Can anyone tell me in less than an entire page why Popular Mechanics is wrong?
well for one thing even the nist report is not even in agreement with the popular mechanics
theories
Former Chief of NIST's Fire Science Division Calls for Independent Review of World Trade Center Investigation
http://ww/articles/genera_alan_mil_070820_former_chief_of_nist.htm
This hypothesis may be supported or modified, or new hypotheses may be developed, through the course of the continuing investigation. NIST also is considering whether hypothetical blast events could have played a role in initiating the collapse. While NIST has found no evidence of a blast or controlled demolition event, NIST would like to determine the magnitude of hypothetical blast scenarios that could have led to the structural failure of one or more critical elements.
NISTs findings do not support the pancake theory of collapse, which is premised on a progressive failure of the floor systems in the WTC towers (the composite floor systemthat connected the core columns and the perimeter columnsconsisted of a grid of steel trusses integrated with a concrete slab; see diagram below). Instead, the NIST investigation showed conclusively that the failure of the inwardly bowed perimeter columns initiated collapse and that the occurrence of this inward bowing required the sagging floors to remain connected to the columns and pull the columns inwards. Thus, the floors did not fail progressively to cause a pancaking phenomenon.
NIST's Investigation of the Sept. 11 World Trade Center Disaster - Frequently Asked Questions