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 only with a notebook and fresh ideas from quantum mechanics, Chandrasekhar calculated the limit of stellar collapse, now called the Chandrasekhar Limit, which revealed when a star collapses into a black hole. This isn't just a story about equations; it's a story about persistence, quiet genius, and the power of taking a break.

3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode:

1. What the Chandrasekhar Limit is and why it's essential for understanding black holes

2. How quantum mechanics, relativity, and statistical math came together to predict the death of stars

3. Why slowing down and giving your mind time to wander can lead to world-changing discoveries

Resources:

NASA: Black Holes Explained

Biography of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar – NobelPrize.org

A. S. Eddington and Chandrasekhar Controversy – arXiv

Chandrasekhar’s Original 1931 Paper (PDF)

Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h

Let’s Connect!

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https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history

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Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
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Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
On Matters of Consequence from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers

Until next time, carpe diem!

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 simple tips to stay protected. With her favorite motto, “Just say NO to melanoma,” she’ll leave you ready to face the sun smartly.

3 Things Listeners Will Learn:

- The fascinating history of sunblock, from ancient remedies to modern formulations.

- How sunscreen protects the skin and how to use it correctly for maximum safety.

- Eye-opening facts about melanoma risk, survival rates, and prevention through sun protection.

Resource Links

American Cancer Society: Melanoma Skin Cancer Overview

All About Sunscreen: Why You Need It. How it Works for You

Melanoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version

Visit us!

Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com

☕ Support the Show! We are sponsored by Coffee!! PayPal

Let’s Connect!

www.Instagram.com/math.science.history

https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social

https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/

https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history

Enjoying the Podcast?

If you love Math, Science, History, here’s how you can help:
Leave a review – It helps more people discover the show!
Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

Checking out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store

Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
On Matters of Consequence from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers

Until next time, carpe diem!