Unprofessional Engineering

What were you doing as a kid? Walking to Detroit to get a job in a machine shop? Yeah, I didn't think so. Did you ever run a company for Thomas Edison and bounce your ideas off him to make sure they were ready for the real world? Yup, didn't do that either. I'm sure you made the first affordable automobile (not the inventor of it) though, right? OK, let's agree that Henry Ford was probably better than all of us when it came to things like this, but it wasn't easy and he wasn't an all-around good person! Want to learn more? You're going to have to listen!

Do you have a great idea in your head but aren't sure how to turn it into a reality? Or fear that you don't have the right background to make it a success? We've teamed up with Scot MacTaggart, creator and host of The Pitchwerks Podcast, to break down the common misconceptions about starting a business. In just 30 short minutes you'll be more confident in your ability for success, but also have a list of key actions you'll need to take before and during your product launch. Even better, you'll learn all about how Luke is going to be a successful taco truck mogul. What are you waiting for?! Press play!

Volcanoes sure do look cool...and cause all sorts of destruction. But believe it or not, there is more to how they work than sacrificing people to keep them from erupting! In this episode we'll walk you through the various types of volcanoes, what causes them to erupts, lava vs magma, the most famous volcanoes throughout history and even some safety tips in case you find yourself stumbling into an active volcano region.

We all know about Elon Musk and his companies like Tesla and Spacex (we even did another episode all about him...check it out!), but have you heard about his Boring Company? It is just that...boring! Seemingly closely tied to his talks about the Hyperloop, the Boring Company is going to be creating tunnels under the ground of a city near you! These will be used for a high speed public transportation system, reducing traffic and our dependence on cars. Don't think it will become a reality? It is already underway in LA! Why not click on the podcast and find out more?

So, let's put this out there... the same guy that designed the Eiffel Tower also created the supporting structure for the Statue of Liberty. Is your mind already blown!?!? Don't lie and say you knew that already. If that wasn't enough for you, this episode walks you through the painstaking process that the French used to create the Statue of Liberty, why it took so long to build, and even why it is green OK, you probably do know that answer already...

The history of the submarine dates back as far as Alexander the Great and continues to be one of the most fascinating pieces of military technology there is. When you add in the fact that many of the worlds subs are now nuclear, things get even more interesting. We'll walk you through the history of submarines, advantages and disadvantages of diesel and nuclear, some amazing facts about the worlds most powerful subs, and a story of how a single Swedish sub took our an entire aircraft carrier and supporting fleet.

Yeah, yeah... he wasn't exactly an inventor, but he sure had an amazing mind! And "the machine" that he used was nearly as impressive as him. We'll walk you through the life of Stephen Hawking, his work with black holes, 15 published books, thinking in 11 dimensions (whatever that means) and his roles on Big Bang Theory and The Simpsons.

Are you graduating from an engineering program soon and worried about landing that first job? Who better to listen to about tricking someone into hiring you than two guys that have done it a number of times?! We'll break down when you should use a cover letter, what sections of a resume you should include, how much detail to go into, if that less than perfect GPA is going to come back to haunt you and everything in between. Oh, and we have some tips for those of you who have been in the game for some time and are looking to brush the cobwebs off the old resume or want to update your LinkedIn profile. Happy job hunting!

Encryption has been around long before we needed to keep our intellectual property safe on computers. The Spartans used basic encryption technology as far back as 2,700 years ago, and the Germans are well known for the invention of the enigma machine, used for passing military information during the World Wars. We will walk you through the most compelling encryption uses, especially the Ovaltine secret decoder ring, from the past, as well as teach you how to know if you are on a secure site while browsing the web.

One of the biggest mysteries on Earth is how ancient civilizations managed to move 25-ton stones to build Stonehenge. Was it from the introduction of ball bearings, moving them by water, or something more likely such as magic or aliens? Another question is what was Stonehenge created for? A burial ground? Celestial temple? Alien landing pad? All these theories and more are looked at in this episode.

Do you have a favorite pair of jeans that you always wear? Maybe you're like Luke and only change your jeans once a month. Yeah, gross. If you happen to be wearing a pair of Levi's, you're basically walking around in a part of history. We not only take you through the history of Levi's jeans and how Levi Strauss (sort of, but not really) created them, as well as the process jeans go through to get into the store for you to buy. If you're lucky, you might even learn how the best jeans of all time, acid washed, are made!

Everyone knows about the plans that NASA and SpaceX have for getting us to Mars (mostly because we already explained that to you), but did you know that NASA also has been playing with the idea of colonizing Venus? No, not on the extremely hot surface of "Earth's twin," but floating 50km in the clouds. That's right! Floating Venus cloud cities! Yes, I know it should be Venusian, but SEO likes the word Venus a lot more, so deal with it. Take a few (roughly 30) minutes to learn all about how operation HAVOC is going to get humans floating around Venus in no time...in theory...

Let's look at the facts: Bill Nye has his BS in Mechanical Engineering, just like me. Bill Nye hosts shows that educate young and old alike about science and technology, just like me. Bill Nye is extremely funny, just like me. We're practically the same person, so does that make me a "science guy" as well?! I think not!! But if you dig a little bit deeper, there is a lot more to Mr. William Sanford Nye. He has a couple patents, has written a couple books, helped NASA with a sundial going to Mars, designed parts for the Boeing 747 and hurt himself on Dancing with the Stars. All of these really do point to the fact that he is a science guy! It isn't his fault that he was smart enough to get out of engineering and do something he loves.

Can you remember a technological marvel that you thought would never be replaced, and the next thing you know it was obsolete? We're taking a look at some of the most amazing technology that changed the world, yet is now nothing more than an afterthought. Some of the items we discuss include: Encyclopedias, CRT TV, watches, answering machines, typewriters, the postal service, steam engines, pay phones and more!

The world's population is going to exceed 10 billion by 2050. Yeah, that's a lot, and we don't have enough food to feed all these mouths! Fortunately for us, there are a lot of smart people out there creating ways to solve this problem. Vertical gardening in giant warehouses, underwater growing bubbles, vertical farming of kelp, scallops, and other delicious seafood and even traditional food alternatives live Soylent. Warning: steak may be at a premium.

What is the history of chocolate? Where does chocolate come from? How was it made? Why Valentine’s Day? Will we ever run out? Is it really good for you? We'll answer all these questions and more today on Unprofessional Engineering.

Another great inventor, another college drop out. Then again, it looks like the drug aided spiritual journey worked out for Steve Jobs, as nearly everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. From starting Apple, to helping Pixar become a reality and resurrecting Apple from an all-time low to new heights (after they basically kicked him out as CEO), this man was successful.

Do you remember watching Total Recall and thinking, "we'll never live on Mars." Well, we might not, but that doesn't mean that humans won't. In fact, we're probably a lot closer to making it happen than you think. Our friends at SpaceX think they will be sending humans to Mars in just 6 years, and NASA is planning on doing so in under 20. All that being said, what is it going to take to make Mars habitable? And what technology needs to be in place to get us there? Of course we've summed it all up in just over 30 minutes for your listening pleasure!

There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to the different units of measure, but let's be honest, there's a wrong answer. All of 3 (or so) countries use English units which are confusing and hard to convert, and the rest of the world uses the same metric system. How could they all be wrong?! We walk you through the history of units of measure, how the English system showed up, why the French hated America and didn't invite them to the metric party, and even discuss what a butt load is. Yes, it is a real thing.

Have you ever wondered how satellites stay in orbit around the Earth? Or how they are able to communicate from thousands of miles away? Or what happens to them after they are no longer functioning or needed? We have all these answers and more! Take a listen to a brief history of satellites, what they are made from, how many are floating around us (literally) and more!

Everyone knows that the Earth is a sphere, right? Not so fast! There is a small, but vocal, group of people out there that believe the Earth is flat. Yup... fall off the edge flat. But don't worry, there is a big ice wall circa Game of Thrones holding in our oceans and keeping us safe. We're walking you through exactly what the flat Earthers believe to be the truth, how NASA is guarding the wall, the reasons gravity doesn't exist and so much more! Who knows? Maybe you'll become a true believer after this.

Are you looking for a sure-fire way to become a millionaire over night? Well bitcoin mining is not for you! In fact, it is likely that you won't even make any money doing it. But that doesn't mean that the craze is over. There are still tons of other cryptocurrency options out there, or even mining pools that you can get into to still dig for bitcoin if you're interested. We're walking you through the basics of crytocurrency, how to get ready to mine on your own, and even providing some great suggestions of things to do on the dark web. Check it out!

There has been so much amazing engineering in 2017 that it is hard to remember it all, but lucky for you, we're doing all the work! From things as simple as healthy ice cream, to IoT, all the way to Tesla and SpaceX and NASA heading to Mars again, it has been a great year! Sit back and enjoy an amazing year in technology.

I think we can all agree that Santa is for sure, 100% real, but have you ever thought about the math behind his amazing journey?!? Here are just a few things for you to think about: How fast Santa's sleigh is traveling The amount of force against the sleigh exerted by Santa How many reindeer it would actually take to pull a sleigh carrying so many presents The caloric intake of all those cookies How does the time space continuum come into play We have the answers for all of this and more! Now put down the eggnog, gather around the Christmas tree and listen to what is sure to be the best present you get this year.

After the huge success of How It's Made: Toys part one (talking about LEGO, Crayola Crayons, Etch-A-Sketch and Play-Doh) we're back with even more great toys! We answer what's inside Stretch Armstrong, walk through the epic story of the Super Soaker, talk about the wonderful toy that is the Slinky and teach you to make Silly Putty at home.

Every engineer likes to dream about cars they'll never be able to afford (come on, you're engineers after all...), but there are some that stand out above the rest. We explain just what makes a supercar so super, tell you about the most expensive and fastest cars around, and have even put together a quick list of affordable "supercars" that you might actually be able to get your hands on. Missing one? Let us hear about it!

As engineers, or just as humans, we all love toys, right?? But have you taken the time to see how they are made? We take a look at the history and the manufacturing process behind some of the most popular toys of all time, including: Lego Play-Doh Etch-a-sketch Crayola crayons Do you have more toys that you would like us to investigate? Emails us at [email protected] and we'll get them added to the next "How It's Made" episode!

Do you want to make this Thanksgiving the best ever?! You won't be able to if you don't get that turkey just right. We're here to teach you about the different ways that you can cook a turkey (from smoking to grilling, deep frying to roasting) as well as break down the math behind engineering the most delicious, juicy bird possible.

When you think about James Dyson, you probably think he is just a guy that invented an expensive vacuum cleaner, and you would almost be right. That being said, that invention got him a net worth of roughly $4.4 billion! BILLION! To his inventor cred, he also created that disgusting air blade to dry your hands and a handful of other inventions. Really cool though, Dyson is the biggest supporter of robotics in the UK! He is way more interesting than one would think, so take a half hour and hear why.

There are so many great movies out there that use engineering in amazing and creative ways! In fact, some people become engineers based on movies they watched (like Luke with E.T.). We've put our brains together to comprise the top 10 movies loosely based on engineering. Some have ingenious contraptions, some have slightly less realistic engineering, but all of them are a great watch!

Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone. Yeah, we all know that, but did you know that he gave nearly all of his company to his wife when he married her? Or that he didn't consider the telephone to be his greatest invention of his life? Or that he built the worlds fastest speed boat?! That's right! There is more to this great inventor than meets the eye. I mean, his beard is pretty amazing, and that's probably how he got his wife to fall in love with him, but his brain is pretty sexy too.

Are you looking to build the perfect workstation for your engineering, CAD or gaming needs? You're in luck! We hooked up with an expert from TFI CAD Tips, Neil Cross, to help you understand where you should spend that extra cash to take over WoW, what the different parts of your PC do for improved CAD design and tells you if you should just buy something off the shelf. Looking for some help with Autodesk Inventor? TFI has just the tip for you! Check them out here: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/tficadtips Twitter - https://twitter.com/TFICADTips Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TFICADTips/

Like it or not, AI (artificial intelligence) and robots are here and becoming more pervasive in everyday life. We will talk about the good the bad and everything in between.

Unless you've been pretty lucky all your life, you've probably had to rely on medical imaging at some point. That could be something simple like an x-ray for a broken arm, or something more complicated like a MRI or CAT scan. Have you ever thought about how those machines work? Photons, atoms, tungsten, H2O and giant magnets for a start! Join us to find out more!

Perhaps the most innovative and well known man of these times, Elon Musk pretty much turns everything he touches into technological gold! From Zip2, which has nothing to do with his physics degree, to X.com that somehow turned into PayPal, all the way to SpaceX and Tesla, this guy is good! He is literally improving space travel and looking to get us to Mars by 2024, all while he revolutionizes the automotive industry with electric cars. Let's not forget his other hobbies like stuffing microchips into the human brain to help us integrate with software, or starting a tunnel boring company just to avoid traffic to the airport. Wait, there's more! The Hyperlop is on the way! Travel across California in no time, zooming around at 700 mph! Yeah...this guy is good.

The shipping container could be the single largest contributor to the modern day global economy. Don't believe us? Just imagine where we would be if everything was still packed under a ship haul and wasn't standardized in size for delivery! Plus, once the containers get worn out, they can be used to make amazing, green, modular homes! These might be the unsung hero of the modern world...

How can something so small be so complicated?! From the pocket watch to the Apple watch, we cover them all. Learn how intricate mechanical watches operate, how quartz watches are different, and which historical events drove the popularity of the wrist watch.

The world's dependency on fossil fuels might not be as serious as you think! The combination of solar, hydro, wind, geothermal and many other clean energy sources could eventually take over. Learn more about these (and many other) clean technology options.

We might take the airplane for granted today, but just think back to the earliest flights and all the engineering, testing and hoping for the best that went into it! In this episode we walk through everything thing from the Wright brothers to crossing the Atlantic, all the way to where flight will go in the future!

We've all heard of the internet of things by now, but do you understand what it is? Products like Fitbit and Nest are great examples! Learn how IoT is changing the way engineers design, and how it is improving the user experience for products across the board.

Have you ever looked under the hood of your car and been afraid to do anything but add windshield washer fluid? Give us just 30 minutes and you'll be able to completely rebuild your entire engine! OK, that might be a stretch, but you will understand the basics of how engines work, the different types, how the various parts interact and confirm your thoughts that you should leave it to the experts.

How could something as big as the Great Wall or as intricate as the Colosseum be built so long ago? Amazing engineering went into these creations, even if it wasn't know. Or maybe aliens helped out... who knows?! We do, so take a listen to our hour long 50th episode celebration!

Nothing says engineering like working with CAD! Whether it is AutoCAD, SolidWorks or anything else, every engineer has used these tools at some point. But where did it all start? And where is it headed?

Thinking about going into engineering or just curious about the job prospects available? We have summed it up, and will even let you know how much you can expect to make!

Electric cars are a staple for those who live in California, or love hugging trees, but are they right for you? We walk through the not so short history of electric cars, pros and cons of gas vs electric, how they work and the top rides of 2017.

In honor of Game of Thrones season 7 launching, we've decided to break down medieval weapons in part 3 of the series. Siege weapons such as battering rams and catapults, how swords are smithed, and what is the difference between a mace and a flail? Time to prepare for battle!

For the second part of our Game of Thrones series, we're taking a look at how medieval castles were designed and constructed, the best ways to attack them and what purpose the various designs served. Unfortunately, dragons are not included...yet.

In honor of Game of Thrones season 7 launching soon, we thought we'd break down medieval technology. The first of our 3 part series is on torture devices used, how they worked and why people back in the were pretty much the worst. Enjoy, or you'll get the rack!

Do you remember playing with Legos as a kid? Tinker Toys? Silly putty? We argue out the top 10 toys that made us the engineers we are today. You might be surprised by a few that made this list!

Think of all the crazy technology in Star Wars and Star Trek that could never exist. Like a tractor beam. Oh wait, we have it. Or the flying car from the Jetsons. No, we have that too... We discuss a ton of crazy Sci-Fi technology that is now a reality. Wonder what's next?