Zengineering: A Philosophy of Science, Technology, Art & Engineering

Latest Episodes:

071 - On The Complexities and Beauty of The Scientific Method Jan 08, 2019

Show notes

Howdy, Zengineers!

It's time. What time you might ask? Time to talk about the Scientific Method. Yeah. That method! The scientific one. Yikes! This conversations has been a long time coming and we're so happy to finally be talking about it.

The core here is establishing a clear understanding of deductive versus inductive reasoning. We cannot, according to the philosophy of science, deductively prove things in our universe. We can only deductively DISPROVE them. As Albert Einstein famously said (or said something along these lines) "No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right, yet a single experiment can prove me wrong."

Over time experimenting against inductively based reason creates solid foundational knowledge that we expect to consistently describe the behavior of the world around us. If ever an inductive conclusion is deductively proven wrong, then we must adjust that theory and all branching knowledge. This is the scientific method and what makes this incredible technological and philosophical innovation so damn powerful. Dig it? You should, and you will.

This episode is kind of part of a series. They don't really require that you listen in any particular order, but you may want to check these out too:

Episode 044 — On Experts, Algorithms, and Scientific Thinking: https://zengineeringpodcast.com/episode-044-on-experts-algorithms-and-scientific-thinking-7f9e0e8ba128

Episode 046 — On Experiments, and their Limits in Meat Space: https://zengineeringpodcast.com/episode-046-on-experiments-and-their-limits-in-meat-space-25c8902085c0

Episode 048 - On STEAM Education & The Importance of Curiosity: https://zengineeringpodcast.com/episode-048-on-steam-education-and-the-importance-of-curiosity-906bf0790946

We hope you enjoy the convo. Support the show: http://support.zengineeringpodcast.com and visit our website for more episodes: https://zengineeringpodcast.com

Cheers,

Adam & Brian

Show Notes

What is science and why is it so special? (Towards Data Science): https://towardsdatascience.com/what-is-science-and-why-is-it-so-special-79e166e667c0

What exactly is the scientific method and why do so many people get it wrong?: http://theconversation.com/what-exactly-is-the-scientific-method-and-why-do-so-many-people-get-it-wrong-65117

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

070 - with Dave McCarty - On Engineering Buildings and Exploring Fantastic Caves Dec 11, 2018

Show notes

Howdy, Zengineers! This week, we're joined by our good buddy, Dave McCarty, a professional structural engineer and an amateur climber and spelunker. Yes, that's the correct word for one that adventures in caves. Together we explore the life of a licensed engineer, and how that impacts Dave's professional and personal activities. We discuss building codes, engineering accidents, and how being an engineer factors into hobbies. Finally we conclude with one of Brian's favorite stories to retell and embelish, Dave's adventure to the bottom of Ellison's Cave, the deepest, unobstructed underground pit in the continental United States. We hope you enjoy the convo. Support the show: http://support.zengineeringpodcast.com and visit our website for more episodes: https://zengineeringpodcast.com Cheers, Adam & Brian Show Notes Ellison's Cave (wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellison%27s_Cave What is the PE Exam: https://ncees.org/engineering/pe/ How to use climbing ascenders (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LK20hvHQyA How to choose climbing rope: https://www.ems.com/f/ea-how-to-choose-climbing-ropes.html --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

069 - On The Solar System - Part 3 - Asteroids, Giants -- and Pluto Nov 27, 2018

Show notes

Heyo, Zengineers! This week we're wrapping up an epic three part ride through our solar system. In part one we talked about our solar system as a whole, the earth, the moon, and the sun: https://zengineeringpodcast.com/episode-031-on-planets-why-we-explore-and-what-we-know-ba78de7871fa In part two we descended upon the rocky planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars): https://zengineeringpodcast.com/episode-051-on-the-solar-system-part-2-rovers-and-rocky-planets-6a38bd1210ef In this third and final piece, we find our way through the asteroid belt, past Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus before exploring the final reaches of our solar system with everyone's favorite dwarf planet, Pluto and its tens or maybe thousands of friends spiraling around in the icy darkness at the edges of our home space. We hope you enjoy the convo. Support the show: http://support.zengineeringpodcast.com and visit our website for more episodes: https://zengineeringpodcast.com Cheers, Adam & Brian --- Show Notes Gas Giants (wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_giant -- Ice Giants (Wikipedia): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_giant -- Dwarf Planets (Wikipedia): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet -- The Solar System (surprise ... Wikipedia): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System -- Gravitationally Round Objects in our Solar System (Wikipedia): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gravitationally_rounded_objects_of_the_Solar_System -- Live Voyager Mission Status: https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/ -- Why is Pluto no longer a planet?: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33462184 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

068 - with Nat Wyeth - On Fundraising and The Practice of Giving Nov 13, 2018

Show notes

Howdy, Zengineers! This week we're chatting with Nat Wyeth, professional fundraiser, old friend, and all around good guy. We talk about his experience working with small, medium, and large donors over the last decade of fundraising for some exceptional non-profit organizations. Nat shares interesting insights into how the world of fundraising works, how it affects organizations at large, and how you can get involved, making smart decisions with your own gifts. We hope you enjoy the convo. Support the show: http://support.zengineeringpodcast.com and visit our website for more episodes: https://zengineeringpodcast.com Cheers, Adam & Brian --- Show Notes Seed Foundation (where Nat works now): www.seedfoundation.com National Cathedral in Washington DC (where Nat used to work): cathedral.org Research Non-Profits Before Donating: www.charitynavigator.org Tips For Personal Giving: - make a continuing monthly donation so organizations can plan and budget based on consistent cashflow - alternatively, donate at end the of the organizations fiscal year - give to organizations that you have a personal connection with and that you care deeply about (don't overthink your gifts as a small donor) - make a personal connection with a staff member to maximize the humanity of what you're doing --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

067 - with Scott MacMullan - On That Peninsula Life and Running for Office in Annapolis MD Oct 23, 2018

Show notes

Hey there Zengineers! This week we’re chatting with Scott MacMullan. He’s host of The Annapolis Podcast, a lawyer, and recently ran for local office. We chat about the process of running for office, why Scott ran, and talk about a bunch of the unique challenges facing Annapolis as a waterfront town in a race against climate change. Enjoy! Reach us at https://zengineeringpodcast.com for the show notes as always! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

066 - On Stuff - Bikes Oct 09, 2018

Show notes

Hey Zengineers! This week we continue our series “On Stuff” with an episode about bicycles. We break down all the elements that make the bicycles work: speed, torque, gear ratios, wheel size and more. We also talk balance and explain why we love bikes more than cars! As always, show notes and links: https://zengineeringpodcast.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

065 - On Stuff - Corrugated Cardboard Sep 25, 2018

Show notes

Howdy Zengineers! Welcome to our new series, “On Stuff.” This week’s inspiration came from driving through a neighborhood and seeing the same thing on almost every porch…cardboard boxes. We take you through the history of paper, going all the way back to papyrus, and how that led to the invention of single-sheet cardboard, finally to corrugated cardboard, and making cool stuff out of it. As always, check out https://zengineeringpodcast.com for links anything cool we mentioned in the episode. Keep exploring! Adam & Brian --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

064 - with Christophe Jospe of Nori - On Climate Change - Part 4 - Reversing It Sep 11, 2018

Show notes

Howdy Zengineers, We're joined this week by fellow tech entrepreneur and climate change advocate, Christophe Jospe from Nori - https://www.nori.com. What's Nori you might ask? Well, sometimes it's edible seaweed that comes in handy flat packs for snacking, but in this case, it's a Blockchain company working to reverse climate change through innovative means of measurement, verification, and tracking. Christophe is also a host on Nori's podcast called "Reversing Climate Change," which is one of Brian's favorite podcasts - https://nori.com/podcast. Check out even more show notes at https://zengineeringpodcast.com Want to invest in Nori? It's open to the public here: https://republic.co/nori --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

063 - On Learning Guitar and Pretending to Be a Rock Star Aug 21, 2018

Show notes

What's the low down, Zengineers?

We've got a music-eee episode for you this week, which is great, because everyone loves music. Right? Yeah, we thought so. Na Na Naaa Naaa Naaaaaaaa

What we're specifically talking about is learning to play musical instruments. The desire, the drive, the practice, the challenge, the perspective and everything else that comes along with it. Adam and Brian are both hobby musicians with years of experience kinda sorta playing lots of different stuff ... mostly alone in their rooms, occasionally with friends, and every so often out in public with strangers around. Whoa ... I got nervous just writing that.

There's a lot involved in learning to play a musical instrument and it's not just the instrument. Music itself is a science that can take lifetime to truly understand. Your goal can be quick and dirty to play pop songs along with friends or it can be a lifelong pursuit to play for the world and create your own musical magic. However --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

062 - On Terminators and Terminating Things Jul 24, 2018

Show notes

Heyo, Fellow Zegineers!!

I'll be boch!! I mean ... we'll be back ... er, we're back!! Yeah, there we go. We're back with another fun filled ride through canyon of curiosity, the laboratory of lucidity, the couch of confusion? Wait, that last one's not very good. Let me try again.

We're BACK this week with an episode on one of our favorite sci fi characters, The Terminator (we love you Arnold)!! Yay. We've talked a lot about terminators in previous episodes, but always as an aside or a reference. We're a little obsessed. Brian even has recurring dreams about terminators. It's good and bad. We discuss it.

This week's convo dives deep into the history of the terminator on screen, the science fiction lore that we all love, and the modern tech that might make them possible. Or, are they here already? Nobody knows. Or do they. Yeah, we're feeling weird today. Stick with us.

James Cameron's absurdly successful career was rocket propelled by the first Terminator --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zengineering-podcast/support

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