Houston Public Media
Engines of Our Ingenuity
The story of technological progress is one of drama and intrigue, sudden insight and plain hard work. Let’s explore technology’s spectacular failures and many magnificent success stories. This content is in service of Houston Public Media’s education mission and is sponsored by the University of Houston. It is not a product of our news team.
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Episodes
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1589: Pluto (The Planet) 15.06.2026 3:45
Episode: 1589 Pluto: We finally reach the outer fringe of the Solar System. Today, we discover Pluto.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1588: Nieuport 17 14.06.2026 3:41
Episode: 1588 The Nieuport 17, early harbinger of the finished WW-I fighter. Today, a case history of technological change.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1587: Early Warplanes 13.06.2026 3:41
Episode: 1587 In which airplanes gradually learn to wage war. Today, we turn plowshares into swords.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1586: Topsell’s Beasts 12.06.2026 3:43
Episode: 1586 Topsell's history of four-footed beasts and serpents. Today, a zoology book.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2603: Correlation 11.06.2026 3:49
Episode: 2603 Correlation and Risk: When more egg baskets don't help. Today, eggs and baskets.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2893: The Magic on Batteries 10.06.2026 3:50
Episode: 2893 How the batteries work; The electrodes and electrolytes; The Wonders of Electrochemistry. Today, the magic of batteries.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3380: Ergodicity 09.06.2026 3:51
Episode: 3380 What underlies a term from physics: Ergodic (or Ergodicity). Today, let us steal a word from physics.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3379: Gestalt 08.06.2026 3:51
Episode: 3379 A look at the overarching meaning of the word “ Gestalt .” Today, a curious word: Gestalt .
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1585: Dissonance 07.06.2026 3:43
Episode: 1585 In which the elephant Prathida teaches me about dissonance and Christmas. Today, dissonance, elephants, and the holiday season.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1584: Hugo Distler 06.06.2026 3:44
Episode: 1584 Hugo Distler: Beleaguered pioneer of twentieth century music. Today, the brief moment of a musical genius.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1583: Glide Bombs 05.06.2026 3:42
Episode: 1583 Glide Bombs and the unrevealed Rohna disaster. Today, the weapon we didn't know about.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2599: Strange Attractors and Imagery 04.06.2026 3:49
Episode: 2599 The Art of Attraction: Imagery from Strange Attractors. Today, the art of attraction.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2670: Expanding the Human Environment 03.06.2026 3:51
Episode: 2670 The Expanded Human Habitat: Our Solar System as a Defining Environment. Today, we expand the notion of environment.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3378: Hrotsvitha 02.06.2026 3:45
Episode: 3378 Tenth century author, Hrotsvitha, brought back to life in the sixteenth century. Today, meet Hrotsvitha.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1582: Llewellen M. K. Boelter 01.06.2026 3:44
Episode: 1582 L. M. K. Boelter and engineering education at its best. Today, a great teacher.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1581: One Good Turn 31.05.2026 3:43
Episode: 1581 The screwdriver: Thoughts on greatness and invisibility. Today, the screwdriver.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1580: Su-Sung’s Clock 30.05.2026 3:40
Episode: 1580 Su-Sung's wonderful eleventh-century water clock. Today, Su-Sung's wonderful clock.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1579: The Hidden Wright Brothers 29.05.2026 3:43
Episode: 1579 Five years before we found out about the Wright Brothers! Today, we gradually learn about the Wright Brothers' flight.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2598: The Three Body Problem 28.05.2026 3:49
Episode: 2598 Henri Poincaré, the three body problem, and chaos. Today, three bodies.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3377: Burning Zinc 27.05.2026 3:53
Episode: 3377 An 1880 article seeks to anticipate the creation of electric power, beginning with Zinc. Today, we burn Zinc.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3376: Staples 26.05.2026 3:52
Episode: 3376 In which our common desk stapler earns its name. Today, Let’s talk about staples.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3298: Optic Yellow 25.05.2026 3:52
Episode: 3298 Gender, Color, and Dichotomy in Tennis. Today, we take sides in tennis.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1578: Seaplanes 24.05.2026 3:41
Episode: 1578 The brief day of the great flying boats. Today, we ask what ever became of flying boats.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1577: The Monte Hall Problem 23.05.2026 3:38
Episode: 1577 The Monty Hall Problem and the unexpected value of information. Today, we learn not to turn our back on information.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1576: The Wind 22.05.2026 3:43
Episode: 1576 The wind and its technologies in the ancient mind. Today, wind and the medieval mind.
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