David Shaw is a science and engineering writer who explains the systems under everyday tech — GPS, networks, water, rails — without turning them into magic. He has a habit of starting from the physical layer and working up to the app. If a headline says revolutionary, he looks for the constraint that did not change.
Engineering
Explainers
Transportation
What Makes Railway Engineering So Complex—Tracks, Signals, and Safety
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Explainers
Science
Technology
How GPS Works: The Satellites, Signals, and Math Behind Location Accuracy
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Engineering
Explainers
Transportation
Why Modern Ships Are Surprisingly High-Tech—And What Makes Them So Efficient
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Explainers
Infrastructure
Science
The Engineering Behind Modern Water Treatment: How Tap Water Gets Safe
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Future of Technology
Science
The Engineering Behind Modern Elevators: Why They're More Complex Than They Look
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Consumer Tech
Science
What Thermal Cameras See That Regular Cameras Don't—And What They're Used For
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Consumer Tech
Science
How 5G Actually Works and Why It Hasn't Changed Everything (Yet)
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Consumer Tech
Software Development
How USB-C Actually Works—And Why the Standard Is Still Confusing
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Consumer Tech
Science
GPU Architecture Explained: How Modern Graphics Cards Actually Render Frames
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Research & Science
Science & Engineering
The Engineering of Modern Elevators: Surprisingly Complex, Rarely Thought About
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Research & Science
Software Development
The Real Engineering Behind How Search Engines Index the Web
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Gadgets & Consumer Tech
Science & Engineering
How Noise-Canceling Headphones Actually Work—And Why the Physics Surprises People
David Shaw
July 7, 2026
Space & Astronomy
GPS Ground Stations: Why Phones Still Depend on "Boring" Earth Infrastructure
David Shaw
April 8, 2026
DIY & Maker Culture
Science & Engineering
Ham Radio for Software Developers: Licensing Without the Gatekeeping Aesthetic
David Shaw
April 8, 2026
Energy
Science
Fusion Timelines in Plain English: Why "Net Energy" Headlines Still Leave Grid Planners Cold
David Shaw
April 8, 2026
Digital Lifestyle
Infrastructure & Systems
Why the 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz Wi-Fi Choice Still Matters in 2026
David Shaw
March 15, 2026
Interesting Facts & Trivia
The @ Symbol in Email: The Accident That Shaped How We Communicate
David Shaw
March 15, 2026
Interesting Facts & Trivia
Science & Engineering
How GPS Actually Works: Satellites, Clocks, and Your Phone
David Shaw
March 15, 2026
Interesting Facts & Trivia
Why Wi-Fi Is Called Wi-Fi—And What It Tells Us About Tech Naming
David Shaw
March 15, 2026
Desktop Computers & Hardware
The History of the Computer Mouse—And Why It Still Matters
David Shaw
March 7, 2026
Science & Engineering
What Neuromorphic Chips Could Mean for Your Next Phone or Laptop
David Shaw
March 7, 2026
Infrastructure & Systems
Science & Engineering
Why Undersea Cable Repairs Take Weeks—And What That Means for You
David Shaw
March 7, 2026
Desktop Computers & Hardware
Science & Engineering
The Real Physics of Why Your Laptop Gets Hot—And What Actually Helps
David Shaw
March 7, 2026
Infrastructure & Systems
How One Software Bug Almost Shut Down an Entire Power Grid
David Shaw
March 1, 2026
Infrastructure & Systems
Why Your Next Router Should Be Mesh—Or Skip It Entirely
David Shaw
February 26, 2026
Infrastructure & Systems
Science & Engineering
The Energy Cost of the Internet: What the Numbers Actually Say
David Shaw
February 26, 2026
Gadgets & Consumer Tech
What USB-C Dongle Hell Teaches Us About Standards and Interop
David Shaw
February 26, 2026
Technology
Why the @ Symbol in Email Has a History Nobody Talks About
David Shaw
February 26, 2026
Technology
Why Wi-Fi Is Called Wi-Fi (And Other Tech Etymology That Surprises)
David Shaw
February 26, 2026
Science & Engineering
How GPS Actually Works—And Why It Sometimes Doesn't
David Shaw
February 26, 2026