"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Lateral Earth Pressure
05/25/26
“How does soil exert pressure on underground infrastructure?”
Soil becomes heavier as you go deeper. Each layer below must support all of the layers on top of it. This pressure extends in all directions, including laterally. Any infrastructure in contact with soil underground will experience Lateral Earth Pressure. Engineers must consider lateral earth pressure in project calculations.
Soil Bearing Capacity
05/24/26
“How much load can a soil take before it fails?”
Soil is used to support infrastructure foundations. Built infrastructure can be very heavy, and if it’s too heavy, the soil can fail. The maximum pressure soil can take before it fails, or the Soil Bearing Capacity, is in terms of load force per unit area.
New York City Blue Highways
05/23/26
“How is New York City looking to use its waterways to move freight more sustainably?”
New York City has a problem. Its freight volume is expected to increase by two-thirds by 2045. All of the extra trucks on the road will lead to more congestion and carbon emissions. But what if they didn’t have to go on the roads? The New York City Blue Highways will use the city’s waterways to move microfreight and larger in a more modular, sustainable fashion. The blue highway program can lead to a more clean, sustainable, and equitable city for all.
Navigation Buoys
05/22/26
“How can we use buoys to help with ship navigation?”
Navigating from sea to port and vice versa can be very difficult. One wrong move and you can destroy your ship. To help with safe navigation, government authorities have installed Navigation Buoys. Navigation buoys come in red and green pairs. When you see red buoys on the right and green on the left, you are headed towards port, and vice versa for heading to open waters. Ships can stay safe by staying in between red and green navigation buoys.
Parapets
05/21/26
“What are those upward extensions of walls on buildings that turn into barriers?”
Buildings are built with walls. Sometimes, the walls will extend upward over the roofs to form barriers called Parapets. People use parapets for a variety of purposes, ranging from aesthetics to defenses to ledges.
Filter Feeders
05/20/26
“How can marine creatures eat using filtration?”
Water bodies can contain a vast supply of organic matter and microorganisms. Some marine creatures consume vast amounts of water and then filter it for organic matter and microorganisms to digest. These creatures, called Filter Feeders, are beautiful specimens that also clean the water bodies they inhabit. Filter feeders have a mighty range in size, from gargantuan whales to tiny krill.
Microfreight
05/19/26
“How can we describe parcels and food freight shipments that can be moved in small containers?”
Freight transportation is typically talked about as if it exclusively belongs in large, heavy containers moved by rail, cargo ship, or truck. However, people can move smaller items like parcels and food by ferries and cargo bikes for “last-mile” delivery as Microfreight. Microfreight transportation is much less carbon and infrastructure-intensive. Cities can become more sustainable by switching more freight to microfreight. New York City is pioneering microfreight deployment.
How Oysters Filter Water
05/18/26
“How do oysters filter water?”
What do you think of when someone says the word “oyster”? For many, an image of delicious seafood pops into their mind. But what if that same organism also acts as a natural filter for waterbodies? Oysters feed off phytoplankton, algae, and suspended particles. Often, these items are rich in nitrogen, and oysters can absorb the nitrogen and use it to build their shells and tissues. The process ends with cleaner water and a satisfied oyster. This is How Oysters Filter Water.
Waterlogging
05/17/26
“What happens when soils become completely saturated with water?”
Soils often contain air and water between their solid particles. But when water saturates soil, it pushes out air and creates anaerobic conditions, suffocating plant roots. Waterlogging is a massive problem for agriculture and requires careful monitoring. Waterlogging typically occurs during heavy inundation events like floods or rainstorms.
Isaac's Science Blog 