Hey Reader, Happy Wednesday! Last week, I finished my swimming classes in India and ‘almost’ learned to swim. Let’s look at how Ships work this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer Ships float because they are less dense than water. Though made of dense materials like steel, ships have hollow interiors filled with air, reducing their overall...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Happy Friday! Last week, I came to India to visit my family and friends. I fell sick so I’m sending this newsletter on a Friday instead of the usual Wednesdays. Thank you for the support! Let’s look at how a watch works this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer A quartz watch uses the piezoelectric effect. A quartz crystal vibrates...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, Happy Thursday! I went to Michigan for the last long weekend. Let’s look at how QR codes work this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer A QR code encodes data, such as a URL, into a grid of black and white squares. When scanned by a phone camera, the code is decoded into readable information. Key components include square markers for...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, Happy Wednesday! Let’s look at how streetlights work this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer Street lights use cadmium sulfide (CdS) photo-resistors to turn on automatically. These photocells change electrical resistance based on light levels: low resistance in daylight and high resistance at night. This change is detected by a circuit...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Happy Wednesday! Let’s look at how Smoke Detectors in your home and office spaces work this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer Ionization smoke detectors, suited for flaming fires, contain radioactive material Americium between two charged plates. This material emits alpha particles, creating a current by ionizing air. But smoke...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Happy Thursday! Last week, I visited Mendocino, a village in California for the long weekend. Let’s look at how frisbees work this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer The frisbee spin creates gyroscopic stability, keeping it oriented correctly. Its aircraft wing-like shape generates lift through Bernoulli's principle, where faster air...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hey friends, Happy Wednesday! Last week, I hosted dinner for a couple of friends at my place. Let’s look at how fingerprint scanner works this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! Here is a simplified version of the complex process of fingerprint reading and registering. How it works: 15-second answer Fingerprint technology uses the distinct ridges and valleys on our fingers for...
4 months ago • 4 min read
Hey friends, Happy Wednesday! Last week, I went to the birthday party of my first cousin once removed. Let’s look at how a TV remote works this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer When a button is pressed, your TV remote emits infrared light pulses from an LED. Each button press sends a unique series of light pulses (using light ON and OFF),...
5 months ago • 3 min read
Hey gadgeteers, Happy Wednesday! Last week, I tried Escape Room experience with a couple of my friends for the first time. Let’s look at how Breathalyzer (Alcohol detector) works this week. I aim to write my newsletter issues in a way one can follow them while traveling on a bus, having a coffee, waiting for food, etc. Let's jump in! How it works: 15-second answer Breathalyzer technology measures blood alcohol concentration (BAC) by analyzing exhaled air. After drinking, alcohol is absorbed...
5 months ago • 3 min read