Showing titles in How Things Work

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.

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.

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 fastest transportation breakdowns. Find out how each form of transportation failed, the basic engineering missed during construction, and what engineers 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.

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.

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.

From a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist comes a book that prepares kids for surgery and takes the scary out of anesthesia—magic air! Magic Air: Ten Kid-Sized Steps to Surgery is a fun book that guides children through the steps to surgery with kid-friendly language.

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

Tractors, wagons, combines, and trailers—what are these things? They’re all machines on a farm! How do they work? What are they for? Kids can get to know the many machines that make farms go in this Pebble Sprout series.

A coat is made from different types of fabric, but could it be made with wood? It seems impossible, but wood has many advantages, and is used for everything from building houses to making toys. Learn more about different types of wood and their many uses. Could it really be used to make a coat?

Plastic is in lots of items you use every day. Find out about different types of plastic, what they are used for, and if you could really make a toaster from it.

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!