Points For Tryin'

Points For Tryin' episodes:

• 04.01.2024

  Ep. 16 - When a Tire Company Tried Making Spaceships: The Goodyear Meteor

  It's known for tires and blimps, but there's an alternate timeline where Goodyear is the go-to company if you want to buy a space station or a rocket plane.  Let us take you through that alternate timeline. For the video version,...

  
• 11.14.2022

  Ep. 15 - Frank Tinsley: Futuristic Fever Dreams from the 50’s

  What did the 1950's think the future would be like?  According to illustrator Frank Tinsley, it would be filled with water cannons, space rockets, and giant vegetables. 

  
• 09.04.2022

  Special Episode: Robert Goddard’s ”The High Speed Bet”

  A companion to Episode 14, a full reading of Robert Goddard's short story "The High Speed Bet". For the video version, go to: https://youtu.be/IrYFJU7aUGM If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

  
• 09.04.2022

  Ep. 14 - Vacuum Trains: The Hyperloop from 1904

  Ep. 14 - Vacuum Trains: The Hyperloop from 1904 Airless tunnels?  Check.  Magnetically-levitated trains?  Check.  Promises of insanely-fast travel?  Also check.  But this isn't Elon Musk's Hyperloop, Alfred Beach and Robert Goddard had him beat by over a hundred years. For the...

  
• 04.09.2022

  Ep. 13 - Getting to Space, No Rockets Required? (SpinLaunch & Space Elevators)

  What if you could get to space, WIHOUT using any rockets?  (Or in the case of SpinLaunch, a much smaller rocket than usual?  That's what we're looking at today. For the video version, go to: https://youtu.be/v9booqvNrTQ If you have comments, thoughts, or...

  
• 04.01.2022

  History’s Biggest Failed Invention: The Wheel

  Happy April Everyone! For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/jbuRTyV9htg If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

  
• 02.16.2022

  Ep. 12 - Bacon From a Toaster and Low-Fat Bacon (Reddi Bacon & Sizzlean)

  This episode is all about the internet's favorite food: BACON!  Lean more about the first attempt at instant-bacon, and turkey bacon's older brother. For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/LzOWpgsvdOs If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email...

  
• 12.27.2021

  Ep. 11 - The Canadian Flying Saucer and ”Weather Balloons”

  This episode looks at some UFO-centric ideas.  Like the time a Canadian company designed a flying saucer for the Air Force, and the REAL project behind the Roswell alien story. For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/_vp1emOSqt8 If...

  
• 10.22.2021

  Ep. 10 - The 50-Caliber Mousetrap (and other fan comments)

  This episode we look at your comments and ideas!  Keep them coming at [email protected]   For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/49xAtggmhic   If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

  
• 07.28.2021

  Ep. 9 - Powering Gadgets (and Even Computers) with Water

  This episode looks at some innovative uses for hydro-power: hooking up household gadgets to the sink to power them, and even using water in a computer.   For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/glktE3u23Is   If you have comments, thoughts,...

  
• 05.31.2021

  Ep. 8 - Lincoln's Boat Patent and Einstein's Wing Design

  This episode looks back at the some famous (failed) inventors.  Abraham Lincoln holds a patent for a device to stop boats from running aground, and Albert Einstein once designed his own airplane wing.   For the video version and links to sources...

  
• 05.06.2021

  Ep. 7 - Double Steering Wheels and Self-Parking Cars

  This episode looks back at some attempts to ACTUALLY re-invent the wheel, from alternate ways of steering to parking-assist features.   For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/WCQHCHGZX2w   If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us as [email protected]

  
• 03.21.2021

  Ep. 6 - Flying Tanks and Submarines

  This episode asks the question: "will it fly"? For tanks and submarines, the answer was "sort of". For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/ATdDt-gVids If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us as [email protected]

  
• 02.22.2021

  Ep. 5 - Centrifuge-Assisted Birth and Human Catapults

  This episode features two human-launching patents.  One tried to make childbirth easier using centrifugal force, and the other tried to launch people onto the roof of a building. For the video version and links to sources go to: https://youtu.be/WW0k3gSxmlM If you have...

  
• 12.31.2020

  Ep. 4 - Animal Spies

  This episode features some of the many ways that animals have been used as spies and weapons: pigeon cameras, bat bombs, cat microphones, and pigeon-guided bombs. For the video version and links to sources go to: youtu.be/QZ8a0Q6Wf_M

  
• 11.16.2020

  Ep. 3 - Mail Missiles and Underground Delivery

  This episode features some unconventional ways the post office used to deliver mail: cruise missiles and underground tubes. For the video version and links to sources go to: youtu.be/bAJPmSu4z9k

  
• 11.11.2020

  Ep. 2 - Propeller-Powered Cars and Trains

  This episode features two propeller-powered vehicles, Marcel Leyat's Helica car and the German Shienenzeppelin ("rail zeppelin"). For the video version and links to sources go to: youtu.be/fpxRBHo2cT4

  
• 11.05.2020

  Ep. 1 - 4-Legged Jeep and 6-Legged Tractor

  This episode features the GE Pedipulator (aka the Walking Truck) and the John Deere Timberjack. For the video version and links to sources go to: youtu.be/Hjug5afyPQg