Unprofessional Engineering

Samsung makes nice TVs, some refrigerators, and a few other things, right? Well, that is true, but they are so much more, and Samsung's start was nothing like the electronics giant that they are today. Join us to learn about how Samsung went from a glorified grocery store to a well diversified super-company with divisions in electronics, electro-mechanics, SDI, SDS, and even Samsung Corning Advanc...

Everyone loves pizza, and if you don't, you can just stop listening to us. But just because one loves pizza, it doesn't mean that we know how to engineer the perfect pizza pie! We explore the engineering behind why brick oven pizzas are superior to the oven sitting in your kitchen, what temperature it should be at for the perfect crust crisp to melty cheese ratio, which cheeses are better for pizz...

Although they are less common in the United States these days, the manual transmission is still relied on by most of the world, and some consider to be much more fun to drive. But what is the difference between a manual transmission and an automatic? We take a look at how a manual transmission works, discuss gear ratios, how the car goes in reverse, and the pros and cons of a manual versus an auto...

When it comes to the biggest brains of all time, you can't have a conversation without mentioning Albert Einstein. His theories are still being proven and validated to this day, and his understanding of time and matter is considered to be unparalleled. We've taken a look at Albert Einstein's life, from his childhood, to his education, how he came up with his theories, and the part he played in end...

Lasers are awesome! I mean, you can get a cat to chase them around on the floor, or you can shine them into the sky to make things look pretty. What more could you want? Oh, something useful?! Yeah, they do that as well! Take a listen to better understand the history of lasers, different types, and how each of them work and can be used to improve our lives.

Everyone has a favorite building that they like to look at while on a walk or driving down the street, right? But then there are some that blow all other buildings away!! Luke and James go through their personal top 10 buildings in the world, focusing on architecture, engineering complexity, or just stuff that Luke likes because it is easier than coming up with actual reasons. Join us as we explor...

The railroad industry might not have started in America, but the USA certainly played a HUGE part in it's history, peak, downfall, and reemergence. We look into how the railroad industry grew, from animal drawn carts to the cross-country lines we have today, as well as how people made big money from a near monopoly on the rail industry and the resulting sanctions placed on it by the government. Si...

Fiber optic communication is a way to transmit information using light, one of the most relied upon technologies in modern time. From fast internet to endless television channels, we have a lot to thank fiber optics for. We investigate how fiber optic cables were invented, the process of making the ridiculously thin glass threads, and discuss how it works and benefits our daily lives.

If you have a vehicle, it runs on gasoline, diesel, or maaaybe electricity, right? But there is a whole world of options available to us, though perhaps not all that common. We're looking into some of the alternative vehicle fuel options that most people don't know about, or at least don't see as a viable option, such as: hydrogen, natural gas, propane, ethanol, and old French fry oil!

In our endless pursuit to educate our listeners in the various career options available to them, we have decided to look into Industrial Design and what it takes to become an Industrial Designer. We look into typical classwork for Industrial Design, how much you can expect to make, companies that typically hire you, and what your day to day will likely look like as an Industrial Designer. Oh, and...

The periodic table of elements makes the world go round! Or at least it makes up the world and universe. One of the coolest parts of the periodic table is the noble gases: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, and oganesson. We investigate where these elements can be found in nature, if at all, look into their material properties, and discuss how they can be used in our daily lives. Oh, and...

One of the great American brands, John Deere has a long and interesting history that has helped to shape the development of the United States as well as the rest of the world. From a simple blacksmith to the head of a giant company, John Deere created one of the most iconic and influential companies in America's history. Learn how he got his start and how the company has expanded over the years.

Who doesn't like heading out to the hills after a fresh snowfall and jumping on a sled? But what makes one sled faster than another, and why does it work in the first place? We look into the history of sledding (thanks to our friends in Canada and Russia!), the engineering behind sled riding, and determine which sleds are the best bang for your buck.

Continuing on with our interview of Dr. Martin Fisher of KickStart International, we dive into how his team is able to design and manufacture cost effective solutions to poverty stricken regions of Africa, enabling small scale farmers to grow. From product design to material selection and manufacturing needs, Dr. Fisher walks us through the process that KickStart International uses to help make th...

Did you know that 80% of the poor in Africa are small-scale farmers? Due to the lack of rain, most only get 1 harvest per year, which means many farming families go hungry and fall back into poverty the rest of the year. KickStart International is a non-profit social enterprise with a mission to lift millions of people out of poverty quickly, cost-effectively, and sustainably. Unprofessional Engin...

Are you struggling to find the perfect Christmas (or holiday) gift for that special engineer in your life? You have come to the right place!! Unprofessional Engineering has done the tough part of Christmas shopping for you by breaking down great gift ideas for engineers and aspiring engineers of all ages, all from $10 and up! Kick back with your glass of eggnog, try not to dump it out because it i...

Are you interested at learning the VERY basics of Raspberry Pi and Arduino? Do you want to know what the differences are between the two and when one might be more useful than the other? Just like listening to us talk regardless of topic? Look no further! Don't expect to be an expert from listening to us, but this will teach you how to use a Raspberry Pi or Arduino for your next STEM project. Heck...

Do you remember how excited everyone was for Google Glass to be released? And then... well, what happened? The glasses themselves were uncomfortable, they looked a little less than appealing, and the functionality wasn't nearly as futuristic as we hoped. We look into why Google Glass failed and discuss if it could have been avoided, or at least what could be learned for future efforts in the space...

Tower Bridge (not to be confused with London Bridge) is one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of London, if not the world. Not only is it really cool looking, but the way it works and it's long history is also pretty great. From the original construction of Tower Bridge, to the multiple facelifts, how the drawbridge mechanism works, and even a borderline "secret passage," we look into...

OK, so SpaceX might not be a company that built this world, but it is looking like it might be the company that builds the next one. SpaceX has quickly gone from an idea of cheaper space travel from the brilliant mind of Elon Musk to having NASA count on them to get resources and people to the International Space Station. Learn all about the history of SpaceX, from the original idea, to coming up...

Battlebots, or Robot Wars as it was originally known, has everything an engineer could want. Extreme part design, custom fabrication, and destruction!!! We take a look how Battlebots got it's start, some of the greatest "contestants" of all time, the rules behind Battlebots, and even what it takes to build your own Battlebot. What more could you ask for in a STEM project, hobby, or amazing podcast...

Thinking about getting into engineering but don't know where to start? Already have a degree in Material Science and Engineering and curious about other job options out there? Look no further! We investigate the classes you will take in Material Science and Engineering, the top universities to attend, the type of work you will do, companies that hire Material Science and Engineering majors, and ho...

Do you want to raise your pumpkin carving game but don't know where to start? We are here for you! From the tools you can use to make pumpkin carving easier, to tips to help your jack-o-lantern last longer, all the way to turning your pumpkin into a STEM project, you won't want to miss this! As a bonus, Luke covers Halloween safety for kids and adults alike, we learn how the tradition of pumpkin c...

Computational Fluid Dynamics, or CFD, is a form of simulation that predicts how fluids and gases will interact together and with their surroundings. This can be used for everything from HVAC optimization to improving vehicle performance. CFD might sound scary, but we break it down to the basics to help everyone understand how to use computational fluid dynamics and why it is so important. Trust me...

We're wrapping up our three part series on concussions with Trifecta Sports Solutions by discussing how they are using engineering techniques like advanced simulation (such as Finite Element Analysis) and new materials to design a football helmet that will significantly reduce concussions. Join us to hear about how they have taken this idea and made it a reality with the help of great institutes l...