99% Invisible

Nuts and Bolts

May 9, 2023

Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer behind the Shard and author of "Nuts and Bolts," dives into the fascinating world of small inventions that have revolutionized engineering. She unpacks the vital roles of nails, wheels, and springs, illustrating their profound impact on history and design. Agrawal also discusses innovations like the 'box-in-box' acoustic design and reveals how ergonomic considerations have shaped modern comfort. Along the way, she highlights the magnetic link between engineering and communication, showcasing how even the smallest tools wield big influence.

37:43

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Episode guests

Roma Agrawal

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Unsung Heroes of Engineering

16min

Springing to Silence: Acoustic Innovations in Architecture

4min

The Timeless Elegance and Utility of String

4min

The Evolution of Design: From Comfortable Chairs to Magnetic Discoveries

3min

The Magnetic Influence on Communication

11min

Celebrating Small Inventions and a Fond Farewell

2min

In her new book Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World (in a Big Way), structural engineer Roma Agrawal identifies and examines the seven of most basic building blocks of engineering that have shaped the modern world: the nail, the wheel, the spring, the lens, the magnet, the string, and the pump.

Click here to get the book! Available for pre-order at W. W. Norton in the US and Bookshop.org in the UK.

Nuts and Bolts

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