VELCRO: An Idea That Stuck
Zippers, buttons, glue, staples, stitching. Prior to 1955, those were the main ways in which things were fastened together. But inventor George de Mestral’s 1941 discovery led to an easier and often more effective way of conjoining two things: VELCRO. While we’ve all used the substance and it’s a common part of things we use every day, it was an invention that was a long time in the making.
The Silver Bridge: America’s Deadliest Bridge Failure
The Silver Bridge’s origin traces back to the early 1900s to Charles Holzer, a doctor who grew tired of the time it took to reach patients on the other side of the river. Some died awaiting his arrival. Holzer eventually organized community groups to plan a bridge. Those groups eventually merged into the West Virginia Ohio River Bridge Company, with Holzer at the helm.
The June Ethical Dilemma: Ethics and Expert Witnessing
Engineer Mike is a forensic engineer. He is hired as a consultant by Attorney Nancy to provide an engineering and safety analysis report and courtroom testimony in support of a plaintiff in a personal injury case.
June 2023 Pop Quiz for Engineers
Is FATHER'S DAY the day to score high marks on this month's quiz? Here's the June 2023 Pop Quiz for Engineers. Are you smarter than an undergraduate?
Sandblasting with Light
Sandblasting is commonly used to prepare a surface prior to painting and to strip paint from machinery and metal. It is also used to produce the lettering and engraving on most modern cemetery monuments and markers and to clean boat hulls, brick, stone and concrete.
Riddle Me This: Boxes of Cash!
There are three closed boxes on a table. Each box contains $5, $10, and $20 respectively, in five-dollar bills. The $10 box contains two five-dollar bills; the $5 box contains one five-dollar bill; and the $20 box contains four five-dollar bills.