Unprofessional Engineering

Great Inventors: Bill Gates - Episode 141

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you interested in how one of the richest men in the world got to where he is? We walk through the life of our close, personal friend, Bill Gates. ...

How Coins Are Minted - Episode 140

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After our smash hit success of an episode, "How Paper Currency Is Made" we figured we should follow it up on how coins are minted. We discuss how coin...

Secrets of the Manhattan Project - Episode 139

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

I'm thinking we all know the end result of the Manhattan Project, but not everyone knows the means to that end. From petitioning the president to unkn...

How Paper Money Is Made - Episode 138

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It is hard to believe how much it costs to make money! From the hand engraving to the numerous security features, it can take years to have the final ...

Model Rockets Like a Pro - Episode 137

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for a new hobby that will likely catch you on fire, blow you up, or at the very least make the neighbors concerned about their house? Model ro...

1 Hit Wonder Engineers - Episode 136

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We spend a lot of time time and episodes talking about the great inventors that changed the world, most of which designed and patented numbers creatio...

Evolution of Video Gaming - Episode 135

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you consider yourself a video game expert? Are your Fortnite skills unmatched? Can you beat anyone at Mario Kart? What about your knowledge of wher...

What is Electrical Engineering - Episode 134

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking about getting into Electrical Engineering? Wondering what jobs are out there for you when you graduate or looking to change up your career? C...

Manufacturing with Hubs - Episode 133

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For those who don't know, Hubs help engineers worldwide to cost-effectively source custom parts. Upload your parts to their online platform to get an ...

Constructing Mardi Gras Floats - Episode 132

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's Mardi Gras time!!! And what's Mardi Gras without amazing floats?! Thanks to the design and engineering of Kern Studios and the money of the vario...

Welding 101 - Episode 131

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Welding is a skill that every engineer should know at least a little something about. In fact, most amazing universities like Penn State require MEs t...

Tips for Better Public Speaking - Episode 130

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone who listens to Unprofessional Engineering probably is thinking, "Yup, James and Luke are pretty much the epitome of public speaking excellence....

Great Inventors: Marie Curie - Episode 129

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's here! Our first female great inventor (sorry it took so long). And how can it get any better?! Not only did Marie Curie (if that really is her na...

Predicting the Weather - Episode 128

06 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever wonder how the weather person can get their predictions wrong half the time and still keep a job? Well, when you actually take a at all of...

Electronics Recycling - Episode 127

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that over 1.5 billion cell phones were purchased last year? Or that we're making over 45 tons of e-waste each year?! What is even worse, ...

The Challenger Disaster: Interview with Nathan VonMinden - Episode 126

25 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We have all heard about the Challenger disaster, about something as small as a gasket failing and resulting in the explosion. But do we really know wh...

Mars Insight Lander - Episode 125

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps the most significant engineering feat in the past decade, the Mars Insight Lander has successfully landed on Mars. But what's next? We take a ...

Creating Livable Cities - Episode 124

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some cities seem to have a vibrant downtown while others seem to close up after the work day is over? It is become some cities are more livable...

The Nobel Prize - Episode 123

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As Unprofessional Engineering is liking going to win a Nobel Prize at some point, we thought it would be a good idea to investigate what goes into the...

Great Inventors: George Westinghouse - Episode 122

01 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

George Westinghouse is an underappreciated inventor, making major strides in the railway and electricity industries. His creation of the railway air b...

This Month in Engineering: December 2018 - Episode 121

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We take a look back at the month of December, 2018, to investigate some of the coolest happenings of the past 30 or so days. Some of these include fin...

Finding the Lost City of Atlantis - Episode 120

19 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you excited for Aquaman?! Us too! In preparation for the DC release, we have decided to take a look at the history and efforts to find his home; t...

How It's Made: Christmas Edition - Episode 119

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We all love the sounds of jingle bells around the holidays, and hanging candy canes on the Christmas tree, but do you ever take the time to think abou...

Top Holiday Tech & Toys 2018 - Episode 118

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you looking to put a little technology under the tree this Christmas? Or maybe you want to get your kids into STEM for Hanukkah? We've picked out ...

This Month in Engineering: November 2018 - Episode 117

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're kicking off a new series here at Unprofessional Engineering where we look at the most amazing technology of the past month. In November of 2018 ...

Great Inventors: Benjamin Franklin - Episode 116

21 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the greatest inventors of all time, as well as being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin had a pretty good run ...

Everything CAD with TFI CAD Tips - Episode 115

15 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We got the chance to sit down with Mr. Neil Cross of TFI CAD Tips, live at Autodesk University, to discuss everything CAD. Stretching back to the earl...

Army Corps of Engineers - Episode 114

06 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Making the Mississippi what it is today. Overseeing the Panama Canal. Constructing the Pentagon. Creating the King Khalid Military city. These are jus...

How the Oil & Gas Industry Works - Episode 113

31 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Next time you're filling your car up with gas, take a minute to think about all the work it took to get it to the pump for you. Better yet, why not ta...

Water: From the Toilet Back to Your House - Episode 112

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever gotten a glass of water and taken the time to think about the love that goes into each drop? Probably not, and it might be best if you d...

Space Tourism - Episode 111

17 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you interested in taking a trip into space? Maybe spend a week or two floating around the moon in a 5 star space hotel? Or just a quick flight up ...

How it Works: The Printing Press - Episode 110

10 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most important inventions of all time, the printing press has changed the world forever. From its humble beginnings in China, to the design...

Great Inventors: Nikola Tesla - Episode 109

02 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing with inventors we love, we've finally hit on a guy that was an amazing engineer and inventor but just terrible at marketing and entrepreneu...

Egyptian Engineering and Construction - Episode 108

25 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the third part of our civilization smack down, we head to ancient Egypt to see what type of engineering and technology that the Egyptians created f...

Mayan Engineering and Construction - Episode 107

18 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In part 2 of our civilization smack down, we take a look at the engineering contributions of the Mayan civilization. Or is it Maya? Mayan? Hmm…well,...

Aztec Engineering and Construction - Episode 106

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the civilization smack down!! Over the next 3 episodes, we'll be looking into how 3 great civilizations (Aztec, Mayan and Egyptian) contrib...

What is Mechanical Engineering? - Episode 105

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you thinking about getting into engineering but don't know what flavor is right for you? The answer is simple: Mechanical Engineering. Sure, jus...

Neil deGrasse Tyson - What did that guy ever do? - Episode 104

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you haven't been living in a cave for the past decade, you know who Neil deGrasse Tyson is. What you might not know is what that guy ever did to be...

Engineering Better Green Homes & Buildings - Episode 103

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A huge focus has been placed on making buildings more energy efficient and eco-friendly. From the materials used to construct skyscrapers down to the ...

Engineering the Perfect Tennis Shoes - Episode 102

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You might not think that there's a lot of engineering or technology that goes into a tennis shoe, but that is not the case. From rubber and canvas to ...

Engineering Behind Dairy Farming - Episode 101

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You might be surprised to find out that there is a lot of engineering that goes into the dairy farming process. Yeah, I didn't believe it either! But ...

100th Episode Spectacular!!! - Episode 100

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We've made it to our 100th episode!! I know, I can hardly believe anyone still listens to this podcast either, but we're still going strong! Today, w...

Engineers Love Affair with 2D Drawings - Episode 99

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

People have been using 2D drawings for thousands and thousands of years to depict everything from creatures they have seen (on cave walls) to detailed...

How is Steel Made - Episode 98

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever thought about how much the invention of steel has changed the way the world works? From construction to every day appliances, steel is a...

Great Inventors - Leonardo da Vinci - Episode 97

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps the greatest inventor of all time, Leonardo da Vinci created a number of amazing works, and theorized even more that technology needed to catc...

Engineering the Perfect Steak - Episode 96

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We all like to think that we know our way around the grill, but do you really know how to cook the perfect steak? Continuing our series on engineering...

Cyborg & Genetically Modified Animals - Episode 95

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Let's face it, folks. The end of the world is coming, and we're likely going to be the cause. Robots might destroy us, we may end up polluting the wor...

Dams: Making Power, Yet Killing the Environment - Episode 94

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dams are a critical part of modern civilization, providing water to those in need, irrigating farms, preventing floods and generating 17% of the world...

3D Printed Houses - Episode 93

12 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We all know about 3D printing in the workplace by now, (at least you should since we've already talked about it) but did you know that there are compa...

Engineering the Eiffel Tower - Episode 92

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Eiffel Tower is more than an ugly metal tower in the heart of Paris. It has ugly elevators and viewing platforms as well! What is truly impressiv...

Great Inventor: Henry Ford and His Model T - Episode 91

29 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How to Pitch Your Million Dollar Idea - Episode 90

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 suc...

How Do Volcanoes Work? - Episode 89

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 kee...

Elon Musk's Boring Company - Episode 88

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ab...

Constructing the Statue of Liberty - Episode 87

05 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

Submarines - Episode 86

24 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Great Inventors: Stephen Hawking - Episode 85

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 wa...

Perfecting Your Engineering Resume - Episode 84

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you graduating from an engineering program soon and worried about landing that first job? Who better to listen to about tricking someone into hiri...

Encryption - Episode 83

03 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Encryption has been around long before we needed to keep our intellectual property safe on computers. The Spartans used basic encryption technology as...

How was Stonehenge Created - Episode 82

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How Levi's are Made - Episode 81

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Venus Cloud Cities - Episode 80

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Bill Nye - Is He Really a Science Guy - Episode 79

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 scie...

Amazing (yet) Obsolete Inventions - Episode 78

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

How Will We Feed the Growing Population - Episode 77

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Chocolate - Episode 76

15 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Great Inventors: Steve Jobs - Episode 75

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Another great inventor, another college drop out. Then again, it looks like the drug aided spiritual journey worked out for Steve Jobs, as nearly ever...

Terraforming Mars - Episode 74

31 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

History of English vs. Metric - Episode 73

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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) countr...

Satellites - Episode 72

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 happen...

Crazy Flat Earther Theories - Episode 71

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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. ...

How Does Cryptocurrency Work - Episode 70

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Best Engineering of 2017 - Episode 69

28 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 sim...

The Math Behind Santa - Episode 68

20 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

How It's Made: Toys - Part 2 - Episode 67

13 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 gre...

Supercars - Episode 66

05 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

How It's Made: Toys - Part 1 - Episode 65

29 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Engineering the Perfect Turkey - Episode 64

21 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Great Inventors: James Dyson - Episode 63

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 b...

Top 10 Movies with Great Engineering - Episode 62

08 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

History of Alexander Graham Bell - Episode 61

01 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Building the Perfect CAD or Gamer PC - Episode 60

25 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 T...

AI and Robots: End of the Human Race or Maybe Not- Episode 59

18 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 an...

Medical Imaging Technology - Episode 58

11 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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-...

Great Inventors: Elon Musk - Episode 57

04 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Perhaps the most innovative and well known man of these times, Elon Musk pretty much turns everything he touches into technological gold! From Zip2, w...

Shipping Containers - Episode 56

27 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 e...

How Do Watches Work? - Episode 55

17 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ope...

Renewable Energy - Episode 54

13 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 en...

History Of Airplanes - Episode 53

12 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 tha...

Internet of Things (IoT) - Episode 52

30 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Everything Engines - Episode 51

23 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Engineering the Great Pyramid, Great Wall and Colosseum - Episode 50

16 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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, eve...

History Of CAD - Episode 49

09 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Nothing says engineering like working with CAD! Whether it is AutoCAD, SolidWorks or anything else, every engineer has used these tools at some point....

Top Engineering Schools and Degrees - Episode 48

04 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Electric Cars - Episode 47

26 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 histo...

Medieval Combat Weapons - Episode 46

12 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Medieval Castle Construction - Episode 45

06 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Medieval Torture Devices - Episode 44

29 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 devi...

The Top 10 Toys that Made You an Engineer - Episode 43

22 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Crazy Sci-Fi technology turned real - Episode 42

19 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...