Épisodes

  • FLASHCARDS! Puzzle Brain

    FLASHCARDS! Puzzle Brain
    Dec 12 2025
    If you enjoyed today's Flashcard Friday deep dive, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with a fellow puzzle lover. And don't forget, this last Tuesday was the big Holiday Time-Travel Puzzle Episode, so keep grab your notebook and check it out for prizes and a gift card! You can listen to it here: https://mathsciencehistory.libsyn.com/its-the-math-science-history-holiday-puzzle-2025 Episode Overview Solving puzzles feels good, but why? In this Flashcard Friday episode, Gabrielle explores the neuroscience behind puzzles, how your brain lights up during problem-solving, and how you can train yourself to love puzzles even more. From dopamine pathways to the power of short, consistent practice, this episode uncovers the brain's secret recipe for curiosity, insight, and reward. Three Things You'll Learn: "Mind Games, Literally" What Parts of Your Brain Activate When You Solve Puzzles - Learn how the prefrontal cortex, parietal lobes, hippocampus, default mode network, and reward circuitry work together every time you crack a clue.Why Puzzle Solving Triggers a Dopamine Boost - Discover how dopamine fuels motivation, anticipation, and the satisfaction of every "Aha!" moment.How to Train Your Brain to Love Puzzles - Explore evidence-based strategies to build puzzle habits, increase cognitive resilience, and reinforce your natural problem-solving instincts. Resources Aarts, Esther, et al. "Dopamine and the Cognitive Motivation to Exert Mental Effort." Journal of Neuroscience, 2012.Beeman, Mark, and John Kounios. "The Cognitive Neuroscience of Insight." Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2004.Dehaene, Stanislas, et al. "Sources of Mathematical Thinking." Science, 1999.Yin, Henry H., and Bernard Balleine. "Habit Formation and the Basal Ganglia." Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2006. 🔗 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!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history Mastodon: https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz YouTube: Math! Science! History! - YouTube Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? 🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com Do you want the ad-free podcast?! Visit us at Supercast at www.MathScienceHistory.Supercast.com - pick a tier, and immerse yourself without the ads! ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show! Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform Check out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers Until next time, carpe diem!
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    12 min
  • It's the MATH! SCIENCE! HISTORY! Holiday Puzzle 2025!

    It's the MATH! SCIENCE! HISTORY! Holiday Puzzle 2025!
    Dec 9 2025
    It's finally here. The annual math science history holiday puzzle. It's a long one but it is a fun one. When you solve it be sure to send all of your work, handwritten, and your answers too hello at math sciencehistory.com by midnight on December 16th. Be in the top three to get it in first and correct and you will have a chance to win some prizes. All of those in the top three can choose to be interviewed on the podcast to tell us all about their love for math, science and history! First place wins a $25 Amazon gift card and a choice of a Math! Science! History! baseball cap or our latest "Powered by Curiosity" t-shirt Second place wins a "Powered by Curiosity" t-shit Third place wins our newest computer sticker "Because Time Machines Don't Exist Yet!" You can find the transcripts at mathsciencehistory.com – just click on the link The Transcriptorium There, you will find the equations and explanations for each of the puzzles! 📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h 🌍 Let's Connect!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history Mastodon: https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz YouTube: Math! Science! History! - YouTube Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show! Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform Check out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers Sci fi transition – Rescopic Sound – from Pixabay Futuristic atmo Hangar by Samuel F. Johanns from Pixabay Air transition Sound Effect by storegraphic from Pixabay The Stella Princess Can Dance Waltz Prince Edward the Twin by The-Vampires-Monster Soundtrack from Pixabay Whoosh Sound Effect by floraphonic from Pixabay Power Up Sparkle by floraphonic from Pixabay Ground Impact SFX by universefield from Pixabay Punch a rock SFX by LordSonny from Pixabay Bubble FX by Jurij from Pixabay Landing Spacecraft by Fronbondi_Skegs from Pixabay Until next time, carpe diem!
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    51 min
  • FLASHCARDS! Understanding Light Bulbs: How to Choose the Right One

    FLASHCARDS! Understanding Light Bulbs: How to Choose the Right One
    Dec 5 2025
    In this Flashcards Friday episode, we take the science of light bulbs out of the hardware aisle and into everyday life. Most people assume a bulb is just a bulb, but the truth is that the type you choose affects your energy bill, eye comfort, the way your rooms feel, and even the safety of your fixtures. From LEDs to incandescent filaments, from color temperature to socket fit, this episode breaks down the science behind the glow. You'll walk away with practical knowledge you can use immediately, all through the lens of curiosity and real-world physics. If you enjoy episodes that help you understand the science hidden in everyday objects, please leave a review, subscribe on your favorite platform, and share this episode with someone who's still trying to figure out why their lamp keeps flickering. Three Enlightening Takeaways The science behind the most common types of light bulbs - You'll explore how incandescent, halogen, CFL, and LED bulbs actually produce light, why some run hot while others stay cool, and what those differences mean for your home and energy use.Why color temperature matters more than most people realize - You'll learn how warm, neutral, and cool tones affect visibility, mood, and comfort, and how to choose the right color temperature for different rooms in your home.How to choose a bulb that safely fits your fixture - You'll understand why the right socket base, wattage rating, and fixture requirements matter, and how picking the correct bulb prevents overheating, flickering, or damaged lamps. Episode Resources Understanding LED vs. Incandescent Bulbs (Energy.gov) https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/lighting-choices-save-you-money Guide to Bulb Bases and Fixture Compatibility https://www.gelighting.com/inform/guide-light-bulb-sizes-types-shapes-and-codes 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!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history Mastodon: https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz YouTube: Math! Science! History! - YouTube Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory Do you want the ad-free podcast?! Visit us at Supercast at www.MathScienceHistory.Supercast.com - pick a tier, and immerse yourself without the ads! ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/PR7F7ST49GDNA Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show! Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform Check out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers Until next time, carpe diem!
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    9 min
  • Museum After Dark and The Man Who Lit up the Room

    Museum After Dark and The Man Who Lit up the Room
    Dec 2 2025
    Step into a silent museum after closing hours, where moonlight washes over long corridors and the hum of unseen forces seems to guide your every step. In this immersive narrative puzzle episode, four historical artifacts awaken in the darkness to share their stories. Each object reveals a piece of a much larger scientific legacy, one that begins with ancient reverence for a thunderous waterfall and continues through centuries of experimentation, rivalry, and extraordinary imagination. By following the clues, listeners uncover the lineage of ideas that shaped the power system we depend on every day. The final answer emerges only after connecting the voices of the artifacts, the rhythm of innovation, and the history of electricity itself. Three Enlightening Moments: The scientific breakthroughs that paved the way for modern power systems - Listeners discover how early experiments in magnetism, induction, and natural energy set the foundation for the electricity that powers our lives today. The cultural and industrial significance of a legendary waterfall - The episode explores the Indigenous reverence for this natural wonder, its role in early milling and industry, and its eventual transformation into a symbol of scientific ambition. The story behind a historic rivalry that shaped the future of electricity - Listeners learn how competing visions for electrical power sparked debate, innovation, and ultimately the system we use today. Resources: History of the Legendary Waterfall https://www.nps.gov/nifa/index.htm Haudenosaunee Confederacy & Indigenous Histories https://www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com General Overview of Early Electrical Inventions https://www.britannica.com/science/electricity 🔗 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!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history Mastodon: https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz YouTube: Math! Science! History! - YouTube Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show! Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform Check out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store Music: All music and SFX are public domain and have no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd RodgersHowling wind Effect by Darina Evstafeva from Pixabay Heartbeat by Dragon Studio from Pixabay Waterfall by John Tramp from Pixabay Until next time, carpe diem!
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    22 min
  • FLASHCARDS! Science that Makes Scents

    FLASHCARDS! Science that Makes Scents
    Nov 28 2025
    Your nose is more powerful than you think. In this episode of Math! Science! History!, we explore the hidden biology behind your sense of smell, how it connects directly to memory and emotion, and why scent has shaped human evolution for more than 500 million years. From safety and attraction to learning and emotional balance, your olfactory system is a biological superpower hiding in plain sight. THREE INSIGHTS THAT PASS THE SNIFF TEST Why Smell Is the Fastest Path to Emotion - Smell bypasses the thalamus and goes straight to the limbic system, which explains instant emotional memories triggered by scent.How Humans Detect Over a Trillion Odors - With about 400 types of receptors combining in complex patterns, your nose functions like a biological symphony conductor.How Scent Improves Memory, Focus & Emotional Well-Being - From cognitive scent-pairing to olfactory training, smell can sharpen memory, improve concentration, and reinforce emotional grounding 🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com Do you want the ad-free podcast?! Visit us at Supercast at www.MathScienceHistory.Supercast.com - pick a tier, and immerse yourself without the ads! LINKS TO RESOURCES Scientific References (from episode): • Axel & Buck (1995): https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican1095-154 • Buck (2000): https://doi.org/10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80698-4 • Bushdid et al. (2014): https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1249168 • Herz & Engen (1996): https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03210754 • Hummel et al. (2009): https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.20101 • Larson et al. (2007): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2007.03.064 • Moss et al. (2003): https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450390161903 • Stevenson (2010): https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjp083 • Wysocki & Beauchamp (1984): https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.81.15.4899 Further Reading: • The Scent of Desire — Rachel Herz • What the Nose Knows — Avery Gilbert • Harvard Gazette — "Why Smell Triggers Powerful Memories" • American Academy of Otolaryngology — https://www.entnet.org 🌍 Let's Connect!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history Mastodon: https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz YouTube: Math! Science! History! - YouTube Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show! Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform Check out our merch: https://www.mathsciencehistory.com/the-store Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers Until next time, carpe diem!
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    9 min
  • Carl Friedrich Gauss: The Genius Who Shaped Modern Science

    Carl Friedrich Gauss: The Genius Who Shaped Modern Science
    Nov 25 2025
    In this episode of Math! Science! History!, I explore the extraordinary life and legacy of Carl Friedrich Gauss, often called the Prince of Mathematics. From a childhood marked by brilliance to contributions that underpin GPS, machine learning, astronomy, electromagnetism, and modern geometry, Gauss reshaped the scientific world with humility and unwavering precision. You'll learn where the myths end, where the history begins, and why Gauss's work remains foundational in virtually every field touched by numbers today. A Trio of Gaussian Insights The Myth and the Mind Behind the Child Prodigy - Why the famous "1 to 100" story is partly folklore. But it still reveals Gauss's unbelievable early intuition.How Gauss Found a Lost Planet - A clear explanation of his orbit-reconstruction breakthrough that forever changed astronomy.The Mathematical Tools That Power Today's Technology - From least squares to the Gaussian curve, learn how his ideas fuel GPS, machine learning, physics, and more. 📚 Resources & References · Bell, Eric Temple. Men of Mathematics. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1937. · Dunnington, G. Waldo. Gauss: Titan of Science. New York: Mathematical Association of America, 2004. · Gauss, Carl Friedrich. Disquisitiones Arithmeticae. Trans. Arthur A. Clarke. Yale University Press, 1966. · Kline, Morris. Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times. Oxford University Press, 1972. · Kurtz, David C. "Gauss' Determination of the Orbit of Ceres." Archive for History of Exact Sciences 30, no. 3 (1984): 231–244. · Schär, Bernhard. "Carl Friedrich Gauss and the First Electromagnetic Telegraph." Isis 102, no. 3 (2011): 501–524. · Schneider, Carl. "Carl Friedrich Gauss." In Dictionary of Scientific Biography, vol. 5. New York: Scribner's, 1972. · Teets, Donald, and Karen Whitehead. "The Discovery of Ceres: How Gauss Became Famous." Mathematics Magazine 72, no. 2 (1999): 83–93. VISIT US!! mathsciencehistory.com 📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h 🌍 Let's Connect!Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@math.science.history Mastodon: https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz YouTube: Math! Science! History! - YouTube Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show! Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs! Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform Music: All music is public domain 0.0 or 1.0 and has no Copyright and no rights reserved. Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers, Mirecourt Trio composed by Lloyd Rodgers CC1.0 From Page to Practice by Bryan Teoh from Pixabay Smooth Piano by Universefield from Pixabay Serene Sonnet by Oleksii Holubiev from Pixabay Until next time, carpe diem!
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    20 min
  • FLASHCARDS! Tryptophan, Mood, and Thanksgiving Science

    FLASHCARDS! Tryptophan, Mood, and Thanksgiving Science
    Nov 21 2025

    If you enjoy learning how chemistry, math, and history shape everyday life, follow Math! Science! History! and share this episode with someone still blaming the turkey!

    Why does tryptophan always get accused of making everyone sleepy after Thanksgiving? Today's Flashcards Friday takes a closer look at the real science behind this famous amino acid , including how it works in the body, why carbohydrates change everything, and how tryptophan connects to your mood and even your sense of gratitude. Whether your plate had turkey or tofu, this tiny molecule has a much bigger story to tell.

    Three Things You'll Learn in This Episode: The Tryptophan Edition
    1. How tryptophan actually enters the brain and why the carb-insulin ratio determines whether it succeeds.
    2. Why vegetarian foods often contain more tryptophan than turkey, and how plant-based meals create the same post-meal calm.
    3. How serotonin and tryptophan connect to emotional resilience and gratitude, especially after warm, shared meals.

    🔗 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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    Mastodon:     https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz
    YouTube:     Math! Science! History! - YouTube
    Pinterest:     https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory

    🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? 🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com

    Do you want the ad-free podcast?! Visit us at Supercast at www.MathScienceHistory.Supercast.com - pick a tier, and immerse yourself without the ads!

    ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal

    Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show!
    Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
    Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

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

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

    Until next time, carpe diem!
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    9 min
  • REPOST: Pumpkin Spiced

    REPOST: Pumpkin Spiced
    Nov 18 2025

    I'm diving deep into the chemistry of flavor, the history of spices, and the math behind crafting the perfect pumpkin spice latte. So go grab your cup of pumpkin spice whatever, get cozy, and let's explore!

    To read the podcast's transcripts, visit me at www.MathScienceHistory.com.

    You can buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon at https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h

    Until next time, carpe diem!

    Show music by Lloyd Rodgers has no Copyright and no rights reserved.

    Other music by

    Georgetown Cafe, George Popoi, Free Music Archive, CC 4.0
    https://popoi.bandcamp.com/track/georgetown-cafe

    Solace Acoustic, Mark Wilson, Free Music Archive, CC 4.0
    https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mark-wilson-x/

    🔗 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!
    Bluesky:     https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social
    Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history
    Facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/mathsciencehistory
    LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/company/math-science-history/
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    Mastodon:     https://mathsciencehistory@mathstodon.xyz
    YouTube:     Math! Science! History! - YouTube
    Pinterest:     https://www.pinterest.com/mathsciencehistory

    🎧 Enjoying the Podcast?

    ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal

    Leave a review! It helps more people discover the show!
    Share this episode with friends & fellow history buffs!
    Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform

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

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

    Until next time, carpe diem!
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    21 min