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Should You Convert Your Car to Natural Gas?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:30:00 EST

As gas prices climb upward, natural gas is abundant and cheap—and likely to remain that way. However, because of technological and legal hurdles involved in converting a car to run on natural gas, it can cost thousands of dollars up front. So is it w

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Portable Table Saws: We Test 11 to Find the Best

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

The table saw is the beating, buzzing heart of the wood shop. The new breed of saws are not only tougher and more accurate than older models, but also increasingly portable for use on a jobsite. We tested 11 portable table saws. Which came out on top?

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Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

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35 DIY Gifts for Your Geek Valentine

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:30:00 EST

Looking for a better Valentine's Day gift than the same old chocolates and flowers? There's still time to make something special for your special someone. Check out these Valentine's Day builds from our friends at Instructables.

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7 Ways to Protect Yourself From a Home Invasion

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

Keeping your home and family safe from an invader takes a lot more than owning a gun. You need to know how to use it, know the laws of your city and state, and prepare your home itself in case of emergency.

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Anatomy of a Special Operations V-22 Osprey

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

The Air Force U.S. Special Operations Command (AFSOC), operates the tiltrotor CV-22 Osprey. During a recent trip to AFSOC in Hurlburt Field, Fla., PM got a close look at the CV-22 and the airfield where it roosts.

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Felix Baumgartner’s 120,000-Foot Space Dive: It's On

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

A lawsuit in 2010 delayed Felix Baumgartner's attempt to dive from a record altitude of 120,00. But now his project, Red Bull Stratos, is back on.

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The Chase to Reach Antarctica's Untouched Lakes

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST

The Russians have broken through into Lake Vostok, Antarctica’s largest subglacial lake. But British and American teams plan to make their own descent into similar lakes later this year.

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Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST

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2012 Toyota Prius c Test Drive

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:30:00 EST

Toyota’s newest and smallest Prius is no hot hatch, but it excels at saving fuel.

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10 Handy Smartphone Apps for Drivers

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

Speed traps! Wonky speedometers! Cheaper gas! Our favorite drivers' apps will take advantage of your smartphone's nifty features and constant connectivity to help you avoid the little annoyances of the road.

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Elon Musk on SpaceX’s Reusable Rocket Plans

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:00:00 EST

SpaceX is hard at work trying to design rocket parts that can fly themselves back to the launchpad for reuse. We talked to founder Elon Musk about how far the company’s designs have come.

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2012 Mini Roadster Test Drive

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Yet another Mini variation is loosed upon the world. Behold the two-seater, drop-top Mini Roadster.

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Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

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12 Ways the World Could (Really) End in 2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

Forget the Mayan nonsense. Goofy prophecies and Mesoamerican calendars won't bring about the end of civilization, but there are at least a dozen scientifically valid ways the apocalypse could arrive before 2012 is out.

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Who Cares About Apple TV? Bring Us the Apple Car

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 EST

The much-mythologized Apple television could be a terrible next step for the company. But entering the automotive world would be a genius coup.

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Casting Call: Talented Gearheads and Terrible Drivers Needed

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

Our friends over at Car And Driver are putting together two new Web series, so they're on the lookout for car repair experts up for a challenge and awful drivers in need of rehabilitation. Here's how to apply.

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2012 BMW ActiveHybrid5 Test Drive

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

BMW’s first hybrid 5 Series is coming, and this new take on the "sedan of sedans" may be the most seamless integration of hybrid technology we’ve seen to date.

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The World's 10 Longest Auto Races

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

Racing 500 miles around a smooth paved oval? Kid stuff. The world's longest rally races have stretched for thousands of miles across continents, through deserts, and over mountains.

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:30:00 EST

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Mileage Moment of Truth: We Put 40 Mpg Claims to the Test

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:30:00 EST

The 2012 Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus SFE are among 20-plus cars that now claim 40 mpg highway. But given the peculiar way in which the EPA calculates its fuel economy estimates, do those mileage numbers truly reflect real-world driving?

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10 Best Super Bowl Car Commercials

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:00:00 EST

As Super Bowl XLVI approaches, it's clear that car ads are going to dominate the commercial breaks in the big game. And while we've been underwhelmed by some of the leaked spots, Super Bowl Sunday has brought us some great auto advertising.

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Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:00:00 EST

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The Geektastic Films from Sundance 2012 You Need to See

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST

From high-tech interactive documentaries to sci-fi-laden romances, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival had plenty to offer the geek set. Popular Mechanics talks science, visual effects, and creative DIY solutions with the people behind these innovative films.

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How the iPad is Revolutionizing the NFL

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

Forget the overstuffed three-ring binder. Tablet computers are quietly taking over NFL locker rooms as the playbook of the 21st century.

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