The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3409: Pickelhaube
Episode: 3409 We trace the long life of a silly helmet. Today, a puzzling headpiece.
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Engines of Our Ingenuity
The story of technological progress is one of drama and intrigue, sudden insight and plain hard work. Let’s explore technology’s spectacular failures and many magnificent success stories.
Episodes
20 of 245 episodesThe Engines of Our Ingenuity 1632: The Sunken Monitor
Episode: 1632 Rediscovering the sunken Union Monitor. Today, we find the first modern warship -- on the ocean floor.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1631: Borrowing a One
Episode: 1631 Learning to subtract 49 from 62: more than meets the eye. Today, what is 49 from 62?
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1630: Creating Nature
Episode: 1630 In which we ponder a very subjective notion of reality. Today, nature changes before our eyes.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2460: The Singing Nun
Episode: 2460 In praise of the City: A fine piece of the natural world. Today, another look at form and function.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2955: The Friendship Paradox
Episode: 2955 The Friendship Paradox: Why Your Friends Are More Popular Than You Are. Today, let's talk about your friends.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3408: When Molecules Bump
Episode: 3408 When Molecules Bump. Today, a historical injustice.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3407: Who Wrote the Song?
Episode: 3407 In which we forget that John Jacob Niles gave us some of our best-loved music. Today, who wrote the song?
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1629: Resisting Change
Episode: 1629 An old book tells about textile engineering and conservatism. Today, we resist change.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1628: The First Red Cross Ambulance
Episode: 1628 The first red cross ambulance. Today, we care for wounded soldiers.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1627: The Medical Genius
Episode: 1627 A shocking look at medications in 1892 shows us how far we've come. Today, we measure how far we've come.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2639: The Space Needle
Episode: 2639 The Seattle World's Fair and the Space Needle. Today, a landmark in the clouds.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2927: Dual Inheritance Theory
Episode: 2927 Dual Inheritance Theory: How our Genes and our Culture are co-evolving. Today, let's talk about cultural complexity.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2999: Hannibal’s Grand Strategy
Episode: 2999 Hannibal's Grand Strategy: Genius or Failure? Today, Hannibal at the gates.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3406: Short Subjects
Episode: 3406 About the Short Subjects that we see, and that we once saw, before the movie we came to see. Today, short subjects.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1626: The Yellow River
Episode: 1626 Using China's Yellow River to contemplate a flood. Today, a look at flooding.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1625: Elisha Gray and Miracles
Episode: 1625 Telephone inventor Elisha Gray talks about miracles. Today, a telephone inventor talks about miracles.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1624: Garrett Morgan
Episode: 1624 Garrett A. Morgan: Black American inventor. Today, thoughts about traffic lights, gas masks, and hair straighteners.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2636: Admiral Michael Mullin and Mathematics
Episode: 2636 Admiral Michael Mullen and Mathematics. Today, leading the charge.
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2851: Unplanned Obsolescence
Episode: 2851 The Lake Breeze Fan: Unplanned Obsolescence. Today, invention and obsolescence.