HOW A PLAN TO HELP A RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY GROW True PDF release: storemags & fantamag storemags & fantamag - magazines for all ENDED UP CREATING MORE THAN JUST MEGAWATTS PROGRESS IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS Harnessing an important resource like wind requires a lot of capital. So when a renewable energy company came to us, we found investors to help them grow. Because investing in a clean energy future is not only good for the environment, it’s good for local businesses and communities. And for local employees, who have a new way to put their energy to work. goldmansachs.com/progress ©Goldman, Sachs & Co., 2010. All rights reserved. True PDF release: storemags & fantamag Ram is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC. Cummins is a registered trademark of Cummins, Inc. storemags & fantamag - magazines for all True PDF release: storemags & fantamag storemags & fantamag - magazines for all CONTENTS THIS MONTH’S GUIDE TO INNOVATION AND DISCOVERY DECEMBER ’10 VOLUME 277 #6 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA; BRIAN KLUTCH; POINT 65N; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY/SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE; NICK WRIGHT/IMAGIC; ARUP; BRIAN KLUTCH; DOUG BIRLING/MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL; PORTRAITS, FROM LEFT: JOHN B. CARNETT (2); JONATHAN WORTH BEST OF WHAT’S NEW 2010 29 The 100 hottest innovations of the year 31 GREEN TECHNOLOGY 37 AUTOMOTIVE 43 GADGETS 71 49 ENGINEERING 53 HEALTH 59 AVIATION & SPACE 65 HOME ENTERTAINMENT 71 SECURITY 75 COMPUTING 79 HOME TECHNOLOGY 85 RECREATION 85 79 POPSCI INNOVATORS The stories behind the year’s best technology 49 33 CEMENT 57 A LEG UP FROM THIN AIR How Jeff 63 A NEW WAY OF FLYING How Brent Constantz catches carbon dioxide. How André Borschberg stayed aloft for 26 hours. POPSCI.COM Weber’s broken heel led to the reinvention of the crutch. 75 43 71 CONTENTS 89 REGULARS MEGAPIXELS 14 Olympic waterslides. HEADLINES 17 PHYSICS 26 The hunt for one of the universe’s most elusive particles. HOW 2.0 89 YOU BUILT WHAT ?! 18 SPACE TECH 92 GRAY MATTER Rail gun, meet scramjet. Our esteemed columnist takes on his mad-scientist rival in Japan. LED-studded togs controlled by an iPhone. 25 DISASTER TECH 95 BUILD IT Forecasting earthquakes days before they happen. 26 COMPETITIONS Off the grid? This rig will keep your laptop connected. CHECK IT OUT The awards within reach of backyard inventors. 96 ASK A GEEK Is building your own computer worth it? 18 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PIXELGARDEN.COM; JOHN B. CARNETT; NICK MERRICK/HEDRICH BLESSING/SOM; FERRARI S.P.A.; BRIAN KLUTCH; GRAHAM MURDOCH FYI 100 Did cavemen get athlete’s foot? How do you rescue an astronaut that accidentally floats away? POPSCI ON THE iPAD Learn more at popularscienceplus .com. OTHER STUFF 11 FROM THE EDITOR 12 THE INBOX 120 THE FUTURE THEN See It Now MORE OF WHAT’S NEW ON THE WEB Testing the Best Popsci.com/BOWN is the expanded and enhanced Best of What’s New online, with plenty of extras about the most important products of the year. See the Ferrari 458 Italia tear up the track, the view from the top of the recordbreaking Burj Khalifa skyscraper, and much more in our expanded multimedia section. We test the Parrot AR.Drone [above], the cellphone-recycling machine and more of the year’s standout tech. GOT QUESTIONS? E-mail
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