Smarter Every Day
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Based on 50 recent long-form videos · updated as YouTLDR reads more
What we read
YouTube Shorts is Changing YouTube - Smarter Every Day 266
YouTube Shorts pressure. YouTube is pressuring creators to adopt Shorts, which the host believes will degrade the platform's educational value and community. He argues this is a race to the bottom, competing with TikTok, and urges YouTube to retain its unique voice.
Touring the Vulcan Rocket on the Launch Pad - Smarter Every Day 297
Vulcan rocket's first flight. The Vulcan rocket's first flight is a major step for ULA, replacing aging Delta and Atlas rockets. It features BE4 liquid engines and GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, with a focus on simplified, efficient design and advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing for engine components.
ROBOFORMING: The Future of Metalworking? (I Had NO IDEA This Was Possible) - Smarter Every Day 290
Robots can now shape metal by 'pinching' it with two tools simultaneously, a process called incremental sheet forming or Roboforming. This allows for rapid prototyping and low-volume production of complex shapes, even from difficult alloys like titanium, bypassing the need for expensive molds.
They Call it "The Taco Turn" and it's Genius - Smarter Every Day 315
They call it the 'Taco Turn' because it rotates items like a folded tortilla. It's a conveyor belt mechanism that optimizes warehouse floor space by allowing items to change direction efficiently.
What Everyone Sees... But I Don't (The Johari Window) - Smarter Every Day 314
Johari Window model. The Johari Window is a psychological tool to understand self-awareness and interpersonal relationships. It maps traits into four quadrants: Arena (known to self and others), Facade (known to self, hidden from others), Blind Spot (known to others, hidden from self), and Unknown (unknown to both). Increasing the Arena through disclosure and feedback improves self-knowledge and relationships.
Everything About Disc Golf Aerodynamics - Smarter Every Day 313
aerodynamics and physics. Disc golf curves due to a complex interplay of aerodynamics, spin, and physics. The disk's flight path is dictated by factors like its stability (overstable, stable, understable), release angle (hyzer, flat, anhyzer), and the resulting pitching moment, which shifts due to gyroscopic procession and the center of pressure's movement relative to the center of mass.
Why Do Spinning Things Do This? - Smarter Every Day 312
linear momentum analogy. Gyroscopic procession is explained by thinking of a spinning disk as a collection of tiny balls in linear motion. Applying force to one ball causes a reaction 90 degrees away, mimicking the wobble.
Refueling a NUCLEAR REACTOR - Smarter Every Day 311
Refueling a nuclear reactor. They refuel a nuclear reactor by removing old fuel rods and inserting new ones. The process involves specialized cranes, underwater operations, and strict safety protocols to manage radiation.
Pompeii Changed How I Think About The Roman Empire - Smarter Every Day 310
advanced engineering, harsh realities. Ancient Roman engineering was incredibly advanced, but their society was also deeply flawed, marked by widespread slavery and sexual exploitation. The video highlights sophisticated infrastructure like aqueducts, lead pipes, and street design, alongside the harsh realities of daily life and the normalization of human trafficking.
I Went Into a Nuclear Plant and It Changed How I Think About Radiation - Smarter Every Day 309
ALARA principles. Nuclear plant workers are not afraid of radiation because they understand its four types (alpha, beta, gamma, neutron) and use shielding, distance, and time (ALARA) to manage exposure. They also distinguish radiation from contamination, which is like stepping in dog poop and tracking it everywhere.
I Tried To Make Something In America (The Smarter Scrubber Experiment) - Smarter Every Day 308
US manufacturing challenges. They tried to make a grill scrubber entirely in America, but supply chain issues forced them to source some parts from China and Costa Rica. The experiment highlights the difficulty and expense of domestic manufacturing, even for a simple product.
The Unsolved Mystery of Impact Flashes - Smarter Every Day 307
gas compression. Impact flashes are likely caused by adiabatic compression of gases, not triboluminescence. When materials impact at high speeds, they rapidly compress surrounding gases, heating them to ignition point, creating light. This is especially true for plastics and wood, where the gas compression is more pronounced than material fracture.
I Explored the World's First Nuclear Power Plant (and How It Works) - Smarter Every Day 306
Chain reaction heats water. Nuclear power plants generate heat by splitting uranium-235 atoms, creating a chain reaction. This heat boils water to produce steam, which drives a turbine connected to a generator, producing electricity. The world's first nuclear power plant, EBR-1, used a liquid metal coolant and a unique 'breeding' process to create plutonium.
The Backwards Brain Tractor - Smarter Every Day 305
tractor steers backwards. They fixed the tractor's steering, but reversed the hoses, making it steer backwards. It's a fun demonstration of how quickly the brain adapts to new, counter-intuitive controls.
The Incredibly Unique Triple Barreled Pistol... - Smarter Every Day 304
antique pistols fired in slow motion. They fired antique single, double, and triple-barreled pistols in slow motion. The triple-barreled 'duck foot' pistol fired all barrels, but lock time was so slow it was hard to aim.
Live From Space - Smarter Every Day 303
astrophotography techniques. Astronauts Don Pettit and Matthew Dominick discuss astrophotography techniques, including using neutral density filters on the Cupola windows to balance light and specialized lenses for capturing Earth and celestial events. They also share insights into their mentor-mentee relationship and the challenges of photography in orbit.
Climbing Kilimanjaro - Smarter Every Day 302
Boiling point dropped 11.7°C. Boiling water at different altitudes on Kilimanjaro showed a temperature drop from 92.7°C at 8,170 ft to 81.0°C at 19,341 ft. The experiment confirmed that water boils at lower temperatures at higher elevations due to decreased atmospheric pressure.
How Disc Golf Discs Are Made (MVP Manufacturing Tour) - Smarter Every Day 301
injection molding. Disc golf discs are made using injection molding. Raw plastic pellets are dried, melted, and injected into molds, then cooled and ejected. MVP's signature overmold process involves two separate injection molding steps for the core and the outer rim.
Nature's Incredible ROTATING MOTOR (It’s Electric!) - Smarter Every Day 300
molecular motor. Bacteria use a molecular motor powered by a proton gradient to propel themselves. This motor can reverse direction by flipping a key protein component, allowing bacteria to perform complex movements like chemotaxis.
How Do Cicadas Make Noise? (In Slow Motion) - Smarter Every Day 299
Tymbal vibration. Cicadas make noise by vibrating a thin membrane called the tymbal. This membrane is pulled by muscles and then rapidly released, causing it to buckle and vibrate. The cicada's hollow abdomen acts as a resonance chamber, amplifying the sound, and having two tymbals on opposite sides creates a louder, more complex sound through constructive interference.
I Accidentally Photographed Something Unknown During the Eclipse - Smarter Every Day 298
unknown object, likely satellite. They photographed an unknown object during the eclipse, likely a satellite. The video also details the challenging process of capturing a composite image on a single piece of film.
Why NASA's Next Space Suits are not Pressurized to 14.7psi - Smarter Every Day 296
higher suit pressure. NASA is testing higher suit pressures to reduce the lengthy "pre-breathe" time astronauts need to avoid decompression sickness. The goal is to get closer to the Apollo/Skylab era's 5 psi habitat pressure, allowing for more time on the lunar surface.
April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Here's what you need to know -Smarter Every Day 295
You need to be in the path of totality to see the full solar eclipse. It's an awe-inspiring, emotional experience that changes your perception. The video details partial phase phenomena like temperature changes, crescent shadows, and animal behavior.
I Struck A Match With a Bullet (380,117 frames per second SlowMo) - Smarter Every Day 294
They successfully struck a match with a bullet at 380,000 frames per second. The key was a cardboard "smoke stripper" to divert the blast and precise laser alignment of the matches.
I Was SCARED To Say This To NASA... (But I said it anyway) - Smarter Every Day 293
communication and architectural challenges. NASA's Artemis program faces significant communication and architectural challenges. The speaker argues for simplifying the mission architecture, learning from Apollo's playbook (NASA SP 287), and fostering open negative feedback among engineers to ensure mission success and safety.
This TRANSPARENT ENGINE is Fascinating (How Engines Work) - Smarter Every Day 292
transparent engine demo. A transparent V8 engine shows how internal combustion works. It uses LEDs for spark plugs and a clear casing to reveal pistons, valves, and oil flow. The creator built it from a broken engine using common tools.
We made a Video Game (FISH GAME) - Smarter Every Day 291
Fish Game aquarium simulation. They made a game called Fish Game. It's an aquarium simulation where fish behavior is based on science. The video explores what makes a good video game, using Fish Game and The Oregon Trail as examples.
The Amazing Engineering of Rescue Helicopters - Smarter Every Day 289
Rescue helicopters burn fuel 6x faster when hoisting. Normal flight time is 2-2.5 hours, but hovering to rescue someone drops it to 30 minutes.
The Mind-Blowing Machines that Stamp Millions of Metal Parts - Smarter Every Day 288
metal stamping process. Metal stamping is a complex, high-precision process. It involves custom-designed dies that progressively shape and cut metal coils into finished parts, requiring significant engineering and skilled labor for tool and die making.
Bullets HITTING Bullets in Slow Motion - THE IMPOSSIBLE SHOT - Smarter Every Day 287
Failed to fuse bullets. They failed to fuse bullets together. The closest they got was a perfect momentum transfer, causing the bullets to briefly hang in the air before fragmenting.
This Thing is Crazy Fast - Kodak Part 3- Smarter Every Day 286
Kodak film manufacturing process. Kodak film is slit into 35mm strips, perforated with sprocket holes, and then rolled into cans. The process involves precision machinery operating in darkness, with operators teaching engineers the nuances of the manufacturing line.
MOLTEN GLASS VS Prince Rupert's Drop - Smarter Every Day 285
Prince Rupert's Drop in molten glass. They successfully cast a Prince Rupert's Drop inside molten glass. This required precise temperature control and teamwork to prevent the drop from melting before it could shatter.
How My School Teachers Influenced Me - Smarter Every Day 284
teachers' specific lessons. They thank specific teachers who taught them valuable life lessons. These lessons include listening, patience, work ethic, self-control, attention to detail, communication, and the importance of pursuing engineering.
How the Germans Measured Milliseconds MECHANICALLY - Smarter Every Day 283
mechanical stroboscope with eye. They used a mechanical stroboscope with a patterned drum and a viewer's eye to measure camera shutter speeds to the millisecond. By observing how the rotating pattern appeared through the shutter's opening, technicians could determine if the shutter was opening and closing accurately.
How the Warhead on the AIM-9 Sidewinder Works - Smarter Every Day 282
The AIM-9 Sidewinder's warhead uses an expanding-rod design. Detonating an explosive inside a cylinder of welded rods causes them to scissor outwards, creating a cutting disc to damage aircraft engines.
Why Fuel Injectors are AWESOME (28,000 fps Slow Mo) Part 1 - Smarter Every Day 281
atomized fuel mist. Fuel injectors atomize fuel into a fine mist for efficient combustion. They work by forcing fuel through tiny holes under high pressure, creating a spray pattern crucial for engine performance. The video shows this process in extreme slow motion, highlighting the speed and precision involved.
I Asked An Actual Apollo Engineer to Explain the Saturn 5 Rocket - Smarter Every Day 280
Saturn V instrument unit and stages explained. The Saturn V's instrument unit controlled the entire rocket, from steering to stage separation. An Apollo engineer explains its complex systems, from the F-1 engines' fuel consumption to the J-2 engines' liquid hydrogen challenges and the launch escape system's abort capabilities.
US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Gear - Smarter Every Day 279
Rescue swimmers are aviation survival technicians, a brutally challenging role with a 73% attrition rate. They are trained in emergency medical care, survival gear maintenance, and possess a secret skill: sewing, allowing them to repair flight suits and life-saving equipment.
Everything About Irrigation Pivots (Farmers are Geniuses) - Smarter Every Day 278
Mechanical alignment system. Center pivot irrigation systems use a rotating pipe supported by towers to water fields in a circle. They ensure even water distribution by varying sprinkler nozzle sizes and flow rates, and maintain alignment through a 'follow the leader' mechanical system where each tower controls the one behind it.
Responding to a Capsized Boat with the U.S. Coast Guard - Smarter Every Day 277
Eight rescued from capsized boat. A boat capsized and sank quickly. Eight people were rescued by a good Samaritan vessel before the Coast Guard arrived. The Coast Guard then managed debris cleanup and ensured no one was trapped.
TRACTOR PULLS: It's Not What You Think - Smarter Every Day 276
physics and balance. Tractor pulls are about balancing physics, not just brute force. The sled's weight box shifts forward, lowering its pan into the dirt, creating drag. Drivers steer with brakes and manage engine RPMs to maintain a delicate balance, aiming for a slight wheelie.
How Does Kodak Make Film? (Kodak Factory Tour Part 2 of 3) - Smarter Every Day 275
curtain coating. Kodak applies light-sensitive coatings to film using a precise, multi-layer "curtain coating" process in complete darkness. This involves liquid emulsions flowing in laminar streams from a complex hopper onto a moving plastic base, which is then chilled and dried.
The Mystery of Synchronous Fireflies - Smarter Every Day 274
mystery. Scientists don't know exactly how fireflies synchronize their blinking. The phenomenon starts in one area and spreads, but the mechanism remains a mystery.
Prince Rupert's Drop EXPLODING in Epoxy Resin at 456,522 fps - Smarter Every Day 273
failed to capture ideal fragment distribution. They failed to capture the ideal fragment distribution. The epoxy hardened too quickly or unevenly, preventing the desired 'galaxy' pattern. The experiment revealed shockwaves within the epoxy, but the core goal was not achieved.
Why Jet Boats are AWESOME (U.S. Coast Guard's Workhorse) - Smarter Every Day 272
Jet boat maneuverability. Jet boats use computer-controlled jet drives with redirecting buckets for hyper-maneuverability. They can stop instantly, move sideways, and spin in place by precisely controlling thrust and water flow.
How Does Kodak Make Film? (Kodak Factory Tour Part 1 of 3) - Smarter Every Day 271
PET pellets to film sheet. Kodak makes film base from PET pellets, grinding them into powder, then melting and extruding it into a thin sheet. This sheet is stretched, coated, and wound into rolls.
Why Are there Holes in the James Webb Sunshield? (Explained by My Dad) - Smarter Every Day 270
vent holes. Holes in the sunshield are for venting air trapped during launch. They are staggered so sunlight doesn't directly hit the telescope.
The History of Not Forgotten - Smarter Every Day 269
golden toilet. A golden toilet commemorates a septic tank built for a guard shack that was never constructed. The video details the history of the Not Forgotten orphanage in Iquitos, Peru, and its efforts to break the cycle of child abandonment.
Why This Zig-Zag Coast Guard Search Pattern is Actually Genius - Smarter Every Day 268
The Victor Sierra search pattern is a zig-zagging spiral that accounts for water drift. It maximizes coverage by moving with currents and wind, ensuring a more efficient search for people or objects in the water.
What does a Gong Sound Like when Hit with a 1189mph Baseball? - Smarter Every Day 267
Baseball shatters gong. A baseball traveling at 1189 mph shattered a gong. The impact created a visible bulge and ripped the metal, but the gong remained mostly intact.