Welcome to the Community Insights blog!

This blog features posts from and about the EngX community. Want to contribute? Read our blogging guide to help you get started.

  • Hot Tea, Cold Science: The invention that keeps things just right

    Let’s rewind to 20 September 1842 . That’s the day Sir James Dewar was born, a name that might not immediately ring bells unless you’ve spent time in cryogenics or have a fondness for keeping your tea hot during long site visits. But Dewar’s contribution to engineering is quietly profound. He’s the mind behind the vacuum flask, a deceptively simple invention that’s had a surprisingly wide impact. The Challenge of Storing Cold Liquids Dewar wasn’t trying to invent a lunchbox accessory. His work was rooted in experimental physics, particularly in the study of gases at extremely low temperatures. In the late 19th century, he was attempting to liquefy hydrogen, a task that required storing it at temperatures close to absolute zero. The problem? As soon as you collect the liquid, it starts warming…

  • Spanning the Firth: The Story of the Forth Bridge

    If you’ve ever crossed the Firth of Forth in Scotland, chances are you’ve marvelled at the elegant sweep of the Forth Bridge. Opened on 28 August 1964, this suspension bridge was a new way to get from Edinburgh to Fife, and a bold statement of engineering ambition and ingenuity. At the time of its completion, it was the longest suspension bridge outside the United States, stretching an impressive 2.5 kilometres across the estuary. But its significance goes far beyond its size. The Forth Bridge marked a turning point in British infrastructure, connecting communities, boosting commerce, and showcasing the power of modern engineering. A Bridge Born of Necessity Before the bridge, crossing the Firth of Forth meant relying on a centuries-old ferry service. While scenic, the ferry was slow…

    EngX Editorial
    EngX Editorial

  • What If IBM Hadn’t Opened Its Architecture?

    Forty-four years ago today, on August 12 1981, something quietly revolutionary happened. IBM, the tech giant known for its hulking mainframes and corporate computing systems, stepped into a new arena and launched the IBM 5150 Personal Computer. It wasn’t flashy. It didn’t come with a slick marketing campaign. But it changed everything. If you were around in the early '80s, or have ever opened up a PC case, you’ll appreciate just how bold this move was. IBM didn’t build the 5150 from scratch using proprietary parts. Instead, they did something almost unthinkable at the time: they used off-the-shelf components, partnered with Microsoft for the operating system (yes, that’s where MS-DOS got its big break), and published the technical specs so that other manufacturers could build compatible machines…

  • The Day Music Went Mobile: The Engineering Behind the Sony Walkman

    On the 1st July 1979, a small, unassuming device quietly hit the shelves in Japan—and changed the way the world listened to music forever. The Sony Walkman, a portable cassette player no larger than a paperback novel, was launched to a sceptical market. But within months, it had become a cultural phenomenon and a landmark in consumer electronics engineering. The Sony Walkman TPS-L2, the world’s first truly portable stereo cassette player, was a marvel of miniaturised engineering and user-focused design. It wasn’t just a product—it was a revolution in both technology and culture. The Birth of a Sonic Icon The story of the Walkman begins not in a lab, but on a long-haul flight. Sony co-founder Masaru Ibuka wanted a way to listen to music on his frequent business trips without lugging around…

  • Celebrating Verena Holmes: Trailblazer, Inventor, Engineer

    Today, 23rd of June, on what would have been her 136th birthday, we celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Verena Winifred Holmes —a pioneering English mechanical engineer, inventor, and passionate advocate for women in engineering. A Woman Ahead of Her Time Born in Ashford, Kent, Verena Holmes grew up in a world where engineering was considered a man’s domain. But that didn’t stop her. From a young age, she was curious about how things worked—often dismantling her toys just to see what was inside. Her engineering journey began during the First World War, when she joined the Integral Propeller Company in Hendon, building wooden aircraft propellers. She studied at night while working full-time, eventually earning a BSc in Engineering from Loughborough Engineering College in 1922—a…

  • George Stephenson: The Man Who Put Britain on Track

    Today marks 244 years since the birth of one of Britain’s greatest engineering pioneers — George Stephenson, born on 9th June 1781 in Wylam, Northumberland. Known affectionately as the "Father of the Railways", Stephenson’s legacy continues to shape the way we travel, connect, and innovate. From Humble Beginnings to Industrial Icon George Stephenson’s story is the stuff of legend. Born into a working-class family, he had little formal education and worked as a colliery engineman. But his curiosity and determination led him to teach himself reading, writing, and arithmetic — all while working long hours. His breakthrough came with the invention of the "Blücher" locomotive in 1814, but it was his work on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, opened in 1830, that truly changed the world…

  • The Historic Opening of the Rigi Bahnen: Europe's First Rack Railway

    On the 21st of May, 1871, a significant milestone in European rail history was achieved with the inauguration of the Rigi Bahnen on Mount Rigi, Switzerland. This event marked the opening of the first rack railway in Europe, a pioneering feat that not only revolutionised mountain travel but also set the stage for the development of alpine tourism. The Visionary Behind the Project The Rigi Bahnen was the brainchild of Swiss engineer Niklaus Riggenbach. Riggenbach, who had previously patented a rack and pinion system in France in 1863, envisioned a railway that could conquer the steep inclines of Mount Rigi. His innovative system involved toothed racks set between the railway tracks, which interlocked with cogwheels fitted under the locomotives. This design allowed trains to safely and efficiently…

  • Ransomware in Healthcare: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity

    On 12 May 2017, the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom faced one of the most significant cybersecurity threats in its history. The ransomware attack, known as WannaCry, disrupted services across the NHS, affecting hospitals, GP surgeries, and other healthcare facilities. The Attack: What Happened? WannaCry is a type of ransomware that encrypts files on infected computers and demands a ransom in Bitcoin to unlock them. The attack began on 12th May 2017 and quickly spread across the globe, affecting hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries. The NHS was particularly hard hit, with around 80 out of 236 trusts affected, along with numerous GP practices and other healthcare providers. The ransomware exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, known as EternalBlue…

Community Rules & Guidelines