Unprofessional Engineering

The Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird is probably the most famous airplane of all time, having set the record for fastest plane to date. We took a look at why and how the SR-71 Blackbird came into existence, from the Cold War implications to the engineering challenges that had to be overcome to make it happen.

Amazon Prime has changed the way people shop as well as their expectations on how long it takes for something they purchase online to get to them. But how do they manage to do it?! We take a look at the entire process, from the time you purchase something from Amazon to when it is dropped off at your door. The Industrial Engineering involved with this workflow is unbelievable, not to mention the m...

The camera on your phone continues to improve, but how is it even possible?! We take a look at how cameras have progressed through the years, how digital cameras work, and even what the records for best picture quality are.

What says engineering more than the periodic table of elements?! We take a look at four of the precious metals: gold, silver, platinum, and rhodium. Join us to learn more about each of these elements such as where they occur in nature, their material properties, how much they are worth, what they are commonly used for, and more!

Everything has Bluetooth capabilities these days, but how does it even work? And what is the difference between Bluetooth and WiFi?!? We investigate how Bluetooth got started, the history behind the interesting name, and more. You'll be an expert in no time!

Continuing our series on companies that built the world, or at least your childhood, we take a look at the history of LEGO. From their first wooden duck, to the launch of LEGOland, all the way to their latest movies, we take a look at it all!

We got the chance to speak with Greg Paulson, Director of Application Engineering at Xometry, once again. This time, Greg walked us through the ins and outs of industrial 3D printing, the various 3D printing options available, and the future of 3D printing. Head over to www.xometry.com and use code UNPRO25 to save $25 on your next purchase!! Offer ends April 30, 2020.

One of the best college resume builders out there, Formula SAE gives university students the chance to put their knowledge to the test by manufacturing a formula-style race car that is judged on various criteria. We take a look at the process that goes into building a successful Formula SAE program, the manufacturing process, competition, and rules involved with Formula SAE.

Have you ever wondered how a touchscreen knows where your finger is at? Or if a touchscreen works with a hot dog instead of your finger? These are the important questions we answer in this episode of Unprofessional Engineering!

Environmental Engineering is a growing field that isn't just a great job but also makes the world a better place. We take a look at the kind of work Environmental Engineers do in the workplace, the classes they take, companies that usually hire them, and most importantly, how much they can expect to make!

With the severity of the coronavirus taking over the news, we thought that we should investigate the deadliest pandemics of all time. In addition to learning about the Black Death, Spanish Flu, and others, we look at the difference between an epidemic and pandemic, the research process to come up with a cure, and more!

We got the chance to talk to an amazing STEM teacher from Bud Carson Middle School, Janet Andrade. What makes this conversation so interesting you ask? Janet is part of an amazing Fuel Your School program sponsored by our friends at Chevron, who team up with DonorsChoose.org to make it happen. We discuss how Janet and Chevron are helping to even the playing field for students in lower income neigh...

Earthquakes are happening around the world every day, but what is causing them and what can be done to prepare for these natural disasters ahead of time? We take a look at how earthquakes happen, why some areas are more prone to them than others, and the various ways to measure their intensity.

The invention of the GPS has changed the world like few inventions have in the past 50 years. The billions of dollars it has injected into the global economy aside, this technology has revolutionized everything from how we drive, to the tracking of continental shifts. We have been lucky enough to get to meet with one of the inventors of GPS, Hugo Fruehauf, who recently was awarded the Queen Elizab...

Do UFOs exist? It is a question as old as time itself...or the 1940s. James and Luke have decided to settle the debate once and for all, and yes, one of them believes! This episode covers the first UFO sightings, the most unexplained experiences, how a UFO could actually be manufactured and the efforts going into it as we speak, and some of the craziest abduction stories out there.

Nothing will change what you think you will be doing as an engineer like an internship or your first job. James and Luke discuss how their internship experiences prepared them for their first jobs and helped them reach the harsh reality of what engineering actually is. They also jump into how their first jobs continued to teach them that everything they learned in college wasn't necessarily someth...

The futuristic technology in the Star Wars universe is unrivaled in creativity and tech far beyond human comprehension. That being said, it certainly isn't all good! We took a look at some of the biggest fails in the Star Wars movies, from being able, to bring down an ATAT with a simple cable to light saber functionality, all the way to how the Death Star could possibly be blown up (not to mention...

Regardless of your age, you have seen massive changes to televisions over the years. From old black and white TVs, to the addition of color, all the way to advanced LED systems, this technology has come a great way and continues to change. We've taken a big look to better understand how the tech behind television has changed, what some of the big inventions were that spurred on innovation, and muc...

It's that time of the year again! Time to try and find the perfect gift for that hard to shop for engineer in your life. Don't worry, we have you covered! We've combed the web for the best gift ideas for engineers of all ages, from kids that are mechanically inclined to retired engineers that just want to be left alone. All prices and sizes are covered, all you have to do is head to www.unprofessi...

If you've listened for some time, you know that Luke loves windmills, and James can't pronounce turbine. It only makes sense that we tackle both in one episode! We've looked at the history of the windmill, how they have changed over the years, and how wind turbines are changing the landscape of energy production.

After talking about the general history of car safety, we decided to dig into the details of two of our favorite safety features: crumple zones and anti-lock braking systems. Take a few minutes to learn how car makers are working to save your life.

Isaac Newton might be the most brilliant person ever. There, we said it. Gravity, laws of motion, rainbows, astronomy... the man did it all!! We walk through the life of Isaac Newton to try and understand how he came up with so much of the foundation of modern science, learn if the apple falling on his head story is true, and throw in a few other fun bits along the way.

Corning makes glass. Pretty boring, right? WRONG!! The history of the company is amazing, with ties to Thomas Edison and the "invention" of the light bulb and the development of one of the first R&D labs in America, Corning has lead the world into the future on more than one occasion. Join us to learn about how Corning got started, some of the major inventions that they came up with, as well as so...

Happy Halloween!!! Your friends at Unprofessional Engineering have whipped up a real treat for you this year by looking at the manufacturing process for some of your favorite Halloween treats. We've looked at how Hershey's Reeses Cups are made, both the left and right side of a Twix, as well as the general process for gummy candy. In addition, Luke and James fight to the end about which candy is t...

Interested in engineering but don't know which field is right for you? We've taken a look at chemical engineering to help you narrow things down! From what your classwork will look like, to jobs you will do in the workforce, the top places to work, and even how much you can expect to make, we have it covered! Sure, it isn't as cool as Mechanical Engineering, but it might not be a bad choice.