Engines of Our Ingenuity

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The story of technological progress is one of drama and intrigue, sudden insight and plain hard work. Let’s explore technology’s spectacular failures and many magnificent success stories.

Houston Public Media

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    • Jun 3, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • daily NEW EPISODES
    • 3m AVG DURATION
    • 2,176 EPISODES

    4.8 from 162 ratings Listeners of Engines of Our Ingenuity that love the show mention: engines, invention, engineering, houston, literature, dr, science, bravo, art, subjects, history, short, human, program, every day, minutes, highly recommended, engaging, thank, interesting.


    Ivy Insights

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity is an incredible podcast that has captivated me for the past three years. I cannot get enough of it and find myself listening to it in the car with my young children, exposing them to the wonders of engineering and the creative minds behind innovative ideas. This show holds a special place in my heart as I remember listening to it every day on my way to elementary school. It brings back great memories and instills a sense of curiosity and wonder in both children and adults.

    One of the best aspects of The Engines of Our Ingenuity is its tremendous breadth in selection of topics. Each episode covers a wide range of subjects related to science, engineering, history, philosophy, and human mechanics. It is highly recommended to anyone with a curious mind, regardless of their background in engineering or science. The concise format makes it approachable and engaging for non-engineers/non-scientists like myself.

    The worst aspect of this podcast is that it is no longer available for download as a podcast. The decision to block out podcast listeners by only providing M3U files is puzzling and inconvenient for those who enjoyed streaming episodes while traveling or catching up on missed episodes. It would be much more user-friendly if the podcast was available for download again.

    In conclusion, The Engines of Our Ingenuity is a well-written, insightful, and captivating podcast that delves into the intersection of science and our everyday lives through the lens of engineering. Dr. John Lienhard has created a legacy through this series, leaving a lasting impact on his listeners by sparking their curiosity and appreciation for innovation. Despite the inconvenience of not being available as a traditional podcast anymore, this show remains highly recommended for anyone seeking knowledge and inspiration from the world of engineering.



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    Latest episodes from Engines of Our Ingenuity

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2670: Expanding the Human Environment

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 3:51


    Episode: 2670 The Expanded Human Habitat: Our Solar System as a Defining Environment.  Today, we expand the notion of environment.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3378: Hrotsvitha

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 3:45


    Episode: 3378 Tenth century author, Hrotsvitha, brought back to life in the sixteenth century.  Today, meet Hrotsvitha.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1582: Llewellen M. K. Boelter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2026 3:44


    Episode: 1582 L. M. K. Boelter and engineering education at its best.  Today, a great teacher.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1581: One Good Turn

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1581 The screwdriver: Thoughts on greatness and invisibility.  Today, the screwdriver.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1580: Su-Sung’s Clock

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2026 3:40


    Episode: 1580 Su-Sung's wonderful eleventh-century water clock.  Today, Su-Sung's wonderful clock.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1579: The Hidden Wright Brothers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1579 Five years before we found out about the Wright Brothers!  Today, we gradually learn about the Wright Brothers' flight.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2598: The Three Body Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 3:49


    Episode: 2598 Henri Poincaré, the three body problem, and chaos.  Today, three bodies.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3377: Burning Zinc

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 3:53


    Episode: 3377 An 1880 article seeks to anticipate the creation of electric power, beginning with Zinc.  Today, we burn Zinc.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3376: Staples

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 3:52


    Episode: 3376 In which our common desk stapler earns its name.  Today, Let's talk about staples.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1578: Seaplanes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2026 3:41


    Episode: 1578 The brief day of the great flying boats.  Today, we ask what ever became of flying boats.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1577: The Monte Hall Problem

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2026 3:38


    Episode: 1577 The Monty Hall Problem and the unexpected value of information.  Today, we learn not to turn our back on information.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1576: The Wind

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1576 The wind and its technologies in the ancient mind.  Today, wind and the medieval mind.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2596: Golf Club Grooves

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 3:49


    Episode: 2596 Golf Club Grooves: How small changes in technology can cause controversy.  Today's episode is brought to you by the letters U and V.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3375: Poetry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 3:54


    Episode: 3375 The complex relationship among language, speech, music, and poetry.  Today, what is Poetry?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3374: Board Game Design

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 3:46


    Episode 3374:  Monte Carlo simulations and board game design.  Today, Monte Carlo simulations and board games.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1575: Fields and Continua

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1575 Fields and continua: A secret art of engineering.  Today, a look at a secret abstraction.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1573: Donatello in Time

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2026 3:42


    Episode: 1573 Donatello: Of his age or for all time?  Today, we ask: Of an age, or of all time?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1572: High-Pressure Steam Engines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2026 3:42


    Episode: 1572 High-pressure steam engines and transportation. Today, the first locomotive.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1571: Oz and Electricity

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2026 3:49


    Episode: 1571 In which the author of Oz contemplates electricity.  Today, Dorothy, Kansas, and the new forces of electricity.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2594: Ptolemy’s Geographia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 3:49


    Episode: 2594 Mapping the World: Ptolemy's Geographia.  Today, a man and a map.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3029: Model Citizen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 3:37


    Episode: 3029 Model Citizen.  Today, lets talk about models.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2081: A Monstrosity and a Skeptic

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2026 3:45


    Episode: 2081 A Monstrosity, a Skeptic, and a new view of the 16th century.  Today, guest historian Cathy Patterson gives birth to a cat.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3373: Thomas Campion

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2026 4:09


    Episode: 3373 Today we meet Thomas Campion: medical doctor, and a great poet and composer.  Today, let's meet Thomas Campion.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1570: A New Light Bulb

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2026 3:44


    Episode: 1570 GE, light bulbs, and the product-driven innovation cycle.  Today, we talk about light bulbs and product innovation.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1569: Alkahest

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2026 3:41


    Episode: 1569 Alkahest, the universal solvent.  Today, we look for the universal solvent.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1568: The Age of the Earth

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 3:42


    Episode: 1568 Lord Kelvin's miscalculation of the age of the earth.  Today, a Victorian scientist miscalculates the age of the earth.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2591: Instant Runoff Voting

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 3:49


    Episode: 2591 Instant runoff voting and the Academy Awards.  Today, what's best?

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2885: Big Numbers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 3:50


    Episode: 2885 Very Large Numbers.  Today, let's talk about very large numbers.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3371: Mary Colter

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2026 3:53


    Episode: 3371 The creative work and relative anonymity of Mary Coulter, and her Native American architecturally themed designs.  Today, meet Mary Colter.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1567: Christopher Wren, Physician

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2026 3:41


    Episode: 1567 Christopher Wren: a great architect first learns medicine.  Today, an unexpected student of medicine.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1566: Glottochronology

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 3:41


    Episode: 1566 Glottochronology: In which language decays like carbon-14.  Today, a new word for you: glottochronology.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1565: Hysplex

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2026 3:41


    Episode: 1565 Using the hysplex to start an ancient Greek foot race.  Today, we learn how to start a foot race.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2588: Synthetic Sound Waves

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 3:49


    Episode: 2588 Synthetic Sound Waves.  Today, the sound of music.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3370: Poetic Meter

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 3:52


    Episode: 3370 A Look at Poetry and the Importance of Rhythmic Metre.  Today, the rhythm of poetry.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3369: Tiny Living Factories

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 3:35


    Episode: 3369 Small cells and microorganism that behave like living factories.  Today, tiny living factories.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 3368: Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2026 3:50


    Episode: 3368 The possibility that there exists a reality out of reach of any human science.  Today, we wonder what's real.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1564: The Second Law of Thermodynamics

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2026 3:40


    Episode: 1564 The Second Law of Thermodynamics and time's arrow.  Today, we see why time goes only from then to now.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1562: Guido da Viegevano

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2026 3:41


    Episode: 1562 Guido da Vigevano uses war as an excuse to invent.  Today, a medieval inventor goes to war -- almost.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 1561: Herbert J. L. Hinkler

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 3:43


    Episode: 1561 'Hustling Hinkler, Up in the Sky' - an early Australian flier leaves his mark.  Today, an odd hero of early aviation.

    The Engines of Our Ingenuity 2585: Measuring Race Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 3:48


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