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Ultimate Guide Rebuilding Civilization

The document introduces a guide on rebuilding civilization, emphasizing humanity's relentless pursuit of improvement and the cyclical nature of civilization's rise and fall. It includes practical information on essential survival skills such as making fire, finding water, and identifying edible plants, while also providing a disclaimer about the general nature of the information. The book aims to assist in the growth and prosperity of new civilizations, offering a comprehensive resource across various topics.

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100% found this document useful (14 votes)

54K views

Ultimate Guide Rebuilding Civilization

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xemapay859

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INTRODUCTION

The story of humans is a story of discovery. No matter which planet, which timeline, in whichever
branch of the multiverse you might find people, they’ll be busy improving their lives. This is our great
gift and our curse, depending on which way you look at it. We can never stop and be satisfied with
what we have achieved — we’ll keep sprinting faster, getting stronger, and growing bigger until we fall.

The story of civilization is a story of failures and rebirths. When one world is destroyed, a new one
rises in its place. This is a universal law. Though I have tried many times, I’ve never managed to save
a civilization from the fall. It is not in my power to salvage the old, but I can help the new grow and
prosper, shorten and facilitate the path from dark ages to renaissance. This is how this book came
to be — the ultimate guide to rebuilding civilization. I hope that it helps, that your civilization
will remain standing, and if not, well, then at least you can add a few beautiful pages to the book.
DISCLAIMER

This book is designed to provide general information only. This information is provided and sold with
the knowledge that the publisher and author do not offer any legal or other professional advice. In the case
of a need for any such expertise, consult with the appropriate professional. This book does not contain all
information available on every subject. This book has not been created to be specific to any individual’s
or organizations’ situation or needs. Every effort has been made to make this book as accurate as possible.
This book should serve only as a general guide and not as the ultimate source of subject information.
This book contains information that might be dated and is intended only to educate and entertain.
The author and publisher shall have no liability or responsibility to any person or entity regarding
any loss or damage incurred, or alleged to have incurred, directly or indirectly, by the information
contained in this book. You hereby agree to be bound by this disclaimer.

THE BOOK
The Ultimate Guide To Rebuilding Civilization
First edition
© 2022 Cosmodrome Games LLC
1201 West Peachtree Street, NW Suite 2300
Atlanta, GA 30309 USA
civilizationbook.com
All rights reserved
ISBN 978-0-578-37745-2
table o f c o nt e nts table of contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................. 8 SAILING.................................................................................... 204

FIRST THINGS.. .......................................................................... 10 AVIATION . . ................................................................................ 220

MEDICINE.. ................................................................................. 26 INDUSTRY . . ............................................................................... 232

PLANTS....................................................................................... 48 MILITARY. . ................................................................................ 250

ANIMALS..................................................................................... 72 EVERYDAY LIFE.. ...................................................................... 268

FOOD . . ......................................................................................... 92 WORD........................................................................................ 292

MATERIALS.............................................................................. 108 ART............................................................................................ 306

TOOLS....................................................................................... 128 MUSIC....................................................................................... 324

BUILDING................................................................................. 146 HUMAN..................................................................................... 346

MECHANICS............................................................................. 160 GAMES . . ..................................................................................... 362

OPTICS. . .................................................................................... 176 DELICATESSEN........................................................................ 380

ELECTRICITY. . ......................................................................... 190 SOCIETY................................................................................... 398

8 9
FIRST
THINGS
Making fire First things First things Making fire

BONFIRE
Rationing your resources wisely is a good habit to develop from the very start. A great way to save fuel is to make a log candle. Split a pine log (preferably
You can, of course, just pile wood onto your fire and it will burn brightly. pre-dried) into 4 pieces with an ax or a saw almost to the base of the log.
But not for long. It’s better to pile the ends of the logs on top of each other Lay wood chips in the grooves split by the axe and ignite. The fire and heat

A
defining moment in history was when we tamed the first flame, And so mankind has learned to harness fire’s transformative powers. so that they form an asterix and, as they burn, push the unburnt material will last for many hours. The wood burns and leaves behind charcoal, which
and fire is behind much of what we do in a civilization. Suddenly, This arouses an insatiable desire to subjugate nature’s most powerful forces. to the center. This fire will burn brighter and longer. also carries large amounts of energy and contains a ton of carbon.
the darkness of night becomes manageable. Tribes gather near, food When put in the hands of the people, this balance between creative and
can be prepared and items and materials that were previously inaccessible destructive forces will determine the potential splendor and lifespan
are now within reach. of the new world.

BOW METHOD
All you need to make fire is a bow.
Don’t have one on hand? Make
a substitute with a flexible rod and
a length of string. Sharpen the end
of a hardwood stick and stand it
upright in a hole carved into a plank
of wood. Wrap the bowstring around
the stick and move the bow back and
forth — the stick will begin to rotate.
The more intense the movement,
the faster the stick rotates. This heats
the wooden plank, which will soon
begin to smolder. The easiest types
of wood to ignite are walnut, cedar,
willow, aspen and pine.

TINDER
Place tinder at the contact point between
the wooden plank and the stick to increase friction
and produce flames. Dry moss or tree bark chips
are not the only option. Cattails, palm tree husks,
flax fibers and cotton bolls will quickly ignite.
Gently blowing on the fire will also provide
a continuous supply of oxygen, and once TORCH
the tinder catches fire, you have a few seconds Wrap dry bark, moss and wood chips tightly around
to feed it with wood chips and underbrush. a large branch using a strip of cloth, then saturate
Look for pine, which will supply you with dry with resin, which can be obtained from the outer
branches even in the rain. If there are only palm bark of coniferous trees. If there is no cloth, use
trees around, you’ll have to climb — the bark husk rope (page 18). You’ll be guaranteed several hours
at the base of the crown remains dry. of bright light.

12 13
Ho w t o f ind wat e r First things First things How to find water

1. Clay

W
ater is one of the most critical natural The most obvious solution is to collect rainwater 2. Sand
3. Surface water
resources to secure for yourself. or dew. But unless you have a shaman on your side
4. Groundwater
Without water, you can only survive willing to perform a rain dance every morning, 5. Interstratal unconfined aquifer
a maximum of about seven days. Dehydration you'll eventually have to find a more sustainable 6. Interstratal confined aquifer
clouds your common sense, quickly depriving you source. Your next move will depend on the local
of the will to live — a compelling reason to start climate and landscape.
your search for water as soon as possible.

3 4

6 2

1
WHERE TO LOOK FOR WATER
The easiest place to find water is where the soil is loose. Closest to the surface
2 is groundwater, which you can sometimes see gathering in the deepest parts
of a valley, at the bottom of a steep incline or in places covered in verdant plant
life. If you're in the mountains, seek out sources in fissures at the base of cliffs
3 and near areas of lush vegetation. Try digging under dry river beds; there may
be water under the layer of gravel. In the desert, midges and mosquitoes tend
to swarm around groundwater. To stave off thirst until your search is successful,
drink the juices of trees or plants. Just make sure you know which ones are
poisonous (page 16).

NATURE’S HINTS
Take note of large colonies of insects (especially bees and ants), locations with
thick, juicy plant life, the flight path of birds and localized fog — these are all
signs that water is nearby. If you're near a cliff face or rock wall, look for cracks
near a large accumulation of bird droppings. This could mean a hidden source
that's easily reachable with a straw.

DEEP GROUNDWATER
FILTRATION & DECONTAMINATION If you can't manage to find a natural water source, your best option is drilling
Finding water doesn't mean that your problems are over. Not every source If fate finds you in the tropics and you have a steady supply of bananas, use a well. The hole should be sufficiently deep (around 10–15 meters), and with
is potable (suitable for consumption). If you succumb to your thirst and gulp the slightly porous peel in place of a charcoal filter. Even if you don't have some luck, you'll be provided with clean drinking water for some time
down the first water you come across, you may end up dying even faster than a water-tight container that can be placed over a fire, you can still boil water to come. When finding a suitable location, look for alder, birch, spruce
you would from dehydration. Almost all sources found in nature will need using the materials around you. Construct a container out of birch bark and pine trees. If there are no trees around but a lot of sedges, this is
to be filtered and decontaminated, especially if they're stagnant or murky. and fill it with heated rocks or, even better, river pebbles. You can also try more also a good sign. A large clay pot will help determine the exact
The main danger with natural water sources is biological threats, from bacteria complex water purification systems, such as the distiller (page 118), but you'll location of your well. Dry it in the sun and set it upside down.
and their spores to parasitic larvae. Larger parasites can be filtered out have to advance your society a few steps forward first. If after a while the bottom of the pot begins to "sweat," this is a good spot
by draining the water through sand, wood charcoal or fine gravel. to start digging.

14 15
e & Inedible Plant
Edibl s First things First things Edible & Inedible Plants

THE 5–15 RULE

W
hile hunger may stimulate creativity, Although cooking helps release nutrients, many But to make sure your first bite won't be your last, 1. Rub a small amount of the plant between your fingers
it takes strength to bring your plans plants can be eaten raw, so there's no need to waste you'll need to be able to identify edible and wait 15 minutes. If this causes no adverse reaction, then:
to fruition. The answer: plants. energy cooking. and poisonous plants. 2. Rub the plant on the inside of your elbow. If this causes no reaction, then:
3. Hold a piece of the plant between your lips. If there is no irritation,
burning or numbness, then:
4. Chew on a small part of the plant (do not swallow). Wait 15 minutes.
If there is no burning sensation or bitter taste, then:
5. Swallow this small piece. Wait 15 minutes. If you experience no nausea,
dizziness or other symptoms of poisoning, you can eat a small quantity
of the plant. If your condition hasn’t worsened the next day, the plant
is safe to use in food.
SAFE PLANTS
In forest, river or swampy environments with a cool climate,
you can eat the bast — a thin layer underneath the bark — of many
trees. It is better to look for berries in peat bogs. Blue ones DANGEROUS PLANTS
are more likely to be edible than red, yellow or white ones. Umbrella plants, which thrive in damp and overgrown areas, are often inedible.
But don't confuse blueberries with Raven's Eye (Paris quadrifolia), Do not touch the umbrella fronds with your bare hands — this is the most
which causes paralysis of the heart muscles. poisonous part.

Sweet herbs are safe. Plant tubers are nutritious, as they contain Even plants that are predominantly edible may pack a poisonous punch.
starch. Cereals are a good source of protein and are better when Apple seeds, leaves and pits of the cherry, peach, plum, almond and apricot
crushed and mixed with water. You can eat pollen and chew trees contain cyanogenic glycosides, while green potato tubers and leaves
the needles of conifers. contain the alkaloid solanine.

In arid regions, the best place to look for edible plants But beware of burning poisonous plants in an attempt to destroy them,
is near water. The flesh of sugarcane stalks will satiate your as inhaling the smoke can be just as poisonous. If you do end up poisoning
hunger. And cacti will save you from extreme thirst if you yourself, flush out your stomach by drinking at least 2 liters of water and
wring out the liquid from the pulp. inducing vomiting.

Water can also be found within the fruits and petals

of the prickly pear and saxaul bark. Just make
an incision in the lower branch of the date palm
and liquid will begin to flow out of it. Experiment
in the same way with other deciduous trees.
ROPE First things First things Rope

PROCESSING WILLOW BARK

R
ope can often make a good substitute in a pinch, but it’s hard to find If you are weaponless, rope makes it possible to obtain food through weaving Willow bark is a good material to produce extra strong rope.
a good substitute for rope itself. The ability to braid a rope greatly fish nets and wild game traps. You can build a dwelling without tools, drag The elemental forces of fire and water will help you along the way.
increases your survival prospects. heavy loads without wheels and even staunch bleeding without medication. Heat the wood, bark side down, over the fire until you hear a faint
hissing sound. At this point, the bark will separate easily from the
wood. The only part you need is the stringy, leather-like inner layer.
Boil it in a mixture of wood ash and water until it turns red. Hang
MATERIALS the bark out to dry. Split the strips down into finer strings of fiber.
Rope can be made of wool, animal sinew, hair, silk or whatever you can find
underfoot. Plants are the best rope-making materials. Nettle, hemp, jute, flax
and willow will do just fine. But don’t gather them in an open area — dry plant
fiber is less elastic. Remove the leaves from the stems. Mash them until you
are left with long, strong fibers. By the way, a rolling mill makes the process
much easier.

BRAIDING
Now to show you the ropes of rope
braiding: The secret to strong rope
is twisting the fibers.

KNOTS
1. First, take a bundle of fibers and fold it into a loop. Don’t fold Believe it or not, tying a knot
exactly in the middle or you’ll run out of material on both ends will actually loosen the rope. Here's why:
at the same time, and you’ll have to add new fibers to both In a knot, the fibers on the outer and inner
sides. This will create a weak spot at the connection, which curve of the rope are under different
is where your rope will start to fray. Press the fibers against amounts of tension and the fibers
any flat surface with your palm and slide your hand forward deform unevenly. The strongest knots
to twist the fibers together. are those with alternating left
and right bends.

2. Repeat the process and twist several

bundles into a rope.

3. Then twist several smaller ropes together

If you’re having problems untying a tight knot, roll it on a flat surface
to create an even thicker rope. with your palm. You can also wet the rope to make the fibers more flexible.

2 3

18 19
Simple tools First things first things simple tools

SPEAR AXE

S
omeday, you will construct massive skyscrapers and drill deep into Hunting spears require hardwood shafts such as oak, ash or walnut. To make To fell and turn trees, you need a tool with a working surface made from heavy,
the bowels of the earth. But first you need to master the basics. the wood even harder, smoke it over a fire. As the water inside evaporates, sharp stone and a transverse handle. Find a straight, thick, broad branch. Wrap
Make simple tools first to act as a foundation for more complicated the structure of the wood becomes denser. Fishing spears for shallow waters rope (page 18) around the branch 15–20 cm from one end and split this section
instruments. You already have everything you need to get started: sticks, are best made from bamboo. But skewering a fish on a single point is a skill down the middle until you reach the rope. Insert a stone between the split halves
stones, ropes, bones and animal sinew. few can master. Increase your chances of catching dinner by adding two more and cross the rope around it many times to secure it, connecting the two ends
prongs to create a trident tip. of the branch and fixing the stone inside as tightly as possible.

PROCESSING STONE KNIFE DRILL AND SAW

Stones that you find in nature rarely come pre-sharpened, so you’ll have Flint makes for a sharp and durable knife, while obsidian, or volcanic glass, One of the hardest tasks to accomplish is drilling a neat hole. You need a solid
to create cutting utensils yourself by splitting a large rock into thin shards. is more suitable for scalpels. However, instruments made from these materials tool. But where can you find a sturdy material if you haven’t yet discovered iron?
Flint works best and will produce a glassy shard with a razor-sharp edge. are quite fragile. That’s why you shouldn’t be using them to hack away Pour quartz sand into your drill hole. The coarse grains will cover your drilling
Larger shards become knives while others may serve as cutters, scrapers, at an animal carcass. Set them aside for tasks that require a finer, more instrument (a sharp piece of stone honed to a point), creating an abrasive
pokers or arrowheads. meticulous touch. coating. This will help you drill a hole in a hollow bone to produce
a needle or hook. When the only thing separating the rich from
the poor is a few animal pelts and a warm meal on the table,
gemstones lose some of their value. But this
doesn’t mean they’re completely useless.
Diamonds are the hardest material
in nature and so can be used for very
durable cutting and sawing tools.

20
Simple housing First things first things Simple housing

7
6 9

F
ew people are ever in a position where they must build their house Later, you can move on to more complex structures that will help elevate your
from the ground up with their own two hands while understanding all civilization to the next level of development. In the beginning, at least, your 2
the technological intricacies necessary for the job. Start with something environment will dictate the best design and building materials for the job.
simple and master basic construction principles.
8
1
5 LOCATION AND ORIENTATION TIPI
Pay attention to the way the sun moves across the sky. Orienting Make the poles for the frame from branches
your house south to north will save energy on heating and cooling. left out in the sun and wind to thoroughly dry.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the southern side will heat up Damp poles will cause the material covering them
quickly; in the Southern Hemisphere, it will be the northern side. to sag, leading to folds that allow water to leak
The movement of the sun through the seasons is also an important in when it rains. Use treated animal hides (page 78)
factor to consider. An overhang attached to the roof will save your for your covering. You can even sew all your hides
4 3
life during hot summer days without blocking sunlight during together into a single canvas using animal sinew.
the winter. The best place to put your front door is on the side Soak them in an alkaline solution (page 24),
best sheltered from the wind. and then stretch to obtain the desired thickness.
If you’ve already used or gotten rid of the animal
sinew, poke holes along the connecting edge
of the animal hide and join the two pieces together
by sticking a strong twig through holes in both
pieces of fabric (1). Create pockets (2) in the top
of your hide canvas to hold the poles (3) in place.
2 Bind them together at the top with leather straps 5
or steamed spruce roots. Tie a heavy anchor
belt (4) around the connection point to firmly
secure the structure. Attach it to a peg driven
straight down into the ground. The anchor The upper part of the structure should contain
will hold the tent in place during strong winds. a smoke hole. This consists of two flaps (7) that act
Punch holes along the bottom of the hide and as smoke vents. Open and close them using either
drive pegs (5) through them and into the ground straps or poles (8). When it rains, cover the hole
to secure your hide canvas. Make sure to leave with an “umbrella” — an additional piece
a small gap (6) for air circulation. of leather (9).

HUT
Use the terrain to your advantage. A hillside can easily become the back wall
of your hut. Dig out the center of a log and line it with stones for stability (1).
This will become the main support structure of your roof. Now you need
a cross beam. Attach one end to the central support post and rest the other
end against the slope of the hill. Now you have a T-frame. Lay branches across
the frame to form a sloping roof (2), which simultaneously acts as a ceiling
4 3
and two walls of your domicile. The entire frame must be secured with ropes
(page 18) or wire. From above, the roof can be covered with spruce branches, IGLOO
palm leaves, reeds or just straw mixed with clay (page 136). For your fireplace, The secret of constructing an igloo dome is that the snow blocks are laid in Your body heat will be sufficient to heat the igloo, but you must make sure
dig out the main body of the hearth (3), and then dig out a wind box (4) If the draft is not strong enough, these combustion byproducts will a spiral. To do this, the bottom layer of blocks must be shaved down at an angle that the main entrance is a tunnel below floor level. This will allow for carbon
to one side for stoking the fire. If you place your hearth within your dwelling, accumulate in your home, which is dangerous as wood smoke contains to create the tilt that makes the dome shape possible. Don’t forget to leave a gap dioxide and oxygen exchange while preventing heat from escaping. Light
make sure that the main body is inlaid in the wall or placed outside of the poisonous substances. Insulate your fireplace with raw brick (page 148). between the blocks at the very top of the dome for ventilation. The inner walls enters the igloo directly through the snowy walls, but you can also make
walls of the home altogether. The difference in air temperatures inside and This material retains and slowly releases heat over a long period of time. will melt slightly due to the heat emitted by your body, but the cool ambient windows and cover them in stretched, dried animal intestines. For a night-time
outside the hut will create a draft, forcing exhaust fumes outside through Incidentally, if you’re low on firewood, you can use dried animal dung temperature outside will prevent the blocks from melting. In fact, this process light source, insert a wick (page 84) into a bowl filled with fish or seal oil
the chimney (5). instead — it burns well and gives off a lot of heat. of melting and refreezing the inner walls makes the igloo even stronger. and ignite.

22 23
Soap First things First things Soap

T
hey say cleanliness is the keystone of health. Not just for individuals,
but for society on the whole. And where there is physical cleanliness,
spiritual purity will follow. So develop a good hygiene routine. 4
Clean hands start with soap. To wash the grease and dirt from your hands,
you’ll need to start with a mixture of grease and ash. Rebuilding civilization
is hard work. Sometimes you have to get your hands a little dirty. And
dirty hands mean battling an army of viruses, fungi and bacteria that live
on the surfaces you touch everyday. So it's time to make soap! First rule
of soapmaking: Don't talk about soapmaking. And the second: Mix grease
and ash to get rid of grease and dirt. 6

SCENTS AND COLORINGS

5 While a bar of soap is an effective weapon in your fight against germs, it can
also be luxurious — both in content and form. Add interesting scents and
pleasing colors. To do so, first melt the freshly made soap again in a water bath.

LYE It will be easier to do this if you grate the bar of soap and add a little water.
Ironically, the foundation of all soaps is a mixture of fat and lye — that is, When the soap becomes liquid, add essential oils (page 282), aromatic
an aqueous solution of ash (mainly potassium carbonate). When processing herbs or infusions and natural dyes. Beet juice will give the soap a pink color;
the ashes of plants that are found in salty semi-deserts or on the sea coast, cherry and pomegranate, red. If you add strong coffee, the soap will look like
soda solutions are obtained — sodium carbonate. Pass it through hard lime chocolate. Pour the liquid soap into different molds and let it harden.
(limestone burned in a kiln) and you get a solution of caustic sodium —
sodium hydroxide. To make lye, you'll need a filter. Wood shavings (1) make
for a fine base, covered in a layer of straw (2), and finally topped with a layer
of ash (3). Pour boiling water (4) over the top of the barrel and the lye will
start to drip out(5) of the tap in the side of the barrel (6). Do not store
the lye in aluminum or tin containers, as it will corrode them. And make sure
the lye/water mixture doesn't come into contact with your skin or mucous
membranes — you may suffer chemical burns.
SOAP PREPARATION
The base ingredient of soap is fat. Any vegetable oil will do. A tangy olive oil
or sweet coconut oil will give your soap a pleasant aroma. The oils should first
be heated in a water bath.

When the lye is ready and the oils are heated, mix them together. Work slowly
and carefully — the quality of the soap depends on it. As you boil the mixture
down, it eventually reaches the consistency of sour cream. Adding a dash
of salt to the pot causes the soap to bob to the surface. Now you can skim
the soap ball off the top and repeat the process several times to purify it
of all lye and oil residue.

POURING INTO MOLDS

Pour the liquid soap into the molds. A wooden box works well. Just line
with wax paper to prevent the soap from soaking into the wood. Depending
on the weather and the size of the mold, it can take anywhere from a few days
Soap is not only practical, it's also fun. Dip the bottom of a tube in soapy water and you can
to a week for the soap to harden and dry. Afterwards, it can be cut with blow bubbles. And if you ditch the tube and use a long piece of rope tied into a loop instead,
a string or wire into smaller, palm-sized pieces. you can blow bubbles of gigantic proportions!

24 25
MEDICINE
Healing herbs Medicine Medicine Healing herbs

T
hroughout millions of years of evolutionary struggle, plants have Medicinal herbs grow not only in mountains, prairies and forests
developed substances to protect them from diseases and parasites but even in puddles and swamps. For example, duckweed floats
and even to manipulate insects and other animals. Several advanced on the surface of still-moving ponds, lakes and wetlands (4). June
civilizations have medical traditions based around the unique healing 2 or July is a good time to harvest the duckweed because it produces
properties of plants and have done research into the active ingredients flowers. You can use fresh duckweed or dry it in the sun and
4
that may prove useful to humans. If you're not a shaman and haven’t mastered grind it into a powder. People use duckweed to relieve swelling,
the art of communing with plants, you should try to develop a pharmaceutical inflammation and painful urination. This herb can help reduce
industry. But beware — often the only difference between a remedy the duration and severity of flus. It’s also used to promote wound
and a poison is the dosage. Below are a few of the most effective medicinal healing.
plants to start with.

Nettles (5) are tricky plants. The leaves and stems are covered in a multitude
of hollow, stinging hairs called trichomes that act like hypodermic needles, 6
1 injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation
3 upon contact. But if you break through its prickly exterior, you’ll open up
a whole range of remedies. Nettle juice will help with purulent wounds. And
a strong tincture is used as a folk remedy for treating rheumatism. Nettle leaf
tea will relieve headaches, lower blood pressure and protect the liver from
damage by toxins and heavy metals.

The rebirth of civilization will not be without its trials and tribulations.
So search for the stress relieving arctic root (6). Arctic root stimulates
the body's resistance to physical, environmental and emotional stressors.
An extract might help protect cells from damage and regulate heartbeat.
It's also a great natural energy drink. It grows on the banks of cold mountain
streams and rocky slopes in areas with low temperatures and high humidity.

When you have insomnia, use Valerian root. Prepare a hot infusion
A tincture from the red flower tips of Pericarium tarnosis (2), or blue of 2 teaspoons of crushed roots per 1 cup of water. Take 1 large spoonful
wortweed, helps with dizziness, limb cramps and earlobe numbness. 3–4 times a day or drink half a glass before going to bed.
When dried and crushed, the red flower stems make an excellent laxative.
Young burdock leaves (1) boiled in milk are used as a treatment for "Natural" does not necessarily mean "safe." Even medicinal herbs can be
rattlesnake bites. The burdock plant's deep roots have great healing power. Crush fresh broadleaf plantain leaves (3) to release the healing oils then apply potentially harmful if not used correctly. Therefore, you should not mix herbs,
A burdock root tincture can reduce high fevers and cleanse the blood. It also the oil to wounds, sores or insect stings. The astringent properties of the leaves or you may end up with a poison instead of a cure. So make sure to stay
works as a diuretic. Use an oil extract of the root to treat rashes and burns. help clean the area and reduce inflammation. on the good side of your herbalist.

28 29
St e a m b at h Medicine Medicine Steam bath

H
umans love to experiment. This particular quality allows them Saunas have an interesting effect on the body. The steam and heat increase
to get as much use as possible out of their environment and circulation and change the hormone cocktail being produced in the body.
take advantage of all available resources — even natural forces — Serotonin and endorphins flood into the system. Serotonin regulates sleep
to achieve their goals. One example of this is the sauna. By combining Earth, Air, cycles and improves mood, while endorphins dull pain, reduce stress and
Wind and Fire, humans learn not only to cleanse their body but also to heal it. induce a feeling of pleasure.

The rapid temperature changes (such as occur when the body is doused with The attendant must study how the sauna affects the mind and body and
cold water or rubbed with snow) fortify the immune, cardiovascular and which plants and their extracts enhance this effect. Steaming herbs should be
nervous systems, open your pores, promote lymph drainage and improve harvested as they’re ripening, when they contain the maximum amount
metabolism. Because of this, steam baths are used medicinally. Saunas are also of nutrients and antimicrobial compounds known as phytoncides. Dried
a good place to give birth and can alter one’s state of consciousness, putting bunches of herbs are hung in the corner farthest from the stove. The steam
them in a trance-like state. This is facilitated by a change in a person's hormonal releases the aroma and, with it, the phytoncides. Lightly swatting the body
background. The relaxed atmosphere, as well as the nudity of the bathers, with small branches (birch, oak or pine) improves blood circulation, massages You can construct the simplest of bathhouses by erecting a tent or digging The more you heat the stones around the fire, the lighter and more finely
promotes an atmosphere of sincerity and vulnerability, which helps build open the muscles, opens pores and promotes sweating. The essential oils secreted an earth lodge. You’ll need a stove or, for portable bathhouses, a bonfire lined dispersed the steam will be when water is poured across them. This steam
communication within the community. The central figure of the bathhouse by the leaves revitalize the body. To soften the branches, they must be first with large stones. It’s best to vent the smoke outside to prevent soot from is easy to breathe in, even at high temperatures — it does not burn the mucous
is the steam room attendant. His expertise transforms the bathhouse from soaked in warm water for 15 minutes then steamed before using. accumulating. You can also experiment with humidity and temperature, membranes or skin since there are no large water droplets.
an ordinary room filled with hot air to a space of healing and experimentation. as well as the steam production method to alter the effects of the steam bath.

30 31
ks, burns & wound
Brea s
Medicine Medicine Breaks, burns & wounds

CLASSIFICATION OF BURNS
The treatment plan for burns depends on the degree of the damage. If brief
contact with a flame or prolonged sun exposure leads to redness and pain
but no blisters (1), all you have to do is apply ointment to the affected area

E
ven the most well-honed body is vulnerable to damage. A single If the burn or fracture is serious enough, it can affect more than just soft tissue and cover it with an antiseptic bandage. It should heal within a week. Our
misstep or fall can lead to multiple fractures, a simple piece of paper and bone. Resulting infections may spread to the bloodstream and can cause friends the bees can help us make an antiseptic burn ointment. Melt beeswax,
can slice through human skin like the blade of a knife and a careless life-threatening gangrene and blood poisoning. mix with honey and aloe vera juice and let cool. When the wax hardens,
attitude towards fire or poisonous plants can cause serious burns. the ointment is ready.

Severe burns make the skin bright red and shiny (2). Blisters crop up later.
I To prevent the spread of infection, it is important to avoid rupturing
the blisters. Apply an ointment and bandage.

An affected area that has turned black signifies severe tissue damage (3).
2 This kind of burn won't hurt because the fire has damaged the nerve tissue.
If the burn covers a large area of the skin, you may have to perform a skin graft.
Otherwise, the wound will not heal, bacteria will multiply and the site
will become infected. Instead, a patch of healthy skin is taken from another
area of the body and transplanted onto the wound site.
II
1 2 3

SPLINT III
Any sort of force trauma can lead to breaks
or fractures in the bone. One good way to figure
out exactly what’s going on beneath the surface
is to take an X-ray (page 46). If this isn’t an option, PUNCTURE WOUNDS
you’ll have to draw conclusions using indirect AND LACERATIONS
indicators. If the area is puffy, extremely painful, Clean cuts with even edges heal quickly, leaving
cold to the touch or numb, then the bone is most only a thin scar. Things get more complicated with
likely broken. When treating a fracture, the most deep or jagged wounds, which take much longer
IV
important step is resetting the bone so it regrows to heal and produce more scar tissue. Any wound
in the proper position. To do this, you need to hold must first be cleaned in order to avoid blood
it in place. In a pinch, you can create a splint by poisoning. Wash out the wound using soap and
securing something hard and flat, such as a plank, water or an alcohol-based antiseptic solution.
to the injured limb so that it doesn’t move. This You may also want to try your hand at healing
means you must affix the splint to two joints — herbs (page 28). If the wound contains gravel,
one above and one below the injury. Attach V splinters, glass or shrapnel, such as from a bullet
a parallel board to each side of the injured limb (1). wound, the foreign matter must first be removed
using tweezers. Clean the wound from the center
out towards the edges then treat with an antiseptic.
GYPSUM CAST You can apply crushed medicinal herbs or spread
1 Even better than a splint is a cast (2). Gypsum honey, which contains hydrogen peroxide and
is a sedimentary mineral that can be found at is slightly acidic to help fight bacteria. Dressings
the mouths of dry riverbeds. You'll need to crush need to be changed regularly to prevent a bad odor
VI
the rock into a powder then roast it in an open and increased or pulsating pain, all of which are
cauldron for 1.5–3 hours. Once it has cooled, it's signs of infection.
ready to be used in your cast (I). Mix water into
your roasted gypsum. Soak strips of fabric in this
solution (II), squeeze out excess liquid (III) and
wrap around the fracture site (IV). Start above
the fracture and end below it (V). The gypsum
will harden in about 30 minutes (VI).

You should only apply a cast to a bone that has

already been reset. If it's a complex fracture
(where the bone breaks through the skin) or Ideally, a clean deep wound should be stitched up, but if you
broken into multiple small fragments, do not try don’t have the resources for this, you can make a bandage
to reset it because you'll most likely only cause from a spiderweb. It works as a powerful natural superglue.
The web staunches bleeding, makes it easier to see sores
more damage and risk blood poisoning and and abscesses and prevents bacterial and fungal growth.
gangrene. In this case, it's easier, and healthier for Fractures with no bone displacement or fragments heal Just make sure the cobweb is clean of dead insects or bird
the patient, to amputate the limb. quickly — around 2 weeks in children and 3–10 in adults. droppings. And not from a poisonous spider.

32 33
Penicillin Medicine Medicine Penicillin

PREPARING THE MEDICINE

M
illions of people may die from otherwise insignificant infections if This medicinal fungus kills dangerous bacteria so small that only the largest can Make a loop, heat it and let it cool. Then take an empty glass
you don’t find a way to fight back. Certain types of friendly fungi be seen under a microscope (page 184). But obtaining enough penicillin for container and sterilize it as well. Using the loop, gather the yellow
secrete a secret substance that could save lives: penicillin. even one person is a lot of work, and every step must be followed to the letter. liquid into the container.

Heat up some milk in a flat container until you get powdered milk.
Add this, sea salt and 100 ml of clean water to the container with
the penicillin then close the lid and shake the container until
the mixture dissolves.
GROWING THE MOLD
Place a citrus rind, melon or piece of bread in a container with
a small amount of water, cover it loosely and leave it in a warm, A week later, strain the liquid through
dark space. Within a week or so, a gray mold will begin to grow a sterile cloth and add the right
on the surface. The main ingredient is ready once it turns a bright amount of acid.
bluish-green color.
You have 100 mg of solution you can
inject. All that’s left is to make sure
All containers, tools and materials must be clean, preferably
sterilized in boiling water, before use. the correct mold was produced.

EXTRACTING THE PENICILLIN

Cut a couple unpeeled potatoes into thin slices, submerge the slices in boiling Heat a wire loop over an open fire then make sure to let it cool off so it doesn’t
water (1) and leave for half an hour. Strain the mixture using a clean cloth (2). burn the mold. Then use the loop to pick up some mold and flick it across
You’ll need to add another liter of water, as the liquid will be quite thick after the surface of the nutrient substrate (5). Cover the containers and wait
cooling. Also add two tablespoons of sugar and agar (3). Make the agar a week (6). Drops of yellow liquid will begin to form on the substrate —
by freezing red algae and letting it thaw. Pour the mixture into flat-bottomed that’s your penicillin. There isn’t enough of it yet, however.
containers (4), quickly cover them and let the mixture thicken.

RUNNING CLINICAL TRIALS

1 2 3 Before ingesting the medicine, make sure it’s penicillin and not another mold
in the jars. The concentration needs to be correct as well. Place some pus
or sputum from a sick patient into four jars, adding your mixture to two
of them and water to the other two. If the mucus in the water grows larger
while the mucus in with the medicine does not, it means you managed
to make penicillin and got the proportions right.

ADMINISTERING THE MEDICINE

Treatment should last ten days. Since you can’t store penicillin, you need to use
it right after it’s made, which means your only shot at success is building and
scaling a smooth production line for the future.

Remember that using antibiotics too often acclimatizes bacteria to the harsh
conditions, causing them to develop immunity. This will make the battle
exponentially harder. If it’s a viral infection, don’t waste your precious
4 5 6 drops — penicillin will be powerless. You’re better off using medicinal
herbs (page 28).

34 35
Su rg e ry T o ols Medicine Medicine Surgery Tools

APPENDECTOMY

W
hile your top alchemists are still working round the clock The appendix is a finger-sized sac that grows from the cecum in the large
to produce the Elixir of Life, you may need to resort to surgical intestine. It helps the immune system and digestion. But when it gets inflamed,
intervention to save lives. Surgery is a way to sew up serious it causes severe pain. You can easily live to a ripe old age without an appendix,
wounds, reattach missing limbs or even remove problematic vestigial organs, but once it becomes inflamed, you’ve only got a few days to get it out before it
such as the appendix. causes widespread inflammation throughout the abdomen or ruptures
and infects the blood, resulting in death.
11
9 12

I. Under a good light source and with antiseptics, antibiotics and pain
10 medication close at hand, make an incision deep enough to transect
the abdominal muscles and the dense, translucent film covering
the abdominal organs, known as the peritoneum.

5
7
II. You’ll notice the cecum immediately. Grasp it and
carefully pull it upwards and out through the incision,
9 along with the inflamed appendix. This must be done
II slowly and carefully or the appendix may burst
in your hands.

III. Pull the appendix to one side, tie off the large
artery running underneath it and cut through
8
the ligament holding it to the cecum.

IV. Tie off the appendix at the base and remove it.
Cauterize the wound with a red-hot knife blade.

6 V. Stitch up the wound in layers — first

the peritoneum, then the abdominal muscles
and finally the skin. You should start your stitch
4 before the edge of the wound in order to anchor it
to healthy skin. When stitching up the peritoneum
and muscle layers, be sure to use dissolving stitches,
such as catgut sutures. They can be made from the muscle
and submucosal tissue layers of a sheep's intestine. V

The outer layer of stitches should be removed one week after

3 the operation. It is important that the wound remains clean
and not inflamed. Dressings should be changed regularly.
1

III

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
Your main tool is a sharp scalpel (1). If you can’t find one, you can get away IV
with using a thin, well-sharpened blade (12). Retractors (2, 3, 8) pry open
the incision, giving you access to the organs underneath. Strabismus scissors
(4) cut through vessels, ligaments and tendons, while a needle and thread 2
(5) paired with suture forceps (9) help you sew them back up again. These
can also be used to grip and tie off blood vessels. But make sure not to sew up
vessels without a good set of magnifying glasses (6). A mask (7) protects the
surgeon from liquids spurting from the wound and protects the patient from
microbes emanating from the surgeon’s mouth and nose. A syringe (11)
is needed to administer pain relievers. Tweezers (10) are useful for applying
and removing staples when suturing incisions and wounds.

36 37
Anat o my & bl o od Medicine Medicine Anatomy & blood

BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Suspend a glass bottle with a rubber cap (1) upside 6
down on a bar high above the patient. Two thin

T
he human body is a universe unto itself. Everything is interconnected, rubber hoses with needles at the end are then stuck
energy and nutrients flowing from one place to another through 2 through the rubber cap. Blood drips slowly into
the body’s supply system — blood. Hopefully, your blood the drip filter (2) — a collapsible glass cylinder
generally stays inside your own body, but in certain life-threatening 1 with a mesh (3) inside (used to filter out blood
situations, it can be shared with another person. And luckily, finding clots, or lumps that quickly form in the blood
someone with a similar blood type is easier than finding someone once it is removed from the human body).
with shared interests, political views or musical tastes. The blood then flows through another rubber
tube to a needle inserted into the patient's vein.
3
The needle must only be inserted once blood
4 has flowed to the end of the tube, so as to avoid
air bubbles, which can cause embolisms. Use
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM an adjustable clamp (4) to regulate blood flow.
Blood flows through a network of vessels that The second rubber tube (5) acts as a pressure
close, through the heart, in two circuits of blood vent, allowing blood to flow easily. An air filter (6) 5
circulation. This red, viscous liquid delivers oxygen, is attached to the end of this tube to prevent dust 2
nutrients, hormones and vitamins to every corner from entering the bottle. Express testing
of the body; it also picks up waste and dispatches If you have time to determine the blood type in advance, great.
it for disposal. Some elements in blood protect 5 But in emergency situations, you can mix two blood samples
together in transparent containers. If no clots form, it’s safe
the body from infections, while others can 6 to perform a transfusion, but if the blood becomes visibly
plug holes in blood vessels and prevent leaks. 7 lumpy, the blood types are not compatible.

3
8 9
1. Braincase 10
2. Brain
3. Thyroid
4. Trachea
5. Heart
6. Lungs
7. Diaphragm 11
8. Liver
9. Stomach
10. Gallbladder 12
11. Large intestine
12. Small intestine
13. Bladder 13 4
14. Muscular structure
1

ANTIGENS
Blood gets its color from
microscopic red cells called erythrocytes.
The cells have distinguishing markers called
antigens that stick out like pins from the surface
of the cell. The main antigens are A, B and
the Rh factor. People have different combinations
of these "pins," i.e., different blood types. If you give
a patient a transfusion with the wrong blood type,
the erythrocytes will begin to clump together,
turning the blood into jelly. This is why blood
14 transfusions should only be performed with
compatible blood types. Complicating the matter
even further is the Rh factor — people who lack this
marker cannot receive blood in which it is present.

BLOOD TYPE
Crush lima beans (Phaseolus limensis). Dissolve Spin for 5 minutes. Drain the liquid and keep
1 g of salt in 100 ml of condensate obtained by 0.2 ml of the red precipitate. Add 10 ml of saline
evaporating water. Mix 5 ml of this solution with solution. Mix a drop of the blood mixture with
15 g of seed powder. Shake every 10 minutes for a drop of the seed extract. If a few clots appear,
an hour. Next, spin the mixture very quickly the blood is type A. If there are a lot of clots,
to separate the liquid from the sediment. Save it’s type AB. If there are none, it’s type B or O.
this liquid. Mix a couple of drops of blood with Viewing the clots is much easier with a microscope
60 drops of saline solution. (page184).

38 39
D e nt is t ry Medicine Medicine Dentistry

DENTAL PROSTHETICS

A
smile is a contract of goodwill between two people. The wider They’re also the marker of a good quality of life. Learning good dental If you break a tooth, you can insert a short post directly into the jaw bone Affix this bridge to the crowns of the abutment teeth, or two anchor teeth
the smile, the stronger the sense of security. But strong, healthy teeth hygiene habits early on can prevent heart, nervous system and spine problems to serve as the root of your dental implant. This post is threaded so you can adjacent to the gap. Before placing the bridge, these teeth must be ground
aren’t just the key to a thriving social life. down the line. install a prosthetic tooth. Instead of extracting the tooth, you can attach down so that a crown can be placed on them. A full-jaw prosthesis can be
a porcelain cap and secure it with springs and braces. When the damage is more made using ivory.
extensive and multiple teeth need to be extracted, you can make a dental
bridge — use a light, durable metal — to which the fake teeth are attached.

10 9

11
6

TOOTH STRUCTURE
The top layer is the enamel (6), which makes your teeth
more durable and guards against germs. Beneath that
is the dentin (1). The pulp (2) protects the core and contains FILLING
1 the tooth’s “vital organs”: the veins (3) and the nerve (4), Any holes or other damage teeth sustain must be filled to prevent the tooth The material should reach into all the nooks and crannies of the cleaned
which is the culprit behind the terrible pain you feel when from crumbling away further. During this procedure, the vessels and nerves tooth hole. Check the height of the filled tooth against other teeth nearby
2 you have a toothache. The root (5) holds the tooth in the jaw. are also sealed off, relieving any pain the patient may be feeling. Fillings to ensure that the filling won’t interfere with the patient’s everyday life.
The light pink tissue surrounding the tooth is the gums (7). can be made of a silver, copper and tin alloy or from dental cement made Try to work with the natural shape of the tooth and remove any excess
This covers the base of the tooth, preventing food particles by mixing zinc oxide powder and a binder. The tooth must be very clean material before it hardens.
from penetrating inside the body. and dry before applying the filling; otherwise, the coating won’t stick.

4 DRILL
The mechanism behind the dental drill is similar
3
to the one used in a sewing machine (page 170):
7
The pedal (8) transfers the rotational energy through
the cable (9) in the hose to the turbine (10) built
into the handpiece, which makes the drill
5 bit (11) rotate. The more rotations
per minute the drill is able to obtain,
the less painful the treatment is for the patient.
That’s why it’s better to make the drill electric.
The high number of revolutions makes it easier
to gently remove the afflicted areas from
the surface of the tooth without destroying ANESTHESIA 1
the lower layers. The tooth can now be filled. Drilling into a bare nerve will cause a hellish
2 When heated, ammonium
amount of pain. That’s why you’ll need something nitrate releases nitrous
oxide, which can be used
to take the edge off. The simplest anesthesia
as an anesthetic. Heat
to make is laughing gas (although making it isn’t to no more than 250°C;
nearly as fun as taking it). All you need to do otherwise, things will get
8 is heat ammonium nitrate (1), an ingredient also explosive. Since laughing gas
is heavier than air, it can
used in gunpowder and fertilizers (pages 124
be collected in a jar or other
and 58). The vessel you use should be a beaker container.
closed off with a cork and small glass tube (2).
Heating ammonium nitrate releases nitrous oxide, 3
otherwise known as laughing gas. This gas
must be bubbled through water and collected
in an inverted jar (3). Make sure this jar is air-
tight and sealed immediately after collection
or the gas will escape instantly. Give the patient
a huff of the stuff, and they’ll forget all about
any pain. Give them a little more,
and they’ll fall fast asleep.

40 41
Ch il d birt h Medicine Medicine Childbirth

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

Y
our civilization will be under threat if the new generation is insufficient Every step has been honed and perfected over millions of years of evolution, In case of complications in childbirth — if the child isn’t making progress
to replace the old. One way of tackling this problem is by reducing and the female body already contains all the resources necessary to protect and through the birth canal and it is too late for a C-section — there are two
infant mortality rates during labor. Childbirth is a natural process nurture the fetus. But what if something goes wrong during this process and options. The first requires a vacuum plunger. Use a small pump to create
that has been programmed into humans. the mother and child are in danger? Luckily, there are ways to address many a weak vacuum. Attach a rubber-lipped suction cup to a solid glass bottle.
of the common problems so that the child can safely be born. As the air is pumped out of the bottle, it generates negative pressure and
the rubber lip seals firmly to the baby's head. All that remains is to gently
LABOR tug on the other side and help the baby through the birth canal. The second
Childbirth is a natural process. In most situations, everything runs smoothly After the head, the shoulders and body should soon follow. Cut the umbilical method involves forceps — a large pair of tongs that clasp the child's head.
on its own. The child grows and develops within a fluid-filled sac in the womb. cord as soon as you stop seeing a pulse within it. But the birth process is not The doctors assisting the woman in labor must work together with the new
When it’s time to be born, this sac ruptures and the amniotic fluid is released over. Now, the new mother needs to push out the placenta, which provides mother, only lightly pulling on the child as she pushes. Overly forceful use
through the vagina. A woman is ready to give birth when the opening the fetus with nutrients and oxygen during pregnancy. During birth, of forceps may lead to fatal consequences for the child.
of the cervix reaches 10 cm. The baby’s head should be the first thing it detaches from the wall of the womb and must be expelled.
through the vaginal canal. As soon as it does, clear the baby’s nose
and mouth so it can breathe. A phonendoscope will help you diagnose possible problems by allowing you to listen
to the internal organs. The head of the device, which is placed on the skin, must consist
of a thin diaphragm (an elastic convex plate, which acts as a membrane) and an amplification
cone. This transmits a broader range of frequencies than a stethoscope and is more sensitive
to fetal heart tones.

2 2

1. Exhaust vent
2. Sealed hatches
for baby access
3
3. Thermometer
to monitor the constant
temperature within
the incubator
4. Scales to monitor
weight
5. Heating element
7 6. Filtered air duct
7. Fan
4

6 5
C-SECTION
If something goes wrong — for example, the baby is breech (positioned feet
first), has become tangled in the umbilical cord or the mother's birth canal INCUBATOR
is too small — a cesarean section may become medically necessary. Make If the baby is born prematurely, you can simulate It is important that the baby has warmth from Place a scale on the floor of the incubation chamber,
a horizontal incision above the pubis (or in case of extreme emergency, the conditions within the mothers womb all sides. Install a fan to circulate air. Remember then cut two holes in the side and install rubber
a vertical incision from the navel to the pubis). Cut through the layer in an incubation chamber. It ensures constant to add a cotton filter to the air duct to prevent gloves. These can be hermetically sealed into
of muscle, push the bladder aside then make an incision in the uterus and temperature, moderate humidity and proper contamination by harmful microbes. You also the wall of the chamber so that you can access
rupture the sac containing the baby. After carefully removing the baby and oxygen levels. Make the box out of metal and glass need to be able to constantly monitor the weight and manipulate the baby without disturbing
cutting the umbilical cord, extract the placenta and pull out the uterus. to make it easier to sterilize. To maintain consistent and temperature of the child so that you don’t the microclimate.
Stitch up the incision on the lower and outer layers of the uterus and put it temperature, use a heating element or warm water repeatedly compromise the sterile environment
back in place. Then stitch up the muscle and skin layers. bottles. by pulling the baby in and out.

42 43
Epidemic Medicine Medicine Epidemic

ISOLATION
Diseases often originate in forests, spread by wild Animals can transmit to humans, who then bring Quarantine is an essential precaution against

T
he more your civilization thrives, the greater the risk of it falling. animals. Some animals can be wellsprings the infectious agents back to their communities outbreak. Infected individuals must be separated
Dense urbanization, trade and emigration between cities (page 406) of pathogens — although they themselves may and set off a chain reaction. Send your hunters from the rest of society. Symptoms may appear
1
create the perfect conditions for an epidemic. Close contact between not fall ill, they can still carry the disease and out in shifts and make sure they live in a camp several days after initial infection, so anyone
people from different places can lead to cross contamination: Viruses that may 2 transmit it to humans. Bats, rodents and primates slightly separated from the main population. who has been in close contact with a known case
be harmless to a community with herd immunity could wreak havoc among are the most common and dangerous culprits. This will reduce the risk of disease outbreak. must quarantine even if they feel healthy and
populations that haven't yet been exposed. Stop-gap solutions simply Try to avoid building your settlement near a swamp, Water is as much a breeding ground for infection are asymptomatic. Quarantine should last
won't do — you'll need to resort to radical methods in order to keep as mosquitos breed in stagnant water and carry as forest thickets. All your water must be purified a minimum of 7 days and a maximum of 14–21.
your civilization afloat. numerous diseases. You may run into the same before utilizing (page 14). Most microbes
problem near rivers. are quickly killed by boiling.

PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
5
1. Goggles protect you from microbes penetrating through
the mucous membrane of your eyes, allowing you to safely
observe patients with pustules and ulcers.

2. A mask prevents pathogens from getting in through your skin

and mucous membranes. When coughing, sneezing or even
having a simple conversation, tiny droplets from your nose and
mouth fly through the air and are aspirated by people nearby.
These droplets contain microbes responsible for terrible
diseases. A two-ply mask with a filter traps these microbes,
preventing them from traveling through the air and infecting
someone. Everyone, not just those displaying symptoms,
should wear a mask during an outbreak because no one
can be certain that they aren't a carrier.

3. A cane will help you stay clear of contaminated surfaces.

It can be used to open doors or measure a safe distance
of 1.5 meters — this is the best way to slow the spread
of infection.

4. A long hooded robe to cover the whole body. After you get
back home, it’ll need to be disinfected.

5. Gloves protect your hands and keep germs out of your

face and mouth.
4
6. High heels help keep your shoes from getting dirty
in contaminated runoff water. This way, you don’t have to clean
the dirt from your boots, which means one less opportunity
for transferring germs to the skin. 3

VACCINATION
Your best bet in the battle against disease is vaccination. It’s a way of introducing Crush the scabs into a powder. Make an incision on the person's hand, sprinkle
the immune system to the pathogen in advance, giving it the opportunity some crust powder in and wrap it with a cloth. If the patient develops small
to fight back without getting infected. This way, when the vaccinated person sores and blisters after a couple of days, the vaccination has worked.
comes into contact with the pathogen, they have either developed a complete
immunity or have drastically reduced symptoms. Another dangerous but effective way to teach the body to recognize and
fight pathogens in advance is variolation. If there are pimples and pustules
One to two cases a week is manageable, but 15–20 is considered an outbreak. 6 Vaccines use a weakened form of the microbe. But if your civilization lacks on the patient's body, pierce them with a sharp needle. Some pus will remain
These waves of infection occur when a microbe or virus is rapidly passed the technology necessary to create vaccines, there is a simpler but far more on the tip. You must then use this needle to puncture the skin of a healthy
from one person to another, who then continues the chain by infecting others But when this cycle isn’t broken, the disease can spread like wildfire across risky method. Check to see if house animals experience similar symptoms person in several places. The most convenient location is the shoulder. The risk
around them. If you infect someone but they are able to prevent themselves the whole civilization. If the outbreak starts to affect several different to humans when infected. If the disease produces ulcers, scrape the dried crust of developing complications after an intentional, controlled infection is lower
from infecting anyone else, they will interrupt the transmission cycle, and settlements, it becomes an epidemic. If the epidemic goes global and starts or scab off the top. When the infected tissue dries out, it makes the pathogen than the risk of dying from a severe illness, so you have an important choice
within a year or two, there will be no more new cases of the disease. spreading even to remote areas, it’s classified as a pandemic. weaker. This weakened form is exactly what you need. to make.

44 45
X- r ay Medicine Medicine X-ray

RADIATION PROTECTION

W
e’re often told that it’s impossible to know what’s really going Despite its seeming technical complexity, you can build an X-ray machine Not all threats are visible to the naked eye. X-rays
on inside another person. But it’s not entirely true. X-rays reveal using an incandescent lamp (page 198) and a photographic plate (page 187). are a form of ionizing radiation. They are absorbed
things invisible to the naked eye. Bone cracks, swallowed metal objects and even bullets are visible at a glance. into body tissues and can cause radiation burns
and, in high doses, even cancer. That’s why people
shouldn’t undergo X-ray procedures too often.
Protect the parts of your body that aren’t being
X-RAY APPARATUS examined with lead plates. But don’t create a full
The entire mechanism must be covered with a thick lead casing suit of lead armor — it would weigh a ton.
to prevent X-rays from flying out in all directions. Leave just one It’s better to sew a vest or apron with many
small, unprotected window angled towards the tilted anode. pockets and fill them with lead plates.
The rays will escape through this window. Connect the machine
to a high voltage source, preferably constant voltage (page 196).

CONTRAST AGENT
When doing medical imaging of the stomach
or intestines, you can highlight them using
X-RAY TUBE COOLING SYSTEM a contrast agent. It will improve the image
Blow a tube out of quartz glass (page 114). To prevent the cathode from overheating, quality and allow you to see the organs in more
This glass can withstand extreme temperatures. provide a constant supply of cold, flowing X-RAY IMAGE detail. You can prepare a contrast agent from
Place two electrodes inside — the cathode and water and place the entire tube As X-rays pass through your body, they are absorbed to different barium salts. To do this, you‘ll need to find
the anode. Choose a metal with a high melting in an oil bath. extents by the internal structures. For instance, soft tissues such the mineral barite (also known as heavy spar),
point for your cathode. A tungsten filament, used as muscles and fat absorb very little, while dense materials like which is similar to limestone but heavier. Grind
in regular light bulbs (page 192), will do. Suck bones or metal objects absorb much more. That’s why the image it into powder. It doesn’t dissolve in water so you
out as much air as possible from inside the lamp. X-rays leave on the photographic plate looks like a set of lighter will have to add an algae thickener. Add flavoring
A vacuum will allow the electrons to fly across and darker shadows. to make drinking it more pleasant for the patient.
6
from the cathode to the anode. When heated,
the cathode emits electrons.

Make the anode much larger and from a metal

with a high thermal conductivity, such as copper.
1
Cut the anode stem at a 45–70-degree angle and
attach a platform made from a heavy metal, such 5 4
as tungsten or platinum. When the electrons hit
this platform, they slow down and lose some
of their energy. This energy is released
in the form of X-rays.

1. X-ray tube
2. Anode
3. Cathode
2 4. Lead casing
5. Photographic plate
6. Cooling system

46 47
PLANTS
Exotic fruits Plants

E
xotic fruits can be a puzzle. It’s not always immediately clear which
portion is edible and how to extract it. Many plants have acquired
surprising adaptations that force us to admit the truth: No matter
what heights our civilizations may reach, nature will always take the prize
for the most innovative inventions.

Cashew
This is not technically a nut but a seed formed on a soft yellow,
green or red "apple” — the fruit of the plant. This can also be eaten
raw (it’s juicy with a sweet and sour taste) or by boiling it into a compote.
The “nut” itself is encased within a double shell. The outer layer contains
compounds that irritate the skin, so it should not be removed with
the bare hands. Heat neutralizes the caustic resin. Toss the cashews
in boiling water for half an hour, after which time the outer shell Coconut
will become harder and easier to remove. Then fry the pod A coconut has three distinct shells. All of them have uses in agriculture. Dry the outer
and remove the inner shell. The cashews are now ready to eat. hull to use as fuel or fertilizer. The fibrous husk can be used for upholstery. The third,
Cashews are both a food and a medicine. They contain anacardic internal shell can be flaked and used in desserts or mixed with coconut water to make Coco de Mer
acids that kill bacteria. Chewing on them is a good way milk. The outermost shell has three small grooves in it. Wait five months for the coconut The fruit resembles the hips of a curvy woman.
to prevent tooth decay (page 40). to ripen then drill a hole in one of these grooves so you can drain the liquid from the nut. The palm tree only bears fruit after the age of 20,
It is an excellent source of electrolytes and adds depth of flavor to your cooking. but it will live for a long time — up to 800 years.
Use the roots of the palm tree for dye (page 122) and the leaves for weaving mats. Coco de mer contains less coconut liquid and has a more
The syrup from the flowerheads, which can be evaporated to make sugar or left tender flesh than a plain coconut. It can be eaten raw
to ferment, produces a refreshing, low-alcohol wine. or used to prepare a variety of dishes, beer and soft drinks.

Banana Peanut
The banana plant is not actually a tree but a giant herbaceous plant, or herb. The fruiting The peanut is actually a bean that grows underground
body is technically a berry but is generally classified as a fruit. Bananas can be eaten raw, in light, sandy soil. Cull and trim the bushes frequently,
dried, boiled or fried. The tree takes 10 months to mature before forming an intricate blossom as peanut flowers bloom for just a single day. The fruit
head. The blossoms are arranged in tiers, eventually forming small fruits. One tree can grow can be harvested 90–150 days after planting, depending
200–300 bananas, which are always bunched very close together. After harvesting the fruit, on the variant. This near miraculous legume has as many
the stalk should be chopped down and a new one planted in its place. uses as your creativity can muster. A very nutritious food,
it can be eaten raw or fried, turned into cooking oil
and ground into meal. It can be processed into hand
lotion, laundry soap and shampoo. Medicinally,
peanuts can be turned into a laxative or rubbing oil.
You can even use them to make glue, dye and ink.

Mangosteen
The interior of the fruit consists of segmented pulp with seeds. Open
the ripe fruit carefully so that the inky secretions left by the shell don’t stain
your clothes and skin. The pulp is a source of many good micronutrients.
You can eat it raw, make it into juice, add it to pies or make jams and sauces.
You can fry the seeds and make curd from the peel.
Helix Bean
This isn’t a bean but a fruit. When the fruit
ripens, the skin bursts open to reveal juicy
berries. The berries slide down the spiral
structure inside the fruit, accelerating as they
do, and fall to the ground. When they hit
the earth, they bounce like rubber balls in all
directions. The higher in the spiral the berries
are located, the farther they bounce. This is
how the plant multiplies. You must harvest
the crop before this happens and the berries
scatter all over the place and either take root
or are eaten by birds and other small creatures.

50
fungi Plants

FERMENTATION

M
ushrooms are among the most mysterious organisms Yeast and mold are also a type of microscopic
in the multiverse. Neither plant nor animal, mushrooms fungi. Certain species can be used to kickstart
are a type of fungus, which also includes microscopic yeast the fermentation process when making
cells and molds. They survive by breaking down organic compounds bread (page 94) or alcohol (page 118). Some
in the environment — unlike plants, which use sunlight for photosynthesis — molds are used to make cheeses (page 104),
and reproduce by releasing spores. wines (page 62) and even medicines One
particular species produces a powerful
Mushrooms are vital to maintaining healthy forestland. The caps and stems medicinal substance: penicillin.
you see aboveground are just the visible portion of a massive underground
network that rivals the span of even the largest metropolis.

FOOD AND MEDICINE CLOTHING AND PACKAGING

Mushrooms aren’t particularly satiating but do contain fiber, antioxidants, Mycelium, which is the mushroom equivalent of a root system,
vitamins and minerals. They can be boiled, fried, cured or dried. Even can be used to make biodegradable, moisture- and fire-resistant materials
poisonous mushrooms can be put to good use: fly agaric, for example, contains for clothing and containers. Inoculate waste byproducts such as oat hulls
antibiotics, analgesics and antihistamines. But be careful: Some mushrooms (page 54) with mycelium and place in a mold. The mycelium will grow to fill
cause hallucinations and other mind-bending symptoms that can change your the empty space and you’ll be left with a dense block of material. When ready
perception of the world. In some societies, this may or may not be considered to use, dry it out to prevent further growth.
a positive attribute.

52
Sta pl e C r ops Plants Plants Staple Crops

Cereals can be processed in several ways: Sow your seeds at different times of the year to ensure a steady food source
• Mill the grains to produce flour (page 234). all year long. Spring cereals, as the name suggests, are sown in spring, while
• Remove the hard outer shell (bran) from the grain using a mortar winter crops should be planted in autumn. Winter crops germinate during

O
nce you start growing your own staple crops, be prepared for your Both cereals (e.g., wheat, rice, corn) and pulses (e.g., chickpeas, lentils) make and pestle, moisten and steam to remove any impurities and dry the cold months, and because of this, they ripen much earlier than the spring
life to change drastically. You'll begin to depend on agriculture and good staple crops and will play an important role in shaping the food, life, to produce cereals. crops. Winter crops produce higher yields (due to moisture reserves in the soil
will be able to settle in one place. Your communities will grow into culture and even worldview of your civilization. • Soak and germinate the seeds to produce malt, which is used to make in early spring), but they can be grown only in areas with high snow cover and
villages and, eventually, large cities. beer (page 106), whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. mild winters, are more demanding on the soil and are less drought-resistant.
Wheat, barley and rye can all be sown in winter.

Wheat — depending on how you process it, you can Corn is a staple grain, as it will provide food for both people Chickpeas are a good plant-based meat replacement, Oats tolerate frost and drought very well, so they’ll guarantee Lentils are drought-resistant legumes that are high Barley grains, after hulling, leave you with delicious barley
get semolina, bulgur, couscous, wheat germ and flour. and livestock. The unrefined kernels are used in side dishes as they are rich in protein. Two easy dishes to make are your survival. Crush the grains to get flour for bread or flatten in carbohydrates and protein. They’re the basis of salads, grits. Polish those to produce pearl barley. Barley works
The grains themselves contain starch, which is used as a base and soups or eaten right off the cob. The flour can be made hummus, mashed chickpeas with tahini (ground sesame them into flakes to make muesli. Infuse alcohol with oat earthy soups and stews, vegetarian cutlets and pâté, as well wonderfully for thickening soups and stews. It is an essential
in ointments and adhesives. Wheat is also needed to make into pancakes, cornbread and tortillas or refined further seeds), and falafel, ground chickpeas formed into a ball grains and you’ll get a sedative. Brew them for a pick-me-up as sweet dishes like pancakes, muffins and even "mockolate" ingredient in beer and whiskey. It also makes great animal
beer, vodka and whiskey. to make cornstarch. Superheat the dried kernels in a closed and deep fried. After you’ve harvested your chickpeas, coffee replacement. By the way, baby food and jelly can both truffles. Additionally, they fix nitrogen and so replenish fodder for keeping your livestock alive through winter.
pan with some oil to get popcorn. The dried husks and stalks the rest of the plant can be used as livestock feed. be thickened using oat broth. the soil in which they are grown.
of the plant are good for building huts and fences.

54 55
Cro p r o tat ion Plants Plants Crop rotation

Good fertilizers produce large harvests and sustainable yields. Your best fertilizer Plants need certain substances at different stages of their lifecycle. During
factory is a compost pit. Food waste, harvest byproducts and even excrement the germination period, they need phosphorus; during the active growth
(a source of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) can all be added to the pile. period, nitrogen; and in preparation for winter, potassium. Sludge containing
But it is important to process them correctly or the cycle of pathogenic organisms the rotting remains of vegetation and marine organisms will act as a powerful

N
ature moves in cycles. After each blossom comes a period of decline, To do this, you must change the plants you grow annually according to the rules will be a closed loop, which can cause an outbreak of diseases. Cover the feces with growth stimulator, and manure and bird droppings will act as a source
and over time, even the most fertile fields start producing increasingly of crop rotation: interchange soil-depleting cereals with legumes, which saturate sawdust and straw, leave for six months or a year and stir regularly. Decomposed of nitrogen. Plants will receive phosphorus and calcium if you sprinkle
meager harvests. The soil becomes depleted as the plants suck all the land with nitrogen, and grow root crops for both animal feed and personal sawdust increases soil fertility, improving its air permeability and moisture capacity. them with powder obtained from boiled and ground animal skeletons.
the nutrients from it. But don’t pack up the family and leave the farm yet — consumption. This approach will provide you and your livestock with food, To speed up the decomposition process in the pit, dampen everything with water Many of these elements are also contained in common ash, which can be
you can help your fields rest and recover while continuing to produce a yield. which in turn will provide you with milk and meat. And livestock manure even and turn it into a slurry. used as a compound fertilizer, as it also contains magnesium, sulfur, boron,
rejuvenates the soil. An added bonus is that crop rotation disrupts the life cycles manganese and other elements that plants need.
of pathogens and plant pests, preventing them from flourishing.

Barley and oats (page 54) produce good yields but quickly drain the soil. Therefore, grow The next year, plant legumes iin these same fields — peas, beans, lentils, annual clover,
a perennial clover at the same time. It will grow under the canopy of the cereals and is good soy, peanuts. They will restore the fertility of the nutrient-depleted soil by saturating it with
for feeding cows and goats. Clover accumulates nitrogen in its roots, which will maintain soil nitrogen. The crop can be used to feed livestock, and if there is a surplus, plow it into the ground,
nutrient levels as the cereals grow. where it will fertilize the soil for next year’s crop.
.

The year after you plant wheat, grow root veggies such as potatoes, beets, turnips, rutabagas. Wheat and rye (page 54) are your main crops. They should be sown immediately after Fertilizers applied in early fall will decompose
These are a great source of food for both people and livestock. Animals will gain significantly the legumes, when the soil is at peak nutrient density. These crops have winter varieties, more slowly, which is good for improving soil
more weight on root crops than if they were grazing in pastures. Your root crop fields act as a sort which are sown in winter as opposed to spring so they germinate earlier. Plant them fertility. Peat mixed with lime will improve
of caloric storage system: They can be left in the ground and harvested as needed for the next two in previously harvested fields so your land will not stand idle. the soil structure.
years. Root crops aren’t affected by weeding, so use this opportunity to rid your fields of unwanted
weeds. By the way, you can utilize this extra pasture land by growing more cereals.

56 57
Plow & tools Plants Plants Plow & tools

G
athering grains is all well and good, but to feed a large number You need a plow. It can transform a dry patch of overgrown weeds into
of people, you’ll need to grow your own cereals (page 54) and other an excellent crop field in the blink of an eye. The plow allows you not only
crops. The most important step in this process is preparing the soil. to eliminate weeds by severing their roots and turning over the soil but also
If you try to do this on your own, you’ll be left digging from dawn until dusk. introduce nutrients into the soil and improve drainage and aeration.
To cultivate and harvest the land, you need more than a plow.
Try combining several devices into one super-machine, perhaps
one that runs on steam (page 242).
WORKING PRINCIPLES
The basic principle of the plow is that it cuts both vertically and horizontally
through the ground and rolls this whole slice of topsoil over upside-down.
This allows you to get rid of weeds, distribute fertilizers throughout the soil
and improve aeration. The sock (1), or share, of the plow cuts through the soil
layer. The degree of rotation depends on the shape of the bent upper part
of the share, known as the moldboard (2).

5
4

1 6

3 1 2

COMBINE
Working a field requires a whole variety of tools. You can even make it retractable, sliding forward Take a wheelbarrow with a grain box and connect it,
Most of them will be rendered far more effective and back as you sew your seeds. The skimmer (2) via a gear system (page 162), to one of the wheels,
if you attach a power source. Mechanize the process chops off the top soil layer with the plants and which will rotate the roller in the bottom of the box
by creating a base structure onto which you can places it in the bottom of the open furrow. This will so that the seeds fall evenly. Add the thresher (5) —
PLOW STRUCTURE install various pieces depending on what job you facilitate the work of the plowshare and extend its a rotating drum with soft blades that separates
The plow frame (3) is equipped with handles (4) and a drawbar (5) to which need done. Let's say you are out of luck: The soil life. The harrow (3) will allow you to level the soil the grain from the chaff and straw during
a support wheel (6) can be attached. It will simplify the plowing process. Iron is full of stones, and the plow is constantly breaking after plowing and cover the seeds with dirt. You can harvest time.
plowshares are triangular and attached with bolts. After plowing, level out and becoming dull.The solution is a chisel (1). also opt for wooden planks with protruding spikes.
the furrows and ridges, scatter the seeds and wait for the harvest! Remember It is attached in front of the plowshare and prevents To cover large areas, use the seeder (4) —
to weed, watch out for pests, fertilize the soil and water your seedlings. damage to the cutting edge of the blade. a mechanical seed spreading device.

58 59
ecrow & Mole trap
Scar s
Plants Plants Scarecrow & Mole traps

T
he circle of life exists in delicate balance, and one ill-conceived action Be wary of scaring them away, lest your fields be overrun with rodents and
could have unforeseen consequences. Remove a single grain and the insects that cause even more damage to your crops. When waging war against
whole pile comes toppling down, sending ripples through time and pests, you must be careful not to upset the natural ecosystem. Maintain balance
changing the world beyond recognition. Birds stealing the fruits of your labor? by learning about the lifestyles, habits and fears of the critters crunching on your
crops and use this information to develop an action plan.

If you have a source of running water near your field, carve a rocker arm
out of a segmented bamboo stalk pivoted slightly to one side of the balance
point. The back end should rest on a hard surface, like a rock.
As the hollow bamboo stalk fills with water, the tube's center
of gravity moves past the pivot point. As the tube topples over
to dump out the water, the heavier back end smacks against
the rock, creating a loud cracking noise that scares away birds.

SCARECROW
Everyone knows that nature's most frightening predator is man.
Take advantage of this reputation by placing a human figure on a pole
in a field. You can decorate it with all sorts of trash that moves or rustles
in the wind or shiny objects that glint in the sun. Moving mechanical elements
will make your scarecrow even more intimidating. Move the pole to different
locations around the field to keep the birds on their toes. Or make more
scarecrows. But the main predator birds have to contend with is other birds.
If you haven’t had the chance to train a pet falcon to chase away the smaller
birds picking at your crop, you can make a serviceable imitation using a kite.
And humans aren’t the only creatures prone to superstition. Scatter fake dead
birds around the field and the living ones will want to stay far away.

FIGHTING MOLES CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

Set the trap by threading the catch ring (4) through the opening in the end Powdery mildew (a type of mold) is the scourge of many plants. Spraying
of the metal firing arm (2) then mount the arm on the catch (3). In this with natural antifungals can help. Crush limestone and burn the powder
position, the tension spring (5) keeps the arm under tension. When the mole at 900–1200°С. The substance you’re left with is calcium oxide, otherwise
sticks its head through the entry ring (1), its nose will push against the catch known as quicklime. Carefully dissolve a kilogram of quicklime in 50 liters
ring, sliding it to one side and releasing the catch. This presses the mole’s neck of water. Then take a kilogram of copper sulfate, which can be obtained
against the bottom of the entry ring, rendering it unable to move. by treating copper with concentrated sulfuric acid heated to 60°С. Dissolve
this in a small amount of hot water then add cold water to 50 liters.
1. Entry ring 4. Trigger Mix this with the quicklime solution.
2. Firing arm 5. Tension spring
3. Catch
1
3 2

4
60 61
Wine Plants plants Wine

A
fine beverage that warms the body and The grape is a tiny miracle, a secret haven for
heals the soul. Although every drop nature’s powers. Once poured into a glass, these
of wine is made from fermented grape powers reveal themselves in a deep, complex
juice, not just any grape is worthy of becoming bouquet of flavors, delicious and distinct.
wine. A bottle of wine combines a winemaker’s
skill with the spirit of a location.

PROTECTION
FROM THE ELEMENTS
Locating your vineyard on the side of a valley or hill
will offer good drainage and protect your precious
vines from frost and wind. But make sure you pick
the correct side (towards the equator) for maximum
sunshine: a south-facing slope in the northern
hemisphere and a north-facing slope in the southern.

In order to produce wine, the vine must suffer for its art.
SUNLIGHT MAKING THE WINE
If you don’t prune (trim the top parts of the shoots), the bush The warmth from the sun’s rays creates a sweet To make wine, start with a hand-picked selection
becomes less frost resistant and the grapes will wither and and spirituous wine. The more sunlight a grapevine of ripe, dry grapes. Crush them and leave the resulting
die. The most important thing to consider here is timing, both absorbs, the more sugar is packed into its fruit. juice to ferment. The yeast fungi that thrive on the grapes’
by season and by year. Young bushes (1–3 years old) should
be pruned in the spring when there is no sap flow. Vines four
During fermentation, this sugar turns into alcohol. skins turn the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
years and older are ready to bear fruit. The vine should be 1800–2000 hours of sunshine per year will make Once the alcohol concentration reaches 15–18 percent,
pruned when the shoots are longer than 1.2–1.5 m. for a harvest of beautiful, fully ripened grapes. the yeast dies and the process of fermentation
RAIN comes to an end.
Grape vines can’t survive on groundwater alone.
They also need rainwater, which gives the wine Then, with great care and without lifting the sediment, the wine
the necessary acidity for a fine, balanced flavor. is poured into oak barrels and left to infuse for up to two years.
Therefore, the drier regions of the world produce A less patient winemaker may choose to immediately pour the wine
heavier wines. into any vessel of his choice that is corked with oak bark.

Both wine-making and wine-drinking are artforms in their own right.

I II III IV V VI VII Wine is the drink of the gods, created to stimulate the senses. But too much
wine will throw your body out of balance, and instead of highs, you’ll start
to experience crashes. Your emotional state will take a nosedive,
and you’ll fall into a depression.

Wine can be slightly acerbic. This tartness comes from

tannins, a substance contained in the grapevine, seeds
and skin. Tannins bind to the proteins in our saliva,
causing a feeling of dryness in the mouth.

SOIL
The type of wine you produce is heavily dependent Sandy soil (IV) allows the vine to accumulate sugar,
on the soil you have to work with. Brown soils (I) imbuing light wines with a delicate bouquet and
are good for sparkling and table wines. Podzolic, making them easy to blend. Sierozemic soil (V),
or ash gray, soils (II) are good for light table wines. white-grey desert soil, makes strong sweet wines.
Humus-carbonate (II), a shallow soil formed Barros soil (VI), rich in gypsum and carbonic lime,
over limestone, is a winemaker's dream. This soil is used for fortified wines. Pink soil (VII) is for
produces high-quality sparkling wines, as well dessert and liqueur wines.
as thin vodkas, brandy and armagnac.

62 63
Tea Plants plants TEA

I
n some societies, the availability of tea makes or breaks a civilization. A sensitivity to subtle nuances in flavor can
Tea is an incredibly valuable herb, and entire empires have built their be developed through training. This practice
economies around the tea trade. The theine (caffeine in tea) acts of mindful tea consumption is called a tea
as a strong stimulant. But tea is a lot more than just an energy drink. ceremony. While the rituals and level of ceremony
The full range of tastes and characteristics is revealed only to the most may vary, the underlying principles remain the
seasoned connoisseur. same: a respect for the drink, care in preparation
I I
and special attention paid to the aroma and taste
during every step of the process. Unhurried and
precise movements. Silence and full concentration
on the present moment. Tea ceremonies may last
over an hour, giving you time to pause to break
the cycle of everyday life. In the end, rebuilding
civilization can wait because the journey is far
more important than the destination.
II

For black and oolong teas, the first batch of tea is often
discarded, and the beverage is only enjoyed after the second
steeping. For green teas, the first steep is often lighter and
more aromatic. To experience the full flavor of the tea, you
need to roll it around on your tongue before swallowing
so that it covers all of your taste buds.
III III

IV IV IV

Black White Green

Water 100°C Water 80°C Water 75°C
Steep 3–5 minutes. Steep 1–3 minutes. Steep 1–3 minutes.

Black, green, white... all these teas are varieties II. FERMENTATION III. ROASTING
of Camellia sinensis. Differences in aroma, taste and Fermentation is a biochemical reaction and Roast the tea in an oven at a temperature
effect on the body depend solely on the way involves oxidation of the tea leaves. The type of 90–95°C for about an hour, and then lower
the leaves are prepared. Your timing must be exact! of tea you get depends on this step of the process. the temperature and allow it to dry completely.
Without cultivation, the tea bush grows up to 10 A long fermentation produces black; green has
meters. Don't let this happen. For the perfect tea, a short fermentation period that is stopped IV. DRYING
the top two leaves and a bud between them will do. forcibly by heating; white is not fermented. Place the trays of tea in the sun. For white tea,
The rest produces tea of a lower quality. Roll leaves in the hands until they become sticky this is the only step in the production process:
and curl up into a tube. Then stack 7–10 cm high The leaves are wilted and immediately dried
I. DRYING in a container and cover with a damp towel. Wait to prevent the tea from fermenting.
One of the biggest secrets to making good tea is timing. Spread the leaves across a cloth in a warm room about 8 hours, making sure to keep the towel
This has the biggest effect on the taste. Tea leaves harvested
at the precise right moment are priceless, but if you wait for 6 hours so that they wilt (lose part of their moist. The strong smell of tea is a signal that the
a few days, you’re left with a mediocre product. moisture and become softer). fermentation process should be halted using heat.

64 65
coffee Plants plants coffee

H
uman memory is structured in a curious way — certain aromas Fill your home with the scent of fresh coffee, and no matter where you are,
arouse intense emotions connected to past experiences associated every time you brew a cup, it will bring up all the good memories and feelings
with that scent. By preserving your happiest, coziest and most associated with home. Every sip will fill your body with a sense of well-being
comforting memories in the form of a scent, you can pull them off your and peace.
memory shelf and enjoy them at any moment.

I II
LOCATION
The ideal location for growing coffee is warm and humid,
with dappled sunlight and a stable temperature (17–23ºС).
Coffee plants prefer loose, fertile, well-watered soil with good acidity. Coffee is a stimulant usually consumed
High-altitude coffees taste complex and acidic, while lower altitudes for its energy-giving properties. If you want
produce more aromatic varieties. 3 to maximize its revitalizing effects, take
a 20 minute power-nap right after drinking
5 4
your cup of joe. You'll benefit from the sleep
before the caffeine kicks in. Caffeine blocks
COFFEE SHRUBS the action of the signaling molecule adenosine
in the brain, which makes you feel fatigued
Sprout your coffee seeds in a planter. After a year, transplant
and drowsy, and so caffeine invigorates
the seedlings into the ground in an area with low wind. 1 the mind and helps you stay awake. Caffeine
Find an area surrounded by larger trees to provide shade also causes increased levels of dopamine
from direct sunlight. The tree will bloom in the third year, in the reward centers of the brain, which
means that it delivers a mild high,
and by the fifth year, it will start producing red berries.
but it’s also addictive.
Don’t forget to prune your shrubs to keep
3
them no taller than 2–3 m 2
for easier harvesting.

4 1

PROCESSING THE BEANS

Wash-processed coffees tend to have a pronounced sourness,
while dry-processed beans are sweet. For wash processing (I),
you need a depulper (1), an iron box containing a roller with
teeth. The berries are squeezed between the wall of the box and
the roller, freeing the coffee beans from the pulp, which then falls
through to the bottom of the container. After this initial cleaning,
soak the beans in water (2). Any excess pulp will be removed
during the fermentation process.

For natural or dry processing (II), leave the berries to dry

in the sun (3), periodically turning to prevent mold from MOYKA POT
forming. This takes more time and sunlight than the usual If you’re too groggy in the morning to even make a cup of coffee, you can Now, place the kettle on the fire. As the water boils in the lower tank, it turns
method. Once dry, separate away the pulp and roast the beans entrust the process to a coffee maker. You’ll need a container with two into steam, increasing the internal pressure and pushing the water up through
in a rotating drum (4) over a fire. The roasting process affects detachable parts and an air-tight seal. Fill the lower tank (1) with water. Hang the funnel. It then passes through the coffee in the mesh filter, absorbing its
three key characteristics of the coffee: acidity, sweetness and a funnel (2) from the top of the lower chamber. Pour the ground coffee into flavor and aroma, and shoots out the upper funnel (4) to collect as an espresso
bitterness. The darker the roast, the less acidity will remain a mesh compartment (3) between the two tanks and attach another inverted shot in the upper chamber (5) ready for pouring.
and the more bitter the coffee will be. funnel (4) on top.

66 67
Cho co l at e & cacao Plants plants Chocolate & cacao

T
he secret to chocolate’s power over people lies in its ability to balance Collect ripe seeds from the wild cacao tree and sprout them in bamboo tubes.
flavors. It can unify two otherwise incongruous tastes: sweet and salty, Plant the shoots in the shade of tall trees to protect the cacao from direct
bitter and spicy. Chocolate creates harmony and is an excellent way sunlight and wind. Trim the ripening buds off the plant until it reaches the age
to store energy. Plus, it makes people happy, which is valuable in and of itself. of five so the tree will be heartier.

Cacao paste is the base of any chocolate but white (which uses cacao butter 4. Pure cacao paste is aromatic but very bitter. Add powdered sugar.
but no cacao solids). It needs to be stirred continuously while being cooked Pour in milk or cream to make milk chocolate.
for about five days at a temperature of 85–90°C. This will make the mixture 5. Pour the finished chocolate into molds and refrigerate.
homogeneous, evaporate excess moisture and get rid of any extraneous odors,
allowing the pure chocolate aroma to shine through. You can change the ratio of bitter to sweet or mix in other ingredients such
as nuts, fragrant flowers and freeze-dried berries. Or spice it up with cinnamon,
Here’s how to make chocolate bars: vanilla pods, cardamom — even pepper and sea salt. Substitute almond, coconut
1. Melt the cacao paste until it becomes a liquid at 42–45°C. You shouldn’t or rice milk for animal milk or honey for sugar.
raise the temperature too high, or the paste will lose its elasticity.
2. Cool to no more than 31°C and bring out your cacao butter (obtained Thanks to the cacao butter, the mass crystallizes and hardens but melts upon
by squeezing cacao paste under a press). At temperatures up to 25°C, contact with your tongue, releasing a full bouquet of flavors and aromas.
cacao butter is hard and brittle, but at 32°C and above, it becomes a liquid. You might also grind the roasted beans into a powder and add hot milk,
You want to use the solid version. sugar and spices for a fortifying pick-me-up drink.
3. Break your cacao butter down into small granules and mix them into
the cacao paste. Dip a knife into the mixture. If you did everything correctly,
Peel ripe fruit away and extract the seeds, otherwise known as cacao beans. Dry them in the sun then roast them over a fire or in an oven. The outer hull within one and a half minutes the chocolate mass on the knife
Remove the pulp, spread the beans out on a sheet of banana leaves and leave of the seed will burst and can then be peeled off. Grind the beans into a thick will become dull and harden.
covered for a few days. Shuffle them around regularly, and after two weeks, cacao paste.
the cacao seeds will darken and gain flavor and aroma.

68 69
Rice & Hydroponics Plants plants Rice & Hydroponics

6 6

3 1. Glass covering

D
ifficulties with the geography, soil quality, climate, weeds and pests It’s possible to have large-scale production of cereals, tea, grapes, vegetables 2. Mirror system
can all complicate your work in the fields. But this is no reason and herbs without fields stretching out as far as the eye can see. Economize 3. Water cistern
to forego agriculture altogether. on valuable crop space by setting up hillside terraces or building a vertical farm. 4. Well
5. Irrigation pipes
1 6. Ventilation shafts
7. Plant carousel
If the terrain is hilly, place mini-fields on the slopes in the form
of broad steps. Construct clay bumpers around each terrace,
or the layer of fertile topsoil will quickly be washed away.
While you’re at it, dig irrigation channels with openings
for drainage. Grow a different plant every year to avoid soil
depletion. Switch out tea for grapes then grapes for corn
and so on. Periodically plant Azolla, an aquatic fern —
its roots host a bacterium that can absorb nitrogen from
the air and convert it into a form suitable for plants.
It is an excellent natural fertilizer.
2

FLOODED FIELDS
4
Growing rice will require that you have a river or lake nearby to irrigate your
crops by gravity via canals or hoses. Rice shoots must be protected from strong
direct sunlight and weeds. This crop requires a lot of water, but the water level
should still cover less than half the plant. To avoid unnecessary waterlogging, 5 7
drain water from time to time through a canal system.

Thresh the husk from

the grain. To make brown
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE
Keep the field free of weeds rice white, sand the grains Fear neither inclement weather nor nutrient-scarce soils by creating your own
(such as reeds and sedges). Rice will ripen by rubbing them together. ideal ecosystem. Arrange the plants on a moving carousel that raises and lowers
You can either wade knee- in 3–4 months. When This can be done in a mortar the plants to ensure that each one receives an equal amount of light and water.
Soak your rice seeds deep through water all day it reaches about 40 cm or a rotating barrel. Just keep
Before planting rice, flood in water. You can plant them getting your fingers pruney, in height, drain the water in mind that while this will
your field preemptively to in the ground after 12 hours or you can introduce ducks or let it evaporate. After Rice ears can be cut improve the appearance and
wash away any unwanted of soaking, but it is better and fish into the water. They a couple of weeks, the rice or plucked out whole digestibility of the product, 1. Substrate
seeds and prevent weeds to wait until sprouts will eat harmful insects and will turn yellow, a sign that with the roots. Dry it will reduce the nutrient Instead of soil, you can use coconut husk or shredded tree bark and immerse the roots directly
from growing. are around 2 cm high. weeds and fertilize the soil. it’s ready for harvest. the ears for 2–3 days. content.
in a substrate solution containing all the necessary nutrients. This way, the plants don’t need
to expend energy developing a large root system and can instead focus on ripening the crop.

2. Water
Place your water container above your plants and use gravity to push the water through your
irrigation system. Draw the water into the irrigation containers using a pump (page 162).

3. Light
If you set up your vertical farm in a room with glass walls (page 114), you can get by
with natural light. Install mirrors (page 182) to reflect light onto the plants from all directions.
Install a wire grid to redirect growth horizontally to prevent plants from growing too broad
RICE and shading their neighbors. This also helps stimulate the growth of new buds.
Rice can replace bread and other grains as the basis of your diet. The grains can The bran — the stuff that remains after the grain has been cleaned — makes
be used to make starch, flour, alcohol or wine. Rice germ makes oil, and rice good feed for livestock and poultry. By the way, the ducklings and fish you 4. Air circulation
straw works well as paper pulp or mattress filler. Rice flour can also be used raise in the paddy fields can also become the protein in your meal. Ventilation is required to control humidity levels. That being said, plants don’t like sudden
as the foundation of many cosmetic products, such as powders, blushes temperature changes. To ensure a comfortable environment, make a water heating system
and oils, which in turn can be made into creams and scrubs. (page 156).

70 71
ANIMALS
Traps Animals Animals traps

KULEMA TRAP

T
ime management is vital in extreme conditions, and a single second can The main concept behind any trap is the same: There's an entrance but no exit. This trap works for catching any foxes or weasels that may be stealing your
make the difference between survival and demise. Instead of crafting No complex tools or materials are required — nature already has everything chickens. The trap consists of two parts. The main technical components
weapons and spending hours (or even days) on the hunt, you can set you need. The most important part is deciding where to place your trap. are the stick that keeps the upper part of the trap suspended, the notch it
traps and complete other important tasks while you wait, such as chopping fits into and the bait. Grouse meat makes for a particularly tempting treat.
wood, fetching water or building shelter. As the animal tries to snatch the meat, it nudges the stick, releasing the upper
long, which then falls and crushes the prey. Many different kinds of traps can
be made using this basic principle. For example, instead of using a stick to hold
the log, try using a rope. Just be sure that the animal will nudge
the trigger as it tries to take the bait.

FLY CATCHER TENSION SNARE

Are flies spoiling your food? Start by making a box. The bottom wall of the box Set a trap for foxes that are raiding your garden and killing your rabbits and hares.
shouldn’t be flat but should rather form a pyramid sticking into the box with Drive a peg into the ground and make a notch somewhere in the middle.
a hole at the top. Insects will be able to fly through the hole but won’t find their Tie a self-tightening loop (page 212) to a flexible tree branch (or long stick).
way back out again. Place some sort of meat in the box as bait, preferably Bend this branch downward, cut a small notch in the end and latch the branch
not too fresh. into the notch in the peg. Place the loop in a spot that you suspect gets high fox
foot traffic. As the fox sprints along the trail, it runs through the snare, triggering
the spring-loaded branch and tightening the noose around its neck.

WOLF PEN
To catch predators who have been attacking your herd, drive long stakes into
the ground, creating two circular fences. The diameter of the inner ring
should be 3–4 meters and should be solid and unbroken. The diameter
of the outer ring should be around 45 cm larger. Install a gate in the outer ring,
one that swings only inward. The wolf will be able to move forward freely down
the narrow corridor but unable to turn around. Lure the predator into a trap
with live bait — a goat kid, a goose or a piglet.

GROUSE PIT MOUSE TRAP

Dig an angled pit with an opening wide enough that a grouse can crawl through. Dig a hole about 30–45 cm deep. The bottom should be wide and the entrance
On the bottom, place bait such as rowan berries, lingonberries or cranberries. narrow. Make a "roof " over the entrance from a piece of bark or wood on
The grouse will crawl into the hole after them but will not have enough space supports made of small pebbles. The mouse will try to hide from danger under
to turn around and spread its wings, and it’s incapable of walking backwards. the shelter and fall into the hole. Since the wall of the pit is at such an extreme
angle, the mouse won’t be able to scale it.

74 75
Fishing Animals Animals Fishing

F
ans of hearty and nutritious food should master the art of the quiet hunt: But be careful you don’t get hooked yourself — on dopamine. The thrill
fishing. Only in rare cases does it become truly dangerous, as most often of reeling in your reward can turn fishing from a necessity to a pleasurable
the fisherman sits on the shore and waits for the fish to bite. pastime.
12

To craft a fishing rod, you’ll need a long stick made of bamboo or flexible wood,
such as birch, willow, bird cherry or maple. Attach a fishing line of interlaced
silk threads (2) to the rod (1). Fasten the barbed hook (3) to the end of this
line. The hook can be made from bone or metal. Now bait your hook. You’ll
also need a sinker (4) made of pebble or iron that will help the hook sink below
the water’s surface. Tie a bobber (5) made of bark or cork a short way up
the line from the hook. When the fish tries to take the bait, the bobber
will begin to move, giving a signal that it is time to reel in your fish.

REEL 11
If you want to fish far from shore, add a reel (6) to your fishing rod. Wind a silk
fishing line around it, tie a hook to the very end and attach your bait. When you
cast your hook, the drum spins, releasing the wound line and making it easier
to propel the hook over a long distance. To prevent the line from tangling when
5
the bait splashes down, install a brake lever. The lighter the reel and the lower
2 the friction force on the axis of rotation, the farther you can cast the bait.
You can rotate the handle to retrieve, or slowly reel in, the baited hook
3 4 to attract the attention of fish.

7 8 7

LURES TRAPS AND NETS

Predatory fish feed on smaller fish, so using a small metal plate can imitate Mix live bait, such as bloodworms or maggots, with clay. The fish will be If you need to catch a lot of fish and feed a large Lay half of the lengths of thread in a line parallel The best time to catch squid is at night.
the flash of scales. Lures (7) can also be made to imitate water beetles, leeches lured in by the scent. You can add vanilla, cinnamon or dill to the clay. It is number of people, you’ll need bigger traps. Make to each other, and then lay the other half on top They respond very well to luminous objects,
or crustaceans. You may also want to use real food as bait. Tie a small cage important to practice moderation and not overfeed the fish. The task of bait a simple version using a woven basket (10) filled perpendicularly. Secure each intersection with so you can highlight the bait by pointing
filled with bait, known as a feeder (8), next to the hook. If you’re fishing is to attract the attention of the fish and lull them into a false sense of security. with bait and immersed in water. Nets (11) will help a knot. Construct levers (12) out of wooden poles a flashlight at it.
in stagnant water, you can use bran, bread or steamed cereals. If you’re fishing You can also attach the bait ball directly to the hook. Bend the metal wire into you catch even more. To weave them, you need to make it easier to raise the net.
in a river, you’ll need something denser and stickier. a spiral (9) and mold the ball around it. to cut wound thread or rope into long pieces.

76 77
Leat he r craf t Animals Animals Leathercraft

A
t a certain stage of development, you will be faced with a difficult After you have removed the skin from the carcass of the animal, you need
question about the ethics of eating living beings. Fortunately, the need to thoroughly clean it of any meat and blood remnants. Soak the hide in saline
to survive makes some decisions easier. Enjoy the advantages of being first to make this process easier. After that, the skin needs to dry as quickly
at the top of the food chain, but treat the animals you kill with respect and as possible, so stretch it between two poles and leave it to dry in the sun.
don’t waste any part of the body.

1. Hollow horns can be used to make musical instruments

and wine goblets.

2. The brain shouldn’t be used for food, as the risk of contracting disease 6. Fur is an excellent heat insulator
is too high, but it can be used for tanning leather. and produces fur coats that
can withstand severe frost
3. The guts and veins are good (up to –60°C).
for making bowstrings
(page 258) and strings 7. Leather is not only useful for shoes, Remove the hair using a process known as liming, during which the hides
for musical instruments pants, bags, gloves, raincoats and are treated with lime and sodium sulfate. It is the reaction product
(page 338). To do this, furniture. It is a strong, very durable of sodium hydroxide (page 24) with sulfuric acid (page 192). Lime
thoroughly wash material and can be used to make is obtained by roasting calcium-magnesium rocks — chalk or limestone.
the intestines and veins, drive belts for various mechanisms You can also use a saline solution at a ratio of 20 grams of salt
scrape off the external (page 242). The skin of young lambs, to 1 liter of water. Soak the skin in the solution for several days,
membrane and any excess goats and cows can be used to make turning it over from time to time. After this procedure, any
fat, soak in cold water and cut parchment. It can be used in place hairs and residue of subcutaneous tissue can be easily
into long strips. Then stretch of paper or stretched into a skin for removed. After curing, many substances will remain
and twist them until you get strings percussion instruments (page 332). in the skin that must be disposed of. To do this, rinse
of the desired length and thickness. the skin in a soda solution (10 g per 1 liter water).
Then rinse your skin with clean water several times.

If you do not have access to any of the sources of tannin

below, stretch the hide across pegs and rub with it a mixture
of urine and clay. Leave it for a while then treat with fat
or oil, scrape and smoke it over a fire.

4. Boil the bones to make glue (page 140)

or grind into bone meal, which is
an excellent fertilizer (page 56). If you burn
the meal, the resulting ash can be added
to white clay to obtain bone china — an extra
thin and durable type of ceramic (page 136).

5. Hooves make for a rich stew, and the hard outer shell, Leather becomes more wear-resistant, heat-resistant and resilient if tanned.
or sheath, can be carved into small trinkets such as buttons, Extract tannins from oak, willow, spruce and larch woods or from the growths
combs and ornaments. To remove the sheath, immerse 8. Blood is a valuable raw material. It’s rich formed on oak leaves. Another option is the fats of various marine animals.
the hoof in boiling water for an hour. Drain and place a weight in protein, vital amino acids, phospholipids, Fill a rotating drum with a strong tannin solution and soak the hides.
on top of the hoof and let it cool, and then remove the remnants iron and other substances that play an important Then squeeze out to remove excess water and repeat the process.
of the skin and soft tissues. Treat the sheath with a knife, role in how our body functions. You can use it Now the leather can be rolled out, dyed, sanded, varnished and sewn
fine-toothed or coarse files. to make smoked (page 98) blood sausage. into the items you need.

78 79
Livestock Animals Animals Livestock

Sheep can be quite skittish. Graze them together with horses or goats to make
SELECTION sure they don’t run off at the slightest rustle of a bush. Sheep copy the behavior
To maintain your herd, you need to ensure it contains both males and females of other animals and will feel more protected. Sheep are quite hearty and can
of reproductive age. An effective way to raise animals with good meat, wool live outdoors in temperatures down to –15C°. Any lower than that and they
need a heated room. Sheep hooves are quite fragile, so the floor must be planked
and milk is to selectively breed them. Select the best members of your herd

T
Make sure your pigsty has good lighting in the fall/winter. with wood for the flock to stay healthy.
he domestication of wild animals is a transformative step in any Pigs need regular sun exposure to gain weight. To form fat and breed them using artificial insemination: collect semen and inject it into
civilization's history but carries with it an ethical dilemma. Livestock and improve the taste of meat, add lake sludge to the feed — the female's cervix during ovulation. A large syringe will do the trick. Share
will provide you with food, materials and clothing, but you have it contains the necessary elements: copper, biomaterial with neighboring farmers to help avoid inbreeding and make
calcium, zinc, sulfur, magnesium.
to restrict the animals’ freedom of movement, suppress their natural instincts the stock healthier. Vaccinate herds against rabies and other diseases.
and even artificially alter their birth rate and life expectancy. It’s human nature If one animal falls ill, isolate it immediately.
to seek as much profit as possible. But it's only humane to create the most
comfortable conditions for those who spend their
entire lives (and beyond) working for you.

Many diseases in livestock are caused

by insect bites. The most vulnerable place
on a cow’s skin is the udder. Treat it
with a cream of laurel, menthol
and eucalyptus essential oils.
This will repel insects and soften
the skin of the udder, which will
keep it from cracking. That means
your cow will have a consistently
high milk yield.

Standing in one place for a long time makes

the horse's hoof soft. Because of this, the cornified
hoof tissue is quickly ground down, which causes
pain. Strengthen the hooves by nailing
horseshoes to the bottom to protect the living
tissue. The inner layer of the horny wall
of the hoof is delineated by a clearly visible
white line. This tissue is insensitive enough
to drive nails into.

To ensure a steady supply The wool of the goats will be thicker and
of eggs, supplement your of better quality, and the milk yield higher,
chickens’ diet with salt and if you treat the goat’s skin with a solution
chalk to make the eggshell of soda at least once a week. This prevents
denser. Sour milk and herbs parasites from nesting in the wool.
make good feed for laying
Each barn must contain drains for urine that lead to an under- A mud pit is a necessity for any hog farm. Pigs don’t have hens.
ground container surrounded by concrete. You can make organic sweat glands, so they need to wallow in mud to effectively
fertilizer from manure and water the fields with urine. The feed regulate their body temperature. Chickens need an ash pit
storage room must be protected from moisture. Most livestock to clean their skin and feathers of parasites. But make sure
can eat hay, silage, legumes and grains. Feed birds birch branches to dilute 1 part ash with 2 parts river sand and 100 grams
and nettle leaves in the summer, which will save them from of sulfur, as concentrated ash contains potash and soda
vitamin deficiency and allow them to fly faster in winter. that can irritate the skin and mucous membranes of birds.

80 81
silk Animals Animals silk

SILK THREAD
To start, mate your silkmoths. They’ll lay eggs around 2–3 days later (1), To keep the threads intact, place the cocoons in boiling water (6). This kills

E
ven during their short span of life, the fragile moths are capable These threads can be woven into the finest fabrics with applications in and the larvae will hatch after 8–10 days (2). Move them to a well-ventilated the pupa and dissolves the protein sericin, which is what binds the silk threads
of altering the course of entire civilizations. This is all thanks many different fields, from medicine to music to electricity. But producing area and keep them fed regularly with fresh mulberry leaves. Around 30 days together. Now carefully brush the cocoon to find the end of the thread. Once
to the unique threads created by a particular moth’s caterpillar stage: this material means cutting the already brief life of the silkworm short and later, the larvae turn into caterpillars. When they turn yellow and slightly you’ve done this with 6–8 cocoons, gather the threads together, pass them
the silkworm. Each thread is 40 times lighter than a human hair but has nearly devoting your own life to the craft. transparent, they’re ready to pupate (3). Provide them with a tray equipped through a hole in the middle of a plank of wood and wind the threads around
the same tensile strength as a length of steel wire of the same diameter. with pegs at the bottom (4). Within 3–4 days, they’ll start spinning their a spool. As you rotate the spool, the cocoons will unwind (7). Rinse the braided
cocoons around these pegs (5). A single thread can be up to 1.5 km long! yarns in soapy water to get rid of any excess sericin and other substances then
At some point (usually around 15 days later) you’ll have to interrupt this rinse again with hot water. Now your silk thread is ready to use. It can be used
process; otherwise, a new moth will burst through the cocoon and render to make strings for musical instruments, thread for suturing wounds and
your efforts futile. winding for wire. You can also weave silk to make parachutes, sails
and even armor.

5
4

The thread of a silkworm has a triangular cross-section,

causing it to refract light like a prism and giving silk
its characteristic shine.

82 83
Beekeeping Animals Animals

L
arge animals like cows, sheep or chickens provide many important
products for us. But even some insects can be extremely useful too —
such as bees. Bees are the epitome of waste-free production, and
everything they make can be put to use, including honey and wax. And they
do all this while also quietly helping surrounding plants reproduce by
pollinating their flowers. That’s why a team of busy bees is a must-have 4
for any farm. 5

7
3

9 6
2
8 1. Proboscis
BEEKEEPING PRODUCTS 1 2. Pharynx
Wax can be used in the making of candles, cosmetics, 3. Honey stomach
polishes, lubricants and even music (page 342). To obtain wax, 4. Stomach
first melt the honeycomb. Royal jelly is used in cosmetics. It is secreted 5. Small intestine
6. Venom sac
by the maxillary glands of the so-called “nurse bees,” which provide food 7. Stinger
for the queen and her young. You can collect the jelly from the frames where 8. Upper jaw with royal jelly producing gland
the larvae are being fed. The delightfully named “bee bread” consists 9. Wax glands
of balls of pollen and nectar stored in the honeycomb. An easy way to get
this delicious product is to freeze the honeycomb, remove the layer of honey, I II III
grind the comb up and sift through a fine mesh. The frozen wax will fall away,
leaving behind the hard granules of pollen. Bee pollen is the pollen not yet
stored in the honeycomb. To collect it, place a lattice with small holes
and a tray at the entrance to the hive. Some of the pollen will fall from
their legs onto the tray as they pass inside.
Make the back of the hive
Propolis, or “bee glue,” has proven antimicrobial properties. Scrape out of transparent material
the propolis off the ceiling boards and frame attachment points. Bee venom so you don't have to open it
is used to treat the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. In order to monitor its condition.
to obtain it safely, you’ll need to annoy your bees. Expose the glass plates
under the beehive grates to a slight electrical current. These weak electrical APIARY
impulses will irritate the bees, and they will release their venom, which You can search for hives in the hollows of trees and take what you need
I — worker bee
will remain on the plate. II — drone (fertilizes the queen) from wild bees. Or dig artificial hollows yourself and wait for your apian
III — queen friends to arrive. But it’s better to build hives for your bees. Insert wooden
frames into the hive. The bees will use these as an underlying structure
to build the honeycombs in which the queen will lay eggs. Worker
bees will bring pollen and nectar into these combs to feed their offspring.
In the lower section of the hive is the storage reservoir, where bees
keep their honey.

TRAPS PROTECTION
Ideally, a colony will move into your hive on its own. Bee venom can also cause severe allergic reactions
If it doesn't, place small hives with old combs cleared and anaphylactic shock in some people. You’ll need
of honey around the edge of the forest. Rub them with protection: gloves and a suit with a hood or a hat
mint or lemon balm — this will attract the bees. with a veil. Bees can also be pacified with smoke.
When the wild bees settle into the trap, bring it to your This instinct, developed to save the colony in
apiary. Don’t forget to put a landmark near their new home, the event of a forest fire, causes the bees to collect 7
such as a large branch or a stone on the roof, so that the bees honey in their honey sac. As a result, the abdomen
don't get lost during their first outing. If it's a large colony, move them loses its mobility and the bees cannot sting.
CANDLE into new hives or place new frames; otherwise, the bees will get crowded The smoke also masks the pheromones released
Make a wick out of a twisted cotton thread and dip it into a bowl of melted wax. Another option is to make a candle in a clay or glass mold. To do this, fix and leave. Only take the combs after the bees seal them with a layer of wax. by guard and injured bees. Therefore, your invasion
Pull it out and allow it to harden slightly then dip it back into the wax. Repeat the wick on the sides of the container and fill it with wax. This method allows Never take the hive’s entire honey store all at once, as they need it of the hive will go unpunished.
this process until you’re left with a candle of the desired thickness. you to mix together different colors and scents. for nutrition and reproduction.

84 85
Insects for food Animals Animals Insects for food

I
n terms of nutritional value, small insects differ little from large They require a lot less space, time and effort than traditional livestock, 1 Insects come in a variety of flavors and textures, many reminiscent of other
crustaceans and molluscs. They are rich in protein, unsaturated fats and especially if you focus on colony insects. Just don't go for termites! They emit food products. Experiment with your bug-based cuisine! Fried wasps can
micronutrients necessary for humans. You’ll need a lot of them to feed even more methane and carbon dioxide than cows, and most developed be used in place of pine nuts; spiders also taste nutty; worms can substitute
a family, but luckily, this problem is easily solved by raising insects instead civilizations already have enough problems with greenhouse gases. 7 for sunflower seeds; grasshoppers resemble sardines; ants are like beef jerky;
3
of collecting them. young bees can serve as a substitute for smoked fish or oysters; and June bugs
taste like lobster.

Grasshopper and beetle larvae, as well as butterfly and moth caterpillars,

4 are best fried in oil over an open fire until crisp. And June bugs make
an excellent soup.
8
If an insect is brightly colored, chances are it’s poisonous. The same goes
for many slow-moving insects. They take their time because they’re unafraid
of predators due to the toxins they contain. And never eat an insect that you
6 find already dead. Whatever killed it may have a negative affect on you as well.

1. Head
2. Mandibles
3. Prothorax
4. Mesothorax
5. Metathorax
6. Wing
7. Wing case
8. Mesothoracic leg

Look for beetles and their larvae in decaying trees and under fallen leaves. Butterfly Crickets love sweets, so you can catch them by leaving a container of sugar in the field. Locusts
larvae, pupae and caterpillars can be found in live wood, under tree bark or under rocks. are attracted by light, so they can be lured using a flashlight at night. Many ants can be collected
It is easier to catch crickets in the early morning or late evening, as they are less active by lowering a stick into their nest. You need to cook your ants as soon as you catch them;
when temperatures are low. otherwise, they release acid, which will ruin the taste.

5 2
Crickets and their close relatives make the best substitutes for beef. Keep
crickets by constructing a cricket farm with separate modules. The insects live
in one room (1) and reproduce in the other (2). The two modules are connected
by tubes through which the insects can move freely. The container must be kept
at a high humidity of 70% and a high temperature (3) (about 35°С).

It is important to have ventilation (4), as well as blackout blinds (5) to control

the day and night cycles. Please note: Don’t put open water containers in your
farm or the crickets may drown. Use damp cotton wool or a damp sponge
as a drinking trough.

Once the crickets are old enough, they need to be moved to the breeding
3
room (2). One male is needed to fertilize four females. Place three such groups
in a container. When the crickets start chirping, they are ready to mate. Crickets
lay about 300–800 eggs over 2–4 weeks. Wait 10 days, and you’ll get a new crop
of crickets, which can be served for dinner.

1 4

86 87
f
Oyster arming Animals Animals Oyster farming

A
delicacy or peasant food? With oysters, this question is meaningless. Oysters are rich not only in protein but also in many mood-boosting substances, Once they’re 3 years old, move the oysters to a place where
The delicate taste and nourishing micronutrients make for an exquisite giving you a slight feeling of euphoria. If you want to enjoy the benefits of oysters they’ll be out of the water at low tide or in brackish pools.
dish that can be enjoyed raw by both the highborn and the low. All you without relying on the tides, make your own oyster farm. You can shield your oyster field from waves with a barrier
need to do is to collect oyster shells in shallow water at low tide then crack them made of cement (page 148). Regulate tidal water levels
open and enjoy a fresh bite of umami that comes with its own serving dish. using floodgates.

The harder the living conditions, the tastier

Oysters prefer seawater with a low salt content, so they live only in the intertidal the meat will be. Oysters trying to retain salt
zone near river mouths. Find a suitable area along the river for your farm. to regulate salt levels within their shells become
It should be 15–20 meters deep, have a flat bottom and moderate chewier and more elastic. Watch the salinity
current strength and be protected from waves. This is important, of the water. Take a kilogram of the water and
since a temperature change of even 10 degrees can kill oysters. allow it to evaporate or boil it dry. Weigh the
Build an access dock on stilts or use buoys to keep it salt residue; the number of grams divided
afloat. Secure old shells to a long rope or copper by 10 gives you the salt concentration
wire. This will give young oysters that of the water. Delicious oysters grow in water
wash in during breeding season containing 2–3% salt. When the concentration
a foothold, allowing them is increased to 3.5%, the meat becomes
to cling to the rope. tough. If it falls below 1.2%, the oysters die.

Oysters don’t need to be fed, as they filter

plankton from the water. At the end
of summer, move the young oysters into
fine mesh bags. Spread these around
the bottom of the bay on 30 cm-high
platforms or in tiered cages. This will
protect the oysters from sediment
pollution and their natural enemy —
starfish. Clean the cages at low tide.

PEARL
Gently pry open the shell of a 1-year-old oyster without
Oysters are eaten live. The shell of fresh oysters completely breaking the hinge and make a small incision
is tightly closed and "rings" when tapped. Open it in the flesh. Place a grain of sand or a bead inside. The oyster
by sticking the tip of a knife into the flat side where will begin to secrete mother-of-pearl from the mantle, the outer
the two shells meet, then twist the knife 90°. layer of its skin, to envelop the foreign object and protect itself.
When the shell opens, trim the muscle Pearls usually grow a couple of millimeters every few months.
and remove the top shell. Small pearls take about 3 years to form, while large ones take 5.

88 89
Biofuel Animals Animals

N
o need to drill wells and wait for gas supplies to travel from far In an anaerobic environment with a microbial presence, the waste will Mineral diesel fuel consists of paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic
away if you have cows. They can be used as a source of natural gas. ferment and form carbon dioxide and methane, which can fuel gas boilers hydrocarbons. Biodiesel is made from methyl esters of fatty acids.
Organic waste can also be turned into biofuel, which allows you and stoves. Fatty acids can be isolated from almost any raw fatty material but
to get more use out of your food products. are most easily derived from vegetable oil. The ideal choice is rapeseed
oil, which is almost completely (96–98%) converted into biodiesel.
Vegetable oils are an ester of glycerin and unsaturated fatty acids.
The center of the entire biofuel system is the reactor (1). Fill it with any bio To produce biodiesel, you need to replace the glycerin with methanol.
waste (2) you wish to dispose of. Now inoculate the mixture with methane- The reaction requires some sort of catalyst —
producing archaea (simple unicellular microorganisms). The process is simple: for example, sodium hydroxide.
just grind up the digestive tracts of a few cows and add them to the bioreactor.
The gas produced will flow through a system of valves and reducers (devices To obtain methanol, slowly heat pieces of wood
that reduce and stabilize pressure) into a gas storage tank (3). You can in a covered container over a fire. Use only
use this to fuel gas stoves, space heaters or hot water systems (4) wood from deciduous, not coniferous, trees.
or gas engines (5) that power electricity generators (6). But first Without oxygen, the wood will decompose
you must purify the methane of carbon dioxide and water. rather than burn, eventually producing
To do this, pass the gas mixture over quicklime powder charcoal.
4
or sodium hydroxide (page 24).

5 6
Collect the vapors released in the process and
condense back into liquid. Methanol can be distilled from this.
Mix with sodium hydroxide in the reactor (1) and add the oil in a ratio
3
of 10:1. Then pump the solution into the decanter (2), a container
where the mixture will separate into layers. The heavier glycerin
will sink to the bottom, where it can be drained and used in cosmetics.
In the next decanter, the almost completely purified fuel is cleaned
of the remaining ethanol using a dissolved catalyst (3), which is then
returned to the reactor (1).

1 Now the biodiesel is ready. You can use it to run your equipment.
Unfortunately, you cannot store biodiesel too long for future use.
The bacteria inside completely decompose the material within a matter
of months, which is, by the way, a very eco-friendly byproduct.

2
2

Be careful! Methane
is extremely flammable
and may form
an explosive mixture
with air. Therefore,
2 the bioreactor should be
1
buried underground and
insulated using several
layers of bricks
or concrete blocks.

90 91
FOOD
Bread Food Food Bread

DOUGH PREPARATION

F
inding food isn’t easy, and preserving it is an even more daunting task — Learn to manage the natural decay processes in these substances — The basic ingredients of any bread dough are flour and water, and salt can be
various destabilizing factors within the structure of the food rapidly denaturation and fermentation — and you’ll open a world of tasty new recipes added to really enhance the flavor of the bread. However, you’ll also need
break down the organic matter. But you know what they say: If you that are much less tied to the whims of the seasons and the vagaries of nature. to get your hands on the right strains of yeast or cultured lactic acid bacteria
can't beat ‘em, join ‘em! (or a mixture of both). These consume the starch and fermentable sugars
in the dough and release carbon dioxide, the gas bubbles that make bread rise.

But where can you find natural yeast? It’s all around you! The air we breathe
contains the correct strains of both yeast and lactic bacteria. All you need to do
is create a favorable environment for them to propagate — for example, a mix
of equal parts rye flour and water. Place the mixture in a warm place, and
in a few days, the microbes will start fermenting the dough. You’ll know it’s
working when you see bubbles and notice a slightly alcoholic fragrance. You can
also find spores on the peel of sweet fruits and berries. Chop the fruits or mash
the berries, pour warm sugar water over the mixture and close the lid. After
a couple of days, the yeast water is ready. Mix it with flour to make a starter.

BREAD BAKING
After adding the starter, the dough should be Almost immediately after baking, the bread starts
BREAD kneaded and set aside in a warm place for a couple to become stale due to the loss of moisture, when
The grain, which starts out tough and unappetizing, undergoes mechanical, of hours to allow the yeast to produce enough starch molecules in the crumb return to their
chemical and thermal processes that transform it into a completely different carbon dioxide. Then place the dough in a cold crystallized state. This happens even in humid
product. The chemical and thermal decomposition releases substances that place for a few more hours so that the dough conditions. But the process can also be regulated —
make bread more nutritious than just grain alone. You can bake bread becomes stiffer and the gas is distributed evenly. heat the bread to 60°C and wait until the starch
on coals, in a hole in the ground, in a clay pot or in an oven. You can mold it and water once again become soft. You’ll have fresh
into different shapes or add spices to taste. The possibilities are limitless. bread once again!

94 95
Salt & Pr e se rvation Food Food Salt & Preservation

Molten salt can be employed as an efficient way of storing thermal energy.

It can be used to temporarily store heat energy: First, electricity is transformed
into heat, or heat energy is stored directly in molten salt, which is then kept
in an insulated tank until it is needed to produce steam

S
and converted back into electric energy (page 192).
alt is something you definitely can’t do without. First of all, Secondly, salt crystals offer great defense against bacteria that spoil your Adding supplementary salt to your
it’s an important source of electrolytes, which play a key role in food, as well as weeds that ruin your buildings by sprouting between cracks diet isn’t always necessary. The role
of sodium in bioelectric processes
the transmission of nerve impulses and contraction of muscle fibers. in the brickwork. The good news is that salt is a plentiful resource. is the same for all living cells, meaning
There are many different ways to obtain it. that this element is found naturally
in many animal and plant products.
All you need to do to replenish
your daily sodium supply
is eat 300 g of meat.

The easiest way to procure salt is from water. Search your local lakes — they The earth's crust contains layers of rock salt. They were formed as ancient
may have a thick salt deposit on the bottom. Can’t find anything nearby? saltwater bodies dried up. This salt is then extracted in a mine or a quarry.
Create an artificial lake yourself. If you live in a hot climate by the sea, dig
a few pools nearby. Pour seawater into the first and let it settle so that heavy
impurities fall to the bottom. Collect the liquid and move it to the second
pool. Allow the water to evaporate, and you’re left with pure salt.

In arid regions where the groundwater is close to the surface, more water may Wood ash may taste salty but be careful — this is not the kind of salt you want.
evaporate from the lower layers of soil than can be replaced by precipitation, The main water-soluble components of ash are potassium salts, carbonates,
in which case the soil becomes salinated and a salt marsh is formed. Pour water chlorides and sulfates, and you need sodium chloride, which is only present
over this soil to form a solution, then all you have to do is filter and boil off in very small quantities in ash. Therefore, it is better to use wood only as fuel
or evaporate the water. By the way, any wells you dig in this area will probably for evaporating water from a sodium chloride solution obtained through
also be salty. other methods.

EVAPORATION
The evaporation point of salt is much higher than the evaporation point
of water. You can use evaporation to extract salt from brine. In hot climates,
all you need to do is pour saltwater into a wide, shallow container and leave
it in direct sunlight for several days then collect the dry salt from the bottom
of the container. If you’re in a cooler climate, you can speed up the process
by boiling it over a fire. As the water evaporates, the salt solution
will become saturated and the salt will precipitate and can then be filtered
out. And if it’s just below freezing outside, you can save your fuel: Brine also
freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater, so if the ambient temperature For some organisms, salt is life, and for others, it’s a death sentence. Many If you’re lucky enough to find a salt cave, you can use it to store massive amounts
is between these two freezing points, the water will freeze by pushing the salt microbes die in 10% salt solution. This makes salt an excellent preservative. of food. But be sure not to ingest too much salt, as it could be harmful. Humans
molecules beneath the surface of the ice. Eventually, you’re left with freshwater Use it to store fish, meat and vegetables for long periods of time. Anything require 3–4 grams of dietary salt every day and no more.
ice on top and a concentrated brine at the bottom. can be salted and pickled, from plant roots to mammoth carcasses.

96 97
D ry ing & s mo king food food Drying & smoking

COLD SMOKING
For this process, the smoke must first be allowed to cool (20–25°С
or lower). The proper temperature can be achieved by passing

D
rying and smoking are two excellent ways to slow the process Smoking also partially dehydrates the food, creating an inhospitable smoke through 2–3 meters of pipe. To ensure that smoke
of bacterial decay that spoils food. Drying removes the vital water environment for bacteria while simultaneously permeating it with makes it to the other side of the chimney, use a closed vessel
that bacteria need to reproduce and survive, and smoke contains bacteriostatic preservative chemicals. Now you can be sure you’ll have with smoldering wood chips instead of an open fire pit. Cold
chemicals that slow bacterial growth. Sunlight and fermentation transform a steady source of food to last you on long journeys or cold, hard winters. smoking takes significantly longer than hot smoking — about
the fats into an extremely energy-dense substance. 5 days instead of 1. Vent excess smoke periodically to regulate
moisture and prevent the buildup of carcinogens. When the food
is ready, hang it outdoors for a couple more hours. Cold smoked
meat or fish are less fatty and contain more natural preservatives.
1 Therefore, they are shelf stable for several months. You can even
smoke cheese (page 104) using this method.

DRYING MEAT AND FISH

3 Remove any bones, tendons and excess fat (1). Cut the meat into smaller
pieces (2) and rub with salt and spices or soak in brine (3). You’ll know your
brine is salty enough if a raw egg floats when placed in the solution. Hang meat
outdoors in a well-ventilated area at least 1.5–2 m from the ground to prevent
animal interference (4). Air circulation is vital to ensure that the meat
doesn’t start to rot. The temperature is not particularly important as long
as it does not exceed 40°C.

During the drying process, food is partially dehydrated and fermented.

2 As a result, the juices inside thicken. If the weather is dry and windy, small
pieces of meat and small fish will dry in just a couple of days. In less ideal
conditions, it may take more than 2 weeks.

HOT SMOKING
Build your own smokehouse directly over your firepit.
Any structure with lattices or hanging racks will do.
Place this frame on raised bricks above the fire, then
4 spread your food among the drying racks so that
the individual pieces aren’t touching each other.
Pour wet fruit tree chips into your smoker. These chips
won’t ignite but rather will smolder for a long time.
The more smoke they produce, the better, so make sure
they are slightly damp. Place a lid on the smoker
and wait a couple of hours.

DRYING FRUITS AND VEGGIES

Fleshy fruits are best because their sugary juices thicken up easily. To prevent Place the slices in a jar, fill to the brim with oil and seal to keep a small taste
tomatoes from rotting before they are fully dehydrated, place them on a mesh of summer with you all throughout the winter months. Juicy fruits such
screen so that there is airflow running both underneath and over the top and as persimmons, dates, plums, apricots or even melons can be cured in the same
cover with a cloth to repel insects. Add a little sun and wind power and you way. Pears, apples and similar fruits should only be dehydrated and not cured,
have yourself a tasty snack. as they are hard and their moisture evaporates quickly.

Food must be marinated or salted before smoking.

98 99
Spices food food Spices

V
ariety is the spice of life. New experiences They can enhance the natural aroma, improve
stimulate the area of the brain associated the consistency or add a pop of color to any dish.
with feelings of wellbeing, so spice up plain Some even have antimicrobial properties and can
foods to add new life to old dishes. Herbs and extend the shelf life of your food.
spices can be derived from various parts of plants
that produce a particular smell or taste.

Pepper Cinnamon Cumin

This refers to one plant, Piper nigrum, and the three different This is the inner layer of bark from young shoots of plants Dried seeds of the spicy herb Cuminum cyminum. This spice
varieties (black, white and green) represent different stages in the genus Cinnamomum. It contains an essential oil that masks the smell of fish and meat, so add to dishes that have
in the fruit’s growth cycle. The oil is what produces the aroma, has a strong warming effect. Dry in the shade and the bark gamey lamb or river fish with a muddy aftertaste.
and the alkaloid piperine is responsible for the taste. After will curl up into a tube.
a while in storage, the aroma will eventually disappear,
while the pungent-bitter taste persists for a long time.
UMAMI
Try to describe the flavor of a food
using just one word. What comes
to mind first? Probably something
like sweet, sour, bitter or salty.
But there’s one more flavor that can be
described as “delicious” or “pleasantly
spicy.” This is umami, and it acts
as a flavor enhancer. One natural
source of umami is kombu seaweed.
Look for long brown algae in your
nearby bay growing at a depth
of 5–10 meters. Soak the komba
in water for several hours, and then
use the strained solution to prepare
meals or make a sauce by adding
dried mackerel flakes and shiitake
mushrooms to the infusion.

Or you can dry your seaweed and use

its flavor long after kombu season
is over. Spread the kombu on the rocks
along the shore and dry it in the sun
for about 5 hours. Then grind it
into powder.

Bay Leaves Cloves Saffron

From an evergreen tree in the Laurus family. In addition Collect the unflowered buds of the tropical carnation tree Dried stamens of the Crocus flower. Each flower has three
to fragrant essential oils, they contain eugenol, which has Caryophyllus aromaticus. Fortunately, it blooms twice a year. stigmas, which must be picked on the day the bud opens.
an antiseptic effect. They retain their properties even The buds contain a lot of essential oils and should be dried You need to process 80,000 plants to get a single kilogram
when dried. Add the bay leaves shortly before the end in the sun before use. If they’re left to stew for too long, they’ll of the spice. Saffron does not mix well with other spices.
of the preparation of the dish and don’t forget to remove become bitter, so add just 5 minutes before the dish is cooked. It is better to use it on its own and in very small doses;
before serving so they don’t add extra bitterness. otherwise, you will overwhelm the other flavors.

100 101
sugar food food sugar

W
hen you have no extra energy to expend and feel sluggish, you
have no time for inventing. Your mood is directly dependent
on your body’s energy stores. Sugar will replenish your energy
in a jiffy. Your cells can easily absorb the glucose it contains and metabolize
it into energy. A good dose of glucose instantly stimulates the brain's pleasure
center and raises levels of serotonin, the "happy hormone." That’s why sweets 5
are always a good mood booster.

3
4

COTTON CANDY
When heated, sugar turns into liquid
caramel. If you continue heating,
the sugar starts to burn. Before this happens,
spin the sugar quickly and it turns into thin, 1
wispy threads. Wrap them around a stick
for a fun fair treat: cotton candy.

To make it, you’ll need to build a simple

machine. It consists of a motor, a heating
element, a distribution head and a bowl.

EVAPORATION
Sugar can be extracted from plants. Sugar beets, If using sugar beets or cane, wash them, chop Make as much of this raw “sugar juice” as possible —
sugarcane, sorghum and some types of palms and and boil them and strain the resulting syrup. 40 liters of juice will produce just 1 liter of syrup. 1. The body of the machine is an iron container. The heat source (alcohol 4. When spun, centrifugal force pulls the sugar out of the holes
maples are all good options. All you need to do Use a press or mill to grind large quantities of beets When the juice or syrup is prepared, pour it into lamp, fire) is placed under it. in the distributor head and stretches them into thin threads.
is harness the power of evaporation. This requires or cane. If using sorghum, simply cut the stems iron containers on a stove. Boil the liquid until it 2. The working part — the distributor head — will spin when connected 5. Wind the resulting strands of sugar around a stick by dipping it into
a small stove. Build the main body out of bricks and squeeze the juice out. Maple and palm sap can is dark brown and as thick as possible. (Use any to any motor. You can even turn the pedals, which will be connected the bowl as it spins. Your cotton candy is ready!
and on top place shallow iron containers with also be directly harvested from trees by tapping waste plant material as fuel for the boilers.) After to the shaft of the apparatus through the gearbox.
wide bottoms. The larger the surface area (making a deep hole or cut in the tree). that, leave the liquid in a cool place to harden and 3. The upper part of the appliance is a bowl with high walls. A distribution
of the container, the faster the process will go. crystallize. This can take up to 2 weeks. The resulting head (a small iron container with holes) is attached to the middle
crystals can be ground to smaller granules. of the bowl. Sugar is poured into it, and gradually, it heats up and melts.

102 103
Curd & cheese food food Curd & cheese

UNRIPENED CHEESE BLUE CHEESE

Add vinegar or lemon juice to milk that has been heated to 75°C. The A little mold isn’t always a bad thing. Some cheeses are made by adding edible
fattier the milk, the better. Once the milk has separated, place the solids in molds, such as penicillin (page 34). To make this type of cheese, inoculate
a cheesecloth and hang until all the excess liquid drains out. Season with the curd mass with mold spores before ripening and use long needles or sticks

M
ilk spoiled again? Trying to combat lactic acid bacteria is a losing Meanwhile, like a well-aged wine, they become even more delicious. salt, herbs and spices and store in a cold place. The process can be simplified to poke air holes inside the cheese mass. The air will allow blue mold
battle — at most, it’ll win you a couple of days. It’s better to lean Cheese is a great travel food — a couple of chunks will give you a rich even further: just cook the milk and acid mixture, stirring occasionally, until to develop evenly throughout the entire cheese.
into the funk and preserve the goodness in the milk by making complex of vitamins and minerals able to sustain you over a long journey. the curd separates from the whey.
cheese. This product is a kind of milk concentrate: The proteins, fats and And if you’re running out of entertainment ideas, you can organize a cheese-
minerals within occur in approximately the same proportions but are absorbed chasing competition: Who can catch the wheel of cheese before it rolls
much better by the body. And you can store some types of cheese not just to the bottom of the hill? TOFU PROCESSED CHEESE
for months but for years. If you are a vegetarian (or don’t have access to dairy animals), you can make Want to spread cheese on your bread? Spreadable cheeses are made by melting
a cheese substitute using soy. Making tofu is similar to making regular cheese rennet cheeses and adding things such as cottage cheese, sour cream, milk
but you use soy milk instead. Magnesium chloride, citric acid or calcium or butter and spices and all kinds of other fillers (onions, mushrooms, nuts,
sulfate is used to curdle the mixture. If you can’t get your hands on any of these, bacon, etc.). Make a dessert cheese by adding sugar, cocoa, vanilla or syrup.
use seawater — it contains calcium and magnesium salts.

CHEESE
Cow, sheep, goat and even donkey milk can be used to make
cheese. Found a herd of buffalo grazing nearby? Fantastic!
If you can manage to tame them, buffalo milk makes an excellent
cheese. There are many ways to radically change the taste, color
and texture of cheese. Try adding spices (page 100), changing
the aging time or using different enzymes and bacteria.

ENZYMES LIVING CHEESE

The enzyme chymosin used in the preparation Think you’ve already tried
of rennet cheeses is obtained from the dried everything and nothing can
and grated stomachs of newborn calves or lambs. surprise you? Why not try a slice
If this causes ethical issues for you, you’ll have of cheese with live insects in it?
to find a replacement either for rennet cheeses Add cheese fly larvae to a bucket
or the enzymes. There are options: mold bacteria of sheep milk. These creepy
(page 100); leavened bread (page 94); berries crawlies digest the cheese,
used to enhance fermentation in wines producing a flavor that many
(page 62); leftover whey from previous consider gourmet.
cheese or cheese curd production; fig juice
with the seeds removed; or a tincture of nettles
and salt. Feed the starter culture by adding
water, fruit, milk, etc., so that it grows.
Once it has developed, store it in a cold place.

Making rennet cheese

1. Allow the milk to “ripen”: keep it at a temperature of 8–12°C for 12–24 hours.
This will activate the microflora.
2. Then pasteurize by heating the milk to 90°C. This will kill unnecessary microorganisms
that can interfere with the fermentation process.
3. Add your enzyme (or substitute) and acid. The milk will separate into solid curd
and watery whey.
4. Cut the resulting curd with a wide blade, separating it from the whey. Do not be alarmed
if it turns green — this means that it’s ready. Add any spices, salt, nuts, etc., and press
the cheese into molds.
5. Now, you must wait for the cheese to mature, but you’ll have to check in on it frequently.
BREAD CHEESE
Once every 2–3 weeks, the cheese must be washed (this will get rid of unnecessary Take the mass of cheese obtained after fermentation and
microorganisms) and flipped over. roll it into a cake. Bake it in the oven or flambé it by pouring alcohol
over it and setting it aflame. This forms a golden crust on the cheese
You can smoke the cheese, sprinkle it with spices and even rub it with alcohol. The most
that makes it look like bread. You can dry this cheese and store
important element is constantly maintaining the humidity level and temperature in the room.
Due to the release of carbon dioxide, which is produced as the starter cultures ferment the milk, it with your grains for years. When you decide to eat, reheat CARAMELIZED CHEESE
holes will appear in the cheese. It usually takes about 2–2.5 months to fully ripen, but this the stale cheese and it will soften again. Or you can A light brown cheese with a caramel flavor can be obtained
depends on the type of cheese and storage conditions. How do you know it’s ready? add cheese "croutons" to hot soup and make by boiling cream and whey for about 7–8 hours until the sugar
Hit the cheese block with a silver hammer. If it rings, the cheese is ripe.
a new hearty dish. in the milk caramelizes.

104 105
beer food food beer

Wheat Beer
To produce excellent beer, you must start with good-quality water (page 14). A light beer with pronounced notes of spicy
cloves and banana.
The hardness and mineral content of the water has a huge effect on the taste
Ingredients: 60% light wheat malt,
of the beer. There is no one formula for success — different waters produce 27% light barley, 10% caramelized barley,

J
ust four ingredients — water, hops, barley and yeast — Beer requires hops, which adds bitter flavor notes, supports a frothy head and helps preserve different beers. But there is one vital element 5% sour malt (pour the malt into a container,
and you have a drink that will give people a reason your beer. Harvest in early fall. The slightly dry hop flower has a pungent odor. You can make of the process: All containers that the wort hydrate slightly with water, add a spoonful
beer from fresh hops or dry them at a temperature not exceeding 60°C and use them later. of yogurt and place in a sealed container
to meet up and relax over a frothy pint or two. comes into contact with after boiling
in a warm place for a week).
must be disinfected. Otherwise, Mash stages:
undesirable bacteria can 1. Heat a mixture of malt and water
contaminate your brew. to a temperature of 45°C for 10 minutes.
2. Raise the temperature to 52°C
for 10 minutes.
Master a couple of time-tested 3. Raise to 62°C for 30 minutes.
recipes, and then start mixing 4. Raise to 72°C for another 30 minutes.
things up. Experiment and see how 5. Increase temperature to 78°C to finish.
Fermentation temperature: 20°C
many different types of beer you can
produce. The sky’s the limit!
Dark beer
Ingredients: 85% light barley malt
and 15% roasted malt.
Mash stages:
1 2 3 1. Heat your malt and water mixture
to 65°C for 60 minutes.
2. Raise to 72°C for 30 minutes.
3. Bring the mixture to 78°C
then remove from heat.
Fermentation temperature: 16°C.

Make malt. Soak and germinate the barley kernels to start Mill the malted barley. Be careful, if you process it too much, Obtain a sugar-rich wort by squeezing and filtering
the fermentation process. Remove any sprouts and dry the beer will turn out bitter. Make a mash by mixing 1 part the liquid from the mashed barley. Use a large pot with
with hot air. The more you dry the malt — or even better, ground malt with 4 parts hot water. During this process, a screened chamber—a strainer on stilts that catches
roast it — the darker the beer will be. Remember that dark, naturally-occurring enzymes in the malt break down starch the solids while allowing the liquids to drain to the bottom
caramelized varieties cannot be made without light ones: into fermentable sugars. Temperatures, cooking times and where they can be removed via a spigot. The liquid will
the enzymes necessary for saccharification of the wort are the number of cooking stages will determine the flavor need to be filtered twice. Rinse the spent grain with hot
“burned out” in the dark ones; that is, they are deactivated. of the beer (see recipes below). water (75–78°С) — it still contains a lot of wort.

6 5 4

Now comes the fermentation. Yeast is used to convert After boiling the wort, it needs to be cooled quickly Bring the filtered wort to a boil and add your hops.
the sugars into alcohol. You already know how to procure (if you wait too long, bacteria will multiply, spoiling the taste). Boil for at least an hour. This helps develop the flavors
yeast from thin air (page 94). All that’s left to do is add Stir the wort vigorously and pour it from a great height into and sterilizes the wort of any unwanted bacteria. This stage
the wort, set in a dark place and wait around 2 weeks. another container to increase oxygen saturation, which is open to some experimentation. Through trial and error,
Monitor the temperature, which should be between 15–25°С. will help the yeast multiply faster. you’ll end up creating many different varieties of beer.

For storage, you can use either glass bottles or wooden barrels.
Dark glass is advisable, as light can have adverse effects
on the flavor. If you prefer a fizzy beer, add a small amount
of sugar to each bottle when filling. The yeast will process this
sugar and produce carbon dioxide, carbonating the beverage.
Store in a cool, dark place but do not freeze, shake or turn
the bottles — this way, the frothy drink will maintain
its flavor and strength until happy hour.

106 107
MATERIALS
M e ta l s & ores Materials Materials Metals & ores

M
etals are the most important materials of any civilization. Some
of them — silver, gold, platinum — can be found in nature in their
native forms. The rest must be separated from the other elements
in their rocky ore. The first step is finding ore, a mineral that can be refined
to obtain metal.

COPPER IRON
Ores: sulfides (chalcopyrite), hydrocarbonates (malachite, azurite), Ores: oxides (magnetite, hematite), sulfides (pyrite)
native copper Metal extraction method: reduce oxides in a furnace with carbon, burn
Metal extraction method: for sulfides, burn off sulfur and remove the iron sulfides to oxides, and then reduce using carbon.
then reduce copper oxide with copper sulfide. For bicarbonates, heat to oxide
and reduce with carbon monoxide.

TIN TUNGSTEN
Ores: cassiterite (tin oxide). Has a strong diamond-like brilliance. Ores: scheelite
Method of metal recovery: heat with coal in a furnace (the simplest method Metal recovery method: treat scheelite with sulfuric acid to form tungsten
uses a shaft-type furnace with layers of coal and cassiterite). oxide. The tungsten oxide is then reduced with hydrogen at a temperature
of 1000–1100°C.

ALUMINUM
ZINC Ores: alumina (aluminum oxide) as part of bauxite
Ores: sphalerite (zinc sulfide) Metal recovery method: bauxite is dissolved in sodium hydroxide to purify it
Metal recovery method: burn off sulfur, heat the resulting oxide with carbon (the aluminum oxide dissolves, but the impurities do not). Aluminum oxide
to 1200°C in sealed containers with a drain and condense the zinc vapor. is dissolved in a cryolite melt then subjected to electrolysis (the cathode
is the bottom of the bath, and the anode is carbon electrodes).

MERCURY PLATINUM, GOLD, SILVER

Ores: cinnabar (mercury sulfide) Native metals (found in pure form in nature)
Metal recovery method: fire in a furnace. Cinnabar also contains
native mercury.

LEAD
Ores: galena (lead sulfide)
Metal extraction method: burn off sulfur to obtain lead oxide then reduce
the oxide with carbon monoxide in a furnace.

110 111
Mining Materials Materials mining

O
n the path to prosperity, every civilization reaches To get resources that are located deep underground, you need a mine. Every The easiest way to mine resources if they lie close to the surface is to dig Stick one end of the fuse into this charge, and run the other end a sufficient
a point where it must dig deeper, both figuratively mine must have at least three passages. The first is for mining the ore (1). a quarry (12). Make a quarry with the help of explosives. Create fuses for your distance away for safety. Ignite your fuse and wait for the boom. You can also
and literally, in order to find the materials to build The shaft will have platforms on multiple levels, so you’ll also need gunpowder charges out of hemp cord (page 18) impregnated with resin break through large slabs of rock by driving wooden wedges into the cracks
a better future. Take up your pickaxe and your canary, and down, passageways (2) to transport the mined ore. The second shaft is for lifting or smeared with white clay (page 136). With a drill, make horizontal holes and flooding them with water — as the wood expands, it will cause the rock
down we go. the mined ore to the surface (3). The third is for ventilation (4): Mines are in the rock and stuff them with your gunpowder charges. to crack.
filled with a mix of atmospheric air and toxic, flammable gases such as carbon
monoxide and methane, which is found naturally around coal deposits.
To make it easier to expand mining operations, passageways between
platforms (2) are connected by sloped ramps (5).

8
REINFORCEMENTS
Mines must be reinforced to prevent them from collapsing.
When cutting horizontal corridors through the rock, leave
vertical pillars as support posts to hold the ceilings up.
But even with these, the risk of collapse is still quite high.
Therefore, use additional reinforcement made from wooden
poles and beams and add flooring, which will bear the weight
of the stone vault of the mine.

4 3

2 TOXIC GASES
6 Getting poisoned by toxic gases is a real danger when working in mines.
Use canaries to help you determine whether or not toxic gases
are accumulating. They respond to carbon monoxide much faster than
2
humans do. If the canary loses consciousness, it means that harmful gases
have accumulated in the mine, and you need to get out immediately.
To bring the ore to the surface, you need rail Equip the cage with an oxygen balloon so you can quickly resuscitate
tracks for minecarts (6) and rope lifts (7). your feathered friend.
2
The hoists operate using a block system and
1 a winch (8) (page 168). Before loading, break
7 the ore into smaller pieces using raw material
5 crushers (9). To find ore deposits, examine
the geological structure of the site (10), paying
special attention to natural bedrock outcrops.

9
SAFETY LAMP
With all the gases accumulating in the mine, it’s important to keep any open
flames far away so as to avoid explosions. Use a multi-chambered metal
The mine may become flooded with groundwater, mesh, which channels air into the lamp and combustion products out.
which will lead to a collapse (cave in). Therefore, When the combustible gas-air mixture causes the flame to flare up, it won’t
you’ll need a system of channels through which escape the confines of the mesh container and won’t lead to an explosion.
water will drain into the water intake (11) and By the way, this kind of lamp is a good way to monitor gas build up:
10 a pump (page 162) to pump it out to the surface. If the flame gets larger, there is more gas in the room.

112 113
Glass Materials Materials Glass

ADD COLOR

G
lass isn’t just good for windows, bottles and other helpful household After all, the lenses of microscopes (page 184) telescopes and cameras To make a perfectly clear glass suitable for lenses and other
items. The invention of glass will greatly expand your scientific (page 186) are impossible to make without glass, so it's time to take scientific instruments, make sure the sand or quartz you use
and technological capabilities, opening the potential for new a shovel and go dig up some sand. Glass is obtained from molten quartz sand is bright white. The impurities in yellowy sand will taint
ideas and discoveries. Without this material, many fields, such as chemistry, or crushed quartz. It is better to use river sand, as it tends to be the cleanest the glass. But for decorative, colorful glass, you can add
physics, biology and medicine, astronomy and optics and electronics and natural source, and the purer the material, the stronger and more transparent different minerals to the raw materials. For example,
communications will be unable to reach higher levels of development. the glass will turn out. copper oxide gives blue-green, and iron oxide, yellow-green.
This is a great way to protect beer, wine and any other
photosensitive liquids.

Glass production sites are gigantic ovens. First, the kiln (1) and the melting
4 MOLDING
chamber (2) are made out of brick (page 148). Constant air supply is required
for good combustion. Therefore, it is better to orient the mouth of the kiln (3) AND GLASS BLOWING
so that it aligns with seasonal winds for good air exchange. This will create You can blow glass into any shape you wish —
an air channel. the only limit is your own imagination and lung
capacity. But first, the glass must be melted again.
The raw materials (4) are then loaded into the kiln. The three ingredients Then collect a ball of molten glass on the end
for soda-lime glass are silica (sand or quartz), soda ash, which allows 1 of a hollow tube. Blow into the other end as
the silica to melt at kiln temperatures, and quicklime or slaked if creating a soap bubble while turning the tube
lime (page 78), which makes the glass more chemically durable 3 continuously. Use the blown air and the force
and gives it shine. of gravity to mold the glass into the desired shape.

2 There are two ways to produce a flat sheet of glass.

The easiest is to blow out your glass ball, snip off
the top and, while constantly rewarming the glass
to ensure it remains pliable, start spinning your
blowtube rapidly between your hands. Centrifugal
force will gradually shape the molten glass into
a thin disc. Once cool, these discs can be framed
with metal and set into a window opening.
This technique produces glass that will allow light
Once the kiln chamber is ready, build a dome to shine through but will prevent nosy neighbors
and chimney on top. Set a fire in the air channel. from peeping in due to the distortion.
As it’s drawn through, its heat melts and combines
the raw materials. The melting process may take
from 10 days to 2 weeks. The temperature must be
kept at around 1100°C and maintained for long
enough for all the bubbles to escape the viscous
melt. Then allow the kiln to cool to produce
a block of strong, transparent glass.

A giant multi-ton piece of glass is melted in the melting chamber. Or you can blow an oblong bubble in your molten glass and let it cool slightly
Its dimensions can exceed human height. The top of the oven must be then cut it lengthwise and roll it out into a thin, flat sheet. This creates
disassembled to remove the molten glass. Do this carefully so as to save something more closely resembling window glass that can be used
as many of the bricks as possible. They will be useful to you later, in a variety of applications.
as the structure will have to be reassembled to melt the next batch of glass.

The resulting untreated blocks make neither good microscope lenses nor
beautiful wine glasses. These cubes of glass must be broken into smaller
pieces and sent to glass-blowing workshops.

These glass furnaces can be constructed away from your main

settlement, near sources of raw materials and fuel. However,
glass workshops, where glassware is actually crafted, should
be located in the city to more efficiently meet the needs
of the local townspeople.

114 115
rubber Materials Materials rubber

R
ubber is an elastic material that can not only stretch to dimensions Therefore, rubber is suitable for a variety of tasks from improving If there are no rubber trees nearby, certain
many times greater than its original size but also shrink back once wheels and electrical insulation to preventing unwanted pregnancies. species of ficus will suffice, and in dire situations,
it's no longer under tension. It is also gas and water tight. You’ll definitely find a variety of uses for this flexible material. you can experiment with dandelions. The rubber
in dandelion roots takes the form of both liquid
latex and solid rubber fibers. To extract the rubber,
vulcanize the plant materials using formic acid
or the sap of sulfur-containing plants,
such as cabbage.

During the vulcanization of rubber products,

sulfur binds the long rubber molecules into
1 2 3
a kind of cross-linked network. This can be done
by hot pressing, rolling with heated rolls (A)
or by heating the material in an autoclave (B),
where the workpieces are treated with steam
formed when water boils at high pressures.

There’s no such thing as bad weather —

only inadequate clothing. But that’s a problem
we can remedy. Soak fabric with rubber
dissolved in an organic solvent such as gasoline
to obtain a waterproof garment. You can also
make galoshes, which are waterproof covers
5 worn over your boots.

1. Slice into the core of Hevea brasiliensis, also 2. Latex can be used in its natural form.
1
known as the rubber tree, until a milky liquid For instance, make a wooden model of a hand
starts to seep out. This suspension of polymer and dip it into a bucket of latex. Once it dries,
particles (which can also be found in other you’ll have a set of latex gloves.
plants, such as the dandelion) is called latex.
Make cuts into a 6–7 year old tree that span 3. It can also be used to make rubber. There are 2 4
about halfway around the trunk at a 30° angle. several different methods. Dip a spatula into
Make each subsequent cut underneath the latex and hold it over the smoke of a fire
the previous one. until the water evaporates. After that, a thin
layer of rubber is formed on the blade. Repeat
the process layer by layer until you have a large
piece of rubber. Another option is coagulation
using acetic or formic acid. By mixing them
6
with latex, you get a crumby substance that
resembles cottage cheese. Wash it, dry it and
press it into blocks. A

4. Remove the raw rubber from the spatula

and cut into small pieces.
4 3
5. Add crushed sulfur (at a ratio of 5–10%
1. Body
of the total mass). 2. Heating chamber
3. Molds containing
6. Press the resulting material into sheets. unprocessed rubber
4. Electric heating
element
Now they must be dried in a special oven known
as an autoclave. During the heating process,
the soft, sticky rubber will become hardy and B
elastic. The process of heating rubber with
sulfur to prompt this transformation is called
vulcanization.

116 117
ied Spirits
Rectif Materials Materials Rectified Spirits

W
ondering what to do with all your surplus food? Start producing Everything that contains sugar will ferment on its own, but the resulting drink It is impossible to obtain 100% alcohol using rectification —
rectified or purified alcohol. The beginning stages of the production won’t have an ABV exceeding 14%. Any higher and the microbes responsible surgical spirits always contain about 4% water, which
doesn’t pose a problem in the majority of its applications
process are similar to distillation (page 390), but there’s one for fermentation will die. That’s why you need a special apparatus that will raise
across various fields.
important distinction: The final product is not intended for consumption, the temperature and remove any impurities. The process of rectification is like
so there’s no need to select high-quality grains, potatoes or berries. Straw, distilling the alcohol dozens of times. By the way, this method can also be used
corn stalks and some kinds of weeds will also suffice. If you do plan to use to purify other liquids, such as oil.
the alcohol for culinary purposes, however, start with quality raw materials.

The simplest version of a rectifier is a flask filled with glass beads, also known
as a “fractionating column.” You can also use a crumpled coil of wire, metal
shavings or springs. Every layer of glass beads is a different temperature —
the closer to the top, the colder they are. The temperature difference causes Alcohol Lamp Fuel
the liquid to separate: the lightest components (A) rise to the top, while the less A burner filled with ethanol can be used for both lighting Add alcohol to gasoline (only in a concentration of 3–10%)
volatile components sink to the bottom (B). and for heating food, especially for meals that need and it will increase your engine’s efficiency. You can even
to be kept hot on the table. Alcohol lamps give off more create a motor that runs entirely on ethanol.
heat than candles and don’t smoke.

The fractionating column with the glass

beads (2) is connected to a glass bulb
3 at the bottom. As the heated alcohol
vapors rise, they cool and condense
on the glass beads. The lighter
components (A) then revaporize
and rise higher through the glass
bead column where they condense
again and the process repeats. Regulate
the temperature of your heat source
so that the alcohol vapors (A) rise
and condense at the level of the outflow
tube (3) and flow into the chilled part
of the apparatus (4). This way, you’ll
2 obtain alcohol without any impurities. Culinary uses Surgical Spirit
The lighter toxic components such A shot of rectified spirit added to a stew or marinade When using ethanol as a disinfectant, dilute it to 70% —
will soften the meat. A biscuit fortified with strong alcohol the solution will penetrate into deeper layers of the epidermis
1 as aldehydes and acetone will remain
has a special taste and is more shelf-stable. Grain alcohol than a 96% solution. But if you need to examine tissue
vapor and flow back out through
is also used to increase the shelf life of preserved vegetables samples removed during an operation (page 36), place
the tube, while the fusel oils and other and in salt-pickling can be used to disinfect fish and make them in 90% ethanol to preserve the biomaterial.
impurities with a higher boiling cucumbers and mushrooms crisp.
point (B) fall back to the bottom
of the container.

One important characteristic of the final

Anti-freeze
96% ethyl alcohol can be poured into cooling or heating
product is its ABV, or alcohol by volume.
systems. It doesn’t corrode metal and freezes at –114°C.
A spirit with an ABV of 70% is a concentration
of 7 parts pure ethanol to 3 parts water.
A hydrometer (5) will help you determine
the alcohol percentage of your final product. Ink
It consists of a long, narrow glass stem with If you add alcohol to dye or powdered charcoal, you can
measurement marks and a bulbous bottom produce alcohol ink.
containing a weight. The hydrometer floats
lower or higher depending on the density
of the water-alcohol mixture. You can calibrate
your hydrometer beforehand using liquids with
known densities.

118 119
Co t t o n & yarn Materials Materials Cotton & yarn

10
2
1

H
umans have several different mediums of self-expression,
and clothing is one of them. Fashion is a way to display how
you feel when words just aren’t enough. Clothing can be made 4
from whatever animal hair or plant fiber you have on hand. Each material
will create yarn of a different thickness and density.

9
WOOL
The easiest way to do this with livestock is to shave or comb
a sheep, llama, goat, camel or something else fluffy (even a dog).
Wash the wool and brush through it. Now you can use
a spinning wheel to start pulling it into threads.

LINEN SPINNING
Flax is a rather capricious annual plant that requires loads of sunlight but Cut a deep groove into the entire length of a log and attach a handle at one Spin threads from your cotton, flax or wool fibers using 1
moderate temperature and humidity. Soak and dry the flax stalks. When end that fits perfectly into this groove. Lay the stems across this groove a spinning wheel. Make one continuous strand of yarn
the fiber starts to easily peel away from the hard outer hull, transfer the stems perpendicularly and bring the handle down so that it crushes the stalks, by simply twisting the fibers onto a spinning wheel
to an oven and dry until they crack when squeezed in your hands. Now rinse removing the outer hull and softening the inner fibers. Then comb through or make a stronger yarn by repeating this process
the fibers. the bundle to get rid of any excess hull and clean the thin linen threads. then twisting several strands of yarn together. 7

The side struts of the top of the spinning wheel (1) support
the U-shaped rotating head (2). The arms can be moved
to remove or install the bobbin (3). A thread of cotton, linen
or wool fiber is passed through the orifice (4) and fastened
to the bobbin. When your foot presses on the pedal (5),
6
the lever (6) turns the shaft (7), which rotates the drive wheel (8).
This spins the drive band (9), the rotating head and the bobbin.
COTTON This rotation is transferred to the fiber, twisting it into a thread.
Growing cotton is very difficult. Only warm and humid climates are suitable A cotton gin is a box containing two rollers covered in spikes that pull the lint The bobbin rotates more slowly than the head as the finished
for growing cotton. So if you live in a dry, cold area, don’t waste your time. through the slots of a grate at high speeds. At the back end, there are brushes thread winds around it. Move the thread from side to side across
You need to sow the seeds every spring in moist soil with good drainage. that rotate three times faster. Throw your cotton seeds in the front end and the pegs (10) so that the bobbin thread lays evenly. A large spacing
In autumn, collect the light cotton bolls in open boxes. Use a cotton gin the cotton gin will separate the cotton lint from the seed and transfer it between the pegs will give you loose yarn, while a smaller spacing
to separate the cotton fibers from the spiky seeds. to the brushes, which pulls the cotton into fibers. These are then spun into yarn. gives you a tighter structure.

120 121
Pa int s & bru s hes Materials Materials Paints & brushes

DYEING FABRIC
Plant dyes work best for fabrics. Soak leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, cones

N
ot everything can be conveyed with words. Emotional realities Here, experimentation is key. Just try to avoid using any toxic substances or bark in cold, soft water for 12 hours (for every 100 grams of material, you
require something more expressive and colorful. Borrow some for your pigments. Start with time-tested ingredients. need a liter of water).
of nature’s hues and use them to bring your masterpieces to life.
Then bring to a boil and soak over very low heat. Flowers and herbs need about
30 minutes, while bark, stems, hulls and roots can take up to 4 hours. Strain.
In order to avoid an uneven dye job on cotton and linen, boil them for an hour
PIGMENT in a solution of 2 g of soda and 5 g of soap (page 24) per 1 liter of water. If the
Paint is either a dye solution or mixture of pigments dye is obtained from berry juice, add 100 g of salt to 8 glasses of water and boil
and binders. Thinners allow you to regulate for about an hour; if it’s from vegetable juices, add one more part of vinegar
the density. Oils work well —linseed, to four parts of water. Hold the prepared fabric in a vat of paint for 30 minutes
fusel oils, turpentine and others. then soak for another 25 minutes in a vat of potash or metal salts: aluminum,
chromium, iron, copper (page 110). If they are not available, use natural
Turmeric root yields a bright yellow color, while fixatives: formic acid or vinegar.
the leaves of the Indigofera tinctoria produce
a bluish purple. Nettles give you green, while
cornflower petals boiled with vinegar make a lighter
shade of blue, and the seeds of the wild rue plant
can produce dyes from a range of yellow to red.

PAINTING WALLS
Use paints based on mineral pigments. But keep in mind that colored minerals,
such as malachite and lapis lazuli, cannot be ground into a fine homogeneous
powder, and because of this, they don’t mix well with fixatives and produce
a watery pigment that doesn’t fix well. To avoid this, colored mineral pigments
must be diluted with egg yolk or casein — a milk protein.

The more lasting pigments come from minerals.

Ground charcoal gives you black, and limestone
or gypsum make white. Ochre powder, that is, clay
with iron oxide (page 110), produces yellow and
orange pigments, cinnabar gives you bright red
and malachite and lapis lazuli produce green and
a palette from blue to gray, respectively.

Mollusks and insects can also be used as starting

materials. The ink gland of the cuttlefish
will produce a sepia tone, and ground sea snails
The material you use for the hair of your brush depends on the desired stroke
produce purple. The dried carapaces of female thickness and the type of paint. For fine strokes, use brushes made from
cochineal bugs give you carmine — a scarlet color. the tail hairs of a squirrel, sable or yellow weasel. The finest samples are
harvested from males in winter. You can also make brushes from the tails
of a mongoose or badger, from behind the ears of a pony or goat or hair from
the ears of cows and buffaloes.

MIXING PIGMENTS BRUSHES

For dry pigments, you’ll need a substance that Boar bristle brushes work well for covering large surfaces.
will bind the particles into a homogeneous First, it must be bleached: wash in warm, soapy water
substance — paint. You can use eggs, oil or water. then in cold water and leave it to soak in an aqueous solution
If you want to use egg as the base, separate the yolk of sulfuric acid for 2–3 days. To give the bristles elasticity,
from the white and mix the yolk into pigment and place the bound bundles in hot ash for 15 minutes. If you want
mix. To make a matte paint, add a little wax, and neat strokes, sand the brush tips down: dip the bristles in clay
for a shiny sheen, add a drop of resin. To thin diluted with water and leave to dry for 1–2 days, and then
your paint, add water or turpentine. The latter sand the ends of the brushes on a flat piece of pumice.
can be made by distilling (page 122) the resin
from softwood trees.

122 123
Gunpowder Materials Materials Gunpowder

SALTPETER

I
f you want to delight your friends, ignite fireworks to celebrate your But there are far more interesting applications for this powder. Ignition You can speed up the process with urine. Make a compost pile of manure, food scraps, straw and limestone. Cover with
victories or fight your enemies, you’ll need an explosive — gunpowder. cartridges, for example, can be used to power a rocket engine or an ejection It's a great raw material and a breeding topsoil to reduce gas leakage. During the decomposition process, ammonia
ground for the bacteria involved
When it burns, it quickly generates a lot of heat and gases that propel seat. in oxidizing ammonia. is released, which accumulates in the straw, where bacteria convert it to nitric
a rocket or push a bullet out of a gun barrel. acid. This reacts with the limestone to produce calcium nitrate.

After a year, soak the contents of the pile in water, and then add ash to the mix.
Calcium carbonate settles to the bottom, and potassium nitrate — saltpeter —
remains behind in the solution. Leave this solution to dry. Now the saltpeter
crystals are ready!

CHARCOAL
Find wood with a low resin content (beech, oak, aspen, alder or birch).
Place in a sealed clay or metal vessel. Add an exhaust pipe fitted with a water
trap to prevent dangerous fumes from escaping. Make a fire under it.
The charcoal for the gunpowder should be left slightly unburned —
but only slightly or the gunpowder will burn too slowly.

How does a powder

booster work?
Sulfur and charcoal burn
in the presence of oxygen, which
is produced by heating saltpeter.
This ensures that the gunpowder
burns evenly even in anaerobic
environments, releasing large
amounts of hot gases.
This is what propels
a rocket forward.

BRIMSTONE
If you are lucky enough to live near
a volcano, look around for sulfur
(a soft and brittle mineral with
a distinctive color ranging from
bright yellow to grayish yellow).
If pure sulfur is not available, find
sulfide ores (page 110). Take two pots. All you need to do is combine three
components in the right proportion.
These are sulfur (10–25%),
Make several holes in the bottom charcoal (15–25%)
of the upper pot and a drain tap and saltpeter (50–75%).
in the lower one. Place the ore into
Moisten with water and form into
the upper pot. Make a fire. Melted
cakes then dry and grind until
sulfur will flow into the lower pot you’re left with coarse grains.
and through the tap into whatever This is gunpowder.
vessel you have placed there.
Be careful! You don't want
the sulfurous fumes to ignite.

124 125
Oil Refining Materials Materials Oil Refining

OIL REFINERY

D
iscovery of oil will start new engines of your But oil is a double-edged sword — what improves Oil is a mixture of substances that can be separated into components, The lightest components with the lowest boiling temperatures rise to the top,
civilization, taking you into a new era. You will the quality of human life can also take a toll that is, fractions, using a rectifier (page 118). At the first stage, the oil enters while the heavy ones remain at the bottom. In the upper part of the column (9),
be able to move much faster — drive, fly, swim on the environment. Try to strike a balance so that the tube furnace (4) through pipes (3), where it is heated by burning gas (5) gasoline, which condenses at 50°C, is removed; then naphtha (10) at 100°C;
and conquer space and the depths of the oceans. in a few hundred years you won’t be trying to find to 450–500°C. At this temperature, it is no longer a liquid but a vapor. Through then (11) kerosene at 200°C; and in the lower section (12), fuel oil at 350°C.
ways to save the planet. the pipeline (6), it enters the fractionating column (7), where the oil vapors
are cooled by refrigeration units at the top (8).

Gasoline is highly flammable. Therefore, it can

be used as a fuel for an internal combustion engine 8 Naphtha can be used as a diesel fuel
(page 244). It is also a good solvent that can be or solvent. And at high temperatures
used for extracting various substances from plant it can turn into gasoline through
Oil is formed in deep sedimentary layers,
which can be reached by drilling. But there materials — for example, rosin (page 200). a process known as cracking.
are places where oil shoots from the ground 9
in geysers of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons. Oils can be used to lubricate machine parts, and tar If you soak paper in tar, you get
This natural gas is flammable. You will need can be used in construction. an excellent roofing material.
to combust it and use the heat during the oil
refinement process (page 118). And if you mix tar with sand and
gravel, you get asphalt (page 150)
Oil often leaks into bodies of water due to cover roads. Clean tar is suitable
to erosion, so you can often find oil sources
by the thin film on the surface of the water
10 for waterproofing, for example,
in reservoirs. Viscous liquid masses the skirting around houses (page 158).
that seep outward undergo further
biodegradation and oxidation
7
at the surface, eventually becoming thick
and resinous. This substance is natural
bitumen. It can be used in construction.
2
15

16
11

6
1

5
3 13 14

Kerosene burns just as well as gasoline but does

A B C D not explode as easily, so it’s a good fuel source
17
for lamps, burners or stoves, as well as turbojet
Of course, discovering a petroleum seep is nice. But not much oil can engines (page 224) or metal cutting and working
be extracted from the surface of the earth. More often, oil lies deep machines (page 144).
underground in natural pockets. To reach them, you need to drill a well OIL PUMP
and pump out the oil. You’ll need a giant drill (page 144) to create a deep hole When the piston moves from the bottom (A) upwards, a vacuum is created Fuel oil can be used to heat industrial furnaces
(2000–4000 meters or more) in the earth. It will have to be periodically raised in the lower part of the pump chamber and oil is sucked through the valve (B). and water boilers. Or you can choose not to burn
so you can clear the crushed rock from the bore hole. When the piston begins to move downwards, the suction valve closes under it, instead sending it through a pipeline for further
the pressure of the pumped liquid (C), and it begins to flow through the hollow refinement (13). The fuel oil is heated again
When you strike black gold, submerge the deep piston pump (1) into the well. channel of the piston and discharge valve into the lifting pipes (D). During in a tube furnace (14) and enters a fractionating
It will be driven by the pumpjack (2). It can work on any drive, from a steam the continuous operation of the pump, the oil pumped by it begins to fill column (15), where mineral oils (16) and tar (17)
5
engine to electricity. the internal volume of the lifting pipes and, as a result, is directed to the surface. can be extracted from it.

126 127
TOOLS
m u lt it o ol tools tools multitool

L
ife is unpredictable, and you never know what it might throw at you.
Things may break, tear, come loose or go awry in some unexpected ways.
A multitool will help you approach these problems from a different angle.
If you don’t know what tool to bring along with you, simply bring them all.

It takes a lot of tools to make one pair of boots.

You can’t cobble pieces together on a flat surface;
you need a model carved from wood. This will
allow you to give the shoes the desired shape.
Good boots only come from well-dressed leather
(page 78) — ox, buffalo, elk, alligator, even snake
or eel skin will do. In order to sew this thick, dense
material, you’ll first need to punch holes with
an awl or drill. Ordinary threads won’t do.
You’ll need thick, rough fibers made from hemp
or linen (page 54).

The sole can be made of durable rubber (page 116)

or several layers of thick leather soaked in glue
and pressed together (page 140). All that’s left
to do is attach the sole using copper nails and add
a tapered heel. There’s a reason they’re structured
this way. Tapered heels won’t get stuck inside
stirrups, allowing you to quickly dismount
from a horse without breaking your ankles.
And don’t forget to add a thick leather insole
to protect the bottom of your feet from injury.
Now your boots are ready! A pair like this
will last you a lifetime.

130 131
Measuring tools tools tools Measuring tools

VOLUME AND WEIGHT

T
he world created by nature is balanced and harmonious. But in order This means coming up with measurement conventions for various physical Take your unit of length — the meter — and divide it into
to maintain their own sense of harmony, humans need to agree qualities, such as time, length, mass and temperature. 10 equal parts. Form a clay vessel with a cube-shaped inner cavity
on a standard paradigm for viewing and understanding the world. with a width, height and depth of 1/10 of the length standard.
Fill the resulting cube-vessel with water, and you’ll have a unit
of volume, conventionally known as the liter. And the mass of this
volume of water will become a unit of mass — a standard kilogram.

TIME
You can measure time using constant natural processes, such as the rotation
of the planet around its axis. To build a sundial, take a flat circle and fix
in its center a pin, known as a gnomon, at a right angle. Angle this whole
dial so that the gnomon is parallel to the axis of rotation of your planet.
To determine what the axis of rotation is, find a fixed point in the sky at night
around which all the other stars revolve. Point your gnomon in this direction.
Place the gnomon standing up perpendicularly on a round dial then divide
the circle into any number of equal radial sections. One division will represent
one unit of time in your new system. Give it a name — for example, “hour.”
When the sun is at its highest point, the shadow of the gnomon indicates
the starting point for counting — noon. From this place, you need to divide
the circle into equal intervals: N hours in one direction, N in the other.
For practical purposes, it is better to divide the hour into smaller units.
The one drawback is that you can only tell the time during the day and TEMPERATURE
in clear weather. You can measure temperature with the help of a thermometer — You can calibrate the instrument using a simple two-point
a thin glass tube with a small glass bulb on one end. Fill the tube method by taking two set temperatures and dividing the distance
with mercury then pump out excess air and seal. When the bulb between them into 100 equal parts.
touches the object you’re measuring, the mercury expands and
rises up the tube, indicating the temperature of the object using
scale markers that run up the thermometer.

VERTICAL
Use a plumb line to determine the vertical.
Tie a load to the end of a rope. The gravity
of the earth is pulling towards the center of mass
of the planet, so your rope will always
be absolutely straight and vertical.

HORIZONTAL
WATCHES LENGTH For your buildings to be stable, they need to be level: the supports vertical,
At first, the sun and the rotation of the planet around its axis will help you So now you have a standard of time: a second. Using this, you can create and the ceilings horizontal. An easy way to build a horizontal line is with
measure time. But this device is not entirely accurate nor very convenient for a standard for measuring length. Make a pendulum: take a rope or, even better, a transparent tube of small diameter in the form of an arc of large radius.
measuring short periods of time. You’ll need a watch (page 166). For longer a thin rigid rod and attach a weight to one end. Pull it back slightly from Fill it with water tinted for better visibility. When the liquid level in both parts
periods of time, use units such as “week, “month” and “year,” consisting its equilibrium position and release. Adjust the length of the rope or rod of the semicircle of the tube is at the same height, the line connecting them
of an integer number of days. Make one year equal to the period of revolution so that one full swing — the time it takes to travel all the way back to the release will be strictly horizontal.
of the planet around the star. point — occurs in two seconds. The length of this pendulum is one meter.
You can subdivide this into smaller segments for ease of measurement.

132 133
wheel tools tools Wheel

THE STRUCTURE
OF THE WHEEL

T
he orbits of the planets, the seasons of the year, even history itself move If you’re reading this book, you probably already know that round objects roll If this is your first time making a wheel, start
in grand circles. The wheel of life keeps turning. With so many wheels more easily than square ones. But sometimes a civilization’s technological with a simple cartwheel design. The central part
all around us, there’s no need to reinvent one. regression can be so severe that they forget how to make a wheel by hand. of any wheel is the hub (1). This connects
the spokes (2) to the rim (3). The hub connects
the wheel to the shaft, which is what makes
the wheel turn. Already made a pair of wheels?
Connect them by running a shaft through the hub
of each. The wheels will now spin in sync. This is
the first step in making a transportation device.

1 2 3

I II

III V

BUILDING THE WHEEL

Making an even and round wheel with simple tools is not easy. However,
the challenge can be overcome. Even a square block can be whittled into a round
wheel. Glue several blocks of wood together into a rough circle (I), and then
whittle away all excess material (II). To keep the wheel from falling apart and
make it more wear resistant, wrap the outer edge of the wheel in a steel strip (III).
Heat up the steel rim before installing, then slip over the wheel and spray it with
cold water to cool it quickly (IV). This will cause the steel to shrink and hug
the wooden wheel underneath. If you add a rubber sheath with an inflatable
rubber tube inside, you can create a pneumatic tire (V). This will act as a shock
absorber, dampening any bumps in the road, and can be used on bicycles
(page 164) or other wheeled vehicles.

SPOKE LACING
Spokes allow you to reduce the weight of the final product without
compromising strength. They center the rim, redistribute the load evenly and
provide stiffness to the wheel. When the spokes are laced "crosswise," each
of them crosses one another from one to four times. "Compacting" the lacing
cross patterns and increasing the number of spokes improve the wheel's ability
to absorb vibration from the road. The greater the angle between the spoke
and the radius of the wheel at its mounting point, the more evenly the load
will be distributed. In a perfect wheel, it’s at a 90° angle.

134 135
Potter’s wheel Tools Tools Potter’s wheel

OPERATING TECHNIQUE 1 2 3

O
ne ancient legend states that God molded man from clay. But why As highly symmetrical beings themselves, humans have an inherent desire Right-handed potters spin counterclockwise;
clay? It’s easy to shape, widely available and retains its form after to make everything even. Of course, there are also practical reasons for this. lefies, clockwise.
it hardens. Perhaps God had his own, more symbolic reasons, The task of making a perfectly round clay pot is made significantly easier 1. Place the clay in the exact center of the turntable.
but this is why we value the material so highly. with the help of a potter’s wheel. Knead it by pushing the mass into the table with
the heel of your palm then folding it back over
itself. Repeat several times.
2. Begin rotating the wheel and, without stopping,
HOW IT WORKS use the tip of one thumb to create a dimple
The lower flywheel (1) turns the shaft (2), which holds the turntable in the middle of the clay lump. Use your
on top (3). The heavier the flywheel, the more even the rotation will be. dominant hand to shape the walls of the vessel
Use a dense wood or stone. To avoid having to turn the flywheel with your while the other wraps around the outside
4 5 6
feet, you need an external drive (7). This turns the wheels through the drive of the wall for support.
belt (6), transmitting the rotation to the shaft of the potter's wheel. In order 3. You can widen the base of your pottery,
to ensure constant movement, use a clutch disc (5) controlled by pressing if necessary. Put pressure on the inside wall
the pedal (4) to regulate the rotation of the turntable. of the cylinder, pushing it out from the center
and supporting the vessel with your other hand.
To narrow the vessel, use your outer hand
to press towards the center. Jiggering
is the process of shaping flatware, such
as plates. A similar technique, jollying, refers
to the production of hollowware, such as cups.
4. Work from the bottom up: Place the fingers
of one hand inside the vessel and provide
resistance from the other side with your other
hand. Slide your hands up, “lifting” the walls
7
of your pottery.
5. To smooth out your walls, use a scraper,
such as a thin metal plate, and wet the surface
of the vessel with a moist cloth.
6. When finished, remove the ware from
the wheel. To avoid damage, separate
the vessel from the turntable using
a thin metal wire.

1 5
THE CLAY DRYING AND FIRING
Dry the clay (red or white) collected in the quarry. Break it up into small pieces Place your pottery in the kiln. The most important part of the firing process
and cover with water. Wait until the clay has dissolved into the consistency is gradually changing the temperature without heating too rapidly, as this
of milk. Leave it for 10 minutes until the sand and other heavy particles have will cause cracks to form. Gradually raise the temperature to 1000°C —
settled to the bottom. Carefully pour the clay solution without residue into but no faster than 100 degrees an hour. If you heat it in a fire, place it in sand
another container. Wait a few hours until the clay has settled to the bottom. to avoid rapid heating. Firing will make your pottery strong and durable.
Then drain the water and put the clay into a plaster mold so that it absorbs
the excess moisture. When the clay is ready, it will not stick to your fingers
but will remain soft and yielding.
4

136 137
forging tools tools Forging

SHAPING BALANCING

T
he knife is the king of tools. It’s a universal weapon, at once a device The best material for making a knife is steel (page 240). In order to improve Blades have a complex shape. The crossguard (1) prevents the fingers An important characteristic of the knife is its balance, that is, its center
for stabbing, chopping and cutting. The main component — the quality of the metal, you’ll need to cast and shape it using a forge — from slipping from the handle onto the knife blade. It often takes the form of gravity. A shift of the center of gravity towards the tip increases
the blade — must undergo a series of trials, passing through both an oven that is able to rapidly reach very high temperatures. of a bar running perpendicular to the blade, which is sometimes curved the chopping properties of the knife and facilitates throwing. If it’s more
flame and water, each step only making it stronger. towards the blade. The handle may have a cross-haired surface for the thumb. towards the middle of the handle, it makes the blade a lot easier to handle
A deep groove (2) near the cutting edge (3) also protects against slippage. and maneuver. You can determine the center of gravity by balancing the flat
The handle, made of two wooden or bone plates, can simply be fit over side of the blade on one finger.
FORGE the top of the blade using screws. Or carve a hollow handle from a single
Melting metal requires extremely high temperatures. Bring piece of material, slide the blade in and then attach with glue or by driving
the heat with a forge. Make a fire-proof bowl for burning coal (1). thin wooden wedges into the space between the handle and the steel.
3
4 Place a nozzle (2) at the bottom to inject combustable air into
the system. To collect the volatile products of this combustion,
Knife blades can take many different forms.
make a cone hood (3) and connect it to the chimney (4). The bevel can be straight or concave, half
or a third of the length of the blade.

FORGING
A forged blade is more resilient than regular steel. Start with two
layers (I), one of hard carbon steel and one of soft, low carbon steel.
Heat in the forge and strike with a hammer (II). Fold in half, heat
again and strike. During this process, impurities in the steel are
removed and the layers are welded together. You can make even 2
more layers by folding it in half once again (III), reheating and
1 3
1 forging. As a result, the lower layers will move outward and
a pattern will appear on the blade. If there were 8 layers on
the initial blade, once it is reforged, there will be 16, and then 32,
64, and so on. The more layers, the higher the quality of the blade.
The optimal number is between 300 and 500 layers. This produces
a composite known as Damascus steel. To give the blade a zigzag
pattern, twist the plates into a spiral. One twist will produce steel
with a diagonal pattern (A), two will produce an angular
2 pattern (B), three will produce a zigzag (C).

TREATMENT
Grinding is finishing the blade to produce the desired size and
shape while removing any protrusions on the surface. Different
knife shapes are used for different purposes. A universal knife with
I II III
one cutting edge and one blunt edge is the easiest to manufacture.
The more rounded the blade, the better the knife will cut.

Polishing smooths out any remaining unevenness on the flat

sides of the blade. Use stones of varying coarseness: start with
the coarsest then work your way through to finer-grit stones.
For the final step, use iron oxide paste (page 110) mixed with
paraffin wax (page 84).

You’ll also need to sharpen the cutting edge of the blade.

A C You can use the same stones as you did for polishing. Find a stone
of the right coarseness and lubricate it with oil or soapy water
then run it across the cutting edge of the blade with smooth
movements, gradually removing excess metal. It’s important
B to maintain a consistent angle while sharpening the blade —
from 25–40 degrees. The angle may exceed 40 degrees for heavy
knives or axes designed for chopping bones or wood, as well
as for swords that break through armor.
Repeatedly heating the steel and then cooling it by plunging it into water Once the blade is cooled, it becomes much harder but loses some
hardens and fortifies the blade. Long, curved blades should not be immersed of its strength — hit it against stone and it will shatter. To avoid this, reheat
vertically but almost horizontally, with the tip down, and not in a barrel the blade for an hour, and then let it cool naturally.
but in a horizontal trough of corresponding length.

138 139
Glu e & d u ct tape Tools Tools Glue & duct tape

W
hat one man can create, another can break. Repairing such breaks Hunters and nomads make glue from the bones and sinews of wild animals
requires glue, which can be made using materials that we’d or cattle; seaside communities use fish scales; and those surrounded by forest
normally throw away. make it from conifers.

DUCT TAPE
Take a piece of cotton, linen or hemp
fabric, preferably with a rib weave.
This is produced by using one heavier
and one lighter gauge yarn, alternating
the weave so that the heavy yarn creates
a ribbed pattern across the fabric. Fabric
with this weave tears easily in one
direction but is much harder to tear
in the other. Cut the fabric into long
strips and apply glue to one side.
Now, your “tape” is ready to use.

You can never have enough tape! Make an adhesive

applicator so that you’ll have a steady supply. Wrap a strip
of cloth around a bobbin and run it through two metal rollers.
Place a container of glue under one of them. When the handle
is turned, the roller picks up the glue and evenly applies it
to the underside of the cloth as it passes through.

THE PROCESS PINE RESIN GLUE

Crush your animal bones and cartilage and finely The collagen will gradually turn into a jelly-like Cut a shallow incision in the trunk of a pine tree and resin
chop any sinews, ligaments and pieces of skin. Pour substance. This glue can be dried and crushed into will come out. Melt it until it becomes a liquid. Be careful —
some water over this gory mixture and let it boil pellets. When you need to glue something together, pine resin is flammable. The best way to melt it is in a double
for a few hours on a low heat. Do the same if using all you have to do is rehydrate it in a small quantity boiler or hot water bath. Add some ash from the stove
the scales leftover after cleaning a fish. The adhesive of hot water. If you’re using the glue for carpentry, or pulverized charcoal from a fire. Apply the resulting mixture
that is created by prolonged boiling of animal book binding, casts, etc., glue made from animal to whatever surface you want to glue and let it harden again.
connective tissue is known as “animal glue.” hides or fish scales will suffice. If you need a more
When the mixture begins to boil, filter it first serious adhesive, you’d better use glue made from A good way to save this kind of glue is by dipping a stick into
through a coarse sieve and then through a fine cloth. bones and cartilage — it contains more collagen. the liquid glue and letting it solidify. When you need to use it,
Wait until the liquid cools. all you have to do is heat the end of the stick to make
the adhesive soft again.

140 141
Welding Tools Tools Welding

ELECTRIC WELDING MACHINE

W
hen two metal parts are welded together, You can also weld metal using electricity by creating an electric arc.
the atoms of both intermingle. As a result, In this case, electrical energy is converted into heat. The heart of the electric
the parts are essentially fused into one piece welding machine is a powerful step-down transformer (9) (page 197),
with a connecting seam. To achieve this, the metal parts which lowers the voltage and increases the current. Two coils are placed
must be heated to extremely high temperatures in the transformer to regulate the current. The primary (10) is made from
and even partially melted. This can be done a thinner wire with a large number of turns, while the secondary (11) 15
in different ways. is made from a thick wire with fewer turns. These coils are installed
on a closed magnetic circuit (12) made of iron plates. Using a rotary
handle (16), you can bring them closer together or farther apart,
thereby adjusting the welding current.

13
16

7 5
1

11
3
12 10

14 9

4
7

GAS WELDING
An oxy/gas flame burner generates very high Pour the resulting calcium carbide into a metal In the burner (5), the gas is mixed with oxygen
temperatures, especially if you use a gas with container (1) with two compartments: one from the cylinder (6) and ignited. What you’re
a high combustion temperature in oxygen. containing water (2), and the other, carbide (3). left with is a burner flame. Use valves (7) to adjust
One of the best options in this regard is acetylene. When water enters the compartment with carbide the height of the flame and the ratio of acetylene
To obtain it, you first need to get calcium carbide: through a tube (4), a chemical reaction will occur to oxygen in the fuel. To make the seam even and To weld a seam, connect the primary coil to the electric current and one end Touching the electrode to the workpiece (15) will close the electrical circuit.
heat limestone at a high temperature, and then and acetylene will be formed, which will then be strong, use a welding wire (8). The molten metal of the secondary coil to the welding rod holder, the electrode (13) and the other This heats up the end of the electrode. After that, move the electrode back from
calcine (heat to a high temperature without fusing) forced back into the water chamber by the pressure. will fill in the irregularities, creating an even weld. to the part that needs to be welded (14). When the secondary circuit is closed the part by around 3–5 mm. This produces an arc of electrical discharge, heating
the resulting calcium oxide (quicklime) with coal If the pressure inside is too high, the acetylene will or broken between the electrode and the metal surface of the part, an extremely the piece to extreme temperatures until it starts to melt. The end of the electrode
in a furnace. also displace water from the reaction zone. hot electric arc is produced. will also begin to melt, filling the gaps in the weld (15).

142 143
M ills, D r il ls & Lat hes Tools Tools Mills, Drills & Lathes

LATHE

L
athes, drills and milling machines are three fundamental and crucial This machine has a sturdy base (1), which holds the spindle — a rod equipped
machine tools for the Industrial Revolution workshop. A set with a device (2) for securing the workpiece (3). The spindle rotates
of interchangeable gear wheels connecting a lead screw and chisel the workpiece along its axis, and the cutting tool mounted on the tool post (4)
tips of different shapes will allow you to produce parts with a high level is moved along the length of the workpiece using the handwheel (5). Changing
of technical precision. Now you can develop all spheres of production. the cutting depth of the tool allows you to create the profile of the workpiece.
Optionally, a drill bit can be mounted in the tailstock (8) to bore-out
the workpiece.

1. Cast iron base — absorbs vibration well

2. Spindle — for holding one side of the workpiece in place
3. Workpiece — the item being shaped
4. Tool post — the solid surface on which the cutting tool rests
5. Handwheel — moves the tool post along the length of the workpiece
6. Belt drive — transmits rotation from the motor to the spindle
7. Gearbox — changes the speed of rotation of the shaft for working with parts
made from soft or hard metal
8. Tailstock — holds the other end of the workpiece firmly in place

Lathes are used for making radially symmetric A milling machine holds the workpiece still A drilling machine can bore holes in different
items. The workpiece rotates at high speed while and uses a rotary cutter to remove material materials of various diameters. For drilling small
excess material is removed using a cutting tool from the surface. It’s capable of filing, polishing, holes in wood, you can make a hand- or foot-
running along the side. This is a versatile machine engraving and carving fine details in practically operated drill. For drilling through metal, you need
that is suitable for a variety of applications, from any design. But to make one, you need a rotating a more powerful drive such as, for example, a water
the finest of watch gears to parts weighing cutting piece made of very hard metal. wheel (page 234).
hundreds of tons.

5
CUTTER
The cutting piece of the drill must be sharpened at an angle to effectively Different drill bit designs serve different functions:
remove layers of metal. It must be made of hardened carbon steel (page 138)
6 7
with a carbon content of 0.7–1.3%. This kind of steel doesn’t dull easily. • A circular bit (1) is used for drilling holes
with a large diameter. The cutting edge is either
lined with soldered teeth made from a hard
alloy or has a diamond chip plating. These
kinds of drill bits will serve you for a long time, 2 4 3 8
but if they overheat, you’ll no longer be able
to sharpen them.

• Brad point bits (2, 3) are the more modern

version of the circular bit and are externally 5
threaded like a screw to remove excess material
from the drill hole.

• Conical bits (4) make holes of different sizes.

The shape of the hole depends on the diameter
of the upper and lower parts of the cone, 1
as well as on the bit’s penetration depth into
the material.

• Twist bits (5, 6, 7) have two long grooves that

spiral around the bit and remove cut material
from the drill hole while drilling.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

144 145
BUILDING
Bricks & cement Building Building Bricks & cement

CEMENT MORTAR
Making mortar is a lot like mixing dough. First, a mixture of 75% limestone

B
uilding your civilization brick by brick is not as difficult as it may and 25% clay is sintered in a kiln at a high temperature and then cooled.
4
sound. In fact, it’s a very simple and cost-effective building material. The resulting granules of clinker are mixed with a small quantity of gypsum.
All you need is clay and heat. But not just any clay will work — Add water and sand and your cement is ready. All that’s left to do is build your 2
it needs to be compacted and slightly frozen. The best time to harvest brick wall using the mortar to stick everything together. After a few days,
clay is in the fall, but if you have a strong need for bricks the solution will harden and become water-resistant, meaning that
in the spring, fear not: You can achieve the same effect the structure won’t wash away after the first rain. 8
by weathering or carefully kneading the clay 1
for a long time.
9

Don’t forget to stamp your special insignia

into your bricks before firing. That way,
everyone will know who to contact for such
excellent craftsmanship.

MOLDING 5
Mixing clay with a stick or your feet is a long and arduous process. Better to build Drying takes about a week. If you don’t take the time to dry your bricks fully, steam
a pugmill — a flat-bottomed, circular mixing chamber with a weighted paddle may cause them to crack during the firing process. When building a frame, keep You can also chop straw into short pieces and add
6
attached to some sort of pulling force. Once the clay is mixed, you will need in mind that the brick shrinks by 10–15% in the kiln. this, other fibrous plants or dried manure to your
to shape it. The most convenient way to do this is laying the clay out on a table, bricks. These additives fortify and improve
slicing through it with a wire and laying it in wooden frames. the thermal insulation of your building materials.
But beware: These bricks won’t last as long as fired
bricks, as they’ll disintegrate faster in the rain.
FIRING
The best way to stack bricks in the kiln is in a herringbone pattern so that Ceramic bricks go through an entire cycle of firing.
the warm smoke will envelop each brick, and the whole batch will dry evenly. They have low water absorption, so they’re frost
This process may take up to twelve hours. Then you’ll need to crank up the heat resistant and hold onto heat well. Unfortunately, Use a hollow tube to create grooves in the brick
and fire the bricks. they’re also quite brittle. during the molding process. This will reduce
the overall weight of the brick, thereby reducing
Regulate the temperature by observing Clinker bricks are obtained from a mixture the overall load on the foundation. These bricks
the color of the material: of refractory clay (kaolin) and feldspar fired are also three times more effective at trapping heat.
Dull red glow — 450–500°С at higher temperatures (1100–1300°C). Sawdust can also be added to produce the same 1. Inner part of the wall, composed 6. Cement foundation
Dark red — 600–650°С At these heats, the brick liquifies and fuses together, effect. During firing, the sawdust shavings of two interlaced layers of bricks 7. Blind area, a waterproofing strip
Cherry red — 700°С completely eliminating any defects or air bubbles. burn away, leaving pores that improve 2. Thermal insulation made of felt laid at the junction of the wall
Red-orange — 850°С These bricks do not absorb water and are extremely thermal insulation. 3. Anchor that holds the inside and foundation
Yellow — 950–1000°С strong, durable and frost resistant. and outside of the wall together 8. Cornice
White — 1200°С!
4. Outer brick facade, composed 9. Floor beam
of a single layer
Raw brick is not fired but dried in the open air. The more bricks in the wall, the wider and more stable it is. But there’s a clever 5. Floor joists offer horizontal structural
If you use the right kind of clay and dry it well, way to conserve your bricks. Make the wall curvy. Even if you only lay one row support and transfer the load
it will serve just as well as a red fired brick. of bricks, it will be more stable than a flat wall. to vertical structural elements
You won’t be able to build skyscrapers, but it’ll
do for a small building.

Adobe brick is a raw brick fortified with INSULATION FOUNDATION

another material: straw, sawdust or manure. The cold and biting wind of a harsh winter rolling in will always be a problem, Load-bearing walls don’t rest directly on the ground but rather on a foundation
Retains heat well. no matter how thick you build your brick wall — unless you use insulation. that redistributes the load. It is made of concrete or reinforced concrete
To do this, make a brick sandwich using two layers of bricks as bread with (page 158). Waterproof the wall and foundation and cover the area with
a layer of felt, sheep’s wool, pressed flax, peat or hemp as filling. Make sure earth. Without a waterproofing strip, the wall will become damp and mold
the wall cavity has a little ventilation; otherwise, the insulation material inside will develop.
will get wet and rot.

148 149
Roads Building Building Roads

ASPHALT CONCRETE

A
dvancing civilization requires building public infrastructure. To make the road surface smooth, use asphalt concrete,
And first on the list is roads. No state can exist for long without a well- a multi-component mixture that, when cooled, forms
developed road system. Roads help reduce labor and transportation a wear-resistant and moisture-proof coating. The basis
costs, settle new areas and grow the economies in towns along the route. of the mixture is crushed stone and gravel, stone
They also facilitate cultural exchange, which can be a treasure more valuable chips and sand. Mix this with bitumen, a tar-like
than gold. product of oil oxidation. It should make up 5–7%
of the total volume. You can find bitumen in tar
sands, which are a natural conglomerate of sand,
water, clay, minerals and bitumen. To extract
the bitumen, you need to pour a lot of hot
water into the conglomerate, add an alkaline
component and mix thoroughly. The bitumen
particles will separate and rise to the surface. Before
mixing, bitumen must be heated to a liquid state
at a temperature of 140–170°C. If you need to make road
repairs down the line, simply crumble and reheat the existing
material, then re-roll on top. You can also lay roads by mixing
tar extracted during oil refinement with sand and gravel (page 126).

Asphalt is prepared at a temperature of 140–170°C and must be laid

while still in its liquid state. That’s why your asphalt production center
will have to be located near your construction site.

If the mixture cools prematurely, it will be very difficult to pack down,

and the road will be brittle. To ensure that the mixture is distributed evenly
across the surface, weigh a giant barrel down with sand and use it like
a rolling pin.

WOODEN PAVEMENT
If you find yourself lacking in stone and sand, you
can use wooden pavements instead. Lay planks
of pine or spruce across a path like floorboards.
Paths like this will last 20–30 years. Planks and
small bridges made from wood will help you
traverse swampy wetlands.

CROSSWALK
To mark out the path of your future road, use a vertical staff with two horizontal Next is a layer of large stones to act as a drainage layer. Then come several layers To better control traffic, you’ll want to make sure that all your pedestrians
cross-pieces mounted on top. Hang small weights from threads, also known of crushed granite: the mid-sized pieces followed by the finest layer on top. are crossing the street in the same place. Create crosswalks using stones that
as plumb bobs, from each of the four ends of the cross bar. Place the staff firmly This ensures that any voids formed in the lower layer will be filled in by protrude slightly above the main roadway. This way, pedestrians can cross
into the ground over the starting point of your road. Align two of the threads, the smaller stones, creating a denser and sturdier foundation. But don’t mix the street without fear of getting their feet wet or muddy in the rainy season.
or plumb lines, with your line of sight in the direction you want the road different grades of gravel in one layer, which instead will lead to resettling and Spread the stones out so that the gaps between them correspond to the width
to travel. When you reach an intersection, use the other two plumb lines sinkholes. Cover this base with paving stones. Large cobblestones should be GUTTERS of the wheelbase of vehicles in your city. This type of crosswalk will also help
to mark perfectly perpendicular lines. After marking out the course and width shaved down on the edges so that they fit tightly together. Fill the gaps between Water erosion is a road’s worst enemy, so you’ll need to dig drainage gutters. regulate traffic and prevent drivers from violating traffic rules, which will make
of the road, dig a deep trench. It’s important that you dig deep enough to reach the stones with fine gravel or cement mortar (page 148). Make the roadbed slightly convex so that water will drain to the sides and into your roads safer for pedestrians. Elevate and separate the sidewalk from
rocky ground or at least a harder layer of soil. Next, lay the foundation of your these gutters, which flow first to storm drains then into underground pipes the main roadway to create a curb, which will not only protect pedestrians
road like a layer cake. The base is a cushion of compacted sand. connected to the main sewer line (page 156). from collisions but also prevent soil from washing onto the paved part.

150 151
Arches & Bridges Building Building Arches & Bridges

4
1

W
hen there’s a choice between beauty and reliability, architects often They can support the load of huge, vaulted ceilings much better than straight There are compression forces acting on the curve, but stone
favor the latter to ensure that their works will last for centuries. beams. The secret is in the way the design evenly distributes weight. Arches withstands compression well. The arch does have one structural
But you can avoid sacrificing aesthetics by incorporating arches enable you to implement the most incredible designs and erect structures weak point: The force at the bases is directed horizontally.
into your design. Arches are not only beautiful; they’re also sturdy. as lofty as your aspirations. It tends to push the support pillars apart, causing the arch
to collapse inwards.

Therefore, an arch bridge needs very resilient pillars that

will hold the bridge's weight and resist horizontal collapse.
But how do you build a pillar smack dab in the middle
of a large body of a flowing river? You’ll need to temporarily
pump the water out around the area where you’re building.
2
The sturdiest design is known as a catenary arch. You can construct Start by driving long, narrow posts called piles (1) into
one without any mathematical calculations or complicated the ground using a large hammer called a piledriver.
blueprints. All you need is a chain or a rope. The chain will sag Use thin, sheet-like piles fitted together to make a watertight
under its own weight and form a catenary curve. Take a photo chamber, and then pump the water out (2). You can achieve
of it or sketch it, flip it upside down and you have a design sketch this using a water wheel driving a pump (page 234).
for your future arch.
Once the water is pumped out, workers can enter the box
A catenary arch can withstand the weight of the material from to build the foundation. Once the foundation is set,
which it is constructed without collapsing. The catenary is the ideal 3 the pillars can be built on top. The pillars should be shaped
curve for an arch of uniform density and thickness that only has into a point towards the direction of the flow of the water,
to support its own weight. The reason they’re so sturdy is because like the bow of a boat. This way, they’ll reduce water
they redirect the vertical force of gravity into compression force resistance and break through blocks of ice during the cold
along the arch's curve. You can modify the curve design to bear months. This underwater construction technology can also
a larger load by hanging sandbags from the rope in the places be used to build dam locks and support structures
where you’re planning additional structural elements. for underwater pipelines.

CABLE-BRACED BRIDGES ARCH BRIDGES

Arches are also essential in the construction of large bridges. To build an arch, you need a special support frame, known
They can replace the pylon — a vertical pole to which one or more as shoring. In this case, it takes the form of a semi-circle
cables are attached to support the horizontal roadway of the bridge. forming a relief of the bridge. The stones you use should
The roadway itself may also take the form of an arch. be wedge-shaped to fit tightly into a curve. As soon
as all of the pieces are in place on both sides, insert
the last “keystone” piece in the center (4). It locks
the arch into place, balancing the lateral expansion
of the curved slab and making the entire
structure stronger.

After the keystone has been laid, the shoring can

be removed, as the arch is held in place by its own
weight. Now you can reinforce the sides with
several layers of stones and add a cobblestone
or asphalt road over the top.

152 153
Roofing & tiles Building Building Roofing & tiles

FRAME
The foundation of the roof is its frame. Nail together
logs and planks to create the desired shape. Make

O
nce you possess the technology to make flammable material Even turf will work: blanket your roof and collect bouquets in the summer the sheathing — the part where you lay the shingles.
fireproof and transform a brittle material into something as strong by simply leaning out of the window. What’s most important is that you The frame must withstand the weight of both
as steel, you’ll be able to make a reliable roof out of anything: correctly calculate the load and the angle of the slope. the roof itself and the snow. If you decide to utilize
reed, birch bark, slate, wood. this space by making a flat roof, then it will have
to stand up to summer barbecues, swimming pools
and all the other attributes of a happy life.
TILES THATCHING
Clay used for tiles shouldn’t be too greasy or gritty. There’s a good test to make A thatched clay roof is cheap and easy to make. But it’s also very heavy, so it’s better Position the rafters so that the weight of the roof
sure your material is sufficiently elastic: A lump of clay thrown on the floor to work on a frame. You can also add additional supports and cover both sides is evenly distributed between the walls of the house
should flatten out like dough, without cracking. Spread the clay in rows of the roof at the same time to avoid overloading the rafters. and the additional support beams. Make sure
on the ground and let it sit for at least a year. The clay should get wet when the lower ends of the rafters rest on a well-anchored
it rains in the fall, freeze in winter and thaw in the spring. The more times this beam to distribute the load from the roof.
happens, the better the material will be. Before sculpting, the clay must be
soaked for 2–3 days then thoroughly rinsed (make a pugmill from
Don't forget to add a lightning rod and a drain.
a wooden barrel or a box containing iron knives attached to an axle). Gargoyles will protect the roof from being
destroyed by the rains.

To make sure your tiles are all identical, make a special frame — a shallow container with Dig two pits then line the bottom and sides with wooden planks. Fill the bottom
a movable part that will slice off excess clay and give the desired shape. Flat tiles are the easiest of the first with layers of oily clay, around 130–150 mm thick. Pour water over
to produce, but curved tiles provide better protection from water and are able to withstand
the clay between each layer (2 parts water to one part clay). Let sit for 6 hours then
stronger gusts of wind.
stir. Pour the resulting clay mortar into the second pit (in a 10 cm-thick layer).
Tie threshed straw into small bundles. Lay the first layer of sheaves across
the bottom of the hole then lay the second on top facing the opposite direction.

Pour another layer of mortar and stamp it in with your feet so that the straw
is completely saturated. Repeat until the pit is filled to the top with sheaves.
The last layer should be mortar. Place boards on top, weigh them down with stones
and leave to soak for three days. Position sheaves along the edges of the pit to drain
off excess clay solution. Oddly enough, thanks to the clay, your roof will also be
fire resistant.

Poke a hole in each tile so you can fasten it to the roof sheathing with a nail.
Dry the shingles for 10 days and bake them in an oven at a high temperature.
To improve water repellency, coat the tiles with a glazing solution before firing:
dry an oily red clay (a natural clay with a high iron content) and grind into
a powder then dilute with water until it reaches a thick, milky consistency.
After firing, the tiles will turn red.
The bones of the roof are the rafters (1). On top of this is the underlay and sheathing (2)
on which the covering is attached — for example, tiles or straw. From the bottom, the cells
Shingles are laid in an overlapping pattern starting at the bottom so that the end product
formed by the underlay are filled with insulation (3) such as sheep wool. The lower ends
resembles scales. This technique prevents leaks in the roof. The slope of a tiled roof should be
of the rafter legs (4) rest on the wallplate (5). This beam serves to tie the roof to the walls.
at least 25° (otherwise, the water will drain poorly) but no more than 60°.
The foundation beam runs along the entire length of the roof (6) and redistributes the load
of the roof to the roof supports. The ridge (7) closes the joint between the slopes.

7
2
2 1 3 Lay the sheaves from the overhang (1) to the ridge (2). Place the sheaf 1
on the batten (3), untie and straighten. Overlap the second sheaf on top
of the first, then the third on top of the second and so on until you reach
the end of the row. Attach the straw to the batten using iron rods. Smooth
with a rake every 3–4 rows and pour clay solution over the top. Nail two poles
4
to either side of the ridge (2) and use them to hook the sheaves on the last row,
which should form a gutter.

3 6 5

154 155
su p ply & se wag
Wat er e Building Building Water supply & sewage

A
good house is more than just four walls, sturdy doors and a reliable This means having a well-thought-out sewage system. If you don’t Providing your home with heat and water might take some creative thinking — Pipes carrying the hot water run underneath the floor, warming it up and
roof. The commode is, among other things, a place of contemplation, (quite literally) get your shit together, it may leak into the soil and combine everything into one system! A tank on the roof accumulates rainwater heating the house in the process. Don't be in too much of a rush to vent your
where we sit and solve the world’s most pressing problems. contaminate nearby water sources. You don’t want your lack of foresight that can then be heated using a woodfire stove below the house. chimney fumes — excess heat energy from the stove and fireplace can also
So a warm and inviting washroom is a necessity in any civilized home. to cause the next epidemic! be channelled through the pipes as another source of hot water!

HAND WASHING BASIN

A cylindrical vessel with an opening at the bottom,
into which a drainage valve (1) is inserted, which
closes the drain. Press the back of your hand
against the flap from underneath and the flap rises,
allowing water to flow out.

3 1

CISTERN
2 Works using a hydraulic accumulator. The tank
is equipped with an auto-fill system consisting 1. Water collection
4 of a rocker arm with a bob (2) at one end and 2. Tank filling valve
a valve (3) at the other. When the tank is filled 3. Hot water tank
with water, the bob rises and the rocker moves 4. Jacuzzi
and closes the valve of the supply pipe. 5. Boiler
2 6. Pipe access for repairs
The drainage system consists of a handle (4) 7. Floor heating system
3 connected to a plug (5). When the handle is lifted,
the plug is pressed firmly against the drain hole
and keeps the water in the tank. When the handle You'll need to install
is lowered, the plug is lifted up and water rushes a waste storage facility
5 into the toilet. somewhere far from
your home and any
water sources. When
6 it's full, the top layer
of waste must not reach
the level of the outlet
pipe, so as to avoid
TOILET 4
backup. Collected
The toilet is made of a bowl (6) and a trap (7), waste can be used
an S-shaped bend in the outlet pipe. The water as a way to produce
layer inside acts as a seal, preventing air (that is, saltpeter (page 124)
unpleasant odors) from entering the room from or biofuel (page 90).
the sewer. 5

Sewer pipes can be made of wood. Sequoia will serve for a very long time.
Create a flexible structure with short pieces of wood that are secured together
with rings and hardwood dowels. Coat the joints with hot animal fat or resin. 7 6

156 157
ced concret
Reinfor e Building Building reinforced concrete

A
rchitecture as a science emerges at the very moment when a builder's
sky-high ambitions meet the physical limitations of the materials
available. Concrete and steel can significantly expand the horizon
of possibilities. Only when you combine the two can you start building
structures as lofty as your aspirations.

CONCRETE
Mix cement, sand, gravel and water. If you use Portland cement (page 158)
as a base, the concrete becomes even more resistant to cold and moisture.
Portland cement is made by mixing clinker and gypsum (which should
compose around 2–3% of the final product). Clinker is produced by sintering
(fusing the elements together without completely liquifying) a mixture
of 75% limestone and 25% clay at 1300–1450°C.

REBAR
Cross girders and other construction elements exposed to flexural stress
are constantly acted on by the opposing forces of compression and tension.
Thus, you’ll need a frame made from metal rods. Assemble a grid of steel rods
in the desired shape then pour concrete over the top. You’ll end up with
a reinforced concrete beam that resists both compression and tension.

FORMWORK
To create huge monolithic slabs, you need a formwork — a temporary You can make separate slabs of rebar and concrete in advance. All you need
to do at the construction site is assemble them like building blocks into your final
or permanent mold used for cement. Place the rebar frame and pour your
structure. The resulting concrete box must then be insulated and connected to utilities
concrete. The reinforced concrete will be more durable if you tamp
(page 156). Just don’t forget to lay a foundation first. This is a load-bearing
the concrete down firmly. The rebar can be pre-stretched so that when support structure that evenly distributes the weight of the building. In most cases,
Concrete holds up well under compression but cracks easily
the concrete hardens, the rebar compresses the material, making it even the foundational layer capable of withstanding such loads is buried deep beneath
under tension. Steel rods have tremendous tensile strength
but bend easily. Combine the two into reinforced concrete sturdier. Wait until the mixture is fully solidified before removing the formwork. the ground. So while a relatively shallow foundation may suffice for low-rise buildings,
to create a supermaterial that holds up well under both. This is how a building is constructed — floor by floor, from bottom to top. you’ll need a deep pile foundation for high-rise buildings.

158 159
MECHANICS
Gear & Rolling mill Mechanics Mechanics Gear & Rolling mill

ROLLING MILL

E
ngines convert the energy from burning fuel into the to and fro What if you need a piece to be at a certain angle or you need to change In a gear train, the driving gear engages the teeth of the driven gear and transfers Thanks to the fact that gears can increase torque as they transfer motion,
movement of pistons that is then converted into rotation of a shaft. the speed of rotation without changing the running speed of the motor? torque. Spur gears (1) can change the rotation speed of the shaft. To do this, they can be used to create a useful tool called a rolling mill. Running steel
An electric motor produces rotation directly. But how can you transfer For this, you’ll need gears — metal discs with intermeshing teeth. the gears must have a different radius. If the driven gear has fewer teeth than (either hot or cold) between rollers can make a thinner metal sheet or shape
this motion down the line while increasing the torque, using it to power, say, the driving gear, the rotation speed will increase, while if it has more, the speed a bar, such as for a train track. This operation replaces hammer-and-anvil
a large machine? will decrease, creating a corresponding increase in the torque. Bevel gears (2) forging for the efficient mass production of steel. A rack-and-pinion will help
transfer rotational energy at an angle. Worm drives (3) are used to significantly you cut the rolled steel sheet by making it easier to lift the guillotine blade.
increase the torque, while rack and pinion gears (4) are needed to convert Gravity will take care of the rest after you trigger the release lever (8).
rotational energy into forward momentum.
2
3
Gears can take many different forms, so try to come up with your own type of gear
to solve whatever problems you have at hand.

1
8

6
4

5
7

GEAR PUMP
Gears can be used to create a reliable and relatively simple fluid pump.
This assembly can pump highly viscous substances such as oil or even molten
glass (page 114).

The pump consists of two gears mounted in a sealed casing. It is important

that their teeth mesh tightly with each other and that the gaps between
the walls of the housing and the gears are minimal. As the gears rotate,
they create a void on the intake side of the pump, which is filled with fluid.
The gears carry the fluid to the discharge side, where the gears once again mesh
together, displacing the fluid and forcing it out the pipe.

1. Spur gears 6. Roll assembly

2. Bevel gears 7. Guillotine blade It takes a lot of effort to cut through dense material with a guillotine knife. This work
3. Worm drive 8. Guillotine release lever can be facilitated with the help of a gear, a rack and a release lever. The lever will transfer
4. Rack and pinion 9. Rolling mill press drive the force to the transmission, which converts the rotational movement into translational
5. Rollers movement, the blade will drop and the knife edge will produce a straight cut!

162 163
Bicycles Mechanics Mechanics Bicycles

BELL SHOCK ABSORBERS

S
ome inventions happen naturally, as if spontaneously willing By connecting two wheels to a solid frame and throwing on a chain A bell will warn people of your impending approach. When you pull down The wheels hold the entire weight of your body and the bike. A few minutes
themselves into existence, such as the wheel. Others require and a couple of pedals, you’re left with a fun and efficient vehicle suitable on the trigger, it grabs the teeth of a gear with its serrated edge. This sets into on the road and you’ll start feeling the bumps throughout your whole body.
a chain of happy accidents to come into being. But for the most part, for both transporting heavy cargo and carrying friends in tow. Using motion a pair of spinning metal discs attached to the base. These then hit Springs under the seat turn a bone rattler into a comfortable bike. Add a pair
discovery is a long, uphill road illuminated only by brief flashes of insight. the basic principles behind its design, you can also come up with a variety the metal casing covering the mechanism, generating a loud sound. of inflatable tires onto your wheels and you’ll have an all-terrain vehicle. Find
of other helpful devices and even start generating electricity. Don’t forget the spring to return the lever to its place so the bell a tight rubber hose and fill it with air. Create a threaded nipple in the hose
will be ready for the next unwary pedestrian. so that you can screw on a pump and refill tires with air when necessary.

4 2

5 1 5

1. Base for pair of metal discs 4. Pair of metal discs Steel spokes connect the wheel rim to the rotating hub in the center
Frame — Just like with a human skeleton, This iron horse is perfect for tournaments and races. If the rider is prone to wearing long, flowy skirts, 2. Serrated edge of the lever 5. Trigger of the wheel. They need to be evenly distributed around the circumference
3. Cogwheel
everything rests on the frame. It can be made But keep in mind that all the bumps in the road you might want to consider making the frame of the wheel and fastened tightly.
from wood or metal. A frame in the shape of two will be transmitted directly through the rider’s arms curved so that it’s easier for the stylish cyclist to sit
connected triangles will be very rigid, making and will be absorbed by the body, so don’t forget down.
the bike easy to control. to equip the bike with shock absorbers.

Brakes — One part you definitely

don’t want to miss. Attach a clamp
with brake pads to the wheel rim
so the pads are hugging the wheel.
Run a cable from the brakes
to a handle on the handlebars.

When you squeeze the brake

lever, the cable pulls up and the pads
clamp together on the wheel rim.
The resulting friction causes the wheel
to stop spinning, and the bike slows
to a stop.

Chain drive — The heart of any bike. Riding a bike is like

The pedals act as levers that rotate going through life:
a shaft with a large gear. This gear To maintain your
is connected by a chain drive to balance, you have
a smaller gear on the rear wheel axle. to keep moving.
Moreover, the higher
This wheel provides the driving force, the speed, the easier it
setting the bike in motion. The front will be to control.
wheel is for steering.

164 165
Timepieces Mechanics Mechanics Timepieces

MECHANICAL CLOCKS
A simple clock design uses the swing of a pendulum (1) to provide consistent The gears are arranged to precisely count the swings of the pendulum and turn
timing. On each swing, the pendulum triggers the toothed pallet fork (2) the clock hands (8) so that the hour hand completes one complete rotation
to release the escape wheel (3) to turn by one tooth. Gravity gradually lowers in 12 hours and the minute hand sixty times faster.

I
t’s difficult to have an objective view of the passage of time. Depending the weight (4) and rotates the axle (5) through the gears (6). This mechanism
on one's current life circumstances, time either drags on or rushes past. regulates the rotation of the gear chain (7).
Keeping track of the ticking of seconds and the chiming of hours will help
establish communication between people and teach them to negotiate, plan
The clink of the pallet touching the escape wheel is the source
the future together and remember the past. of the familiar ticking sound.
2
6
3
6 6

6
5

7
8

SPRING
To make the mechanism more compact, use a spring as an energy source
instead of a pendulum and weight system. Use a thin coiled strip of annealed
brass or hardened steel (page 138). When you wind a watch, you’re
tightening this spring. The energy released as it gradually unwinds sets
the watch mechanism in motion.

The main elements of a clock are the wheel train,

the escapement, the balance wheel and the clock
face and hands. For any mechanism to work WATER CLOCK
properly, it needs an energy source. In this clock, Take a glass flask and make marks along the side in the unit of measurement
weights connected to a chain supply this energy. of your choosing. Water will drip from the upper vessel into the lower one,
As the weights are pulled down by gravity, gradually increasing the water level and indicating how much time has passed,
they rotate the gears of the wheel system. which can then be read on the scale. True, some of the water will evaporate,
The pendulum, which oscillates at a regular which will skew the readings slightly, an effect that is especially noticeable on hot
tempo, acts as a stroke regulator. sunny days. This just means you have to calibrate the drip rate from time to time.

166 167
Cranes Mechanics Mechanics Cranes

PULLEYS

T
o lift a heavy load to great heights, you’ll need a crane, but in order A system of pulleys helps to lift loads using a force at least half that Using a movable pulley that rises with the load (8) reduces the amount
to build that crane, you’ll need another crane. But fear not, of the load's weight. A pulley is a simple mechanical device, a wheel with of force needed, thereby increasing the mechanical advantage, since part
this paradox has a solution! The crane can build itself. a groove around its circumference. The groove is designed to hold a rope, of the weight of the load is carried by the fixed end of the rope. In fact, levers
belt or chain. A single fixed pulley attached at the top of the jib reverses work using the same principle. Attaching the end of the rope to a second
6 the direction of force, allowing you to pull down on the rope, which pulley (9) triples the mechanical advantage due to the redistribution
is much easier than lifting (7). of the load on the fixed ropes, and the combination of two movable
4 and two fixed pulleys (10) quadruples it.

7 8 9 10 10

5
First, place several sections
of the crane (1) on top of each
other and fasten them together.
Then, like a ring on a finger, slide
a special sliding, or “climbing,”
frame (2) onto the base structure.
3
Unlike the other sections, the frame
has only two sides, which means
one part remains open. This frame
is hydraulically powered (page 238),
allowing it to slide up and down over
the section being built.

1
JIB (LIFTING ARM)
The simplest mechanical device is a rigid beam with the ability to rotate
A turntable, known as a slewing unit (3), The section slides inside the climbing frame (C) around a single point. According to the law of conservation of energy,
is mounted to the climbing frame along with and is fastened to the section below it, and now the work — that is, the product of force and distance — performed
the lifting jib (4) and operator’s cab (5). the crane tower is one section higher. The climbing on different arms of the lever is the same. This means that where the distance
Now the crane can continue to build itself. frame then rises onto this new section (D) and traveled is greater, the force is less, and vice versa.
The hydraulic drive is turned on, and the climbing prepares to build the next. The process is repeated
frame rises over the section of the tower being until the crane reaches the desired height.
built. The climbing frame rises up and stands
over the tower section. The jib picks up another 1
section from the ground, lifts it (A) and sets it
on the climbing platform (B).
The right combination
of counterweight
and ballast will ensure
that the crane stays stable.
Use concrete blocks
as a movable
counterweight (6).
When working with
large loads, move the
counterweight to the end
of the counter jib, and
1 for small loads, pull it closer
to the base of the tower.

A B C D
169
& sewing machin
Loom e Mechanics Mechanics Loom & sewing machine

S
ometimes the most ordinary things like simple clothing can be taken And since you’ll be using fabric in a myriad of everyday items, you’ll want
for granted. What's more basic than fabric? But without the seemingly to know how to do it quickly and efficiently. A loom and a sewing machine 12
trivial technology needed to produce it, it would be impossible to soar will allow you to mass produce fabric and quickly provide your society with
in the air, sail the seas or stock even the humblest abode. To create fabric, you affordable fabric to sew clothes, weave sails or launch airships into the sky.
first need to figure out how to weave threads together. 13
23 20

22
7
7
18

14
3

5
9 19
2 24
1
8
17

10 15

11 4

SEWING MACHINE
When sewing by hand, only one thread is used. The needle weaves in and The thread from the bobbin (16) catches on this loop, and the rising needle
out of the fabric from top to bottom, fixing the two pieces of fabric together. pulls the upper thread, which tightens the lower thread, and an even stitch
A sewing machine works with two threads simultaneously — one from the is made. It is important that the movements of the needle and bobbin
6 top and one from the bottom. With this technique, seams that are several are synchronized. The timing mechanism (18) is responsible for this, turning
6 meters long can be sewn in just minutes. The upper thread from the spool (12) the lower drive shaft (19) and driving the shuttle (17) at exactly the same speed
is pulled taut (13) and passed through the eye of the needle (14). Under as the upper shaft (20). The top one starts when you turn the flywheel (21)
LOOM the needle plate (15) lies a second thread wound onto the bobbin (16). by hand and the belt (22) rotates the crankshaft (23), which lowers and raises
Fabric consists of densely interwoven threads. The vertical threads, also A shuttle (9) bearing the “weft” thread (running perpendicular to the warp) When the needle pierces the fabric, the thread is pushed through, and the needle (14). When the needle is lifted, the feed dog of the presser foot (24)
known as the warp (2), are fed by the spool (1) and stretched across two is then passed through this gap. The frames alternate positions each time at that precise moment, the shuttle mechanism (17) grabs it and pulls it out drags the fabric forward, changing the needle entry point. Then the needle once
frames. The threads are staggered, alternating back and forth between two the shuttle is passed through, effectively creating a weave. To make sure of the needle, thereby making a loop. again drops and pierces through the fresh section of fabric to form another
frames (3, 4). Small holes known as eyes (5) separate each thread from its the threads are tightly woven, use another frame called the reed (10) to batten stitch. This is how you sew a straight line.
neighbors. When you press on the pedal (6), a system of belts and pulleys (7) down the weft thread. The resulting fabric is wound around the takeup (11).
moves these two frames on a vertical axis, making a gap (8) between the even
and odd warp threads.
A B C D E

The threads don’t necessarily need to be all one color. By changing the colors
of the weft thread while you're weaving, you can create fabrics with various
patterns. At the right moment, hooked rods will pick up the next thread color.

Patterns that tell the rods exactly when to switch thread colors can be
programmed into the loom using punch cards. Draw the pattern using a series
of holes. The holes signify a place where the thread has risen. If there’s no hole,
that means the thread stays in place. The combination of holes on the cards
will allow you to do a certain sequence of ups and downs with the different A. The needle pierces the fabric and the bobbin rotates. C. The bobbin turns, pulling both the upper
B. The upper thread is pushed through the fabric and lower threads.
colored warp threads to produce a pattern on the fabric. The card is read to the bottom side, where the lower thread from D. The loop of the top thread slips off and pulls
by wire probes connected to the rods controlling the thread movement. the bobbin catches it. the bottom thread with it.
E. The needle rises, leaving a neatly tightened stitch.

170 171
F ly w he e l Mechanics Mechanics Flywheel

FLYWHEEL AND GYROSCOPE

F
riction is one of the main obstacles to all moving mechanisms. Greasing the moving parts is a good quick-fix solution, but the constant friction When a flywheel is spinning, the conservation of angular momentum prevents 1 2
When one piece grinds against another, friction resists the motion, will soon wipe it away. This is where a bearing comes in handy — it minimizes it from moving perpendicular to its axis of rotation, and in order to change
which heats both objects and could lead to deformation. For example, friction, helping the mechanism work longer and more effectively. its angle of inclination, you have to apply an external force. This is known
if you install a wheel directly on the axle of a wagon, it won’t get very far, as the gyroscopic effect, and it’s what helps you maintain balance when riding
and pushing it will be a difficult task. a one- or two-wheeled vehicle.

In a gyroscope, the axis (1) is fixed within the gimbals (2), which allow 3
the flywheel (3) to rotate freely in space. When the flywheel is spinning,
it will maintain the same axis of rotation and effectively resist any force
trying to change it. No matter which way you tilt the support (4) to which
the gyroscope is attached, the flywheel will rotate to maintain its original
position in space. So, if a ship with a gyroscope on board deviates from
a given course, this device will show by how many degrees. The gyroscope
is impervious to magnetic interference or vibration and can work on land,
underwater and even in space.

4
MONOWHEEL
Wheeled vehicles often have four, three or two wheels. But you can simplify
even more and make a vehicle with only one (there's really no point in reducing
the number of wheels any further). The motor, as well as the driver's seat,
are located inside a large wheel that acts as both a source of forward momentum
and a gyroscopic stabilizer.

SLIDE BEARINGS BALL AND ROLLER BEARING

You only need two main components: the inner and outer rings (or cylinders). As you already know, it’s easier to roll a heavy object than to slide it,
Between them is a layer of lubricant that reduces friction. Such bearings as rolling friction is much weaker than sliding friction. The ball bearing works
are very simple but require frequent lubrication and can easily overheat. on this principle by replacing one type of friction with another and reducing
the contact area between the two surfaces. This kind of bearing is assembled
from two metal rings (1 and 2), separated by a layer of rolling balls (3).
1 Make them from ceramics (page 136) or hard alloys such as steel (page 240).
Place separators (4) on either side to hold the balls in place and prevent
them from rubbing against one another.
3

4 5

Lubricate the moving parts with grease, which

will allow the bearing elements to spin much more
freely. Use a substance that is non-water-soluble
and slightly alkaline — for example, animal fat,
birch tar (page 154) or petroleum-based oils
(page 126). Just make sure there are no impurities,
since even a stray grain of sand or a chip of metal
can cause damage. Then cover each side with
4 5 metal washers (5), which will fasten the structure
together and prevent dust and moisture from
getting inside.

172 173
Perpetual Motion Mechanics Mechanics Perpetual Motion

The fact is that the law of conservation of energy For example, in a physical vacuum — a completely And for any purpose at all. You’re left with a device
is not entirely fundamental. This is a consequence empty space — particles of matter and antimatter that can do work without human intervention,
of another fundamental principle — the isotropy are constantly spontaneously popping into though not infinitely but indefinitely — until
of time. The law of conservation of energy has been existence (and disappearing almost immediately). the component parts wear out. To extract this

I
magine an energy source that produces more energy than it consumes — Connect the generator output to the engine input, and the engine output well verified in numerous experiments, and no But if at that brief moment when they do exist energy, we need simple electronic parts, namely
a perpetual motion machine. Free energy for all. Are you picturing it? to the generator input. Unfortunately, with this design, losses due to friction violations or deviations from it have been identified. you managed to split them, you’d be able to extract electronic vacuum tubes of an original design.
Now it’s time to make it a reality. The sooner you do, the sooner you solve and heat dissipation make it impossible to obtain an energy source that Yet. But although the final state of any closed system the energy. This would be enough to compensate They’re not difficult to make: The main
the world’s energy crisis! Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical will give out more than is put in. The ruthless law of conservation of energy always observes the conservation of energy, there for losses due to friction and heating of the wires. component is the…
energy. Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical. dictates that the creation of a perpetual motion machine is impossible. are cases in which the law appears to be violated, And for useful work.
But this is wrong. albeit for a very short time.

174 175
OPTICS
Lens & refraction Optics Optics Lens & refraction

The main problem with any convex lens is its Using a converging lens, you can create a relatively
large mass. But there is a way to save on materials narrow beam to use in a variety of applications,

O
ur eyes perceive the rays of light coming from objects and obtain a lighter end product. Carve a series from searchlights to lighthouses. This design can
and transmit detailed messages to the brain, which of concentric triangular grooves into flat glass, replace both spherical and cylindrical lenses,
interprets these images and forms our external picture each one smaller than the next, creating a stepped as well as other optical parts, such as prisms.
of the world. We can control the direction of the rays with surface (7). Each step is a separate small ring lens
the help of lenses — transparent objects that have curved that focuses the light. This design will work
refractive surfaces. Depending on their shape, the subject in the same way as a conventional convex lens
will appear closer or further away. but will be significantly lighter.

A convex lens (A) is thicker in the middle than around the edges.
The rays passing through it are refracted towards the optical axis
of the lens; that is, they converge into a point. A concave lens (B)
is thinner in the middle. The rays passing through it spread out
from the optical axis; that is, they diverge.

A B

GRINDING
By grinding down a piece of glass, you can produce lenses of various shapes: A rotating and oscillating metal axle with a glass cylinder, a grinder (III),
converging (1, 2, 3) or diverging (4, 5, 6). Or you can cast a glass ball (I), is fixed above the lens holder. It looks similar in form to the glass piece being
saw it into discs and sand them down to form a convex or concave surface. ground. By pressing the grinder against the workpiece and moving it around,
In the grinding machine, the drive transmits rotation to the wheel on which you can produce curved lenses of different thicknesses. You can also use
the glass disc (II) is fixed. a lathe (page 144).

You can assemble a beacon using multiple stepped lenses (8), which are easier
to make and transport. This way, the dispersed light from a bright lamp can be
focused into a narrow beam. When the beacon rotates around its axis, sailors
II on ships far out at sea can see the bright beam of light breaking through
III
the darkness or fog.

1 2 3 4 5 6

To polish the glass, use abrasives — powdered versions

of very hard materials mixed with water. Start with
the coarsest particles and get finer as you go: from quartz
to aluminum oxide or even diamond.

Another effect of concentrating the light beam is increased temperature.

Polishing is carried out with a polishing pad coated with bitumen Sunlight is warm. If you use a lens to collect a beam of sunlight in a small area,
and rosin and a small amount of very fine abrasive. Change out all the thermal energy carried by the beam will also be concentrated. This energy
the pad frequently during the polishing process to get rid of any can be used in a variety of ways: to set fire to an object located at some distance,
small glass chips. cauterize wounds, glue two surfaces together by melting them and so on.

178 179
Eyeglasses Optics Optics Eyeglasses

T
he eyes are the window to the soul, the subject of countless poems The answer is not as obvious as it seems: The eyes only transmit information
and philosophical ponderings. For instance: Do you see with your eyes to the brain, where the picture of the outside world that we eventually see
or through them? The answer is not as obvious as it may seem. The eyes is formed. Each eye, however, perceives a slightly different picture. Thus,
gather information and transmit it to the brain, where an image is constructed. in order to see a three-dimensional picture, the brain has to connect the two
But they are more than mere tools. The small irregularities unique to each parts of the image — the right and the left. If either eye is defective, it can
eyeball play a huge part in how we perceive the world around us. Every eye sees severely distort the final image. Luckily, these defects can easily be corrected
the world a little differently. Our eyes are more mysterious than philosophers by externally recreating the refractive properties of the inner eye.
thinking whether we see with or through our eyes.

1. The light beam hits the eye.

2. The cornea is the transparent protective layer that covers
the iris, pupil and anterior chamber.
3. The iris regulates the amount of light going into the eye,
like the iris in a camera (page 186). This is the part
that determines your eye color.
6 4. It is composed of muscles that contract and relax
to change the size of the pupil, or hole in the center
3 of the iris.
5. The crystalline lens is the focusing mechanism
2 of the human eye. Transparent and elastic, the lens
changes shape as the eye muscles flex, allowing your
5 eye to refocus on objects at various distances.
6. The retina consists of two types of light-sensitive
8 1 photoreceptor cells. The cones make fine details
visible and are responsible for central vision and color
recognition but require a large amount of light
to function properly. The rods work to help you see
even in dim light but are unable to distinguish colors,
rendering the image in black and white.
4 7. The sclera is the opaque, fibrous, protective outer layer
7 of the human eye. It provides an attachment point
for the extraocular muscles.
8. The optic nerve transmits signals to the brain.

VISION PROBLEMS
I II Refractive errors occur when the shape
of the eye’s lens does not focus light properly.
Eyeglasses compensate for this by shifting the focal
point so that the image is projected correctly
onto your retina.

If you have problems seeing objects at a distance

clearly, then you are nearsighted. The light rays
III IV are being focused to a point too far in front of your
retina (I). To compensate, you need a concave
glass lens (IV) to diverge the rays so that they
arrive on the retina properly. If you have trouble
seeing objects up close, then you are farsighted:
the light rays focus behind your retina (III).
You need convex lenses (II).

Things become more complicated when

the cornea or lenses of the eye are not perfectly
spherical. In this case, some parts of the image
will be clear, while others will appear blurry.
Astigmatism is a minor eye condition that occurs
when the curvature of the cornea or the lens
isn’t symmetrical. Wearing cylindrical glasses
is a common way to correct the condition: convex,
Safety glasses will protect your eyes from shrapnel, dust and water. They can also function concave or a hybrid of spherical and cylindrical.
as corrective lenses if fitted with the proper prescription. In order to see underwater, the eye
needs to be surrounded by a bubble of air, so make sealed goggles with a flat outer surface.
The cylindrical element corrects the astigmatism,
Place any corrective lenses on the inside of the goggles. To keep the glasses from fogging up, while the spherical element corrects farsightedness
apply a soapy or gelatinous solution to the inside surface. or nearsightedness.

180 181
Mirror Optics Optics Mirror

SILVER MIRROR

B
y the time a human child reaches its eighteenth month of life, But for humans, mirrors do more than just show us our own reflection. Another mirror-making method employs silver Quickly pour this solution onto the back of a clean,
it can already recognize its own reflection in a mirror. It is believed We also make sure the reflection looks good, is nicely dressed and is ready in place of the tin-mercury alloy. This technique smooth sheet of glass. The solution will harden
that this is the period of time during which humans develop self- to impress other intelligent species. requires an elementary knowledge of chemistry, immediately, forming a flawless reflective surface.
awareness. However, the ability to recognize one's own reflection is not but it’s not as hazardous to health as working with The sugar reacts with the silver nitrate, reducing
unique to humans — monkeys, apes, elephants and killer whales also pass mercury. Dissolve metallic silver in nitric acid it to silver that is deposited in a thin layer directly
the mirror test. to form a silver nitrate solution. Mix the resulting on the surface of the glass. This layer is very easy
substance with ammonia and add a little sugar. to scratch, so protect it under a layer of varnish and
1 2 3 paint. Don’t neglect this very important step!

HOW TO MAKE A MIRROR

A mirror is a sheet of glass (1) over polished
metal. The glass must be perfectly clean and dry,
so degrease it with alcohol beforehand (2). Take
tin and roll it into a sheet. Obtain mercury by
heating a red mineral known as cinnabar. Find
it near active volcanoes and alkaline hot springs.
But proceed with caution — mercury is extremely
toxic! Cover your skin and use full chemical
protection when working with it.

After polishing the mercury into the tin, being sure

to rub until the two metals merge, place the glass
on top of the polished surface (3). Press gently
on the surface to remove wrinkles, and then wipe
the glass with a dry cloth to clean. The tin melds
to the glass and forms a permanent, mirror-like
surface.

PRINCIPLE OF REFLECTION
The mirror presents us with reality and illusion at the same time.
This paradox is inherent in their very existence. The image you see
in the mirror is imaginary because it appears to be formed
not by the intersection of reflected light rays but by their
continuation “through the looking glass.” The rays of light
from objects in the room are reflected in the surface
of the mirror so they can show the viewer objects
that are behind them.

182 183
Microscope Optics Optics Microscope

STRUCTURE

A
s soon as your civilization produces its first batch of scientists, Inventing the microscope will unveil the mysteries of the microcosm. There are three main parts to a microscope. The first consists of the lens Third is the illuminator, mirror and condenser, which allow your sample
they’ll start speculating about the mysterious forces that govern Microscopes will also give a big boost to technological development, as you’ll and lens tube, which are responsible for magnifying the image. The second to enjoy its moment in the limelight. An eyepiece makes viewing a cinch,
the world around them. Sometimes, they come up with ridiculous be able to create high-tech tools and materials. But the main breakthroughs is the stage, where you place the specimen you’re inspecting. and a screw or gear and toothed track system helps you raise and lower
and unbelievable theories. But reality is often more astounding than even will be in biology and medicine. Now that you know about cells, microbes the lens tube to bring things into focus.
the most harebrained hypothesis. and bacteria, you’ll have to learn how to work with them.
1
WORKING PRINCIPLES
1 2 3 Using the screw, lower the observation tube until it’s about 5 mm from
the object. Bring your eyes to the microscope and adjust the focus. The mirror
will direct the light onto the stage. The objective lens collects the rays of light
that have passed through the object. Refraction in the lenses increases
the viewing angle, enlarging the image.
2
Look through the eyepiece to observe the enlarged image, and voila! A whole
new world of wonders. But keep in mind that your microscopic neighbors may
not appreciate you popping in without asking, and some of them can cause
you harm.

4 5 3 1. Ocular lenses
2. Calibration screws for focusing
3. Objective lenses

6 4 4. Object plate
5. Metal stand
6. Leveling screw
7. Stage
8. Plate clips
9. Aperture lever
8 10. Mirror assembly that collects light rays
7 and directs them towards the specimen
11. Mirror
12. Mirror holder
13. Base
6 7 8
9

11
10

WHAT’S IN A DROP OF WATER?

1. Infusoria — a type of freshwater single-celled organism 5. Volvoxes — a type of chlorophyta (green algae)
2. Tardigrades — a type of eight-legged, segmented micro-animal 6. Bacteria — small single-celled organisms
3. Radiolarians — silica-secreting, single-celled protists that live 7. Snowflakes — extremely cold water droplets frozen around a dust
in the open ocean particle in the sky 13
4. Plankton — organisms carried along by tides and currents 8. Infectious parasitic agents — stimulate the release of tetta globulin,
(They’re an important food source for larger species.) which causes procrastination

BLOOD ANALYSIS
Infections, inflammatory reactions and other abnormalities affect the blood. A deficiency can reveal a hidden bleeding disorder or a lack of iron, vitamin B12
Blood analyses can reveal what is afflicting a patient and what treatment or folic acid. An excess of white blood cells indicates the presence of some
may be most effective — for example, penicillin (page 34). You also want kind of infection or inflammation in the body. If the cells are not flattened CEDAR OIL
to count the number of blood cells and examine their shape. An excess discs but rather round, ovular or sickle-shaped, you might want to check liver Light rays passing through the object are reflected and scattered at the boundary By bridging the gap between the plate and the objective lens using a substance
of red cells (erythrocytes) could be a sign of bronchitis, asthma, heart and stomach function. between the air and the glass. At high magnifications — 600x and above — with a refractive index equal to that of the glass slide, such as immersion oil,
disease or a kidney tumor. the illuminator may not be powerful enough to produce a detailed image. more light is directed through the lens and you’re able to get a clearer image.

184 185
Photography Optics Optics Photography

M
emory is a fickle thing: details fall out It is always a subjective truth, an impression seen A solution of iodine in a mixture of sodium Polish a sheet of glass with a mixture of chalk,
of your head, the faces of loved ones through the lens of the individual who captured it. hydroxide (page 24) and ammonia (page 274) water and alcohol. When dry, pour a solution
blur, landscapes become distorted... A landscape, a face, a beautiful object — the themes will produce sodium iodide. Heat ethanol with of 2% nitrocellulose in a mixture of alcohol
Humans are constantly trying to capture reality, remain the same, but each person interprets them sulfuric acid. Condense the steam to produce liquid and ether (1:7 ratio), with added sodium
to preserve life’s most memorable and ephemeral differently. To create a photosensitive coating, you’ll diethyl ether. Treat cotton with a mixture of nitric iodide, over the glass. Ignite and allow to burn
moments, to create a lasting projection of the Ego need several different chemical compounds. Start and sulfuric acids and water (14:10:4 ratio). Rinse for 20–30 seconds — the solution should thicken
in reality. A photograph captures a moment, by boiling seaweed ash in sulfuric acid (page 192). and dry the resulting nitrocellulose. Be careful — but not dry. Make the plate photosensitive: dip it in a container
but it's not a dead copy of reality. Capture the purple vapor that is released and cool it it is highly flammable. with a 9% solution of silver nitrate (dissolve silver in nitric acid
until iodine crystals form. for this) and leave it there for a few minutes. Remove it from
the mixture in a dark room or under a very weak red light
and place it in the plateholder — a flat, opaque box with one
removable wall. Once you slide the wall into place, you can
bring the photos into a lit room. The picture must be taken
within 5–10 minutes, while the solution is not yet dry,
and the plate should be developed immediately.

After shooting, reinsert the cassette cover, remove the cassette,

and take it back to a dark room. To develop your photo, pour
a developer onto the plate — a solution of ferrous sulfate, vinegar
and sugar. Wait 15 seconds and rinse the plate with water.
Fix the image with a 20% solution of sodium thiosulfate and 2
rinse the plate once again. Use transparent varnish to protect
the image. You can turn a negative image 1
into a positive by painting the plate's
back side with black paint.

4
3

7 6 5

Make a lightproof camera box with a single convex lens (1) and
bellows (2). The image created by the objective lens is focused
on the rear wall of the camera (3), where there is a plate of frosted
glass. It can be made by grinding ordinary transparent glass
with some kind of abrasive, such as quartz sand or alumina.
To focus the image, the lens must be moved forward or backward
along the rack (4) using the gear (5). After focusing, remove
The amount of exposure — a combination of shutter speed the frosted glass from the camera and replace the plateholder
and aperture value — needed to capture an image can be
with a photographic plate. Then pull out the lid, fully exposing
reduced if a bright artificial light source is used. This may be
an incandescent lamp (8) with a filament heated to a higher the photosensitive surface of the plate. To capture an image,
temperature — 6000°C. After you learn to get metallic all you need to do is remove the cap from the lens for a time,
magnesium, its powder (9) can be used as a flash lamp. from a few seconds to several minutes. Or instead, you can install
If you set it on fire, it heats up to a high
a shutter (6) behind the lens to control the amount of time
temperature and gives off a flash
of very bright light. the lens is exposed. The higher the shutter speed, the brighter
the negative image will be. Add an aperture (7) that will control
the amount of light passing through the lens. It can be a rotary disk
For the developing liquid, dissolve iron in sulfuric acid. Fixing the image requires sodium
with a set of holes of different diameters or metal petals. The more
thiosulfate. It can be obtained by passing the gas obtained from the combustion of sulfur through the aperture is opened, the blurrier out-of-focus objects will be,
a solution of sodium hydroxide then boiling the resulting solution with more sulfur. such as the background in a portrait photo.

186 187
Animat io n Optics Optics Animation

A
nimation works by taking advantage of a simple optical illusion. We laugh, cry and scream in horror along with them. This is where
When you present a sequence of still images in quick enough cinematography comes into play. Although there are still a few technological
succession, the viewer’s mind interprets them as a continuous moving milestones you’ll have to reach before you can film a train coming into a station,
image. This effect is achieved by using a large number of sequential images you can start to create your own cinema classics in the comfort of your own
that differ minimally from the previous image in the series. But persistence home. It's painstaking work, but it's worth it. The persistence of vision illusion
of vision is only one small part of the bigger picture. When we watch animated works because the human brain can only process 10 to 12 separate images
characters, we start to empathize and identify with them. per second, retaining an image for up to a fifteenth of a second.

LIGHTING
THE STROBOSCOPE 1 The rotating frame also tends to block out
You want your audience to see a quick almost all of the light. This can make the cards
succession of still images melting into appear dark. The more they are illuminated,
each other, not a conga-line of individual the better the final result.
pictures. To create the illusion
5 Want to make an electric light bulb?
of motion, you first need
See page 198.
to stop the actual movement.

The stroboscopic effect helps

enhance the illusion: When a person
sees moving objects for only a brief
period of time, they appear
to be stationary. A rotating disc
with slots or holes reveals
each card for only a moment.

6 2 3

STORYBOARDING FRAME RATE

Each individual image is called a frame. You don’t have to pedal like mad to produce
To draw frames, you must first forget everything the desired effect. You can create smooth and
you know about drawing. Adding finer details lifelike animations efficiently by showing the viewer
is unnecessary, as they will be lost in the greater just enough frames to create a sense of motion.
1. Frame lighting system: picture, but timing is everything. Picture This threshold is at 12 frames per second (FPS).
Candle or lamp and the motion you want to capture and establish At 24 FPS, strobe flicker becomes completely
rotating mirrors a time frame. Count how many frames you unnoticeable. And at 60 FPS, the line between film
2. Frame must show to the viewer in that time. Break and reality is erased completely. Sit back, pedal
3. Slotted disc the character's story into stages of motion, and watch your movie. Your brain gets an exciting
4. Rotating wheel and animate each one individually. experience while your body gets exercise.
5. Stroboscope
6. Lens
7. Foot pedal
8. Chair
9. Film cassette box
9
10. Quality control station

188 189
ELECTRICITY
Bat t e ry Electricity Electricity Battery

1
RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

L
aziness is the engine of progress. Human beings are always delighted The energy reserve in a typical battery is limited by the amount of electrode
to be able to pass the work on to someone else. You’ve already put substance available. When one of the electrodes is completely used up,
the wind to work and harnessed the fast-flowing river with the battery will stop working. But it is possible to create an "eternal" battery —
the invention of the water wheel (page 234). Use the forces of nature the rechargeable battery. The way it’s constructed allows you to reverse
even more efficiently by harnessing them to make electricity. the processes occurring in the battery and restore the spent electrodes. A
The battery can be recharged using electrical energy from, for example,
Electric current is created when electrons move. Without semiconductors, a generator connected to a windmill or a water wheel.
there are two effective ways to make electrons move: chemical and
mechanical. The chemical method is simpler — it allows you to obtain One of the simplest options is a lead-acid battery. The electrodes are lead
and store valuable electricity. grids with lead powder and lead dioxide pressed into them. Immerse them
in sulfuric acid (A). When the battery is charged, the positive electrode,
the anode side (B), contains lead dioxide, and the negative electrode, D
the cathode (C), contains pure lead. As the battery discharges, these
electrodes react with the sulfuric acid (A). 3
BATTERY
Batteries are devices that use chemical reactions to produce At the cathode, lead turns into lead sulfate and electrons are released (1).
electrical energy. Place rods of two different metals in an electrolyte At the anode, the lead oxide also turns into lead sulfate, but the electrons
4
solution, such as sulfuric acid, and connect them with a conductor. are absorbed (2). If you connect a light bulb to the two electrodes, a current
There will be a flow of electrons from one rod to the other. This is will flow through (3). If a current source, such as a generator, is connected 2 1
an electric current. It can be used for many different purposes, such instead of a light bulb, the "dead" electrodes will be restored to their original
as lighting a room. You can make a battery by putting electrodes — state (4). To increase the power, use several pairs of electrodes. Use a piece
a copper spiral and an iron rod — in a glass of vinegar. Or simply of rubber with multiple holes in it as an insulator (D) to prevent contact.
stick them in an acidic environment, such as a piece of fruit. This
kind of electrochemical cell produces a very small electric voltage,
but if you connect several cells in a series — connect the negative
terminal of the first cell to the positive terminal of the second one
and so on until all the cells are connected — you can produce
a working battery.

SULFURIC ACID
I Sulphuric acid can be made by burning bright-yellow elemental sulfur (found
in deposits near volcanoes) with saltpeter (page124) in steam-filled boxes
lined with lead. If you can’t find elemental sulfur, sulphuric acid can also
be made from iron sulfide, or pyrite (page 110). Grind up the sulfuric pyrite.
3 3 The particles should not be so large that they won’t burn well but also not too
4 4 fine. Otherwise, they’ll clump together and smolder.

II III IV V VI VII

1
Place the sulfuric pyrite in a furnace and blow air through (I). This will This sulfurous gas is fed into the tower from below, and concentrated
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS increase the oxygen exposure, speeding up the process. The furnace gas sulfuric acid sprays out the top. As it flows down the rings, it forms a film
These are batteries in which the reagents can be continuously replenished. obtained by roasting sulfur pyrite contains impurities and water vapor. on the surface. This will increase the contact area of acid and gas. Then
In a fuel cell, this is accomplished by an electrochemical reaction between 5 In the outer cylinder, the gas moves from top to bottom in a spiral (II). the purified gas is heated (V) by the gas coming out of the contact
hydrogen (1) (page 228) and oxygen (2) to form ordinary water. The gases Under the influence of centrifugal force, the coarse dust particles will fall apparatus (VI). This is a cylinder in which the heated gas is oxidized
are fed into containers (3) with platinum electrodes (4) submerged to the bottom and can then be removed. The finer dust particles will be to sulfur trioxide in the presence of a catalyst — either platinum or red-hot
in the electrolyte — a sulfuric acid solution (5). As a result of this reaction, removed by the electro-filter (III). Make it out of fine mesh nets with a high iron oxide. In the absorption tower (VII), sulfur trioxide is absorbed under
the hydrogen atoms lose their electrons, which travel along the conductors voltage DC current running through them. In a strong electric field, the dust a shower of concentrated sulfuric acid. This creates oleum, a solution
as electricity and can then be used to illuminate a lightbulb or power a car. particles are ionized and attracted to the mesh nets, where they lose their of sulfur trioxide in concentrated sulfuric acid. To obtain battery acid with
charge and settle at the bottom. The drying tower (IV) filled with ceramic a concentration of about 35%, dissolve the concentrated acid in water.
rings then removes the water vapor from the sulfurous gas.

192 193
G E NE RAT O RS Electricity Electricity Generators

A generator needs a source of mechanical energy, Direct current (DC) is the one-directional flow
such as a river turning a water wheel (1). There of electric charge in contrast to alternating current
are permanent magnets (3) on its axis (2). As they alternating current (AC), which periodically
rotate, they create a changing magnetic field, and reverses direction and changes its magnitude

E
lectricity makes our lives significantly easier, so you’ll want to have To convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, you can use the principle an electric current is generated in the fixed coils (4) continuously with time. DC and AC generators
a lot on hand. When stored in a battery, it’s limited, but a generator of electromagnetic induction, which is the basic idea of operation of generators. surrounding the magnets. It can be used to power and motors can all be built on this principle.
is a different story. It converts mechanical energy into electrical energy Electron flow or electric current is generated when a magnetic field changes electric motors of various devices. An electric Their design may differ slightly. For example,
and gives you a constant supply — as long as the river flows, the wind blows in which a closed conducting circuit is located. motor works in the opposite manner to a generator, in DC motors, the magnets are stationary
or the hand cranks. converting electrical energy into mechanical energy. and the coils rotate.

4 4

1 1

3 3 2

Only direct current can be stored in batteries (page 193).

It is more convenient to transmit AC over long distances because
its voltage can easily be increased and decreased with transformers
(page 196). Direct current can easily be converted to alternating current
with a combination of a direct current motor (A) and an alternator (B).

Alternating current can also be converted to direct current.

This can be done with a mechanical electromagnetic 7
A
rectifier (C) where an iron plate (5) oscillates
in the magnetic field of an electromagnet (6),
B making contact (7) only in a certain
direction of the electric current and
opening it in the opposite direction.

5
6

194 195
& transformer
Wires s Electricity Electricity Wires & transformers

I
f electricity is the lifeblood of your civilization, then wires are the veins.
As you develop and expand your power grid, you will see the area it
covers come alive and change before your very eyes.

Electricity can be carried over long distances through the power grid,
but while it travels through the wires to your home, it can lose some of its
power. The wires get hot, and the heat dissipates into the air. These losses
are unavoidable, but they can be reduced. Heat release is proportional
to the square of the electric current, and this can be reduced by increasing
the voltage for the same transmission power. For this purpose, 9 9
step-up transformers (I) are used.

I II

STEP-UP TRANSFORMER (I) STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER (II) WIRES

4 4
The device is based on two windings of wire around a steel core (3). 3 Before you can send voltage to the electrical outlets in your house, the voltage Electric current is transmitted between network elements by wires or cables
The current source is connected to the primary winding (1), and must be lowered to a value sufficient for household appliances. To reduce that must be laid underground or raised to a significant height. You can’t just
the secondary winding (2) removes and transmits the already 7 the voltage, the primary winding of the step-down transformer to which lay bare wires in the ground, or you’ll cause a short-circuit and many people
changed voltage to the consumer. When the primary winding the current is supplied must be larger than the secondary. The lower voltage will die. Therefore, underground cable must be covered in a layer of insulation.
is connected to electricity, a magnetic flux passes through the core, from the secondary winding is transmitted to the appliance. This can be cotton or silk threads boiled in paraffin or paper tape soaked
5 5 2
and the core itself becomes a magnet. Its poles shift back and forth, 1 in gum (page 200).
alternating dozens of times per second, which transports
the magnetic flux from one winding to the other, creating
an electromotive force. The size of the force depends 6
on the number of turns in the windings.

The main element of the winding is the electric conductor.

It’s composed of a bundle of copper or aluminum wires. Lead 3 Use a combination of these materials to increase
the ends of the windings out of the tank (4) and connect them the insulating properties. Fasten the wires to metal
to the electric grid. For this purpose, use insulators (5) made support posts with insulators (9) made of non-
of non-conductive material — ceramic. Place them 8 conductive materials such as porcelain or glass.
on the transformer cover (6).
To make wires, you can use section-shaped rollers
The transformer expansion tank (7) is a tank filled with oil. similar in design to a rolling mill. Roll out a copper
It insulates the current-carrying parts of the system and cools bar and pull it to make a long copper wire —
the transformer so that it does not explode. Radiators (8) the work horse in the field of electricity. Thin wires
are also needed for cooling — they dissipate the heat from can be twisted and joined by a common insulation
the oil circulating in the tubing. into a thick but flexible sturdy wire.

196 197
scent Bulb
Incande s Electricity Electricity Incandescent Bulbs

VACUUM TUBE 4
4

H
umans are not nocturnal, and it’s difficult to forge a brighter And with light bulbs flickering on in homes everywhere, you’re sure This is an electronic device that works by controlling
future when you’re sitting in the dark. Illuminate your path with to have some new ideas. They might not always be the brightest, but there the intensity of the flow of electrons moving
the light bulb. will certainly be a lot of them. in a vacuum. The simplest electro-vacuum tube
is a diode (I). It is a sealed glass bulb with a partial
vacuum inside containing two electrodes —
an anode (+) and a cathode (-). When the cathode
is heated, it begins to emit electrons, which carry
1 an electric charge from the cathode to the anode. 1
Therefore, the diode always conducts current
3 3
2 in one direction only.

The three-electrode triode (II) is a more 5

complicated tube. If a voltage-carrying third
electrode, a fine wire grid, is placed between
2 the cathode and the anode, it allows you to control
the flow of electrons. This means that the signal 2
1 can be regulated or amplified.

4 To build a radio transmitter with enough power

to transmit a signal, you need triodes capable
of carrying large currents. Such high-power
3
transmitting triodes become very hot when
in operation, so they need a good air (and in some
5 cases, water) cooling system.
7

8 1. Cathode
2. Anode
6 3. Glass bulb II
I
4. Tube for evacuating air
The filament that produces light can be made from 5. Grid
a refractory metal such as tungsten (page 110).
9
When an electric current flows through it, it heats
up, and the greater the current, the higher
the temperature. The current depends
1 1
on the voltage. When the voltage drops, 6 5
the bulb begins to glow yellow, and 10
when the voltage increases, the light
4
becomes whiter. The main parts
are the filament (1), the glass bulb (2)
and the contact wire (3). The filament 4 4
can be twisted any way you like, but it
8
is better to bend it into a curve so that
the light is emitted more uniformly. 7
5 3
4
6
6

5
2

The filament should be held in place by small support wires (4) made To protect the filament from oxidation and burnout, you must evacuate the air
of a refractory alloy (page 138) or ceramic (page 136). They stand on the foot from the bulb or fill it with inert gas or nitrogen under low (much lower than MERCURY PUMP
of the lamp (5). Both ends of the filament are connected to the electrodes. atmospheric) pressure. Include a thin glass tube in the design that will allow you The pump consists of a cast-iron casing (1) that is halfway filled with mercury. As the drum rotates, air is drawn into the chambers Then the opening dips
One goes in through the base (9) into the lamp (6), and the other comes out to create a partial vacuum inside. After this process is complete, you can heat The front section is covered with glass (2) so the process can be monitored. under the surface of the mercury and air is forced out through the side channels
through the fuse (7). This will protect the power circuit if the filament should the end of the tube with a torch and squeeze it off with tongs to seal it. Inside the casing, a porcelain drum (3) rotates around an axis with three into the casing space above the mercury. The mercury pump does not work
suddenly break and emit an arc of electricity. The fuse wire is located chambers inside (7). Each of the three chambers has a channel with an outlet at atmospheric pressure but only with a partial vacuum inside. Therefore,
in a special cavity (8). Remember to insulate the base (9) and install to the outside (4) and an opening (5) into which pumped air is sucked from an ordinary gear pump (page 162) must be used in tandem and will do
a contact at the bottom (10). a tube (6) connected to the bulb. the preliminary work of pumping out most of the air.

198 199
ronics & Solderin
Elect g Electricity Electricity Electronics & Soldering

ELECTRIC SOLDERING IRON

E
lectronics is a field of engineering that allows you to create a variety This is a device for joining two parts together The handle (4) should be made of wood to keep
of automatic devices that control and manage electrical current. using a fusible metal alloy. The heat source can your hands from getting burned. As a current runs
The main components of electronics are active elements, i.e., vacuum be anything — fire or electric. The main working through the steel spiral, it heats the tube and 4
tubes. But they cannot work without their simple component parts, such as element of an electric soldering iron is the nozzle, the soldering tip, reaching temperatures of up
capacitors, resistors and inductors. or soldering tip (1). This is a rod made of copper to 300°C. At such high temperatures, the solder
(page 110), which has a high thermal conductivity. melts and can be spread over the joint of two parts
The tip is placed in a metal tube (2) that should so that when it cools it solidifies and connects
be wrapped with mica for electrical insulation. them securely.
1 A steel wire should be wound over the layer
of mica and clay coated on top to protect it
CAPACITOR from oxidation. This entire structure comprises
2
Capacitors accumulate an electrical charge. They are composed of two the heating element (3).
conductive plates (1) separated by a dielectric (2) — an insulator that does
not conduct electricity (such as a thin layer of glass, mica, ceramics or even
just air). When the plates are connected to a voltage source, the capacitor
begins to accumulate an electrical charge. The capacitance determines
the maximum charge the capacitor can hold. To release the stored charge,
that is, to discharge the capacitor, you must connect a load to it. In doing so,
the capacitor can give off a very short but powerful electrical impulse. 1 3
The capacitor is used in electrical circuits as an energy storage unit, a filter
and as part of an antiresonant circuit (in combination with inductors). 2

SOLDER AND FLUX

RESISTOR But for the soldering iron to be effective, you need a solder — a substance
Resistors create resistance to an electric current. When included that melts at a relatively low temperature. Try, for instance, an alloy of tin (60%)
in a series circuit, a resistor reduces amperage by converting and lead (40%). In order to make a good solder joint, the solder must bond
electrical energy into thermal energy. A simple resistor is a short tightly to the surface of the two parts, which must be clean and free from
4
length of narrow wire surrounded by insulation (3). You can make rust or oxidation. Use flux, a fusible mixture that coats the surface of the part
one by winding a steel wire around a ceramic tube. Resistors can in a thin layer, to clean these surfaces and protect them from oxidation when
be fixed or variable. In the latter, a variable wiper-type contact (4) heated. The simplest option is rosin, a solid product of pine resin obtained
allows the effective length of resistor wire to be easily changed and, by heating the resin to 100–160°C. The rosin can be dissolved in alcohol
consequently, the strength of the current in the connected circuit. to improve its cleaning properties.
Resistors are used in electrical circuits to regulate currents
and voltages.

WIRED-CIRCUIT BOARDS SOLDERING A RESISTOR

When you assemble any electrical device, you can use copper wire to connect Press the free wire of the resistor into the contact pad with the heated tip
3 the various components. But it is much more convenient to place them on a of the soldering iron. Hold the wire solder under the tip and melt 2–3 mm
wired-circuit board — a hard surface, such as dry wood, covered in a layer of onto the pad. It is very important to hold the tip on the pad for a couple
copper foil. The parts are attached to this foil by soldering, and slots in the seconds after adding the solder. During this time, the solder will evenly
copper layer can be used to connect the electronic parts in any way you want. spread on the pad and the resistor wire.

INDUCTOR
If you wind an electric wire around a metallic core or even just on a paper
tube, you get an inductor. When current flows through the inductor, it stores
energy — not as electrical charge, as a capacitor does, but as a magnetic field.
When the power supply is switched off, it releases that energy into the circuit.
An inductor has a different resistance to direct and alternating current, and
the higher the frequency of the alternating current, the higher the resistance
of the coil. Inductors in electrical circuits are used as energy storage units,
filters, electromagnets, parts of transformers and antiresonant circuits
(in combination with capacitors).

SOLDERING WIRES
Strip the oxide film off the wires with a sharp knife. Otherwise, you will get Twist the wires together. If you solder them overlapping without twisting,
an uneven solder. Lubricate the surface of the wire with an alcoholic rosin. the connection will not be strong. Brush them again with a little rosin.
Pick up a decent blob of solder with the heating tip and apply a thin layer Solder the wires once more.
to the surface of the wire.

200 201
Power Plants Electricity Electricity Power Plants

T
he demand for energy will only continue to rise, and at some point,
you’ll need to build a giant generator: a power plant. Large generators
require a large amount of resources, which can be scarce, so it’s better
to use renewable sources that don’t cause damage to the surrounding
environment. That’s why the ideal energy source is the sun, with power
that can be harnessed even a few minutes after the sun is no longer visible.

STEAM TURBINE
Power plants convert thermal energy into mechanical energy and mechanical The main parts of the steam turbine are fixed nozzles and rotor
energy into electrical energy. You can produce heat that turns water into steam blades (7) mounted on a movable rotor (8). Steam enters the first
by burning coal, oil or gas. This steam, in turn, will rotate the turbines, which row of nozzles, where it expands and pushes a row of rotor blades.
are connected to the rotors of electric generators (page 194). The rotor spins, and the steam then enters the next row of nozzles
3 and the next row of rotor blades. This happens until the steam cools
You can also build a solar power plant that will convert solar radiation into down. Then it leaves the turbine through a pipe (10) and enters
electrical energy. It operates on the principle of collecting concentrated solar a special receiving device — a steam condenser (9), where it turns
energy using mirrors. Place the water tank (1) on top of the tower. Arrange back into liquid and is pumped back into the tank.
hundreds of mirrors, called heliostats (2), around the tower so the sun's rays
are directed towards the tank. The water inside will heat up and turn into The turbine shaft is coupled with the shaft (11) of the electric
steam. If the mirrors are fixed, they will be able to accurately focus the sun’s generator (12) (page 194). Electricity is fed to a series of step-up
rays for only a few hours a day, so make them mobile to track the sun so they transformers (page 196) and then to a high-voltage power line (13).
can make the most of the daylight. Paint the water tank black to better absorb And from there, with the help of step-down transformers and
heat radiation. The coating should be heat-resistant but not heat-insulating, distribution substations, to people's homes.
13
such as copper blackened over a fire.

To maximize energy efficiency, fill the tower with a mixture of sodium and
potassium nitrate (page 124). This substance has a greater heat capacity
and higher melting point than water, so it will retain the heat and continue
producing steam long after the sun has dipped below the horizon. Circulate
the molten mixture through double-walled pipes (3), forming a large furnace
and minimizing heat loss. As the steam leaves the heat exchanger/steam
generator (4), it goes through the pipe (5) to the steam turbine (6), a device
that converts the thermal energy of steam into the mechanical energy
of rotation.

7
4
9 12

5 6 8 11

COOLING TOWERS
Not all thermal energy can be converted into mechanical energy. The steam This water needs to be cooled, and one of the most efficient ways to do this
condenser (9) must be constantly cooled; otherwise, there will be no water is through cooling towers. The hot water is sprayed through nozzles at the base
left for the heat from the molten salt to turn into steam. Therefore, a constant of the tower, and the steam rises along with the flow of cold air. Along the way,
stream of cold water is supplied to the condenser, and a stream of hot water some of the steam condenses and flows down the walls of the tower into a cold
is discharged. water tank and is reused in the condenser cooling circuit.

202 203
SAILING
a ss & Navigatio n
Comp Sailing Sailing Compass & Navigation

DETERMINING LONGITUDE

W
hen you’re surrounded by water on all sides and the only The second component of fixing your position is longitude. As the planet The chronometer has not one but two balances that oscillate in opposite
distinguishable landmark is the horizon, you need navigational
4 3 rotates to give night and day, this equates to the difference in local time between directions in the same plane. Knowing that solar noon on your meridian occurs
tools to determine your position and plot a path forward. your current location and a predetermined prime meridian. You can measure earlier or later than at the prime meridian by X minutes and the sun passes
Without them, a single cloudy day that obscures the position of the sun, 8 local noon with a sextant, but you also need to know the time at the prime one degree in four minutes, you need to divide X by 4 to get the desired value
moon and stars is all it will take to throw you off course. 6 meridian, which requires an extremely accurate watch (page 166) — a marine of the longitude of your location. Once you have a radio (page 296), you can
chronometer. They are distinguished from normal watches by an internal start transmitting time signals from the prime meridian. This method
7
mechanism that reduces the effect of the rolling waves on the accuracy is accurate, and a radio is easier to make than a chronometer.
COMPASS 5 2 of the movement.
You can’t maintain the proper heading without a compass. The arrow,
a small magnet, is always aligned with the planet's magnetic field in the North- 5
South direction. You need a liquid-filled bronze or aluminum hemisphere
(but not iron, which will distort the reading) (1) filled with compass 1
fluid (2) — petroleum oil (page 126), an ethyl alcohol solution (page 118)
or glycerin with water. Floating on the surface of the liquid is the compass
dial (3) — a circular scale with 360 declination marks rotating around 9 9
a pivot (4). Fix permanent magnets (5) on opposite sides of the pivot
and make sure they are both polarized in the same direction (page 192).
The compass float (6) relieves pressure on the axle support passing through
its center and is fixed on a stone footplate (7).

I 3
The thrust bearing is mounted on a stationary disc with a heading line (8),
which always points towards the bow of the boat. Two holes in the lower part
4
of the compass body allow liquid to flow into the expansion chamber (9)
to compensate for changes in pressure and temperature. When the boat
changes course, the compass dial remains in position thanks to the magnets.
The offset of the heading line relative to the compass dial determines
the direction of movement of the boat relative to magnetic north.
5

1
2
II

6
DETERMINING LATITUDE
One half of the problem of finding your location is determining your Then bring the lower edge of the astral body to the horizon (II) by slowly
latitude, which can be found by measuring the angle of celestial objects twisting the screw of the micrometer drum (6). Read the degree indicated
above the horizon. Sextants measure the height of the sun or stars relative on the sextant arc (7) and record the time. The size of the angle compared
to the horizon, as well as the horizontal and vertical angles between to the exact time at which the measurement is taken will allow you to calculate
landmarks. To keep both the astral body and the horizon in your sight, the latitude. But before you set off on your voyage, you’ll have to compile
you’ll need two mirrors: one fixed and one moving. The fixed mirror should an astronomical reference book: pick one location and measure the angular
be only partially silvered to allow light to pass through. Align the spyglass (1) height of the sun at noon several times throughout the year. The sun reaches
with the horizon (I). Move the device along the horizon line and swing its noontime peak at the summer solstice and the lowest point at the winter
the rotary ruler (2) until it points directly at the astral body. Light rays solstice. The difference in the height of the sun between these dates is equal
(3) bounce off the first mirror (4) and are reflected in the half-transparent to twice the angle of inclination of the planet’s axis with its orbital plane
mirror (5), in which the horizon line is still visible. (the degree of tilt). Measure the height of the sun at noon and correct for this
calendar date to calculate the latitude of your location.

206 207
sails Sailing Sailing sails

Y
ou can put together a holistic picture of the world around you A
by exploring it one part at a time. But to piece together this puzzle, 1
B
you’ll want to move quickly and over long distances, and for that, RIGGING
you need a driving force. Luckily, you can create one out of thin air (literally) Sails catch the wind, but you need a careful arrangement
by harnessing the power of the wind. Sails "catch" the wind, converting of sturdy ropes to support the mast and to hoist and control
its energy into forward motion that pushes the boat. the sails. Near the top of the mast (A), attach a perpendicular
2 pole, known as a yard (B). Tie three ropes around the top
of the mast and the other ends off to the sides and bow
of the boat, respectively. The foundation of your sails is ready.
POINTS OF SAIL C
Rig the square sails (running perpendicular to the keel)
The force generated by the sail is perpendicular and the fore-and-aft sails (running parallel). The fabric
to the direction of the wind. To move against for the sails should be lightweight but dense; the denser
the wind, you’ll need to tack — to keep turning the fabric, the better it will catch the wind. Use your
through the wind so that you progress upwind loom (page 170) to weave the canvas from braided flax
in a series of diagonal tracks. The direction 3 threads covered with wax. Use a tight twill weave.
of the wind relative to your desired course This material will withstand heavy loads and is weather-
determines how you sail. resistant. Square sails (C) work when you have
a tailwind, but they work best when the wind
1. Sailing directly against the wind is blowing from behind and slightly to one side
is impossible when using a sail. Turn into When the wind direction changes, the efficiency FORE-AND-AFT SAILS
the wind if you want to stop the boat. of straight sails decreases. They cannot lead When caught in an airflow,
2. The wind is blowing slightly at an angle. the ship against the wind. This requires the triangular fore-and-aft sails (D)
On sharp courses, the yacht cannot go fast due fore-and-aft sails (D). create lift like the wings of an airplane
to the resistance of the water. 2 (page 224), propelling the vessel
3. The wind blows perpendicular to the direction forward. It can be adjusted by changing
of travel. This is the simplest course to set, the pitch of the sail to the direction
suitable even for beginners out on their first of the wind. Attach wind indicator
independent sailing voyage. flags (E) to the sails: If they flutter,
4. The wind is blowing from the stern 5 the sail is out of the airstream, and
and from the side. This is the fastest course. you need to adjust its position.
Light vessels traveling along this course
can exceed wind speeds.
5. The wind is blowing from the stern. This is
called a "tailwind.” But oddly enough, it’s not
D
the fastest way to travel: With a wind blowing
from behind, the sail is unable to generate lift,
and the craft cannot exceed wind speed.
So don’t tell sailors that you hope
the wind blows their way —
it will only slow them down.

E
Bo at s & B u o yancy Sailing Sailing Boats & Buoyancy

I
f you think you can easily learn to sail using only your intuition,
hold on to your seahorses. Things aren’t as obvious as they may seem.
For example, sailing against the waves can give you a speed boost,
and in order to prevent your ship from sinking, you’ll want to load it up
with cast iron.

What happens when you drop a lead

cannonball into water? It sinks. What if you
put it in a big box? And what kind of box
should you use if there are many different
cannonballs? The answers to these questions
are explained by the principle of buoyancy:
A body immersed in water will not sink
if its weight is equal to the weight of the volume
of liquid displaced by it. By changing two 5
parameters — weight and volume —
you can control the buoyancy.

1 2 3
RUDDER
A lever arm called a tiller (4) is attached to the top
of the rudder (5). The rudder can be made from
A ballast made of cast iron or stones is placed near 2–3 boards fastened together with strips of steel.
Flat-bottomed boats won’t cut through rocking waves — you’ll drown. the central main mast at the ship’s center of gravity. The tiller is controlled by a system of ropes and
To help your boat remain upright, make a hull with a keel (1) for stability. Place the most weight at the center and gradually pulleys, with the rope wound around a spool
Reinforce the structure with intersecting beams running fore to aft (2) To prevent the ship from capsizing and sinking, decrease it as it reaches the bow and stern. The connected to the ship’s wheel, or helm. Turning
and port to starboard (3). The partitions between rooms will act like ribs, it must be loaded with ballast as low in the ship weights can even be barrels of water. The can easily the ship’s wheel pivots the tiller, which in turn forces
providing support as well as inner structure and insulation from the ship’s hull. as possible. This will improve the ship’s metacentric be moved to compensate for extra weight placed the rudder to one side or the other. This interrupts
Use multiple layers of boards coated in a mixture of tar, sulfur (page 124) stability, or its ability to right itself when subjected on the fore or aft end of the vessel. When you need the stream of water under the boat, changing
and bitumen (page 126). This substance will also protect against any bugs to external forces such as waves, wind or an inept to take a lot of cargo on board, just get rid of some the direction of the torque and turning the boat
or mites that like to munch on wood. helmsman who turns the boat too sharply. of the ballast by draining water from the barrels. in the needed direction.

210 211
al Knots
Nautic Sailing

O
ne of the most important skills any seafarer can have is the ability Nautical knots must be able to carry a multi-ton load while remaining easy
to tie knots. You need one knot to furl the sails, another to moor to loosen because sailors will have to do so while many meters in the air
the ship and another to secure the cargo in place. climbing a mast, in the dark, on pitching seas and during torrential storms.
There are over 500 different knots that can be used for a variety of purposes.
About a dozen of them are absolutely essential for survival at sea.

Stopper knots (1, 2, 3, 7, 8) create a thicker point Anchoring knots (4, 5, 6, 7,8) are used to fasten Bends (2, 3) join two ropes together, even those
in the rope in order to prevent the rope from the rope to any object: for example, to moor a boat of different thicknesses.
slipping through a narrow opening, such as a hole to the dock.
in a block.

1. Half hitch
One of the simplest knots.
Used for securing things to poles.

2. Bowline
Allows you to tie together cables
of different thicknesses or join a thick
plant fiber rope to a steel cable. It may
also save a life: Bowlines are easy
and secure knots to tie around people
who need to be hoisted up
or lowered down.
10

3. Figure Eight
A secure knot that won’t loosen until
you untie it. Can be used for belaying
while descending from a height. 6. Clinch Knot
6 7 8 Withstands strong tension without becoming too tight.
11
7. Two Half Hitches
Used to attach a rope to an anchor.
4. Clove Hitch
Used to tie lengths of thin rope, 8. Hammock knot
called ratlines, between a sailing ship’s Easy to tie and untie, no matter how much weight it bears.
shrouds (rigging that holds the mast Can be used to tie up mounted loads. The most suitable knot
steady) to make a rope ladder. It also for hanging a hammock.
has non-nautical applications, such
as hanging a rope between two 9. Towing Knot
posts for laundry, tying a bag shut Good for securing a tow line. It loosens easily under any load
or fastening a bowstring to a bow. but won’t slip or untie on its own.
12
9 10 and 11. Masthead knot
This knot can be used to make a holster for a jug
5. Cleat Hitch or a net for carrying objects, but make sure you
A good knot for securing a rope have a lot of rope.
to a cleat.
12. Running bowline
Based on a basic lasso. Can be used to catch
floating logs or lift sunken objects.

212 213
Meteorology Sailing Sailing Meteorology

T
he decision to push off from dry land and venture out into the open However, you can uncover the secrets of capricious weather patterns and choose
ocean is one that must be weighed carefully. The success of the journey a safer route or more suitable time to launch your vessel. To make sure you don’t
and well-being of your passengers is not entirely in your hands. get caught up in the perfect storm, you need to read the signals in the sky.

BAROMETER
This is used to forecast weather changes.
1 4
Take a thin sheet of brass (an alloy of copper,
zinc and a small amount of tin) and craft it into
a small, air-tight box (1). Create a vacuum
3 2 inside (page 198). The air column puts pressure
on the box, and the brass sides of the box act
1 as a membrane, becoming convex or concave.
These changes are transmitted through the system
of levers (3) to the arrow (4), which rotates
along the scale to indicate the pressure. When
the pressure rises, the box will compress and pull
the spring (2) with the arrow attached to it;
when the pressure drops, it will straighten out,
pushing the spring out. If atmospheric pressure
drops, expect storms and rain. If it rises, then
the weather is improving — call everyone above
deck! The accuracy of the barometer depends
on where you store it. Keep it in the shade and
avoid drafts.

WEATHER
FORECASTING
Rain storms with high wind speeds
are often preceded by:
• Rays of light breaking through
dark clouds.
If you can’t make a barometer, cut a 10–15 cm segment
• A crimson-red dawn, as well
from the trunk of a young spruce tree. Make sure this segment
includes a branch. Peel off the bark. The end of the branch as a reddish tint to the sun or moon.
will drop before rain and rise before clear weather. • Certain landmarks being clearly
visible but seeming much closer
than they really are while all sounds
can be heard very clearly.
• An incomplete halo of light
encircling the sun or moon
with an opening near the top.
• The sun setting against low clouds
with layers of cirrus or cirrostratus
clouds on the horizon.
• Birds flying quickly towards
the shore.

Low, gentle waves (30–50 cm high),

as well as dead swell breaking near
the coast or shaking the ship in the open
sea during calm weather, means a storm
is coming. Clouds growing rapidly
upward in the form of towers portends
a thunderstorm, downpour or heavy
wind storm.

214 215
Pad d le W he e l Boat Sailing Sailing Paddle Wheel Boat

The paddle wheels act as the motor of the boat, while the cable or rope
wound around the drum is like a propeller. This is the same system used
in mills (page 234). By the way, these wheels can be placed both
1 1

R
owing downstream is a breeze, as the flow of the river carries you on the sides of the ship's hull and behind it. The blades should be covered
along. But what happens when you need to drive a loaded multi- with a mudguard (5), which is a sheet of metal attached to the base
ton vessel against the current to a channel upstream? You can still of the wheel. You can even improve your boat model so that it moves 4 4
harness the safe, cheap energy generated by the river if you simply add continuously, even while you’re repositioning the anchor.
2
a water wheel. After all, water wheels can be used for more than just
grinding grains. The principle behind the paddle wheel boat remains To do this, you need to fasten two ropes with anchors to the shaft and use
the same. You can transform a water wheel into a large river-faring vessel them one after the other. While the ship is being pulled along one rope,
by adding a few key elements. the second is thrown further along the route. A paddle rower with two
anchor ropes can carry a load of dozens of tons against the current and
wind. As they turn, the wheels won't spray drops of water on the deck,
and all passengers will stay dry.

7
5
6

Use manpower to get the anchor closer to the intended direction

of travel. Send a few of your strongest deckhands ahead in a smaller
pedal-powered paddle boat (say that 5 times fast) to place
Connect two paddle wheels (1) to a rotating axle (2) and fasten them the anchor. Place the paddle wheel (which can be replaced
to the body of the boat. You’ll need a very long, thick, sturdy rope (page 18). with a propeller) (6) on the same axis as the pedal drive (7).
Attach one end of the rope to the anchor (3) and wrap the other end through
the axle and around a large drum (4) so that it winds and unwinds with The rotational energy is transferred to the axle, which begins to spin, winding Give your crew the order to start pedaling. The energy they
the movement of the paddle wheels. Carry the anchor to the front of the boat the rope around the drum. This allows the boat to travel upstream until it generate will be transferred to the axle. Make a steering lever (8)
and heave it in the direction you want to go. When it’s securely anchored reaches the anchor, and the process starts anew. Remember: The longer to control your pedal boat. You can use these small boats as water
to the bottom of the river, the current pushes against the paddles, making the rope and the farther you throw, the farther the boat will be able to travel taxis or have a pleasant sail around the lake. Chatting and pedal
the wheels spin. in one go. boating with a friend is a great leisure activity.

216 217
Submarine Sailing Sailing Submarine

E
xploring the ocean may help you uncover the mysteries of your planet’s But if you have sufficiently strong materials, you can build a sealed device capable
history. But human physiology has its limitations that prevent people of normalizing pressure changes, diving to great depths and staying there for
from diving too deep or staying underwater too long. As you dive deeper, a long time.
the pressure increases, compressing the air in your lungs more and more.

DIVING
Make the body of your vessel cylindrical. This shape distributes pressure
evenly, preventing the submarine from being easily crushed. The deeper you 7
plan to descend, the rounder your vessel should be. Include a fluid tank (1)
To study the seabed, you will need a drill (10) and a movable
at the bottom of the hull that will work like a fish’s swim bladder. As you manipulator arm (11). Give your arm ball joints (page 172)
descend, the bladder fills with water, weighing the submarine down. When to ensure a full range of motion.
you want to surface, void the water by filling with air from a compressed air
reservoir (2) located above the tank. When you dive again, the water pressure
will automatically push more water into the tank through a valve (3),
causing the boat to sink. 8

4
11

9 10

2
6

FORWARD MOMENTUM
You may find inspiration for your submarine in fish tails and bicycles
(page 164). The fish tail design can be applied to the rudder (4), which 3
is used to steer the boat. And if you don’t have an engine design that works
underwater, make a bicycle-powered submarine. Simply attach pedals (5)
to your propeller (6) using a chain drive and bevel gears, and you’re off! At shallow depths (up to 30 m) the crew can even attach hoses to the compressed
Of course, this only works for very small, light vessels. To make navigation air within the boat to explore the area just outside the submarine. A regulator
simpler, install a periscope (7) using a system of mirrors (page 182). Search valve supplies air from a compressed air cylinder under the same pressure ATMOSPHERIC DIVING SUIT
for evidence of ancient sunken civilizations and avoid underwater obstacles as the surrounding water. Any deeper than 30 m and things get more At depths of 30–40 m, diving with just a compressed air tank becomes The environment inside the suit contains normal air at atmospheric pressure,
by looking through the windows (8). To ensure you can breathe normally, complicated. When you breathe the compressed air, the nitrogen it contains impossible because nitrogen at these pressures actually starts to have so no decompression is required when returning to the surface. With a suit like
scrub the air of carbon dioxide by pumping it through an alkaline solution, dissolves in your blood. If the pressure drops too rapidly, this nitrogen forms air a narcotic effect on the body. Decompression time is also greatly increased. this, you can work below the surface for as long as your air supply lasts. When
and from time to time add fresh air from your life support cylinder (9), bubbles in the bloodstream, causing severe illness. That’s why rapid ascents can These problems can be solved by making an atmospheric diving suit, which designing your suit, make sure to use a strong material for the body plates and
relieving excess pressure through the vent valve. be dangerous — your body needs time to acclimate to the pressure change. essentially functions like a miniature submarine. sealed hinge joints for the limbs.

218 219
AVIATION
Aeronautics Aviation Aviation Aeronautics

JET STREAMS The cloudy road

Once you’re at least ten kilometers up in the air, Thermal flows suck moisture out of the ground, which
then condenses in the cold air and turns into clouds. Keep
you’ll encounter powerful winds called jet streams.

I
an eye on cumulus clouds before they’re whisked away
n the history of the universe, very few creatures have successfully ventured But how? Balloons are buffeted about by the wind, and land-lubbers like They can reach 300 km/h or more, and you can by the wind — there will be a thermal column
outside the bounds of their natural habitat. And those who have know us have yet to master the capricious currents. As it turns out, the air is like ride them for long distances. But even if you’re not underneath each of them. Hop from cloud to cloud
doing so necessitates large-scale transformation. Fish flopped out onto dry a dense, transparent ocean, set in motion by a thousand tiny waves. These willing to risk flying this high, just remember that and you’ll find yourself traveling the cloudy road.
land and became mammals; humans soared into the sky and became pilots. winds are invisible to the naked eye, though hunting them down isn’t much each altitude has its own wind. Looking to head
In the case of the latter, humanity as a whole began to experience existence of a challenge. You just need to look to the earth if you want to read the winds. left while you’re being pulled right? Drop down
Gliders (page 226) can’t gain altitude on their
on a planetary scale. Distance and geography aren’t enough to hold back a couple hundred meters, and you might find your own. But if you unlock the secrets of the sky’s currents,
the tide of civilization when you’re capable of flying through the air. wish granted. you’ll still be able to stay aloft for hours.

2 Lantern scout
1. Heat gauge Hunting air currents using trial and error isn’t a great plan.
2. Parachute valve, sealed while airborne
1 Make a flying lantern out of a paper sack and a candle
and opened for descent and launch it into the sky to see if it catches a current going
3. Turning valves in the right direction. If it does, you can send your hot-air
4. Ballast balloon flying off right behind it.
5. Burner 3
Careful! When two air currents collide, you’ll experience
6. Maneuvering vent line,
wind shear, which can be incredibly dangerous. In the blink
which allows the crew
of an eye, your balloon will head off in one direction while
to vent air from
your gondola will be swept away in another.
the balloon

There’s always a pocket of air called

a downdraft next to updrafts. If you plan
Envelope Careful! If you find yourself on the opposite or leeward side
to ride one, make sure to hold the beverage
The balloon is made out of a mountain, you’re going to have a deceptive downslope
service until after the trip.
of cloth gussets. Soak the cloth wind blowing in your face. Flying here is highly dangerous
in latex, similarly to how you due to the turbulence. Don’t mistake a real gust of wind
would a raincoat (page 116), for its misleading cousin.
in order to make it airtight, though
you’ll have to keep the hot air inside
from reaching the melting point
of latex. If you install a heat gauge,
you can ensure you’ll never
fly too close to the sun.

Heat gauge
Hang a weighted flag on a wire with
a low melting point close to the top
of the balloon cavity. If the wire overheats,
the flag will drop into the basket.
5
Burner
Build a fire under the opening
at the bottom of the balloon 6
cavity. Once the hot air fills
the balloon, it will take off
into the air. Cut off the oxygen
supply to the fire if you
want to lose altitude.

HOT-AIR BALLOONS THERMAL UPDRAFTS DYNAMIC UPDRAFTS

Flying in a hot-air balloon is simply a delight. Even if an icy jet stream Rays of sunlight cut right through the clear air to warm the ground. What happens when the wind hits the gentle slope of a mountain?
is whisking you along at 300 km/h, it’s still going to be warm and quiet The ground, in turn, heats the air. Thin, heated air surges upward but is held It shoots upward. If you want to track the direction the wind is blowing,
in your basket since the balloon always moves right along with the air in place by the thicker layer of cold air above it. Before it can break through make a windsock out of striped fabric (page 82). This will show you
around it. You won’t even feel the wind. And since the burner creates that resistance, the warm flows gather at a single point that’s easy to see. the direction and strength of the gust. If the windsock points towards
a pocket of warm air, it travels with you too. There’s always an unusual phenomenon below — a patch of burnt earth the mountains, fly in that direction and enjoy the lift up the mountainside.
in the middle of a green field, for example, or a lone hill surrounded
by plains. Head in that direction, and you’ll catch the updraft.

222 223
AIRPLANES Aviation Aviation AIRPLANES

3 4 5
2

THE WING

I
f you want to travel hundreds of miles in hours instead of months, you The main part of the airplane is the fixed wings that use airflow to create lift.
need an airplane. For some reason, this often spurs the creation of large, The shape of the wing is asymmetrical: The upper part of the wing has a larger
crowded airports, endless check-in lines, passport controls, security checks surface area than the lower one. The difference in airflow velocities (air moves
and pointless rules about how much liquid you can take where. Try to avoid all faster above the wing than below it) creates a zone of increased pressure under
that and remember to enjoy your flight. But the sky is far from the limit. The day the wing and a zone of decreased pressure above it. This positive pressure
you make your first journey into the great blue yonder is the day the space race generated from below starts to lift the wing. The larger the area of the wing, 6
1
begins. It is said that once upon a time, a dog was the first animal to make it the greater the lifting force.
to space. But you can surely do better than that.
During flight, the wing carries the entire weight of the vehicle, so choose
a light but strong material and attach it solidly to the fuselage. Experiment
with different wing shapes, angles and locations of attachment to improve 1. Combustion chamber
aerodynamic performance. The main elements of the wing are the console, 2. Jet pipe
3. Air valve
the center wing section and the aileron (a small deflectable plane at the back
4. Fuel valve
of the console). You could also add trailing-edge flaps that when extended 5. Spark plug
down generate extra lift —for flying at low speeds during take-off and 6. Exhaust tube
landing —but add a lot of drag. Angled wingtips help reduce the vortex
that forms at the end of the wing and create extra drag.
ENGINE
In pulse jet engines, the fuel-air mixture is fed into Combustion byproducts escape through This creates a partial vacuum in the combustion
the combustion chamber (1) in small portions the nozzle (2) and the air intake, creating thrust. chamber, forcing air and part of the gases from
at regular intervals. During flight, air and fuel are Due to the difference in length between the two the exhaust pipe into the chamber, which then acts
FLIGHT CONTROL supplied to the combustion chamber through the pipes, the pressure in the air intake valve drops as a virtual piston, compressing a new portion
If you lower the aileron on the right wing and raise air intake (3) and the fuel valve (4), which mix and while combustion products are moving through of the combustible mixture and igniting it.
the aileron on the left wing, the right wing will are ignited by the spark plug (5) during operation. the exhaust pipe (6). The cycle is then repeated, creating continuous
have more lift and, accordingly, the airplane will thrust and forward momentum.
roll to the left (I).

The tilted surfaces on the rear horizontal tail Because of its low power, this engine is not capable of accelerating a large 1. Console 6. Leading edge 11. Fuselage
I are elevators. They control the pitch of the aircraft. airplane to take-off speed on its own. Use a catapult to make up the difference.
2. Center wing section 7. Elevator 12. Nose
3. Aileron 8. Rudder 13. Cockpit
If the elevators are turned up, the tail section Keep in mind that such an engine has a very high fuel consumption per unit 4. Flaps 9. Fin 14. Landing gear
of the plane drops, the nose rises and the aircraft of thrust, much higher than the turbofan or turbojet 5. Spar 10. Stabilizer
III will climb to a higher altitude (III). But be careful aircraft engines that you will have to build
not to pitch up too much and stall the airplane! in the next stage of civilization.

The airplane's fin is equipped with a vertical 5

moving part called a rudder. Swinging the rudder 8 9
to the right causes the tail of the airplane to shift
to the left and the airplane itself to turn
to the right (II). 6

II 13

7 10
11
12
4
INSIDE THE COCKPIT 3 2
To control the airplane, you need to install a joystick connected to the ailerons
and elevators to control the roll and pitch of the airplane and pedals
for rudder control, as well as levers for the flaps, landing gear, etc.

1
If the airplane is small, you may have enough muscle power to change 14
the position of the elements using cables, rods and levers, but if the airplane
is more complex, you will have to add mechanical, hydraulic and electrical
devices that respond to commands from the pilot.

224
Gyroplane Aviation Aviation Gyroplane

1. Main rotor
2. Internal combustion engine with pusher propeller
3. Engine control (throttle)
4. Flight control 1

H
igher and faster doesn’t always mean better. Sure, planes can 5. Tail fin
6. Rudder
take you on a quick flit across the ocean, but they’re ill-equipped 7. Lifting surface
to find someone lost in a forest or deliver a package when 8. Ailerons (lateral control,
there’s not enough room for a landing strip. But these things become possible for turning right and left)
when you invent a rotorcraft. Let’s start with a simple type: a gyroplane. 9. Altitude control
10. Stabilizers The heavy rotor must be able to spin even
It’s both light and maneuverable — a perfect choice for novice pilots. in the lightest of breezes, so make sure it’s
installed on a quality bearing (page 172).

THE MAIN ROTOR 4

2
The rotor is what creates lift in gyroplanes. That being said, it isn’t connected
to the engine but rather spins around its axis in a state of free autorotation. 5
So what makes it turn? As it turns out, the oncoming flow of air propels the
wings. Even if you strip the engine from a gyroplane and toss it off a cliff, it still 7
won’t crash. 6

The key is the tilt of the rotor blades. See for yourself — the lower surface 8
of the blade is angled against the direction it’s spinning. As the air flows under
the rotor, it begins to turn exactly like a windmill. The blades are also shaped
like airplane wings (page 224). As they spin and cut through the air, they 3
creates lift, an effect that’s called autorotation.

9
10

You need a running start to get your gyroplane

airborne, although the runway doesn’t need to be
as long as it does for an airplane. But for vertical takeoffs
and landings, you’re going to need to invent a helicopter,
which is a machine with a rotor connected to an engine.
The problem here is the complexity of the technology.
The rotor actually changes shape several times PUSHER PROPELLOR
each second. For now, perfect your craft Autorotation is all well and good, but flying machines must do more
with gyroplanes. than simply fall in style. How do you ensure a constant flow of air underneath
To get the gyroplane running, first invent the rotor, even as the gyroplane is ascending? In this case, you would tilt
the internal combustion engine (page 244). the rotor slightly toward the rear and give the machine a boost with an engine
Sheer muscle alone doesn’t generate enough
driving a pusher propellor. The tilted rotor pulls the machine backward slightly,
force, and steam engines require so much water
that they’re too heavy for practical use but the engine is more than capable of overcoming the resistance. Just make
in flying machines. sure the lift doesn’t send the entire apparatus shooting off into the clouds.

A parachute will help

to deliver the goods STEERING
in hard-to-reach places Adding a horizontal stabilizer and a fin like those seen on airplanes will make
(page 230). your gyroplane steerable. Controls are a piece of cake. The joystick handles roll
and pitch, while the pedals are connected to the rudder and control yaw.
Want to go faster? Just hit the throttle.

AUTOROTATION
While they may seem complex in design, there are actually gyroplanes all
around you. Remember the double-winged seed pods that spin playfully
down from maple trees? In childhood, you may have called them “helicopters,”
“whirlers” or “twisters.” After dropping from the tree, they fall slowly, bearing
the seeds they carry far away on the wanton wind.

226 227
Dirigible Aviation

A
flying machine that’s lighter than air but has a high carrying capacity?
It’s not a dream but the feat of engineering genius that is the dirigible.
It consumes little fuel but can travel long distances and, despite its size,
is very maneuverable. Although there is the issue of finding parking.

STRUCTURE OF A DIRIGIBLE
Streamline the design to create extra lift and expend less fuel, and if you
slightly raise the nose during flight, you can create even more aerodynamic
lift, similar to the way the wings of an airplane work. You may choose to fill
the body with hydrogen, which is the lightest of all gases but is extremely
flammable. Saturate the fabric with latex to make it gas-tight. The envelope 1. Mooring device 6. Transverse reinforcement ribs 9. Top and bottom stabilizers
should be soft — the gas pressure will keep it inflated. This kind of airship 2. Outer hull fabric 7. Gas balloons. To make them gastight, 10. Rudders
is easy to assemble, disassemble and transport but cannot be made very large. 3. Main control gondola saturate with latex (page 116) 11. Side stabilizer
4. Passenger decks 8. Internal combustion engines (page 224) 12. Elevators
You can supplement the shell with a frame to give it rigidity. The semi-rigid 5. Longitudinal reinforcement ribs and propellers to create horizontal thrust
airship also retains the shape of the shell due to the internal pressure
of the carrier gas, but in the lower part, it has a rigid keel truss to which
the habitation gondola and other elements of the airship are attached.

9
Rigid airships have an external load-bearing structural frame made of transverse 7 5 6 2
and longitudinal load-bearing elements covered in a layer of fabric. Almost all 10
the ship’s equipment and gondola are installed inside the frame. Strike a balance
between the weight of the vessel and the amount of gas: If the airship is too
light, it will fly up uncontrollably. This balance must be constantly monitored.
9 1
With a change in altitude, the air density and pressure change, so the ratio
of the weight of the gas to the ambient air will also change. To balance
the airship, use ballonets — air bags inside the outer envelope. When inflated,
they reduce the volume available for the lifting gas, allowing you to compensate 12
for the change in pressure within the envelope during ascent, descent or sudden
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION changes in temperature: pump atmospheric air in or out of the envelope, thus
Use water electrolysis. Under the influence of a constant electric current, controlling the total gas density and, accordingly, the lifting force of the airship. 10
water breaks down into oxygen and hydrogen. Apply voltage to two electrodes Install combustion engines (page 244) and propellers on the airship to create 9 8 8 4 3
immersed in water. The positive side is the anode, and the negative side horizontal thrust. Place them at the back of the hull and attach the elevators
is the cathode. To improve conductivity, add lye to the water. Hydrogen to the outside to guide the boat up or down. Rudders and side propellers
will be released from the cathode side, and oxygen from the anode side. will come in handy during horizontal maneuvers.

228 229
Pa r a c hu t e Aviation Aviation Parachute

O
gravity, thou art a heartless thing, But you can slow the descent and survive the fall, If the sails of our ships can bear us along on water Make the final circumference slightly smaller than the canopy itself so that
forbidding man to spread his wings even from very great heights, if you know how waves, why not create another kind of sail to catch it gathers at the bottom, preventing it from sagging and tangling during
and fly and dooming him to plummet to pit another natural force against gravity — air waves? deployment and reducing the time it takes to fill with air.
to the ground. air resistance.
Initially, the parachute is packed into a compact bag of complex design to await
deployment. To release the parachute mid-air and make sure it catches and
fully deploys in the airflow, you’ll need to apply some force.

Doing this manually is difficult, but you can make the task easier with the help
of a special small pilot chute (6). It will do all the work for you: As it catches 1
the airstream, it pulls the main canopy out of the pack behind it.

PACKING THE PARACHUTE

How the parachute is packed determines how quickly and effectively it deploys.
The canopy should be folded longitudinally so that the seams remain straight.
Then it is folded perpendicularly and placed in the parachute pack. The lines
must also be packed in a specific way so they do not get tangled. The pilot 2
chute fits into a special compartment separate from the main compartment
of the parachute pack.

The pack consists of four flaps that open like an envelope. During the packing
process, they should be held open. The different parts of the parachute are 4
packed in the order in which they must be deployed when the parachute opens.

First, the pilot chute is folded and secured with a closing pin connected
to the valve of the main parachute chamber. The suspension lines will open
according to the order in which they are packed and are fastened to the canopy
with shackle pins connected to tensioned elastic bands. The skydiver pulls
the ring connected to a cable holding the pins. When the pins are pulled
out, the tensioned elastic bands are released and quickly open the valves.
The canopy of the pilot chute catches the rising air stream and unfurls,
drawing the main canopy out of the bag with it.

I II III IV

V VI

You need a large piece of airtight fabric. Ordinary Special air slots (2) should be cut in the canopy Attach suspension lines (4) — long, sturdy
canvas will not work, as it’s too heavy and bulky. of the parachute to allow for some air flow. At first cords — to these loops. Make them from woven I. Folding the canopy
Use silk. If your goal is to land as safely as possible, glance, this may seem to reduce the effectiveness silk threads. They will slip over each other easily, II. Placing a protective cover
sew a canopy parachute: cut triangular sections of the parachute, but in fact, these slots release which will prevent tangling when the parachute III. Checking the cable placement
of fabric (1) and sew them together. Remember excess pressure buildup under the canopy and opens. Gather the suspension lines into four IV. Bundling and packing the lines
to reinforce the seams with wide ribbons so that stabilize air flow. Fortify the parachute with bundles and attach them to the parachute pack V. Packing the parachute into the pack
the parachute does not tear at the seams under a strong, wide webbing sewn into a net over with carabiners (5). Sew a reinforcing webbing VI. Placement of the pilot chute
a heavy load. the top surface of the parachute and ending around the bottom edge of the canopy between
in loops around the perimeter (3). the suspension line attachment loops.

230 231
INDUSTRY
windmill Industry Industry Windmill

WINDMILL

T
he forces of nature can be Windmills are mechanical devices that convert the wind's kinetic energy into
tamed and harnessed. mechanical work through the aerodynamic action of the airflow on the wings
8 This will mark the beginning of the mill. The rotor blades of the mill (1) are pushed by the wind and begin
of the age of industrialization. Wind to rotate. When needed, the rotation of the blades can be blocked using a rope
and water can be used to power and chain (2) mounted on the rear of the tower. On the shaft connected
millstones, pumps and water-lifting to the edges, there is a large brake wheel (3) that drives a pinion (4) at the top
3 machines, presses, jackhammers of the central vertical shaft (5) running through the whole structure. Below
and mine hoists. This ability will is the gear (6) that drives the millstones (7). Only the upper stone rotates,
help to find new resources and while the lower remains stationary. The gap between the stones should be
create innovative inventions and tiny to produce a fine grind. The finished grain flour flows through
products leading to the growth and the channel into bags.
development of new technologies.
To allow the mill blades to catch the wind blowing from different
directions, mount the upper turret on a rotating platform that is
turned by a fantail (8) and gears.
2

WATER WHEEL
4 Convert the potential and kinetic energy of water into mechanical work.
1 The water drives the blades of the wheel. It transmits the rotation from the 7
water wheel (9) to the drive pulley, which uses a belt to make the second
pulley (10) rotate. This is connected through a shaft to the gears (11 and 12),
turning the gear wheel that rotates the millstones (7). When determining how
you want to place your wheel in the river, consider that an overhead wheel,
which has water poured into it from above, is more efficient than a wheel
lowered into the stream, as it captures the potential energy of the falling water.
6
Combining a windmill and watermill will increase your efficiency —
7
if the wind is low, use the waterwheel to continue processing grain without
interruption. This requires a lever (13) capable of switching between
the windmill and water wheel to power the shaft (5), which turns the gear
wheel (6) driving the millstones (7). Lifting the lever engages the windmill
gears through the windmill shaft (14) whilst disengaging the water wheel
5 gears (16 and 17) through the water wheel shaft (15), and vice versa.
9

The high-speed vertical

water wheel is a prototype
14
of a more sophisticated
technology: steam
power (page 242) and
hydroelectric power with
a water turbine. This type
12 11 of wheel requires a powerful
and fast stream of water,
such as a waterfall. You can
10 create these technologies 13
in the next stage
of development.

16
17

234 235
Printing press Industry Industry Printing press

FLAT PRINT
Smooth down a slab of limestone using water and sand (1). Draw directly Or add soap, baking soda, carbon black and gum (resin secreted by plants
onto the slab (2) using a pencil made of soap, mutton fat wax and carbon black when the bark is damaged) to an oil base. Rub the slab with powdered rosin
or ink. Make this by mixing soot with drying oil, obtained by evaporating (page 200) and cover with a mixture of calcined starch and sulfuric acid (3).

T
he printed word gives rise to the collection and distribution Printing facilitates the spread of ideas that may form changes in your linseed oil. The acidic substance will stick to the unpainted surface, making it waterproof.
of knowledge. Suddenly, more people will be able to gain new societal structure. With the help of books, flyers and pamphlets, all types The painted parts will remain water absorbent.
knowledge and add it to their own. of information will be available to all levels of society.
1 2 3

So that you’re not stuck tediously transcribing texts by hand,

4 create a printing press. You’ll need individual letter stamps
that you arrange to create a text, stamp onto a paper, disassemble
and then rearrange to create a new text using the same type stamps.
First, carve the letter stamps from wood. Press these forms into
2
a mixture of sand and liquid glass or into a soft metal such
as copper. Pour an alloy of molten lead and tin (page 110) into 5 4
the resulting molds and let harden. Now you can use these stamps Wet the slab (4). Water and grease paint do not
to print texts. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to carve the mix. Once applied, the pigment will stick only
wooden letters in a mirror image so that they’ll end up facing to parts of the stone that have been covered
5 the right direction on the page. The cast stamps will also by wax crayon (and have remained dry). You can
be mirrored. You’ll also have to get used to arranging the words also make color prints. Draw a different image
backwards so that they read correctly in the printed text. on the slab for each color you want to print
3 1 on the paper (5) and run the sheet over
several times, changing the pattern
and adding colors sequentially.
10 PRINTING PRESS
Place a stone mold (6) with the image
15
Make an oil-based ink from soot and turpentine, 9 up on the base and lay a damp sheet
14
which can be obtained by burning pine resin. of paper (7) on top. Cover with
Apply the ink using a rubber roller or a ball made 8 a sheet of rubber (8) and a clamp (9)
from goose skin and stuffed with wool. Treat on top. This will ensure that pressure
the leather with urine to make it softer so that is applied evenly across the surface
it won’t wear down the typeface as quickly. of the stone by the roller press (10).
Cover the roller or ball evenly with ink, and 7 In a printing press, it is the mold itself
then carefully apply it to all of the letter stamps that moves. It is fixed on a frame (11)
and you are ready to print. 6 driven by a gear wheel (12) and
10 is rotated with a handle (13).

12 11 A huge screw (14) is connected

to the pressure roller. When
6 6 6 the wheel (15) rotates, the screw
11
turns the rotational movement into
B a linear downward movement, thereby
increasing the pressure and leaving
7 7
12 a clear impression on the paper.
A 13

LETTERPRESS
Set the moveable metal letters in the frame (7)
on the table base. Apply the ink. Attach a sheet
of paper to the heavy roller (6) with a handle.
To ensure the roller moves smoothly, cut guide
grooves into the base of the table. Turn the roller
so that the paper is pressed against the letter
board. The raised letters (A) transfer the ink onto 1. Wooden font prototype
the paper (B), leaving an imprint. Make as many 2. Casting molds The paper must be slightly larger than the pages This is so that when the blade is lowered, it slices
copies as you’d like by simply switching out 3. Stamps cast from lead of the book you wish to print, leaving blank margins through smoothly and slides against the metallic
4. Typed text around the edge, which must then be trimmed. Use surface of the counter. Use a blade that is convex like
the paper in the roller. Then rearrange 5. Ink roller a guillotine-style paper cutter. Hold a stack of pages a saber. This way, as you lower the blade, the pressure
the moveable type to make the next page 6. Paper roller together using a press. The edge of the table should be will be applied in a more concentrated area, reducing
and repeat the process. 7. Frame with arranged type outfitted with a metal corner for cutting. the force needed to cut through the sheets.

236 237
Hydraulic Press Industry Industry Hydraulic Press

MANIPULATOR ARM

W
hoever says that brute force never solves anything is sorely Once you have practiced making simple presses and have
mistaken. It comes in handy when you want some wine mastered hydraulic technology, you can take on more
or olive oil or when you need to bend solid materials into shape. complex tasks such as building robotic arms
Build a hydraulic press to create a force many times greater than what with hydraulically powered limbs.
you yourself can apply.
Manipulator arms consist of articulated links,
like the bones and joints of a human hand.
Manipulators can be built with movable
links that allow both translational
and rotational movements.
The combination and arrangement
of these links will determine the mobility
of the robot.

2 1

1
6

7
6
3
3

4
13 13
9 4 5
5

The movement of the limbs will be provided by hydraulic

cylinders — analogues of the muscles in the human hand.
8 But in order to move the heavy limbs of a mechanical device
with enough force, the strength of a human arm is not enough.
Therefore, the only part that is operated manually is the valve
control (1), while the pressure is created using a separate pump with
a steam or electric drive (2). The pump forces an oily liquid under
high pressure into the power cylinder (3) where the piston (4)
10
is located, which is connected to the manipulator (6) by a rod (5).
11 This is what makes the piston move and with it the "arm"
12
of the robot. In lieu of a gripping hand, you can attach any sort
of device — a shovel for digging, a drill for wells, a vice clamp, etc.

The lever (1) moves the piston (2) inside the barrel of the pump (3). Liquid
(4) is forced through the tube (5) into the power cylinder (6) and drives
the piston (7). When the lever is lifted, the valve (8) closes and prevents
the liquid from flowing back from the cylinder, the valve (9) opens and new
liquid enters the pump. When the lever is lowered, the valve (9) closes, and When the work is done, open the stop-gate valve (10) and the cylinder (7)
the fluid is sent to the working cylinder (6), raising the piston (7) even higher. will return to its original position under its own weight or with the help
If you don’t install a cuff seal, the press will not work, as liquid One rim of the ring should be convex and the other shaped
The process is repeated until the work you need is done. Clamps connecting of a spring, and the liquid will flow back into the reservoir (11) through will begin to leak out and you won’t be able to create the proper like a hollow. When liquid presses up against the U-shaped
the pipe (5) with the working cylinder (6) and the pump cylinder (3) form the return channel (12). The main element of the press is the U-shaped amount of pressure. The seal should be made from a flexible, wall, the cuff, due to its flexibility, creates the necessary seal
a system of communicating vessels. cuffs (13) that prevent the outflow of liquid. water-resistant material such as rubber (page 116). between the piston and the cylinder walls.

238 239
M eta l C asti ng Industry Industry Metal Casting

W
hen you learn to use fire for more sophisticated tasks than simply
roasting hunks of meat, you’ll open the gateway to a whole range
of useful new materials. For example, you can purify ore mined
in mines to obtain metals. And since large amounts of metals, such as iron
and steel, are needed to restore civilization, you’ll need a smelter working
round the clock.

BLAST FURNACE
Cover the outside of the furnace with a casing made of thick steel sheets and
make a refractory lining out of white clay bricks. This will reduce heat loss.
The stove also needs some sort of cooling system so that it doesn’t burn out.
Use water — when it comes in contact with the furnace, it will evaporate,
actively absorbing thermal energy. Gases formed during combustion 1 2 3
are vented and raw materials (pieces of iron ore mixed with pieces of fuel 1
and limestone) are loaded into the upper part of the furnace (1). For fuel,
use coke — coal heated for 20 hours at a temperature of about 1000°C
without any airflow. Below the forge is a chamber where the coke is ignited (3).

You’ll need a bellows constantly pumping air through this chamber in order
to stimulate combustion. In the wide part of the shaft (2), the materials
are heated and iron is obtained from oxides with the help of carbon
monoxide, which is formed in the furnace. The iron melts and
flows down, saturated with carbon. Cast iron and slag (molten
impurities) are formed. The slag has a lower density, 2
so it floats on the surface of the molten iron. Make two
channels, one for removing the slag and one a little
lower for removing the cast iron. The furnace 3
must be running constantly: If the supply of air
and fuel is cut off, the temperature will drop,
the materials will solidify and the furnace
will stop working.

CASTING
I. Make a model out of wood. Try, for example, an angelic visage. III. Connect the top and bottom molding boxes containing the sandy
II. Cut the model into two pieces so that you have a flat surface for casting imprint of your cast. Pour molten metal into the holes left by the tubes.
and place in a molding box (a box with one side missing). Pour sand Let it solidify. Remove the flask and break off the caked sand mold.
mixed with refractory clay into the mold, as well as liquid glass to bind Beneath it will be your angel head, cast in metal. Cut off the excess metal
this mixture (melt the sand with soda and dissolve in water). Insert tubes held in the tubes through which the metal was poured. Sand and polish
into the sand to form channels for casting the metal. Pack the sand down the finished product.
tightly then remove the tubes and wooden model. All these details will
leave impressions in the sand, cavities into which you will pour the metal.

I II III

OBTAINING STEEL
Cast iron is carbon rich, which makes it hard but not ductile. It cannot be bent The carbon, interacting with this oxide, burns off. Foreign impurities stick
or rolled. But if you remove some of the carbon from the iron in an open-hearth to the resulting carbon monoxide bubbles. As they rise to the surface, they
furnace, you get steel, which can be processed more easily. Air and combustible form slag. Combustion products are discharged through the second regenerator,
gas are heated in one of the two regenerators (1, 2) and enter the space above heating it. Air and combustible gas are periodically supplied through the first
the refractory brick bath (3). The heat of the flames is reflected by the low arch or second regenerator; the direction is changed by switching valves.
of the furnace and melts the metal. Iron is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen.

240 241
Steam engine Industry Industry Steam engine

ASSEMBLY LINE

T
he steam in a boiling kettle makes a loose lid jump and rattle. The energy Create a steam engine. It’s the first technological driver of any civilization. Just because you have a spinning wheel doesn’t mean you have to go
of this steam is wasted, but it could easily be put to good use. After all, Steam engines deliver a level of power that even a team of horses can’t match. anywhere. With the help of a flat belt, this energy can be transferred
why let steam dissipate into the ether when you can harness its power And almost anything can serve as a heat source: firewood, coal, peat, alcohol to a drive shaft, which in turn can rotate smaller wheels to drive
and use it to your advantage? or solar and geothermal energy. machinery in a factory. More importantly, this allows you to build
a factory anywhere, as you aren’t beholden to the fickle whims
of the elemental forces of wind and water.

ROTATIONAL FORCE
GOVERNOR Harnessing steam power to run the engines is only half the battle.
The steam engine is not a particularly reliable mechanism. If the shaft spins too What matters more is figuring out how best to use this newfound power.
quickly, the engine can overload and blow everything up. That’s why we need The first thought that comes to mind: If you have a spinning wheel, you can use
4 a governor. When the shaft rotates too quickly, the centrifugal force causes it to drive somewhere. However, steam engines don’t just turn wheels; they can
the weights to swing out, turning the valve via a system of levers that also rotate blades and propellers, meaning you can sail away as well.
consequently reduces the flow of steam into the piston. If the shaft rotates
more slowly, the weights fold under gravity and the valve opens the pipe
to allow more steam to pass through. By adjusting the flow of steam in this FLYWHEEL
way, the machine maintains a consistent speed. 1 A steam engine that drives axles tends to move
haltingly and sporadically. The force needed
2 to turn the wheel of a steam locomotive or drive
5
mechanism varies depending on the position
of the shaft. To provide a smooth, uniform
movement, you need a device that stores rotational
energy and uses it to compensate for uneven
friction and resistance. This device is called
a flywheel. The larger the flywheel, the more
energy it is able to accumulate and the smoother
the drive mechanism will run. That's why
the flywheel is one of the largest parts
of the engine.

1. Flywheel
2. Piston valve
3. Piston
4. Regulator
5. Centrifugal speed regulator
6. Cylinder

6 3

STEAM CHEST
The heart of a steam engine, the element that makes the whole huge mechanism
work, is the steam chest. After steam is generated in the boiler, it flows into
the steam chest. Inside are two piston-valve openings that lead to the cylinder.
They serve as control valves. The left port opens, and steam rushes into
the cylinder, pushing the piston forward. The flywheel makes a half-turn and
pushes the piston valve, closing the left port and opening the right one. This
time, steam enters through the right port, pushing the piston back. After another
half-turn, the flywheel completes the circle and pushes the piston valve back
into place, once again opening the left port. And so on. The flywheel makes
a full revolution every two piston strokes. The machine putters forward.

The piston valve is also responsible for discharging the exhaust steam into
a water-cooled condenser. Once there, the steam becomes water and is sent
back to the boiler. It’s a completely closed system.

242 243
Combustion engine Industry Industry Combustion engine

S
team engines are very bulky and heavy, as they require a boiler and
large reservoir of water. Ships and locomotives on rails can support
the weight, but there’s a much better design of heat engine for transport, 15
10
as well as many other applications. Rather than generating steam to inject into
a cylinder and drive a piston, instead use a liquid fuel that burns to produce
hot gases that drive the piston — an internal combustion engine. This is more
fuel efficient and can be built much smaller and lighter.
16

11 12

7
8
You can’t just vent the exhaust gases directly from the cylinder into The immense energy released by burning fuel heats up the engine. To make
the atmosphere. They are scorching hot and fly out at high speeds. sure it doesn’t overheat and die, you’ll need to cool it using a special liquid
A muffler (15) will slow them down. It’s a little box with different passages coolant that is pumped to the radiator (16) where it releases excess heat
13 and chambers inside that functions as a sort of labyrinth for the gases. to the atmosphere, cooling down in the process, and then is cycled back
6
It allows them to cool down and exit almost silently through the exhaust pipe. through to absorb heat again.

The internal combustion engine converts the energy of fuel

combustion into mechanical work. Combustion takes To reach high velocities, you’ll need
1
place in the cylinder that is fitted with a piston (1). a lot of horsepower. You can increase
As the piston moves, it changes the volume the fuel combustion capacity
of the cylinder. A mixture of fuel vapor and air burns of the engine by installing additional
inside the cylinder, increasing the pressure cylinders — more fuel will be burned
2 within the cylinder and pushing on the piston. with each revolution of the engine.
5 That in turn moves the connecting rods (2), The lighter you make the parts,
which spin the crankshaft (3). To ensure uniform the more efficiently the engine
rotation of the crankshaft, a massive disk known will work. When the piston changes
3 as the flywheel (4) is attached. The camshaft (5) directions, it expends energy to stop
is responsible for synchronizing the operation moving in one direction and start
of the valves with the pistons. It operates cams — moving in the other. The lighter the piston,
pieces that open the valves (6) when the shaft rotates. As soon as the less energy it needs.
the camshaft stops pressing on the valve, it closes. It is important
4 that the camshaft rotates half as fast as the crankshaft, making one
revolution in four strokes of the cylinder. For the engine to work
smoothly, new quantities of air and fuel must enter the cylinders
through the intake valve (7), and the combustion products must
C
be removed through the exhaust valve (8) at the right time. FOUR STROKE ENGINE A B
I — fuel intake
G H J
II — compression
III — combustion
IV — exhaust
The piston makes 2 revolutions in four strokes.
PREPARING THE FUEL MIXTURE D
Depending on the way you prepare the combustible fuel mixture, the engine A gasoline internal combustion engine requires not a liquid fuel but a spray — A — inlet valve
can run on either gasoline or diesel. In diesel engines, the finished fuel a fuel-air mixture. A special device known as a carburetor (9) prepares B — exhaust valve
is fed directly into the engine cylinder under high pressure at the end the mixture. In the carburetor, the air flow (10) passes through a tapered tube, C — spark plug E F
of the compression stroke (II), atomizing it into tiny droplets during accelerates and sucks fuel from the float chamber (11) through a thin hole (12) D — piston
the process. The air in the cylinder is under much higher pressure, which and sprays it. The air damper (14) regulates the amount of fuel-air mixture (13) E — connecting rod
heats up the fuel mixture and causes it to combust without any spark. being supplied to the engine. F — crankshaft
Therefore, diesel engines do not need an ignition system. G — fuel-air mixture
H — spark
J — exhaust gases
I II III IV

244 245
Railroad Industry Industry Railroad

W
ith the emergence of industry comes the challenge of transporting An even more effective solution would be reducing the friction and air
goods over long distances. And this is essentially an economic task: resistance to nearly nil by using a vacuum tube. But along with the clatter
You spend resources to overcome the force of friction. Your goal of the wheels, all the romantic atmosphere would disappear, and then
is to reduce costs. An asphalt road will be more efficient than a dirt road, what would be the point?
but laying smooth steel rails and building trains to glide along them
will reduce transportation costs tenfold.

Lay a ballast layer of crushed stone and sand on top of the embankment for the road.
It will help to distribute the load and protect the layer of soil underneath from cracking
and erosion. Remember to lay drainage channels along the embankment; otherwise,
the soil will quickly wash away.

1
RAILS AND RAILROAD TIES 5
Soak wooden ties in tar and they will last decades. Rails require steel (page 240).
If you forgo a square cross-section and instead shape them like a letter “H,” 4
they will be 7 times stronger while weighing less. Try to make the upper part 3
of the rail slightly thicker in order to compensate for the high wear it will endure RAILWAY COUPLING
as the train runs over it. The rail (1) is attached to the railroad ties (2) with clips A locomotive can pull a train with dozens of cars When properly fastened, the coupling locks into
2
or screws (3). You also need steel pads (4) and brackets (5) to bear some weighing tens or even hundreds of thousands place with a locking mechanism. To uncouple
of the excess load. of tons. But this is only possible if the cars are the cars, all you need to do is raise the locking latch.
securely fastened together. The simplest option The design of the couplings includes a little room
is to fasten them together with bolts. But they for movement, allowing even a small, relatively weak
will not withstand very high loads, and the process locomotive to pull a heavy train. Thanks to this
of coupling and uncoupling the cars will take a long leeway, when the train first begins to move, it is only
WHEELS time. It is better to invent an automatic coupler. pulling the weight of the first railroad car. The joint
In order for the train to be able to turn, the wheels must be cone-shaped. It doesn't require bolts, resembles a "steel handshake" inertia of the locomotive and the carriage pulls
The wheel is tapered so that the outer rim has a smaller diameter than the inner in design, operates automatically when the cars the second car, the combined inertia pulls the third
one. When the train is going straight, the wheels touch the track at the same come together and withstands very high loads. and so on, all the way to the caboose.
point on each side and are level. But when the rail turns, one wheel touches
the track at a point slightly more towards the outer rim, with a smaller diameter,
so that it ends up traveling a shorter distance than the other wheel. As a result, Railroad switch
At railroad switch points, there are two fixed sections of rails, If the moving piece remains in its initial position (I), the train
the axle begins to shift and the train turns. continues straight. If the switch pushes the moving section
one running straight and the other branching off to the side.
A moving piece at the divergence point can be moved laterally to one side (II), the train wheels are redirected towards
the diverging rail and it turns.
3 into one of two positions to direct a train towards either path.
2

THE BRAKING SYSTEM 1 2

Accelerating a multi-ton locomotive is easier than stopping it. To stop all
1
wheels moving at the same time, you need a braking system with an air
line. A compressor (page 238) fills it with compressed air. The air enters 4
the cylinder (1), compresses the piston (2), which moves and uses
the lever mechanism (3) to push the brake pad (4) away from the wheel.
When the conductor wants to brake, he opens the brake valve to release
the air pressure, and the brake pads are pressed against the wheels.

246 247
Wast e Ma na ge me nt Industry Industry Waste Management

COMBUSTION AND ELECTRICITY

C
ivilization and garbage are inseparable phenomena. Some civilizations First, you’ll need a conveyor belt: A motor rotates the drive drum, which sets Unsorted waste can also be incinerated. You’ll need furnaces operating
hit a dead end when they create convenient materials that they have in motion a series of rollers. As they rotate, they move the belt forward, carrying at temperatures above 1000°C. The heat generated by incinerating
no way of getting rid of. So the sooner you think about how to reduce the garbage through different stages of the recycling process. waste can be used to generate electricity or heat water (page 156)
your waste to a minimum by recycling it into something new, the longer your for residential buildings. After burning, ash and slag remain.
world will survive without environmental catastrophe. Break large pieces of trash into smaller ones using powerful cutters powered Slag is a potentially hazardous waste, but it can be used
by electric motors. Sort smaller waste into different size categories by sifting for backfilling roads and railways.
This being said, the process of recycling garbage also eats up a lot of resources. it through mesh sieves of various sizes. The final stage of processing is waste
Once you figure out how to resolve this contradiction, you will become the most compaction. The finished briquettes can be taken to factories to be processed
sustainable civilization out there! The main priority is creating a convenient into paper, glass or other products.
system for collecting and separating trash so that most of it can be recycled
and used again in other products.

TEXTILES
Grind and turn into a fibrous mass. Make
building materials out of it, such
as heat and sound insulators.

GLASS
Can be recycled a practically
limitless number of times. Just
needs to be washed, broken
and melted down.

WOOD
Put wood through a wood chipper. You can then
METAL use the chips to retain water in your fields, make
Place a powerful magnet above the conveyor belt fuel briquettes or mix into glue to produce
to separate out small pieces of steel, cast iron and a material suitable for making furniture.
other alloys. They can be sent to the smelter.
Use an eddy current separator to collect non-ferrous,
non-magnetic metals. Place fixed magnets on the inside wall
of a cylindrical shell. Use an electric drive to set the shell into motion. PAPER
The main component of the separator is the rotating magnet (page 194). Cardboard, paper and all related materials
It produces a magnetic field around itself, forming eddy currents in non- should be pressed into a cube and sent to another factory
ferrous metals. They will create their own magnetic field around the particles. for paper recycling. Recycled paper can be made into new
The force that results from the interaction of two fields repels ferromagnetic cardboard, packing materials and toilet paper. Waste paper
impurities from the bulk of the raw material. As it is pushed out the front should first be placed in large drums known as pulpers
of the hollow cylinder, the non-magnetic materials continue to move and where the paper is mixed with water and spun at high
the magnetized particles are captured and held by the magnetic field, speeds to break it down into fibers. The end product is a pulp
remaining on the surface of the hollow cylinder. This is how materials that can be made into paper again (page 288). You’ll need
with different electrical conductivity are separated. to bleach it to remove the ink. Paper can be subjected
to a maximum of seven recycling cycles, by which time the fibers
have become too short and are unsuitable for production.

BATTERIES BIOWASTE
Batteries require special disposal techniques and will have to be sorted out Biowaste must be separated from the rest of the garbage — organic matter Gas is released during the fermentation process, so you’ll need a ventilation
by hand. Lead batteries (page 192) can be reused, but you will have gums up the works. It can be remade into biogas (page 90) and used as fuel for system with a biofilter made out of, for example, wood chips. You must also
to drain the electrolyte — sulfuric acid. It must be neutralized, after which cars or heating. You can also ferment everything so that it decomposes faster. analyze the metal content of the final product. If the biowaste is free of heavy
it can be processed into fertilizers and household chemicals, or “clean” Make a room with metal grating for the floor and build pipes underneath metals, you can use it as a fertilizer saturated with nitrogen and phosphorus,
sulfuric acid can be restored to produce new batteries. through which air will blow. Aerate the crushed garbage and mix with lactic and if it is not, you can use it as a non-fertile filler to use in roads and railway
acid bacteria starter (page 104). Then heat the waste, speeding up embankments.
the fermentation processes and decreasing the amount of pathogenic
microflora, effectively decomposing the organic matter.

248 249
MILITARY
M a rt ia l arts Military Military Martial arts

W
ithout a doubt, the best battle is the one not fought. Unfortunately,
no matter how strong your desire or earnest your efforts to keep
the peace and resolve everything through negotiations, there
is a high probability that not all the creatures you encounter throughout
your travels may be friendly and diplomatic. At some point,
you’ll have to accept the possibility of physical force in the fight
against evil. And it’s always better to be prepared.

There are countless techniques used to knock

an enemy off his feet, and most of them leverage
the opponent’s body speed and the momentum
of his movement against him. Once your opponent
has lost his balance, you have the clear advantage.

The most effective moves are disorienting jabs dealt

to vital organs and nerve clusters (eyes, ears, nose,
liver, kidneys, groin) and blows to the joints, which
can temporarily disable an enemy and prevent
further attacks.

But it is worth remembering that using

improper technique will hurt you more
than the enemy. Strike with the heel
of your palm to avoid injury to the
Martial arts are primarily a form fingers. The best places to aim such
of self-defense. They are centered around attacks are the nose, jaw, eyes, neck
developing the ability to quickly and accurately and throat.
respond to any situation, finding balance
and countering enemy aggression.
Therefore, most of the techniques are aimed
at disorienting the enemy or temporarily
disabling the use of certain limbs. This is most
easily and efficiently done when you use
the opponent’s own strength against him.

252 253
Melee Weapons Military Military Melee Weapons

A flambard, or “flame-bladed” sword (1), has A sledgehammer (2) is a good weapon

a wavy blade. It must be sharpened from both for fighting warriors in suits of armor (page 256).

M
elee weapons are needed for close hand-to-hand combat. sides, while the waves reaching the middle A hammer has a higher center of gravity than
Crafting these kinds of weapons is a real art form. In making of the blade must be bent to the sides at a slight a sword, so the blow delivers more crushing force.
a single weapon, a smith may employ a whole range angle, like a saw. Leave the end straight for stabbing In addition, all the force is concentrated into
of woodworking and metalworking techniques: carving, forging, 1 like a regular sword. The main advantage of this a single small area, so a warrior won’t need super
engraving, stamping, gilding, oxidizing. That’s why you need skilled design is its destructive power. When pulling the strength to punch through metal armor.
craftsmen and quality metal (page 110). weapon from the wound, the wavy blade acts like
a saw and inflicts significantly more severe damage
than a blow with a conventional blade. It leaves
a laceration that’s hard to heal.

A mace (3) is composed of the mace head,

which is covered in metallic spikes or wedges
perfect for bludgeoning through armor, as the force
of the blow is concentrated over a much smaller
area. Make a hollow mace head and fill it with lead
shot or pebbles to partially dampen the recoil
and add extra impact force.

A flail (4) is an auxiliary weapon that can be easily 4

grabbed at a gallop. Flail strikes are difficult
to deflect even if you have a shield. The metallic
head is attached to the staff by a chain, which
can easily bend around shields while picking
up momentum and striking the enemy
with tremendous force.

Edged weapons weapons are designed Blunt weapons deliver

to do slicing damage in single strikes. bone-breaking blows capable
The sharp edge allows you to deliver of stunning the enemy. But you can
multiple hits quickly and is much less likely also combine elements of all
to get stuck in the target. Pointed weapons different categories to create 5
are designed to pierce through metal your own hybrid piercing/edged A sword breaker (5) has deep notches in one side of the blade. In battle, they
armor with one sharp blow. or edged/blunt weapon. can be used to hook an enemy’s sword and pull it from his hands. But this kind
of weapon isn’t particularly suited for inflicting stab wounds. Therefore, you
should always carry a normal, well-sharpened blade in your other hand.

Throwing stars (6) are flat discs with sharp metallic points around
the edge. These points can cause devastating damage. Throwing
stars are sometimes made with holes in the center so that they can
6 be strung together while not in use. You should have a lot of them
on hand, as they’re essentially single-use weapons. Because of this, it
makes no sense to make them from expensive, high-quality metals.
Discs can also come in handy in close combat — hold them in your
hands and strike any unprotected parts of the body. This won’t inflict
Impact or crushing weapons such as maces and mallets are relatively cheap The striking edge of pointed or edged weapons — the tips and blades — serious wounds, but it will throw the enemy off for a few seconds.
to produce and nearly indestructible. They can pierce through even heavy suits can be made from bone, stone (such as obsidian) or metal. It’s not so much And you can even use it as a sort of primitive mine by sticking one
of armor (page 256) and can be wielded by both cavalry and infantry. the material that’s important as how well you sharpen it. half into the dirt and leaving the top half exposed.

254 255
Armor & chain Mail Military Military Armor & chain Mail

1 2

M
any animals are born with natural armor. Humans, unfortunately, 1. GAMBESON
have to make it ourselves, though we do have one major advantage: Chain mail is best worn over a thick, padded doublet called a gambeson.
we can always upgrade our equipment if an enemy comes at us While it doesn’t do much to cushion the impact of the blows, it keeps
with a new kind of weapon. Just remember that even the best suit of armor has the wearer safe from the scratches and infections they might otherwise
its weak spots. sustain from their own damaged chain mail.

2. WIRE FELT
If you compress enough layers of metal wire,
you’ll get a dependable bulletproof garment.
Not only does it dissipate the energy from
bullets across a wide surface area, it absorbs
some of the impact when it is compressed
and the layers of wire rub against each other.

3. BALLISTIC PLATES
Bullets carry enormous amounts of energy,
which means the impact must be spread across
a larger area in order to avoid damage.
Plate armor is no good — bullets can slice
right through or deform the metal. Instead,
thick blocks of steel or ceramic must be used.
But while they shouldn’t be so large that they
weigh the wearer down, making them
too small reduces the surface area needed
to dissipate the energy of a blow.

3 5

4. CHAIN MAIL 5. CAMOUFLAGE

Made of metal rings linked together in a mesh, 4 One great way to survive combat is to avoid
chain mail is conducive to movement and it altogether. While camouflage can’t make
doesn’t need to be fitted. To make it, start anything invisible, it makes subjects
by winding a metal wire around a rod. Chop harder to recognize by reshaping outlines
the resulting coil into pieces to get open and disorienting opponents. Alternating
rings, which you then chain together to make spots and stripes should match the color
the armor. The best patterns are either 4 or 6 of the surrounding environment: dark
connections to 1 link. If you want to make sure and light green for forests, beige and brown
the links don’t come unclasped, rivet them for deserts, white and gray for the snowy north.
together by pounding the rings flat, drilling
a hole in them, and then locking 2 discs in place.
PLATES Chain mail does a great job protecting the
Steel sheets molded to fit the body do wonders for fending off chopping But they’re as heavy as they are expensive, and wearing them is an exhausting wearer from chopping blows, though stabbing
and stabbing blows, even holding up against arrows, crossbow bolts and spears. feat. Worn-out warriors must be wary of precise blows aimed at the joints blows are a different story. Arrowheads will also
Separate pieces are held together using straps that allow them to articulate between plates, not to mention bullets. Plated armor is nearly useless against pierce through the rings, burying themselves
as the user moves around. firearms. in the flesh underneath.

256 257
Crossbow
Bow & Military Military Bow & Crossbow

C
lose quarters fighting is frequently a later phase of combat.
Initially, for both offensive and defensive purposes, ranged weapons
are employed in order to reduce enemy ranks from a safe distance.
Catapults and trebuchets, for example, launch boulders with tremendous force.
For single-warrior usage, bows and crossbows catapult arrows toward the target.

4 Arrowheads can be made from sharpened rocks (page 20) or animal Cone tips have more penetration capacity and work well for hunting beasts
2 bones. But the best material for the job is metal. The shape of the tip may with a thick hide. Faceted tips made from hardened steel have high impact
vary depending on what function it serves. Blade tips are a good universal force and are used to pierce through armor. Wrap the tip in resin-soaked
arrowhead for hunting and war. Flat tips have poor piercing power cloth or other incendiary materials and ignite before shooting to set your
but rarely ricochet. enemy’s defenses aflame.

1
5

BOWSTRING & ARROWS

Glue together four thin, triangular sticks. This shaft It should be 3–5 cm shorter than the length
will have optimal rigidity, which reduces wobble of the bow. Tie a small loop at one end
and deflection. Set the fletching vanes at an angle of the bowstring and a large loop at the other.
like a fan blade to stabilize the arrow during flight Secure the small loop first. The larger loop on one
and improve accuracy. Make a bowstring out end makes it easier to hook over the upper bow
of animal sinew or silk (page 82). limb once it is under tension.
1

2
4
7 2
4
5

8 6 10

3
9

BOW 7
Consists of a grip (1), limbs (2), notched limb tips for holding
the bowstring in place (3) and the bowstring (4). For the limbs,
glue together thin boards of flexible wood using fish glue
(page 140) and wrap them in leather. As it dries, the leather
will shrink tight to the wood. This will increase the bow's
elasticity and range. On the inner side of the limb, glue a plate
of boiled buffalo or cow horn (the horn works well under CROSSBOW
compression) and attach tendons to the outer side for improved Deals greater impact damage than a bow. 1. Sight 7. Rotating platform
elasticity. Drawing the bowstring is made easier with a release The added mechanism for drawing, setting and 2. Trigger 8. Cables
3. Limbs 9. Vibration damper
aid — a leather bracelet worn on the wrist (5) with a metal rod releasing the bowstring allows you to increase
4. Bowstring 10. Additional projectiles
and “jaws” (6) at the end. Press the trigger (7) to open the jaws the draw force and improve accuracy. Crossbow 5. Flight groove
and grab the bowstring between them. Draw the bowstring back projectiles are shorter and heavier for greater 6. Rotating drum
as usual and press the trigger again to release. piercing power. with arrows

258 259
Siege Engines Military Military Siege Engines

A
s soon as the first cities crop up, they’ll almost immediately start
putting up defensive walls. Even if you haven’t made any enemies yet,
you never know when they may appear. And sometimes, in order
to defend your own freedom and the right to live in peace, you have to fight back.
2
5

TREBUCHET
3 Uses the energy of a counterweight. Construct the two sides
of the support frame (1) and secure the pivot (2) between them.
Attach the throwing arm (3) and hang your counterweight box (4),
weighed down with large stones, from the short end of the arm.
Install a leather sling (5) on the other end and load your projectile.
To turn the pivot and lift the counterweight, you’ll need a winch (6),
which can be operated using a giant hamster wheel.

Once it’s loaded, the trebuchet can be locked into place with
the release mechanism — a metallic ring on the end of the arm
that is held in place by a hook in the support beam. A rope is then
tied around the hook so that one tug will release the throwing
arm, allowing the counterweight to fall and rapidly lifting the other
2 side of the throwing arm. This pulls the sling with the projectile,
whipping it through the air and hurling the payload. Reduce friction
and increase launch speed by creating a groove along which the sling
moves and greasing the pivot.

7 1
4 10

6
8

To break through walls, you A siege tower (2) can be rolled up directly to fortress walls,
need a battering ram (1): 3 allowing warriors to climb them. If you combine a siege tower with
CATAPULT a frame from which a thick, a battering ram, the chances of breaking through will increase. The soldiers
Uses torsion energy stored in a wound rope. Attach the release mechanism heavy log is suspended. You can on the upper platforms will be able to provide cover fire for those breaking
to the throwing arm (7). It is held in place with a rope (8). Opposite improve its penetrating power through the gates below. To protect your own fortress, dig a moat (3)
the throwing arm is the stopping beam (9). Install a lever (10) to wind by adding a metal wedge or point. or surround it with a stake fence (4). You can protect the walls of your fortress
the rope and lower the throwing arm, putting it under tension. Once released, from attackers by pouring boiling oil or tar (5) and dirt (6) over them,
it hits the stopping beam, and the projectile is ejected. as well as throwing spears and launching arrows (7).

4 5 6
Change the trajectory or range of the projectile by adjusting the moment of release
from the sling. The earlier you release the trigger, the higher the projectile will take off,
and the throwing range will decrease. Use different hooks for the sling to adjust the flight:
The more the hook is bent, the further the projectile will fly, but its angle of incidence
and impact force will change.

260
Firearms Military Military Firearms

NEEDLE RIFLE

Y
ou can use gunpowder for purely peaceful means, such as fireworks. Weapons with a needle-like firing pin can shoot several times faster than The cap contains a primer — mercury fulminate. This substance explodes
But humanity has a tendency to want to weaponize everything. a flintlock. For these weapons, you don’t have to reload every shot, as with easily on impact and provides the spark necessary to ignite the gunpowder.
The pressurized gas generated during the combustion of explosives a flintlock — you can instead use a cartridge containing both the bullet and The resulting gases push both the bullet and its paper cartridge casing through
is capable of pushing a projectile out of a barrel at high speeds, giving firearms the gunpowder. Instead of flint, a firing pin (7) is used. When the trigger the rifle. The spiral grooves, or rifling, cause the bullet to spin. This ensures
a lethal force greater than any weapon that came before them. is pressed, the spring causes the firing pin to hit the percussion cap (8) — higher accuracy and a longer range.
a copper shell covering the bottom of the cartridge — with enormous force.

2
7 8
1 3

To prevent the paper cartridges from getting damp

and becoming difficult to ignite, dip them in paraffin
wax (page 84).

FLINTLOCK
The most complicated element of a firearm is the mechanism that ignites
the explosive. The hammer (1) has a set of jaws (2), which hold a piece
of sharpened flint (3) or any other material that sparks easily. When the gun
is cocked, the spring (4) is highly compressed. When you press the trigger,
the hammer is released and the flint strikes a steel plate (6). Simultaneously,
the flash pan (7) holding the gunpowder opens. The flint striking the plate
causes it to spark, igniting the gunpowder on the flash pan. The fire from the pan
spreads further into the barrel and an explosion occurs, pushing the bullet.

9 10 AUTOMATIC WEAPONS
The breechblock (9) is held under tension by a return spring (10). When fired,
combustion gases enter the gas outlet and put pressure on the gas piston (11).
This, in turn, presses on the catch. The bolt is released, and the pressure from
the combustion gas pushes it back into its initial position. This cocks the firing
mechanism, ejects the spent cartridge case and compresses the return spring,
simultaneously loading a new cartridge from the magazine.

262 263
ta nk Military Military tank

2
1 ARMOR

A
tank is a mobile fortress that can traverse any terrain, Reinforce the hull with steel sheet armor. You can increase protection
overcome obstacles, ensure the safety of your personnel by adding layers of aluminum, which has a high density and is good at slowing
and also fire on enemy forces. This armored vehicle has 4 down incoming projectiles, as well as projectile casings using sand and ceramic
such a menacing appearance that it may simply scare some of your balls. For additional protection, install hinged screens with plates at an angle
enemies away. to the projectile trajectory. The smaller the angle, the less damage you sustain.

TOWER
Use a gyroscope (page 172) to maintain the gun's tilt angle and sight precision.
Even as the tank rolls over rough terrain, the gyroscope will help keep your
aim accurate. The turret is a removable part of the structure, so the tank
can be used not only as a weapon but also for more peaceful activities.
8
12 5
TREADS
By using treads, tanks essentially carry their own road with them. They increase 7
the area of contact with the ground so they don’t sink into the mud and help
you get over obstacles such as ditches: A long enough tread will touch the other 6
side of the ditch before the tank starts to fall through. Treads are also perfect
for diggers or other heavy vehicles on a construction site or quarry.

10
9 13
3

Treads are composed of many links connected at pivot points using steel pins The engine (12) powers the transmission and rotates the drive wheels (13), 1. Entrance hatch 6. Gun elevating gear 11. Gear lever
2. Periscope 7. Projectile transporter 12. Engine
and locking washers to form a long loop. The tracks must have protrusions which pull the tread (14) backward, propelling the tank forward. If both treads
3. Combined additional armor 8. Ammunition complement 13. Drive wheels
at the bottom to provide traction. move at the same speed, the tank moves straight. If one side is moving slower, 4. Turret with 360-degree rotation 9. Radio station 14. Treads
the tank will start to turn towards the slower side. 5. Long-range weapon 10. Surveillance devices

264 265
Coilgun Military Military Coilgun

T
he force of firearms is limited by the expansion of the gases Not a more powerful explosive but a completely different form of energy.
produced when they combust. Therefore, in order to lead Remember that it’s better to use energy for peaceful purposes, but if peace
the “artillery revolution”, you’re going to need a new technology. is not an option, address the situation through your coilgun.

To give your weapon the power it needs to be effective, you need to fortify the base structure.
But then how do you make such a bulky machine mobile? Place it on railroad tracks and
distribute the necessary pieces across several cars: the cannon on one car, the power source
on another and the control station bringing up the rear.

2 4

A stabilizer on the tail end of the projectile

will help direct its flight path. 2
SUPERCAPACITOR
Coilguns require a power supply that is robust and rapidly-discharging —
a supercapacitor. For energy storage, it is best to use high-capacity
Use electromagnetic energy to launch the projectile. The gun consists of several The current runs through each magnet successively and is dumped from electrostatic capacitors. They are capable of accumulating a large electric
coils with wound copper wire (1), a barrel (2) made of a non- or minimally the capacitor (3) to the wire (1), propelling the projectile (4). The shorter 1 charge and produce a large current when discharged.
conductive material — for example, ceramic (page 136) — and a robust power and more powerful the generated impulse, the faster it goes. The projectile
source (3). An electric current is run through the coil, creating a magnetic field must be made of a ferromagnetic material, such as steel (page 110). A capacitor is a relatively simple device to manufacture. Place two electrodes
and drawing the projectile into the barrel. To achieve the necessary launch speed, consisting of metal plates inside the casing (1) and fill the space between
you must use a stepped acceleration system involving several electromagnets them with a layer of dielectric material (2) as an insulator, such as rubber
lining the length of the barrel. or resin (page 116).

266 267
EVERYDAY
LIFE
Alarm clock Everyday life Everyday life Alarm clock

Noise

E
volution has given humans a rather intricate mechanism for measuring Sharp, shrill or sudden noises cause the brain to jump into action. These sorts
time that helps them know when to fall asleep and wake up — their of sounds can be produced by a ball attached to a release rope falling into a glass
or metal container. The harsh and unpleasant sound is perceived as an alarm
circadian rhythms. Just like height or shoe size, everyone’s rhythm
signaling danger. Therefore, if you want a more soothing start to the day, choose
is unique to their body. But when life gets in the way, with red-eye flights softer and more harmonious sounds.
and late nights working to change the world, the system can malfunction.
You have to reboot your biological clock with the help of a mechanical one. Light
When exposed to darkness, the body produces the sleep hormone melatonin.
Therefore, to interrupt this production process, and consequently produce
a wakeful state, simply turn on a light bulb. Automate this process with the help
of a string and an aromatic candle.

Motivation
Use your weaknesses to your advantage.
If the smell of your favorite coffee doesn’t
rouse you from your slumber, maybe
the threat of lost money or discomfort
of an icy cold shower will compel you
to jump out of bed.

Water Alarm Clock

Find four vessels. Arrange the first two
so that water flows from the upper vessel into
the lower. By changing the volume of the lower vessel
and the rate of flow of the liquid, you can adjust
Combine shredded sandalwood or agarwood with other fragrances, such the time it takes for the vessel to fill. When,
after the calculated time, the second vessel is full,
as incense, patchouli, cloves or camphor (page 200). Add water and other
the water will quickly flow through a thin tube
ingredients to regulate the burning rate: clay slows it down and rubber tree into the third vessel, which is entirely closed
sap (page 116) speeds it up. Shape the resulting paste into a spiral shape except for a small hole. As water rushes in,
on a flat, fireproof surface and attach a wick to the outer edge. Increase it displaces the air, forcing it out through
the small hole and producing a melodic sound.
or decrease the size of the spiral so that it burns out at precisely the time you
Just make sure you wake up before the water
want to wake up. Once the spiral burns out completely, it will ignite the wick completely fills the third vessel and begins
on the other end, triggering the alarm mechanism attached to it. to flow into the fourth...

270 271
Toothbrushing Everyday life Everyday life Toothbrushing

TOOTHBRUSH

T
here are billions of microorganisms living in human mouths. You can lose your teeth because of it, but this is only the beginning. Over time, A bristle toothbrush consisting of hog bristles quickly removes plaque from The natural bristles have a small cavity inside that holds moisture. Over
Microorganisms present in the oral cavity form a layer of bacteria a knock-on effect allows these bacteria to infect other organs. Routine dental your teeth. That's handy but not safe; over time, these bristles can damage time, microorganisms inhabit this cavity, and with each use, they move into
on oral surfaces. Decay-causing bacteria in your mouth make acids hygiene practices can eliminate these bacteria; thus, it is essential to brush tooth enamel. Horse-hair bristles are softer. Marine sponges are perfectly stiff the mouth. Therefore, you should change your natural-bristle toothbrush
that attack the tooth's surface, or enamel. teeth at least twice daily. but harder to attach to a handle. very frequently.

TOOTHPASTE
All you need to make toothpaste is a liquid and a powder.
The abrasive particles of the powder scrub away stains
and plaque on your teeth, while the liquid gives
the toothpaste a smooth texture. You can use chalk,
salt, soda or a mixture of them as a powder. Chewing
on such things, however, offers a less-than-pleasant
taste. You need to use some flavoring agents.

Flavoring
To brush your teeth with pleasure, use an herbal
decoction instead of water. There are natural
ingredients such as honey, propolis, chamomile,
oak bark and aloe vera extract that have natural
antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Use your favorite flavors: maybe some cocoa
powder, a pinch of hot pepper or ground
mint leaves?

MECHANICAL BRUSH
This is a toothbrush that makes rapid, automatic brushing motions,
either back-and-forth oscillation or rotation oscillation, in order
to clean teeth. This means that the brush head alternates in both
a clockwise and counterclockwise rotation. A winding mechanism
is needed to make the movement smooth.

The coiled steel spring (page 40) is attached at one end

to the brush head and at the other to the winding axle.
When the key is wound, the spring will wind tighter
on the axle, storing mechanical energy. When the spring
unwinds, the winding axle will begin to rotate and drive
the pinion. From it, the rotation is transmitted
to the axle on which the bristle head is attached.
When the spring is fully unwound, the brush
Rinsing your mouth will stop. You can adjust the length of the spring
You should brush your teeth right
after you eat. If this is not possible, and the speed at which it springs up and down
at least rinse your mouth with so that it spins for at least two minutes.
an herbal tincture or water with
a drop of essential oil. As plaque
thickens and matures over time,
it becomes harder to remove.

Every morning and evening, brush

your teeth for at least two minutes.
The toothpaste substances that
strengthen the enamel start working
after only a couple of minutes.

The stylish accessory Toothbrush alternatives

A beautiful form helps make brushing your teeth A natural toothbrush from the Arak tree (Salvadora persica)
a habit you enjoy. Carve a decorative handle out is easy to use and replace. Just chew the end of a twig or root.
of animal bone or wood. It feels so inviting to touch The fibers will turn into a brush that will clean your teeth.
warm wood. You can carve patterns on the handle If there is no Arak tree around, try to find a twig of any other
or embed gemstones. non-poisonous fibrous plant.

272 273
R e f r ig e rat o r Everyday life Everyday life Refrigerator

OBTAINING AMMONIA

W
hen faced with the problem of food You’ll need a source of urea — urine collected from the sewage
spoilage, placing food in a box with system (page 156) — and quicklime, produced by roasting
ice seems like a logical solution. limestone in a kiln. Add crushed soybeans or peeled watermelon
But there’s an even more clever option — you seeds. They contain urease, a special enzyme that is a catalyst 1
can draw the heat from the food and pump for the decomposition of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. 2
it out. Invent the heat pump and you can Heat this mixture in a flask (1) and pass the released gas through
build a refrigerator. It will keep food fresh a container with quicklime (2) to remove the water vapor and
for longer, cool your drinks and warm carbon dioxide.
you with the knowledge that there’s always
3
a good meal waiting at home. Direct the purified ammonia into a container with distilled
water (3) chilled to ice cold. (To do this, you can place this
container in a larger vessel filled with ice water.) Blow the gas
through the water until no more dissolves. Ammonia is highly
soluble in water at low temperatures and releases a lot of heat,
so be sure to add fresh ice to cool it down. Keep this solution
at a low temperature or the ammonia will evaporate. Handle
with care — ammonia is poisonous!

5 8 4 HEAT PUMP
The heat pump consists of two spherical
metal containers (4, 5) connected by a strong
6 7
steel pipe (6) and a siphon valve (7). Heat
will be pumped between them, first in one
direction during the charging step then
in the other while operating. Fill one container
with the previously obtained saturated
solution of ammonia in water. Then seal
the containers tightly.

Heat the ball containing ammonia (5) and place

4 the second ball (4) in a container of cold water.
5 When heated, the gas dissolved in water begins
to evaporate, moves through the tube (6) into
the cold ball (4) and condenses into liquid
ammonia. The siphon valve (7) allows ammonia
to pass through but prevents water from entering
the tube. You should heat the ammonia ball
over a small flame for 1.5–2 hours.

REFRIGERATION DEVICE 5 4
Cool the hot side (5) by placing it in a container of water. When it cools
down to ambient temperature, the heat pump is charged and the refrigeration
mechanism is ready for use. So how exactly does it work? The liquid ammonia
in the cold ball (4) absorbs a lot of heat as it evaporates, effectively removing
the heat from anything placed near it. The gaseous ammonia transfers this heat
outside, where it condenses and moves back to the hot side (5). In turn, heat
is transferred from this ball to the surrounding air.

Make a refrigerator by inserting a heat pump into an insulated box with a lid.
Refrigerators work by pumping heat from One of the simplest versions is based on evaporating ammonia. You can use a material like sheep felt (page 120) as an insulating material.
the inside and releasing it on the outside. When ammonia evaporates, a large amount of heat is absorbed, Keep in mind that the ammonia evaporation process takes up to 36 hours.
This is accomplished by a special device known and during the reverse process of condensation, when it During this time, the gaseous ammonia will move back into the hot side
as a heat pump. is transformed back into a liquid, this heat is released. and dissolve in the water.

274 275
Kitchen Appliances Everyday life Everyday life Kitchen Appliances

HEATING ELEMENT

F
inally, technology that does more than help Household appliances are like play sets for adults — To heat your food, you’ll need thermal energy, which can be generated Aside from having high electrical resistance, which causes the element to heat
you explore new lands and terrify your once you’ve created a few prototypes, you can add by an electric current. For your foundation, use a wire or tape made of metal up, these alloys also form a surface layer of chromium oxide the first time they
enemies! Now you can use it to whip up new details and functions or even combine them alloys that has high resistance and can withstand high temperatures for are heated, protecting the surface from further oxidation. It’s best if you enclose
a cup of tea, a sandwich or a waffle. to make multi-use tools that will simplify your life. a long time. An alloy of nickel and chromium (in an approximate ratio of 4:1) the heating element for safety and durability.
fortified with manganese, silicon, iron or aluminum (page 110)
is the optimal choice.

FOOD PROCESSOR
Cast the hollow body (1) from iron. Or mold two
symmetrical pieces using a hydraulic press (page 238),
and then weld them together (page 142).

5 3
Do this by hermetically sealing Many different devices can be made using
and insulating the heating element. this heating element as a base. Just make
Place the coil in a brass or stainless an appropriate casing and add extra details,
steel tube (page 240) and fill the tube such as a grate for a grill, a door for a toaster
1 with quartz sand. Carefully insulate oven or a diffuser for a space heater. During
the ends of the tube. the design process, you can come up with
8 4 different devices for maintaining a constant
Connect the heating element to an electric temperature — for example, a thermal
current using a solid brass rod as a contact pin. regulator that breaks the electrical circuit
6 Meat, vegetables or fruits placed in the intake opening (2) Now you have a unique device to convert when the temperature gets too high.
are captured by a rotating screw shaft (3). The shaft, which electrical energy into heat!
is driven by the handle (4), pushes the material inside
the combine while crushing it into smaller pieces.

9 7

As the crushed material moves further inside the machine, it approaches You can adjust the thickness of the cut by changing the depth and shape
the scoring knife (5), a small four-bladed piece that grinds the pieces even of the slots in the cylinder, which can be made using a milling machine For the thermal regulator, use a bimetallic plate When an electric current passes through the circuit, When the plate cools down, it again closes
smaller. Then the food is forced through a grate (6), making the grind even (page 144). The food processor must be securely attached to the work surface. soldered from metals with different thermal the plate heats up and lengthens. The copper part the contact, turning on the device. With this
finer. To transform the grinder into a grater, all you need to do is remove To do this, you’ll need to attach a footplate (8) to the body of the meat grinder, conductivity, such as iron and copper. One end of the plate lengthens more than the iron part, element, you can create toasters, electric stovetops
the screw shaft, cutting knife and grate from the body and fix a special metal which will sit on the surface of the table. Attached to the footplate is a movable of the plate must be fixed within a holder inside causing the plate to bend and move away from or electric kettles. And with a little know-how, you
nozzle (7). element with a clamp (9), which secures the food processor to the table and the device, and the other is left free but used the contact, breaking the circuit and switching can create other devices to simplify your life, such
should be made from a durable material. to close the power supply circuit. the device off. as the plumbus.

276 277
Clothing Care Everyday life Everyday life Clothing Care

STEAM GENERATOR
Water breaks the hydrogen bonds that hold together the cellulose chains Steam is the most important element of the iron. When you press the lever (3)
in cotton or linen. Once the material dries, the bonds reform in other places. located on the handle, the valve opens and a powerful jet of high-pressure

I
f you’ve started to feel the need to clean and press your clothing, This is how wrinkles appear. A little steam will set everything right. Use steam runs from the hose into the cavity of the iron and escapes through
congratulations — your civilization is advancing. But you can go even a hose (2) to connect a steam generator (1) to your iron. Once the water holes in the soleplate (4). The heavier the iron, the more effective it will be.
further. Lest the arduous task of hand washing and ironing clothes distract starts boiling, the pressure will push the steam into the iron cavity. Cast iron is an ideal choice.
you from the more pressing work involved in rebuilding civilization, entrust
the task to household appliances.

1
2
1 5
HEATING ELEMENT
The heating element (5) will heat the soleplate (4).
Pour alcohol into the reservoir and ignite (6).
1. Detergent drawer
2. Heating element 4 As it burns, it will heat the coil (7) in the body,
3. Control panel 6 thereby gradually raising the temperature
4. Thermostat of the soleplate. The valve (8) located
5. Pressure sensor on the supply hose allows you to regulate
6. Water supply hose
7. Spinning laundry drum the rate of flow of the alcohol to increase
8. Drain hose or decrease the temperature.

7 3
5

8
2
6
3

DRUM
Make a spinning basin with ribs running vertically up the inside surface.
As the drum rotates, these ribs will hold the laundry in place as it is pressed up
against the wall of the tub. Once it reaches the highest point, the laundry falls,
smacking against the bottom of the laundry basin. This mechanical force is more 4
effective than rubbing by hand. When the drum rotates at speeds higher than
400 rpm (revolutions per minute), centrifugal force wrings the laundry out.
The more revolutions, the drier the laundry will be. The drum rotation drive
can be based on muscular, mechanical or electrical energy.

278 279
Jeans & zipper Everyday life Everyday life Jeans & zipper

I
f you're now puzzling over the problem of how to provide work clothes Denim is made from cotton (page 120). Twist several threads together
for an entire community, there is a good solution — jeans. They can to increase the tensile strength. It's easier to dye individual yarns rather than
be produced quickly and can last for decades. Each stage has a secret the dense finished product. Dye the yarn using indigo.
step that improves durability.

DYE
Indigo can be obtained from the leaves of indigofera (legume family), or from Don't be alarmed: The solution will be yellow, but the filaments will turn blue
dyer's woad (crucifers family). Soak the leaves in water and let them ferment when exposed to oxygen. Dip the threads into the solution then wring them
for a couple of weeks. Mix lye (page 24) into the resulting concoction, press out. Repeat the cycle 7–10 times. Afterwards, treat the threads with cornstarch
it, dehydrate it and grind it into a powder. Dissolve it in a mix of water and to make the fabric stiffer.
sulfuric acid.

FABRIC
A twill weave will imbue your fabric with strength and beauty. Use 3 blue
threads (longitudinal) and 1 white (transverse). This weave produces
a denser material that will protect the fabric from damage and dirt.

ZIPPER BOLT AND RIVET

Make the fittings for your jeans out of metal. It is easier and faster to make jeans with rivets.
This way, the pants will last longer. A zipper is For thick, coarse fabric, such fittings are more
tricky and time-consuming to make but well worth suitable than the usual buttons. A rivet consists
the effort. Fasten staggered metal prongs along two of a shank that bursts through the fabric and
CUTTING AND SEWING strips of ribbon. The shape of the prongs must be a cap that covers it. One blow of the hammer
In one fell swoop, you can make pants for your entire workforce. The secret asymmetrical, with a ledge on one side and and the shank is in place. A second blow secures
is in the cutting. Stack 100 layers of fabric together and place the paper patterns a groove on the other. They should overlap the cap. The rivet is the most important element.
on top. A jigsaw cutter will help you slice through all the layers at once. In just when aligned. Hooks can be made from flat wire. Metal rivets are what make the jeans strong and
a few strokes, you'll have the pieces for 100 pairs of jeans. A great time saver! The zipper runner connects the two ribbons durable, as they reinforce all the key places.
All that's left is to sew the pieces together. Double up the stitches on the seams by meshing the prongs together so that they Thanks to the rivets, the pockets are able to bear
to make the pants sturdier. This protects the fabric from wear and tear. interlock with each other. the weight of work tools.

280 281
Perfume Everyday life Everyday life Perfume

T
he olfactory system in the brain is cross-connected with areas Use aromas as your allies, because it's a rare person who doesn't have
associated with memories and emotions. The soothing scent a sense of smell. And if you had it and recently lost it, you should probably
of lavender will help you fall asleep, while just a whiff of fresh see a doctor.
coffee in the morning can raise the dead.

Enfleurage Percolation
Enfleurage is a process that uses fats to capture the fragrant compounds The plant material is soaked in alcohol
exuded by plants. Raw materials (for example, flower petals) are placed until the aromatic elements are infused.
on a glass frame with clarified beef fat or on a cloth soaked in olive oil. This extraction method allows you to obtain
As soon as the petals wilt, replace them with new ones. After about a month, essential oils from the “dead” part of plants; INCENSE
the fat will be saturated with the fragrance. Now, you must dissolve it for example, from the root of the iris plant. Aromas can be used not just on the body but in the home. Make incense —
in alcohol and isolate the essential oil. This process requires that the container a perfume for your room. Incense creates an atmosphere and can help you
be shaken for a long period of time, but you can place the containers focus on having a productive day or fall asleep more quickly. Grind solid
on vibrating platforms connected to a motor to make the work easier.
aromatic compounds into a fine powder and mix with a combustible base.
This will bind the aromatic ingredients together and allow the incense
to smolder evenly. Ground sandalwood makes an excellent base, as well
as cedar, pine and juniper. As a binding element, use a natural water-soluble
glue such as gum arabic (acacia resin). Add 10% of the total weight
in saltpeter (page 124).

For high-quality incense, use at least one aromatic resin in every recipe.
Some good candidates are frankincense (the resin of trees in the genus Boswellia)
and myrrh (the resin of trees in the genus Commiphora). Coat thin sticks
in the mixture or form the paste into the shape of a cone, let it dry and ignite it!

ULTRASONIC MECHANICAL HUMIDIFIER 3

You can fill your home with fragrance with an ultrasonic mechanical
To make the aromas more saturated and long-
lasting, you need ambergris — a gray wax-like humidifier. The device will spray tiny particles of water and oil around
substance formed in the stomach of sperm the room. Here’s how it works: Water is fed into a chamber with an ultrasonic
whales. After decades of sitting in the whale’s emitter that turns it into a fine mist that is then distributed around the room. 2
stomach as it wanders the sea, the ambergris The emitter can be a curved metal plate (1) that vibrates at a very high
acquires a sweet, musky smell that is almost
imperceptible in the final perfume. frequency upon impact, propelling microscopic water droplets into the air.
The pins (2) attached to the shaft hit the plate, setting it in motion. The intake
pipe (3) draws in air. Inside the device, this air is saturated with the tiny
droplets of water and oil then pumped back into the room (4). All you need
is some sort of energy source — for example, a battery (page 192) connected
to a motor. 1
Pressing Distillation
Cold pressing is great for extracting oil from peels. Take the peel of an orange, lime Distillation uses water vapor to obtain certain essential oils (for example, rose, geranium, mint
or grapefruit, add a little water and place it under the press. You can also use the crushed or coriander oils). The exact same process is used to make moonshine (page 117). The raw The aromas of the surrounding environment have a physiological effect on people. They can
fruit along with the pulp. Let the resulting liquid settle so that the oil rises to the surface. material is immersed in nearly boiling water or heated with steam. Essential oil molecules mix increase or decrease the heartbeat, calm or excite, change moods and even increase cognitive
Skim this oil from the top and store it in a sealed glass flask. with the steam and rise through the tube into the cooling tank. There, they once again condense abilities. Orange is a soothing scent, good for waiting rooms in dentist offices. And mint helps
into a liquid, and the water and oil separate due to their different boiling points. you concentrate and make fewer mistakes when completing a task.

282 283
Lock & key Everyday life Everyday life Lock & key

SAFE LOCK

I
nventors are generally searching for the best way to make their creations But with locks, the situation is somewhat different. The more clever and The correct code is entered using a rotary dial knob with notches and Now spin the dial counterclockwise once all the way around past zero to reset,
easily accessible and to optimize the production process. The simpler complicated the mechanism and the more “unnecessary” details it employs, numerical markings (1) around the outside. Mounted on a pin (2) inside and then to the second number in the sequence (II), which then allows you
the structure and the fewer unnecessary details, the cheaper it will be the harder it will be for criminals to crack it. the lock case is a piece known as the “lever” — a spring-loaded hook arm to move the lever and slide the bolt back. Combine several types of locks
to replicate. connected on one side to the bolt. Behind that are several stacked discs (4) (padlock, tumbler, combination). The more complex the combination,
that share a single axis of rotation (5). Each disc has a notch (6) and the more secure your possessions will be.
is constructed in such a way that when the correct three-number sequence
is input, the notches align, allowing the hook of the lever (3) to slide into
the groove made by all three notches. As you rotate the dial again, the lever I II
PIN TUMBLER LOCK PADLOCK catches on the groove, pulling the bolt to one side and unlocking the door. 1
Mount the lock case into the door. The secret of the locking A pin lock with a hinged shackle (6). When the key aligns with the pins (7), To open the safe, turn the dial clockwise to the first number to slide 6
2 5
mechanism is in the pairs of metallic pins (1, 2). The pins the posts lower and release the cylinder (8), which is holding the spring (9) the notch on the first disc (I) into place.
are spring-loaded (3). When the proper key is stuck into the lock, under tension. This opens the latch, releasing the shackle (6). 3
the teeth (4) of the key push the lower row of pins up so that
the gap between the two rows of pins comes into perfect
alignment, allowing the plug (5) to rotate. If the teeth of the key 6 3
don’t align perfectly, the pins will block the plug from turning.
4 6 5 4
You can also make a lock that seizes up when someone tries 8 9
to break or pick it. For example, use glass rods to hold
the springs of the pin mechanism in a compressed state. 7
Any impact or attempt to drill or cut through the lock
will shatter the glass rods, releasing the pins and permanently
blocking the keyhole.

5 2 4

COMBINATION LOCK
You can even make locks that don’t require keys at all. Instead, they use
a series of rotating metal discs inscribed with symbols on the outside and
notches on the inside. The cylinder with the keyhole contains spikes that
hook into the rotating discs. When the notches in the discs align with
the teeth on the pin, the lock can be opened. The more discs there are,
the more secure the lock will be.

284 285
Pen & pencil Everyday life Everyday life Pen & pencil

PEN INK

W
hat is man’s first impulse after inventing the spear and hunting Making a pen or pencil is relatively easy, and they’ll serve you well Make a paper template of your desired nib shape (experiment with different If you live by the sea, slice open a cuttlefish for an instant inkpot. If you don’t
his first mammoth? To commemorate the victory by carefully until the first electronic keyboards hit the market. And in some more types and sizes to get the preferred line thickness) and transfer it onto a sheet have molluscs on hand, you can mix soot and vegetable oil in a 1:1.5 ratio.
sketching a depiction of the battle on the walls of their cave. bureaucratically inclined societies, pens serve a more ritualistic purpose. of iron. Cut out the pattern, heat, and then shape around the body of the nib.
As civilization develops, writing utensils quickly follow suit. Grind the tip down with emery until you’re left with the desired shape. Cut
a slot for the ink to flow through. The ink saturation depends on the length and
width of this slot. By the way, you can solder a slotted metallic ball to the pen tip
to ensure a smooth stroke.

1. Nib
8
2. Feed
3. Air channel
4. Ink transfer channel
5. Buffer between ink reservoir and tip
(a certain amount of ink is held here
to prevent overflow)
Graphite, which can be used in its natural 6. Ink reservoir
form, is the base of the pencil. If you don’t happen 7. Clip for hanging on your shirt pocket
to have a vein of graphite nearby, you can create 8. Cap
thin twigs of charcoal. You can also use a length
of lead wire (as long as you’re not in the habit
of biting your pencils).

6
There are also plant-based alternatives: Take a gall, or “oak apple,” Gather some inkcap mushrooms, which grow on manure,
which grows on the leaves of the oak tree. Grind it up and boil for a couple and allow them to rot. Filter the resulting liquid then add
of hours or cover with water and leave to infuse for several days. Add a solution a binder and cloves. If you mix this solution with ordinary
of ferrous sulfate (obtained by dipping rusty nails in vinegar) to the cooled
5 ink, you’ll be left with a means of protecting important
solution. Thicken the mixture with cherry tree resin or glue (page 140). You can documents: After drying, the spores form a unique pattern
The amount of clay you add determines the degree of hardness Put the resulting paste through a mincer with a small hole that can be used to prove its authenticity.
also use the tannins in tea leaves (page 64) or an extract of dyer's madder root.
of the pencil lead. Want to paint the world in color? Use white diameter. Now you must dry the paste and fire it in a kiln. Add ginger or clove to make sure the ink keeps for several years. 4
clay and dye for the lead. In this step, the starch is burned out, forming pores in the
lead. To make the pencil glide more smoothly, dip soft leads
in hot grease and hard ones in wax.

3
To prevent the handle from leaking, you need a feeder. This is a specially For increased secrecy, write with lemon juice or milk.
shaped sleeve hidden under the nib. On top, there are one or two capillary The highlight of this “ink” is that it’s not normally visible.
channels through which ink flows to the pen. Feed channels act as a sort Only heat will reveal the secret message.
Combine your powdered graphite, clay and water. Mix until of buffer, allowing excess ink to accumulate.
1
it reaches a homogeneous consistency. Add some sort of binder,
for example, dextrin — carbohydrates produced by the hydrolysis
of starch (page 54).

286 287
pa p e r Everyday life Everyday life paper

P
aper keeps a chronicle of the past and present, as well
as visions of the future — both possible and impossible.
These XX pages hold the sum total of our ideas and
2 knowledge, from harebrained to genius. Add some of your
own right now — this blank sheet is for you. And, in fact,
it’s no longer blank.

8
PAPER MAKING
You’ll need spruce, pine or birch wood, as these trees contain
the longest fibers. Remove the branches and bark from the logs (1)
and use them to kindle a fire underneath a cauldron full of water. 7
Place the prepared log on top. The steam will soften the wood (2),
making it easier to pulp. Cut the wood into small chips and add
an alkali solution of sodium hydroxide (page 24) to the mix. Bring
to a boil and stir for at least 4 hours (3). The alkaline solution
will eat away at the wood chips, transforming them into wood
pulp, which can then be used to make brown paper.

If you need white paper, start by soaking it in a sodium hypochlorite solution. Wash any remaining chemicals out of the white wooly substance you’re left with
This can be obtained by passing an electric current through table salt using (5). Top off with more water until you reach a gruel-like consistency. Immerse
platinum electrodes. One side releases chlorine, which reacts with sodium a wooden frame with a fine mesh into the mixture and scoop up some paper
hydroxide formed near the other electrode, synthesizing the bleaching agent pulp. Spread it into a thin layer and wait for the water to drain (6). Then lay
sodium hypochlorite. Then rinse with a solution of sodium hydroxide, the pulpy mass on a square of felt and cover with another layer of felt (7).
or caustic soda, and let stand (4). Repeat the process, giving the paper Place in a press to squeeze out excess water and bond the fibers together.
another bleach and caustic soda bath. Carefully remove the sheet and let dry (8). Your paper is ready!

288 289
Condoms Everyday life Everyday life Condoms

1 3 5 6

L
ife is like a chess match: every step you take
has consequences. If you want to avoid
the unintended ones, use protection.
Glass, latex and cornstarch: three little ingredients
that can help you solve a variety of problems.

2 4 8 7

The quality assurance for this kind of product

must be at the highest level — just a single tear
or puncture has the potential to change
someone’s life drastically.

1. Glass forms give the future condoms their shape. They move
one after the other along the conveyor belt and are washed
and dried using a rotating brush after each production cycle.
2. Use latex (page 116), the concentrated milky sap of the rubber
tree, as your base material. This produces condoms that are
impermeable, strong, thin and durable. The liquid latex is mixed
in huge vats into which the glass molds are dipped. The latex
must be kept at a constant temperature of 25°C so that the water
doesn’t evaporate, causing the material to delaminate.
3. After dipping, the latex must be well dried in a stream of cold air.
4. Once this first layer is dry, the molds are redipped and dried
again. This extra layer fortifies the condom while keeping it
relatively thin.
5. A rotating brush then rolls up the end of the latex, forming a rim PREGNANCY TEST
around the opening. Later, it will be used to roll the condom During pregnancy, a woman has elevated levels
into a flat disc for packaging (which can then be unpackaged of a certain hormone — human chorionic
at the proper moment and applied by rolling back down). gonadotropin, or HCG — in her blood and
6. Now, the condom must undergo a 10-minute vulcanization urine. If you don’t have the means of analyzing
process (page 116) — a heat treatment designed to give the chemical components of blood, there are two
elasticity and durability to the final product. QUALITY CONTROL unusual ways to test if a woman is pregnant.
7. You can also remove the condom from the mold using a strong Every single condom must be checked for punctures. After inflating
stream of water. the condom with air, its elasticity and strength are tested. Water or electricity Use a syringe to inject a few drops of the woman’s
8. The flat, rolled condom must then be rolled in a fine powder is used to test the condom’s integrity. Fill the condom with water and roll it urine into a female frog. If after a day the frog starts
such as cornstarch. This will protect the latex from sticking over a piece of paper. If there are any leaks, they’ll show up as water spots spawning, then the woman is pregnant. The second
to itself or your skin. But when it’s being used, the condom on the paper. To test the integrity of the product with electricity, you need method involves injecting urine into a rabbit then
should be slightly damp. Hence, you’ll need to apply lubricant. to place a condom between two electrodes and run electricity through it. Since waiting 4 days before dissecting it. If the ovaries
Do not use oil-based lubricants, as they’ll destroy latex. latex does not conduct electricity, even a tiny defect will allow the current are found to be enlarged, it’s highly likely
Water-based or silicone-based lubricants will work fine. to pass through, which is instantly displayed on the meter reading. the woman is pregnant.

290 291
WORD
Pigeon mail Word Word Pigeon mail

H
uman beings are social creatures. They crave constant
communication even when hundreds of miles apart. If given
the chance to receive messages instantly, they will send thousands
a day. Fortunately, pigeons can’t fly that fast. But perhaps this constraint
will inspire people to be more thoughtful in their correspondence
and revive the lost art of letter writing.

EXCHANGING LETTERS
Build a dovecote to house your pigeons then take a few over to your neighbor’s
house in a basket. Whenever they want to send you a message, all they need
to do is attach a message capsule to the bird’s leg and release it. But this fine
feathered friend has one major flaw: Pigeon post can only be sent one way.
To respond, you’ll need one of your neighbor’s pigeons or another method
of communication, such as the telegraph (page 298).

SELECTING
YOUR BIRD
Pigeons have the innate ability to find
home from almost any distance, so you
can rest assured that your letter will always reach
its destination. There’s a special organ in the bird's
beak that acts as a magnetic compass, allowing it
to navigate. Search for pigeons with massive
beaks — they’re better suited for postal work.

TRAINING YOUR BIRD SAFETY MEASURES

Not every pigeon can be a professional postman. You've got to hand select Before sending your homing pigeon on its way, you need to feed and water him
the brightest, toughest candidates. They'll need to start learning the tools so that he doesn’t decide to take an unauthorized lunch break en route. Find
of the trade as soon as they can fly, at around three weeks old. In the first part a high, open space to release your pigeon to make it easier for it to find its way.
of their training, you should release your pigeons near home and pair newbies
with more experienced flyers. And feed the new trainees as soon as they return Just to be sure, send two birds with the same message — there’s always a risk
home — this will reinforce their homing instinct. that one of them will be attacked by a predatory bird. This may be a random
act of fate, but if you find your pigeons are disappearing regularly, you might
As soon as the new class graduates, it's time to play matchmaker. Pigeons want to investigate to see if someone has learned how to intercept your envoys
are very attached to their mates, and if your postmen find love along the side using hawks, merlins or other predatory birds.
of the road, they may never return. Instead, give them a honey to come home
to and keep the business in the family.

294 295
radio Word Word Radio

W
ith the invention of the radio, you’ll gain the opportunity
to transmit your voice across vast distances without getting tangled
up in wires. It’s not just a way to get a message out or play your
favorite song but also a powerful new tool for influencing the masses.
So if you send out a fictitious emergency broadcast saying that aliens have
landed and are threatening a war of the worlds, keep in mind that people
just might believe you.

LONG-DISTANCE COMMUNICATION
Radio as a means of telecommunication is based on the propagation
of electromagnetic waves. The distance at which they can be received
depends on the power and frequency of the signal. Very low frequency
radio waves (with wavelengths 10–100 km) can diffract around hills and
follow the curvature of the Earth. Shortwave radio (wavelengths 10–100 m)
reflects off a layer of electrically charged atoms high in the atmosphere called
the ionosphere and so can also propagate over very large distances. Other
wavelengths only work for line-of-sight transmissions.

VACUUM TUBE TRANSMITTER

Radio waves can also be used to send voice messages. But this is
a more complex process. You will need to assemble a transmitter using
simple electron tubes (1) known as triodes (page 198) and more
powerful transmitting triodes (2) that are cooled by air flow. A separate
transformer (5) is needed to run the heating circuit of more powerful triodes.
The microphone (3) (page 300) picks up the sound, and the circuit on one
triode amplifies this signal and modulates the amplitude of high-frequency
oscillations along with it. Then the overall signal is amplified and fed
to the antenna (4). The transmission frequency is determined
by the induction of the coils (7, 8) and the capacitance
of the capacitors (9, 10). A variable inductor (8) is used
to fine-tune the frequency (page 196).

9
3

6
10 4
1
1 2
RECEIVING RADIO SIGNALS
You’ll need a receiver to pick up the radio waves. The heart of the device
2
is a simple semiconductor diode. It can be made by heating an approximately
equal volume of sulfur powder and lead filings in a strong ceramic or glass 3
8 container. The dark gray, sparkly mass resulting from the chemical reaction
is known as galena, a crystal of lead sulfide. Attach a metal clamp connected 5
to an electrical contact (1) and press a needle (2) connected to another
contact to the surface. This is the simplest kind of detector you can make.
By finding the correct position of the needle on the detector and connecting
a coil (3), two capacitors (4, 5) and headphones (6) to it, you will be able
to receive voice radio transmissions. But what about batteries? You don’t need
them — the receiver is powered by the radio waves it receives.

5
296 297
Telegraph Word Word Telegraph

S
ending information across vast distances doesn’t always
require messengers. The invention of the telegraph
will allow you to do away with them entirely
by transmitting messages through electromagnetic waves. ENCODING A MESSAGE
Without any impenetrable thickets, oceans or high walls By encoding the alphabet using a series of long (dash) and short (dot) electrical
holding you back, the only barriers to communication that signals, any text message can be transmitted and received over distances
remain are the interpersonal. 6 of hundreds of kilometers, even with strong radio wave interference.
Take the duration of one dot as a single unit of time. Then the duration
of the dash will be equal to three dots. Take a dot-length pause
5 to differentiate between each character, a three-dot pause between
letters, and a seven-dot pause between words.
3

You’ll need to agree on some standard convention for what series of dots For example, the pangram, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”
and dashes will represent each letter, number and punctuation mark. Letters might look like this: - .... . / --.- ..- .. -.-. -.- / -... .-. --- .-- -. /..-. --- -..- /
that are used more often should be given simpler codes. This will make .--- ..- -- .--. ... / --- ...- . .-. / - .... . / .-.. .- --.. -.-- / -.. --- --.
the messages you send more concise. To help you memorize the alphabet and
test the skills of the telegraphers — that is, the people sending and receiving Urgent messages are better encoded using short phrases. For example, distress
messages — use pangram phrases containing all the letters of the alphabet. signals for ships at sea can be encoded as a short series of characters that
The telegraph is composed of a pair of well-insulated electric wires (1). 2 will sound like one word, without pauses between letters: three dots,
The circuit is connected to a powerful electric battery (2) that feeds three dashes, three dots: ...---...
two electromagnetic coils (3) at the ends of the line. The operator
at the transmitting end presses a key (4), closing the electrical circuit.
When a current flows through the circuit, the coil attracts the iron plate with
the pencil (5) attached, causing it to leave either a long or a short mark —
a dash or a dot — on the paper roll (6). Once you encode the alphabet
in dots and dashes, you can transmit any text messages over distances
of hundreds of kilometers.

6 3 6
SPARK-GAP TRANSMITTER RADIOTELEGRAPH RECEIVER
Avoid any wires whatsoever by developing a radiotelegraph. The simplest 4 The main element of the receiving end of the radiotelegraph is a glass tube
way to generate a wide range of radio waves is an electric spark. The spark filled with iron filings (1). On both ends of the tube are metal contacts
transmitter is a simple circuit controlled by a key switch (1). This turns connected to the ground (2) and antenna (3), respectively. When a passing
on the power from the batteries (2) of the primary winding of the step-up radio wave induces a voltage in the antenna, the current passing through
coil (3). To make one, wind a thick varnished copper wire around an iron the tube causes the dust to cling together, and the electrical resistance 7 2
core. A few dozen turns should suffice. In the same circuit, install an automatic drops sharply.
breaker — a contact that is attracted to the core when the current is activated 3
and opens the coil power circuit. This breaker turns direct current into a series This closes the circuit that connects the batteries (4) to the relay (5).
of short pulses. The secondary circuit of the relay turns on an electromagnetic bell (6)
that signals the reception of a radio signal. The bell hammer (7) strikes 1
Create a secondary winding (page 196) by twisting a thinner wire around the glass tube (1) during the reverse stroke, resetting it to its original state.
the same core. This one will need to be wound several thousand times. At the same time, the bell trill repeats the sequence of signals transmitted 5
This secondary winding increases the voltage to thousands, even tens by pressing the transmitter key — or the electrical noise of a thunderstorm
of thousands, of volts. This high voltage creates an electrical discharge raging tens of kilometers away from the receiver. So in addition to the radio
that bridges the gap (4) between two needle-like metal electrodes. 2 5 transmitter, you now also have a thunderstorm predictor.
Connect the grounding wire (5) to one side of the spark gap
and the antenna (6) to the other.
1

298 299
Telephone Electricity Electricity Telephone

I
t can be hard to define the exact moment a new era dawns. But when Telephone wires will wrap around the planet, connecting people through
the first telephone breaks through the silence, you’ll know that your a dense network of cables and switches and freeing them from the shackles
world is forever changed. of physical space. At least as far as information exchange goes. Teleporting
solid matter will take some more tinkering.

1
5

7
4
6

MICROPHONE 1. Microphone
To send a sound across vast distances, it must first 2. Speaker
be converted into an electrical signal. You’ll need 3. Wire
to construct a carbon microphone. Take two sheets 4. Switch lever
of metal, one very thin — around 0.05 mm thick 5. Diaphragm
or less. Seal them together with a small space 6. Contact sheets
between. Fill this space with carbon granules 7. Carbon granules
or graphite (page 286). The thinner plate acts 8. Diaphragm
as a membrane — a thin film that vibrates under 9. Voice coil
the influence of sound waves. When it bends 10. Permanent magnet
inward, the membrane pushes the carbon
granules closer to one another, and when it bends
outwards, the granules move farther apart. 3
2
Thus, the electrical resistance between the two SWITCHBOARD STATIONS
plates will also fluctuate, changing the current But how do you connect your phone to all the other people
in the circuit to which it is connected. This change you may ever want to call? You need an expansive network
in resistance is transmitted through the wires and intermediary connection points called switchboards.
to your conversation partner, where the telephone The telephone network begins at home with your own landline.
receiver will once again convert it into audible A pair of copper wires connects the phone to a thick cable
sound waves. But in order to do this, you’ll first 3 containing hundreds of wires from other local landlines.
need to construct a speaker. This cable then runs to the switchboard, where the cables
are once again separated, and each is attached to a switch.

The switchboard is a large board with many jacks: one for each
10 landline. Install a small lightbulb above each jack. When someone
picks up the receiver on their phone, the hook switch closes
9 the circuit and lets current flow through the wires between
SPEAKER your home and the switchboard operator. Wire the small light
Construct an electromagnet by wrapping a length When you pick up the receiver, the hook switch (4) bulb into the same circuit so that it is illuminated when
of copper wire around a hunk of iron. Connect this closes the circuit connecting you to the local the connection is made. The operator plugs their own microphone
to a light voice coil consisting of thin copper wire telephone operator, and a tone will sound — into the line and, after identifying who you would like to talk
(page 196) coated in an equally thin layer of rubber this is how the switchboard station signals that to, sends a “ring” signal to the receiving side. When the other
(page 116). Roll a piece of wax-covered paper into a connection has been made. When you place end picks up the line, the operator connects the wires of the two
a cone and connect it to the voice coil. When the phone back on the hook, the circuit is broken interlocutors. If you don't feel like paying operators to whittle
the audio signal moves through the voice coil, and the connection is interrupted. away their life connecting phone lines, create automatic
the cone vibrates in the constant magnetic field switching stations.
produced by the electromagnet, emitting sound.

300 301
Ciphers Word Word Ciphers

ENCODING MACHINE
2 There are several interchangeable rotors (1) — Any time the rotor turns, a new chain is formed,

T
he desire to know what others are doing is as old as communication wheels with electrical contacts interconnected so the same letter typed on the keyboard receives
itself, and people are willing to do a lot for information. The course by gears. Each is divided into 26 parts, one for each a new code each time. Once everything is encoded,
of lives, fortunes, even the destinies of entire countries can be 1 letter (2). By pressing the key with the letter (3), you’ll get a set of letter codes. They need to be
changed forever by a single message falling into the wrong hands. To make the outer rotor moves by one gear tooth. transmitted by radio to their addressee. The way
sure your secrets remain between you and your intended confidant, you’ll The electric circuit connected to the battery (4) the letters are eventually encoded depends
need to encrypt them — record the information in some sort of secret way. closes, and the current passes through all the rotors on the initial position of the rotors. Your addressee,
The letters of each word can be altered according to an algorithm and replaced to the light bulb with the corresponding letter (5). who has the same machine, will put the rotors
by other letters, numbers or symbols. You should learn your encryption This is used to encrypt the message. in the same position, type in the seemingly
algorithm by heart, as well as the way to decrypt messages, known meaningless set of letters received by radio and
as the key. There are endless options for secret codes! receive your decoded message.

RULER
A plank and string can become a simple device for encryption. Make
a notch (1) for each letter of the alphabet or symbol you wish to encrypt
and make a key indicating which indent stands for which letter. Make
a groove (2) in the center of one end of the plank. Now, fix your string 4
in this groove, marking your starting point, and pull it towards the notch
corresponding to the first letter of the encrypted text. Tie a knot where
the thread passes over the notch. Then return the string to the central slot
with this new knot as the starting point and repeat the process with
the remaining letters. When you have finished encryption, remove the thread
with knots from the board — this is your secret message. Whoever receives 1
the message should have an identical copy of the original encryption board
so that they can use it to “read” the knotted string.
2

DISC SQUARES
Make two discs of different diameters. Divide each into 24 sections. Draw a square with 36 cells. Then divide the field into four equal sections
Write the alphabet and numbers around the outside edge of the larger disc. and number each from 1 to 9. You should start by numbering the outer corners
On the smaller disc, write the same letters and numbers but in a different order. of the grid and move clockwise. Now mark the numbers from 1 to 9 so that
This will be the key to the cipher. Connect the disks together in the center they do not repeat in different sectors (for example, if you write a 2 in the first
so that the smaller disk rotates relative to the larger one. To encrypt text, zone, then it can no longer be used in other zones). Cut out the squares with
turn the wheel to a certain position and then write your message, replacing marked numbers — your lattice key is ready. To encrypt the text, attach the grid
the desired letter on the outer disc with the corresponding letter on the inner to a blank sheet of paper and fill in all the slots in order with the letters of your
disc. After that, move the inner disk and encrypt the new letter from the new message. When you run out of holes in one sector, rotate the grate 90 degrees II I
position. Continue the process until you’ve completed the entire text. and continue writing. You can make three such turns. As a result, the entire sheet 5
Now only those who have the same device and information about how of paper will be filled with completely unreadable text. The message can only be
you moved the discs during encryption will be able to read it. read with a grid. Write down and read characters down from the top and from
left to right.
SWITCHBOARD
BOOK CIPHER The switchboard (6) encodes messages by switching the input and output
Take a book to practice. Search through it until you find the first signals of the letters. Each letter has two sockets (7 and 8) connected by a wire.
word of the message you want to encrypt. Record its address: The signal coming from the switchboard panel is transmitted through the rotor,
the page number and the line where this word is located, 7 8 passes in turn through all four rotors (I) and enters the reflector (9). This fixed
as well as its numerical order on the line. Count the lines ignoring rotor, having received the signal, sends it back along a new path (II), which
titles. You will get a code consisting of three numbers. Repeat causes another signal transformation. Without the plugboard cables, the current
the procedure with all the words of the encrypted message. would go from the keypad-controlled switches straight to the input rotor
The result will be a sequence of three-number sets, for example: 6 and then to the code letter light bulb. But using the panel causes the two letters
to swap places before they get to the input rotor. The signal created when you
371, 17, 3 | 206, 4, 9 | 390, 12, 3 | 75, 3, 6 | 272, 25, 5 | 140, 22, 1 press the “A” key starts at position A, enters pin K and exits pin G at position
68, 1, 8 | 359, 4, 4 | 150, 5, 10 D. So the switchboard further complicates the circuit the encoded letter must
travel, thereby making the encryption more complex.
9 3

302 303
Typewriter Word Word Typewriter

STAMP INK

I
f you want to keep up correspondences, put all your paperwork in order Typewriters allow you to record and proliferate information quickly without To print on a typewriter, you need an ink-soaked cloth ribbon. The typewriter
and promote the advancement of the sciences, you’ll need a faster word forcing readers to parse out your chicken scratch. You can produce as many hammers press this ribbon against the paper, leaving an imprint of the letter
processing machine. identical copies of a document as you need, all in neat, readable print. behind. Use dextrin as a binder for the ink. Start by baking the starch powder
at 200°C until it begins to brown. Add alcohol, pigment diluted in water
and heated glycerin (it attracts moisture from the air so the tape won’t dry
out quickly). You can use soot obtained by burning coal as a pigment. Soot
is the powder left behind on the walls of a vessel after burning wood.

Your typewriter doesn’t have to be limited to letters.

You can also make machines that print musical notes,
or even emojis.

2
The central part of the machine is the hammers (1) with convex letters (2).
They are made from steel (page 240). Note that the stamps should be a mirror
image of the letter as you look at them so that they print the letter the correct
way on the paper. Each hammer is connected to the corresponding key (3)
by a lever system (4). The lever system allows the hammer to strike the paper
8
with the desired force, even when you press the key very lightly, so that the ink
will still leave a visible mark.
11
9
3
6
Each hammer has two letters on it: a lowercase
letter and a capital letter. They are placed one below
the other. You need to move the hammer up a little
5
to print the uppercase letter. For this, the base
4
to which all the hammer levers are attached must
be movable and connected by a system of levers
with a special button on the keyboard. Before the
letter touches the paper, the spool (4) with the ink-
soaked ribbon (5) is rotated to a specific angle using
4
toothed cone gearing. It is lifted up and clamped
between the letter and the paper (6).
2

The hammer strikes the paper, leaving

a stamp (7). When you lift your finger
1 from the key, the spring (8) pulls the
3 hammer back to its original position.
The carriage with the rubber rollers (9)
that holds the paper in place is moved
by a spring (10), a toothed wheel called
12 4 an escapement (11) and two levers.
The moment the hammer strikes
the roller, one of the levers slips off
the tooth of the wheel. At the same
time, the next tooth of the stepped
wheel grabs the second lever, which
stops the carriage from printing
the letter. The carriage shifts one space
to the left and is then held in place
again until the next hammer strikes.

You can add a system with a drive belt (12). The drive would
do the hammering, allowing the keys to be pressed with less
force. It will also increase your typing speed.

304 305
ART
pa int ing art art painting
mo d e r n art art art modern art

310 311
po e t ry art art poetry

O snail Climb
Mount Fuji,
But slowly,
slowly!

To be
or not
to be

312 313
t he at re art art theatre

314 315
origami art

316
tat t o o art art tattoo

318 319
Bonsai & Ikebana art art Bonsai & Ikebana

320 321
tricks art art tricks

322 323
MUSIC
music Music Music music

M
usic is a human phenomenon. There is no need to invent music — Music is the modulation and manipulation of these sounds. They can be
it arises spontaneously with humanity. Wherever you are, music consciously created to convey a certain mood. For the listener, music can be
will be there with you. And you already have your first musical an emotionally, psychologically and spiritually stimulating experience.
instrument: your body. Like any other physical object in the universe,
the human body is capable of producing vibrations that propagate through
time and space, producing sound.

THE DIAPHRAGM
AND THE SOUND “ATTACK”
The human voice is a perfect musical instrument. The powerhouse
is the diaphragm, a muscular organ that draws air across your vocal chords.
When you inhale, the muscles of the diaphragm contract, the volume
of the chest increases and the lungs fill with air. As you exhale, you can engage
your vocal chords to produce a clear sound. You can manipulate this sound
by moving your tongue, lips and teeth to change the shape of the resonant
cavity in your mouth or flex your vocal chords to produce different pitches.

Your body cavities amplify the sounds produced when singing and give the voice an individual
color, or timbre. The upper cavities (sinuses and nasal passages) give the voice its sonorous,
“buzzy” quality. The lower cavities (trachea, bronchial tubes and lungs) give the voice its soft,
strong bass tones.

THE VOCAL CORDS

A B The vocal cords (also called vocal folds) are two bands of smooth muscle
tissue found in the larynx. As air passes over the vocal cords from the lungs,
it vibrates them and produces sound waves. The size of the cords determines
the type of voice: People with low voices have longer and thicker cords, while
people with high voices have shorter ones. When we breathe silently,
the glottis is wide open (A), but when we sing, it narrows as the entrance
to the larynx is covered by the epiglottis (B).

PITCH
The pitch of a sound is determined by its vibrational Fixing the pitch of an instrument is what’s known
frequency. The size, length, thickness and elasticity as tuning. It’s important to do this to establish
of the resonant body influences the pitch it typical intervals between tones on a single
produces. The larger the area of the resonant body, instrument and to synchronize several instruments
the longer the wavelength and the fewer vibrations or voices with each other. A helpful tool is a tuning
per second. If two strings are put under identical fork — an acoustic resonator in the form
tension but one is shorter, the shorter string of a two-pronged fork with the prongs formed from
will produce a higher pitch, as it will vibrate faster. a U-shaped bar of elastic metal. This constant pitch
The hertz is a unit of measurement for frequency: can be used as a base for an entire musical system
one vibration per second equals 1 Hz. Different (page 340) and to make sure all the instruments
materials produce different characters and tones in your orchestra are in tune with each other.
of sound, known as the timbre. Our perception Otherwise, instead of heavenly harmonies, you’ll
of timbre is simply a feeling. It’s what we’re hear a chaotic cacophony of sounds. You might
All sounds have an effect on the body. Even those outside
describing when we say a sound is soft or harsh, need to tighten or loosen the tension on a string of auditory range can still be felt as vibrations. In other words,
dull or ringing, etc. until it matches the pitch of the tuning fork. people perceive sound with the entire body.

326 327
Jaw ha rp Music Music Jaw harp

S
ound needs a source of vibration. And for the sound to ring out loudly Forge the metal components from a corrosion- Bend the very tip of the tongue to form the loop
and clearly, you need resonance, achieved when sound waves reflect 2 resistant alloy and harden them at a high and trigger (4). The gap between the tongue and
off a surface and are amplified. The jaw harp vibrates and uses temperature (page 138). The frame of the jaw harp arms must remain even along the entire length
1
the resonance of the human body to modify the sound. You become consists of a ring (1) and two arms (2), which are of the inner frame — this is vital for the resonance
part of the musical instrument! pressed against the teeth. Create a notch at the of the jaw harp. You can weight this part with a thin
base of the ring and attach the tongue (3), which plate of the same material from which the tongue
can be made of any flexible material (steel, bamboo, is made.
3
bronze or brass). The tongue should be thin and
tapered towards the plucking end.

Press the jaw harp against your teeth but keep your jaw slightly
open to allow the instrument to move and vibrate freely. As you
pluck the trigger with your fingers, you create vibrations that
are transmitted to the oral cavity, which becomes a resonator.
And since the vibration comes from a solid object touching your
teeth, your skull and bones also begin to vibrate. Therefore,
the whole body becomes a resonator.

While the fundamental pitch remains the same, by changing

the shape of the oral cavity, closing and opening the throat
or raising and lowering the tongue, you can produce higher
or lower sounds, each rich in overtones. These occur
at frequencies that are integer multiples higher than
the base note (page 340).

Now you are an instrument!

Use the jaw harp as a tool of self-
discovery. Listen to your body and try
to hear how the sound changes as it
resonates through your bones. Relieve
any tension you’re holding from your
head down. Once you’ve relaxed, try
to groove on the vibrations and play
using the natural rhythms of your
Any body or cavity can be a resonator. The large surface area of a resonator body — for example, your heartbeat.
(for example, the body of a musical instrument) or the vibrations of a string When you notice internal changes, try
or reed enhance the sound. Resonators change the timbre and often increase to determine what rhythms affect
the duration of the sound. them. The dulcet tones of the jaw harp
are not meant to be recorded, as its
When you pluck the tine of the jaw harp, known as the tongue, it starts magic lies in improvisation. Playing
to vibrate at its natural resonant frequency. Sound waves are emitted from is akin to meditating or doing breath
the tine, and our ears perceive them as a particular tone. By changing the length exercises (page 348).
of the jaw harp’s tongue, you can change the pitch of the sound (page 326).

328 329
Drums Music Music Drums

M
usical and biological rhythms are interconnected. Therefore, One drummer can control a mass of people: strengthen the morale
music can affect a person's mood. A calm and measured rhythm and courage of warriors on the battlefield and make them act
can subdue the breath and put you in a state of meditation and in unison or suppress the enemy's will, causing chaos in their ranks.
trance; a fast one can set the rhythm of the heartbeat, making you tremble
with joy or shrink with tension or fear.

The tension of the drum's diaphragm determines the frequency of the oscillation.
The stronger the tension of the diaphragm, the faster it vibrates and the higher
the tonality of the drum. The amplitude of the vibration characterizes the energy,
the force of the sound.

THE DRUM
Use hardwood such as elm for Carve a pattern
on the inside of the frame.
the drum frame. Remove the bark and
Try to experiment with
RHY THM AND BEAT
the inside of the trunk to get a hollow ring. the geometry of the pattern. The rhythm may be defined as the way in which one or more unaccented The pattern of these sequences is mathematical. For example, in measure
The greater the diameter, the lower the sound. The hexagonal cells make beats are grouped in relation to an accented one. Each note is played for 3/4 there are one strong and two weak parts in one measure, each one
Dry the wood for several years. After priming the surface, the sound more resonant. its allotted period of time. It combines with other notes to form a rhythmic a quarter long. The emotional perception of rhythm is related to physiology.
This kind of drum is suitable
it should be smooth — roughnesses absorb sound. pattern. A musical phrase is made up of strong and weak parts. The strong The dominant rhythm first captures the motor center of the brain then stimulates
for street parties. Zigzag
Make the membrane out of leather. The leather ones give a softer sound. is the climax, which can be highlighted, for example, by the volume the endocrine system. The rhythm of the music spurs the rhythm of the heart,
should be thicker on the side on which it is drummed, Use these in drums for of the sound. The preparation for this climax is the weak lobe. The distance and the increased heart rate provokes the release of hormones.
and on the opposite side of the drum, it should be thin a small stage. Deep, (number of lobes) between the two strong lobes is the beat. The number
elongated cells provide
and sensitive to the vibrations being transmitted. By adjusting of strong and weak bars in one beat characterizes the size of a musical phrase.
a powerful thunder-like
the tension of the ropes pulling the diaphragm, sound. Use them Their alternation creates the "pulse" of the music, giving it the effect
you can change the sound. in military drums. of constant motion.

330 331
Berimbau Music Music Berimbau

BERIMBAU

M
usic can transform the static into The berimbau, a single-string percussion The bamboo stick (1) strikes the stretched string (2), creating a soundwave.
the dynamic. Musical instruments instrument, can set the rhythm (page 331) The string can be made from animal sinew (page 78) or steel wire (page 162).
spread vibrations through the air and control the dynamics, speed and vivacity Stretch it over a bent, flat branch. Soak the branch in hot water or steam it
around them. They are amplified by the body’s of the dance movements. Its thrumming tones can 2 to make it more flexible. To prevent the string from slipping and the stick from
natural resonators, allowing people to feel music make dances more organized, clear and thoughtful, splitting, wrap a thick layer of leather over the top. To amplify the sound wave,
with their entire beings. In response, like an echo, as well as enhance the energy. you’ll need a soundboard. Use a pumpkin: cut a wide round hole in one side
the body translates these soundwaves into dance. and two small holes in the other.
The conscious mind transforms the emotional tone
of the music into movement. Thread a rope through the two holes in back and tie it into a loop. Pull the loop
1 over the stick with the string stretched and tighten it. By pressing the string
with a flat pebble or coin, you can change the frequency of the sound.
The berimbau basically has three sounds: the open string sound, the high
sound and the buzz sound.

A small instrument called a caxixi is the perfect complement

to the sound of the berimbau. Weave a small basket with
a minimal opening, fill it with dry seeds, pebbles or shells and
cork the hole with a piece of gourd. While playing the berimbau,
hold the caxixi in the same hand as the bamboo stick.
By alternating the different sounds of the berimbau
and caxixi, you can create unique rhythms.

332 333
Saxophone Music Music Saxophone

SAXOPHONE

I
f you put your finger gently on a loudspeaker, The saxophone is characterized by a conical metal
you will feel it vibrate. If the note is low tube (1) and finger keys. The sound is produced
enough, you can even see it moving. When by the reed (2) vibrating. This curved plate vibrates
it’s pushed forward, it compresses the air in front the air exhaled by the musician, causing the entire
of it, raising the pressure. Some of this air flows air column in the saxophone body to vibrate.
outwards, compressing the next layer of air. The air exits through the resonating bell (3).
The disturbance in the air spreads outwards By opening the valves (4) on the body, you can
as a traveling sound wave. Wind instruments work change the length of the air column oscillating
by blowing into a hollow tube and altering its in the tube to obtain sounds of different frequencies,
length to change the resonant frequency or notes: Small holes produce high notes, and large
and thus the note produced. ones produce low notes. To play the lowest note,
all holes must be closed. There is an octave valve (5)
at the top to open one of the two holes that make
the note an octave higher.

REED
1 The main element of the saxophone is a small
piece of wood — the reed (2). It performs the
same function as human vocal cords when you sing
(page 326) — it produces sound. The plate can
be made from bamboo, rushes or reeds. The reed
is attached to the mouthpiece (6) with a clamp
5 made of metal or leather (7). The saxophone can
be tuned by sliding the mouthpiece in and out.
This will change the length of the instrument:
the longer it is, the lower the tone.
PAN FLUTE
7 On stringed instruments, sound waves move through the string and across An interval is just the distance between two sounds. You can replace the several
6 the body of the instrument. In the body of reed instruments, air columns move tubes with one and drill holes along the body. When all of them are open, you
back and forth. Connect several tubes of different lengths. In each one, the air produce the same sound you’d get by blowing into a tube as short as the length
2
can vibrate only at a specific frequency, meaning it produces one pitch to the first hole. If you plug all of the holes with your fingers, you’ll get the same
(page 326). A tube half the size of its neighbor will produce a note twice sound as blowing into a tube as long as the flute with no holes.
as high. As you blow and move your lips across the tubes, you’ll produce
different notes with different intervals between them.

4
SCALES
A column of air can vibrate as a whole or divide into parts. Dividing can
3 produce a series of sounds at specific frequencies. An unbroken column of air
produces a fundamental tone. A pillar divided into two parts sounds an octave
higher than the fundamental tone, and four parts sound two octaves higher.
An octave is an interval in which the ratio of frequencies between sounds is one
to two; that is, the frequency of sounds in each successive octave will be twice
as high as in the previous one.

A smooth increase (or decrease) in the frequency of a sound is a scale. The way
you choose to define intervals between notes and the octave boundaries are
purely conventional. Choose, for instance, a reference frequency of 440 Hz
(page 326). From this reference point, you can shift the pitch up and down
by increasing or decreasing the frequency. The sequence of various intervals,
tones and semitones forms a melodic pattern.

Playing certain reed instruments requires a special technique known as circular breathing.
Breathe in and begin to play, gradually exhaling into the instrument. When the air in your lungs
starts to run out, move the remaining air from your lungs into your mouth and squeeze it out
from there with your cheek muscles while simultaneously taking another breath in through your
nose. This allows you to play continuously without stopping for breath. The position of the lips,
tongue and facial muscles all change to accomplish this.

334 335
Organ Music Music Organ

M
usic is a thing removed from the material realm. It’s difficult Immersing yourself in this state can become a spiritual practice. An excellent
to analyze or qualify, as there is nothing tangible for us guiding voice on this journey is a musical instrument that can produce
to examine. That’s why when we listen to music. We rely only the entire audible range, from ultra- to infra-sound, which produces a tone
on our feelings, gradually switching from the rational to the emotional mind. as rich and impactful as an entire symphony orchestra — the organ.

PIPES
Organs are made with several tiers of pipes. Every tier has its own register,
meaning the pipes produce different notes of the same timbre (page 334).
A B The more registers an organ has, the wider its range. The lowest notes are
produced by wooden pipes with square cross sections (1). Metallic cylindrical
pipes (2) cover the higher range. А closed pipe produces a pitch twice
as low (one octave lower) than an open pipe of the same length. Organ pipes
also have different constructions. In flue pipes (A), the sound is formed
by an oscillating air column. In reed pipes (B), it’s not the air that vibrates
but a flat metal plate around which the air flows. The air pressure pushes and
vibrates the plate, propagating soundwaves that are then amplified within
the body of the pipe — the resonator. The shorter the opening in the reed,
the higher the sound.

6
7
3

OPERATING THE ORGAN

The bellows or fan (3) pumps air through a system of wooden boxes. The upper
part is divided by partitions into tone channels (4). The bottom “legs” (5)
of pipes of different registers are inserted into them. The channels are then
closed by spring-loaded valves. There are several keyboards operated both 8
by the hands (6) and the legs (7) on the console, each of which is connected
Harmony — coherence of the whole, born from the combination of opposites. It’s a subjective
to several registers. When a key or pedal is pressed, the movement is transferred concept; everyone perceives the sound in their own way. Dissonant chords create tension,
through wooden rods (8) to the valve (6), which then opens and allows while consonant chords resolve it. The interaction between the two is one of the foundational
compressed air to enter the channel. techniques of musical expression.

336 337
sitar Music Music Sitar

M
usic creates a stream of emotions, allowing us to process and The sitar can be customized and fine-tuned to your tastes. There is no single Your civilization can develop its own set of attitudes towards sound
express our realities and nurture the mind and spirit. Making standard — anyone can construct a sitar suitable for their own preferences and and performance, its own ways of perceiving and processing them.
music is a concentration method. Both while creating and skill level. It’s not only the strings that sound but also all of its structural parts. And the foundation of your musical composition doesn’t have to be limited
listening, the mind rises above the mundanities of everyday life, entering Each vibrates at its own frequency and sings with its own voice. And when to a linear melody based on a tonal sequence of sounds arranged in ascending
a state of self-observation that leads to the refinement of the soul. played, all the voices come together into a harmonious chorus. or descending order.

3 9

You can also create music

in which the sounds spiral,
coil by coil, creating a trail
of nuances and overtones.

4 4 4 4 4

5 5
6

3 7

The sitar is able to express the whole range of thoughts and feelings The body of the sitar is made from a pear-shaped gourd (1) that acts These react to the vibration of the main strings and resonate, adding volume
of the improvisational musician. Each musical framework created is known as the main resonator that enhances the volume of the sound. The sound to the sound. The musician does not strum or pluck them. The resonating
as a raga. It’s a living performance not tied down by any strict set of rules. board (2) acts as a second resonator that gives the sound a certain color. strings run under the frets (7), while the main set of strings lies above.
The basis for the raga is a melodic form consisting of ascending and descending The neck (3), on which the strings are attached, is hollow, transmitting The frets are made from metal and change the pitch of the sound. On a sitar,
scales. The tones and semitones are supplemented with microtones that the vibrations of the strings. The older the wood from which it is made, they are movable and are attached to the neck with ropes. The tuning
add volume and glow. During the performance of the raga, the main theme the richer the sound. The vibrations are supplied by seven main strings: pegs (8) stretch the strings taut. The rigidity of the material from which they
develops in improvisation with deep philosophical and poetic overtones. five of them are melodic (4), on which the main theme is played, and two are made determines the amount of energy that is transferred from the strings
Each raga carries a certain mood idiosyncratic to that specific piece, causing are supplemental (5), continuously stretching and complementing the melody. to the other structural elements. At the top of the neck there is an additional
the listener to experience a sense of aesthetic satisfaction. In addition to these strings, there is also a range of smaller strings (6). resonator (9) that amplifies the vibrations.

338 339
Music Box Music Music Music Box

NOTES
Notes in music are used to denote sounds of a particular frequency in writing. Once you reach a frequency double that of the starting frequency, the note will
Each note has its own frequency ranging from approximately 20 Hz to 5000 Hz. sound like a higher version of the starting pitch. This interval is called an octave.
Instead of referring to these notes by their frequency, however, you can also use Try assigning the lowest note on your scale a simple name, such as “do.” Draw

M
usic is capable of uniting performers, even across language You can share simple melodies by creating a music box. The main letters or short names to simplify things. For instance, consider organizing notes an extra ledger line below the lowest staff line and place this note directly on it.
and cultural barriers. But in order to remember, record component is the comb (1). It is made out of metal and has tines on a staff of five parallel horizontal lines. Notes can either be placed directly The next note, call it “re,” goes in the blank space directly below the lowermost
and reproduce melodies, there needs to be of varying lengths. Each tine produces a different note. The shorter on one of the lines or in the space between two lines. Assign each note position staff line. Move upwards, alternating line and space, for the following five notes,
a standard, shared notation for writing music. You’ll need and thinner the tine, the higher the sound. The second element a pitch. Notes located near each other on these lines, moving either up or down which could be called, say, “mi,” “fa,” “sol,” “la” and “ti.” To write music, arrange
to come up with a common convention. is the cylinder (2), which is covered in small pins. As the cylinder in ascending or descending order of pitch, form a scale. You can expand the notes on the staff in the order in which they sound. Anyone fluent in this
rotates, these pins displace the tines, causing them to vibrate. the scale by placing notes above and below the staff and adding extra “ledger musical notation will be able to read the music and reproduce the melody.
To make sure the music doesn’t cut off abruptly in the middle lines” above, below or through the note to indicate its position.
of a phrase, make sure the melody is complete and looped —
for example, a section of 4 or 8 measures.

To rotate the cylinder, you need a clockwork spring

mechanism (page 166). When the key is inserted
into the keyhole and twisted, it winds a steel band
spring (4) around an axle, storing mechanical
3
energy. As the spring unwinds, the axle rotates and 2
sets the gear wheel (5) in motion. The rotation
is transmitted to the cylinder (2). The speed
of this rotation can be set by selecting the diameter 1
of the gears. Place the mechanism inside a case (6).
This will become the resonator (page 328).
Add a figurine on top that will be set in motion
by the same spring mechanism. Turn the key and…
twinkle twinkle little star...

The placement of pins on the cylinder

is essentially a direct translation of the notes
on the music sheet. This determines the order
2 5 and timing with which the tines are displaced, causing
them to vibrate at a certain frequency. This sequence
comprises the melody.

One easy way to write notes on a sheet is using ovals. You can choose to fill If you also add a flag to the stick, the note turns into an eighth note. As you
in the oval or keep it empty, as well as add lines to one side or flags to indicate add flags, keep decreasing the length of the note: a sixteenth note is like
different note lengths. An empty oval without a stick is a standard note played an eighth but with a double flag and so on. To help the notes fit on the staff
for four full counts. If you add a stem to one side, this “whole note” becomes better, place the stem on the right side pointing up for all notes below
a “half note,” played for two counts. Fill in the oval, and it’s a quarter note, the middle line, and on the left side pointing down for all notes above.
played for one.

340 341
Phonograph Music Music Phonograph

WAX ROLL

O
nce you've reinvented and mastered musical instruments, Wax is not difficult to obtain (page 84), and it’s easy
you'll immediately want to find a way to record sound. There’s one to form into any shape. This is also a disadvantage:
simple and accessible technology that will help you make a real The records are short-lived and deteriorate quickly
breakthrough. Amazingly enough, all you need to record sound is a needle in the heat. Pretty soon you'll want to invent
and a metal roller covered in an even layer of wax. The needle carves the sound vinyl (page 126).
into the wax, and you can use the same needle to play it back later. Being able
to capture the moment and share it with others is one small step for a musician
and one giant leap for the music industry.

SOUNDTRACK 7 4 1
Try holding your palm to your face and shouting at your
hand. Feel the vibration? Sound is created by air vibrating
at various speeds. The phonograph’s horn collects sound waves
and directs them towards a flexible diaphragm, causing it
to vibrate. The diaphragm then pushes the needle,
which carves a recording into the wax roll.
The louder the sound, the deeper
the groove.

HANDLE
1. Wax roll Trying to relax and enjoy the music while having to constantly
2. Axis turn the handle is not particularly convenient. Build a simple
3. Handle winding mechanism to help you unwind (page 166) or go further
4. Needle and connect it to a small electric motor (page 194).
5. Carriage
6. Horn
6 6
7. Diaphragm

4
3

1 1

HEADPHONES
RECORDING PLAYBACK If you've already plugged into electricity (page 192), The electricity passing through the wire magnetizes
Slide the wax cylinder over a threaded metal cylinder. As you turn the handle, To play a recording, all you have to do is set the needle to the beginning make a pair of headphones. Start with two earpieces. the coil, alternately attracted and repelled
the cylinder moves slightly sideways relative to the needle. In this way, the audio of the track and start turning the handle. The needle pushes the diaphragm, Attach a permanent magnet to the back side of each by the permanent magnet. This causes the disc
recording spirals around, covering the entire wax roll from left to right. In some the diaphragm creates air vibrations and the horn amplifies the sound waves. and make a hole in the front side. Place a flexible, to vibrate, creating pulsating air waves. These pass
of the more advanced models, like the one depicted above, the cylinder itself By connecting air hoses to the diaphragm instead of a horn, you can create slightly concave disc of thin, dense material through the front part of the earpiece and vibrate
doesn’t move but rather the needle carriage and horn. headphones for personal playback. Headphones greatly reduce the likelihood in the middle. Attach a metal coil to the disc. your eardrum. Now you can jam to your favorite
of having unpleasant conversations with neighbors and the local authorities. Connect the two earpieces using wire. tunes with no fear of judgment from passers-by.

342 343
r ave Music Music rave

B
oth music and math are among the highest abstractions of human The brain automatically connects the notes we hear with the ones that came
thought, but at the same time, each has a precise definition and are, before and creates our expectations of what will come next. When we listen
in fact, closely intertwined. Music is directly founded on numerical to music, we don’t hear individual notes but rather the unfolding of an entire
ratios. They define the external structure, or acoustic base, of the music: musical phrase. So when composing music, instead of using individual notes
the rhythm, meter, tempo and frequency. Through music, we understand as a basis, why not use a larger musical phrase — a sample?
the structure of the world, which is also based on numbers, creating our own
individual time flow with music moving from the past through the present A sample may be taken from another piece of music and developed into
and into the future. a whole new instrumental arrangement. You can also sample natural sounds:
snippets of conversation, the patter of rain, the crashing of waves, the rustle
of leaves. When creating samples, there’s endless room for experimentation.

Sampling is at the heart of rave culture. There is no audience at a rave —

it is a collective action. The DJ spins the turntables and gives rhythm
to the movement. Ravers find themselves immersed in a sea of sound and light.
This combines with the rhythmic movements to produce a hypnotic trance-
like state. The rhythm and fluidity become a catalyst for a sense of community.
Raves appeal to the depths of the unconscious. This is a road to your inner
self, a means to throw off the shackles of everyday life that try to box in your
consciousness. At the same time, the rave has the potential to free you —
it allows everyone to be who they are while merging with the single breath
of the mass of people.
HUMAN
Br e at hi ng human human

A
ll animals, plants and many microorganisms need oxygen to survive.
In humans, the process of breathing draws air into the lungs for oxygen
to be absorbed into the bloodstream. The oxygen is used by all
the cells of the body for chemical reactions that release the energy essential
for life. By consciously controlling the frequency and depth of their inhale
and exhale, people can control their emotions, reduce stress levels and
even access altered states of consciousness.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Quick and shallow breathing activates the sympathetic branch of the nervous
system — the body’s "gas pedal" — and puts the body on high alert. A series
of short, deep breaths brings a sense of euphoria and can put you in a sort
of waking trance. Long, slow breaths and holding your breath has the opposite
effect. It engages the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system
(the "brake pedal"), which is responsible for rest and digestion.
Exhaustion, repressed emotions and a sedentary lifestyle cause chronic muscle
tension, forming something like a shell around the inner organs. This shell
constricts the lung space, leading to rapid, shallow breathing and driving
the body into a stress feedback loop. It usually develops in childhood due
to overly tight clothing, a habit of clenching the stomach or improper posture.

If you want to slow down or get some stress relief, try the following
exercise: Sit or lie down. Keep your back straight. Put one hand
on your belly and concentrate on your breathing. Slowly inhale into
your belly for three counts. Feel the air moving through your nose
and throat, how your belly inflates. Smoothly exhale for six counts.
Repeat this exercise for five minutes.

If instead you want an energy boost, use this exercise: Sit cross-
legged with your back straight. Lower your chin. Close your eyes.
Relax your belly and breathe into it. As you exhale, draw your belly
in sharply, pushing the air out of your lungs in one swift motion.
Breathe in through your nose (this exercise will also help clear your
sinuses) and out through your mouth. Repeat 36 times, gradually
speeding up. Do not perform this exercise if you are pregnant
or have high blood pressure.

It’s better to do any breathing exercises on an empty stomach.

Don't try too hard to hyperventilate your lungs and hold your
breath for long periods, especially when you are alone, because you
might lose consciousness.

348 349
M e d itat io n human human Meditation

Basic practice in preparation for meditation is the technique of body 2. Slowly "scan" your body from top to bottom, moving your attention
relaxation. To do this, set an alarm clock for 3 to 5 minutes and repeat from one area to another and consciously relaxing the muscles as you go:
the following steps: your face, stomach, groin and so on.
1. Sit comfortably with a straight back. Close your eyes or leave them 3. Scan your body several times until your alarm goes off.

N
ature has given humans self-awareness, a unique ability unavailable Clear, focused engagement, by contrast, gives you access to creativity, half-closed, focusing your gaze on a stationary object. Take several full,
to other animals. Humans are not only capable of feeling emotions improvisation and flow. Meditation is a powerful tool for working with the deep breaths and exhale.
and being consciously aware of their instincts, thoughts and actions mind. It is based on relaxed concentration; concentration of attention not
but also of controlling them. Developing this skill, however, is impossible through an effort of will but through a sincere interest in what is happening.
without the ability to carefully observe oneself and the world. Constant In meditation, the practitioner gives space to whatever is going through his
life distractions reduce the capacity for self-awareness — the brain goes mind without analyzing it or trying to change it.
on autopilot and begins to fall into negative patterns
of thoughts and emotions.

Meditation can be compared to a long journey, the purpose

of which is to understand and pacify the mind. At the very
beginning of the path, the still untamed human mind is like To improve your concentration skills, try observing your breath: It is important to bring the experience gained in these short sessions into
a wild beast — disobedient and plagued with wandering 1. Repeat step 1 from the previous exercise. your daily life. This will help you transform negative habits of mind, develop
thoughts, passionate emotions and conflicting judgments. 2. Direct your attention to the feeling of your breath at the tip of your nose empathy and embrace the world as it is. The more people in your society
The main task of the practitioner is to first catch this beast, or in your belly. Observe your inhalations and exhalations. who know how to manage their emotions and thoughts, the more developed
lassoing it with a rope of unwavering attention and alertness, 3. Notice when attention slips away and patiently return to observing the civilization you will be able to create.
and then guide it along the path towards a mindful, your breathing.
attentive life in the present moment. 4. When the timer rings, thank yourself for practicing the exercise.

351
Self-Improvement human human Self-Improvement

FREEDIVING

H
umans have the inherent desire to constantly push the limits Freediving is diving into water as deep as you
of their abilities. This craving for adventure is a great driving can using only your own held breath. Like rock
force for a developing civilization. It pushes people climbing, it allows you to push the boundaries
to explore new terrains, conquer the cosmos and populate of your own body but this time in the depths
new planets. In everyday life, it also motivates them of the ocean. Fins, a mask or goggles, a nose clip,
to find ways to overcome the limitations of their a weight and a wetsuit, in case of cold water,
bodies and minds. are the only equipment freedivers need.

Rock climbing challenges a person’s agility

and endurance, as well as his ability to conquer Under water, the pulse slows down significantly
his fears. It’s a duel not only with the mountain and your blood pressure rises as blood rushes
but with yourself: your mind cries “no!” and to the heart, lungs and brain. The deeper a person
yet you keep climbing higher and higher. dives, the more pressure is exerted on the body.
The climber learns to masterfully control his If you go too far down, your eardrums can even
body from the tips of his fingers to his toes. burst. To avoid this, you need to learn how
Every move requires total concentration and to properly equalize the pressure: close your
the ability to calculate actions in advance. mouth and pinch your nostrils closed then lightly
blow out through your nose against this pressure
There are three basic principles you must learn to pop your ears.
before you can master rock climbing. The first
concerns the placement of your feet: You must
always climb with your toes facing forward and Trained divers can descend to depths of more than
never turn your foot sideways. Otherwise, failure 100 meters and hold their breath for 6–7 minutes.
is inevitable. Your position must be extremely To lengthen your dive time, you can practice the
precise so you can transfer all the weight to your following breath-holding exercise:
legs and pivot to the side if necessary. 1. Seal your lips around the snorkel mouthpiece
and, with the end of the tube above the water,
The second principle is to synchronize your take a deep 5-count breath.
movements. If you’re gripping a ledge with your 2. Hold your breath for 20 seconds. Lower your
right hand, you should lean on your left leg. In this shoulders, relax the muscles of your face
case, the diagonal of balance passes exactly through and neck and hang your head.
the body’s center of gravity (located in the pelvic 3. Exhale through the mouth for 5 seconds.
area in front of the sacrum). This will conserve Relax your core.
your energy. It’s also important that your other leg 4. Immediately begin the process over again.
isn’t dangling in the air but is at least pressed up
against the rock. This will avoid any unnecessary Practice this exercise 5 minutes a day. When you
swaying that may throw you off balance. feel you’re starting to make progress, add another
5 seconds onto the time you hold your breath and
The third rule is about proper body placement: another minute to your daily practice time but
Your arms should always be straight, legs bent, don’t exceed 15 minutes.
your center of gravity pressed to the wall.
If your hips are waggling in the wind, it will Although holding your breath causes your body
put extra tension on your arms, causing to actively produce happiness hormones known
them to quickly become exhausted. as endorphins, your psyche is still subjected
to severe stress — after all, you’re alone with
You’ll need special climbing equipment: shoes the abyss down there. Panic in the deep can be
with a thin and flexible rubberized sole — a size dangerous. Freedivers are trained in deep relaxation
or two smaller than usual to ensure a snug fit techniques to stay clear-headed.
so that you can plant your feet firmly — and a bag
of magnesium powder (magnesium carbonate and Another complicated aspect of diving is learning
hydroxide bind to moisture and body oils so your how to ascend safely — the body is in a state
hands don’t slip). And, of course, your safety net: of extreme oxygen starvation and is being pushed
rope, a harness, carabiners and special devices for to its limits. At this moment, it is important for
fastening stays in rock crevices with carabiners. the diver to ignore the reflex to take a breath, soothe
any panic and calmly swim upward. Any excessive
Climbers usually work in pairs: one climbs and stress or increase in heart rate can be deadly.
the other controls the safety rope. The burden
of responsibility for your own life and the life Like rock climbing, freediving develops self-
of your partner gives you the drive to power control and the ability to suppress one’s natural
through even when your strength is waning. instincts and move decisively towards the goal.

352 353
yoga human human yoga

As a rule, a yoga sequence consists of a series Stabilize in this position and, balancing, bring your
of poses and always ends with a pose to relax palms together and extend your arms skyward.

D
eep inside, every human being just wants to be happy. True happiness Practicing these poses improves blood circulation to the internal organs, relaxes the entire body. You can start your practice Hold this position for as long as possible. Breathe
is impossible without finding a state of harmony with the world and the nervous system and relieves tension that may generate anxiety and severely standing. Stand straight with heels and toes deeply. Switch legs. This pose teaches balance and
radically transforming your mind and body. This is the aim of yoga. distort your perception of the world. touching. Distribute your weight evenly across both tones the leg muscles.
feet, engage your knees, pull your stomach in and
Mastering the art of yoga begins with physical and breathing exercises. When There are various meditative techniques used for stilling the mind. By practicing stretch your spine tall, arms by your sides. Now
combined, this cleanses the body, reduces tension and heals many diseases. them, people gain control over their thoughts and emotions, tuning into a more bend your right leg to lift it and place your heel on
This is achieved by holding certain poses, or asanas, which stretch and engage subtle and well-balanced view of reality. the inside of your left thigh, pressing into it.
various parts of the body.

Now get down on all fours, hands placed shoulder-

width apart, knees on the floor. On the inhale, arch
your lower back in the “cow” pose. On the exhale,
slowly stretch upward, rounding your lower back
in the “cat” pose. Repeat the cycle smoothly nine
times. This pose improves spine flexibility.

Relying on a code of ethics helps Lie on your stomach and spread your feet 30 cm Stand for about a minute and breathe into your
people reach an enlightened state. wide, palms on the floor at chest level, elbows close belly. Start in a standard plank position on hands
Some of the key principles include to the body. As you exhale, lift your body off the and toes as you exhale, lift your head and lower
non-violence towards oneself and others, floor, straighten your arms, put your head down yourself gently to the floor. Relax. The pose helps
control of one’s desires and honesty. between them and stretch your spine. Legs straight, strengthen the spine, relieve chest tension and
Following these rules brings When practicing yoga, knees engaged, heels pressed to the floor. Feet improve digestion.
the mind into harmony your main focus should be on your breath parallel to each other, fingers spread wide apart
with the universe. and bodily sensations, as well as avoiding and directed forward.
excessive tension and pain. Otherwise,
you may injure yourself.

Next, roll over onto your back. As you inhale, pull Your neck should be relaxed, your spine should be
your legs up towards the sky and over your head. in one line and the weight of the body should be
Lower your feet to the floor. When you’re first resting on the shoulders. Breathe calmly for
starting your practice, you can bend your knees. a few minutes. Return to the starting position.
As you progress, work on straightening your legs This exercise stimulates the nervous system,
and pressing them together then engage them massages the internal organs and has a beneficial
slightly. Extend your arms behind your head and effect on thyroid function.
lower them to the floor.

The next pose is the final asana in any yoga sequence. It helps relax your mind
and body as much as possible. To practice the pose, lie comfortably on your
back, turn your palms towards the sky and spread your legs comfortably wide.
Then close your eyes and, with calm, measured breaths, mentally scan your
body starting from the head and focus on gradually relaxing each muscle.
Typically, this exercise takes 5–10 minutes. This pose is considered one
of the most difficult asanas in yoga, since it is very difficult for people
to achieve complete relaxation.

As you develop yoga practice, you acquire unique skills such as deep intuition
and inner strength. Yogis attain special states of consciousness when their
minds are freed from the dual perception of the world and from suffering.

354 355
QIGONG human

T
he process of natural selection has honed the survival Qigong is the focused application and understanding of mind-
and self-healing mechanisms of every living being. body-spirit to improve your mental clarity and physical health
But the further human beings progress along the path through correct posture, movement, breathing, sound and
of civilization, the weaker their connection with the natural focused intent. The aims of regular qigong practice are to return
cycles becomes. They stop listening to their own bodies to the original integrity and connection with nature inherent
and lose the ability to control them. in all living beings, free yourself from tension and return
to harmony with nature.

FOLLOWING THE CYCLES BODY POSITION

OF NATURE CONTROL
Qigong gives you the opportunity to build With this skill, one avoids unnecessary stress
an effective activity and rest routine and adjust and injury and increases the body's endurance.
to the true needs of the body.

BODY BREATH & ATTENTION

RELAXATION CONTROL
Move without effort, follow your inner impulses Focusing on the depth and rhythm of the inhale/
and tune your body like a musical instrument exhale cycle and body sensations helps to restore One of the basic qigong exercises is called "The Tree.” To practice it, stand Breathing is even and measured. Stay in this position for at least 10 minutes
instead of controlling it forcefully. This principle mental clarity, manage emotions and find a fuller, up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart. The tongue should lightly and try to feel your body. At the end of the practice, place your hands on your
makes it possible to remove muscle blocks, relax more holistic perception of the world. touch the roof of your mouth. Tailbone is tilted down. Knees are slightly bent. stomach: women should put the right hand on the navel, the left hand on top;
the mind and encourage self-healing. Shoulders are loose and open, as if you were holding an egg under your armpit. men, vice versa. The most important aspect of any qigong practice is reaching
Arms are bent at the elbows and resting at your side. The top of your head a calm, meditative state of mind. This is how you regain touch with your body’s
points towards the sky. Eyes are partially open. voice. It will guide your movement, and the healing process will begin.

356 357
Dreams human human Dreams

H
uman understanding of the waking world is often divided The dreaming mind is subject only to the rule of feelings, sensations
into binaries—good and evil, life and death, past and images the brain has absorbed during the day and stored in either
and present. But the universe is far vaster and more the conscious or subconscious, depending on the perceived usefulness
complex than the limited view of reality in which we spend of the information. Dream interpretation can be a real spiritual
our lives. Dreams unshackle our mind, giving us access practice in meeting your true self and tapping into the creative
to the Universal Life Source — the origin of all that is. force of the universe. It can help you develop your creativity
Dreams aren’t governed by logic. and consciously take control of your life. It is sometimes
easy to avoid unresolved conflicts, but it takes
courage to face them.

There are no moral principles in dreams. Here This is the structure of the psyche — only Following the sensations, images from sleep Applying logic when interpreting images from Maybe the tiger symbolizes the animal strength Maybe your nervous system is so fried that you will
everyone can live their most shameful and cruel by passing through their fears can a person will begin to surface: for example, fire. What kind your dream is futile. Relive your dream in your you are unable to recognize in yourself while awake. experience a hypertensive emergency if you don’t
fantasies. For example, a loving, well-to-do be healed. After waking up, give yourself 15 of fire was it? Cozy or scorching? How do you feel memory. Disregard obvious interpretations and try Dreams can portend future events or illnesses, learn to express your emotions. Think about how
housewife may dream of picking up a machine gun. minutes to lie in bed in order to feel the sensations about the fire? Maybe you have an anger burning to decrypt messages hidden within. For example, so draw connections to your waking life. For to react differently. This practice allows you to turn
You need to give up control and follow the natural as your body recalls the details of your dream. you from the inside out? How can you manage it? perhaps you were walking along the road and saw example, let’s say you dream of a kettle boiling dreams into allies on the path to a healthier, more
course of the dream. Otherwise, the memory will be overwhelmed a roaring tiger. Imagine yourself as this tiger. over and spraying hot water everywhere, while holistic approach to life.
by your rational, conscious mind. How do you feel? Who are you growling at? in everyday life, you don’t allow yourself to express
your emotions and they are boiling up inside you.

358 359
Psychotherapy human human Psychotherapy

To start the healing process, you need someone who can act as a mirror
to help you become aware of your traumas, projections and patterns
of behavior and free yourself from their negative effects. But few are capable

S
uffering is an inherent part of every sentient being’s life. of such selfless listening and total engagement. Those who are become
When the burden becomes unbearable, the mind can begin therapists. If everyone knew how to listen with interest and without projecting
to develop coping mechanisms. These cushion the psyche past experience, we wouldn’t need therapists. But until we reach this utopian
from destructive experiences and help you adapt to reality. future, sit back in this chaise-lounge and tell me: How does that make you
feel? The therapist sincerely empathizes with the person, sometimes gently
Even if the traumatic event has been repressed from consciousness, nudging them towards the next step, but doesn’t get emotionally involved
all the feelings and sensations associated with it are imprinted and always remembers that the patient must travel the path
on the body and nervous system. This forms a sort of protective of self-discovery on his own. One important skill a therapist
barrier — a chronic stress memory that helps you avoid must possess is the ability to feel another person’s pain
or survive similar situations — but at the same time limits without being weighed down by their emotions.
personal development. These defense mechanisms are especially One technique is to imagine that the patient
apparent when a person projects their emotions from past is discussing his dreams: They are illusory
experiences onto people who had nothing whatsoever but at the same time very important
to do with them. and cause suffering.

Another equally important element for healing is finding Art therapy works well for sensitive souls whose
a meeting space where the patient can feel completely safe emotions are better expressed through drawing or another
and open. The therapist may also use physical exercises, art form. By sharing his pain with someone else in this kind
if the patient is particularly psychosomatic and experiences of environment, a patient is able to escape the destructive
physical symptoms of trauma, and/or cognitive exercises, influence of trauma-based coping mechanisms.
if the patient’s symptoms are more cerebral.

360 361
GAMES
dice games games

1000

S
ometimes it's nice to completely relinquish control, stop thinking, In this game, your luck can change in an instant — all you can do is roll and This game requires 5 dice. The goal is to score exactly
analyzing and supposing and simply say, “Let the fates decide!” leave the rest to destiny. Spice things up and raise the stakes by making bets 1000 points. Any number of players can participate,
If you’re feeling lucky, grab a partner and throw some dice. before each roll. The game will quickly pull you in. but the sweet spot is around 4–8. Roll dice
to determine who goes first. The numbers
on the dice determine your score: 1s are worth
10 points, and 5s are worth 5. The rest
of the numbers are considered worthless unless
they occur in a three, four or five of a kind.

When you roll a three of a kind, you score the value

of one of them multiplied by 10. If you roll four
of a kind, multiply it by 20; and five of a kind,
by 100. The best roll you can have is five
of a kind 1s, which is an instant win
(1 = 10 points, 10 x 100 = 1000 points).

The fate in the game is decided by lots — dice

with numbers printed on each side. They must be
carefully crafted and balanced to ensure chance
is the only factor at play. When they land on a flat
surface, each side of the dice must occupy a stable
position. Use small volumetric geometric shapes
with equal faces, such as a pyramid or a cube.

Dice can be made from any durable material:

ivory, wood, stone, clay, fruit pits, agate, amber, Start a table with different columns
onyx, lead — even silver or gold. Carve the material and rows to record players and points,
into a cube with six faces. On each of the faces, the stages of the game, the passing
carve or paint the numbers from 1 to 6. Arrange of points from one player to another
them so that the sum of the numbers on opposite and lost points. To begin, you need
faces is 7. to roll at least 50 points to get onto
the table. If you roll at least 5 points,
To completely eliminate the possibility of players you can set the scoring dice aside
influencing the roll with a sleight of hand, use and reroll the rest for more points.
a special device that will shake and roll the dice But keep in mind that if you roll a hand
for the players. The main objective of the game with no scoring combinations, you
is to score the most points. The way you score lose all the points previously scored
depends on the game you’re playing. Ready to roll? in that round. That’s why you’ve got
to know when to hold them and know
when to roll them.

You have another opportunity to increase your

score: If you start the round with fewer points than To resolve any disputes that may arise, use the triangle of numerals shown here. This pattern
other players and end the round with more, you get of numbers follows a specific principle that will help you determine each player’s share.
For example, before winning the entire match, player A misses two rounds, and player B
to steal 50 points from any players you overtook.
misses three. How can you split the bet fairly if the game is interrupted?
Another variation involves creating barrels,
or point thresholds. Players in the barrel Add up the number of games missing by each player: A + B = 2 + 3 = 5. Check
(say, scoring more than 200 but less than 300) the corresponding row in the table, i.e., the fifth one. Player A’s share is equal to the sum
of the first three numerals in the row (corresponding to the number of games missed
must roll a score of 300 in one round before they
by B: 1 + 4 = 5). Then the share of player A will be equal to the sum of the three (according
are allowed to continue scoring. These barrels to the number of games missing for player B) first entries in the fifth row (1 + 4 + 6 = 11),
often occur between 200–300 and 600–700 points. and player B’s share is the sum of the remaining two numbers (1 + 4 = 5).

364 365
ala, tigers & goat
Manc s games games Mancala, tigers & goats

TIGERS AND GOATS RULES

T
he principles of conflict and conquest are at the heart of most games. It is unlikely that you will be able to win simply by accumulating chips. You may think that a goat facing a tiger is completely defenseless. The game involves two players: one starts with 4 tigers, the other with 20 goats.
But there are always exceptions to the rule. If you enjoy sharing and A different tactic is required here: take what you can and share the rest. For a lone goat, this may be true, but if there are several goats, then the tiger You can use chips of different colors and sizes or carve animal figurines
strategizing with others but still enjoy the excitement and skill of being To someone watching on the sidelines, it may appear that the players are may go hungry or even end up impaled. This is a rare situation when predator for more drama.
cunning, play mancala. The goal is to collect as many chips as possible to fill simply sowing seeds. The gameplay itself is quite soothing. becomes prey.
not only your own cells but also the cells of your opponent.

MANCALA
When you start to get the hang of things and want to pick up the pace,
the meditative activity turns into a game of chance. The playing field is a board
with two rows of six pits and one larger pit on each end. It can be carved from
wood, but if you don’t have any on hand, that’s no reason to give up. Just dig
holes in the dirt or sand or even draw them on paper. Any collection of small
objects can act as playing pieces: seeds, beans, small stones, etc.

RULES
Each player has one row of pits. The row nearest to the player is theirs; the farther
one belongs to the opponent. The large pit located to the right of the player’s
row is called a “store,” and that’s where your seeds are held when not in gameplay.
Place 4 seeds in each small pit. You can decide who will go first by drawing lots.

The gameplay works as follows: The starting

player takes all the seeds out from any single pit
on his side and drops them one-by-one into
the subsequent pits, moving counterclockwise
(from left to right across the player’s own pits and
from right to left in the pits of the opponent).
If during this process you reach your store, you
place a seed in it. If you reach the store of your
opponent, you do not. Try to distract your
opponent with captivating stories to ruin their
concentration and cause them to slip up.

How to fill your store? If the last seed of your turn lands
in an empty pit adjacent to an opponent's pit that contains one
or more pieces, then you take all the opponent's pieces from
this pit and, together with your last piece, put them
in your store.

And one more clever rule: If your last seed falls in your store,
you get an extra turn. If you do the calculations and sow your
seeds right, you can end up taking several turns in a row! To create the playing field, start by drawing a square. Pieces are placed on the points not on the cells. Until all the goats are placed on the field, the goat
Draw horizontal and vertical lines to create a 4x4 Before starting the game, place the 4 tiger pieces player cannot make any other moves. But he must
cell grid. Then draw two diagonal lines connecting at the 4 corner points of the board. The goat player place his goats carefully, for there are tigers
opposite corners. Next, connect the midpoints moves first, placing a goat on any vacant point on the prowl. A tiger captures a goat by jumping
When one of the players runs out of seeds and the other does not have To win, you need to collect 25 seeds in your store, and when the score is 24:24, of each side with diagonal lines to form a diamond. on the playing board. With each subsequent turn, over it and landing on the adjacent point along
enough chips to replenish the opponent's pits, the game ends. The other player the match is a draw. You can make the game harder by making more rows You should end up with a 25-point grid with all the goat player must place all of his pieces one-by- a straight line. To win, the tigers must capture
transfers all their remaining seeds in their pits to their store and the “harvest” of pits, by increasing the number of seeds and adding new rules. Have fun points connected orthogonally. one on any remaining free point. 5 goats, or the goats must hem in the tigers until
takes place — counting the points. with it! Mancala is a great way to shift and train your focus. they are unable to move.

366 367
Chess games games Chess

Each player has a set of 16 pieces of his own color:

8 pawns, 2 rooks, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 1 queen and

C
hess is much more than just a game. It is the realization of an There’s something for everyone: the search for truth, the metaphor 1 king. You can name the pieces whatever you like
individual’s full potential while locked in fierce battle and fighting of a military battle, the intellectual duel, mental entertainment and aesthetic as long as their abilities are clearly defined. Line
for social recognition. It is the advancement of creative ideas appreciation when analyzing a game between two masters or solving puzzles the pieces up in two horizontal rows on each side
and the beauty in seeing a plan unfold. in artificially created scenarios. Chess develops intuition, logical thinking, of the board. The first row should be entirely pawns.
concentration and strategy. The second should have rooks at the edges and,
moving towards the center, knights, then bishops.
The center squares are occupied by the king and
queen, with the queen on the square of her color.
Chess is a two-player game that uses a square
gameboard of 8x8, or 64, cells, which alternate dark The pawn can only move one forward one space
and light in a checkerboard pattern. Label the cells at a time, except for its first move, in which it can
in both the horizontal and vertical directions — jump two spaces at once as long as the spaces
for example, use letters for the horizontal axis are unoccupied. A pawn can attack and capture
and numbers for the vertical. opponents pieces that stand on a diagonal
to the pawn.

The knight moves two spaces in any non-diagonal

direction and then one more space in any non-
diagonal direction.

The king is the most important and valuable figure.

He can walk and attack one space in any direction,
including diagonals, but cannot move to or remain
on a space that is under direct threat of capture by
an opponent’s piece. Opponent kings must always
remain at least one space away from each other.

The bishop moves and attacks diagonally any

number of spaces, provided that there are no other
pieces blocking the path. The bishops remain on
the same color space as they started, so each player
has a black space bishop and a white space bishop.

The rook moves any number of spaces vertically

and horizontally, provided that there are no other
pieces blocking the path.

The queen is the strongest piece on the field.

Combining the abilities of the rook and the bishop,
she can move any number of spaces in any direction.
Even a pawn has a chance to be promoted
to a queen (or any other piece except the king)
by moving across the entire field and reaching
the back row of the opponent’s side of the board.

Record moves by using algebraic notation. It is based The goal of the game is to find the weak spots
on the system of coordinates created by the intersection in the opponent’s defense and “checkmate” the king
of the letters and numbers used to label the horizontal and
by putting it under direct threat of capture in such
vertical vertices. Each space has an alpha-numeric code:
for example: a1, g5. a way that the opponent cannot move their king
out of danger or capture the attacking piece. White
The name of each piece is abbreviated and written moves first. When the king is under direct threat
with a capital letter: King = K, Queen = Q, Bishop = B,
of capture but can still escape, it’s known as a “check.”
Knight = N, Rook = R. The Pawn has no notation.
The player whose king is in check must make a move
This notation describes both the chess piece moved with the new to escape or evade capture. When no such legal
square it has moved to on the chessboard. Play this short game moves exist, a “checkmate” is declared and the game
to practice and get a feel for each piece: 1. e4 e5; 2. Bc4 d6;
ends. Some chess matches are particularly bloody,
3. Kf3 Kc6; 4. Kc3 Cg4; 5. Ke5 Cd1; 6. Bf7 Ke7; 7. Kd5.
with heavy casualties on both sides. These often end
In this game, the black King is checkmated in just seven in a stalemate, when the player whose turn it is
moves. White creates a trap for black by sacrificing his most to move is not in check but has no legal move.
powerful piece — the Queen. Black takes White Queen and
At this point, nobody can win, so you declare a draw.
loses sight of the threat to his King.

368 369
go games GO

At the start of the game, you’re a commander with an army at your disposal,
and in front of you is free territory that you need to conquer. Your task
1 is to capture more territory than the enemy. There are only six basic rules

I
magine you are a ruler and you have the opportunity to take over and an unlimited number of ways to win.
the whole world. But there is someone else with the exact same
opportunity as you. What would you do? What steps and actions Empty board: The game starts with an empty playing field. The stones
do you take? Could you make your own state bigger and stronger? are placed not on the empty cells but at the intersection points between lines.
All of these questions can be answered with a game of Go.
Turn taking: Black makes the first move. Placing one stone constitutes
Go tests your abilities to conquer and fortify territories. There are no battles one move. Try to first take territory in the corners of the board, then
or decisive attacks, and you need to be a keen strategist to win, gradually on the sides and, finally, move on to the action in the center.
implementing your plan one step at a time and thoughtfully building up
your position. No take-backs. Once you’ve placed a stone on the board and removed your
hand from it, your turn is over. The stone placed on the field can no longer
2 be moved; it becomes part of the boundaries of your territory.

Life and Death: Every stone placed on the field starts out as “alive.”
The life force of any stone or group of same-colored stones is determined
by the number of neighboring free spaces, or “liberties,” it has. Groups
of same-colored stones share the liberties around the boundary of the group.
Liberties closed within a group are called “eyes.” At the very beginning
of the game (1), each stone has four liberties. If an enemy blocks off all four
liberties, the stone “dies,” meaning it is taken prisoner and removed from
the field. If you notice you are in danger of losing your last liberty, you can
place a second stone (2) next to the first. Thus, one stone saves the other
and they become a group.

Combining stones into groups significantly increases the chances of capturing

3
a large territory. Each new stone enlarges the group, expanding over more
space. If you form at least two closed eyes within the group, you create
a fortress. This group of stones obtains eternal life because the enemy cannot
close both eyes in one move.

In Go, “suicidal” moves are forbidden, meaning plays that result in that player's
own stones being removed from the board or placing a stone in a position
with no remaining liberties. One exception is when the step is a strategic
Excessive risk-taking maneuver forcing the opponent to sacrifice their entire group.
and aggressive strategies
can result in losses, Repetition. In Go, it is forbidden to make a move that repeats a position
while staying constantly that was already on the board in this game. The simplest example of this can be
on the defensive can give seen in Figure (3): White makes a move by removing a piece with no liberties
the enemy an advantage.
4 left. Black can place a stone in the formed place, thereby blocking white's
Try to find a balance: liberty and also removing it from the board. This returns the board to its initial
if you have a lot of territory, state from a few moves prior. In order to comply with the “no repetition” rule,
don’t be afraid to surrender Black cannot make a move similar to White’s. They must make any other move,
some of it; if you don’t, and, if they wish, can repeat this move after White responds and changes
it may be time to stir up the field. Unless, of course, White chooses to occupy this space with their
the pot a little. next move.

Completion: Eventually, the players reach a point where there are no viable
moves left; it’s impossible to expand your territory or attack your enemy’s
territory by placing a stone. When one of the opponents can’t find
(or doesn’t have) any such moves left, he says, “Pass” and skips a move.
After three passes, the game is over.
The gameboard can be made of wood. Divide the playing surface into a 19x19
grid. While still learning or teaching, you can start with smaller boards: 9×9
or 13×13. It is better to make two sides of the board slightly shorter, with
a ratio of 15:14, as this will create the ideal perspective for both players. Figure (4) shows a completed game board. As you can see, both players
still have stones on the board. The territory is divided. Who has won?
The stones (usually black and white) represent your army and the enemy’s This is determined by comparing the number of points. Each eye left
army. They can be made from glass, ceramics, shells or real stones: ordinary, on the board counts as a point, as does each prisoner taken by either side.
semi-precious, precious. A 19x19 board has 361 points. This means that you It’s important to take into account White’s handicap due to the fact that
need 180 and 181 stones, respectively, to play. Craft two holding cups: Black made the first move. This is usually calculated by giving White
one for your stones, the other for your opponent's stones. a 6.5 point head start.

370 371
Play ing cards games games Playing cards

POKER

W
hile life sometimes forces you to rely on chance, cards are a game The ability to gain the upper hand in a situation with a high degree Poker is one of the most exciting and dynamic card games out there. After seeing this first round of community cards, players take this new
of cold calculation. Although the luck of the draw is, of course, of uncertainty depends only on the player's ability to qualitatively But there has to be something important on the line. Playing with stakes information into account and the next round of betting begins. Once this
up to fate, the game itself is not. The player’s main trump evaluate the opponent's cards and make the best decision. Luck is just makes everything juicier. Everyone throws a little into the communal pot is over, another community card is placed on the table.
cards are pure reason and self-control. an idle spectator watching the mind games from the sidelines. when they make a bet. Poker usually uses a full deck of 52 cards and can be
played by 2 to 10 people. At the beginning of the game, the dealer hands out Another round of betting follows, and the last community card is placed
two cards, face down, to every player. The two players to the left make the first (there should be 5 in total). This is followed by a final round of betting, and
mandatory bets. Now begins the acting, mind reading, psychological games if there are more than two players left at the end (i.e., they didn’t fold), then all
and, most importantly, the betting! Players take turns in a circle, starting players still in the game reveal their cards. Whoever has the best hand wins.
with the person to the left of the dealer. Everyone can: If there’s a tie, then friendship wins — the pot is split.
• Make a bet (something of value)
• Call by betting something of equal value to the highest bet Remember, you don’t always need a good hand to win. Sometimes you just
• Raise by betting something of a higher value need to know how to play a bad one and have a good poker face. What matters
• Fold by handing in your cards and forfeiting. is not the hand you actually have but the hand your opponent thinks you have.
• Check and bet nothing if your bet is already the highest or if everyone else Count cards and analyze what cards the other players could be holding.
has checked. The betting ends when everyone has either called the highest
bet or folded. If everyone folds but you, you win that hand! You can bluff and pretend that you have very good chances of winning, put
psychological pressure on your opponent by raising the stakes or fold and bow
After the first round of betting, the dealer places the first round of three out before you lose all your chips. But you must never let your opponent know
“community cards” face up on the table. Players use these cards along with what’s going on in your head. This is the art of the game and the only chance
the cards in their hand to create certain combinations that are assigned of winning.
different values.

Poker Hand Rankings

(from highest to lowest score)

1. Royal flush — the five highest cards

of any one suit
1 6
2. Straight flush — five cards
in a sequence, all in the same suit

3. Four of a Kind — 4 cards of the same

rank, one of each suit

4. Full house — 3 of a kind with one pair

5. Flush — any 5 cards of the same suit 2 7

but not in a sequence

6. Straight — 5 cards in a sequence

but not of the same suit

7. Three of a kind — 3 cards

of the same rank
SUITS 8. Two pair — 2 different pairs 3 8
It's easier to see patterns
if you associate the cards with 9. Pair — 2 cards of the same rank
something familiar. For instance,
you could relate them to the seasons 10. High card — when you can’t make
any other hands, the highest card wins
of the year. Construct a deck Cards can decide your fate, so it's only
of 52 cards, one for each week fitting that the most powerful cards
of the year. The deck should have four are represented by powerful figures.
Cards with the values 2–10 are simply numbered, 4 9
"seasons:" two black suits and two red.
while 11, 12 and 13 are the "face cards" — the Jack,
Assign each its own name and symbol. Queen and King. The Ace, usually assigned a value
Creating the visual component is its own of 1, acts as a coat of arms for the suit.
art form — every artist can build their own world.
These kinds of playing cards gain an aesthetic value as well. JOKERS
Card games give you the opportunity to delve into a world Depending on the game, you may use either a full or partial
of combinations and patterns, so they need to be somehow deck (usually cards with a value of 6 and up). For some games,
tied to numbers. Assign each card a different numerical you might add two more cards: a red and a black joker. 5 10
value from 1–13. They are not suited and may be used as wild cards.

372 373
THE MILL games games THE GAME OF LIFE

A
ll the world's a stage, and we are merely players. And the rules Perhaps that's why people invent games: They’re simulations of real life
of the game are intricate and complicated. Some follow them that follow strict patterns of behavior and interaction with the enemy
unquestioningly, some try to cheat and some toe the line between in the struggle for victory. But there are also those who play only against
the two. Determining the winner is a difficult task. There are infinite variables, themselves, and there are no winners or losers — only spectators.
and fortune and fate have a hand in things. There are no unbiased judges.

THE GAME OF LIFE

"Life" can hardly be called a game. It is, rather, a scientific abstraction, capable
of imitating anything from the development of civilizations to the behavior
of social groups. You will not have an opponent. The patterns have a life
of their own, giving you the role of a spectator who monitors compliance
with the "genetic laws” that govern the movement of the pieces. Just like our
own, the universe of the game is constantly expanding, so the playing field
is a theoretically infinite grid. Each cell is bordered by eight others, and these
neighbors have a direct effect on the cell. While it may not be within your
You must be very careful: Place a second black checker Remove any dying checkers
the slightest inaccuracy can on the checkers that should and replace the white capabilities to make a truly infinite playing field, the bigger it is, the longer and
disrupt the development die. Put white checkers newborn checkers with black more captivating the game will be. In the future, you can even make boxes with
of the whole system because in places where new shapes ones. small lights instead of playing pieces to make gameplay even more spectacular!
all transformations occur will appear.
simultaneously.

To start, build an arbitrary figure of 5–8 chips

on the field. This is your organism. Then arrange
pieces according to the rules of the "genetic laws":
• Existence: A piece with 2 or 3 free
spaces next to it is alive.
• Extinction: A piece with 4 or more
neighbors next to it dies due
"Ships" can travel R-pentominoes live Stable patterns that don’t This configuration, the “hard
to overpopulation. A chip with 1 indefinitely within the space for a very long time. change over the generations nut,” suddenly disappears
or no neighbors dies of loneliness. of the universe. They are Such figures stabilize only are known as “still life,” such after 130 turns.
• Birth: A new piece is born on each important because they form after 1,103 generations. as the beehive shown here.
new configurations when
empty cell with exactly 3 chips
they collide and can be used
THE MILL adjacent to it. to transmit information over
To play The Mill, you will need a board marked as shown and 9 chips of 2 colors. If you manage to build two in one turn, then you remove two of your opponent's long distances.
Use lots to determine who plays which color and who starts first. The playing chips. A mill can be formed in the same place several times, but the player can
field contains 24 points. Players start phase 1 by taking turns placing their chips only remove an opponent’s chip after the first one. When one of the players
on any free point on the board. The objective is to build a “mill,” or a row is left with only 3 chips, they get an advantage: During their turn, they can start
of three same-colored chips. Once a player has succeeded, they can remove rearranging their chips freely, without heeding the “one adjacent point per move” The ultimate goal of the game is to find new Try creating “glider guns” that shoot out new The game ends if there are no living pieces left
an opponent’s chip from the field. Chips can only be removed from mills rule, while the other player continues to play by the old rules until they, too, have organisms with interesting properties. Shapes can shapes, "puffer trains" that drive across the field on the field, the configuration of the gameboard
if no other chips remain to be removed. When all the pieces are on the board, only 3 chips remaining. A player who can no longer make a move or has fewer behave in different ways. Some die as soon as they and leave trails of exhaust behind them and so on. is an exact replication of a previous state
start playing: take turns moving the chips to any adjacent free space while than 3 chips left loses the game. appear. Others grow to fill the whole space, and or the system has stabilized (none of the cells
trying to build a mill. still others are constantly transforming. are able to change states).

374 375
Bulquack games

T
o play is to be free. Play is one of the ultimate forms 2
of free expression — it’s impossible to determine how
exactly a game will develop or to anticipate the final 1
score. At the same time, games usually impose a set
of rules and conditions that aren’t present in the real
world. The main purpose of the game is simply to play it.
1. Pieces in reserve
When we do, we solve problems that teach us new 2. Starting spaces
concepts and allow us to acquire new skills. Playing 3. Game board
is one of the main ways we communicate with
each other and with our own inner worlds,
both real and imaginary. Games teach us that
if we are unsatisfied with our own reality,
we can always change it.

GAME SETUP Attack Rules

1. Find 20 playing pieces After you move the playing piece, it "shoots"
toward the opponent. The range of attack
(coins, rocks, buttons, etc.). is equal to the number of pieces behind
2. Place the game board between the active piece plus 1.
the two players.
3. Each player takes 10 playing pieces Example: You moved the piece 1 space
forward. There are 2 more pieces standing
and places them in front behind it. Therefore, the piece attacks
of themselves. the 3rd space (marked with a lightning bolt).
4. Each player takes 5 of their pieces
and places them on each of their
starting spaces.
5. Choose the first player in any way
you want.

HOW TO PLAY
Players take turns. On your turn,
you must perform one of the following
actions: Place a New Piece
or Move and Attack. Let's look Failed Attack
If the attacked space is empty or contains your
at the action in more detail. own playing piece, nothing happens.

Successful Attack
If the attacked space contains an opponent's
piece, it is destroyed and removed from
the game. Take the attacked piece off the board
and keep it as a trophy separate from your
reserve. After that, return all your playing
pieces that participated in the attack back
to your reserve.

Example: The player on the left has

successfully attacked the opponent's piece.
At the end of the turn they take the opponent's
piece as a trophy and return their own pieces
that participated in the attack. Specifically,
the piece that led to the attack and the 2 pieces
behind it. The piece standing at the edge
of the game board did not participate
in the attack, so it remains on the board.
Place a New Piece Repeating moves Move and Attack
If at least one of your starting spaces The current player may declare a draw Choose any piece on the game board and move it to an adjacent space.
is unoccupied, you may place a new piece. if the opponent has repeated a series of moves Movement rules:
To do that, take a playing piece from three or more times that results in the same • Pieces can move forward, backward, left and right
your reserve and place it on any of your arrangement of pieces on the game board but not diagonally.
unoccupied starting spaces. on the opponent's side. • A space can contain up to 1 piece at a time.
• If a space is occupied by another piece, you can
jump over that space.
End of the Game and Victory • If there are several occupied spaces in a row, you can
The game ends immediately when one
jump over all of them.
of the players destroys five opponent's pieces.
That player is declared a winner.
Exception: The playing piece is not allowed to jump over the dividing line
in the middle or the boundaries of the game board.

377
Sex toys games games Sex toys

B VACUUM STIMULATION

P
lay is perhaps the only human activity They will enhance your natural abilities, allow you By creating a small vacuum with a jet of water,
that doesn’t need to have an end goal. to try on new roles, discover a world of sensations you can get a sucking effect, providing a rush
What’s important is not the destination and, in the end, have a great time. Even if you’re of blood to the organs and stimulating arousal.
but the journey and the experience you gain along playing with yourself. The jet pump consists of a nozzle (1) through
the way. Especially when the play is of a sensual 6 which a jet of water (3) is ejected at high speed.
nature. The key to foreplay is the element of fantasy, Water comes from a tank raised to a height (6).
A
and you can use toys to help you get in the right This creates a vacuum in the nozzle chamber (2).
headspace. Air is sucked in through the pipe (5) and, together
with water, leaves the pump through the outlet
pipe (4). By adjusting the flow of water with
a valve (7), you can change the suction power,
DILDO/VIBRATOR and thus the intensity, of pleasure. To create
The vibrator is the key choice for the solo-sensualist. Affix an eccentric pleasant pulsations, use the handle to turn the ball
weight — a weight where the center of mass is displaced relative valve (8), which opens and closes the water flow.
to the axis (B) — on an electric DC motor (A). As it rotates,
the imbalanced weight will cause the device to vibrate, adding
an interesting new sensation to your tool belt. Another benefit besides pure pleasure is a good
pelvic floor workout and increased blood circulation
to the groin — both of which are key components
in successful reproduction of offspring.

1
Erotic fantasies can be transmitted 7
over long distances — and so can
sensations. Add an extra element
to the vibrator by adding a remote
C
control so that you can play in pairs.
The electric actuator is activated
remotely using a radio signal. Simply
connect the vibration motor to the bell
circuit of the radiotelegraph
receiver (C) (page 298) and enjoy
the dots and dashes that your playmate
transmits with the telegraph key.

8
You can never have too many toys. Beads and balls (2, 7) made of glass, wood, Cock rings (5) made of rubber will bring pleasure to both players. They
metal or rubber can be connected with a flexible rubber cord or rigid pegs. work by preventing blood from flowing out of the organ. Butt plugs (6)
In addition to strong sensations, they’ll also help train the muscles of your pelvic will complement the sensations: They will relax the muscles of the pelvic 1
floor. But if you’d rather just relax and go with the flow, use toys with a textured floor and cause others to tense. They can also act as an ornament
surface (3). Or experiment with the speed and duration of cunnilingus (4) using for visual stimulation.
2
a toy with an eccentric motor that spins a wheel with rubber tongues.
5
3

3 4 6 7 4
2

Lubrication is a must.
Aloe vera gel works well:
5
peel an aloe leaf and remove
the gel-like pulp.

378 379
DELICATESSEN
Sushi Delicatessen Delicatessen Sushi

F
ood is, of course, important for its caloric and nutritional value.
But it’s also so much more than that! Food is an opportunity
for personal growth and self-expression. New flavors and sensations
cause new connections to form in your brain, and a good meal can heal more 2
than just your body. You know what they say — you are what you eat.
So why not create the best version of yourself by preparing a well-balanced
Nigiri Gunkan Maki Maki (sushi roll)
meal? It’s time to learn how to make sushi. The only thing you’ll have A rectangular mound of rice topped with a thin slice of fish, Named after the battleship it resembles, gunkan maki Rice and fillings rolled in a sheet of seaweed. If there is a single
to cook is the rice. This is the main secret of sushi: do not complicate squid or other seafood. is a rectangular mound of rice wrapped in dried nori filling, it is a hosomaki roll. Maki is made using a bamboo
what can be done simply. (find this seaweed growing on the bottom of seafaring boats). mat. Lay down a sheet of nori and spread rice on top, making
3 Load the "deck" of the boat with roe, seaweed, finely chopped sure to leave a lip at one end to seal the roll together. Place
fish marinated in sauce, etc. fillings on one side and roll everything up. Cut into pieces
with a large knife soaked in cold water.

4 5

Futomaki Temaki (hand roll) Uramaki

Large (3–4 cm thick and 4–5 cm wide) maki with Large, cone-shaped sushi roll. Usually eaten with the hands, Outside: rice sprinkled with caviar or toasted sesame seeds.
several fillings. as it is too heavy to be lifted with chopsticks. Inside: a layer of nori and filling.
1. Roe
2. Rice
3. Nori
4. Cucumber
5. Avocado
6. Crab meat/surimi made from crab
or white fish (freeze the fish first to kill
most kinds of parasites)

Oshi (pressed sushi) Inari Narezushi

Sushi in the form of dense rectangular bars consisting A bag of fried tofu or omelet stuffed with rice. This is actually a way of preserving fish. The fish is salted
of layers of rice and fillings. in barrels, mixed with raw rice and placed under a press.
After a period of six months to three years, the dish is ready.
This method allows you to preserve the fish over long periods
WASABI of time.
There’s not just a method to preparing sushi — there’s also a method to eating
it. Add wasabi, the grated root of a special kind of horseradish. Mix it with soy
Chirashi
sauce, a fermented product of soybeans. This creates a combination of all five Sushi for the lazy: a plate of rice with fish and other
flavors: sweet, bitter, salty, sour and umami. Dip the sushi in fish-side first, toppings laid on top.
and do not allow the rice to soak in the sauce or it will absorb too much.
Better yet, use a piece of ginger as a “brush.” Learn to use chopsticks instead
of a fork — you need to eat the sushi whole, as biting into it or breaking it
with a fork will ruin its structural integrity.
RICE
The most important element of sushi is properly cooking
the rice. It should be sticky while maintaining its structure.
Round white rice works best. Rinse 500 g of rice with cold water
5 times, cover with clean water and leave to soak for 15 minutes.
Place in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and cover with water
in a 1:1 ratio. For flavor, add a piece of dried nori seaweed
(but remove it just before water starts to boil). Bring to a boil over
high heat and wait for the excess water to evaporate. Then reduce
heat and cook for another 30 minutes. Let the rice sit.

Add seasonings while rice is still warm:

GINGER • Mix 125 ml of rice vinegar (mirin) and 20 grams each of salt and sugar.
You can’t go straight from a piece of nigiri with salmon and eel • Heat the mixture over a fire without bringing it to a boil (about 5 minutes).
• Add 15 g of kombu seaweed and let simmer for about an hour
to a futomaki roll — the tastes will clash. Use pickled ginger as a palate (This is an optional ingredient. Without it, the rice will still be sticky
cleanser. It overpowers any lingering flavors and prepares your taste buds and tasty, but kombu adds a complexity of flavor).
for new experiences. • Mix into rice and allow it to sit for an hour.

382 383
Ramen noodles Delicatessen Delicatessen Ramen noodles

NOODLES
Made from four main ingredients: wheat flour, salt, water and kansui,
which is essentially alkaline water (a mixture of potassium carbonate

C
ontent yourself with perfecting and sodium carbonate in varying proportions). Kansui gives the noodles
the basics or constantly strive to find elasticity and acts as a preservative. You can substitute kansui with roasted
the newest, freshest ingredients? Whip baking soda: pour on a baking sheet and roast at 170–200°C until
up a quick broth to satisfy your hunger or spend the baking soda loses 1/3 of its mass (this may take a couple of hours).
a year preparing the sauce? With ramen, there’s
infinite possibility: try something new and tweak
your recipe. Keep experimenting, changing
the broth, toppings and sauces. Each has its own INSTANT NOODLES
harmony. The most important step is finding A very practical recipe — it keeps for a long
a starting point. The recipe can of course time and cooks up quickly. Boil the noodles
be simplified, but if you want to do it “right,” for 1.5–2 minutes. Rinse in lightly salted water
the preparation takes an extremely long time, to remove excess starch. Separate into portions
even if the dish itself is assembled in only and form into blocks. Fry into shape in boiling
a few minutes. vegetable oil.

The ramen bowl must be preheated. Mix motodare sauce

with a fragrant oil (make the former from any powdered
seafood product and extract the latter from plants)
then add to the noodles. Pour your broth over the mixture.
The finishing touch is toppings: pork, chicken, fish, eggs
marinated in soy sauce, bamboo shoots, etc. Add soy sauce,
ginger and garlic to taste.

Pork broth—Tonkatsu Motodare sauce Miso broth

• 1.5 kg pork bones with fat (add pork hooves This gives the ramen a special, rich taste. • 500 g soybeans
and tails for richness) Mix the following ingredients: • 500 g Koji rice (a grain grown with Aspergillus oryzae
• Sesame oil (to taste) • Anchovies marinated in soy sauce for a week mold). Enzymes produced during koji fermentation
• 1 large onion • Dried algae marinated in saline solution for a week break down the proteins and starches found in soybeans
• 1 head garlic • Dashi broth. Make by placing a piece of dried kombu into amino acids and sugars, which give the dish its
• 1 small piece ginger seaweed in a saucepan, cover with a liter of water umami flavor (page 100) and sweetness.
• 2 leeks and let sit for 20 minutes. Then put on medium heat. • 215 g sea salt
Before boiling, take out the kombu, add bonito tuna • 3 tsp soy sauce
1. Cover pork bones, fat and hooves with cold water shavings (cooked tuna which is then smoked, dried • 1 tsp sugar
until completely submerged. and cut into thin slices). After 3 minutes, strain • 1 star anise pod
2. Put on high heat and bring to a boil. the broth through a fine sieve.
3. Coarsely chop the onion, garlic and ginger. Fry in hot • Sake or rice wine 1. Rinse the beans and soak in cold water for at least
sesame oil until charred. All the ingredients should • Rice vinegar 18 hours.
turn black. 2. Rinse again and cook until soft.
4. After the broth comes to a boil, pour it out and rinse 3. Pour half a glass of warm water into the rice to partially
the bones with cold water. rehydrate, add salt and stir.
5. Take the cleaned bones, charred vegetables and remnants 4. Mash the beans into a paste.
of the oil in which they were fried and place them 5. Add rice and stir.
in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a boil. 6. Roll the resulting dough into balls, place them
6. Skim off the foam, reduce heat and cover. in a container and press them down slightly.
7. Leave the broth to simmer for at least 24 hours. 7. Sprinkle with salt, cover with cling wrap and place
Open the lid periodically and add water. The bones a weight on top.
should remain completely submerged in the liquid. 8. Leave the miso paste to ferment at room temperature
for a year.
9. Combine your miso paste (2 tablespoons), soy sauce
and sugar. Bring 750 ml of water to a boil,
add the mixture and star anise. Bring the broth
to a boil again.

385
fa st f o o d Delicatessen Delicatessen Fast food

M
odern life moves fast, constantly striving to build up industries and
produce new goods and technologies. Soon the food industry will
follow suit. But fast doesn’t always mean good.

TACO
Place the filling — beef, pork, chicken, seafood, refried beans
and/or vegetables — into a thin corn or wheat flour tortilla.
Even stewed cactus pulp can be a good filling! Then pile high
with cheese, cilantro, onions, salsa and guacamole. To make
the latter, cream an avocado and add tomatoes, cilantro, lime
juice and spices. Salsa is just finely chopped tomatoes
with onions, celery, chili and lime juice.

BURGERS
Fast food, by definition, must be calorically
dense in order to satisfy hunger quickly.
But the quality of calories varies greatly.
Choose the right ingredients to make sure you
get enough of everything you need: proteins —
poultry, nuts, meat, fish; healthy fats — olive oil, HOT DOG
avocado, oily ocean fish; and carbohydrates — Grind your meat of choice and mix in egg, milk, butter, salt and
grains, sugar, honey, cereals, fruits, vegetables. spices to taste. Minced onions and garlic also make good additions.
Cut the bun into two halves and place the filling Hand-roll your meat mixture into sausage shapes or pipe it into
in between. Topping possibilities are limited only the intestinal lining of a cow or other animal. Whenever someone
by your imagination: pile veggies, herbs, cheese, gets a hankering for hot dogs, just fry or boil them directly
tofu, bacon and/or egg on top of your protein in the skin. Place your hot dog in a premade bun (page 94), season
(meat or fish). And don’t forget — sauces are key. with sauces and add fresh, pickled or fried veggies, herbs, cheese
or any other toppings you like.

MAYONNAISE FRENCH FRIES

Separate the yolks of two room-temperature eggs. Deep-frying is a cooking method using large quantities of oil heated
Whisk together with ½ teaspoon of mustard, to 130–180°C. This allows you to quickly cook dense foods such as potatoes,
1 teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon lemon juice as well as soft cheese balls, pieces of meat, etc. Put the food in a sieve,
(or apple cider vinegar). Pour olive oil over wire tray or any other mesh container, and then immerse it fully
the mixture in a thin stream, whisking constantly in boiling oil for a couple of minutes. The oil must completely cover
until it reaches the desired consistency. Add the food, so make sure you have a big enough pot before you start.
another ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Whisk.
The mass will thicken considerably.

386 387
Soft Drinks Delicatessen Delicatessen Soft Drinks

I
n a developed civilization, you can get bored consuming ordinary liquid
that's nothing more than just necessary for life. The soda making machine
can be a perfect intersection of fun and functional as it will add tickling
bubbles, sweetness and many different flavors to the water. At the same
time, fizzy drinks can be stored longer because carbon dioxide preserves
and suppresses the development of pathogenic bacteria.

Construct an apparatus that will carbonate For a simpler carbonation method, add around a teaspoon each of baking soda
beverages at the press of a button. Your participation and citric acid (you can substitute with the juice of 1 lemon) to a liter of clean,
is limited to installing the necessary components cold water, mix — and voila! Plain carbonated water can also be transformed
and periodically maintaining them. into a light energy drink.
1. Finely zest 2 oranges, a lemon and a lime. Extract the juice from the pulp
The first and only step of carbonation is infusing of the fruit.
8
water with carbon dioxide. The simplest way 2. Add the zest, 300 g of sugar, 2 teaspoons of coriander, a teaspoon
5
to do this is through chemical reactions between of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg to a liter of water. Stir.
natural carbonates — for example, marble, 3. Bring the mixture to a boil and keep it there for a few minutes.
6 limestone or chalk — and some sort of strong 4. Prepare the caramel: combine 1 tablespoon of water and 5 tablespoons
acid, such as sulphuric or hydrochloric. Unstable of sugar in a saucepan on low heat until the sugar dissolves. Then add a cup
carbonates such as soda or potash (page 24) decay of hot water and boil for 30 seconds.
in even the weakest organic acids, such as the citric 5. Remove the citrus zest mixture from the heat and add the freshly squeezed
acid contained in lemon juice. juice, a teaspoon of vanilla extract and caramel.
9 6. Stir 2 tablespoons of ground coffee into 150 ml of boiling water and let it
To dissolve gas in water, you’ll need several steep for 10 minutes. Strain and mix into syrup.
7
separate vessels that seal tightly together: 7. Wait for the mixture to cool and put in a cold place overnight. Then strain.
• In the lower vessel (1) place the carbonate 8. Mix with soda in a ratio of 1:1.
minerals and acid for generating the gas. Install
a separator valve (3) that will allow gas to rise
4
into the middle chamber while preventing
10 the water from escaping.
• Fill the middle vessel (4) with the water (5)
2 you want to carbonate. It’s better if it’s
pre-chilled — gas dissolves better at low
temperatures. Fit a tap to the bottom of this
3 vessel so you can drain the prepared soda
water (10).
• The upper vessel (6) serves to receive
the water from the middle vessel that is
displaced by the bubbles — and pushed up
the curved tube (7) — while maintaining
an air-tight seal.

1
1. Chamber with natural carbonates
2. Acid input spigot
3. Separator valve
4. Saturator (where the water
is infused with gas)
5. Water input
6. Expansion tank
7. Curved tube
8. Syrup mixer
9. Syrup distributing handle
10. Drink dispenser

388 389
Alcohol Delicatessen Delicatessen Alcohol

I
n low spirits? Concentrate the best moments in life by distilling your own Any sweet or starchy liquid will do: juice, pomace, crushed grains mixed
alcohol. Distillation is a process that purifies and increases the alcohol with water. Experiment with different raw materials, fermentation methods
content of your fermented beverages. and flavorings to create a wide variety of drinks. Here are just a few ideas.

Tequila Vermouth Rum

Use blue agave as your base. Bake the fruit of the cactus Wine with added herbal notes. Allow the herbs to steep Use sugarcane juice — or more precisely, sugarcane
to break down the complex carbohydrates into simple ones in the wine for several weeks. Cinnamon, citrus zest and byproducts (page 102) — as your base. After fermenting
then grind into a pulp. The resulting mash must be fermented wormwood are all good flavoring options. Distill the infusion. and distilling, pour the rum into barrels and set
and then distilled. Dilute the resulting alcohol with water Pour the resulting alcohol into a new batch of wine to dilute it, in the cellar to age.
until it reaches the desired concentration and age in barrels allow it to age and bottle.
2 for several months.

Vodka Brandy Liqueurs

The first step is pouring boiling water over wheat or any Use grapes grown in humus-carbonate soils (page 62). Infuse vodka or brandy with berries and/or fruits and let it
other grain (page 54). After fermentation and distillation, Such varieties will give the distilled wine a unique taste and brew. Again, the quality of the drink depends on the aging
the alcohol must be purified even more in a process called aroma. Finally, achieve the desired flavor by aging the wine period: from several months to several years. Once aged,
rectification (page 118). Then run it through a charcoal filter. in wooden barrels for a period of 3–15 years — and sometimes filter the tincture or distill once again. Can also be mixed
Dilute the resulting 96% alcohol with water to 40% ABV even longer! Good things come to those who wait: The longer with fruit syrups.
then bottle. it ages, the deeper and more complex the flavor.

First, your raw ingredients must be fermented. However, After it evaporates, the alcohol is not completely purified and
the container can get contaminated by unwanted airborne still contains trace elements of other substances. Use only high-
strains of yeast and mold, which will produce toxic acetone, quality raw materials for the mash, or the drink will end up
butyl alcohol or butyric acid. To prevent this from happening, tasting rotten. Place a gin basket (2) between the distillation
add a proven leavener, such as the one you use for beer, bread flask and the coil then fill it with fragrant plants, such as juniper,
or cheese (pages 106, 94, 104). To speed up the process, warm anise, wormwood or citrus zest. The alcoholic vapors will
the raw materials over a low fire. After the raw materials are carry the aromatic components along with it, enriching the
fermented, filter the resulting mash or the solid particles will flavor of the final product. Pour off the first few centimeters
burn and spoil the taste of the drink. Now you can proceed of the distilled alcohol — they contain methanol and acetone,
to distillation. Place the mash in the distillation flask (1). which are unfit for human consumption. And be sure to stop
The alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature than the water, the distillation process before the heavy amyl oils evaporate Whiskey Gin Absinthe
effectively separating the two liquids and increasing the ABV and spoil your drink. Take malt (page 106) from sprouted barley kernels (you Distill grain alcohol. Add juniper berries, a little lemon Make an alcoholic tincture from a variety of herbs —
of the final product. Cool the alcohol vapors in a coil (3). can also use wheat, rye or even corn). Mix the ground grains or orange peel and other herbs such as anise, fennel, anise, fennel, angelica, lemon balm, chamomile and, most
with water and heat to obtain wort. Distill the fermented cinnamon and coriander. Then distill again. A well-prepared importantly, bitter wormwood, which contains an essential
wort, pour into oak barrels and let rest — ideally, for about gin is sharp, dry and has a distinct juniper flavor. oil that imbues the drink with its unique taste.
10–15 years. Your patience will be rewarded when you take
your first sip of this earthy, full-bodied beverage.

390 391
Co c ktails Delicatessen Delicatessen cocktails

N
ot everyone enjoys life straight, no chaser. Those who need Ingredients may include liqueurs, juices or even cream. All elements, both
a spoonful of sugar with their medicine should try their hand alcoholic and otherwise, should enhance and highlight each other. The secret
at cocktails. These drinks come in a variety of flavors, from complex, lies in the balance between light and rich, strong and weak, sour and sweet.
unfamiliar, boundary-pushing beverages to familiar favorites. Finding the right Experiment and have fun! Try a couple of time-proven classics to get started.
ingredients is the most important step to soften heavy drinks and make them But even here, there’s always room for improvisation Margarita
easier to enjoy. Moisten the rim of a glass with a slice of lime or orange,
and then dip into a saucer of coarse salt to add flavor and
counter the harsh taste of the tequila (page 390). Mix
30 ml of tequila, 20 ml of orange liqueur and 30 ml of
freshly squeezed lime juice in a shaker. If it tastes too bitter,
add sugar syrup. Put ice in a glass and pour the resulting
mixture on top.

Bloody Mary Tequila Sunrise

In a chilled highball glass, pour 150 ml tomato juice. Freeze water in an ice tray (4) and fill a highball glass
Gently add 40 ml of vodka by pouring it over a bar spoon (2) with cubes. Pour 50 ml tequila and 10 ml grenadine
so it doesn’t mix with the juice. Add salt and pepper to taste (a thick, sweet syrup made from pomegranate seeds)
and a few drops each of hot sauce and sour fermented sauce over the ice. To obtain pomegranate juice, put the seeds
made with vinegar, sugar and fish. Ice and lemon juice can be through a press (5) to remove the pulp. Top up with orange
added to taste. Garnish with a celery stalk. juice and stir gently with a cocktail spoon. While stirring,
press the spoon against the sides of the glass so that the back
of the spoon faces out and you don't break the ice cubes.
Pina colada Garnish with an orange wedge.
In a blender, pour 60 ml of light rum, 30 ml each of coconut
cream or milk and regular cream, 180 ml of pineapple juice
and crushed ice. Blend for 15 seconds then pour the contents
into a glass and garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.

It’s best if you avoid mixing more than four or five non-alcoholic ingredients Long shake — As the name suggests, this involves vigorous shaking over
and two alcoholic ones (one for the base, the other to add flavor). The only a longer period of time and is used for drinks that contain pieces of fruit 1 2 3 4 5
shared ingredient in 99% of all cocktails is ice. It’s important to pay attention or berries, spices and herbs.
to proportions and mixing techniques.
Dry shake — This is used for thick, smooth, homogenous cocktails. No ice
To accomplish this, use a metallic vessel with a lid, known as a shaker (1), is required here unless the drink contains eggs, milk or cream. Stick a large
to thoroughly combine all of your ingredients. Fill with ice first then add metal coil in the bottom of the shaker to speed up the process and integrate
your alcohols and ingredients of choice — from lowest to highest ABV. the ingredients more effectively. Shake then strain to remove any small pieces
There are two main mixing techniques: of fruit or ice that may remain.

Old fashioned Martini

Place a lump of sugar in a lowball glass. Add 2–3 drops In a shaker filled with crushed ice, mix 50 ml gin and a dash
of water and a bitter tincture made of orange, ginger, nutmeg, of vermouth (page 391) then strain and pour into a glass.
cloves and cardamom. Crush the sugar and bitters mixture The drink will be cold, but the ice won’t change or dilute
into a kind of syrup then fill the glass halfway with ice and the flavor as it melts. Add an olive and garnish with
add 25 ml of bourbon corn whiskey. Mix thoroughly — a lemon wedge.
this allows time for the glass to cool and the ingredients
to start interacting with each other. Add more ice and another
25 ml of bourbon. Stir again then garnish with orange peel.
Cosmopolitan
Fill the shaker with ice, 40 ml vodka, 15 ml Cointreau
The taste should be light and slightly tart. A cherry on top
(a strong orange peel liqueur), 30 ml of fruit juice and 15 ml
adds a pop of color and flavor.
of lime juice. Whisk thoroughly and strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a twist of lime peel.
Mojito
Place 3–4 sprigs of mint leaves in a tall glass, then add
2 teaspoons of sugar syrup (ideally cane sugar [page 102])
and lime juice. Muddle with a bartender's pestle (3) —
but not too hard or you may release the bitter components
in the mint. Fill a glass to the top with crushed ice. Pour By the way, a bartender’s spoon (2) is a handy tool.
in 40 ml of light rum and 150 ml of soda or soda water Add an additional tool to the other end, such as a pestle,
(page 390). Stir with a bar spoon to reincorporate the mint fork or flat disc that can be used to layer drinks.
leaves. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint and a wedge of lime. If the handle is spiral shaped, it can be used to reduce
the flow rate of a liquid as you add it into your drink.

392 393
D e ss e rt s Delicatessen Delicatessen Desserts

S
ome foods fill our stomachs and help our bodies stay fit and healthy. Add a dessert at the end of a meal to feed both your belly and your soul, liven up
Balanced meals with the proper proportions of complex carbohydrates, your taste buds and give yourself a quick dose of happy hormones. A little
proteins and fats give us the strength and energy we need to face our something sweet can really go a long way.
day. But what a bore! Despite what you may think, the essence of human
happiness is actually quite prosaic: hormones.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

A childhood favorite of many, the lava cake
is a chocolate souffle cake with a liquid chocolate
center. To make "lava" you need eggs, butter, dark
MOCHI chocolate, flour, sugar and cocoa. Melt warm butter
Unsweetened rice (page 70) makes for great and chocolate, stirring regularly. Beat eggs and
desserts. Use a starchy, round grain, matte rice. sugar to stiff peaks and mix flour with cocoa.
Soak it overnight, boil it and grind it in a mortar. Then combine and mix thoroughly.
Add a little water and use a wooden mallet to beat
and knead the rice until it becomes a homogenous Butter small cake pans and sprinkle with cocoa
mass. powder then fill three quarters of the way up
with your dough and bake them for 7–8 minutes
Roll this dough into balls then make a dimple at a temperature of 180°C. Remove the fondants
in the center with your thumb and press in fillings. from the oven when an oily film starts to form
Anything can make a good filling: fruits, berries, on their surface. Transfer the prepared muffins
boiled beans, cream. Bake or pan fry the finished to a plate, garnish with powdered sugar,
mochi. Savor this dish slowly — the viscous rice chocolate chips or berries. Serve immediately;
balls are easy to choke on. otherwise, the molten core will harden.

CHEESECAKE
Cheesecake doesn’t need to be baked, making
it both delicious and convenient. For the crust, you
TURKISH DELIGHT need shortbread dough or cookies. Crush them
Combine sugar, cold water and fruit juice into crumbs and mix with melted butter then press
in a saucepan over low heat. As soon as it boils, into the bottom of a round cake mold. Now for
add cornstarch diluted with warm water the secret ingredient: gelatin.
and cook for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
You should get a thick, gelatinous mass. Mix your gelatin with lemon juice, water
and sugar. Place the mixing bowl in a warm water
Add nuts, place in a high-walled baking bath and stir until completely dissolved. Whisk
sheet and cool at room temperature. together cream and cream cheese then combine
Then set aside in a cooler place with the gelatin mixture. Pour the resulting creamy
for 8–12 hours. When the sugar has mass onto the biscuit base and smooth. Store
hardened, cut into smaller squares the cheesecake pan in a cool place overnight.
and roll in coconut flakes, powdered Once completely solidified, decorate with berries
sugar or cinnamon. and fruits.

The gelatin must be prepared in advance. This takes

time. Simmer cow bones, horns, cartilage and joints
in water for 10 hours. Collagen will form on the surface
of the water. Strain the broth and cook for a few more
hours until a thick mass is formed. This jelly-like mass
can then be dehydrated to form gelatin.

394 395
cular Gastronom
Mole y Delicatessen Delicatessen Molecular Gastronomy

BORSCHT CAPPUCCINO

F
ood is one of life’s most accessible pleasures, but as with any earthly This means that if you understand the chemical composition, you can You’re probably used to thinking of cappuccino as a coffee drink and borscht
delight, you can have too much of a good thing. Eating the same experiment endlessly: highlight the main flavors, try new combinations as a main course. But what if we threw the rules out the window? To make
meal day in and day out quickly becomes a chore. But food can be and create unusual textures. Molecular gastronomy gives you the opportunity a borscht cappuccino, first chop an onion, grate a beet and a carrot and simmer
deconstructed and restructured in new and exciting ways using science. to elevate ordinary foods into extraordinary dishes and the permission to play them all together in a pot with some oil. Add a tablespoon of tomato paste,
The secret of molecular gastronomy is in cooking methods. All food products, with your food. You’ll come out of the experience with a dish that won’t break let simmer for another minute, and then add a liter of vegetable broth.
like any other substances, are composed of chemical elements. your diet and a fresh new perspective on life. Keep the mixture at a low boil for 30 minutes. So far, looks like regular
borscht, right? Time to mix it up.

Process the borscht in a blender (page 276) and strain through a thick sieve.
Put the strained mixture back in the blender and add 0.1% of the total volume
of guar or locust bean gum. Obtain this by grinding guar or carob seeds
into a powder, which acts as a thickener and texture stabilizer. Pour
the resulting mixture into another bowl. Next, blend together half
a spoonful of cream with sauerkraut and strain. Add 0.7% of the volume
in agar. This substance is obtained from kelp algae (page 100). The agar
mixture must be brought to a boil, poured into another bowl and, after
thickening, blended once again. Now you need to turn the liquid mixture
into foam. This can be done using a soda maker (page 388). Pressurized gas
will saturate the mixture with bubbles, whipping it into a foam. And the added
guar gum will help the foam hold its structure longer. Pour the borscht into
a glass and add foam on top. Your borscht cappuccino is ready.

STRAWBERRY FOAM
Blend together 200 g of strawberries, a few cilantro leaves, 14 g of balsamic
vinegar, 30 g of sugar and 150 g of water. Strain through a sieve. Add 1 g of guar
gum and pour into your soda maker. Your foam is complete! Just spray it into
a transparent glass to enjoy the full aesthetic effect.

CITRUS SPAGHETTI
Mix 400 ml orange juice, 25 ml thick orange syrup, 75 ml sugar syrup
and 25 g agar. Heat the mixture in a saucepan without bringing it
to a boil. Suck the resulting liquid into a syringe (page 36). Use it to fill
a long, flexible rubber tube with liquid (page 116). Immerse this tube
in cold water for a couple of minutes to allow the mixture to solidify.
Then reconnect the syringe and tube and use the pressurized air
to push the orange spaghetti from the tube. Garnish with
an orange wedge.

Perhaps the only rule in molecular cuisine is that eyeballing measurements won’t work.
It’s not imperative that you use oranges — this method can be used
Every gram counts. Get the proportions wrong and your orange spaghetti will become orange
to make spaghetti out of anything. The only requirement is that it can jelly. But even that is an exciting new texture, so by the standards of molecular gastronomy,
first be liquified. it would be a success!

397
SOCIETY
R it e o f passage Society Society Rite of passage

The process of changing roles is something that can be guided and celebrated For example, the ceremony of knighthood commemorates a boy reaching
using a rite of passage. During the ceremony, the initiate experiences manhood and makes him a member of the military aristocracy, and

H
uman society is like a living organism, with cells constantly changing These roles are associated with the stages of an individual's personal the symbolic death of the former role and the birth of a new one, becoming a wedding reinforces the spouses' promises to remain faithful to each other
form to fulfill specific roles within the body. The formation and development — physical, psychological or spiritual — and with specific events a member of a new community with its own special set of rules. Because while simultaneously establishing them as “family people” and moving them
survival of a society is connected to the variety of the unique social throughout their life, such as a girl becoming a woman, a woman becoming a wife, of this, both identity and responsibilities change drastically. into a new stratum of society. The ceremony can carry both a sacred meaning
roles or models of behavior followed by all members of the community. and so on. If a person gets stuck at a certain stage and is unable to naturally pass understood only to those who have passed through and a more practical one,
into the next, it affects the evolution of the entire society, since each role implies creating a high level of uniformity within a group and making it easier to manage.
the performance of unique functions necessary for sustaining society.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN

RITE OF PASSAGE
1. Determine which social groups and roles exist within your society. 4. During especially important rituals, such as those associated with growing
How do people move among groups? What functions do they fulfill? up, the initiate may be asked to undergo certain physical and psychological
What skills do they have? How do these groups change over time? tests. For example, young men may be sent into the forest to learn how
2. Observe what exactly dies and what is reborn during the process of moving to survive, manage their fears and aggression, feel confident in their abilities
from one role to another. It’s better if the rite is created by those who have and finally take responsibility for their actions and lives.
already undergone this transition, as they have a better understanding 5. Instruct all members of the community on how to conduct the ceremony.
of what the initiates are going through. This work is usually best If the ritual itself is not a secret, think about how to disseminate this
performed by people who have deep, long-standing spiritual practices information to the public.
(such as meditation), as well as experienced shamans.
3. Find a symbol that reflects this transition — the ritual will be centered
around this object. There must be three phases in the rite: life before death
(the old role), death and rebirth (the new role). Remember that the death
in the ritual is symbolic — don’t mutilate your initiates.

400 401
neling Aggressio
Chan n Society

B
y nature, sentient creatures are aggressive creatures. From Assign each player the role of defender, attacker or goalkeeper. Each role
an evolutionary standpoint, this trait was necessary to ensure survival: comes with a special strategy and particular patterns of behavior. Because
satisfying needs, defending borders, dominating other species and of this, the scene unfolding on the field is almost like a theatrical drama,
conquering new territories. If you want to create a highly-developed and and crowds of spectators will flock to the stadiums to watch.
sustainable civilization, you need to learn how to channel this aggressive energy.
As they watch their team try to score goals against the opponent,
One good tool for sublimating aggression is football. This team sport allows the fans go through a rollercoaster of emotions: joy, anger, sorrow.
you to assert your superiority over your enemies not by shedding blood but Thanks to the human capacity for empathy, this joint pastime strengthens
by scoring goals. Instead of immediately waging war on a neighboring village bonds between people, bringing even complete strangers closer together.
or city, you can first sort out your differences and relieve tension with a quick They feel unity and involvement in a common cause, as if they, along
game before sitting down at the negotiation table with a cooler head. with the football players, are defending their city from the invaders.

To play a football match, you will need a leather ball, two goalposts with nets, Football can also be used to maintain
a mowed field or a city square and two opposing teams. The simplest version morale and discipline in the military
and as a freetime activity for youth.
of the game is to send any number of players onto the field and establish just
one rule: "Don’t kill anyone." In this case, the main goal of relieving tension
will be achieved, but the game itself will be little more than a giant brawl.

If you want the game to be entertaining for outside observers, you need
to come up with a strict set of rules. The players will have less freedom —
for example, they may be prohibited from touching the ball with their
hands — but the game will become more exciting to watch.

You must decide how many players can be on the field at one time and
which actions are legal and which are not, such as tripping an opponent,
and then provide penalties in the event these rules are violated. It’s worth
considering the procedure for determining the winner if the teams are tied
when the timer runs out; otherwise, the game may end in a scuffle.
A referee will monitor to make sure everyone is playing by the rules.

403
Sto ry t e lling Society Society Storytelling

H
umans have the unique ability to think in abstract terms. But the value of these concepts is not in their truth or falsehood but rather
They create and believe in constructs that exist exclusively in the fact that they help solve the problem of survival by creating a large group
in their imaginations — money, gods, human rights, laws, social of like-minded thinkers. Often, adherence to certain ideas becomes the basis
hierarchies, freedom. These constructs or myths are passed down through of serious ideological conflicts — even wars. The best instrument for passing
generations, forming common social conceptions, which can sometimes down shared beliefs is storytelling. Listeners identify with the characters
be false: for example, that the world they live on is flat. in the story and live through the twists and turns of the plot with them.
At this moment, the shield of critical thinking is down, and the storyteller
gains access to the deeper parts of the human psyche.

The art of storytelling is founded

on a few important principles:
1. Have a clear idea of the main concept you want
to portray to the audience. Make it the foundation
of the conflict between the heroes and the antagonists.
If you’re able to engage listeners on an emotional level,
they’ll believe in your myth and help keep it alive.

2. Every story needs an interesting hero. Who is your hero?

What does your hero want? What makes him tick?
Most importantly, your audience must identify
with both characters; otherwise, they won’t empathize
with the struggle.
3. Divide your story into three acts. The first act
is exposition, where the setting and circumstances
are established, as well as the hero and antagonist, the main
conflict and life-changing event that sets the hero on his journey.
The second act is the main body of the story, where the hero
encounters his obstacles. The difficulty of each task must grow
incrementally, and the hero should have to make some difficult
ethical decisions. The third act contains the final battle with
the antagonist, where the hero experiences catharsis
and realizes that he has undergone great
changes as a person.
4. Don’t explain things outright.
Let the emotions of the story drive
listeners to the necessary conclusions.

Good storytellers always form a strong

emotional bond of trust with their audience.
For this reason, storytelling has the capacity
to change the listener’s worldview and form new
myths in a society. It’s important that people
believe in these stories as immutable truths about
life. The narrative you construct plays a significant
role in shaping the public opinion of your new
civilization.

404 405
Cities Society Society Cities

I
f you want your civilization to flourish, Sacred spaces are a magnet for new residents. Location is key. As a rule, successful cities usually crop up
build cities. The concentrated population In some places, they are religious buildings, and at intersection points of trade routes or around agricultural
naturally spurs the formation of professional in others, temples of science or art. Everyone needs hubs. It’s good if you have some natural barriers nearby, such as
communities: merchants, mercenaries, artisans, entertainment, regardless of your civilization’s mountains or rivers, that can act as extra protection. Remember
artists and so on. This increases labor productivity, stage of development and location in the universe, that the city is a living and constantly changing organism.
allowing you to accumulate more resources and so open theaters and galleries and support All of its systems, sewers and roads, need to be designed
creating a vertical power structure for a more the development of the creative intelligentsia. with potential population growth in mind.
effectively run society. Citizens enjoy a relatively Promote scientific advancement by building
safe life, and thanks to the division of labor, they’ll universities. In turn, this will lead
be able to find work, exchange information and to economic growth and the overall
goods, enjoy an active social life and keep up-to- advancement of society.
date on the latest gossip. You must also determine Ultimately, the interaction
what your city will specialize in — this will give among large, successful
you a competitive advantage and determine cities will lead
the direction of development. If you lack points to the creation
of attraction, residents will start to leave, and soon of states.
your city will look more like a ghost town.
F e s t ivals Society Society Festivals

HOW TO ORGANIZE A FESTIVAL

The best site for a festival is one that is extraordinary in some way or made
extraordinary through decorations, art pieces and lighting. This will give

F
or humans, taking breaks from the daily routine and the fight for survival Festival culture is a living contradiction to the hierarchies, dogmas and norms the guests the impression that they’ve been transported to some wondrous
is vital. Otherwise, they are unable to create. Negative thoughts start meant as societal safeguards. These kinds of celebrations bestow a sense world governed by an entirely different set of laws, making it easier to cast
to accumulate in their minds, they become more prone to conformism of freedom, allowing people to leave their duties and responsibilities behind off their normal social roles, discard their inhibitions, tune into a new
and society enters a period of stagnation. Festivals and carnivals help relieve for a while and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, becoming truly wavelength and open themselves up to new experiences.
the tension and reboot the creative mind. spontaneous and authentic.
It’s important to organize the decor and events around a central theme,
which is best expressed through some sort of symbol endowed with
sacred meaning. This will create a unifying conceptual focal point,
bringing the participants in the festival even closer together.
Come up with a mission statement for your new community.
In this way, your festival can be transformed from a mere
celebration to a social experiment. For example, you can ban the use of money
so that all exchanges will be made on the basis of giving and gratitude.

People are what make festivals. Therefore, you should form a community
of like-minded people who will collaborate to build decorations and equip
the space — working together always brings people closer. However,
do not rush to expand your audience, or the event may lose its unique spirit.

May your festival be a source of creative inspiration

for people. May it lead to the development
of visionary ideas and the creation of a happier,
more sustainable society. Perhaps this way,
your descendants won’t have to build a new
civilization from the ruins of the last one.

You no longer need to play the role

of respectable banker or head of the house,
bread-earner or child-rearer. For just one night,
you can become whoever you want to be:
a jester, a geisha — or even try an angel
or devil mask on for size. Challenge
social norms, have sex with strangers,
be eccentric, have fun, dance around
and leave your worries behind. This mental
reboot has a healing effect on both the psyche
of individual people and on society as a whole.

Experiencing joy and happiness together strengthens social bonds.

People begin to synchronize with each other, creating a powerful
environment for manifesting creative energies.

408 409
410 411

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