Engines of Our Ingenuity
Houston PR
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.
Location:
Houston, TX
Networks:
Houston PR
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.
Language:
English
Episodes
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3340: Scissors
11/18/2025
Episode: 3340 We look at the curious mechanics behind scissors. Today, let’s look at scissors.
Duration:00:03:52
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1473: Titanic and Great Eastern
11/17/2025
Episode: 1473 Two unsinkable ships: the Titanic and the Great Eastern. Today, a story of two ships. One sank. One didn't.
Duration:00:03:38
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1472: Big Numbers
11/16/2025
Episode: 1472 New uses for huge numbers. Today, big numbers find new meaning.
Duration:00:03:41
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1471: Jamestown and Suicide
11/15/2025
Episode: 1471 Some thoughts about immigrants, depression, suicide & Jamestown. Today, a story about Jamestown and self-destruction.
Duration:00:03:42
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1470: Occam’s Razor
11/14/2025
Episode: 1470 Occam's razor and engineering design. Today, we cut with Occam's razor.
Duration:00:03:38
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2533: The Power of Three
11/13/2025
Episode: 2533 On Table Legs and Flat Surfaces. Today, the power of three.
Duration:00:03:48
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2763: Steve Jobs, Simplifier
11/12/2025
Episode: 2763 The legacy of Steve Jobs, who simplified computers and computing devices. Today, the man who made it simple.
Duration:00:03:50
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3339: The Eames Lounge Chair and Leg Splint
11/11/2025
Episode: 3339 Cradling the Body: The Eames Lounge Chair, Leg Splint, and Good Design. The Eames Lounge Chair and Leg Splint
Duration:00:03:51
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3338: Predicting Warcraft
11/10/2025
Episode: 3338 An old Century Magazine tries to predict future warfare. Today, we predict warcraft.
Duration:00:03:53
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1469: The Hourglass
11/9/2025
Episode: 1469 The hourglass: the poor man's clock, the poor man's metaphor. Today, let's look at the hourglass.
Duration:00:03:43
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1468: The Bicycle
11/8/2025
Episode: 1468 The evolution of the bicycle. Today, let's talk about bicycles and freedom.
Duration:00:03:39
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2529: Comparing Fingerprints
11/7/2025
Episode: 2529 Comparing Fingerprints: What's Involved and What can go Wrong. Today, who dunnit?
Duration:00:03:49
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3337: Claude Bernard
11/6/2025
Episode: 3337 Claude Bernard’s important medical science, horrifically achieved. Today, let’s meet a problematic scientist.
Duration:00:03:51
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2018: The Chamberlen Family Secret
11/5/2025
Episode: 2018 The Chamberlen family secret: the invention of forceps. Today, guest historian Cathy Patterson reveals family secrets.
Duration:00:03:48
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3007: Elastic Chair
11/4/2025
Episode: 3007 Samuel Gragg's Unusual Chair. Today we look at an elastic Chair.
Duration:00:03:42
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3336: Nickel
11/3/2025
Episode: 3336 The evolution and potential demise of the lowly Nickel. Today, let us spend the lowly nickel.
Duration:00:03:54
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1467: Napoleon and Iron
11/2/2025
Episode: 1467 Napoleon Bonaparte and Iron in France. Today, Napoleon builds iron monuments.
Duration:00:03:36
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1466: Vegetable Physiology
11/1/2025
Episode: 1466 An old botany book for young girls changes scientific thinking. Today, a young student forms a scientific theory.
Duration:00:03:42
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3335: Transcontinental
10/31/2025
Episode #3335 Learning to fly non-stop from coast to coast in America. Today, we fly across America.
Duration:00:03:50
The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2527: Alphonse Bertillon
10/30/2025
Episode: 2527 Alphonse Bertillon: Measuring the Man. Today, the measure of a man.
Duration:00:03:49