What if your problem isn't IMPOSSIBLE?
It's just Impossibility Engineering.
Impossibility Engineering is a research-driven method for breaking “frame-lock” — the hidden assumptions that make hard problems feel impossible. Use AI-assisted reframing mechanisms to explore alternative paths, constraints, and solution spaces.
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Stuck on a problem that seems to have no solution? Let’s reframe it.
The Four Reframing Mechanisms
Frame-lock occurs when we're trapped by hidden assumptions. Impossibility Engineering is the art of finding and breaking those frames. Here are four ways to do it.
Challenge your core beliefs. What if the exact opposite of what you assume to be true is actually the case?
Identify all constraints on your problem. Which ones are real physical laws, and which are self-imposed or legacy rules?
Look for solutions in completely different fields. Has another industry or discipline already solved a structurally similar problem?
Redefine the boundaries of the problem. Are you trying to optimize a small piece when you should be changing the entire system?
History Doesn't Repeat, But It Rhymes
Throughout history, breakthroughs have often come from reframing problems others deemed impossible.
The Romans considered the Alps an impassable winter barrier. Hannibal, by reframing it as a logistics and engineering challenge, achieved total surprise.
The US Navy believed Pearl Harbor's shallow waters made torpedo attacks impossible. Japan modified torpedoes with wooden fins, turning a safe haven into a target.
An amphibious landing at Inchon was deemed 'impossible' due to extreme tides and terrain. MacArthur saw this as a feature, not a bug—the enemy wouldn't expect it.
Rooted in Research
The Impossibility Engineering framework is grounded in research on cognitive bias, problem framing, and the history of innovation. Early results and methodology were submitted to the 2026 SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing symposium. Publication links will be posted here as they become available.
Read the Paper (Coming Soon)About the Book: Impossible
We're compiling stories of modern "impossibility" for the upcoming book, Impossible: How Hinton Horizon Changes Everything. We invite you to share your story.
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