Points For Tryin'

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com
Sources:
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2021/05/brennans-gyro-monorail.htmlhttps://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co27065/brennans-gyroscopic-mono-rail-car-model-gyroscopic-mono-railcarhttps://www.midnight-trains.com/post/on-board-louis-brennans-gyroscopic-monorailhttps://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/

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com
Sources:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Inflatable_Structures_in_Space/zqQqAAAAMAAJhttps://books.google.com/books?id=PS0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA124https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/science/space/08space.html

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. 

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_Pneumatic_Transithttps://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-beenhttps://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Beach_Pneumatic_Transit
https://gizmodo.com/the-scifi-story-robert-h-goddard-published-100-years-a-1494959842https://web.wpi.edu/Images/CMS/Goddard/goddard-high-speed-train.pdfhttps://patents.google.com/patent/US2511979A/en

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/michaellaine/space-elevator-science-climb-to-the-sky-a-tetheredhttps://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/enhttps://spacenews.com/spinlaunch-conducts-first-test-of-suborbital-accelerator-at-spaceport-america/

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com

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 pointsfortryinchannel@gmail.com

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

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