Unprofessional Engineering

The Impossible Burger is taking the world by storm, with everyone from Burger King to Little Caesars getting in on the act. With players like that, it must be good, right?! Well, Luke thinks it is! But what about how it was made? That is way more than good! The biology, genetics, and engineering that went into the Impossible Burger (and Impossible Burger 2.0) is fascinating, and took just 7 years!! We take a look at what makes this meat-free option so delicious, why it actually tastes like meat, why it sizzles like meat, how it bleeds like meat...well you get the point. We also take a few to decide if this is good for humanity in the long run, so that's a thing.

We thought we would try something new out and see how discussing actual engineering principles would go over with our listeners. Stress and strain are two of the most important values in Mechanical Engineering, if not all engineering. The basics of these calculations is pretty simple if you start small. We walk through what stress and strain are, how to calculate them, throw in a little Young's Modulus, and even give an example of the various calculations. Let us know what you think by emailing unprofessionalengineering@gmail.com.

We all know the simple photovoltaic process that solar panels use to turn the suns light into electricity (yes, that's a joke), but what about the actual manufacturing process!?? In this episode, we take a look at the entire process of how solar panels are made, starting from mining, to the REALLY hot furnaces, all the way to the final coatings to improve efficiency. If you're into clean energy, or just like to know more than your friends, take a listen!

The military is on the cutting edge of futuristic technology of all sorts. From missiles that travel 5x the speed of sound, to satellites that melt enemy satellites in space, this tech is amazing, and a little bit scary. Join us to learn about some of the latest inventions to come from DARPA that will blow you away...literally. Don't make us use mind control on you. Yes, they are working on that as well.

Carbon fiber (or carbon fibre if you're from the other side of the pond) doesn't just look cool, it is one of the most important inventions of recent time. Stronger than steel, yet lighter, the number of applications for carbon fiber are endless. From sports equipment, to sports cars, space ships to wind turbines, carbon fiber is revolutionizing design. We take a look at how carbon fiber is made, different uses, and even get into the science behind it's atomic structure.

Continuing our "Companies That Built The World" series, we took a deeper look into the history of Westinghouse. Well known for leading the charge on electricity (see what we did there), they made a number of other major contributions to the world. From launching the first radio station right here in Pittsburgh, to electric appliances and televisions, all the way to nuclear power, Westinghouse was a critical piece of the puzzle. Learn all about the various phases of Westinghouse throughout the years and what remains of it today.

Thinking about getting a degree in engineering, but not sure what path to take? Maybe Mechanical Engineering's little brother, Aerospace, is right for you! We take a look at some of the areas of focus involved with Aerospace Engineering, discuss the differences between Aeronatical and Astronautical Engineering, look into companies that hire AEs, talk about the day-to-day of the job, which colleges rate the highest, and most importantly how much cash money you will make!

After doing so many episodes about great inventors throughout time, we decided to figure out which country has produced the most great inventors of all time. Though there were many great choices, and a few not so great ones, in the end we were able to decide who outranks them all. Take a listen to find out where your country ranks, let us know if we missed any, and tell us if you agree with top 10.

It is a rare topic when Luke actually is the one educating James, but when it comes to camping gear and technology, that's just what happened. We take a look at some of the latest technology that makes camping a little less miserable, the top in class products you can buy, more affordable options for people who don't make podcast money, and some top tips to survive in the wild.

Have you ever looked at your tires and asked, "How were these made?!" Yeah, probably not, but Luke sure has...and that is why we are investigating this topic today! You may have actually asked, "What do all those numbers and letters on my tire mean?" Fortunately, we'll cover that as well, not to mention the entire process from raw material to finished tire, vulcanization, and more!