# \#engineering **URL:** https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/tag/engineering/711.md [Latest](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/latest.md) · [Categories](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/categories.md) · [Tags](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/tags.md) --- ## [The Subjective Optimization of Time](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-subjective-optimization-of-time/4757)
**Author:** [@eggspurt](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/eggspurt)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [11 July 2024 17:25 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/the-subjective-optimization-of-time/4757 "2024-07-11T17:25:21Z")
This ia an illuminating story: --- ## [Extreme Pencil Sharpening](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/extreme-pencil-sharpening/3856)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [14 October 2023 13:01 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/extreme-pencil-sharpening/3856 "2023-10-14T13:01:55Z")
OK, the chain saw didn’t work all that well—how about explosives? --- ## [Rocket Sled Test and Impact at Mach 2.8](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/rocket-sled-test-and-impact-at-mach-2-8/3443)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [13 July 2023 14:12 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/rocket-sled-test-and-impact-at-mach-2-8/3443 "2023-07-13T14:12:34Z")
Here is more information on the Holloman High Speed Test Track. On 2003-04-29 this facility set the world rail speed record at 10,326 km/hour (2.86 km/sec), or around Mach 8.6. Here’s what that looked lik… --- ## [How Often Do Rockets Fail, and Why?](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-often-do-rockets-fail-and-why/3370)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [28 June 2023 15:37 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/how-often-do-rockets-fail-and-why/3370 "2023-06-28T15:37:44Z")
--- ## [Strengths of Materials and Variable Swords](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/strengths-of-materials-and-variable-swords/2987)
**Author:** [@magus](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/magus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [2 April 2023 15:01 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/strengths-of-materials-and-variable-swords/2987 "2023-04-02T15:01:33Z")
I stumbled across this neat reference chart for the strengths of various materials while investigating the plausibility of Niven’s variable sword, a weapon made of mono-molecular wire able to slice through almost any … --- ## [Hydrofoils: "Ships with wings"](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/hydrofoils-ships-with-wings/2664)
**Author:** [@magus](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/magus)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [30 January 2023 21:09 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/hydrofoils-ships-with-wings/2664 "2023-01-30T21:09:29Z")
This documentary celebrates the hydrofoil, a type of ship that uses underwater foils to lift it out of the water at high speeds. The documentary explores the history of hydrofoils, provides a basic overview… --- ## [Carver Mead Still Alive and Challenging "20th Century Physics"](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/carver-mead-still-alive-and-challenging-20th-century-physics/2530)
**Author:** [@jabowery](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/jabowery)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [30 December 2022 21:20 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/carver-mead-still-alive-and-challenging-20th-century-physics/2530 "2022-12-30T21:20:24Z")
In this interview Carver Mead talks about a wide range of issues affecting the sociology of science by continually returning to put on his “engineering” hat (as oppose, I suppose, to his managerial big science hat). Alt… --- ## [Numga: Numeric Geometric Algebra With GPU Acceleration](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/numga-numeric-geometric-algebra-with-gpu-acceleration/2357)
**Author:** [@jabowery](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/jabowery)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [27 November 2022 18:11 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/numga-numeric-geometric-algebra-with-gpu-acceleration/2357 "2022-11-27T18:11:43Z")
The numga library compiles simulations expressed in geometric algebra into GPU accelerated programs. Why is this important? Consider this single geometric algebra equation that compresses Maxwell’s Equations\*: or ev… --- ## [Rust—The Restless Adversary](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/rust-the-restless-adversary/1788)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [3 August 2022 16:19 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/rust-the-restless-adversary/1788 "2022-08-03T16:19:02Z")
For more on corrosion engineering and the endless battle against rust, see Johnathan Waldman’s 2015 book Rust (link is to my review). --- ## [Entertaining YouTube Channel](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/entertaining-youtube-channel/992)
**Author:** [@Sussy](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/Sussy)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [7 March 2022 23:42 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/entertaining-youtube-channel/992 "2022-03-07T23:42:08Z")
This is my first post so please mind any errors or incorrect formatting. https://youtube.com/c/StuffMadeHere I’ve recently discovered a popular YouTube channel by a former 3D printer Engineer. I’ve found his videos to … --- ## [Retaining Walls: How They Work—And Fail](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/retaining-walls-how-they-work-and-fail/544)
**Author:** [@johnwalker](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/u/johnwalker)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [10 December 2021 18:39 UTC](https://scanalyst.fourmilab.ch/t/retaining-walls-how-they-work-and-fail/544 "2021-12-10T18:39:13Z")