Start here · Essential guide
How the Internet Works
A plain guide to the cables, routers, addresses and rules that move data between devices, from a tap on your screen to a server and back again.
Technology and AI
How Everyday Technology Works
Plain explanations of the devices and systems people use daily.
How Blockchain Works
A neutral explanation of blockchains as shared ledgers: how blocks are chained with hashes, how participants agree, and why records are hard to alter.
How Computer Chips Are Made
From sand to silicon wafers to billions of transistors: how modern processors are built layer by layer with light, chemicals and extreme cleanliness.
How Electric Cars Work
A simple look at the battery pack, inverter, electric motor and regenerative braking that move an electric car, and how charging fits in.
How GPS Works in Your Phone
How timing signals from satellites let your phone work out where it is, why four signals are needed, and why accuracy varies indoors and in cities.
How Rechargeable Batteries Store Energy
How lithium-ion cells move ions and electrons to charge and discharge, why they store energy chemically, and why every battery slowly ages.
How Search Engines Find Answers
A conceptual guide to how search engines crawl web pages, build an index and rank results, and why two people may see different results for one query.
How Touchscreens Sense Your Fingers
How capacitive touchscreens detect the electrical effect of a fingertip, locate it on a grid of sensors and turn it into taps, swipes and pinches.
How Wi-Fi and Mobile Networks Carry Your Data
How radio waves, routers, access points and cell towers carry data wirelessly, and why range, speed and reliability change from place to place.
What Cloud Computing Really Means
The cloud is other people's computers in data centers, reached over the internet. Here is who runs it, what it changes for everyday users, and the trade-offs.
Related topics
More in technology and ai
AI and Technology Artificial intelligence, data, security and the technology trends shaping daily life. History of Technology Where computers, the internet, phones and other devices came from. AI in Practice How AI is used at work, in schools, in customer service and in security. AI in Business and Industry How AI is used across commerce, finance, manufacturing and transport. AI, Jobs and the Economy Work, hiring and economic effects of AI. AI Ethics and Risks Ethical debates and risks around AI, from bias to warfare. AI in Public Life Government, safety, social services and accessibility. Beginner Tech Guides Starter explainers on coding, crypto and machine learning. Technology and Daily Life How technology reshapes work, learning, health and relationships. Online Safety and Privacy Understanding digital risks and the general habits that reduce them.