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On with Kara Swisher Podcast
Friction Matters: Resistance Is a Feature, Not a Bug

Friction Matters: Resistance Is a Feature, Not a Bug

On with Kara Swisher vor 7 Monaten

0:00

53:53

Friction gets an bad rap, according Jennifer Vail. As a
tribologist, she studies interacting surfaces in relative motion,
and she’s worked on everything from aerospace materials to syringes
to dog food. Her new book, Friction: A Biography, explores the
science of rubbing surfaces, the history of lubrication, and why
“frictionless” is a dangerous fantasy. Kara and Jennifer
unpack everything from Roman chariot “pit stops” to ball bearings
and how tiny tweaks in texture and lubricant chemistry can save
massive amounts of energy. They end with a discussion of behavioral
friction (the kind tech companies want to get rid of) and Kara
makes the case for “good friction” in tech, work, and
relationships. Questions? Comments? Email us at
on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads,
and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices.
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