Points For Tryin'

By pointsfortryin

A part-comedy, part-educational podcast where we look back on the wonderful and weird world of failed inventions.... more

· Comedy

5

44 ratings

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FAQs about Points For Tryin':

How many episodes does Points For Tryin' have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.

Points For Tryin' episodes:

August 06, 2024 Ep. 17 - Gyroscopic Monorails and Self-Balancing Cars
You know what they say: two rails are better than one. But is that actually true? Today, we take a spin through the world of gyroscopically-stabilized trains.
For the video version, go to: https://youtu.be/Uam50UWSvzc

If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

Sources:
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2021/05/brennans-gyro-monorail.html
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co27065/brennans-gyroscopic-mono-rail-car-model-gyroscopic-mono-railcar
https://www.midnight-trains.com/post/on-board-louis-brennans-gyroscopic-monorail
https://web.archive.org/web/20221208184234/https://www.monocab-owl.de/das-projekt/
https://hackaday.com/2019/12/05/retrotechtacular-the-gyro-x/
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/the-future-is-now-so-where-is-my-gyro-car/
https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/collection/cars/item/gyro-x-1967/
...more
25min
April 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, go to: https://youtu.be/F8NPMr15IQo

If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]

Sources:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Inflatable_Structures_in_Space/zqQqAAAAMAAJ
https://books.google.com/books?id=PS0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA124
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/science/space/08space.html
...more
28min
November 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.
...more
27min
September 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]
...more
15min
September 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 video version, go to: https://youtu.be/zXYJ2XtqOyM

If you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_Pneumatic_Transit
https://untappedcities.com/2020/04/20/nycs-first-subway-a-one-block-pneumatic-tunnel-below-broadway/
https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/beach-pneumatic-transit-the-1870-subway-that-could-have-been
https://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Beach_Pneumatic_Transit
https://gizmodo.com/the-scifi-story-robert-h-goddard-published-100-years-a-1494959842
https://web.wpi.edu/Images/CMS/Goddard/goddard-high-speed-train.pdf
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2511979A/en
...more
21min
April 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 suggestions, email us at [email protected]
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaellaine/space-elevator-science-climb-to-the-sky-a-tethered
https://www.liftport.com/
https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast07sep_1/
https://space.nss.org/wp-content/uploads/2000-Space-Elevator-NASA-CP210429.pdf
https://www.spinlaunch.com/
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2019164472A1/en
https://spacenews.com/spinlaunch-conducts-first-test-of-suborbital-accelerator-at-spaceport-america/
...more
25min
April 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]
...more
3min
February 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 us at [email protected]
...more
22min
December 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 you have comments, thoughts, or suggestions, email us at [email protected]
...more
20min
October 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]
...more
22min

FAQs about Points For Tryin':

How many episodes does Points For Tryin' have?

The podcast currently has 19 episodes available.