Designing Stronger Skateboards (Video 2)

It's pretty common for skateboards to break. So Tim Piumarta makes skateboards that "last a ridiculously long time." He has to understand force and kinetic energy to measurement and algebra in order to make them extremely strong and long-lasting. Updated version.

Designing Sunglasses

Watch as a new model of sunglasses goes from design sketch to finished product.

Designing Toy Cars

As a professional toy car designer for Mattel's Hot Wheels, Larry Wood uses basic math concepts such as fractions, measurement and scale to create accurate replicas of the coolest cars on the road.

Developing a New Tool

Engineering & building a new space launch vehicle sometimes requires a new type of tool, and it's important to fully understand how that tool works before you start manufacturing.

Dr. Abode-Iyamah on Mentorship

Dr. Kingsley Abode-Iyamah shares a moving speech on the importance of mentorship and inclusion in the world of STEM and the significance of strength in helping others and believing in yourself.

Drumming in Fractions

Understanding fractions is an essential skill for playing drums.

Dynamic Water

Water is used all across the globe, helping people everywhere in all types of ways. But utilizing water isn't always as simple as you might think. Learn how water needs to be treated to make sure not a single drop goes to waste.

Earthquake Engineering

When world renowned architect Rafael Vinoli proposed a radical design for the University of California, he set in motion a collaboration between architects and engineers who would use math, physics and innovation to build one of the most unique buildings.

Engineering Faster Bikes

Lighter. Stronger. Faster. That's the goal of Niko Henderson, an engineer for Easton Sports. He uses science, mathematics, engineering and innovative testing to help produce some of the fastest bikes on the road.

Evaluating Hazards for Rocket Propellant

Discover the four main hazards or stimuli that scientists test and evaluate when developing rocket propellant. [The Ares rockets were part of NASA's Constellation Program which ended in 2010. Despite the policy change, this movie shows real-world

Feeding Time

When it comes to the science of animal biology, math is key. For the trainers, veterinarians and biologists taking care of animals, they have to use a variety of math skills to keep all the otters, llamas, lions, parrots and penguins happy campers.

First One in the Ballpark

Determining who is the best athlete on the field is hardly a matter of opinion. Sports reporters stay ahead of the competition by arriving early and keeping a close watch on statistics.

Fish Farming

Good water for drinking and agriculture is becoming a precious commodity on our planet. Meet a couple of agricultural engineers who are making the water go the extra mile by getting two crops from one water source.

Flowers by the Millions

You buy a dozen roses - he buys 3 million! Plus 1,250 sunflowers, 4,000 irises, and 5,000 calla lilies. In fact, he buys more than 100 million flowers a year. Introduce your students to someone who works with really big numbers.

Flying on Mars

To fly around on the surface of Mars, an aircraft would need to travel at speeds of over 250 MPH just to stay aloft in the very thin atmosphere. Take off and landing on the rocky terrain to gather samples would be nearly impossible. What is the solution?

Food in Space

A 1000-day mission and six crew members, each needing four pounds of nutritious and tasty food per day. Variety is a must. That's what Dr. Michele Perchonok and other food science specialists and dieticians at NASA's Johnson Space Center are up against.

Food Prep and Math

Imagine 100 people coming to dinner. For Chef Dennis Burrage that means creating new and different recipes for a unique dining experience. How does he do it? He and his team use math to figure out the right amount of ingredients needed for their recipes.

Forest and Micro-climates

Reforestation - an example of micro-climates.

Forest Rangers

Forest rangers describe some of the techniques used to keep hundreds of thousands of acres of trees healthy. Featured: Arnold Wilson, a forester U.S. Forest Service; Brad Washa, fuel specialist, U.S. Forest Service.

Gems and Jewelry

Lines, curves, polygons and planes--gemstones and jewelry are rich in geometry. A jewelry appraiser, a jewelry historian and a Brazilian gem cutter give your students an inside look at the many facets of this dazzling subject.

Geometry and Structural Engineering

Building a 72-story skyscraper like Trump Tower in New York City is no easy feat. That’s where structural engineers like Ysrael Seinuk come in. This movie explains how shapes are at the foundation of structural engineering.

Growing Bugs

"What? Growing bugs is a real job? And it requires math?!" Organic farmers depend on Jan Dietrick to supply them with good bugs that attack bad bugs. She depends on her knowledge of numbers to get the job done.

Guitar Pickups and Electromagnetism

A guitar pickup is a device that acts as a transducer (a device that receives a signal in the form of one type of energy and converts it to a signal in another form) that captures mechanical vibrations and converts them to an electrical signal.

Horses in the Movies

A Western wouldn’t be a Western without stampedes, stagecoaches, shoot-outs on horseback or simply cowboys riding into town. Meet Dave Rogers, a wrangler for Movin' On Livestock.

Hydroponics

Good farmland is in limited supply. Hydroponics is an additional way of meeting the needs of an expanding population. Show your students a hydroponic "lettuce factory" that produces over 50,000 heads of lettuce every week.

Ice Cream the Italian Way

From having the right ingredients on hand for all 300 flavors to keeping the frozen treats at a frosty -30 degrees, the technicians at Ciao Bella Gelato Company have ice cream making down to a science.

In the Chef’s Kitchen

Whether they're planning bulk orders for next week's menu, measuring the correct amounts of ingredients or figuring out how to scale up a recipe for a catered event, it's clear that math is almost as important a tool as their pots and pans.

Indicator Species

Indicator species are used as an early warning of pollution or degradation in an ecosystem.