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In this episode of Perfecting Motion, our host, Marc Ingram, dives into the "hidden science" of tribology with Jennifer Vail, author of Friction – A Biography, to uncover how this often-overlooked force shapes the modern world. The conversation journeys from the fundamental physics that allow us to walk and drive to the historical milestones where engineering hurdles sparked scientific breakthroughs. We explore the ways humans instinctively "tinker" with friction in daily life, the fascinating presence of tribology in the natural world, and the critical role of lubrication and wear-control in today's most vital industries. Finally, the episode looks toward the future of material science, discussing whether we can ever achieve near-zero friction and why understanding this invisible force is key to solving the next generation of global engineering challenges.

Our guest:

Dr. Jennifer Vail studied tribology at the University of Florida before moving to England as a researcher at the University of Sheffield and Imperial College London. She returned to the United States to start the first dedicated R&D tribology lab for DuPont and then produced educational content for the Khan Academy. Her TED talk on tribology has reached more than 2.5 million people and her book Friction: A Biography was released in early 2026.

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] . Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].

For more information on STLE, please visit https://www.stle.org/ If you have an idea for our podcast, or interested in being a guest, please Email STLE Director of Professional Development Robert Morowczynski at [email protected] .   Also, we love your feedback, please take a minute to provide us with your thoughts at Perfecting Motion Podcast Feedback or Email us at [email protected].