As the Bush administration warns about threats from terrorists and other nations against U.S. satellites, PM offers a window into an Air Force program that's protecting our military satellites (and their vulnerabilities) with store-bought gear and old-fashioned sleuthing.

The mission: Attack anywhere in the world in less than an hour. But is the Pentagon's bold program a critical new weapon for hitting elusive targets, or a good way to set off a nuclear war? (Published in the January 2007 issue)

Forget lasers, phasers and other beam weapons — radiofrequency devices are here, and they’re set to “sting.” (Published in the December 2006 issue)

With a U.N. resolution condemning North Korea's nuclear test, all eyes are on Pyongyang's atomic capabilities. But according to PM contributing editor Simon Cooper, we might be blind to a bigger threat: North Korea's highly developed chemical and biological warfare program.

With billowing sand clouds crashing its BlackHawks at an alarming rate, the U.S. military is turning to digital cameras to fight the War on Terror. Iraq correspondent Leslie Sabbagh takes you inside the world of brown outs in a PopularMechanics.com exclusive.

Senator John McCain presents the case that America has much to learn from the events of 9/11, but conspiracy mongering poisons the discourse and dishonors the victims of a national tragedy. (Published in the September 2006 issue)

When China unveiled its new Luyang II guided-missile destroyers in June 2005, jaws clenched in the Pentagon. The ships were equipped with a knockoff of the latest version of the U.S. Navy's Aegis battle management system, a critical command-and-control technology. By next year, Chinese nuclear missi... (Published in the August 2006 issue)

Protecting America's cities, ports, borders and airports requires new tech and new tactics. Here's a look at who's doing it right. >> No one sees them coming. No flashing lights, no sirens. The black Suburban glides out of traffic and pulls up to the Empire State Building. Four men spill out in comb... (Published in the June 2006 issue)

The Pentagon wants to deploy a host of exotic new weapons systems. Critics say too much of this costly hardware is designed to fight the wrong war. >> The attack would come quickly, and it would be awful. Cruising far offshore, the U.S. Navy's DD(X) destroyer launches 20 shells in less than a minu... (Published in the April 2006 issue)

When the call comes in, unarmed Army Black Hawks race to retrieve the wounded. Landing in Iraq's urban battle zones, flying when other aircraft are grounded, these helicopter medevac crews perform one of the war's toughest missions: saving lives. (Published in the October 2005 issue)

Shortly before midnight on March 19, a heavyset 24-year-old man was standing outside a Mexican restaurant along West Arrow Highway in San Dimas, Calif., when a brawl broke out. No one is sure how the fight started in this small, affluent city east of Pasadena, but it came to a tragic end. The young ... (Published in the July 2005 issue)

(Published in the April 2005 issue)

(Published in the April 2005 issue)

It's the scariest drive in the world. Between Baghdad's relatively secure green zone and the city's airport lies a 6-mile shooting gallery of snipers, car bombers and mayhem. For the security contractors who drive it routinely, it's another day at the office. (Published in the April 2005 issue)