Two-stroke engines have their uses, but they are seen as environmentally unfriendly today. But why do they have that reputation, and is it deserved?

Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021. In response to the item immediately below, which kicked off this Thread, ...

What if the engine of the future wasn’t just a dream, but a reality? Imagine a power source that combines the raw, exhilarating performance of a two-stroke engine with innovative efficiency, ...

Conventional wisdom suggests that our faithful internal combustion (IC) engines are heading the way of the buggy whip. The lithium-ion battery has arrived, emissions standards are tightening, and ...

Two-stroke engines used to be ubiquitous in dirt bike racing, thanks to their lightweight construction and horsepower. Packed in a dirt bike frame, they make a motorcycle playful in the corners and ...

There are two basic differences between 2 stroke and 4 stroke motors. One has to do with how many strokes it takes a piston to complete an engine cycle (more on that below). The other has to do with ...

Making a new engine while the world’s rushing to switch to electric vehicles only? Mazda said, “why not?” There’s a new innovator in town and it wants you to pay attention. Mazda’s SkyActiv-X engines ...