Unprofessional Engineering

Do you have a favorite pair of jeans that you always wear? Maybe you're like Luke and only change your jeans once a month. Yeah, gross. If you happen to be wearing a pair of Levi's, you're basically walking around in a part of history. We not only take you through the history of Levi's jeans and how Levi Strauss (sort of, but not really) created them, as well as the process jeans go through to get into the store for you to buy. If you're lucky, you might even learn how the best jeans of all time, acid washed, are made!

Everyone knows about the plans that NASA and SpaceX have for getting us to Mars (mostly because we already explained that to you), but did you know that NASA also has been playing with the idea of colonizing Venus? No, not on the extremely hot surface of "Earth's twin," but floating 50km in the clouds. That's right! Floating Venus cloud cities! Yes, I know it should be Venusian, but SEO likes the word Venus a lot more, so deal with it. Take a few (roughly 30) minutes to learn all about how operation HAVOC is going to get humans floating around Venus in no time...in theory...

Let's look at the facts: Bill Nye has his BS in Mechanical Engineering, just like me. Bill Nye hosts shows that educate young and old alike about science and technology, just like me. Bill Nye is extremely funny, just like me. We're practically the same person, so does that make me a "science guy" as well?! I think not!! But if you dig a little bit deeper, there is a lot more to Mr. William Sanford Nye. He has a couple patents, has written a couple books, helped NASA with a sundial going to Mars, designed parts for the Boeing 747 and hurt himself on Dancing with the Stars. All of these really do point to the fact that he is a science guy! It isn't his fault that he was smart enough to get out of engineering and do something he loves.

Can you remember a technological marvel that you thought would never be replaced, and the next thing you know it was obsolete? We're taking a look at some of the most amazing technology that changed the world, yet is now nothing more than an afterthought. Some of the items we discuss include: Encyclopedias, CRT TV, watches, answering machines, typewriters, the postal service, steam engines, pay phones and more!

The world's population is going to exceed 10 billion by 2050. Yeah, that's a lot, and we don't have enough food to feed all these mouths! Fortunately for us, there are a lot of smart people out there creating ways to solve this problem. Vertical gardening in giant warehouses, underwater growing bubbles, vertical farming of kelp, scallops, and other delicious seafood and even traditional food alternatives live Soylent. Warning: steak may be at a premium.

What is the history of chocolate? Where does chocolate come from? How was it made? Why Valentine’s Day? Will we ever run out? Is it really good for you? We'll answer all these questions and more today on Unprofessional Engineering.

Another great inventor, another college drop out. Then again, it looks like the drug aided spiritual journey worked out for Steve Jobs, as nearly everything he touched seemed to turn to gold. From starting Apple, to helping Pixar become a reality and resurrecting Apple from an all-time low to new heights (after they basically kicked him out as CEO), this man was successful.

Do you remember watching Total Recall and thinking, "we'll never live on Mars." Well, we might not, but that doesn't mean that humans won't. In fact, we're probably a lot closer to making it happen than you think. Our friends at SpaceX think they will be sending humans to Mars in just 6 years, and NASA is planning on doing so in under 20. All that being said, what is it going to take to make Mars habitable? And what technology needs to be in place to get us there? Of course we've summed it all up in just over 30 minutes for your listening pleasure!

There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to the different units of measure, but let's be honest, there's a wrong answer. All of 3 (or so) countries use English units which are confusing and hard to convert, and the rest of the world uses the same metric system. How could they all be wrong?! We walk you through the history of units of measure, how the English system showed up, why the French hated America and didn't invite them to the metric party, and even discuss what a butt load is. Yes, it is a real thing.

Have you ever wondered how satellites stay in orbit around the Earth? Or how they are able to communicate from thousands of miles away? Or what happens to them after they are no longer functioning or needed? We have all these answers and more! Take a listen to a brief history of satellites, what they are made from, how many are floating around us (literally) and more!