You might think oak or hickory is tough, but when it comes to the hardest wood in the world, they don’t even come close.

ByGrant Virellan

Some people scream their lungs out on roller coasters. Others hold their arms high and beg for more. Which camp would you fall into if you rode the scariest roller coaster in the world?

ByGrant Virellan

Metals are everywhere—in the wires in your walls, the pans in your kitchen, and even in your blood. These types of metal are defined by their atomic structure, properties, and how they interact with other elements.

ByGrant Virellan

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Swords have served as tools of war, status symbols and ceremonial items across various cultures and historical periods. From medieval Europe to feudal Japan, the types of swords reflect the combat styles, technological advancements and cultural identity of the societies that wielded them.

ByGrant Virellan

The Russian lathe accident remains a chilling reminder of the potential dangers associated with industrial machinery.

ByMack Hayden

There is no shortage of incredible roller coasters for thrill seekers and theme park enthusiasts to enjoy globally. Just as the "space race" encouraged countries to shoot for the stars, the "coaster wars" have pushed theme park engineers to test the boundaries of death-defying drops and ludicrous speeds.

ByMitch Ryan

The Guinness World Records has an award for the steepest road in the world, and Baldwin Street of New Zealand is the current title holder.

ByAda Tseng

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When you look at the tallest buildings, you're not just gazing at steel and glass; you're witness to a place's aspirations for greatness. These record-breaking skyscrapers reshape urban space, optimize office space and serve as iconic landmarks.

ByMack Hayden

Bridges are some of the most awesome and breathtaking constructions, both from a visual standpoint and from an engineering standpoint. They provide such a stark contrast with nature suspended over huge bodies of water and almost appearing to defy gravity.

ByTalon Homer

When you think of the imposing stature of pyramids, you might picture the Great Pyramid of Giza. But the Egypt-based structure is by no means the only impressive pyramid in the world.

ByYara Simón

For the first time, Israeli researchers have developed a system that lets a human use brain waves to control nanobots in a cockroach. How could that help your health?

ByPatrick J. Kiger

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Some "Star Wars" fans aren't content to just watch the movies. They have to bring the tech from the screen into the real world. Get the inside scoop on how creativity, ingenuity and dedication make fan-made droids come to life.

Why are blueprints blue and not some other color? There's a specific chemical process behind it, and its discovery has all the elements of a dark fairy tale.

ByLaurie L. Dove

All eyes are trained on you at halftime as you make slow sweeps across the rink, leaving sparkling smooth ice in your lumbering wake. The fans cheer. You tip your head slightly in modest acknowledgement. This is the life of the Zamboni driver.

ByKate Kershner

One of the most travelled stretches of U.S. highway was designed by a woman who loved mathematics and wasn't interested in being a teacher. Who was she, and where is it?

ByTerri Briseno

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How much do you know about architecture? How about architecture you can see through? The architects who designed these structures will blow you away with the buildings they created -- from glass.

BySharita Sykes

Most of the world uses the metric system for everyday measurements, but only three countries in the world use the imperial system as their official system of measurement.

ByWilliam Harris &Sascha Bos

Steel-framed skyscrapers are common sights in any city skyline these days. But someone had to be the first to build up, up, up. Find out where this architectural standard was born.

ByWesley Fenlon

It took years to construct the 110-story World Trade Center towers and less than an hour to bring them down to rubble. What ultimately caused the towers to collapse on Sept. 11, 2001?

ByClint Pumphrey

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Fractals produce fascinating and intricate designs. Browse through this gallery featuring pictures of a variety of fractals like Mandelbrot and Julia sets and find out why nature is loaded with fractals.

ByHolly Frey

An MRI scan is the best way to see inside the human body without cutting it open, but that may be little comfort to you when you're getting ready for the exam. Lying perfectly still on a tiny slab in a narrow hole, you might wonder what's happening to your body.

By Todd A. Gould, RT-(R)(MR)(ARRT) &Molly Edmonds

Once upon a time, food was used for one thing: eating. Today, it has a much more complicated role. And one of those roles might be serving as an upstart in the world of plastics.

ByJonathan Atteberry

Whether they're adorable like ASIMO or creepy like the world's most lifelike androids, today's robots take on a range of shapes and sizes. But they're not all humanoid. This gallery also shows off a few that are inspired by the animal kingdom.

ByHowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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Bridges move cars, trains, bikes and people, among other things. These 10 may even move your soul with their engineering ingenuity and beauty. So which 10 make the cut?

ByWilliam Harris

Have you ever passed by an abandoned warehouse or gas station and wondered why the government doesn't just tear it down? Well, it may be a brownfield.

ByEcho Surina