Archive for July, 2009

Putting the fire in fireworks

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

 

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photo: rawkus/stock.xchng.com
What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? Today, we’ll ooh! and ahh! over those spectacular aerial displays, on Engineering Works.
From pom-pon bursts to sparkling flares, there’s nothing like fireworks to captivate a crowd. For centuries, we’ve celebrated royal weddings, baptisms and other special events with lavish productions that light up the night [...]

Your GPS tour guide

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

 

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photo by: FogCityFog/fklickr.com
Break out your flowery shirt and digital camera. Today, we’re tourists, on Engineering Works!
Seeing new places is one of the big reasons tourists are tourists. They want to see and find out about things they’ve never seen before. Let’s go to Rome and see the coliseum. Or ride the cable cars in San [...]

Putting the electricity in your electric guitar

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

 

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photo by: LostBob Photos/Flickr.com
We’re going to listen to the music. Today, on Engineering Works!
Guitars, especially electric guitars are an important part of modern popular music. Imagine the Beatles without George Harrison’s guitar. Or Jimi Hendrix without distortion. Electric guitars made it work.
Guitar players started experimenting with electricity to amplify their instruments during the 1930s, when [...]

Touchy-Feely

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

 

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photo: Wendy Longo/Flickr.com
This one’s going to be rough. Or maybe it’ll be smooth. Engineering what you feel, today on Engineering Works!
Think about something nice to touch. The smooth wood of fine furniture. A freshly laundered towel. A baby’s cheek. We all know what they feel like, but try to tell somebody what that feeling is. [...]

High-speed running

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

 

 
icon for podpress  Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photo: Huw Pritchard/Flickr.com
Hold onto your hat! This one’s going to go by fast. High speed, today on Engineering Works!
High fuel prices are driving most automotive engineers these days to find ways to give you better gas mileage. But not all of them. Some are looking for speed.
The ultimate in all-out speed are top fuel dragsters. [...]