Inbreeding in an isolated population of animals
Jennifer talks about recent research detailing the effects of inbreeding on an isolated animal population and shows how this affects our ideas about breeding domestic animals.
More details | Watch nowBuckyball workshop
Professor Sir Harry Kroto shows local schoolchildren in Sheffield how to build a buckyball
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Bill introduces queueing theory and uses it to design the most efficient check out line
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Bill uses power tools to take apart a photocopier. He shows how it works, and shares the story of its invention by Chester Carlson.
More details | Watch nowThe Light Bulb
Bill reads from his book of fairy tales. He tells the story of the engineering of a light bulb, focusing on the materials breakthrough needed to make the filament.
More details | Watch nowCopper – The Miracle Metal
Bill cuts a copper pipe from his ceilng to show the five properties of copper that make it the most important metal for our world: From clean water to electronics.
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Bill moves a piece of sewer pipe into his office to show how important the ancient material concrete is to our modern world. It, of course, wreaks havoc on his office.
More details | Watch nowThe Geiger Counter
Bill sings a song - with help from Doris Day - about the geiger counter. He shows that scientist Hans Geiger became an engineer when he designed the counter as a tool to make his life easier.
More details | Watch nowThe Cell Phone
Bill invades a cell phone store to show that the design of a mobile isn't arbritary. Engineers uses seven basic principles to create a useful phone.
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With his hammer Bill cracks up a cell phone to expose how our electronic gadgets rely on the mineral tantalum - mined as Coltan.
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Bill asks the question 'Why a chair?' ... the answer reveals the human aspects of engineering design.
More details | Watch nowGarbage – Rubbish?
Bill covers his office floor with trash to see what takes up space in a landfill. He digs through fast food containers and diapers to learn that what we really need is green design of our manufactured objects.
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