Engineer Guy is a series of videos that efficiently explain how everyday objects are designed and function. Surprised I haven’t posted about it yet.

Arthur Ganson creates kinetic sculptures.
Also a fun to place visit with an exhibition of Ganson’s and other great things to play with is the MIT Museum.

Time is such an amazing, reflective concept.
History of timekeeping devices.
History of navigation.
History of longitude.

[via Disney Research]

Part 1 features the logical progression of engineering mechanisms developed to accomplish The Cycle of Operation:

1. chambering
2. locking
3. firing
4. unlocking
5. extraction
6. ejection
7. cocking
8. feeding

Part 2 and Part 3 build upon this basic model, ending with a fully functional firearm.
If you liked these videos, check out this other one about differential steering.
[via MetaFilter]