Unprofessional Engineering

We've changed things up a bit this week and sat down to debate where we think engineering and man-kind will be in the next 20 years. We give our views on the future of energy (comparing solar vs wind), if humans will live on Mars anytime soon, and much more! We even end things up with a few bold predictions. Take a listen and let us know what you think of our view on the future!

Have you ever wondered why we still have so many freaking lighthouses? Yeah, so did James. It turns out a lot of them are mostly just for show, but there are still a lot of them still in use. We take a look at the history of the lighthouse, how we went from a giant, thick lens, to the modern day way better deal, and even tell some of the greatest lighthouse stories of all time.

Telescopes have been around for hundreds of years, allowing us to explore space from the comfort of our local observatory. But how did the first one come about? And who were the great minds to continue to improve on the original design to make it what the telescope what it is today? We take a look at the early history of the telescope, discuss how people like Galileo and Newton contributed to it's...

You can't find a much more important invention in the past 100 years than the airplane, and no one gets more love for pushing it forward than the Wright Brothers! Not only do we walk you through how the Wright Brothers invented the airplane (depending on your definition), but their childhood, what their far less interesting siblings did, and what life was like for them after their big invention go...

It's time for you to understand that airplanes don't run on magic, but by a little formula that can be used to calculate lift! This value is typically pretty close to the weight of the object, which makes sense, but the factors that go into the equation may not be as simple. Join us for a quick sit down on how lift is calculated, as well as an example of calculating lift on a 747!

The Impossible Burger is taking the world by storm, with everyone from Burger King to Little Caesars getting in on the act. With players like that, it must be good, right?! Well, Luke thinks it is! But what about how it was made? That is way more than good! The biology, genetics, and engineering that went into the Impossible Burger (and Impossible Burger 2.0) is fascinating, and took just 7 years!...

We thought we would try something new out and see how discussing actual engineering principles would go over with our listeners. Stress and strain are two of the most important values in Mechanical Engineering, if not all engineering. The basics of these calculations is pretty simple if you start small. We walk through what stress and strain are, how to calculate them, throw in a little Young's Mo...

We all know the simple photovoltaic process that solar panels use to turn the suns light into electricity (yes, that's a joke), but what about the actual manufacturing process!?? In this episode, we take a look at the entire process of how solar panels are made, starting from mining, to the REALLY hot furnaces, all the way to the final coatings to improve efficiency. If you're into clean energy, o...

The military is on the cutting edge of futuristic technology of all sorts. From missiles that travel 5x the speed of sound, to satellites that melt enemy satellites in space, this tech is amazing, and a little bit scary. Join us to learn about some of the latest inventions to come from DARPA that will blow you away...literally. Don't make us use mind control on you. Yes, they are working on that a...

Carbon fiber (or carbon fibre if you're from the other side of the pond) doesn't just look cool, it is one of the most important inventions of recent time. Stronger than steel, yet lighter, the number of applications for carbon fiber are endless. From sports equipment, to sports cars, space ships to wind turbines, carbon fiber is revolutionizing design. We take a look at how carbon fiber is made,...

Continuing our "Companies That Built The World" series, we took a deeper look into the history of Westinghouse. Well known for leading the charge on electricity (see what we did there), they made a number of other major contributions to the world. From launching the first radio station right here in Pittsburgh, to electric appliances and televisions, all the way to nuclear power, Westinghouse was...

Thinking about getting a degree in engineering, but not sure what path to take? Maybe Mechanical Engineering's little brother, Aerospace, is right for you! We take a look at some of the areas of focus involved with Aerospace Engineering, discuss the differences between Aeronatical and Astronautical Engineering, look into companies that hire AEs, talk about the day-to-day of the job, which colleges...

After doing so many episodes about great inventors throughout time, we decided to figure out which country has produced the most great inventors of all time. Though there were many great choices, and a few not so great ones, in the end we were able to decide who outranks them all. Take a listen to find out where your country ranks, let us know if we missed any, and tell us if you agree with top 10...

It is a rare topic when Luke actually is the one educating James, but when it comes to camping gear and technology, that's just what happened. We take a look at some of the latest technology that makes camping a little less miserable, the top in class products you can buy, more affordable options for people who don't make podcast money, and some top tips to survive in the wild.

Have you ever looked at your tires and asked, "How were these made?!" Yeah, probably not, but Luke sure has...and that is why we are investigating this topic today! You may have actually asked, "What do all those numbers and letters on my tire mean?" Fortunately, we'll cover that as well, not to mention the entire process from raw material to finished tire, vulcanization, and more!

We got the chance to sit down with Greg Paulsen, Director of Application Engineering, at Xometry to discuss what exactly Xometry is, how it is helping to revolutionize manufacturing, and how you can join their growing team of manufacturing partners. Learn how to instantly access the production capacity of over 2,500 manufacturers with wide-ranging capabilities and certifications across 50 states....

Biofuel is making a big push in recent years with the rise in oil prices, but is this a good thing? We take a look at how biofuel is created, how it is used for vehicle use, investigate if it is bad for your engine, and look into if it is actually better for the environment than traditional fossil fuels.

When it comes to people who shaped the way we think, Galileo Galilei lead the charge in a number of ways. The concept of heliocentric vs geocentric could be the biggest step in the right direction of all time when it comes to astrology, but there is so much more! In addition to his advances in the fields of astronomy and astrology, he was also a great inventor, improving on the telescope to see th...

Our friends at HBO reached out to us to help explain the details that they glossed over in their his miniseries, Chernobyl. OK, so they didn't reach out, but we decided to look into the science behind the Chernobyl disaster anyway. In this episode we discuss what lead up to the disaster, how the test that caused it all to go wrong was supposed to go, and give a detailed explanation of what really...

Taking a wrecking ball to an old house isn't so bad, but what do you do when you have to bring down a giant skyscraper? Or get rid of a huge bridge? Blow it up!!! The art of controlled demolition not only helps to blow up these structures, but it does so in a way that keeps people and the surrounding area safe. Take a listen and learn what all goes into an implosion, as well as what happens when t...

We depend on batteries to power a nearly endless list of things we use each day, but have you ever taken the time to think about how that Duracell is made, or how your Energizer actually works? Don't worry, we've done the thinking for you! Join us to learn the basics of battery operation, many of the different battery options out there, the different components to make a battery, and of course the...

We felt the history of Ford, GM, and Chrysler were too intertwined to possibly split them apart. We walk you through how each of the companies got their start, the various acquisitions, firings, rehirings, and everything else that got the Big Three where they are today.

Let's take a trip back in time and look at the many great things that came about from the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Also known as the Columbian Exposition (celebrating Christopher Columbus), we can thank this extravaganza for showing that Tesla/Westinghouse electricity isn't something to be scared of, and that a ferris wheel truly is (or was) a marvel. What else went on? Well the architecture...

In this episode of the "Companies That Built the World" series, we take a look at the history of Boeing. From planes for delivering mail, to military supplier, and now the leading provider of airplanes around the world, Boeing is one of the most influential manufacturers around. In addition to history, we take a look at the other branches of Boeing, like the space and defense divisions, as well as...

Are you thinking about going to college to become a Civil Engineer? Maybe you are wondering what other career options you have in the field? Or perhaps you just want to know if you should be getting paid a little bit more as a Civil Engineer? We've got what you need! Sure, most of a Civil's job is dumping cement on stuff (yeah yeah, concrete) to make it stronger, but there actually is a little mor...