Showing titles in How Things Work

ATVs tackle the toughest land around, but there are lots of ways to make these vehicles faster and cooler. Listeners will love finding out how!

ATVs tackle the toughest land around, but there are lots of ways to make these vehicles faster and cooler. Listeners will love finding out how!

A diamond is shiny. A brick wall is dull. Why are some objects shiny and others dull? Find out in this series about materials and their properties. Informative, at-level text helps listeners understand the differences between shiny and dull objects.

Do you like to be on the move? These hands-on, not-so-ordinary science projects are for you! Build speedy motorboats and buzzing bots. Take off with zooming, high-flying rockets. Then, learn the science behind each amazingly mobile creation! Simple step-by-step instructions make it easy to start experimenting and discover just how fun STEM can be.

A bowling ball is heavy. A feather is light. Why are some items heavy and others light? Find out in this series about materials and their properties. Informative, at-level text helps listeners understand the differences between heavy and light materials.

Ready to make some noise? These hands-on, not-so-ordinary science projects are for you! Design melodic musical instruments and squawking noisemakers. Turn up the bass with activities that let you see sound. Then, learn the science behind each rocking racket! Simple step-by-step instructions make it easy to start experimenting and discover just how fun STEM can be.

In mid-1860s, two railroad companies had a huge job in front of them: building the transcontinental railroad. The railroad would run from east to west across the United States. As the grueling work began, there were many choices to make. Now, the choices are yours.

Microwaves heat our food. They carry messages from phone to phone. They help detect the weather. Microwaves are all around us, even if we don't see them. Listeners will learn about microwaves and how we use them every day.

Human transportation has come a long way since the invention of the wheel. Vehicles of all sorts have us speeding across land, through water, and in the skies. What might be next? From self-driving cars to jet packs, listeners will discover exciting new ways they may get around in the future.

What does it take to make a tough tower? Gather some supplies and try it out for yourself! Discover tips and ideas on how to build the best tower around!

Animals have many traits that help them survive in the wild. Inspired by animals' incredible abilities, military forces have created many machines over the years to achieve success on the battlefield. From the first remote-controlled vehicles to the advanced machines of tomorrow, learn how military robots and drones often imitate the abilities of animals throughout nature. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

From the written word to the cell phone, human communication has come a long way. What might the future hold? Listeners can discover how virtual reality, holograms, and a fully connected "internet of things" may affect how they communicate in the near and distant future.

Hear about some of the world's fastest transportation breakdowns. Find out how each form of transportation failed, the basic engineering missed during construction, and what engineers learned from their mistakes.

Radio waves aren't just for listening to your favorite radio station! They are used to make GPS receivers and wireless internet work. Scientists use radio telescopes to help them study space. Listeners learn about radio waves and how we use them every day.

Hear about some of the world's greatest gadget disasters. Find out how each gadget failed, what went wrong with its design or manufacture, and what programmers learned from their mistakes.

Hear about some of the world's biggest building blunders. Find out how each structure failed, the basic building block that was missed during construction, and what engineers learned from their mistakes.

Animals have played an important role in warfare throughout history. Military forces have long relied on animals' natural abilities to achieve their missions. From medieval warriors charging into combat on horseback to dolphins locating explosive mines at sea, learn about the many ways animals have helped armies find success on the battlefield. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

The world can be a dangerous place. Over time, animals evolved many natural defenses to help them survive. Combat during wartime is extremely dangerous. Why not look to nature to find the best defenses for soldiers on the battlefield? Military forces have done just that for hundreds of years. From the armor of medieval knights to tomorrow's advanced camouflage, learn how military technology often mimics the traits of animals to help protect soldiers in combat. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

In the wild, animals use teeth, claws, and other natural weapons to attack their prey. On the battlefield, soldiers need weapons to fight the enemy. Military forces have often looked to nature for inspiration to develop effective weapons and combat tactics. From the first feathered arrows to tomorrow's high-tech weaponry, learn how military technology often imitates the natural weapons of animals to help soldiers succeed in combat. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

Elephant memory, honeybee communication, octopus intelligence, monarch butterfly migration, and dolphin names! Volume one includes a fact, lesson, and story about each of these fascinating subjects that your kids will love! Not just a list of facts, this book includes heartwarming, educational stories about our animal friends on topics like friendship, bravery, and the importance of helping others in our big, beautiful world. The quick chapters are perfect for car rides, travel, or bedtime!