Essays

How Common Is Multiple Invention?

When Alexander Graham Bell filed a patent for the telephone on February 14th, 1876, he beat competing telephone developer Elisha Gray to the patent…

Jun 5 •

Can We Afford Large-Scale Solar PV?

In the US solar energy has steadily risen in how much of our electricity it supplies.

May 29 •

Japan and the Birth of Modern Shipbuilding

How Japan invented modern shipbuilding, and conquered the shipbuilding industry in the process.

May 22 •

Improving Naval Ship Acquisition

This is a policy proposal written by Austin Vernon and myself for improving US naval shipbuilding.

May 15 •

and

How the US Built 5,000 Ships in WWII

Among the most impressive manufacturing achievements of the US during WWII was the number of ships it produced.

May 7 •

Robot Dexterity Still Seems Hard

You can’t throw a rock these days without hitting someone trying to build humanoid robots.

Apr 24 •

50 Things I’ve Learned Writing Construction Physics

I’ve been writing Construction Physics since September of 2020.

Apr 17 •

Who Wins Nobel Prizes?

The most prestigious scientific achievement is likely the Nobel Prize, which is awarded every year to “those who confer the greatest benefit to mankind…

Mar 26 •

Understanding Solar Energy

The biggest energy story of the last fifteen years is the rise of solar photovoltaics, also known as solar PV or simply solar panels.

Mar 20 •

Will Boom Successfully Build a Supersonic Airliner?

Boom Supersonic is an aerospace startup trying to build a supersonic airliner.

Mar 6 •

Why It's So Hard to Build a Jet Engine

Civilization's toughest technical challenges are those that require extraordinary (and constantly improving) performance to be delivered at a low cost.

Feb 28 •

How Will the Trump Tariffs Affect Construction?

Earlier this month the Trump administration announced hefty 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, along with an additional 10% tariffs on Chinese…

Feb 12 •

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