Why Soda Can Tabs Have That Hole
The hole in a soda can tab can hold a straw, but that is not why the shape survived.
Engineering
Clear explanations of structural, mechanical, civil, and everyday engineering through real objects and places.
The Brooklyn Bridge Was Saved by Overengineering
A corrupt wire supplier smuggled bad steel into the Brooklyn Bridge. The reason the bridge survived is the safety margin John and Washington Roebling built into it.
How Betty Lou Oliver Survived a 75-Story Elevator Fall
After a B-25 crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945, Betty Lou Oliver survived the longest elevator fall ever recorded.
Robot Kickflips Electric Skateboard
A short look at what a robot skateboard stunt reveals about balance, control, torque, and the engineering hidden inside electric rideables.