Roland Ennos
Visiting professor in biological sciences and writer focused on biomechanics; author of The Powerful Primate, which examines how controlling energy enabled human civilization.
Best podcasts with Roland Ennos
Ranked by the Snipd community
13 snips
Mar 25, 2026 • 22min
How Energy Built Civilization, and Could Destroy It
Vince Beiser, an award-winning journalist who investigates resource supply chains, and Roland Ennos, a biomechanics scholar who studies how energy shaped human power. They trace energy from early fire and tools to industrial fuels and modern batteries. Topics include agriculture’s role in technology, hidden environmental and social costs of mining and recycling, China's metal dominance, and why repair and consuming less matter.
Oct 9, 2024 • 26min
Why don’t sunflowers fall over?
In this discussion, Stuart Beare, a sunflower grower, shares insights on how sunflowers’ flexible stems enable them to withstand strong winds. Roland Ennos explains the biomechanical principles that keep these tall plants standing. Sigrid Adriaenssen explores how the engineering of sunflowers can inspire skyscraper design, focusing on stability and sustainability. They discuss how nature's adaptations can lead to innovative architecture and efficient design solutions, merging the beauty of flowers with the practicality of urban structures.
