Claim OwnershipEngines of Our Ingenuity
Subscribed: 667Played: 63,428
Subscribe
℗ & © 2025 Houston Public Media
Description
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.
This content is in service of Houston Public Media’s education mission and is sponsored by the University of Houston. It is not a product of our news team.
630 Episodes
Reverse
Episode: 1477 A horseless carriage offered to Anne Boleyn. Today, we offer Anne Boleyn an automobile.
Episode: 1476 In which Josephine Cochrane invents the dishwasher. Today, the birth of the dishwasher.
Episode: 1475 The tragic tale of Evariste Galois. Today, let's tell the remarkable tale of Evariste Galois.
Episode: 2535 The base of a number system: times tables and memorization. Today, go forth and multiply.
Episode: 3341 How Warren McCulloch and Walter Pitts laid the foundation for current AI research. Today, the origin of artificial neural networks.
Episode: 3340 We look at the curious mechanics behind scissors. Today, let’s look at scissors.
Episode: 1473 Two unsinkable ships: the Titanic and the Great Eastern. Today, a story of two ships. One sank. One didn't.
Episode: 1472 New uses for huge numbers. Today, big numbers find new meaning.
Episode: 1471 Some thoughts about immigrants, depression, suicide & Jamestown. Today, a story about Jamestown and self-destruction.
Episode: 1470 Occam's razor and engineering design. Today, we cut with Occam's razor.
Episode: 2533 On Table Legs and Flat Surfaces. Today, the power of three.
Episode: 2763 The legacy of Steve Jobs, who simplified computers and computing devices. Today, the man who made it simple.
Episode: 3339 Cradling the Body: The Eames Lounge Chair, Leg Splint, and Good Design. The Eames Lounge Chair and Leg Splint
Episode: 3338 An old Century Magazine tries to predict future warfare. Today, we predict warcraft.
Episode: 1469 The hourglass: the poor man's clock, the poor man's metaphor. Today, let's look at the hourglass.
Episode: 1468 The evolution of the bicycle. Today, let's talk about bicycles and freedom.
Episode: 2529 Comparing Fingerprints: What's Involved and What can go Wrong. Today, who dunnit?
Episode: 3337 Claude Bernard’s important medical science, horrifically achieved. Today, let’s meet a problematic scientist.
Episode: 2018 The Chamberlen family secret: the invention of forceps. Today, guest historian Cathy Patterson reveals family secrets.
Episode: 3007 Samuel Gragg's Unusual Chair. Today we look at an elastic Chair.
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
traction motors on today's locomotives are essentially "hub motors" powered by 5000 hp diesel engines that generate the electricity needed to turn steel wheels.