Engineer built 200 public benches in Inner Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco
(missionlocal.org)
For more than a decade, a roller-skating engineer in the Inner Sunset has opted to go his own way, making and installing some 210 benches in the Sunset and around the city — for free.
For more than a decade, a roller-skating engineer in the Inner Sunset has opted to go his own way, making and installing some 210 benches in the Sunset and around the city — for free.
Bat wings boost hovering efficiency
(epfl.ch)
EPFL researchers have designed flexible, batlike wings that boost lift and improve flight performance. This innovation could lead to more efficient drones or energy-harvesting technologies.
EPFL researchers have designed flexible, batlike wings that boost lift and improve flight performance. This innovation could lead to more efficient drones or energy-harvesting technologies.
1% Equity for Founding Engineers Is BS
(fetchfox.ai)
The status quo for Founding Engineer compensation is broken. It’s unfair, outdated, and doesn’t work for founders or engineers.
The status quo for Founding Engineer compensation is broken. It’s unfair, outdated, and doesn’t work for founders or engineers.
Why hasn't commercial air travel gotten any faster since the 1960s? (2009)
(engineering.mit.edu)
In an era when everything else is accelerating, airplanes are actually flying at slower speeds than they used to…
In an era when everything else is accelerating, airplanes are actually flying at slower speeds than they used to…
Beavers finish seven-year dam project in two days saving – $1M
(nationalgeographic.com)
After plans stalled for a new dam in the Czech Republic, eight beavers saved the day seemingly overnight. “At this point, nothing that beavers do surprises me.”
After plans stalled for a new dam in the Czech Republic, eight beavers saved the day seemingly overnight. “At this point, nothing that beavers do surprises me.”
Chimes at Midnight (2024)
(asteriskmag.com)
It’s been an idea for over three decades. How did the clock that will run for 10,000 years become a reality?
It’s been an idea for over three decades. How did the clock that will run for 10,000 years become a reality?
Car Alternators Make Great Electric Motors;
(hackaday.com)
The humble automotive alternator hides an interesting secret. Known as the part that converts power from internal combustion into the electricity needed to run everything else, they can also themselves be used as an electric motor.
The humble automotive alternator hides an interesting secret. Known as the part that converts power from internal combustion into the electricity needed to run everything else, they can also themselves be used as an electric motor.
Procedural Hydrology: Dynamic lake and river simulation (2020)
(nickmcd.me)
In Art, Engineering, Game, Procedural Generation
In Art, Engineering, Game, Procedural Generation
Good engineers are right, a lot
(seangoedecke.com)
Amazon infamously has a leadership principle where they say “good leaders are right, a lot”. It’s unclear to me how useful it is about leaders, but it’s definitely true about engineers. Good engineers are definitely right, a lot.
Amazon infamously has a leadership principle where they say “good leaders are right, a lot”. It’s unclear to me how useful it is about leaders, but it’s definitely true about engineers. Good engineers are definitely right, a lot.
The Supersonic Trebuchet
(hackaday.com)
Have you ever sat down and thought “I wonder if a trebuchet could launch a projectile at supersonic speeds?” Neither have we. That’s what separates [David Eade] from the rest of us. He didn’t just ask the question, he answered it! And he documented the entire build in a YouTube video which you can see below the break.
Have you ever sat down and thought “I wonder if a trebuchet could launch a projectile at supersonic speeds?” Neither have we. That’s what separates [David Eade] from the rest of us. He didn’t just ask the question, he answered it! And he documented the entire build in a YouTube video which you can see below the break.
The art of engineering team focus: less is more
(github.com)
What if the key to shipping more is actually doing less?
What if the key to shipping more is actually doing less?
Farewell potholes? UK team invents self-healing road surface
(theguardian.com)
For all motorists, but perhaps the Ferrari-collecting rocker Rod Stewart in particular, it will be music to the ears: researchers have developed a road surface that heals when it cracks, preventing potholes without a need for human intervention.
For all motorists, but perhaps the Ferrari-collecting rocker Rod Stewart in particular, it will be music to the ears: researchers have developed a road surface that heals when it cracks, preventing potholes without a need for human intervention.
Why it makes perfect sense for this bike to have two gears and two chains
(arstechnica.com)
The Buffalo Bicycle Utility S2 has won an award from Eurobike and earned a German Design Award. With components designed by cycling industry giant SRAM and made from heavy steel, the bike has rim brakes, two gears, two chainrings, and two separate chains. And that makes total sense.
The Buffalo Bicycle Utility S2 has won an award from Eurobike and earned a German Design Award. With components designed by cycling industry giant SRAM and made from heavy steel, the bike has rim brakes, two gears, two chainrings, and two separate chains. And that makes total sense.
The young, inexperienced engineers aiding DOGE
(wired.com)
Elon Musk’s takeover of federal government infrastructure is ongoing, and at the center of things is a coterie of engineers who are barely out of—and in at least one case, purportedly still in—college.
Elon Musk’s takeover of federal government infrastructure is ongoing, and at the center of things is a coterie of engineers who are barely out of—and in at least one case, purportedly still in—college.
New Horizons for Julia
(lwn.net)
Julia, a free, general-purpose programming language aimed at science, engineering, and related arenas of technical computing, has steadily improved and widened its scope of application since its initial public release in 2012.
Julia, a free, general-purpose programming language aimed at science, engineering, and related arenas of technical computing, has steadily improved and widened its scope of application since its initial public release in 2012.
Designing a Keyboard from Scratch
(masterzen.fr)
I’ve been in the keyboard community for more than two years now and my keyboard collection is starting to fill up my shelves. It’s only recently that, as an engineer, I started to think about how keyboards were really working.
I’ve been in the keyboard community for more than two years now and my keyboard collection is starting to fill up my shelves. It’s only recently that, as an engineer, I started to think about how keyboards were really working.
Aging reactors need a concrete solution
(u-tokyo.ac.jp)
It’s been known for some time that radiation impacts the structural integrity of concrete. However, until now the details of this were unknown. Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, can finally demonstrate what properties of concrete affect its structural characteristics under different neutron radiation loads. Their findings raise some concerns whilst reducing others; for example, quartz crystals in concrete can heal themselves, potentially allowing some reactors to run for longer than initially thought possible.
It’s been known for some time that radiation impacts the structural integrity of concrete. However, until now the details of this were unknown. Researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo, can finally demonstrate what properties of concrete affect its structural characteristics under different neutron radiation loads. Their findings raise some concerns whilst reducing others; for example, quartz crystals in concrete can heal themselves, potentially allowing some reactors to run for longer than initially thought possible.
Machine learning and 3D printing yield steel-strong, foam-light materials
(phys.org)
Researchers at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have used machine learning to design nano-architected materials that have the strength of carbon steel but the lightness of Styrofoam.
Researchers at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have used machine learning to design nano-architected materials that have the strength of carbon steel but the lightness of Styrofoam.
Goose: An open-source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions
(block.github.io)
Your on-machine AI agent, automating engineering tasks seamlessly.
Your on-machine AI agent, automating engineering tasks seamlessly.
40 years ago, a classified Shuttle mission foreshadowed Challenger's fatal flaw
(theregister.com)
It has been 40 years since NASA launched the first dedicated Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission, after which engineers spotted O-ring seal defficiencies that would doom Challenger a year later.
It has been 40 years since NASA launched the first dedicated Department of Defense Space Shuttle mission, after which engineers spotted O-ring seal defficiencies that would doom Challenger a year later.
Ask HN: What are core engineering skills that will likely never be automated?
(ycombinator.com)
Ask HN: What are core engineering skills that will likely never be automated?
Ask HN: What are core engineering skills that will likely never be automated?
Proper decoupling capacitor practices, and why you should leave 100nF behind
(wordpress.com)
Ever wondered why 100nF is a go-to value for decoupling capacitors? This number has pervaded in datasheets and electronics advice going back to the 1980s, and is still widely present in the datasheets of modern components. Folks are out there sprinkling 100nF capacitors on their boards like seasoning, and when they decide 100nF isn’t enough, they inevitably recommend the big/little practice, e.g. 1uF + 100nF in parallel.
Ever wondered why 100nF is a go-to value for decoupling capacitors? This number has pervaded in datasheets and electronics advice going back to the 1980s, and is still widely present in the datasheets of modern components. Folks are out there sprinkling 100nF capacitors on their boards like seasoning, and when they decide 100nF isn’t enough, they inevitably recommend the big/little practice, e.g. 1uF + 100nF in parallel.
Over engineered cars are pushing technicians away
(ycombinator.com)
An interesting video from an auto tech and below text was in the comments that I thought some engineers might appreciate.
An interesting video from an auto tech and below text was in the comments that I thought some engineers might appreciate.
Biomachining
(wikipedia.org)
Biomachining is the machining process of using lithotropic bacteria to remove material from metal parts, contrasted with chemical machining methods such as chemical milling and physical machining methods such as milling.
Biomachining is the machining process of using lithotropic bacteria to remove material from metal parts, contrasted with chemical machining methods such as chemical milling and physical machining methods such as milling.
IEEE Credentialing Program
(ieee.org)
Technology is evolving rapidly, and technical professionals need to keep their skills up-to-date in order to help their organizations stay competitive. Additionally, many engineers need continuing education units (CEUs) and professional development hours (PDHs) to maintain their engineering licenses. With many engineers seeking training programs that offer these credits, IEEE can help you provide these benefits to your professionals through the IEEE Credentialing Program.
Technology is evolving rapidly, and technical professionals need to keep their skills up-to-date in order to help their organizations stay competitive. Additionally, many engineers need continuing education units (CEUs) and professional development hours (PDHs) to maintain their engineering licenses. With many engineers seeking training programs that offer these credits, IEEE can help you provide these benefits to your professionals through the IEEE Credentialing Program.