TRANSPORTATION

Why Do Semi Trucks Have Spikes On Their Wheels?

Semi trucks’ tire spikes mainly protect the wheels’ lug nuts. They also offer drivers a chance to give their trucks a bit of personality.

Why Do Car Rides Make You Feel Tired?

You're excited to set out on a road trip. By hour two, you're nodding off. The answer may have something to do with "highway hypnosis."

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Can an Average Passenger Actually Be Talked Through Landing a Plane in an Emergency?

It happens in movies—but can an average person actually be talked through landing a plane in an emergency?

The Tay Bridge Disaster: William McGonagall and the Worst Poem Ever Written

Is William McGonagall the best poet ever? Absolutely not. Is he the best bad poet ever? Quite possibly yes.

The Simple Way to Share Your Real-Time ETA Using Your iPhone

Skip all those “What’s your ETA?” questions by sharing your location through Apple Maps or the Find My app.

5 Liquids You Can Bring on a Plane in Containers Larger Than 3.4 Ounces

Your iced coffee is not going to make it through the TSA checkpoint. But the 3-1-1 rule doesn’t apply to a bottle of baby formula.

You Could Win a Seat on One of the First Virgin Galactic Space Flights

Through Omaze, one lucky person and a guest could win seats on one of the first flights into space from Virgin Galactic. The sweepstakes is open from now until September 1.

11 Shipwrecks That Haunt the Great Lakes

The wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald isn't the only ship to have met an early end on the Great Lakes.

6 Common Misconceptions About Flying

We're nosediving into all things flight-related and debunking several widespread myths about the (very safe) mode of travel.

The 15 Most Expensive Cars in 2021

Even if you have millions of dollars to spend, you may have trouble getting your hands on one of 2021's most expensive cars.

MBTafan2011, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0

11 Fast Facts About Amtrak

Fifty years ago, Congress consolidated all of America's passenger train service into one entity: Amtrak. Here are a few facts about the nationwide rail network.

Even today, Route 66 remains one of the ultimate American road trips.

20 Facts About Route 66

Get your kicks with these 20 facts about Route 66, the iconic American road trip route otherwise known as the “Mother Road.”

11 Facts About Air Force One

Just as much a symbol of the presidency as the White House itself, Air Force One is probably the world’s most recognizable plane.

How Do U.S. Gas Prices Compare to Those in Other Countries? This Map Shows You

Even if gas prices are going up at your local station, there’s a good chance they’re still cheaper there than in dozens of other countries.

It's actually less flashy than it looks.

The Clever Reason Some Cargo Trucks Have Quilt-Patterned Rear Doors

Stainless steel rear doors are a pretty common sight on truck-heavy highways, but the surfaces are not all smooth.

"Ma'am, is there a dead baby shark in here?"

Check Out the 10 Weirdest Things the TSA Confiscated in 2020—Including a Dead Baby Shark

The TSA’s prohibited items list doesn’t expressly include dead sharks. (Possibly because the subject doesn’t come up a lot.)

Cannondale's Adventure Neo Is a Preview of the Versatile and Accessible Future of E-Bikes

We spoke with Cannondale project manager Nina Baum to learn more about the company's new Adventure Neo e-bike and the state of the industry as a whole.

Snow tires can help you get a grip on winter weather.

All-Season Tires vs. Snow Tires: What's the Difference?

If you live in a snowy climate, investing in a set of snow tires can keep you on the road. Here's how.

Rush hour on Paris's Avenue des Champs-Elysees.

The World's 20 Worst Cities for Rush Hour Traffic

If you think your city is the worst when it comes to gridlock, maybe you're right. Check out the 20 worst offenders of rush hour traffic.

As potholes go, this one is pretty photogenic.

How Do Potholes Form?

Potholes are the bane of drivers everywhere. Unfortunately, not much can be done to prevent them from forming.

Faster Than the Speed of Flight: Watch the Concept Video for Virgin’s Hyperloop Transit System

Virgin’s Hyperloop pods would be faster than bullet trains and way more comfortable than subway trains.

The Concorde is seen rolling off an assembly line in 1968.

Watch: The Concorde and Supersonic Flight Take Off in 1976

The Concorde shot through skies at 1495 mph—virtually the speed of a bullet—and could get people from San Francisco to Tokyo in six hours.

America’s Worst Drivers Live in These 20 Cities

In these 20 American cities, drivers get into accidents more frequently than the rest of the country's population.