How it works 161: How the internet works (Image credit: Future) Jump to:
The Internet is one of the most significant achievements in human history, changing the way we communicate and transforming the world forever. This vast network links computers around the globe through more than 750,000 miles of cables laid underground and in the oceans. It is our fastest way to communicate, allowing a message to be sent from London, UK to Sydney, Australia in just 250 milliseconds.
Creating and maintaining this global connection has been a monumental feat of ingenuity. Perhaps you were born in this new millennium, or perhaps you are old enough to remember the days of visiting the library to get information, leaving the house to shop, or calling a friend to stay in touch. Either way, the Internet has become a staple for most of us these days, a utility as essential to our daily lives and work as electricity.
We're used to being able to pick up a phone or use a computer to access a wealth of data and services, but most of us don't understand how it all works. In the latest issue of How It Works, you'll learn how miles of cables, millions of computers, and complex software and protocols come together to connect you to the online world.
This episode also covers why ostriches can't fly, how diamonds are mined, processed, polished and even created, take a look inside a bionic eye and learn how this technology is becoming an effective treatment for some forms of blindness, create your own thunderstorm in a tank in our How To… guide, see how a modern car's central locking system works, what the Romans taught us (hint: a lot) and could we build the USS Enterprise from Star Trek?
Keep reading to learn more about the key features of Issue 161.
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
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