How does that work?
Quick read
- Energy
- Environment & sustainability
- Chemical
- How does that work?
- Issue 96
How do electrolysers work?
Electrolysers are a critical net zero technology used to produce green hydrogen.
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- Electricals & electronics
- Technology & robotics
- How does that work?
- Issue 94
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) help to make many of our everyday items work, from Air Pods to airbags.
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- Technology & robotics
- How does that work?
- Issue 93
How do drone displays work?
From London’s new year fireworks to the Tokyo 2022 Olympic opening ceremony, coordinated drone displays are creating spectacular light shows in the night skies, with clever engineering creating a system that can be flown safely and repeatedly.
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- Technology & robotics
- Software & computer science
- Sports & leisure
- How does that work?
- Issue 92
Face filters
It started with face swaps, flower crowns and appended dog ears. Now, all manner of transformative sorcery is just a tap away.
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- Software & computer science
- Arts & culture
- How does that work?
- Issue 91
How do NFTs work?
Love them or hate them, NFTs took the art world by storm in 2021. But even this far into their explosion in popularity, many people still have no idea what they are and how they work.
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- Electricals & electronics
- Technology & robotics
- How does that work?
- Issue 90
Robotic vacuum cleaners
Twenty years after the Roomba's original release, the latest generation of robotic vacuum cleaners incorporate sophisticated machine vision technology to steer clear of electrical cables, stray socks and pet poo.
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- Chemical
- Health & medical
- How does that work?
- Issue 89
Wastewater epidemiology
Sampling and testing of wastewater is helping governments across the world to track COVID-19 infections on a large scale.
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- Chemical
- Environment & sustainability
- How does that work?
- Issue 88
Compostable plastics
Compostable plastics can be turned – alongside food and other organic waste – into compost. But how environmentally friendly are they really?
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- Health & medical
- Design & manufacturing
- How does that work?
- Issue 87
Lateral flow tests
During the pandemic, millions of people took lateral flow tests every week to detect COVID-19, enabling them to get a result in just 15 minutes.
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- Software & computer science
- Technology & robotics
- How does that work?
- Issue 86
How do chatbots work?
As human interaction online gradually gives way to automated responses, chatbots must impersonate us without attempting to replicate human empathy or enthusiasm.
Quick read
- Design & manufacturing
- Sports & leisure
- How does that work?
- Issue 85
Electric hairdryers
Invented in the 1920s, the electric hairdryer is an everyday household object that has changed significantly over the past century – and is likely to continue developing as technology evolves.