Math! Science! History!

Episode Overview How did a bold Enlightenment vision become the universal language of science and technology? In this episode of Math! Science! History ! , Gabrielle takes you on a journey through the revolutionary origins, global adoption, and modern significance of the metric system. Discover how a chaotic world of local measurements gave way to an elegant, decimal-based system designed to unify...

Episode Overview: In this episode of Math, Science, History , host Gabrielle Birchak explores the extraordinary life and legacy of Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician, codebreaker, and father of artificial intelligence. From cracking the German Enigma code in World War II to laying the theoretical foundations for modern computing, Turing's story is one of genius, perseverance, and tragic inju...

In this episode of Math, Science, History , host Gabrielle Birchak sits down with  Daniel Shiu to discuss his recent article in Cryptologia , "The Influence of Bletchley Park on UK Mathematics." What began as a top-secret wartime codebreaking operation became a powerful incubator for intellectual exchange and mathematical innovation. Dr. Shiu unpacks how the intense collaboration and problem-solvi...

Episode Overview: In this episode of Math, Science, History , we hop into a fictional electric vehicle—Einstein's EV—and cruise through space and time to uncover the fascinating world of relativity. What is the theory of relativity, and how did a curious young patent clerk change our understanding of the universe forever? Using simple language and a fun driving analogy, we break down the core idea...

Episode Overview In this episode of Math, Science, History , host Gabrielle dives deep into the extraordinary—yet often overlooked—life and legacy of Mileva Marić , Albert Einstein's first wife and intellectual companion. Far more than a footnote in Einstein's story, Mileva was a brilliant physicist and mathematician in her own right. Together, the couple studied, collaborated, and may have laid t...

Episode Overview: In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math! Science! History! host Gabrielle Birchak shines a light on the incredible story of Jacoba van den Brande, a seventeenth-century Dutch visionary who dared to imagine a world where women could be educated in mathematics, philosophy, and the sciences. Long before women had access to formal education, Jacoba not only excelled in math herself...

Episode Overview: In this special time-travel episode of Math, Science, History , Gabrielle steps back into the Enlightenment to interview legendary French mathematician and philosopher Pierre-Simon Laplace . Together, they explore the bold ideas behind his famed thought experiment, Laplace's Demon , a being capable of predicting the entire past and future of the universe. But how does that vision...

Episode Overview In this episode of Math, Science, History , host Gabrielle Birchak unpacks the deep connection between math and logic. From the foundations of reasoning to Euclid's cookie-themed proof of infinite primes and the mind-bending Russell's Paradox, you'll explore how logic shapes the very core of mathematics. Whether you're a math lover, teacher, or curious thinker, this episode will c...

🔎 Episode Overview In this episode I explore the fascinating world of Boolean logic , from its 19th-century origins with George Boole to its modern-day applications in artificial intelligence, search engines, and even board games. Learn how simple logical operators like AND, OR, and NOT have shaped computer science—and how you can use these same tools to win at the classic mystery game Clue . Vis...

🎙️ Episode Overview: In this Earth Day special of Math Science History , host Gabrielle explores global solutions to climate change that are both practical and inspiring. From wind-powered Denmark to composting in India, this episode offers easy-to-adopt, science-backed tips from around the world that prove you don't need a big budget to make a big impact. With insights drawn from behavior science...

🔎 Episode Overview Step into the future for a special Earth Day broadcast unlike any other. From rising seas in Bangladesh to the climate-solidarity corridors of Cascadia, this immersive episode of Math, Science, History explores the realities of our changing planet, told as if the year is 2050. You'll hear breaking climate reports from around the globe, fictional interviews with future experts,...

🔎 Episode Overview In this episode of Math, Science, History , we explore one of the most quietly powerful forces in American democracy: gerrymandering . From its origin over 200 years ago to its impact on today's elections, gerrymandering is both a political weapon and a mathematical puzzle. We break down the mathematical principles used to detect gerrymandering, explore real court cases in Sout...

🎧 Episode Overview Have you ever felt like you're stuck in time—waiting for change that never comes? In this episode of Math Science History , Gabrielle dives into the fascinating world of Zeno's Paradoxes , unraveling the ancient Greek puzzles that continue to influence modern science and mathematics. From Achilles and the tortoise to the Quantum Zeno Effect , this episode draws powerful connect...

Welcome to Flashcard Friday on Math Science History ! In today's bite-sized episode, we shift focus, literally and figuratively, onto photography. Whether you're using a smartphone or a professional camera, this quick guide reveals how simple mathematical concepts can dramatically improve your photo compositions. From the rule of thirds to the golden ratio and the exposure triangle, discover how m...

🔎 Episode Overview: In this episode of Math, Science, History , we dive into the fascinating life and work of Gérard Desargues, the 17th-century mathematician, engineer, and architect whose groundbreaking ideas in projective geometry laid the foundation for modern mathematical thought. Despite his contributions, Desargues' work was largely ignored during his lifetime, overshadowed by more well-kn...

FLASHCARDS: Hot and Cold Hacks for Temp Conversion 🔎 Episode Overview In this episode of Flashcard Friday on Math, Science, History , we dive into the fascinating history of temperature measurement and introduce an easy mental trick for converting between Fahrenheit and Celsius. Learn how Gabriel Fahrenheit and Anders Celsius developed their temperature scales, why different countries use differe...

🔎 Episode Overview In this shocking episode of Math! Science! History! , I uncover groundbreaking new research that challenges everything we thought we knew about the shape of our world. Are NASA and world governments hiding the truth? Could the moon landing have been staged? And what about gravity—is it even real? Buckle up as the podcast takes off into the most explosive scientific revelation o...

FLASHCARDS : Agnodice and the Fight for Women in Medicine   Episode Overview: In this powerful episode of Math, Science, History , we journey back to ancient Athens to uncover the legendary story of Agnodice, a woman who risked everything to practice medicine in a world where women weren't even allowed to learn it.  Disguised as a man, trained by one of the greatest physicians of the time, and bel...

🔎 Episode Overview In this episode of Math! Science! History! , I sit down with the brilliant and engaging Kate Ertmann, the mathematician and storyteller behind Kate Loves Math . We discuss her fascinating journey from professional actress to 3D animation entrepreneur to organizational designer—ultimately landing in the world of math communication. Kate shares how math is embedded in everything,...

🔎 Episode Overview In this episode of Math, Science, History , we explore emergency plumbing fixes using simple math and physics principles . Learn quick tricks to stop leaks under your kitchen sink, whether it's a pipe joint, crack, or hole, until a plumber arrives. Discover why these methods work and how you can use everyday materials like rubber, tape, and even coins to minimize water damage....

🔎 Episode Overview In this special Podcasthon Week episode of Math Science History , I sit down with Irene Duah-Kessie , the founder and executive director of Rise In STEM ( RiseinSTEM.ca ). Rise In STEM is a nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Irene shares her inspiring journey, the impact of mentorship...

🔎 Episode Overview In this Flashcards episode of Math! Science! History! , we celebrate the life and legacy of Lillian Baumbach Jacobs , the first female master plumber in the U.S. Just in time for next week's Fix a Leak Week , we explore how Lillian defied societal norms, mastered a trade dominated by men, and became an unexpected icon, even receiving fan mail from soldiers during the Korean War...

🔎 Episode Overview In this episode of Math! Science! History! , we celebrate Women's History Month by highlighting two remarkable transgender figures in STEM: Dr. James Barry and Angela Clayton. Dr. Barry, a pioneering 19th-century surgeon, challenged societal norms to advance medical science and improve healthcare. Angela Clayton, a nuclear physicist, broke barriers in radiation safety and trans...

🔎 Episode Overview In this special Women's History Month episode of Math! Science! History! Flashcards, we explore the significance of women in leadership and why recognizing their contributions is more important than ever. We dive into the historic 1893 Congress of Women at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, where brilliant women like Ellen Swallow Richards, Mary Putnam Jacobi, and Chr...

🔎 Episode Overview In this episode of Math, Science, History , we explore the incredible journey of Marjorie Rice—a homemaker who defied expectations and made a lasting impact on the world of mathematics. With nothing more than curiosity, determination, and a pencil, she discovered new classes of pentagonal tilings that had eluded professional mathematicians for decades. We'll dive into her early...