Engineering Technology

While design of human structures has varied enormously over time, the same principles of physics always govern what and how we build. This series covers forces at work, design and construction elements and future trends.

Designed solutions to engineering problems are found all around us, whether we are aware of them or not. This series follows three case studies: the Deepsea Challenger, Morph Wheels and Fliteboard. Senior secondary and tertiary engineering students are guided through the design process, from the initial stage of exploring the problem, to selecting appropriate materials, to testing and refining the final product for the end user.

In this episode, Zoe explores an item that is extraordinarily intimate and transports us to other worlds – Headphones. With 12 pairs sold globally every second, Zoe is on a mission to build her own, unique pair. In search of inspiration she heads to Hull University to discover an exciting new substance that can turn any surface into a speaker – from a wall to a table and even the bone of your skull. In the depths of an anechoic chamber she experiences the wonder behind ‘directional sound’ and ear tracking technology which creates a personal ‘sound bubble’ without the need to wear headphones at all. A trip back through headphone history reveals the stethoscope style home contraptions of the 19th century and the game changing 80’s Sony Walkman. Zoe also heads to high end manufacturers Bowers & Wilkins; a mock aircraft cabin to explore the principles of noise cancellation; and on a trip down one of London’s busiest streets with a billboard style boxed contraption slung across her body, all in the name of material research. Her final Headphones raise the bar high, with a distinctive head band, to avoiding big hair issues, alongside characterful plastidip connections.

In 2018, Italy’s Morandi Bridge collapsed, killing 43 people. For 50 years, the iconic bridge had withstood the elements—and stress from ever-increasing traffic. NOVA investigates what went wrong and explores other bridge collapses across the United States. How can new engineering techniques make bridges safer and prevent such tragedies?