Julia Allison can't act. She can't sing. She's not rich. But thanks to a genius for self-promotion, she's become an Internet celebrity.

Our third annual How-To issue covers the gamut

The electrification of the automobile is not only inevitable, advocates and experts say, it is essential because plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles offer our best chance to address global warming, achieve energy security and move us beyond oil.

With gas prices going through the roof and regulators requiring cars to be ever more miserly, Volkswagen is bringing new meaning to the term "fuel efficiency" with a bullet-shaped microcar that gets a stunning 282 235 mpg.

Sensors everywhere. Infinite storage. Clouds of processors. Our ability to capture, warehouse, and understand massive amounts of data is changing science, medicine, business, and technology. As our collection of facts and figures grows, so will the opportunity to find answers to fundamental questions. Because in the era of big data, more isn't just more. More is different.

"All models are wrong, but some are useful."

What does it mean to be human? And can science illuminate the answers?

I spend roughly six hours a day playing World of Warcraft. I've read that my avatar consumes as much electricity as the average Brazilian. How can I green up my habit? And don't say, "Play less"

The Moog Guitar Paul Vo Edition has infinite sustain -- enough to keep Nigel Tufnel holding the guitar up to his ear until the end of time -- while a muted mode allows players to add the sound of their fingers holding down the strings loosely and then taking them away from the strings right away after the strum for a banjo-type sound. These effects operate separately on each pickup, giving players a wider range of sonic options.

The era of climate-change legislation is finally upon us -- sort of.