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Building anything from steel, such as buildings or cars, requires an understanding of how the material responds to force. And yet the largest machine in the world that measures force on steel is decades old. This machine measures compression and tension force, up to a million pounds. It was recently restored and refurbished, and could keep measuring force for another 50 years. Listen to hear about this valuable machine.
Story Length: 3:20
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February 19, 2015
3:54
Complex computer algorithms designed to weigh options and make choices are consistently outperforming humans. The algorithms aren’t perfect, though, and many people have a hard time trusting them. Why do we feel this way? Would you trust a computer to make an important decision in your life? Listen to learn more about how algorithms work and why humans often mistrust them.
Read MoreJuly 25, 2014
4:38
The United States is one of only a handful of countries that doesn't use the metric system. Most of the world calculates distances in meters. The creation of the meter in 1792 was based on the need to agree on a uniform system of measurement. But the first time scientists tried to determine the length of a meter, they made some mistakes. Listen to this public radio story to learn why accuracy is necessary.
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