Riddle Me This: Rope Burning
You have a lighter and two ropes. How can you accurately time forty-five minutes?
The DuPont Buffalo Plant Explosion
It should have been a day of routine maintenance on November 9, 2010 at the DuPont plant in North Tonawanda, New York. Tank 1, which normally contained 10,000-gallons of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF), a slurry used in manufactured countertops, had been cleaned and inspected in preparation for repairs ...
The March Ethical Dilemma: Conflict of Interest
Issues involving conflicts of interest have long been some of the thorniest issues faced by engineers. The Board of Ethical Review has had numerous occasions...
March Pop Quiz for Engineers
Will you be lucky on this month's pop quiz? Here's the March 2021 Pop Quiz for Engineers. Are you smarter than an undergraduate?
Suggested Reading for Engineers
Not only can reading help you to unwind after a long day, but certain books can deliver unique insights and perspectives that you may have not otherwise considered. If you are looking for book recommendations, we have selected the following that can benefit the professional lives ...
Riddle Me This: Three Light Bulbs and Three Switches
You have three switches. If you are allowed only one chance to enter the room with the three light bulbs, how can you determine which switches go with which bulbs?
The Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster
In 1981, the shuttle Columbia became the first to successfully reach space. From 1981 to 2003, Columbia carried dozens of astronauts on missions, spending a total of 300 days, 17 hours, 40 minutes, and 22 seconds in space. Columbia’s last flight was STS-107, a 16-day research mission ...
The February Ethical Dilemma: Hazardous Material
Ralph is a field technician employed by a consulting environmental engineering firm. At the direction of Engineer Patrick, his supervisor, Ralph, samples the contents of drums located...
February Pop Quiz for Engineers
Use your heart and your head! Here's the February 2021 Pop Quiz for Engineers. Are you smarter than an undergraduate?
Personal Assistants: Not Just for the 1% Anymore
The personal assistant has long been considered a benefit exclusive to the very wealthy and powerful. Today, advances in technology and a plethora of digital sites and products make interacting with your own personal assistant as easy as the touch of a button or a simple voice command ...