How NASA Reinvented The Wheel



NASA have made a wheel capable of withstanding tough Martian terrain, but just how indestructible is it? Head to https://hensonshaving.com/veritasium and enter code ‘Veritasium’ for 100 free blades with the purchase of a razor. Make sure to add both the razor and the blades to your cart for the code to take effect.

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A huge thanks to everyone at NASA Glenn Research Center for having us at the SLOPE Lab, showing their work on this indestructible tire, and helping with the science and animation.
A huge thanks to everyone at Smart Tire Co for showing us around their facility, teaching us about nitinol, and letting us flatten their tires.

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References:

Steel Rod Footage – https://ve42.co/SteelRod

H. Föll. 8.4.1 – Martensite. University of Kiel, Faculty of Engineering – https://ve42.co/Foell

Bhattacharya, K. (1998). Theory of martensitic microstructure and the shape-memory effect – https://ve42.co/Bhattacharya1998

Bhattacharya, K. (2003). Microstructure of martensite: why it forms and how it gives rise to the shape-memory effect (Vol. 2). Oxford University Press. – https://ve42.co/MartensiteBook

Shaw, J. A. (2008). Tips and tricks for characterizing shape memory alloy wire: part 1—differential scanning calorimetry and basic phenomena. Experimental Techniques – https://ve42.co/Shaw2008

Buehler, W. J., Gilfrich, J. V., & Wiley, R. C. (1963). Effect of low‐temperature phase changes on the mechanical properties of alloys near composition TiNi. Journal of applied physics, 34(5), 1475-1477.

Kauffman, G. B., & Mayo, I. (1997). The story of nitinol: the serendipitous discovery of the memory metal and its applications. The chemical educator, 2, 1-21. – https://ve42.co/Kauffman1997

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Special thanks to our Patreon supporters:
Emil Abu Milad, Tj Steyn, meg noah, Bernard McGee, KeyWestr, Amadeo Bee, TTST, Balkrishna Heroor, John H. Austin, Jr., john kiehl, Anton Ragin, Benedikt Heinen, Diffbot, Gnare, Dave Kircher, Burt Humburg, Blake Byers, Evgeny Skvortsov, Meekay, Bill Linder, Paul Peijzel, Josh Hibschman, Mac Malkawi, Juan Benet, Ubiquity Ventures, Richard Sundvall, Lee Redden, Stephen Wilcox, Marinus Kuivenhoven, Michael Krugman, Cy ‘kkm’ K’Nelson, Sam Lutfi.

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Written by Derek Muller, Katie Barnshaw, & Emily Zhang
Edited by Trenton Oliver
Animated by Mike Radjabov & Ivy Tello
Coordinated by Emily Zhang
Filmed by Derek Muller, Emily Zhang & Raquel Nuno
Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images & Pond5
Music from Epidemic Sound
Produced by Derek Muller, Petr Lebedev, & Emily Zhang
Thumbnail by Ignat Berbeci

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43 thoughts on “How NASA Reinvented The Wheel”

  1. 36km on the moon was very impressive I didn't know they drove as much, do it by bicycle and if not enough by foot and then imagine that on another "planet"

    Reply
  2. 23:19 : But have we enough titanium and Nickel to do all of these ? (But the positive point it that is economize caoutchouc/petrol and other mater, we just need to find the good proportion)

    Reply
  3. I felt HIGHLY suspicious at 12:46 when you spent only the least visible frames proving the weight lifting and rock splitting phenomena. It came across in the moment like salesmanship, like using very selective success to oversell a product. Anyways, I trust your stuff generally so there may be reasonable explanation.

    Reply
  4. "This replaces all the hydraulics"
    You hear that? We got mechanical muscles. You know what mechanic muscles mean? Simple mech legs

    IT'S MECHA TIME

    Reply
  5. Hey Derek Muller, remember when you said Elon Musk was "better" than us? Why have you since shut your stupid mouth about him if that was true? You kept your yap quiet about musk for at least 5 years so whats going on, bro?

    Reply
  6. Why weren't the improved moon rover style wheels used on any of the mars rovers? Nitinol is not that new and Perseverence was rather recent but it still uses the same style of wheels as Spirit.

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  7. So when can I get these flat-proof tires for my bike that last a lifetime and can be insured against theft? Because no matter their price they WILL be stolen in 3… 2…. Wait, wheres my bike?!

    Reply
  8. I do not like your ad for the shaver, because it is a scam. I have a Fusion 5 shaver. That is also in aluminium so it will last for the rest of my life. For my shaver, 8 knives lasts for 2 years. The shaver in the ad needs 100 knives for every 2 years. It says so on their webpage. So the shaver in your ad has bad quality and is bad for the enviroment. My dad has a plastic shaver, it has lasted for 40 years so far. No need for your scam you little scammer.

    Reply

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