Features Table of Contents

August 2000

feature articles

renaissance technologist
To get a job--and keep it--in today's brave new world, an engineer must be adaptable, entrepreneurial, and versatile.

wild mouse in the funhouse
Combining spinning-coaster thrills with interactive special effects, a new amusement ride blends several control systems as well.

in the service of abundance
Agricultural mechanization provided the nourishment for the 20th century's extraordinary growth.

fact fest
The latest methods in data acquisition provide engineers with stronger support than ever to make more informed decisions.

turbines for peace
Military-sponsored research tools aim to improve the machines that drive civil applications.

all in a day's work
Teamwork by four companies cuts the time from mold design to finished part down to hours instead of weeks.

secret of the sticky foot
Biologists and engineers are studying the tiny hairs on a gecko's foot for clues to a revolutionary new dry adhesive.