Everyday life is remarkably engineered; everyday life is under-appreciated. Developing a deeper appreciation for the engineering - and the ingenuity - behind all that is "normal" in our lives requires us to look no further than where we are now. Engineering is fundamentally present in our daily routines, sometimes manifesting itself in the most unexpected ways. So let us take the time now to celebrate the engineering of the everyday, of the ordinary. It makes for a more interesting world.
My every day in Los Angeles begins with sunshine, and I would not have it any other way. But the sun's tireless, life-giving radiation is something of a double-edged sword: too much exposure is positively correlated with higher rates of cataracts and long-term retinal damage. The simple yet ingenious solution: sunglasses. Sunglasses are much more than stylish fashion accessories; they are critical to our ocular health. Their color, design, and UV protection levels are all key elements in determining how well they will shield us from the sun's harmful rays. In examining the engineering behind the ever-popular shades we all know and love, this issue of Illumin hopes to leave you with something substantial to reflect upon.
Vision protection is an important long-term need, one that must be considered over the course of an individual's lifetime. But engineering lies at the core of more pressing needs as well: modern toilets represent an innovative synthesis of form and function. Having lived in countries where clean, effective toilets are more of a dream than a reality, I can appreciate the toilet for the innovative piece of engineering it really is. Early societies - and even some modern ones - have had to deal with the vast problems posed by the sewage and drainage of human waste. We, on the other hand, simply use our toilets to "flush away" this waste, and with it, any appreciation for this amazing bathroom marvel. Illumin looks at the toilet in a whole new light.
And just think of the countless other things we do each day without thinking twice - the actions we perform in "auto-pilot" mode. Morning coffee. Filling the gas tank. Grabbing a quick bite of lunch. Making small purchases really requires no great effort: a small sum of cash will usually do the job. But I must admit, I have oftentimes been too concerned with more "important" matters (like the size of my muffin, the length of the line, etc.) to pay any attention to the wrinkled bills in my hand. Again - engineering overlooked. How much time and effort went into designing all of the security measures on that bill, to ensure that it could not be reproduced? How many engineers were involved in that process, in the minting of millions of coins and bills used nationwide? Every bill and coin is a testament to an incredible history of human innovation, of the evolution from barter to metal to paper currency. Counterfeiting is a key element of this history, and its unique engineering has progressed alongside that of legal money. To fully understand either, we must understand both.
We certainly owe many of our modern comforts to engineering design. A great deal of engineering went into the construction of our rooms, buildings, and homes, and the materials that make these safe and comfortable and structurally sound. Aerogels are one such versatile material, widely present in modern construction, used most commonly as effective thermal insulators in windows and skylights. More recent developments include their integration into biocompatible drug delivery systems, in NASA space gear, in sophisticated tennis rackets, and in super-capacitors.
The engineering of everything around us, sadly overlooked. We should stop overlooking, and start looking more closely - at the extent of engineering, and its profound impact on our lives. Instead of passing through every day unaware and unappreciative, let us make the effort to see and enjoy all that makes everyday life livable, and wonderful. We all have quite a bit to be grateful for, and Thanksgiving is only a month away.
