in regards to the impact, you could have these legs use "feet" to absorb the impact rather than your knees.
17. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Very good article. I have spent about 300 dollars buying plans, and countless hours on he internet about the rocket belts. And the reason it has taken so long to develop is the owners dont share ideas they horde all information . Greed is the problem . I was very hard for me to find any information on the rocket belt. I have book plan ect. Let people has access to them and some out there will figure out a better way. You should run an article on the rocket belt plans picture of the real one and challenge some to come up with a better model or improvement on the old one. I bet you will sell alot of issues with that story.
16. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The military was right about rocket belts in combat situations being impractical, but couldn’t they be adjusted for use as a troop insertion vehicle? They would have a drastically smaller radar signature than a parachute, and be able to land a solder (and his gear) safely and faster than a parachute could, and the amount of deceleration they cause can be altered quickly and simply (meaning a solder could free-fall most of the way, and only decelerate when they near the ground, making them less of a target, as well as making evasive maneuvers possible).
15. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXxkWXncuo
Here is a video of someone doing the wing strapped to his thing with small turbine engines, commonly used in model aviation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXxkWXncuo From the description: The Jet Man, Yves Rossy, a former Swiss military pilot, designed and built a deployable 3-meter wing, holding kerosene fuel for 2 jet engines fixed to the tips and attached it to his back. Rossy launched from an airplane and flew for 4 minutes, traveling over 100 mph, landing by parachute
14. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I can bet that some Indian automobile giant will try to bring this to Indian Market. We need lot of them to get out of pathetic transport system.
13. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
6-8 turbo jets weighting 5 lb and costing $3K each, ie. the ones that are used for plane models, will produce 240 - 320 lb of force that would lift a normal person (180lb) and the pack with the engines and some fuel.
12. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The German Luftwaffe Komet is a good example of a radical and yet safe design? The Komet was known for blowing up unexpectantly and many pilots broke their spines trying to land on a skid. Even the ejected wheels during take-off sometimes bounced off the ground and struck the aircraft. The Komet was a desperate design during desperate times.
11. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
It seems obvious (to me at least) that the only real potential market for this is the military. With the frequency of knee injuries, I don't think someone could commute to work 200 times a year (400 landings) and not hurt their knee once (or even 10 times). This is always going to be a "gee whiz" device due to the use of a human being as landing gear.
10. glazin at the future
Website: ninoscript.bligoo.com
I would buy an exoesqueleton that gave me super strength and agility that had a jet powered gliding device :-)
9. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Re 3. yes an increase from 2 to 3 is a 50% increase in companies, not a 33% increase. How much are we supposed to trust science and tech writers who don't know basic math. It's like an English professor misusing to, Too and two.
8. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
#1, basically you've re-invented the ME163 Komet - a rocket powered aircraft that zoomed up to altitude, made as many passes as it could against the B-17s and B-24s heading towards their targets, and after it ran out of fuel, gliding to a landing. The ME163 did have something that I think all these rocketpack and jetpack developers should look into though - it had a landing skid. Some sort of shock absorbing pole that would touch down just prior to the pilots feet might go a long ways in preventing those knee injuries.
7. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Bell Aerosystems, which did all the rocket belt/jet pack work in the 1960s and '70s, learned the hard way that legs make lousy landing gear. They had variants of both the jet and rocket belts, like the "POGO" stick, which the pilot flew rather the same way one operates a Segway, much safer and more practical if not as cool.
6. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
To comment #3 -- yes going from 2 to 3 is a 50% increase.
5. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
If you add a wing it stops being a jet pack. Jet packs have no wings or other lift from the rocket/jet engines. Thats what makes it a jet pack if you want a glider with an engine they sell those for alot cheaper.
4. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I like suggestion/comment #1 Why not add a glider wing to the jetpack? The German Luftwaffe Komet is a good example of a radical and yet safe design. Yet, it suffered from much the same problems as the human jet/rocket pack. With the addition of a swept wing at least you would have additional flight stability and safety.
3. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The number of companies looking to sell jet packs has actually increased 50%, right?
2. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
this is a very unique and interesting website. it's kinda strange, too.
1. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Why not add a glider wing to the jetpack? Then use the fuel only for lift-off and adjustments during flight? This would allow for a jetpack/glider to take off from anywhere, and use winds and proven aerodynamics for regular flight.
Maybe you could make it like the one on iron man. Make a strong metal suit to go with it i.e. have the pack attached to the back, and then you would be able to land without harming your legs. Or they could do what i just said and modify the iron man suit so there are springs in the feet. Also then youd be able to go into space with it and you could be bulletproof - very handy for the islamic extremist terrorist. Also you could use it for manned exploration of Jupiter etc.
30. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Website: http://lonetruth.wordpress.com
Oh man, this is a Islamist Extremist Terrorists's DREAM MACHINE.
29. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I think that instead of having a pack or creating artificial legs, we should just make the whole thing a nice leather seat with the rocket underneath, so that it can weigh any amount, and nobody has to do any standing or bending or jumbing, or hurting knees.
28. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
If you added the weight of an exoskeleton / landing gear you might go over the weight limit for an ultralight - or simply become something above and beyond a "rocket belt". It's interesting that in the three photos in the article, the rocketmen have helmets but are not using the face shields. Maybe they couldn't reach them? They seem rather limited in mobility.
27. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I agree with #10. Incorporate a jet belt with one of the new exoskeletons. Problems of knee injuries solved, and you could have a lot bigger jet engines and carry more fuel without risk of too much weight on the pilot on landing. Also the jets would be attached to the exoskeleton and not the pilot, a little more safety buffer.
26. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I remember seeing a demo of a rocket belt / jet pack at the DuQuoin (Illinois) Fair in the 60's. It looked much like the illustrations in this article. I mostly remember the ear-splitting noise, but it flew maybe 15 feet off the ground along the race track for the length of the grandstand. Seems like not much progress since then
25. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The first practical jetpack that flies for 30 minutes will be launched on July 29th at EAA's big air show AirVenture - check out this link http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid626910413/bclid1369819620/bctid1646070798
24. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Website: www.projectjetpack.com
A glider wing is the way to go, but you must ensure that boost is preserved. Only through prayer are these breakthroughs achieved. I have achieved this very thing, which you may read about.
23. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I can not believe tat no one has raised the possibility that jetpacks(or rocket packs) could become actually "flying" human bombs. the explosive fuels could explode in mid-air or if something goes wrong! I imagine sseing a lot of "burnt" flesh all over!! Grotesque.
22. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
shouldn't it be better off to use nuclear fusion as catalyst alternative and water as fuel -buyer beware of radiation leaks if you crash land on some neighbor's pation while commuting to L.A.
21. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
If we have jetpacks why not use them for scientific research? They could be very helpful in studying objects in place where we cannot climb , fly or helicopter to.
20. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Just carry a pogo stick with you when you launch, and when you land, you're knees will be safe from harm, as the spring in the stick absorbs the impact.
19. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
All three of these vehicles are in fact rockets. A real "jetpack" would be airbreathing. I am working on such a device with a weight of around one-hundred pounds. also checkout rocketbelt.nl
18. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Regarding the weight on your back, why don't they just have artificial legs holding it up? They only need to be an inch taller than the pilot to keep the weight off his back. You could then take off standing on a 1 inch platform. And in regards to the impact, you could have these legs use "feet" to absorb the impact rather than your knees.
17. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Very good article. I have spent about 300 dollars buying plans, and countless hours on he internet about the rocket belts. And the reason it has taken so long to develop is the owners dont share ideas they horde all information . Greed is the problem . I was very hard for me to find any information on the rocket belt. I have book plan ect. Let people has access to them and some out there will figure out a better way. You should run an article on the rocket belt plans picture of the real one and challenge some to come up with a better model or improvement on the old one. I bet you will sell alot of issues with that story.
16. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The military was right about rocket belts in combat situations being impractical, but couldn’t they be adjusted for use as a troop insertion vehicle? They would have a drastically smaller radar signature than a parachute, and be able to land a solder (and his gear) safely and faster than a parachute could, and the amount of deceleration they cause can be altered quickly and simply (meaning a solder could free-fall most of the way, and only decelerate when they near the ground, making them less of a target, as well as making evasive maneuvers possible).
15. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXxkWXncuo
Here is a video of someone doing the wing strapped to his thing with small turbine engines, commonly used in model aviation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXxkWXncuo From the description: The Jet Man, Yves Rossy, a former Swiss military pilot, designed and built a deployable 3-meter wing, holding kerosene fuel for 2 jet engines fixed to the tips and attached it to his back. Rossy launched from an airplane and flew for 4 minutes, traveling over 100 mph, landing by parachute
14. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I can bet that some Indian automobile giant will try to bring this to Indian Market. We need lot of them to get out of pathetic transport system.
13. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
6-8 turbo jets weighting 5 lb and costing $3K each, ie. the ones that are used for plane models, will produce 240 - 320 lb of force that would lift a normal person (180lb) and the pack with the engines and some fuel.
12. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The German Luftwaffe Komet is a good example of a radical and yet safe design? The Komet was known for blowing up unexpectantly and many pilots broke their spines trying to land on a skid. Even the ejected wheels during take-off sometimes bounced off the ground and struck the aircraft. The Komet was a desperate design during desperate times.
11. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
It seems obvious (to me at least) that the only real potential market for this is the military. With the frequency of knee injuries, I don't think someone could commute to work 200 times a year (400 landings) and not hurt their knee once (or even 10 times). This is always going to be a "gee whiz" device due to the use of a human being as landing gear.
10. glazin at the future
Website: ninoscript.bligoo.com
I would buy an exoesqueleton that gave me super strength and agility that had a jet powered gliding device :-)
9. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Re 3. yes an increase from 2 to 3 is a 50% increase in companies, not a 33% increase. How much are we supposed to trust science and tech writers who don't know basic math. It's like an English professor misusing to, Too and two.
8. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
#1, basically you've re-invented the ME163 Komet - a rocket powered aircraft that zoomed up to altitude, made as many passes as it could against the B-17s and B-24s heading towards their targets, and after it ran out of fuel, gliding to a landing. The ME163 did have something that I think all these rocketpack and jetpack developers should look into though - it had a landing skid. Some sort of shock absorbing pole that would touch down just prior to the pilots feet might go a long ways in preventing those knee injuries.
7. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Bell Aerosystems, which did all the rocket belt/jet pack work in the 1960s and '70s, learned the hard way that legs make lousy landing gear. They had variants of both the jet and rocket belts, like the "POGO" stick, which the pilot flew rather the same way one operates a Segway, much safer and more practical if not as cool.
6. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
To comment #3 -- yes going from 2 to 3 is a 50% increase.
5. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
If you add a wing it stops being a jet pack. Jet packs have no wings or other lift from the rocket/jet engines. Thats what makes it a jet pack if you want a glider with an engine they sell those for alot cheaper.
4. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
I like suggestion/comment #1 Why not add a glider wing to the jetpack? The German Luftwaffe Komet is a good example of a radical and yet safe design. Yet, it suffered from much the same problems as the human jet/rocket pack. With the addition of a swept wing at least you would have additional flight stability and safety.
3. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
The number of companies looking to sell jet packs has actually increased 50%, right?
2. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
this is a very unique and interesting website. it's kinda strange, too.
1. RE: The Inside Story of When Jet Packs Really Are Coming
Why not add a glider wing to the jetpack? Then use the fuel only for lift-off and adjustments during flight? This would allow for a jetpack/glider to take off from anywhere, and use winds and proven aerodynamics for regular flight.
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Officials and analysts say NASA has begun to shift its priorities (and cash) toward a dependence on the growing market for spacecraft.Digital Hollywood
Speed Racer F/X
How 10 million robotic photos, Google Earth and simulators influenced by video games turned a green-screen dream into summer's best action scene.Reviews
Ultimate GPS Test
700 miles, 5 new nav units, no manuals. We pick the best mapping devices for summer road trips on the road and in the lab.Drive Green
Top 10 X Prize Cars
The most comprehensive, up-to-date scouting report on the field for the 100-mpg car of tomorrow.Digital Hollywood
Debunking Lost's Science
As the show returns, its creators reveal the making of high-tech mythology—and let slip a few secrets about the island’s future.Robotics
Air & Space
Mobile Mile-High Club
Europe now allows in-flight cell calls, but the FAA and FCC tell PM they're not interested.Automotive News
Best of N.Y. Auto Show
PM's auto team has first-look photos, video and analysis of the season's last big show.ADVERTISEMENT
Mythbusters
Jamie and Adam break down today's tech conundrums, from Shark Week to Lost and more!
A lot of gee-whiz products come through our doors here at PM. And a lot of them make us yawn. But during the six months since CES, some toys had us sitting up, smiling and paying attention.
Technology
Turn Your PS3 Into a PC
With a little effort and expense, we turned a PS3 into a Linux computer—without losing any of its gaming goodness. And we're giving it away.Election News
Geek the Vote '08
The presidential race hangs in the balance, and PM compiles the candidates' science and tech proposals.Podcast
Olympic Pollution: Podcast
Could Beijing’s smog make an Olympian pass out before the finish line? We get a reality check, plus talk doping and baseball, on a special science of sports episode.Election News
Primary Sci/Tech Issues
The Democratic race winds down as Hillary Clinton tries to hang on against Barack Obama. Get behind their policies—and John McCain's—with PM's Geek the Vote '08 guide.PM Ad Partner Links
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• myBike, PM's New User-Powered Motorcycle Community, Brought to You by Kawasaki
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Rev up with myBike to upload rides from your garage, rate others, make biker buddies and chat on message boards!• NEW TECH COMMUNITY: Sign Up for myMod!
Current Issue
On Sale Now: Future Fuels
With gas prices soaring, next-gen biofuels, electricity and hydrogen have never looked better. In a special report, PM examines whether they’re ready to power our cars.Reviews
Future Warfare: New DVD
PM's four-hour, two-disc set deploys battle footage, CG animation, live-action weapons testing and expert interviews to examine everything from robot warriors to UAVs. 