FAILUROLOGY

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus. This week’s Mini Failure is about the Walkie Talkie Building in London, UK. The building that can melt a car and knock over pedestrians. Episode Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Fenchurch_Street https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_edQZF8-FEo Ways to get in touch with us Twitter - https://twitter.com/failu...

We’re releasing episodes from our mini failure library while we’re on production hiatus. This week’s Mini Failure is about Lake Peigneur. The entire lake drained into a salt mine in a matter of minutes. Episode Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Peigneur Mine Safety Report - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31822029061140&view=1up&seq=13&skin=2021 Video - https://www.youtube.com/...

This week’s engineering episode is about earthquakes (4:50). Seismic engineering has progressed over time to make sure we’re prepared (13:40) for earthquakes and the tsunamis (21:25) they cause. Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary from this episode - https://www.failurology.ca/ Ways to get in touch Twitter - https:...

This week’s engineering failures are from our mini failure library. We’re talking about PFOA Contamination (2:00) and the Sudbury Effect (16:05). Episode Sources ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos ● https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/ Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/...

This week’s engineering failures are from our mini failure library. We’re talking about the Bhopal Gas Leak (1:40) and Asbestos (16:05). Episode Sources ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos ● https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/ Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary f...

This week’s engineering failures are from our mini failure library. We’re talking about the Love Canal (1:45) and the Minamata (15:00). Episode Sources ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata_disease ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamata,_Kumamoto ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Big_Pollution_Diseases_of_Japan Check out our Patreon page for Mini...

Engineering News – Underwater LIDAR Prototype (1:20) This week’s engineering failure is the Lac Megantic (5:10). 10 years ago, a train traveling from Montreal (9:40) derailed in downtown Lac Megantic and changed the town forever (22:20). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary from this episode - https://www.failurolog...

Engineering News – Fluid Based Light Filtering Technology (0:40). This week’s engineering failure is the Surfside Condo Collapse (4:25). We get into the construction of the tower and all the factors that led to the collapse (17:00). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary from this episode - https://www.failurology.ca/...

Engineering News – Balance Beam Robot (5:10) This week’s engineering failure is the Motorsport Safety Pt 2 (7:55). In the second episode of this two part series, we discuss pitlane safety (15:00) and the HANS device (21:10). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary from this episode - https://www.failurology.ca/ Ways to...

Engineering News – NASCAR is Going To The Moon (1:50) This week’s engineering failure is the Motorsport Safety Pt 1 (5:55). In the first episode of this two part series, we discuss early motorsport safety (15:35) and some significant safety upgrades that have been implemented over the years (19.45). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Ph...

Engineering News – Perseverance Rover Mars Sample (0:50) This week’s engineering failure is the US Interstate Highway System (4:05). After receiving a funding and design boost through the US Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 (14:15), the interstate system was born with a more deliberate layout (18:25) than may seem. Despite it’s success, the interstate system is not without issue (30:40). Check out...

Engineering News – FLEX Rover (1:40) This week’s engineering failure is the SwissAir Flight 111 (4:15). A crash off the coast of Peggy’s Cove (9:10) is believed to be caused by a fire in the ceiling at the front of the plane (15:15). As an outcome of the crash investigation, a number of additional safety risks were identified and corrected (26:00). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus...

Engineering News – SmartWatches for Dolphins (1:00) This week’s engineering failure is the 2021 Texas Power Outage (6:10). Deregulation (10:30), amongst many other issues led to blackouts (18:25) throughout Texas during winter storm Uri; having a huge impact on residents (24:05). Despite experiencing similar storms in 1989 & 2011 (30:25), Texas did not learn its lesson. Check out our Patreon page...

Engineering News – Moving Objects with Ultrasound Waves (3:45) This week’s engineering failure is the Mount Polley Tailings Pond Breach (6:05). After years of ad hoc embankment expansion (9:30), the tailing pond breached on August 4, 2014. Following an independent investigation panel review (17:10) geoscientists and engineers were found liable for the failure (28:35). Check out our Patreon page fo...

Engineering News – Counterfeit Part Detection (0:40) This week’s engineering failure is the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (4:15). Designed by some of the same engineers (10:50) as the Golden Gate Bridge we talked about last episode, this bridge only stood for 3 months before collapsing (18:55). A full inquiry (21:00) discovered flaws in the lightweight design and a new, stronger bridge was built that’s st...

Engineering News – Microplastic Magnets in Water (1:10) This week’s engineering marvel is the Golden Gate Bridge (3:20). After decades of design considerations (6:10) the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937 (16:40). 86 years later, San Francisco is working hard to maintain (21:00) the iconic bridge. Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Phot...

Engineering News – Harvesting Freshwater from the Ocean’s Surface (1:10) This week’s engineering failure is the Fernie Arena Ammonia Accident (4:00). Built over 50 years ago, the arena (9:15) and its ice making equipment (11:10) were in need of repair. After ignoring warning signs for years that the plant was failing (15:35) in October 2017, a tragic accident occurred (22:35) sparking an investiga...

Engineering News – Gelatinous Animals Inspiring Underwater Vehicle Design (3:30). This week’s engineering failure is the Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant Failure (7:05). The power plant dam had significant water pressure and other issues (15:15), which ultimately led to the failure of turbine 2 in 2009 (24:20). The formal investigation (30:15) created more questions than answers, but...

Engineering News – Water on an Exoplanet (3:45) This week’s engineering failure is the Algo Centre Mall Collapse (7:15). In 2012 the mall’s rooftop parking deck collapsed (16:15), revealing decades of neglectful maintenance (29:25). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary from this episode - https://www.failurology.ca/...

Engineering News – LIFTbuild Technology on the Exchanger Tower in Detroit, MI. (2:10) This week’s Mini Failure is about the Johnstown Flood AKA that Great Flood of 1889 (7:20). After heavy rainfall, the poorly maintained South Fork Dam failed, greatly impacting the unsuspecting residents downstream. Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Ph...

Engineering News – Engineering is a Regulated Profession (in Canada) For a Reason (2:10) This week’s engineering failure is the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) Loss of Self Regulation. (10:30). After covering a brief history of engineering in Canada, and Alberta (16:10) we talk about how and why the OIQ lost their ability to self regulate the engineering profession in 2016 (24:20). Check out...

Failurology is turning 2! We’re recapping all of the cool things we’ve gotten up to over the last year! This week’s engineering failure is the Station Nightclub (13:25). There were many contributing factors (20:45) that led to the tragic fire. In the aftermath, the band manager and building owners pled guilty to their part in the fire (29:50) and regulators made significant and necessary changes t...

Engineering News – World’s First Electric Passenger Plane (1:45) This week’s engineering failure is the Boeing 737 Max (9:00). A poorly executed flight stabilization software called MCAS (15:20) caused two catastrophic crashes (25:30) putting Boeing in hot water (30:25). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www.patreon.com/failurology Photos/Sources/Summary from thi...

This week’s engineering failure is the Wind Turbine Failures Pt 2 (7:35). There was so much great engineering failure content that we’ve split this episode up into two parts. In this second part, we talk about other common causes of wind turbine failures; generator failure (2:40), gearbox failure (16:30), and foundation/structure failure (27:45). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus e...

Engineering News – Optimizing Wind Farms (4:45) This week’s engineering failure is the Wind Turbine Failures Pt 1 (7:35). There was so much great engineering failure content that we’ve split this episode up into two parts. In this first part, we talk about the most common cause of wind turbine failure, blade failure (20:00). Check out our Patreon page for Mini Failure bonus episodes - https://www....