1843 magazine
Friends of friends
Tried and tested during this year’s presidential campaign in America, Friendster-like social networks can be a surprisingly effective way of creating influence
Batteries not included
Tiny fuel cells, running on methanol cartridges, are poised to replace the rechargeable battery in your laptop, PDA and mobile phone
An eye on the kids
Does technology designed to help parents watch out for their children really put their minds at ease?
Tennis’s surprising return
The traditional serve-and-volley game has gone as better training, new playing styles and fresh faces have brought a welcome unpredictability back to tennis
Get tough with yourself
As interest rates creep up, it’s time to liquidate those low-yielding savings accounts—and pay off costly household debts and car loans
Format frenzy for tomorrow’s phones
Just a few years ago, mobile phones resembled bricks. Now they are coming in a baffling variety of shapes, sizes, colours and designs
To infinity and beyond
Forget the Moon—Mars is a far more attractive place for future space tourists to visit
In search of perfection
Forget about preventing disease or healing the sick—the latest medical techniques are all about making perfectly normal people even healthier and more beautiful
Back on the treadmill
Beware of boasts by makers of the latest exercise machines. The old treadmill is still one of the best
First the risk, then the reward
Now that entry stakes have dropped to $10,000 or so, high-risk, high-reward hedge funds, traditionally used by the mega-rich, are becoming more accessible