Showing titles in How Things Work

Tugboats are tiny boats that fill a big role. Kids will discover how tugboat push and pull larger boats, like barges, through narrow waterways. Using a thick, strong rope, the tugboat guides big cargo boats through the harbor by helping to turn them.

Ever wonder why a smoke alarm goes off? A battery, siren, and metal can work together to detect smoke and sound the alarm when catching a whiff of smoke.

Follow the construction workers as they move from the ground up to build a skyscraper.

Have you ever wondered how fireworks work? This article gives you information about how these spectacular shows are created.

A bioengineer at Tel Aviv University in Israel explains how to extract renewable energy from a potato.

Do you know where your clothes come from? Learn about the processes of making certain materials that are used in clothing! Guess what plant or animal that rubber boots come from? What material is made from plastic bottles? You’ll be surprised to learn how the clothes you wear everyday are manufactured!

What would we do without wheels? We use wheels for all kinds of things, including transportation. Learn about alternatives for transportation other than the wheel! Do you use any of these different ways of moving around?

Have you ever wondered how buildings are created? Architects have to use lots of different shapes in order to build a structure. Many geometric shapes are needed to create building designs. Can you find the different shapes in historical landmarks from all over the world?

Click and his friends wish to live in their favorite tree like the friendly squirrels. They decide to build a treehouse—but first they must collect the necessary materials and learn what tools they'll need for the job! They find a hammer, saw, level and measuring tape. What safety tools with they need to build their treehouse?

Have you ever seen a bird nest? Birds make all kinds of different nests! Nests are made from lots of different kinds of materials and are shaped differently. Learn about the different kinds of nests that are made by different species of birds!

Bridges are engineering marvels! It takes a civil engineer, chief engineer, structural engineer and environmental engineer to build a bridge. There are different kinds that each require a special construction process to build. Learn how different bridges such as beam, suspension and arch bridge types are designed and built, as well as the construction workers needed at specific stages.

Have you ever wondered how big cities are created? Learn how small towns start with just a few houses and farms, and then grow into large cities with many roads, buses, and skyscrapers! See how cities grow and change throughout history by the growing population of people living, working and shopping among each other.

Popcorn is a yummy snack–how is popcorn cooked? From an un-popped kernel, heat boils the water that the kernel naturally has inside it. The water turns into steam after it builds up inside. Scientists used cameras to discover how corn popped! What’s inside the kernel to make an explosive change happen–turning a kernel of corn into a tasty buttery treat–popcorn?

Have you ever wondered how a penny or dime is made? Coins are made from metal in factories called mints. First, an artist draws a picture of the coin, next clay is used to make a mold made from plastic. Then a machine engraves and designs a piece of metal–these metal pieces will be used to make stamps called dies. In the United States, there are only four factories–can you guess where?