Best Gabrielle Birchak Podcasts (2025)

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Haunted Machines: The Engineer Proximity Effect and Pauli's Curse 35:22

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2d ago35:22

35:22

In this Halloween-special episode of Math! Science! History!, your host Gabrielle Birchak explores the strange world where superstition meets science. We dive into why machines sometimes bow to the mere presence of an engineer (the "Engineer Proximity Effect") and how one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century, Wolfgang Pauli, became the su…

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FLASHCARDS! Conserving Our Oceans 9:42

6d ago9:42

9:42

In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle explores how everyday choices can make a real difference for our oceans. From reducing single-use plastics to supporting sustainable seafood and climate-friendly habits, this episode uncovers the math, science, and history behind ocean conservation, and the powerful impact of sm…

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Interview with Gillen D'Arcy Wood - The Wake of HMS Challenger 37:33

9d ago37:33

37:33

In this episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle Birchak speaks with Professor Gillen D'Arcy Wood, author of The Wake of the HMS Challenger: How a Legendary Victorian Voyage Tells the Story of Our Ocean's Decline. Together, they uncover how a nineteenth-century Royal Navy warship transformed into a floating laboratory and gave humanity its fir…

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FLASHCARDS: Science Paw-thorship 10:39

13d ago10:39

10:39

Publish or Purrish: The Cat Who Co-Authored Physics Episode Overview: In this episode of Math! Science! History!, we uncover the remarkable story of F.D.C. Willard, the Siamese cat who became a published co-author in a world-renowned physics journal. What began as a workaround for rigid authorship conventions turned into a beloved legend in science…

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The Wild Ride of Math: From Goats to Rockets 36:15

16d ago36:15

36:15

From tallying goats to launching rockets, this episode takes you on a fast-paced, lighthearted journey through the complete history of mathematics. Inspired by D.E. Smith's The History of Mathematics, this is the espresso version — goats, Greeks, calculus cage matches, infinity, and beyond. 3 Things Listeners Will Learn: How early humans counted go…

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FLASHCARDS! Do Math-Believe Science-Learn History 9:24

21d ago9:24

9:24

In this Flashcard Friday follow-up to Tuesday's interview with Dr. Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai of the Massachusetts Historical Society, we revisit the numbers that changed the course of history. During the Revolutionary War, smallpox was more dangerous to the Continental Army than the British. By comparing mortality rates, George Washington made a bol…

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Washington, Adams, and Smallpox: An MHS Interview 1:02:37

23d ago1:02:37

1:02:37

In this episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle Birchak speaks with Dr. Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai of the Massachusetts Historical Society about the hidden epidemic that shaped the American Revolution. While battles raged, smallpox quietly threatened to destroy the Continental Army and colonial communities. From George Washington's controversia…

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FLASHCARDS FRIDAY: The Physics You Use! 11:56

27d ago11:56

11:56

Think physics only lives in textbooks and science labs? Think again. In this episode, we break down how physics is baked into your everyday life, from the way you walk and sip your coffee to how your phone works and why doors are designed the way they are. No jargon, no equations, just real-world science you already use, without realizing it. If yo…

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Ludwig Boltzmann: Entropy, Atoms, and Mental Health 31:32

1M ago31:32

31:32

What does it cost to carry a brilliant idea? Ludwig Boltzmann gave us the statistical foundations of entropy and the famous S = k log W, yet his life was marked by relentless skepticism, isolation, and personal struggle. In this episode, we weave Boltzmann's story with the modern mental health crisis in academia, where anxiety, depression, and burn…

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FLASHCARDS: Ahmed Zewail - The Scientist Who Captured Molecules in Motion 9:30

1M ago9:30

9:30

What if you could watch molecules move in real time? Nobel Prize-winning chemist Ahmed Zewail made that possible by pioneering femtochemistry, capturing chemical reactions in quadrillionths of a second. In this Flashcards Friday episode, Gabrielle Birchak uncovers Zewail's remarkable journey: from his modest childhood in Egypt, to facing challenges…

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Quasicrystals Explained: From Forbidden Symmetry to Practical Uses 24:36

1M ago24:36

24:36

In this episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle uncovers the fascinating story of quasicrystals, once thought impossible, now proven to exist both in the lab and in meteorites from space. Listeners will learn how quasicrystals challenged centuries of crystallography, the math that explains their strange patterns, and the surprising ways they'…

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FLASHCARDS! Alcuin of York 9:34

1M ago9:34

9:34

In this episode of Math Science History, we journey back to 8th-century England to uncover the story of Alcuin of York, a quiet but powerful force behind the Carolingian Renaissance. From his beginnings in the cathedral school of York to his influential role as Charlemagne's advisor, Alcuin shaped the future of Western education, preserved ancient …

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Science Under Siege 44:37

1M ago44:37

44:37

In this urgent episode of Math! Science! History, Gabrielle Birchak exposes how the United States is dismantling its scientific foundation through lawsuits, defunding, censorship, and intimidation. From shuttered labs to banned books and silenced climate scientists, Gabrielle connects today's attacks on knowledge to historical examples of authorita…

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FLASHCARDS! More than 24 Hours in a Day 11:28

2M ago11:28

11:28

Trains, telegraphs, and global trade turned local solar time into a worldwide system, yet the story didn't stop at 24 neat slices. In this Flashcards! episode, we explore why there are more than 24 time zones, how half-hour and 45-minute offsets came to be, how the International Date Line adds extra zones, why the North Pole has no official time, a…

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The History of Time: From Sundials to Atomic Clocks 24:28

2M ago24:28

24:28

Time feels natural, but the way we measure it is entirely human-made. From Mesopotamian star charts and Egyptian solar calendars to Roman reforms, medieval clock towers, and modern atomic precision, this episode explores how we constructed the framework of time itself. 3 Timeless Takeaways: How ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt laid the foundations for…

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FLASHCARDS! Google Maps, Waze, and the Science of Map Distortion 7:13

2M ago7:13

7:13

We use maps all day, including Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps. We use them without even noticing that every one of them distorts reality. In this episode, Gabrielle explains why flattening a round Earth always bends the truth, how classic projections (like Mercator) live inside today's apps, and why those distortions shape our mental picture of the …

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Marie Tharp and the Secret Mountains Beneath the Sea 21:55

2M ago21:55

21:55

Geologist-cartographer Marie Tharp turned echo-sounding numbers into the first global seafloor maps—revealing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge's rift valley and helping vindicate Alfred Wegener's once-dismissed theory of continental drift. This episode traces Tharp's path from wartime classrooms to world-changing maps, the resistance she faced, and the recog…

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FLASHCARDS! You Could Be a Scientist! Everyday Microscope Moments 5:24

2M ago5:24

5:24

In this Flashcards Friday, Gabrielle shows how you already think like a scientist. Using three simple ideas from microscopy: magnification, illumination, and focus, she connects everyday phone habits (zooming, finding good light, tapping to focus) to centuries of scientific practice. Three Flashcards Magnification: How "zooming in" reveals hidden d…

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REPOST: A Brief History of the Microscope 18:16

2M ago18:16

18:16

First crafted in the late 16th century, the microscope forever changed science by revealing worlds hidden from the naked eye. In this special repost from 2020, Gabrielle takes you through centuries of innovation—from glass lenses to high-tech marvels—and explores how this transformative tool shaped medicine, biology, and our understanding of life i…

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FLASHCARDS! Tourism: When History and Star Trek Intertwine 9:52

3M ago9:52

9:52

In this episode of Math! Science! History!, we explore the ethics of exploration through three lenses: the protests over modern overtourism, the historical insights of early scientific explorers, and the fictional moral compass of Star Trek's Prime Directive. From 18th-century expeditions to the 23rd-century starship Enterprise, we examine how curi…

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REPOST: Quantum Computing & Brahmagupta: From Zero to Qubits 12:27

3M ago12:27

12:27

This episode bridges the ancient and the cutting-edge, tracing the legacy of 7th-century mathematician Brahmagupta, who formalized the concept of zero, to today's quantum computing revolution. We explore how his foundational work in numerical systems underpins binary logic and, ultimately, the qubits powering modern quantum processors like Microsof…

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FLASHCARDS! Brunelleschi to Beams: Construction Sounds Thru Time 9:57

3M ago9:57

9:57

Construction noise outside Gabrielle's studio becomes the perfect backdrop to this week's Flashcard Friday episode. From ancient geometry and Pythagorean ropes to Brunelleschi's Renaissance dome and today's AI-assisted architecture, this episode explores how math and science have always been at the heart of building human civilization. Whether it's…

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REPOST: How "Scientist" Became a Word 14:35

3M ago14:35

14:35

In this episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle explores the unexpected origin story of the word scientist. It all started with Mary Somerville's 1834 book On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences, which sparked a humorous yet historic review by William Whewell. From ridicule to resistance, the term evolved amid fierce linguistic debate, pub…

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FLASHCARDS! Avocados + Avogadro's Number = A Delicious Molement 9:57

3M ago9:57

9:57

On this Flashcards Friday episode, Gabrielle serves up a tasty blend of chemistry, humor, and history. Coinciding with National Avocado Day, this episode dives into the life and legacy of Amedeo Avogadro, the 19th-century chemist behind the foundational theorem of gas volumes, and how his name unexpectedly became linked with everyone's favorite gre…

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Lise Meitner's Walk that Changed the World 33:15

3M ago33:15

33:15

Lise Meitner changed the world, and the world nearly forgot her. In this episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle Birchak explores Meitner's brilliant mind, her escape from Nazi Germany, her critical role in discovering nuclear fission, and why the Nobel Committee turned a blind eye. Join us as we honor a scientist who refused to let science b…

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FLASHCARDS! Alfred Russel Wallace: The Forgotten Co-Founder of Evolution 6:24

3M ago6:24

6:24

In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math, Science, History, host Gabrielle Birchak takes you into the steamy jungles of the 19th-century Malay Archipelago, where a fever-stricken explorer had a revelation that would change biology forever. Meet Alfred Russel Wallace, the naturalist whose fieldwork and tropical travels led to the theory of natural s…

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The Truth Behind the Loch Ness Monster: History Daily Podcast Swap 19:14

3M ago19:14

19:14

In this special podcast swap episode, Math Science History teams up with History Daily to bring you one of the most enduring mysteries in modern folklore — the legend of the Loch Ness Monster. From ancient Scottish lore to one of the most infamous photographic hoaxes of the 20th century, this captivating narrative blends history, myth, and media ma…

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FLASHCARDS! Why Your Suitcase Is a Math Problem 4:50

3M ago4:50

4:50

In this episode of Flashcards Friday at Math! Science! History! Gabrielle Birchak unzips the fascinating world of packing problems, the mathematical puzzles behind fitting everything into your suitcase. Discover how optimization theory and combinatorial math are at play every time you pack, ship, or store something efficiently. Whether you're prepp…

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Peter Higgs and the Hidden Force That Shapes the Universe 23:35

4M ago23:35

23:35

In this episode of Math! Science! History! we take a walk through the Scottish Highlands with Peter Higgs, figuratively and historically, to uncover the quiet moment in 1964 when a simple hike sparked a revolutionary idea in physics. Discover how the weak nuclear force and electromagnetism are deeply connected by symmetry, why mass was such a myste…

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FLASHCARDS! Why Airline Prices Change After You Search 8:42

4M ago8:42

8:42

✈️ Episode Overview Have you ever searched for a flight, left the tab open, and then gasped when the price jumped just a few hours later? In this Flashcards Friday episode of Math! Science! History!, Gabrielle Birchak explores the mystery behind fluctuating airline prices—and reveals that it's not magic, but a powerful blend of mathematics, algorit…

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REPOST Hipparchus: Mapping the Stars, Measuring the Earth 15:45

4M ago15:45

15:45

Long before telescopes and satellites, Hipparchus of Nicaea looked to the skies and changed the course of scientific history. In this fascinating episode of Math Science History, Gabrielle revisits the life and legacy of the ancient astronomer whose innovations in trigonometry, geography, and star mapping still resonate today. From discovering axia…

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FLASHCARDS: How a Teenager Discovered the Physics of Black Holes-Chandrasekhar's Limit Explained 9:53

4M ago9:53

9:53

Episode Overview: What do black holes, a teenage genius, and a long ocean voyage have in common? In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math, Science, History, Gabrielle tells the incredible story of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who, at just 19 years old, sailed from India to England and made a discovery that would transform astrophysics forever. Armed…

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Black Holes from Theory to Reality 26:24

4M ago26:24

26:24

Episode Overview Once dismissed as mathematical absurdities, black holes are now recognized as real, powerful features of our universe—cosmic wells where space, time, and even light collapse. In this episode of Math! Science! History!, we explore the astonishing story of how black holes evolved from a rejected theory to an accepted reality. From Ei…

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FLASHCARDS FRIDAY! Just say NO to Melanoma 8:25

4M ago8:25

8:25

In this Flashcard Friday episode, Gabrielle dives into the surprising history and science of sunblock. From ancient Egypt's jasmine oils to modern SPF 50 sprays, discover how sunscreen evolved and why it's one of the best defenses against deadly melanoma. Gabrielle shares the statistics on skin cancer, explains how sunblock works, and gives you sim…

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REPOST: Pascal's Higher Power 11:20

4M ago11:20

11:20

Episode Overview In this special re-release, we revisit the life and mind of Blaise Pascal, a mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and theologian who left a lasting impact on multiple disciplines. From his early genius in geometry to his pioneering work in probability theory, Pascal was a thinker who never stopped exploring the boundari…

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FLASHCARDS FRIDAY! Charles Darwin: The Lost Boy 8:04

4M ago8:04

8:04

In this Flashcard Fridays episode of Math! Science! History! Gabrielle Birchak takes listeners on a journey aboard the HMS Beagle with a young, seasick Charles Darwin. This wasn't just a travel story, it was a five-year working holiday that would ultimately change the course of science. Through field observations, curiosity, and a bit of chaos, Dar…

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Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance Genius Unmasked 29:03

5M ago29:03

29:03

Leonardo da Vinci is often remembered for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper—but he was so much more than a painter. In this episode, we uncover the Renaissance icon's groundbreaking work in engineering, anatomy, and invention, as well as explore the quieter truths of his personal identity. We ask a powerful question: What might the world look like …

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FLASHCARDS FRIDAYS! Ancient Vacations 7:47

5M ago7:47

7:47

Episode Overview: Did people in antiquity ever go on vacation? The short answer is yes—and the long answer is a fascinating journey through Roman villas, Greek festivals, Byzantine retreats, Tang dynasty poetry, and sacred pilgrimages. In this Flashcard Friday episode, Gabrielle Birchak uncovers how the privileged, the pious, and the poetic found w…

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Queer Nature: A Scientific Perspective 16:40

5M ago16:40

16:40

In this special Pride Month episode, Gabrielle explores the fascinating world of queerness in nature. From same-sex penguin pairs in New York to gender-changing clownfish in coral reefs, nature has always been more diverse, adaptable, and surprising than human categories suggest. Drawing on over 600 years of scientific observation, this episode tak…

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FLASHCARDS! Pride Month: Facts speak louder than lies 9:59

5M ago9:59

9:59

Episode Overview: In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math! Science! History!TM Gabrielle breaks down the powerful numbers behind the misinformation and legislative attacks targeting LGBTQ+ and especially transgender communities in the United States. With over 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across 49 states in 2023 alone, it's time to ask: What d…

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How the Ancient Maya Invented Zero and Decoded the Cosmos 23:11

5M ago23:11

23:11

Episode Overview: Long before Europe adopted the concept of zero, the ancient Maya had already created one of the most sophisticated mathematical systems in the world. In this episode of Math Science History, host Gabrielle Birkjak uncovers the secrets of Mayan mathematics, from the elegance of their base-20 number system, to their revolutionary us…

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FLASHCARDS: Math in Your Head: Metric Conversions Without the Math 8:06

5M ago8:06

8:06

Ever find yourself squinting at a metric label, trying to figure out how much a liter is in cups—or how heavy your suitcase is in pounds? In this episode of Math! Science! History!, host Gabrielle Birchak shares fast, intuitive tricks to help you convert metric units, without numbers, calculators, or charts. Through rhythm, storytelling, and everyd…

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A Measure for All People: The History of Metrics 23:11

5M ago23:11

23:11

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…

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FLASHCARDS: The Alan Turing Story: Cracking Codes, Facing Injustice 9:18

5M ago9:18

9:18

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 stor…

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Daniel Shiu on The Mathematical Legacy of Bletchley Park 45:44

5M ago45:44

45:44

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 …

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The Theory of Relativity in less than 10 minutes 9:57

6M ago9:57

9:57

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…

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Einstein's Equal: The Genius of Mileva Marić 30:50

6M ago30:50

30:50

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 c…

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Jacoba van den Brande: Pioneer of Women's Education 7:56

6M ago7:56

7:56

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 ed…

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Laplace's Demon: An Interview Through Time 18:19

6M ago18:19

18:19

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 f…

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FLASHCARDS: Math, Logic, and Paradoxes Explained 7:28

6M ago7:28

7:28

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,…