Unprofessional Engineering

Are you interested in how one of the richest men in the world got to where he is? We walk through the life of our close, personal friend, Bill Gates. Everything from his childhood, to dropping out of college (like all millionaires it seems), all the way to why he is giving away all of his hard earned cash!

After our smash hit success of an episode, "How Paper Currency Is Made" we figured we should follow it up on how coins are minted. We discuss how coins used to be created using a screw press, the decades that the USA let other countries coins be spent since they couldn't produce enough of their own, and how coins are pumped out today. We also discuss the most valuable coins around, the mystery of the 1943 penny, and James plays a game with Luke to test his knowledge of mint location marks.

I'm thinking we all know the end result of the Manhattan Project, but not everyone knows the means to that end. From petitioning the president to unknown laboratories around the country (and world!), there are endless secrets to unpack. And hey...why is it even named the Manhattan Project when the work happened in Los Alamos?? We break down how the Manhattan Project came to be, leaks of national secrets, the cost associated, and so much more!

It is hard to believe how much it costs to make money! From the hand engraving to the numerous security features, it can take years to have the final prints ready for a new bill. Once they are ready to start printing though, it doesn't stop! Millions of dollars worth of cold hard cash is printed each day from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Interested in learning more about how currency is made? Join us for a detailed breakdown.

Looking for a new hobby that will likely catch you on fire, blow you up, or at the very least make the neighbors concerned about their house? Model rockets are for you! We walk through the basics of how a model rocket works, the different parts, the stages of flight, how close they are to the real deal, engine types, and we answer the age old question of do the fins really matter? Take a few minutes and join us to learn all about what might be our next hobby and what kills us.

We spend a lot of time time and episodes talking about the great inventors that changed the world, most of which designed and patented numbers creations. But what about those who didn't hog all the good ideas and only came up with 1 to make them rich and famous? In this episode, we take a look at the top 1 hit wonder engineers, like Willis Carrier who invented the air conditioner, or Margaret Knight, the woman who invented the paper bag (even though a man tried to claim he did, since "a woman can't invent things"). Of course, there's also the story of the bendy straw... Did we miss a one hit wonder of engineering? Let us know!

Do you consider yourself a video game expert? Are your Fortnite skills unmatched? Can you beat anyone at Mario Kart? What about your knowledge of where those games evolved from and how video game consoles were first created and how they have evolved over the years? In this episode, we explore the first console (the "brown box"), how we evolved past Pong, to the Atari, when Nintendo took over, why the industry changed from cartridges to discs, and why cartridges might be back again!

Thinking about getting into Electrical Engineering? Wondering what jobs are out there for you when you graduate or looking to change up your career? Curious if you are making enough money as an EE (per Glassdoor)? We're here for you! We take a look at a number of the subcategories of Electrical Engineering to help understand what it is they actually do, the classwork necessary to get a degree, the money you should expect to make, and so much more! Sure, they're not as cool as Mechanical Engineers, but we won't hold that against them.

For those who don't know, Hubs help engineers worldwide to cost-effectively source custom parts. Upload your parts to their online platform to get an instant quote and send your parts into production in less than five minutes. Their main manufacturing technologies are 3D printing, CNC machining, and Injection Molding. We were lucky enough to sit down with Ben Redwood, the Director of Supply Chain at 3D Hubs and the author of the 3D Printing Handbook, to discuss how Hubs is revolutionizing manufacturing. We talk all about 3D printing, CNC machining and milling, and injection molding, all available through Hubs! We also have a special offer!! Head over to https://www.unprofessionalengineering.com/manufacturing-with-3d-hubs and pick up your free sample of The 3D Printing Handbook!!

It's Mardi Gras time!!! And what's Mardi Gras without amazing floats?! Thanks to the design and engineering of Kern Studios and the money of the various Mardi Gras Krewes you can enjoy some of the most amazing floats and parades right in the streets of New Orleans. Want to learn about the history of Mardi Gras, how the float design process has changed over the years, or how to land a spot in a parade next year? Take a few minutes and take a listen!