EcoTank Mono
Thinking laser?
Think again.
Save up to 50% on printing in 3 years
compared to mono laser printers.
Included ink is equal to 5 laser toners Includes ink to print
EcoTank has a large refillable ink tank that is 11,000
filled with the included ink bottles. From the
start you have enough ink to print up to 11,000 pages
pages,1 cutting costs and saving time as you’re
not frequently changing toner.
Rebel Industries_EPSON/POPMECH/8/2020 No1. Ink tank printer Integrated
vendor worldwide high-capacity
www.epson.co.za/ecotankmono ink tank
CONTENTS
04 From the editor: 32 Games and toys: Indie games 74 Drinks: Why and how
Ideas taking flight. for Nintendo Switch that you to fat-wash whisky.
shouldn’t miss.
08 Readers’ letters: Send us 76 Woodworking: Make a pair of
an email; include some pics. 34 Building a plane: One pilot’s traditional Roubo try squares.
(You might win a prize.) ultimate dream. (Project two of three.)
10 Calendar: Historic events 40 Eating invasive species: A 84 PM Garage: Our opinions
during September and October. solution to ecological harm? on two cars we’ve cruised in,
swerved, braked and parked.
12 Time machine: Fascinating 46 Inside the torture chamber:
stories from the PM archives. How technical apparel is put to 86 Driving: Sim-racing versus
the test at Gore’s research lab. the real thing – we chat to
14 The bigger picture: Top-class a South African champion.
restoration work from a local 52 Gear and gadgets: Hardware
4×4 workshop. we’re confident you’ll love. 98 Do it your way: Submit your
tip and you could win with
16 HYWW: Electric monster truck; 58 Light at the end of the Master Lock.
Terminator time travel explained; tunnel: A non-profit that gets
an unsolvable maths problem, injured athletes back into action. Even well before
solved; make charcoal; zinc. the coronavirus
64 Provisions: Learn how to placed serious
28 Hoax?: Did the Titanic even make the ultimate burger; constraints on
actually sink? a burger, deconstructed; real-life racing,
best hacks for grill-meisters. sim-racing’s
30 Book review: The Body: popularity
A Guide for Occupants by was growing.
Bill Bryson. But now, with
changes in all
spheres of global
sport, interest
in e-sports is
skyrocketing.
Turn to page 86
to find out more
about the fast-
paced world of
virtual racing.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: JOSÉ HANDO JANA;THIS PAGE: BMW, DAVID PEREL
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 3
FROM THE EDITOR
IDEAS TAKING FLIGHT
THE FIRST TIME I took a really struck a chord in me – Mike Ojo’s
flight in a plane I was 12 quest to build his own aircraft. I think
years old. The experience it’s the process of creating something
is indelibly etched into my tangible that evolves into something
memory. My dad was headed remarkable (in this case, an object that
off on a business trip from flies!) is what resonated with me. It’s
East London to Cape Town similar to the sense of accomplishment
(yes, I’m originally a ‘Slummies’ boy), of having completed a special wood-
and surprised me by taking me along working project, only on a much larger
with him. I had my skateboard tucked scale. Mike’s story became even more
under my arm when we boarded, and interesting when I discovered that the
I could barely contain my excitement. plane kit he used is made by a South
As an extra treat, as we were nearing African company, Sling Aircraft. It’s
Cape Town, my dad asked the cabin fantastic hearing about South African
crew if I could perhaps sit up front in products that are leading the way
the cockpit for the final approach – in the international market.
yes, the world was a different place
in the early ’90s, when thick armour- Much of what we feature
plated doors didn’t separate the pilots in Popular Mechanics
from the passengers. Soon, all wide- is about innovation and
eyed, I was strapped into the jump creation, and this issue is
seat behind the pilots, with their no different. As always, we
millions of switches, lights and hope the stories between
instruments, as well as the city’s these pages inspire you
tiny roofs filling my field of view. or, at the very least,
entertain you.
Since then, I’ve taken countless
flights, and although flying has MARK SAMUEL
always held a certain intrigue for me
(it’s remarkable that enormous wedges Editor
of metal can be propelled through the @marksamuel.za
air), aviation didn’t ever really grab me.
However, our cover story in this issue
ILLUSTRATION:TAURIQ LOOFER
4 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
IS EVERYWHERE
@popmechsa popularmechanicssa popularmechanics.co.za
Editor Mark Samuel Managing SAVE
Editor Luke Folb Chief Copy Editor
Roshaan Bouwer Deputy Chief Copy 30%
Editor Nicole van der Scholtz Senior
Copy Editor Lauren Endrody ILLUSTRATION: MHLANGULI GCOBO
Creative: Art Director Tauriq Loofer
Junior Designers Aslam Ebrahim,
Mhlanguli Gcobo
RSA Contributors Tiana Cline,
Ray Leathern, Tobias Lochner,
Grant Spolander, Stuart Thomas
Digital: Digital Group Web Developer
Cicero Joseph Webmaster Lizelle Leonard
Ad Sales: Sales Director Ryan Nicolle
([email protected]) Advertising
Sales Jean De Ridder, Callie Romburgh
Buyers’ Guide Joanne Thompson,
Patrick Kennedy, Lindi van den Heever
Debtors Manager Sharon Maneveld
Production: Production Manager
Rushaan Holiday Deputy Production
Manager Maggie Wasserfall Ad Design
Manager Brümilda Fredericks
Marketing, Events and Circulation:
Commercial Director for Shows and
Events Stephan Herman Group Events
Nasreen Abrahams Marketing & Media
Fezeka Galadla Sales Consultant
Atikoh Hodricks Total Monthly Sales
31 950 (April – June 2019)
Published by RamsayMedia (PTY) Ltd
Company registration number 1934/
005460/07 ISSN 1682-5136. Ramsay
Media is owned by Highbury Media
and CTP Ltd. Highbury Media holds
the controlling interest in Ramsay
Media. Ramsay Media is managed by
Highbury Media’s Board of Directors.
Highbury Media Directors:
Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ferguson
Managing Director Tony Walker Financial
Director Lindsey Makrygiannis Production
Director Bilqees Allie HR Director Rizqah
Jakoet Legal Director Tracey Stewart
Operations Director Rashied Rahbeeni
Chief Technology Officer Adrian Brown
CTP Ltd Directors: PM Jenkins,
TD Moolman, TJW Holden
Cape Town Head Office: 36 Old Mill Road,
Ndabeni, Western Cape, South Africa,
7405 • PO Box 180, Howard Place,
Western Cape, 7450 • 021 530 3300
Gauteng Office: Caxton House, 368
Jan Smuts Avenue, Randburg, 2196 •
PO Box 78132, Sandton, Gauteng, 2146
• 011 449 1100 • popularmechanics@
ramsaymedia.co.za, ramsaymedia.co.za
Published and distributed by
RamsayMedia by permission of Hearst
Communications Inc. New York, United
States of America. We cannot be held
responsible for loss of unsolicited
queries, manuscripts or photos. For
return, they must be accompanied
by adequate postage. As a service to
readers, POPULAR MECHANICS publishes
newsworthy products, techniques and
scientific and technological developments.
Due to possible variance in the quality
and condition of workmanship and
materials, POPULAR MECHANICS cannot
assume responsibility for proper
application of techniques or proper
and safe functioning of manufactured
products or reader-built projects
resulting from information published
in this magazine. Prices listed in
features were accurate at the time
of going to print – contact suppliers
directly for up-to-date pricing.
CTPprinters
CAPE TOWN
6 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
LETTERS
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?
WRITE TO US [email protected]
WINNING LETTER
Dig a
square
hole
In the article on planting When the tree’s roots falls over in the event of feature, Mike. Thanks for
a tree that ran in the March spread out into the corners a violent storm. sharing. With the powerful
issue of PM earlier this year, of the square hole, they can’t storms we had in Cape Town
there was a recommendation turn back or go around, and so Many thanks for a great this past winter, we would’ve
to ‘dig a dish-shaped hole instead they gradually break magazine that I have enjoyed benefitted from more of our
that’s twice the diameter through into the surrounding reading for many years. city trees having been planted
of the root ball’. ground. The result is that they in that fashion! Hope you enjoy
develop a powerful network of MIKE MATULOVICH the prize for your winning-letter
Many years ago, when roots, ensuring the tree never contribution. – Mark, Editor
I was planting trees on my That’s a really interesting
farm, a horticulturist friend update on our tree-planting
told me that this method is
incorrect. It causes the tree
roots to grow around and
around in the dish-shaped
hole and will, in the future,
not provide the tree with
sufficient anchorage when
it has grown in size, resulting
in it potentially falling over
during high winds.
Rather, he suggested that
you should dig a square hole,
slightly larger than the tree
root ball, ensuring the bottom
of the hole is larger than the
top, and deep enough for the
whole root ball to be placed in
the hole, which is then filled
with soil and compacted.
ALWAYS ON All the equipment is
The March issue included imported from either Holland
a letter by Ian Gilmour on or Germany, so the lead time
solar power, as well as your is quite lengthy. Nonetheless,
request for feedback from despite the many restrictions
other readers. In November imposed by COVID-19, the
last year, impressed by an system was fully installed
article in a financial news- by the beginning of April.
paper comparing solar-power
systems, we set the ball rolling. I should mention that
the raison d’être of this
The firm we selected installed undertaking was for the
a logging device that measured sole purpose of alleviating
our total power consumption the misery of Eskom load-
for a full week. The results shedding. With both of us
indicated that we needed 10 being well into our 70s and 80s,
solar panels, a 4 kW inverter we laboured under no illusions
and a 3.55 kW battery, at as to the economy of this, and
a rough cost of R198 000. appreciate that you’d have to
8 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
outlive Methuselah to recoup BURNING ISSUE Firefighting on this scale is fire, which aids the recovery
any great proportion of the I read with interest the complex and multifaceted and of wildlife.
outlay. However, the resultant letter that ran in the April uses modern technologies. The
reduction in consumption costs issue from Jonatan Erasmus on worst fires always occur when a I have very briefly tried
of between 30- and 40 per cent Australian wildfires. Jonatan is series of weather conditions are to convey the complexity of
is pleasing. well-meaning in his comments present: 1) Very low humidity; the issue. Perhaps Jonatan
and consistent with an outsider 2) Very high temperatures; could research the subject
As some sort of a reference, view of a reoccurring and very 3) High winds. To preserve a little more and I am sure
our house is 760 m² and our complex issue, which is greatly life, the only rational choice he would come to the same
energy requirements are quite exacerbated by climate change. is to evacuate the area. view. Wikipedia offers a good
high, given the need to operate Unfortunately wildlife overview of the subject.
the following: driveway gate, We get bush fires every year in and farm stock cannot be
garage door, alarm system, Australia; it’s not a matter of if, evacuated, which sadly results COLIN DAVIES, VICTORIA,
WiFi, a full-electric stove, but more about how many. This in substantial losses. While
microwave, two refrigerators year’s fire season followed a very little can be done before the AUSTRALIA
and a deep freeze, aside from dry winter, which increased the event, much is done after
the usual lights, plugs, TV, fire load considerably. Fire-load the event to assist wildlife It’s always great hearing
hi-fi, DStv, and so forth. mitigation is conducted during to recover. Very little, if any, from our international readers.
the colder months to reduce of the trees burnt involved Thanks Colin, for your more
The system is working well, the summer fire load. This can plantation timber. Plantation in-depth feedback on the serious
and despite the depletion (or only be done in accessible areas. timber is not the natural issue of wildfires. Indeed, there’s
should I say, ‘evisceration’) Most of the fires this year were habitat of Australian animals, no doubting firefighters are
of our piggy banks, we are in inaccessible areas – mountain whereas the predominant doing their utmost – they’re
pleased with the results. country. The only firefighting timbers (eucalyptus) recover not only fighting flames on the
done is to protect life and, if remarkably well after a bush ground, but also global climatic
DAVID AND EILEEN HELPS possible, property. Our fire- conditions that are changing
fighters are some of the best and exacerbating the problem.
I’ve received notes from and most experienced in the – Mark, Editor
many readers recounting world, without exception, and
their experiences with installing they are nearly all volunteers,
solar-power systems in their who freely give of their time
homes, and it has all been very to protect the communities
interesting. Thanks for your in which they live. Fires
input – I’m confident that in inaccessible mountain
it’s helpful to other readers areas have to be left to
who might be considering burn themselves out.
this financial outlay.
– Mark, Editor
WRITE TO US, ENGAGE IN DEBATE, and you could win an exciting prize. The
writer of this issue’s winning letter has won a Woodpeckers SERX Precision Straight
Edge, an INCRA Precision 300 mm Metric Centre Ruler, and an INCRA Precision 300 mm
Metric T-Ruler, all valued at R2 500, sponsored by BPM Toolcraft (toolcraft.co.za).
The writer of the winning letter to bePHOTOGRAPHY: PIXABAY, COURTESY IMAGES; LETTERS ARE EDITED FOR CLARITY, SPELLING AND GRAMMARstocks a huge range of woodworkingwinning! stand a chance of
published in the November/December machines, power tools, hand tools,
2020 issue will win a Pegasus Portable Write in tofinishing products as well as accessoriesPrize WOWRPoXowRrrkP4toabe rbeg4lntae7hcsuh3s
Workbench by WORX, sponsored by for woodworking enthusiasts. Whether
Vermont Sales (vermontsales.co.za), ales.co.zayour requirements are for marquetry,sponsored by vermonts
valued at R4 473. cabinetmaking, lutherie, woodturning,
professional or enthusiast, BPM Toolcraft
The Pegasus is a portable device, leads the woodworking market. With more
which, when configured as a workbench, than 40 brands from 12 countries, custom
can support up to 136 kg. As a sawhorse, products and a collective 150 years of
it can take up to 454 kg! It’s highly versatile, in-depth woodworking knowledge,
with its integrated clamping system, and BPM Toolcraft is your trusted wood-
lightweight- and easily collapsible design, working home.
which makes it simple to transport. Included
are two bar clamps and four clamp dogs. Connect with them at toolcraft.co.za, or
visit them at 93 Victoria Road, Plumstead,
The prize has been arranged by BPM Cape Town.
Toolcraft in Cape Town, a retailer that
Email us at [email protected]. Please include high-resolution photos,
wherever possible and relevant. Prizes can only be awarded to South African residents.
popularmechanics.co.za
CALENDAR
UPDATE YOUR DIARY • THIS DAY IN HISTORY
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 2020 1923: A massive 1993: The US and 1976: Nearly a full 2006: Famous 1975: Lynette
earthquake strikes Russia reach an year after its launch, Australian wildlife ‘Squeaky’ Fromme,
the Japanese cities of agreement to a follower of Charles
Tokyo and Yokohama, NASA’s Viking 2 conservationist Manson, attempts
jointly build a successfully lands Steve Irwin dies
killing some space station. after being stung to assassinate
140 000 people. on Mars. by a bull stingray. US President
2
1 3 4 5Gerald Ford.
1944: Germany 1888: Edith Eleanor 1504: The statue 1850: California 2008: The Large 2001: Terrorists 1890: Now known as
fires the first long- McLean becomes of David, sculpted becomes the Hadron Collider hijack four US Harare, Zimbabwe,
the first baby to by Michelangelo, particle accelerator in airliners, and crash
range ballistic 31st state to enter Geneva is powered two of them into the Cecil Rhodes’
weapon, the be placed in an is unveiled in the Union. up for the first time. World Trade Center colonists found
V-2 missile, at incubator, at a Florence, Italy. Fort Salisbury.
Allied forces. hospital in New York. 9 10 in NYC.
8 12
6 7 11
1997: ‘Candle in 1984: US Air Force 1916: Tanks are used 1945: The Japanese 1900: Queen Victoria 1980: Cosmonaut 1783: A sheep, a
the Wind 1997’ is fighter pilot Joe for the first time in leaders surrender proclaims the Arnaldo Tamayo rooster and a duck
released by Elton Méndez, a Cuban
John as a tribute Kittinger pilots a gas battle, in World War I. Hong Kong to establishment of national, is the first become the first
to Princess Diana. balloon across the the British. the Commonwealth person of colour sent animal passengers
15 on a space mission. on a hot-air-balloon
13 Atlantic Ocean. 16 of Australia.
18 flight, in France.
14 17
19
1519: Ferdinand 2004: South African 1994: The TV sitcom 1983: Gerrie Coetzee Heritage Day 1926: Ford Motor 1946: The first
Magellan embarks Beverly Mashinini Friends premieres becomes the first Company founder edition of Tintin
on what will be the wins a bronze medal on NBC in the United South African to 24
in javelin for the SA States. It runs for 10 win the world Henry Ford is published.
first successful Paralympic team in seasons, until 2004. heavyweight announces an eight-
circumnavigation Athens, Greece. boxing title. hour, five-day work 26
22 week for his workers.
of the globe. 21 23
25
20
1938: The RMS 2008: Elon Musk’s 1966: US carmaker 1846: Ether is used
Queen Elizabeth company SpaceX Chevrolet debuts its as an anaesthetic for
Camaro, which goes the first time by US
is launched in launches the
Clydebank, Scotland. first ever private on to become an dentist Dr William
spacecraft, the iconic marque Morton, for the
27 for the brand. extraction of
Falcon 1.
29 30a tooth.
28
OCTOBER 2020 1908: The Ford 2004: The first 5 km 1995: The trial of
Model T goes parkrun, then known OJ Simpson ends,
on sale for $825.
as the Bushy Park with him being
1 Time Trial, happens found not guilty
of murdering his
in Bushy Park
in London. ex-wife.
2 3
1535: The first 1930: An R101 British 1902: A 3 200 km 1919: The Royal 2004: American 1888: Taking 40 years 1789: Joseph-Ignace TEXT: MARK SAMUEL; PHOTOGRAPHY: PEXELS, PIXABAY, PUBLIC DOMAIN, QUICKPIC, UNSPLASH
complete single airship crashes on railway line between Dutch Airline, KLM, businesswoman to build, the 169 m- Guillotin proposes
edition of the English its maiden voyage. is established. It’s Martha Stewart high Washington
Bible is printed. Cape Town and starts her five-month that the most
5 Beira in Mozambique the oldest airline prison sentence for Monument is humane method
4 reaches completion. still in existence. insider trading. opened to the public.
of execution
6 7 8 9 is beheading.
10
1968: NASA’s Apollo 1935: Italian opera 1976: DNA analysis 1931: Pretoria 1989: Eight of the 1964: China 1972: American
7, with three men on singer Luciano reveals that a 3 300- is granted its men convicted in successfully rapper Eminem
board, successfully Pavarotti is born. year-old mummy, status as a city. the Rivonia Trial detonates its first (Marshall Bruce
launches from Cape He died in 2007, found in 1898, is King atomic bomb. Mathers III) is born
Kennedy (which is aged 71. 14 are released.
now Cape Canaveral). Tutankhamen’s 16 in Missouri.
12 grandmother. 15
11 17
13
1867: The US 2015: Scientists at 1955: JRR Tolkien’s 1966: The Aberfan 1962: The Cuban 2012: The BBC’s 2017: American
purchases Alaska the University of The Return of the Disaster happens, Missile Crisis, a 13-day- Ceefax, the world’s rock-and-roll
California discover King (the third book musician Fats
from Russia. evidence of life on in The Lord of the when a coal-tip long confrontation oldest teletext
Earth dating back avalanche engulfs between the US and service, is Domino dies at
18 4.1 billion years. Rings trilogy) a school in Wales. the age of 89.
is published. the Soviet Union decommissioned.
1881: Spanish artist 19 21 is announced to 24
Pablo Picasso is born. 20 23
1955: Soviet 1908: Harry Frederick 22the public. Happy Halloween!
25 troops withdraw 1873: American Oppenheimer is born 1974: Muhammad
businessman Joseph 2015: After being Ali regains the world 31
from Austria. in Kimberley. enforced for heavyweight boxing
F Glidden applies title by knocking out
26 for a patent for 28 35 years, China George Foreman in
barbed wire. announces an end to
its one-child policy. the ‘Rumble in
27
29 30the Jungle.’
10 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
Rebel Industries_APPLE/POPMECH/8/2020 Take everything on your iPhone to 11.
All-new camera systems. Longest-lasting iPhone batteries.1
And the fastest chip in smartphone. iPhone 11 and IPhone 11 Pro are everyting
you love about iPhone.
Taken to 11.
Available from FNB Connect at https://www.fnb.co.za/fnb-connect/shop.html
1) Battery life varies by use and configuration. See apple.com/batteries for more information.
TIME MACHINE 1
It made perfect sense at the time
2
1 SEPTEMBER 1930PissPla‘iispnfrluattrgieontalhemewlladywainsisrsiiectncgosh-grsenaRhmrcveaoeesbptdnulaeitwlntdtiiosginwt’n.htgRiahnaWleegptsS.irltnTatarangichkrteeAsiasnhbic.ngitlApevsitlewEaltunsnhhstPteetoereartralripbstmairewocielshinoeeouuvofftlefrdpedoaramiifnltllyotwSi,wtnotawgufrolboTdrorsrleacaektanq,,ldeuethq-imroeueoricpldowepsevaeslestdrpehrwooafwlidattenhhsrdhiasfioonwrgsn. 3
5
4
2 OCTOBER 1942 3 SEPTEMBER 1951 4 OCTOBER 1966 5 SEPTEMBER 1978 TEXT: MARK SAMUEL; PHOTOGRAPHY: POPULAR MECHANICS ARCHIVES
How a Ship is Launched One-Man Fire Department Look What’s Happening Solar-Powered Aircraft
Several dramatic black and In the early ’50s, the small to Freight Cars! It was almost the ’80s, and
white photographs showed farming community near Sparta, the world was on the cusp of
ships being launched, and the Wisconsin, was grateful for and Rail transport in the US was carrying out the first manned
accompanying story told of proud of their ‘one-man fire thriving in the mid ’60s and, solar-powered flight. Much
how much preparation and department’. Though only his along with that, the design and has happened in this field in
planning goes into setting a hobby, in two years, Ervin capabilities of freight cars were the ensuing 40-odd years, but
new vessel free. It explained Edwards had responded to ever-improving. This article the engineers on this project
that, though most ships are more than 50 fire calls on featured numerous rail trucks, were at the cutting edge
launched stern-first, if the farms, saving four houses detailing their load capacities of solar-powered flight. A
channels are too narrow, new and several farm buildings and innovative designs, one of large illustration depicted
ships are constructed parallel in the process. He towed his which – the unique ‘Schnabel’ the prototype plane’s design,
to the dock, and launched firefighting equipment in car – was built to transport and quoted figures revealed
sideways into the water. a trailer behind his car. 250US-tontransformers. Others the immense overall cost.
had built-in crane facilities.
12 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
Rebel Industries_EPSON/POPMECH/6/2020 Relax and enjoy extra peace of
mind with Epson printers –
quality you can rely on.
Available from FNB Connect at
https://www.fnb.co.za/fnb-connect/shop.html
THE BIGGER
PICTURE
14 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
HEAD DOWN Sir Lowry’s Pass,
then look to the right when
entering the Somerset West
business district, and you’ll likely
spot Pon Steyn Motors. There will
be a host of 4×4s parked outside,
but it’s inside the workshop where
the magic happens. Established
back in 1983, Pon Steyn Motors
has become one of the premier
businesses that restore and care
for off-road vehicles – mainly
Land Rovers and Mercedes-
Benz trucks. It’s not just locally
that these upgraded vehicles are
enjoyed – many are shipped to
happy customers in the US too.
In this image, a 1976 Land
Rover Series 109 2.25-litre petrol
(named ‘Pegasus’) gets a new
lease on life. Finished in mid grey,
with limestone-coloured roof and
rims, the entire restoration project
took 16 weeks to complete.
Ernicus Steyn adds finishing
touches on the rear seats and,
in the background, a 2002 Land
Rover Defender 110 Td5 receives
a new engine.
Find out more about Pon Steyn
Motors at ponsteyn4x4.co.za, or
on Instagram: @ponsteyn4x4.
PHOTOGRAPHY: COETZER COOKE
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 15
HOW YOUR WORLD WORKS
MACHINES
/ BY COURTNEY LINDER /
The eDumper’s tyres
alone are more than
1.8 m tall.
The world’s W HO SAID At 9.1 m long, 4.2 m wide,
largest electric and 4.2 m tall, the ‘eDumper’
wheeled vehicles isn’t an obvious candidate for
electric can’t do electrification. But eMining AG
vehicle is a hard labour? didn’t just paint the stock dump
dump truck Meet Elektro truck green. The company also
Dumper, the added a 600 kWh battery pack
16 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 biggest wheeled EV on the planet. to the vehicle – enough to power
eMining AG, a Swiss manufacturer six long-range Tesla Model S cars.
of smart construction equipment, Those lithium batteries tack on
modified a standard Komatsu another 4 000 kg.
HD 605-7 truck, an off-highway
vehicle used in quarries and mines, Here’s how it works: The
to operate entirely with electric eDumper weighs approximately
energy. Plus, the thing recharges 41 tons and ascends a hill at, say, a
itself using rocks. 13 per cent grade. On the way back
down, it’s now carrying 59 tons of
popularmechanics.co.za
ore. To rectify that scenario, How regenerative
the truck’s regenerative braking braking works
system actually recaptures the
energy created by going downhill, BATTERY
refilling the battery’s charge for the
next time the truck travels uphill.PHOTOGRAPHY: EMINING AGWHEEL ELECTRIC WHEEL
MOTORS
For a crash course in regenerative BRAKES
braking, think back to high school BRAKESWhen you accelerate, theby the vehicle’s movementto 70 per cent of the
physics. Kinetic energy is created battery powers electric and transform it into kinetic energy created
through motion, and potential motors that allow the electrical energy. by moving downhill
energy is stored because of its wheels to spin and is lost as heat. EVs do
placement relative to other objects. create forward motion. The electrical energy is lose some kinetic energy
You can experience this in petrol- sent back to the battery and from movement and heat
powered vehicles, too. The kinetic When you brake, the stored as potential energy loss, but Tesla says that
energy is created by a spark and the motors become generators for the next time the vehicle regenerative braking is
ignition, but while rolling down a that harvest the kinetic, accelerates. In vehicles with about 90 per cent efficient.
hill, a vehicle creates more energy mechanical energy created combustion engines, up
due to gravity.
for around 15.7 gigatons of Making the arduous trip from
Regenerative braking, then, takes carbon emissions by 2050, the quarry to the factory 20 times
kinetic energy and transforms it if left unchecked. a day produces a significant surplus
into electrical potential energy that of 200 kWh of energy (or 77 mega-
is stored back in the battery. Other The eDumper is a good watt-hours per year), says the
factors – the truck’s weight, load, start, but it isn’t just a science eMining AG rep. Your average
vertical position, and gravitational experiment – it’s already hauling dump truck, by contrast, uses
pull – dictate how much energy tons of rocks from a quarry on somewhere between 41 500
can be transformed and stored. the slopes of the Chasseral to the and 83 000 litres of diesel fuel
The same process is used in a few Ciments Vigier SA cement factory each year… You do the sums.
other electric vehicles, such as near the Swiss town of Biel.
the Honda Clarity plug-in hybrid.
‘Rock trucks’ such as the Komatsu
HD 605-7 haul marlstone, a type of
lime-rich mudstone readily found
in the sides of Swiss mountains.
The cement trade relies on this raw
material – these trucks transport it
directly to their factories.
While the eDumper can go days
without charging, an eMining AG
rep says the truck still needs a good
jolt from time to time if you put
it through a rigorous workout.
Frequently hitting the brakes, for
example, may take up too much
energy due to the mechanical
parts moving.
While EVs are quickly
proliferating throughout the US,
the serious work in the trades is
still done by gas-guzzling diesel
engines. And according to the
World Economic Forum, an
international organisation for
public-private cooperation, heavy
industry and transport will account
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 17
HOW YOUR WORLD WORKS SCIENCE FICTION is a
literary laboratory for
SCI-FI ideas that could one day
fill our future. And no
/ BY DARREN ORF / idea has been examined
more vigorously than
Causality loops time travel. Terminator,
and Terminator’s the biggest time-travel franchise of
35-year struggle them all, gets its sixth instalment
to make time with Dark Fate. The film marks
travel convincing James Cameron’s return to the
series, as executive producer.
18 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 This is good news. Because after
1991’s Judgment Day, Cameron’s
last Terminator movie, things got
… confusing. In 2003’s T3: Rise of
the Machines, the Judgment Day
apocalypse wasn’t really averted,
just postponed. Which felt more
like a plot device for the studio to
make movies that could take place
after August 29, 1997, the date of
the series’ original end-of-the-world
conclusion. From there, Salvation
and Genisys would go on to muddy
things beyond recognition. Even
Tim Miller, director of Dark Fate,
calls these films ‘misfires’.
Fate, however, ignores everything
after Judgment Day, allowing the
series to return to time travel’s
core debate: fate versus choice.
In the original Terminator,
Cameron taps into what is
called a predestination paradox,
or causality loop: An event causes
another event that necessitates
the first event. Cyberdyne, the evil
robot baddies behind Skynet, sends
back a T-800 (aka the Terminator,
aka Arnold Schwarzenegger) to kill
Sarah Connor and prevent John
Connor (the leader of the human
resistance and perpetual thorn in
Cyberdyne’s side) from ever being
born. The resistance sends back its
own soldier, Kyle Reese, to protect
Sarah. Reese goes on to become
John’s biological father, creating
John Connor, necessitating
Skynet’s actions in the future.
But when Cyberdyne sends the
Terminator back in time, it falls
into the hands of the company that
would eventually develop Skynet,
popularmechanics.co.za
becoming part of a bootstrap one world, Judgment Day goes WE ALREADY KNOW HOW
paradox: an object from the future off without a hitch. In another, it TO BUILD A TIME MACHINE
sent back in time that becomes never arrives. (Back to the Future
central to its own creation. By works similarly: Marty McFly’s Time travel already at Princeton. What would
sending a T-800 back in time, actions in the past create multiple happens. Kind of. The it take to go bigger, into
Cyberdyne created both itself realities leading back to 1985.) Large Hadron Collider can tangible Terminator-style
and its destruction. send subatomic particles human time travel? ‘If you
It’s easy to chock up Cameron’s at 99.9999 per cent the want to visit Earth in the
This logic game is what makes back and forth as inconsistent speed of light (just below year 3000,’ Gott says,
The Terminator a movie-plot world building. But, actually, 299 792 km/second). At ‘All you have to do is
masterpiece. Since its release it’s the opposite. Throughout that speed, the particles get on a spaceship and
in 1984, a number of other films JudgmentDay, the most compelling experience time 6 900 go 99.995 per cent of
have used a similar structure – characters, mainly Sarah Connor, times as slowly as the the speed of light.’ At that
12 Monkeys, Predestination, even fight against the idea of a future scientists working the speed, if a crew travelled
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of that is predetermined. She carves thing. According to 1 000 light years round
Azkaban. Characters travel to ‘no fate’ into a table before going general relativity, by trip to exoplanet Kepler-
the past and unknowingly create off to drastically change the future. travelling at that speed, 186f, the Earth would be
the present they have just left. The those particles are going in the year 3019 upon
humanity comes from how, inside Even Cameron couldn’t decide into the future. The return. But their internal
these causality loops, there is no on a philosophy, though, and same principle applies clocks would have slowed
more free will. We just play out created two endings. In the first to astronauts, just on relative to the Earth’s
a future that is already written. one, the one he ultimately rejected, a much smaller scale. chronology. ‘They are
Sarah Connor lives, watching her In September 2015, only going to age about
But somewhere in the years grandchildren play in a park, safe cosmonaut Gennady 10 years,’ says Gott. While
between The Terminator and in the knowledge that Judgment Padalka returned to a millennium would pass
Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Day will never come. In Cameron’s Earth after 879 days in for us, for them it would
Cameron changed his mind about actual ending, Connor’s voice is orbit, where he travelled be a decade. But reaching
time travel. Instead of a causality heard over an ominous stretch of around at 27 400 km/h. that speed is a problem.
loop, our heroes – now, with road, speaking about the uncertain ‘When Mr Padalka came The fastest spacecraft yet,
Schwarzenegger’s Terminator future ahead. Is the future what back, he found the Earth the Parker Solar Probe,
on the side of good – are allowed we make it? Or is it ultimately to be 1/44th of a second only hits 0.00067 per cent
to change the future by blowing unavoidable? It’s a question into the future of where of the speed of light. The
up Cyberdyne. With this new that is never really answered. he expected it to be,’ says most promising solution?
freedom, T2 taps into a many- J Richard Gott, professor Antimatter fuel. Let’s get
worlds interpretation of quantum of astrophysical sciences going. – Matt Blitz
mechanics, where actions in the
past create various futures. In
PHOTOGRAPHY: CERN (LHC), CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES (TERMINATOR) An Ronald found out to time travel,
Mallett, was they had it would most
accurate professor travelled so likely be into
of physics at fast that they the future.
time- University of had arrived Travelling into
Connecticut, into Earth’s the past? That
travel explains: ‘The future. That would require
astronauts accurately phenomena
movie: thought they depicts such as
Planet had landed on Einstein’s wormholes
of the another planet special theory – stuff that
Apes that was ruled of relativity.’ is yet to
(1968) by apes. But In short, if be observed
what they we’re going in space.
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 19
HOW YOUR WORLD WORKS
DEEP MATHEMATICS
/ BY DAVID GROSSMAN /
A worldwide network of
computers helped solve
one of mathematics’
most elusive problems.
After 65 years, MATHEMATICIAN
supercomputers Andrew Booker
finally solve was searching for
this unsolvable topics to present
maths problem at his children’s
maths club when
20 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 he stumbled on a
YouTube video about the sum-of-
three-cubes puzzle. ‘It was a case
of serendipity,’ the University of
Bristol mathematics professor
says. The video – produced by
the popular YouTube channel
Numberphile – led him to solve a
curious equation that has stumped
mathematicians for decades.
In 1825, mathematician S Ryley
proved in the magazine Ladies’
Diary that any fraction can be
represented as the sum of three
cubes of fractions. Mathematician
Louis Mordell took the puzzle
a step further in 1953, when
he questioned whether the same
type of solution could be found
for x3 + y3 + z3 = k, a Diophantine
equation, which involves only
positive and negative integers. He
started with the number 3, and the
hunt was on to find solutions for
all integers between 1 and 100.
In some cases, finding the solution
to x3 + y3+ z3 = k is easy enough.
popularmechanics.co.za
To reach 53, for example, all a mathematician). Sutherland “
that’s needed is 33 + 33 + (–1)3. agreed. The chance to find a set
Other numbers, such as 51, of mystery numbers equaling IT IS ALWAYS
grow increasingly complicated: 42 was irresistible, but they
(–796)3 + 6593 + 6023. For others needed more juice. EXCITING AND
– 4, 5, 13, 14, 22, 23, 31, 32 –
it is mathematically impossible. Then, Mark McAndrew, SATISFYING IN
Then there are the numbers that founder of Charity Engine,
verged on unsolvable but seemed a supercomputing system that M AT H E M AT I C S exciting and satisfying
hypothetically possible, such as harnesses unused computing TO SEE A LONG- in mathematics to see
33 and 42. power from more than 500 000 a long-standing problem
home PCs, caught a Numberphile
In March 2019, Booker cracked video about Booker’s quest for S TA N D I N G finally being resolved.’
33. The computer he used searched 42. He wanted in, too. ‘I was PROBLEM FINALLY (Booker and Sutherland
through 10 quadrillion numbers and literally jumping around,’ he also recently found a new
turned up three within a matter says. Over the course of a day,
of weeks: 8 866 128 975 287 5283, the vast network of PCs logged BE I NG R E S OLV E D. way to make a sum of three
(–8 778 405 442 862 239)3, and more than a million computing
(–2 736 111 468 807 040)3. hours on Charity Engine’s cubes equal 3.) Sutherland
Encouraged, he reached out to volunteer computer network.
Andrew Sutherland of MIT to see Finally, they got their answer: knows that when problems
if he might help solve for 42. The (–80 538 738 812 075 974)3
number has a mythical reputation + 80 435 758 145 817 5153 are solved with the help of
in pop culture – most notably in + 12 602 123 297 335 6313.
Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide supercomputers, that’s all the
to the Galaxy, but also within the ‘The team’s discovery is a major
works of Lewis Carroll, author piece of progress on this problem,’ public tends to see. ‘But the way
of Alice in Wonderland (and says mathematician Chao Li of
Columbia University. ‘It is always these things work, there’s always
an interplay between algorithm
and computational power,’ he says.
Supercomputers are like tractors,
threshers, or any other machine.
All the power in the world is great,
but without knowing how to use
it, you’re stuck – be it in a field or
amid 10 quadrillion numbers.
Computer x 300 BCE 1622 1849 1936 1949
mathematics
timeline The Babylonians William Oughtred Charles Babbage Alan Turing George Reitwiesner,
invent the world’s invents the slide designs ‘Difference publishes his Clyde Hauff, Homé
earliest calculator, rule, a mechanical Engine #2’, which seminal paper McAllister and W
the abacus. analogue computer is a mechanical ‘On Computable Barkley Fritz use
designed to both contraption that Numbers’. the newly invented
multiply as well as solves equations ENIAC computer to
divide numbers. autonomously. compute π to 2 035
He never sees the decimal places.
machine in action.
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY IMAGE 1967 1976 1984 1996 2014 2019
The first handheld A computer cracks The software The first volunteer Mathematician Emma Haruka Iwao
digital calculator, the Four Colour MATLAB debuts. computing project, Thomas Hales uses Google’s cloud
Texas Instruments’ Theorem, making it the Great Internet formally proves the computing service
CalTech, is the first computer- Mersenne Prime Kepler conjecture to calculate π to a
invented. It assisted proof to Search, kicks off. by using proof staggering 31 trillion
costs $85. be solved. assistant software. decimal places.
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 21
HOW YOUR WORLD WORKS
HOW TO MAKE
LUMP CHARCOAL
/ BY MAT T MCDONALD /
WHAT YOU NEED:
A good supply
of hardwood
Oak, walnut, ash,
and fruitwood
are ideal. Old hard-
wood shipping
crates are a good
source. Don’t use
softwoods such
as pine or cedar
– they won’t burn
long enough to
cook a hot dog.
A firebox
Some people
simply dig a hole
for their fire. I use
an old 210 litre
drum. If you use
a drum, make sure
you burn it clean
of all traces of oil
or other residue.
WHAT TO DO:
1. CUT YOUR 2. START 3. ADD THE 4. MAKE SURE 5. PUT A LID 6. REMOVE THE PHOTOGRAPHY: GALLO/GETTYIMAGES
HARDWOOD YOUR FIRE HARDWOOD IT’S BURNING ON THE BARREL CHARCOAL WITH
INTO CHUNKS The type of hard- Add a layer at a Keep an eye on If you started in YOUR HANDS
30 cm long is ideal wood doesn’t time and let the your wood and the afternoon, let This is the best
for the firebox of matter, as long flames fully catch look for a slight it smoulder all night. way to know the
an offset smoker. as you can get before adding a char all around. The next afternoon, embers are cold
a really hot fire second and third It takes about check that the fire is before you toss the
going. You want layer. This ensures 10 to 15 minutes. out and the barrel charcoal in a box
flames shooting up. the fire gets to the has cooled.
top layer. or bag to store.
22 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
‘Friendships, foes, murders, assassinations, the
inglorious underworld and the glorious world of
Springbok rugby ... this is the 1995 World Cup
winner James Dalton’s life story’
On sale Now!
HOW YOUR WORLD WORKS
ELEMENTAL NEEDS
/ BY STUART THOMAS /
Zinc:
superhero
of the
metal
world
CAR PARTS, fertiliser, 1 / AGRICULTURE Above: Zinc is (in other words, machinable),
roof tiles … a random one of the primary corrosion-resistant, and retaining
assortment of items, Zinc is essential to agriculture metals found in high strength.
but they do all share as it significantly boosts crop brass, which is
something in common: productivity and is a crucial highly resistant Brass is most widely used in
the lesser-known but requirement for healthy plant life. to corrosion. Early applications that are decorative
remarkably prevalent Zinc in soil not only maximises diving suits were or mechanical, such as tap fittings,
mineral, zinc. You might vaguely crop yields, but enhances the made of this durable plumbing fittings, fasteners, tools,
recall having seen zinc on the nutritional value of the produce and malleable alloy. and appliance parts.
ingredients list of some or other too, and, ultimately, improves
product that you use, but never farmers’ incomes. Below: Zinc 3 / BUILDING
gave it a second thought, or is important in
perhaps you’re fully aware of its That said, zinc is a common farming, and is Zinc-coated steel is not easily
versatility and multitude of uses. micronutrient deficiency in commonly added to corroded. In fact, it can hold up
Either way, some of its applications agricultural soils. Zinc-based fertilisers to improve against atmospheric corrosion
may well still surprise you. fertilisers are therefore essential to soil quality. for decades. Due to this robust,
Zinc, in various compounds, protect plants from environmental anti-corrosion property, zinc-
can be used in numerous ways. stresses and diseases that stunt
Its uses in the world can be traced growth, and to promote good
throughout history, even as far rooting and crop yield.
back as 1000 BCE. These days, it
plays an important role in many 2 / BRASS
aspects of our day-to-day lives,
from agriculture and building This alloy metal is made of copper
to wellness and X-ray machines, and zinc. Due to brass’s unique
and much more in-between. properties and versatility, it’s one
Simon Norton, from the Africa of the most widely used alloys on
Desk at the International Zinc the planet. The proportions of zinc
Association (IZA), says that this and copper within brass can vary,
natural element is commonly used creating a range of brass alloys with
to boost, heal and protect, and is differing properties. These alloys
especially essential for all living are known for being easily formed
things. Simon points out eight
ways in which this magnificent
metal is the superhero we didn’t
even know we needed:
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 25
HOW YOUR WORLD WORKS
ELEMENTAL NEEDS
coated products are commonly strength makes it ideal for Top: Zinc-coated Due to its anti-inflammatory
used in the building industry for safety elements such as seat- steel is a key properties, zinc can help to relieve
steel frames, sheet cladding, roof belt components. component in redness and irritation on the skin
sheets, gutters and downpipes. building and and can even potentially reduce
Due to its excellent corrosion construction. scarring. Topical and oral zinc
Not only is it durable (it has resistance, zinc is often used treatments are used to treat
been known to last for more to make parts on the exterior Bottom left: Zinc a variety of skin conditions,
than 100 years), but it’s also of vehicles, including parts of is used extensively including rosacea and eczema.
considered to be environmentally the windshield wiper, sunroof in the making of It’s even used to aid in the
friendly, as it requires lower and chassis. Many automotive vehicle components treatment of depression.
energy in its production process manufacturers prefer to make in the die-casting
compared with other common as many zinc parts as possible, process. Yet the saying that you can
building materials. It is also since zinc-cast products can have too much of a good thing
entirely recyclable. Researchers often go directly into the holds true. As with any medicine or
at the University of Arkansas assembly process. In addition, supplement, zinc should always be
in the United States have even they already have an attractive taken at the recommended dosage.
found that coating solar cells finish, so they don’t require
with a thin layer of zinc oxide any special finishing. 8 / ZINC-RICH PAINT PHOTOGRAPHY: PEXELS, PIXABAY, UNSPLASH, COURTESY IMAGES
can boost efficiency.
6 / GALVANISING Zinc painting, that’s commonly
4 / COSMETICS referred to by the misnomer ‘cold
Not just a Chemical Brothers galvanising’, is the application by
You’ll find zinc as an ingredient song, to galvanise (in the brush or spray of zinc dust that’s
in more beauty products than engineering context) means mixed with organic- or inorganic
expected, including in some to apply a protective coating binders, which together create
serums, treatments, toners, to steel to prevent corrosion. a zinc-rich paint.
moisturisers, masks, make-up And, you might’ve guessed,
and hair products. It’s known this anti-corrosion coating Zinc-rich paints usually contain
to be suitable for sensitive skin is zinc. In fact, galvanising is 65–95 per cent metallic zinc in the
and can be used as a gentle acne the biggest market worldwide final dry film but it’s common for
treatment. It can even prevent for refined zinc. the dry paint to be composed of
dandruff and is used in several 92–95 per cent zinc powder. Like
dental products to help keep Hot-dip galvanising all paint coatings, zinc-rich paint
breath fresh. is the process of dipping is a surface coating mechanically
fabricated steel into a kettle bonded to the steel; the zinc acts in
5 / DIE-CAST PARTS or vat that contains molten what’s called a ‘cathodic protection
zinc. The process is inherently mode’ on the steel. The exposure
The automotive industry relies simple and provides a distinct of the zinc paint in a corrosive
on die-casting for a variety of advantage over other corrosion- atmosphere results in the zinc
applications. Vehicles have protection methods such as being sacrificed instead of the
many metal parts that must painting. While the steel is in underlying steel item, which
be cast into specific shapes. the kettle, the iron in the steel should then last for decades.
Die-casting is the perfect metallurgically reacts with the
method for making these molten zinc to form a tightly popularmechanics.co.za
parts, and zinc is one of the bonded alloy coating that
easiest metals to cast. provides superior corrosion
protection to steel.
The ability to form zinc
into very specific parts without This corrosion-protected
losing the metal’s stability and steel is primarily used for
construction, electrical power
26 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 masts, agricultural equipment,
automotive parts and roof
sheeting, among others.
7 / MEDICINE
Aside from keeping ailments
at bay, zinc is also used to treat
a variety of conditions. There
are many zinc-based cold and
flu medicines (it’s commonly
thought to reduce the duration
and severity of symptoms)
including tablets, nasal
sprays, and lozenges.
COM
CAPE TOWN FOR CAPETONIANS
Cap e To wn ’ s fa vo ur ite s ite fo r th e rea l s co o p
on what’s happening in the Mother City
NEWS.
W E AT H E R .
FOOD & WINE.
TRAVEL. ADVENTURE.
E N T E R TA I N M E N T.
WHAT’S ON.
SCAN [email protected]
HERE
capetownetc.com
HOAX[?]
/ BY DAVID GROSSMAN /
The wild
idea that
the
Titanic
never
really
sank
IS IT ACTUALLY the Titanic a fierce rivalry with the Cunard The hole torn in the White Star Chairman J Bruce
at the bottom of the ocean? Steamship Company, Ltd, which, hull of RMS Olympic Ismay commissioned three ships
No one is denying that a ship in 1906–07, shipped the maiden after the collision – the Olympic, the Titanic, and the
really sank in the icy waters of voyages of the world’s then-largest with HMS Hawke Britannic – that would outclass
the North Atlantic on 15 April passenger ships: the Lusitania in the Solent strait, Cunard’s fleet, which at the
1912. Or that approximately and the Mauretania. To compete, 20 September 1911. time was bigger and faster.
1 500 passengers aboard White Star needed some help.
perished. However, there are some The Olympic came first, and its
who suggest that the White Star That’s where financier JP first four voyages were unqualified
Line, the ship’s parent company, Morgan came in. In 1902, his successes. But during the fifth,
pulled a fast one on the public in holding company, International the vessel ran into trouble. On
an insurance scam that ended up Mercantile Marine Co, purchased 20 September 1911, while passing
going horribly wrong. White Star. Bankrolled by Morgan, a military vessel, the Hawke, the
These theorists claim that instead
of the Titanic, a sister ship in White popularmechanics.co.za
Star’s fleet was the one that now
sits at the bottom of the ocean.
The strangest part: The idea isn’t
as far-fetched as you might think.
THE HEYDAY OF BIG SHIPS
The British White Star Line had
stiff competition in England and
across the globe. Locally, it had
28 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
Olympic made an unexpected What to do if your ship sinks
turn. Caught off guard, the ships
collided. The Olympic was able to Life vests save lives, but what else do you need if your boat goes down?
limp back to port, badly wounded. This is what US Coast Guard Petty Officer Brian McCrum advises.
That crash is where the 1 HAVE SIGNAL 2 VHF CHANNEL 16 3 STAY WITH THE 4 HAVE A FLOAT
conspiracy begins. D E V I C E S Search A radio on board V E S S E L If you P L A N Let someone
parties will look can save your life, can’t see the shore, know where and
White Star not only had a for anything from and so can channel don’t try to swim when you’re going.
damaged ship; the company flares to the light 16. It’s solely used to safety; stay with Stick to that plan,
was also deemed accountable for on your sports for boaters, and in the ship. Also, and rescue crews
the crash with the Hawke. That watch – yes, a Coast the US, the Coast not all ships will will be able to locate
meant insurance wouldn’t cover Guard helicopter Guard monitors it. go completely you easier if trouble
the repairs. With a big ship sitting can spot that. The If you’re in need of underwater. If your arises. The US Coast
idle on the docks bringing in no more devices, the assistance, this is hull is overturned Guard actually has
money, White Star, the theory better. McCrum where to summon and still afloat, use an app – US Coast
suggests, made a switch. recommends aid. McCrum also it for visibility. ‘Not Guard in App Store
torches, mirrors, recommends only will it keep or Google Play –
The second ship in line, the whistles, flares, having an EPIRB you out of cold where you can
Titanic, was already in the works. retroreflective tape – an emergency water longer, it’s file a float plan to
So, instead of having a beaten (which can go on position-indicating also bigger than detail where you
up liner out of commission, the a life jacket), and radio beacon. Both you,’ McCrum are travelling, your
company slapped the Olympic anything else are preferred over says. ‘We can itinerary, and the
name on the new ship – the Titanic that can increase a cellphone with see a boat easier equipment you
– and the original Olympic would your visibility. spotty reception. than you.’ have on board.
be repurposed into the Titanic.
PHOTOGRAPHY: KIRK AND SONS OF COWES/HERITAGE IMAGES/GETTYIMAGES, GALLO/GETTYIMAGES who published a book on this He also adds that the ships
With the switch made, the subject, Titanic or Olympic: Which were not identical. The Titanic
Olympic (now secretly operating Ship Sank?, address the porthole had a unique café and enlarged
as the Titanic) could be scuttled question head-on. restaurant, based on what was
in a planned accident. The White learned with the Olympic. Plus,
Star Line could collect an insurance ‘The Olympic,’ they write, ‘like additional steel plates were fitted
payment, which would benefit the the Titanic, was fitted originally to the bedplates of the Olympic’s
new ship, all while the Titanic (now with the very same 14-porthole engines in 1911. They were
the Olympic) would live on. The arrangement on the port side of still in the correct place during
plan seemed sound, until it was her forecastle, but two additional inspections in the ’20s and ’30s.
ruined by an iceberg. portholes were later fitted; they
were there in March 1912.’ Closely examined, none of the
EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST Olympic/Titanic claims can hold
Historian Mark Chirnside has also up to the phenomenal effort that
It’s not impossible that White devoted serious time to the question would have been necessary for the
Star Line switched ships. But the of why, exactly, the switch would switch. Without concrete evidence,
evidence that exists for that is thin. have been made. His key evidence the theory fails to stand up. The
is the insurance claim for the ship at the bottom of the ocean
Proponents of the theory point Titanic. The ship cost $7 500 000. is the actual Titanic.
to the Titanic not allowing public It was insured for $5 000 000.
examination prior to setting sail,
and to portholes – theorists suggest
that when viewing photos of the
Titanic under construction and the
ship that set sail for New York, it
looks suspiciously like the Olympic.
But historians are quick to point
to the facts. Titanic researchers
Steve Hall and Bruce Beveridge,
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 29
BOOK REVIEW
/ BY TIANA CLINE /
Your body
is a wonderland
It’s more than just a machine and, according
to Bill Bryson, it’s time to become captivated,
enchanted even, by your own body.
THERE’S A good FUN FACT The Body: A Guide for PHOTOGRAPHY: UNSPLASH, COURTESY IMAGES
chance you’ve FROM Occupants (Penguin)
already read THE BOOK: by Bill Bryson is now
a Bill Bryson Did you know that available in-store
book. His 2003 over a lifetime we and online.
hit A Short History eat about 60 tons
of Nearly Everything of food, which popularmechanics.co.za
remains the biggest-selling is more or less
popular-science book of equivalent
the 21st century. The Body: to eating 60
A Guide for Occupants is his small cars.
latest compendium, full of fun
facts that are both useful and for example, that babies yawn
interesting and, because it’s Bill in the womb, and so do adults
Bryson, very funny too. Bryson in comas? Or, that crying when
is one of the best literary travel you’re sad has no physiological
guides around, and on this tour benefit? How about that if you
he’s taking you through you – unravelled all of the DNA in
the human body. your body from end to end,
it would reach beyond Pluto’s
In just more than 450 pages, orbit? Bryson is also not
you’ll learn why you should afraid to bust food myths.
not take the human body for In The Body he says that
granted, and you’ll hear about there is no scientific evidence
some of the most extraordinary that MSG causes headaches.
medical discoveries. The Body is And antioxidants? There’s no
divided into different chapters, palpable research that they’ll
ranging from the brain to the increase your lifespan – sorry.
guts, the immune system, heart This book is both an anatomy
and even the ‘nether regions’. class for the layperson and the
It also looks at diseases and owner’s manual that you didn’t
cancer … which may make know you needed. But yes, you
it sound like a daunting really do.
read – and yes, it is really
comprehensive – but it’s
also completely accessible
and enjoyable.
Our body is a wonderland
and Bryson’s factual snippets
will change the way you think
about existence. Did you know,
30 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
GAMES AND TOYS Below: A joyous,
/ BY TIANA CLINE / bitty adventure that
plays as smooth
It’s time as it looks. Enjoy
to switch mini-games, puzzles
to indie and so much more.
WHILE WE’LL popularmechanics.co.za
always have
space for
Mario and
Zelda in our
hearts (and in
our storage),
the Nintendo Switch also offers
countless indie games in its online
store, which makes it easy to miss
out on some real gems. Here are
three of our recent favourites.
A WHOLE NEW WORLD
/ THE TOURYST
In this quirky, blocky action-
adventure game, you play an
inconspicuous tourist who
travels between different exotic
islands to complete missions while
uncovering mysterious ancient
monuments. At first, it looks
unassuming and simple but, as
you progress, you’ll soon come
to realise how impressive this
title is, both visually and in its
gameplay. You’ll find yourself
chatting to locals, scuba diving,
surfing, chilling, flying RC copters,
solving Zelda-like puzzles and even
playing arcade games. Each island
is a treat in itself – charming,
dreamlike and filled with little
secrets, making The Touryst
an unusual but accomplished
game you won’t easily forget.
32 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
HONK IF YOU’RE HAVING FUN cute and chaotic. Your entire task ROFLMAO
list is made up of messing with
/ UNTITLED GOOSE GAME some happy people in a quaint / WEST OF LOATHING
English town. Yes, it’s all rather
If you’ve ever been chased down by absurd, but it’s also the destructive If you’re looking for a game that
a gaggle of honking geese, you know fun of honking, flapping, hiding, makes you giggle, West of Loathing
exactly how wild these birds can and running that’s surprisingly is a silly stick-figure RPG adventure
get. But what if you could step into rewarding. It’s sort of like Hitman that’s nothing short of hilarious.
the webbed toes of a mischievous … but you’re a goose. Packed with crazy side quests
goose whose main goal it is to and an even crazier dialogue,
wreak havoc? In Untitled Goose there’s always something to do
Game, being a bad goose is both and discover as you head west.
What makes this game sing is
Left: It’s a lovely the animation style, brilliant
morning in the writing, immersive soundtrack
village and you and in-depth level of customisation
are a troublesome that will make you want to replay
goose on the loose. it long after you’ve finished the
Below: Traverse 10-hour (or so) main campaign.
snake-infested It may look like it was knocked
gulches, punch out on a budget, but it’s truly
skeletons wearing a laugh-out-loud content
cowboy hats and experience like no other.
grapple with
demon cows.
PHOTOGRAPHY: GAMES PRESS, UNSPLASH, COURTESY IMAGES
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 33
BY MIKE OJO / PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSÉ MANDOJANA
WHY I’M BUILDING MY OWN
34 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 35
INSIDE MIKE’S KIT
SLING TSi KIT ROTAX 915 iS AIRMASTER CONSTANT GARMIN G3X TOUCH
The Sling TSi is a four-person, single- Even at max take-off weight, with This glass touchscreen display
engine plane from Sling Aircraft (a four adults and a load of fuel, the SPEED PROP provides many of the same avionics
South African company), complete Rotax 915 iS can lift the plane into A constant-speed propeller adjusts features the big boys have, including
with glass cockpit and gull-wing the sky at 1 000 feet (305 m) per the pitch angle of the blades to flight charts, airport diagrams, a
doors. It’s modern, easy to fly, minute and cruise at 155 knots maintain speed regardless of engine moving GPS map, and all manner
and packed with as many cool (287 km/h). Computerisation rpm. This allows the plane’s engine of aircraft-specific gauges such
toys as you’re willing to install keeps the engine running at to create different amounts of thrust as fuel, flaps, trim, alerts, and
(the more, the better). maximum efficiency. depending on what stage of flight engine statistics.
you’re in.
36 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
Mike chronicles his build on his I’VE ALWAYS BEEN fascinated bells and whistles – but by building
YouTube channel MojoGrip. with aeroplanes. I grew up in Lagos, the plane yourself, you save tons
Nigeria, where there were barely any of cash. It takes about 1 500
roads. The main road out of our area man-hours to assemble the
wasn’t tarred, and during the rainy TSi. When you build your own
season it would become flooded and plane, you’re basically trading
muddy. When my sisters and I walked time for money.
along the flooded road to school,
I’d see aeroplanes flying above us. The heart of any plane is its
engine, and the TSi comes with
I ’I’dbeenviousofwhoeverwasin a great one. It’s the Rotax 915 iS,
the plane because we were down a turbocharged 1.35-litre four-
on the ground, walking in mud. cylinder unit that can provide full
My family moved to New York take-off power up to 15 000 feet.
City when I was about 12. At that The Rotax’s forced induction allows
time, I never imagined I would be me to get full power (141 horsepower,
flying planes. None of my friends or 105 kW) even at altitude, where
or family members encouraged a standard engine might see a
my obsession with planes, and still significant reduction in how hard
when I fly, I don’t see many pilots it can push. The TSi is also strong
who look like me. When I was in on fuel economy (26 to 30 litres
my 20s, after I met my wife and per hour of standard automobile
we moved to California together, fuel) and comes with all sorts of
opportunity arose. I read about this computer wizardry to help me,
15-year-old girl who flew herself the pilot. A Full Authority Digital
across the country. I said to myself: Engine Control (FADEC) system
It’s now or never. That girl’s story helps control fuel burn, blade
made me realise I had no more angle, and other aspects of engine
excuses to give. I went up for the performance, which makes my
first time the week of my 26th life much easier. It has room for
birthday, and now I’m building four adults and can go 1 300 to
my own aeroplane. 1 600 km in one shot, and best
For most pilots, flying on your of all (depending on your point
own is unattainable because it’s of view), you get to assemble
really expensive. Even just getting it yourself.
your pilot’s licence costs a lot
of money. But that’s nothing I looked at other kits, but the
compared to buying your own TSi just felt right. I took a flight in
plane. My dream plane – it’s actually one with my wife, and afterwards
on my dream board, this collage of she said, ‘I can see you flying
aspirational images I keep in my that aeroplane.’
office – is a four-seater kit plane
from Sling Aircraft called the You don’t need a ton of skills to
Sling TSi. It’s a major financial build an aeroplane, but it’s a good
commitment – $200 000 to idea to take a class or two. There
$250 000 if you want all the are aviation workshops in most
big cities, and when you find the
right people, the community can be
GARMIN G5 ELECTRONIC GARMIN GTN 650 GARMIN GTX 45R STRATOS 07 BALLISTIC
FLIGHT INSTRUMENT This unit combines weather, terrain It’s important to communicate
Pairing up with the touchscreen, data, flight-traffic updates and the where you are in the sky, so this PARACHUTE
this instrument provides the pilot all-important radios on a single ADS-B transponder talks to other In case of a catastrophic emergency
with a digital attitude indicator device. You can plot waypoints and aircraft and air traffic controllers such as total engine failure, this
essential for flying the aircraft. glide paths, and plan take-offs and to establish your location. It also fail-safe pops out of the back of
It includes horizon-based pitch landings to keep yourself safe, stay provides automatic traffic alerts the aircraft and floats the plane to
and roll, airspeed, altitude, and informed, and remain on course. and weather updates to help your the ground, keeping the pilot and
vertical speed. situational awareness – crucial to any passengers safe and sound.
any safe flight.
popularmechanics.co.za
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 37
FOUR incredibly welcoming to newcomers. this. I’m still assembling, so I don’t
GREAT KIT The aviation community is also very have that full sense of attachment
PLANES small, and you’ll always be able to yet, but once I sit in the pilot’s seat,
TO TACKLE find people who have been through it’ll hit me.
the process. I’m using a build-assist
1 PIPISTREL programme, which adds some cost I have a newborn at home, so
PANTHERA but gives me a dedicated facility now I’m going through all of this
The Panthera has to build the plane (it takes a lot of with safety in mind. All the decisions
retractable landing room!) as well as a lot of expertise I’m making come down to feeling
gear and a sexy, from experienced builders. There’s capable. If I don’t feel capable, I’d
aerodynamic shape. no room for error in aviation, so rather find people who are more
A glass cockpit and having someone who has built a experienced to perform the task. For
extra-comfy seats plane before to hold your hand is example: I’m hiring a professional
make long journeys a great comfort. test pilot for my first flight with the
feel luxurious. TSi. You have to stall the aeroplane,
panthera-aircraft.com With my build, we started test the manoeuvring, take it up
with constructing the empennage to maximum speed, and verify
2 SABERWING – the tail – and worked forwards everything the manufacturer
The manufacturer from there. You have to run tells you the plane can handle.
notes that this plane electrical wires through every
is such a quick build, part of the plane, being careful to These days, I’ve made planes
you’ll ‘be sitting in the route everything safely and avoid my life. I’m a full-time aviation
fuselage within a few sharp edges that could damage the YouTuber. Most people don’t know
hours of opening the wiring down the line. You have to be how to build their own aeroplane or
kit.’ For those who particularly cautious when working what getting a pilot’s license entails,
can’t wait to play with the flight-control surfaces, and I hope that by documenting
with their new toy. such as the horizontal and vertical what I am doing on YouTube, I can
azaleaaviation.com stabilisers at the back. Those are attract more people to kit planes and
critical to safe flying. aviation. My channel was taking off
3 JUST AIRCRAFT before I decided to build the plane,
SUPERSTOL After the body is assembled, and my wife asked if I’d still choose
The SuperSTOL has we’ll wire up the avionics and a kit plane if YouTube didn’t exist.
low-speed capabilities electrical work, mount the engine, Absolutely. Ever since I earned my
that allow it to land and set up the computers, radio, licence, my goal was to build a life
on short runways or antennas, and everything else. around flying. It took me 20 years
small clearings. It just I’m most excited for the avionics. to reach this point.
needs 150 feet (45 m) I learned to fly behind the Garmin
of runway to take off. G3X system, and that’s what’s going One of the best things about
justaircraft.com in my plane. I’ll be wiring it all up, building a YouTube channel has
hooking up backup batteries, been the community I’ve entered.
4 DARKAERO and connecting the autopilot. I’ve had people from all over the
DarkAero claims this world reach out to me and say my
is the longest-range Then there’s the parachute. channel inspired them to start doing
aircraft you can build The TSi’s parachute is not like some type of aviation. It encourages
– 1 700 statute miles a skydiver’s chute: It’s a giant me to keep doing this more and more.
(2 736 km) at 275 mph ballistic parachute that can bring I want to feel like I’m representing
(443 km/h) cruising the entire aircraft safely to the more than Nigerians or immigrants;
speed. That can fly ground in case of a dire emergency. like I am speaking for anyone who
you from Boston to It’s reliable, but there’s one catch: has ever wanted to fly. I don’t want
Houston. Production I can’t test my parachute ahead of to get on my channel and say, ‘Hey,
began in 2020. time. I just have to hope it works. look at me, I’m a Nigerian immigrant
darkaero.com So that’s one thing I absolutely have reviewing aeroplanes.’ I’m doing it
to get right, because you literally for everyone who has ever looked to
38 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 only get one shot. the sky, seen a plane, and thought:
‘That’ll be me someday.’
The relationship between pilot – As told to Jordan Golson
and plane is always intimate, but it’s
more so when you’ve built the plane SLING AIRCRAFT
yourself. As a pilot, you have to be
ahead of the aeroplane or you’re in Based in Joburg, this South African company has
trouble. In a kit plane, whether it’s a selection of finished planes to choose from, or kits,
in flight or on the ground, you’ll broken down into manageable sections. Contact them
always know exactly where an
issue is because you’re the one who on 011 948 9898, [email protected],
assembled it. There’s a level of pride or visit slingaircraft.com.
in whatever you’re flying, too: I built
popularmechanics.co.za
I N N OVAT I O N
EATING INVASIVE SPECIES
Wild food
40 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
The sustainable choice
Invasive species are taking over…
But what if we could eat our way
out of this ecological mess?
/ BY TIANA CLINE /
/ BY LUKE FOLB / Far left: Why
/ BY CLARE PETRA MATTHES / not choose
invasive
popularmechanics.co.za Mediterranean
mussels for
your dinner
plate?
Opposite:
Coastal
foraging
is about
sustainable
harvesting
and prepping
macro-algae
and shellfish.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 41
I N N OVAT I O N popularmechanics.co.za
EATING INVASIVE SPECIES
Y OUR GARDEN has been
overtaken by weeds. The
herbs you’ve planted are
long gone and forgotten. But
what if those weeds could be
your first edible harvest? The
activity of foraging is booming,
and eating common weeds is only step one
when it comes to rethinking what should go
on to our plates. From chicken of the woods,
aka wild mushrooms, to waterblommetjies,
South Africa is home to plenty of indigenous
delicacies worth exploring, but our landscape
is also packed with invasive species.
EATING THE INVADERS
It’s pretty simple – an invasive species is
a variety that is not native to a particular
location. When something is not native
(often labelled invasive or alien) it can
threaten the ecosystem, the economy,
and our health. Invasive species are not
only plants; they can also be insects, fish,
reptiles and mammals – feral pigs cause
prodigious damage in the Malmesbury area
of the Western Cape. But there are some
ecologists who believe one way to get rid
of the invasives – or at least alleviate some
of their negative effects – is to eat them.
In Puerto Rico, people are eating the
out-of-control green iguana population.
In America, Japanese knotweed, Asian
carp and even venomous lionfish are ending
up on tables. Joe Roman is a conservation
biologist and researcher at the Gund
Institute for Ecological Economics at
the University of Vermont. He’s well
known for his ‘Eat the Invaders’ website.
‘I just want people to know more about
invasive species and realise that something
can be done about them. I also just want
people to get outside,’ says Joe. ‘For many
of these species, we’re probably going to
need a combination of approaches. The
truth is that it’s unlikely we’re going to
eat these species to complete extinction,
but reducing the numbers is absolutely,
absolutely essential.’
42 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
THE Opposite: Created by Roushanna Gray from Veld
RED and Sea, this wild fennel and flour bread is both
LIST delicious and eco-friendly.
Below: Around 1 000 species of fungi can be found
To find out about which in South Africa, but only 20 of these are edible.
indigenous plants are at
the risk of extinction, you COSMOPOLITAN
can check the Red List. WEEDS
On redlist.sanbi.org
you’ll find up-to-date While they’re not always
information on the invasive, weeds aren’t
national conservation something you want
status of South Africa’s to have growing in
indigenous plants. abundance in your
garden. As a solution,
instead of chucking
them out, many can
be harvested. Nettles,
nasturtiums, and
dandelions, for example,
are usually seen as pests
but are, in fact, incredibly
good for you. From stir-
frying dandelion leaves
to using nasturtium
flowers in salads and
even steeping nettle
leaves for tea, there are
a number of weeds that
can be used in several
different ways. What’s
interesting is that many
of the same weeds that
grow in South Africa can
be found in other parts
of the world – they’re
cosmopolitan! – so if
you’re looking for a good
weedy recipe, there are
plenty available online.
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 43
I N N OVAT I O N
EATING INVASIVE SPECIES
Right: Local edible seaweed can be eaten
fresh or preserved at home for later use.
Below: Invasive plant-infused cocktails? Get
creative and botanical with your drinks bar.
Bottom right: A broth made at Veld and Sea
using edible ‘cosmopolitan’ weeds and flowers.
BIODIVERSITY CRIMES
Can’t wait to go whimsically skipping
through a forest with a basket of wild
mushrooms in hand? Don’t do it. While
foraging for plants is becoming increasingly
popular, foraging for indigenous plants
locally isn’t always a good idea. Unlike
foraging in Europe where there’s free
access, in South Africa there are strict laws,
which include not being able to forage in
parks, forestry areas and private land – you
need permission from a landowner to uproot
anything. Picking flora requires permits, and
for coastal foraging you’ll need a mollusc
permit (which can be obtained from the SA
post office) to legally collect both seaweed
and shellfish.
EAT WILD, EAT SAFE
If you’re not sure about a plant, ask an
expert, invest in a guidebook or join an
online group such as ‘Foraging – South
Africa’ on Facebook. You could also
download the iNaturalist app (for iOS
and Android) to identify plant species.
44 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
VELD
AND
SEA
We chatted to
Roushanna Gray
(right), from
veldandsea.com,
about encouraging
people to be more
curious about our
edible landscape.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROUSHANNA GRAY/VELD AND SEA Popular Mechanics: How did you PM: You also educate people about are becoming aware of the quality of
these food sources and how special
get into wild food? eating seaweed. Do we have alien all of these things are.
seaweed species along our coast?
Roushanna Gray: The more you learn, PM: What are your top foraging rules?
RG: No, but we do get two different RG: Always make sure that you know,
the more there is to learn! It all started off
with fynbos flavours, and then I started and very similar looking mussel species 100 per cent, what plant species you’re
learning about edible flowers and weeds, along our Atlantic coastline – a local black considering before you pick it. Never pick
which led me to edible seaweed along the mussel, and a Mediterranean mussel something from a polluted area. Only pick
coastline. I started learning about all of this (Mytilus galloprovincialis), which is an what you need and always be responsible,
when I first moved out to the Good Hope invasive alien. It competes with our local sustainable, and legal in your actions
Gardens Nursery in Cape Point 15 years molluscs, literally muscling in on them when forging.
ago, which is where I still live and work. and taking over their habitat. When we
go down to the rocky shores, I teach WATCH THIS:
PM: Why do you think it’s important people how to identify the different INTO THE WILD
species and we only focus on picking
to eat what’s around you? the Mediterraneans … so we are Always be careful what
eating the aliens. you forage and eat! Based
RG: If you’re a chef or just enjoy cooking, on a non-fiction book by
PM: Do some people think you’re Jon Krakauer, the movie
you know that the fresher your ingredients, Into the Wild (2007) is
the better the food you prepare. And how a little crazy for eating weeds? a cautionary tale about
much fresher can you get than picking a young man named Chris
something straight from your own garden RG: A lot of these invasive things, which McCandless who gave
or neighbourhood? And it’s free, organic, up everything, hiked into
and usually way more nutritionally dense we discard as something that’s not useful the Alaskan wilderness
than anything you can buy at the super- are actually incredibly good for us, and … and was found dead
market. I always encourage people underutilised. It can feel like a very foreign a few months later. It
to learn about the wild flavours of and a weird thing to do but actually – once was determined that he
our indigenous plants and then to go you start forming a relationship with a misidentified a plant, and
and plant them in their own gardens. plant, one plant at a time, one species at consumed toxic, wild-
a time – you get to know them and figure potato seeds that caused
PM: Tell us about the workshops out how best you can utilise them in your a neurological disease
kitchen. Then it’s just like dealing with known as lathyrism, which
you offer? another lettuce or another spinach. ultimately led to paralysis.
RG: They’re about creating a safe space PM: It’s taken a while for wild foods
for people to nurture this curiosity for to become fashionable – why is this?
these crazy, new ingredients. We track
the seasons – in summertime, we do RG: For some, gathering wild food has
coastal foraging. We go down to the
beach and there’s a whole introduction had a social stigma that’s been attributed
to seaweeds and shellfish. In autumn, we to poverty. Sometimes it takes something
have wild mushroom foraging. In winter, to become popular for it to be fashionable
we have wild-food land foraging, and and accepted in society. Along with the
springtime is all about the flowers – we fact that fynbos and indigenous plants are
do flower workshops with edible flowers. popping up on restaurant menus, people
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 45
How Gore’s research lab puts the world’s most technical clothing to the test.
BY SCOTT YORKO
CTHOINARTSMHTIUEDBREEER
46 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za
popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 47
MY JOB
IS TO
MAKE SURE
NO ONE
IS EVER
TRULY
COMFORTABLE.
PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES
OF COMFORT
INSIDE GORE’S ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING CHAMBER, THE AMBIENT AIR Above: ‘My job is to make sure no
one is ever truly comfortable,’
temperature is a balmy 35°C. Huge lights on the seven-metre-high domed The Rain Room says 40-year-old Ray Davis, the
ceiling beat down. Near one of the treadmills, a tester named Walter is is capable of Comfort Technician in charge
running in place. He’s an integral part of the research team, who’s there of the test lab. When it comes
every day, helping scientists test new outdoor apparel. He’s got sensors replicating up to developing outdoor gear,
on his body measuring sweat rate, skin temperature, and range of motion. to 80 mm of he regularly pushes testers
There are also hoses coming out of his eye sockets. precipitation close to their physical limits.
per hour.
Walter, as you may have guessed, is not actually a human. He’s a $400 000 In fact, the Environmental
(±R6.6 million) mannequin, to be exact, with more than 100 sweating pores Left: Ray Davis Chamber where Walter and his
on his fibreglass and carbon-fibre body. And he’s just one of the high-tech is in charge of human counterpart are running
tools in the fabric and manufacturing company’s $5 million biophysics lab is capable of replicating 85 per
at it’s Elkton, Maryland, R&D facility. Gore’s test labs. cent of the Earth’s weather. The
lights on the ceiling can mimic
Next to Walter, a college student from nearby University of Delaware jogs a full solar cycle from sunrise
on an inclined treadmill, wearing sunglasses and a lightweight wind shell. to sunset, while humidity
He’s strapped with a heart-rate monitor and has swallowed a thermometer can go from 5 to 98 per cent.
the size of two Advil gel capsules that’s measuring his core temperature and Wondering how a garment will
sending real-time readings to the lab’s computers through a radio signal. fare in the rainforest in peak rainy
Gore’s lab technicians will use this and other data to develop some of the season? The chamber can show
most technologically advanced outdoor apparel on the market. you. How about in the solar
radiation reflecting off snow
The company has been innovating like this since the 1950s, and is best on Mt Everest? Just let Davis
known for its namesake fabric Gore-Tex, invented accidentally in 1969 crank up the 72 lights overhead.
by Bob Gore, the son of the company’s founder, when he discovered that It only takes two hours to go
stretching a piece of polytetrafluoroethylene created tiny air pockets in the between its maximum and
material. The resulting breathable waterproof textile went on to transform minimum temperatures: 50°C
the outerwear industry. And it’s in this lab that the company builds on to −50°C (wind chill −65°C) in full
that legacy, testing fabric innovations for apparel used in industrial and blizzard conditions, although it
recreational settings – such as fighting fires, cleaning up chemical spills, uses about two thirds of the entire
running through the desert, or riding a bike in the rain. The process involves building’s power capacity to make
highly proprietary systems and methodology, many details of which the this drastic temperature change.
company won’t divulge. But we got a peek behind the curtain to see how
Gore puts its apparel to the test. Perhaps the most surprising
aspect of the lab is that it tests
popularmechanics.co.za for something we only notice
the absence of. ‘The body doesn’t
know when it’s comfortable,’
Davis says. ‘It only knows
when it’s uncomfortable. We
don’t even have the ability to
sense when we’re wet – we
just notice the loss of heat.’
The best outdoor gear is
actually the stuff you don’t even
think about while you’re wearing
it. That’s why input from both
Walter and human test subjects
is so important. ‘Mannequins give
more reliable info than human
subjects,’ Davis says. But feedback
on how things feel is important,
too. ‘We might have the most
waterproof and durable garment
in the world,’ Davis says. ‘But
if it feels like sandpaper, you’re
not going to want to wear it again.’
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 49
The words you are searching are inside this book. To get more targeted content, please make full-text search by clicking here.
2020-09-01 Popular Mechanics South Africa.pdf
Discover the best professional documents and content resources in AnyFlip Document Base.
Search