An abandoned log house with a sinister air, the Smith Mansion in Wyoming is the stuff of legend.

The handmade house, doughty and particular, is being celebrated in three new books.

From high-tech interactive documentaries to sci-fi-laden romances, the 2012 Sundance Film Festival had plenty to offer the geek set. Popular Mechanics talks science, visual effects, and creative DIY solutions with the people behind these innovative films.

Forget the overstuffed three-ring binder. Tablet computers are quietly taking over NFL locker rooms as the playbook of the 21st century.