Gonzo Gizmos: Projects & Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek

It's possible to use optics to roast a hot dog without electricity or a stove; to make a simple radio with just an iron, a few basic circuits and three shiny pennies; and to assemble a simple steam-powered boat with a plastic bottle, a candle, copper tubing and a nail. Of course, only die-hard science nerds would attempt these projects. But information systems specialist Field knows he's a geek, which is part of the charm of his science manual-cum-survival guide. Like Cy Tymony's recent Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things, Field's book does not depend on high-tech equipment. Most of the""shopping lists"" he includes for each gizmo consist of items that can be found in hardware stores. His experiments range from the disarming (e.g., a plastic hydrogen bomb which, he admits,""sounds a bit dangerous"" but can also function as""a high-tech squirt gun"") to the useful (such as a""quicky electric motor""). Throughout, Field shares explanations of each process, with sidebars entitled""Why does it do that?""