The Big Story

Interstellar Travel Jim Woodward

  • Image may contain Machine and Lathe
    Photograph: Rozette Rago
    01
    A homemade vacuum chamber houses Woodward’s Mach-effect thruster and test stand. The smallest breeze would invalidate the results.
  • Image may contain Machine Electronics Camera and Light
    Photograph: Rozette Rago
    02
    Fearn uses an old pair of Woodward’s glasses to focus the web camera that photographs the experiments.
  • Image may contain Machine and Building
    Photograph: Rozette Rago
    03
    Woodward’s Mach-effect gravity assist drive is mounted at the end of a torsion balance in a vacuum chamber. The device is only a few inches long.
  • Image may contain Machine and Lathe
    Photograph: Rozette Rago
    04
    Because the thrust they are looking for is so small, Woodward and his graduate student Tom Mahood built a custom test stand for the Mach-effect drive.
Read More
The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for All Your Devices
Keep your phone, laptop, handheld gaming console, and other electronics running with these travel-friendly power banks.
Simon Hill
28 Amazing STEM Toys Approved by WIRED Kids
We found lots of math-filled and science-rich toys for tiny nerds to assemble, bake, squish—or even tear apart and rebuild.
Simon Hill
The Best Handheld Vacuums for Small Messes
Lightweight, powerful, and generally inexpensive, the handheld vacuum is the perfect household helper.
Molly Higgins
The Best Portable Power Stations for Blackouts, Camping, or Van Life
Whether you’re going off-grid or safeguarding against blackouts, these beefy, WIRED-tested batteries can keep the lights on.
Simon Hill
The Best Pet Hair Vacuums We Tried at Home
Cordless, handheld, robot, and traditional—we tested them all to find the vacuum that’s fantastic for fur.
Molly Higgins
The Best MagSafe and Qi2 Power Banks for Your Phone
Keep your iPhone or Qi2 Android phone topped up with one of the best portable chargers.
Simon Hill
The Best Qi2 and MagSafe Wireless Chargers for Your Phone
Top up your Qi2 Android phone or MagSafe iPhone with a magnetic wireless charging stand, pad, car charger, or power bank.
Simon Hill
The Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled Cats
With these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.
Molly Higgins
The Best Bone Conduction Headphones
Everyone needs a safe way to listen to music on outdoor runs. We’ve found the bone conduction headphones to grab on your way out the door.
Michael Sawh
The Best Wi-Fi Routers to Reach Every Corner of Your Home
Don’t suffer the buffer. These WIRED-tested home routers will deliver reliable internet across your home, whatever your needs or budget.
Simon Hill
The Best Phones You Can’t Buy in the US
Avoid phone FOMO with our favorite smartphones that aren’t officially sold stateside but are available in markets like the UK and Europe.
Simon Hill
Stay Charged Around the World With the Best Travel Adapters
When going abroad, the right plugs are essential to keep your gadgets charged. These are my favorite travel adapters and chargers.
Simon Hill