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Engineering

Explore how engineers turn physical principles into working systems, balancing materials, measurements, design constraints and testing.

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AI-generated illustration of an open stainless steel elevator in a modern stone lobby.
EDITOR’S PICK

How Do Elevators Work?

Behind the doors, an elevator coordinates forces, position sensing and controlled motion. Follow a trip from the call button to a level landing.

Nov 8, 2026 • 6 min readRead the discovery →
LATEST

Latest discoveries

New stories, explanations and research from Engineering.

AI-generated illustration of a modestly heeled monohull sailboat with filled white sails and two sailors wearing life jackets.
Engineering

How Do Sailboats Sail Against the Wind?

A sailboat reaches an upwind destination by combining aerodynamic and hydrodynamic forces. Follow the sail, keel and zigzag route that make it possible.

Nov 8, 2026 • 7 min read
U.S. Navy submarine surfacing during an emergency drill
Engineering

How Do Submarines Rise and Sink?

Submarines dive by opening vents so seawater floods main ballast tanks, increasing the vessel’s average density and reducing buoyancy. They surface by forcing that…

Oct 10, 2026 • 3 min read
How Do Airplanes Stay in the Air? — documentary reference image
Engineering

How Do Airplanes Stay in the Air?

An airplane stays aloft when motion through the air and the shape and angle of its wings create enough aerodynamic lift to balance its…

Sep 25, 2026 • 4 min read