Ganter Bridge

The Ganter Bridge is graceful like a bird flying across the Swiss Alpine Valley. Designed Christian Menn wanted his bridge to look graceful yet have the strength of steel. In 1980 Menn introduced a new type of hybrid bridge.

The Ganter is hybrid cross of construction combining cantilever and cabling support system. Cantilever spands support the bridge's midsections which in turn are supported by cable stays embedded in prestressed concrete. The concrete walls protect the cables from stress and corrosion. Menn cleverly embedded the cable stays in prestressed concrete resulting in a bridge that appears to be a sculptured bird taking flight.

Glass Bridge

Can you believe that engineers and designers are working on developing bridges that will be make out of glass. Yes I said glass. Scientists believe replacing steel bridges with glass fibers might extend the life of a typical bridge from 50 to 200 years. Steel and concrete bridges need maintenance because the steel and steel robs embedded in concrete corrode over time from moisture and salts that seep through cracks. Scientist that their are many technical problems that need to be address before a glass bridge could become reality. For example, the sun's ultraviolet rays might reduce the strength of glass fibers. A glass bridge would be a beautiful wonder to behold in the 21 century.

Japan's Bullet Train Faster than a flying bullet

Technology has come to make our lives a lot easier to live. Thanks to technology, Japan's National Railways has created the world's fastest train, called "New Tokaido Line". The construction of the first track was completed on October 1 1964, stretching from Tokyo to Osaka. The second track expanded to Okayama and was completed in 1972. Later in 1975, the track expanded once again to include Hakata.

The train had helped Japan's economy in a time when it was in dire need of help. The "New Tokaido Line" is able to carry passengers from Tokyo to Osaka in two and a half-hours. Each day about 300,000 passengers ride this train and at a speed of 100 miles/hour (200km/hour). The train tracks are flat, straight and raised above all grade crossings so that the train is able to travel through urban area which has 40% of Japan's population and 70% of its industry.

Since the train has been running for 25 years, it has never once had a collision, derailment or had a passenger killed, even though it runs at a speed of 100 miles/hour (2000km/hour) or more. By 1990, the trains had a 99% record of time punctuality and traveled a distance that is equal to circling the world three times.