How It Works

Welcome to How It Works, the magazine that explains everything you never knew you wanted to know about the world we live in. Loaded with fully illustrated guides and expert knowledge, and with sections dedicated to science, technology, transportation, space, history and the environment, no subject is too big or small for How It Works to explain.

WELCOME • Issue 177

Deploy the decoys

Silk spinners

Anemonefish embryos

Fiery protostar

‘Runaway’ black hole caught speeding through space

NEW STAR-MAPPING TECHNIQUE FINDS A GIANT EXOPLANET

Scientists discover the first ‘neutron-rich’ isotope of uranium since 1979

An ultra-rare ‘double quasar’ is spotted by Hubble

WOOLLY MAMMOTHS WEREN’T ALWAYS SHAGGY

Nearly 150 cartilage genes may control human height

A 30,000-year-old fur ball is actually a mummified squirrel

CHINA REPORTS THE FIRST HUMAN DEATH FROM H3N8 BIRD FLU

The second-oldest orca in captivity is finally getting released

The smallest and largest animals make up most of Earth’s biomass

Man catches ‘silver leaf’ tree fungus disease

EUROPE PREPARES THE DARK MATTER-HUNTING EUCLID SPACECRAFT FOR LAUNCH

WISH LIST • The latest MUSIC GADGET tech

FREE BUILD YOUR OWN TELESCOPE KIT WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE

Cats vs dogs • How the psychology and biology of the world’s most popular pets compare

Comparing companions • The physical similarities and differences between cats and dogs

Cats and dogs by numbers

THE OLDEST PLANTS IN THE WORLD • Discover the trees, flowers, shrubs and clonal colonies with deep roots in our planet’s history

HOW MARINE ANIMALS SLEEP • The ways whales, sharks and other sea creatures get a good night’s sleep

HOW FOG FORMS • When water vapour turns to liquid, a murky mass fills the air

The future of SPACE TRAVEL • Discover possible future spaceship technologies, from the practical to the far-fetched

COLONISING SPACE • Tim Marshall is the author of The Future of Geography: How Power and Politics in Space Will Change Our World

INSIDE A PINBALL MACHINE • Plunge into the engineering of this popular arcade classic

EYE TRACKING EXPLAINED • How and why electronic devices employ technology to follow a user’s line of sight

How to capture a MEDIEVAL CASTLE • From demolishing walls to starving out defenders, a siege in the Middle Ages required innovative tactics, stamina and determination

LAUNCH THE ATTACK • When negotiations failed and intimidation proved futile, siege was the only option

TAKE THE CASTLE • With the outer walls down, it was time to storm the courtyards and break into the keep

WHO INVENTED MONEY? • From the first coins to cashless transactions, discover how money has shaped our world

STEPHEN HAWKING • The theoretical physicist who changed the way we see the universe

CAR CRASH ANATOMY • How today’s technology can predict, prevent and assist in dangerous vehicle collisions

CAR BRAKES EXAMINED • How fluid dynamics keeps cars from crashing

DISCOVER THE PAST!

WHAT MAKES THINGS BIODEGRADABLE? • The chemistry and biology behind the natural breakdown of organic matter

WHAT IS MUSCLE MEMORY? • How neural shortcuts in your brain make practised activities feel familiar

Win! • A PAIR OF EARPHONES WORTH £319!

TRY 3 ISSUES FOR $3*

BRAINDUMP • Amazing answers to your curious questions

THE LIBRARY • The latest book releases for curious minds

BRAIN GYM • Give your brain a puzzle workout

MAKE EXPLODING PAINT BOMBS • This chemical reaction creates a unique piece of art

INBOX • Speak your...