Unprofessional Engineering

The periodic table of elements makes the world go round! Or at least it makes up the world and universe. One of the coolest parts of the periodic table is the noble gases: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, and oganesson. We investigate where these elements can be found in nature, if at all, look into their material properties, and discuss how they can be used in our daily lives. Oh, and we see if they will kill you!

One of the great American brands, John Deere has a long and interesting history that has helped to shape the development of the United States as well as the rest of the world. From a simple blacksmith to the head of a giant company, John Deere created one of the most iconic and influential companies in America's history. Learn how he got his start and how the company has expanded over the years.

Who doesn't like heading out to the hills after a fresh snowfall and jumping on a sled? But what makes one sled faster than another, and why does it work in the first place? We look into the history of sledding (thanks to our friends in Canada and Russia!), the engineering behind sled riding, and determine which sleds are the best bang for your buck.

Continuing on with our interview of Dr. Martin Fisher of KickStart International, we dive into how his team is able to design and manufacture cost effective solutions to poverty stricken regions of Africa, enabling small scale farmers to grow. From product design to material selection and manufacturing needs, Dr. Fisher walks us through the process that KickStart International uses to help make the world a better place.

Did you know that 80% of the poor in Africa are small-scale farmers? Due to the lack of rain, most only get 1 harvest per year, which means many farming families go hungry and fall back into poverty the rest of the year. KickStart International is a non-profit social enterprise with a mission to lift millions of people out of poverty quickly, cost-effectively, and sustainably. Unprofessional Engineering was lucky enough to catch up with Dr. Martin Fisher, Co-founder and CEO of KickStart International, to learn about how KickStart came to be, how they are attacking poverty in Africa, and how engineering is being used to help millions to make a better living. Do you want to make a difference? Help by donating to KickStart International: https://kickstart.org/get-involved/#donate

Are you struggling to find the perfect Christmas (or holiday) gift for that special engineer in your life? You have come to the right place!! Unprofessional Engineering has done the tough part of Christmas shopping for you by breaking down great gift ideas for engineers and aspiring engineers of all ages, all from $10 and up! Kick back with your glass of eggnog, try not to dump it out because it is gross, and find out what Christmas gifts you should be buying for your engineer.

Are you interested at learning the VERY basics of Raspberry Pi and Arduino? Do you want to know what the differences are between the two and when one might be more useful than the other? Just like listening to us talk regardless of topic? Look no further! Don't expect to be an expert from listening to us, but this will teach you how to use a Raspberry Pi or Arduino for your next STEM project. Heck, you might even create a smart home thanks to us.

Do you remember how excited everyone was for Google Glass to be released? And then... well, what happened? The glasses themselves were uncomfortable, they looked a little less than appealing, and the functionality wasn't nearly as futuristic as we hoped. We look into why Google Glass failed and discuss if it could have been avoided, or at least what could be learned for future efforts in the space.

Tower Bridge (not to be confused with London Bridge) is one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of London, if not the world. Not only is it really cool looking, but the way it works and it's long history is also pretty great. From the original construction of Tower Bridge, to the multiple facelifts, how the drawbridge mechanism works, and even a borderline "secret passage," we look into all the aspects of this fan favorite so that you can impress your friends on your next trip to London.

OK, so SpaceX might not be a company that built this world, but it is looking like it might be the company that builds the next one. SpaceX has quickly gone from an idea of cheaper space travel from the brilliant mind of Elon Musk to having NASA count on them to get resources and people to the International Space Station. Learn all about the history of SpaceX, from the original idea, to coming up with a plan for reusable rockets, sending people to the ISS, and even their plans to get the first people to Mars.