logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2017
59m 26s

1: Forbidden Formulas (Elitism in Math)

Gabriel Hesch and Autumn Phaneuf
About this episode

From Pythagoras to Einstein, from the banks of the Nile to the streamlined curves of the Large Hadron Collider, math has shown itself again and again to be fundamental to the way that humans interact with the world. Then why is math such a pain for so many people? Our answer is simple: math is, and always has been, in one way or another, guarded as an elite skill. We visit the worlds that were shaped by math, the secrets people died for, the false gods created through this noble science, and the gradual chipping away of this knowledge by a people who have always yearned for this magical skill. So what is it? And how can we make it better?

Ways to support the show:   

Help Support The Podcast by clicking on the links below:

[Featuring: Sofía Baca, Gabriel Hesch; Amy Lynn, Ian McLaughlin]


Up next
Jul 8
Random Shuffle Isn't Random At All
In this episode, we explore the intricate mathematics behind Sp0tify's (ok... and other's) shuffle feature, revealing how it is designed to feel random while actually being carefully curated. We discuss the psychological implications of randomness, the Fisher-Yates shuffle algori ... Show More
8m 20s
Jul 1
Algorithms & AI Simplified - The Not So Mathy Version
This conversation explores the intricate relationship between mathematics and artificial intelligence (AI) for people who don't want to get too math heavy and want things simplified as much as possible. It delves into how algorithms, machine learning, and various mathematical too ... Show More
9m 19s
Jun 24
What is Cryptography?
This conversation delves into the intersection of quantum computing and cryptography, focusing on the implications of quantum computers for current encryption methods and the necessity for post-quantum cryptography. Dr. Dustin Moody from NIST discusses the threats posed by quantu ... Show More
40m 56s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
A Mathematician Asks ‘Is Math Real?’
When math is based on abstract concepts, how do we know it’s correct? Dr. Eugenia Cheng takes on that question in a new book. The concept of math has been around for a long time, developing independently in many different cultures. In 1650 BC, the Egyptians were creating math tex ... Show More
33m 8s
Sep 2024
How zero gave us mathematical and philosophical power | Talithia Williams
The abstract numeral that changed everything, according to mathematician Talithia Williams. Before the introduction of zero, mathematics was a tangible subject, where numbers held weight and substance. With zero came the concept of a mathematical “nothing;” it turned our solid un ... Show More
6m 15s
Sep 2024
Our Mathematical Universe with Grant Sanderson (3Blue1Brown)
Is math discovered or invented? Neil deGrasse Tyson & Chuck Nice explore information theory, talking to aliens with prime numbers, Mandelbrot sets, and why math is often called the "language of the universe" with Grant Sanderson, the math educator behind YouTube channel 3Blue1Bro ... Show More
56m 56s
Sep 2024
The Hidden Secrets of Math: Invented or Discovered? (Part 2)
Where does math come from? Mathematicians are still debating whether math is an inherent part of nature or an invention of the human mind. Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne will guide you through the question of what math really is in this three-part Friday miniseries. ... Show More
13m 28s
Jun 2024
134. Why Do We Still Teach People to Calculate?
Conrad Wolfram wants to transform the way we teach math — by taking advantage of computers. The Mathematica creator convinced the Estonian government to give his radical curriculum a try — so why is the rest of the world so resistant? SOURCE:Conrad Wolfram, strategic director and ... Show More
58m 44s
Jun 15
#472 – Terence Tao: Hardest Problems in Mathematics, Physics & the Future of AI
Terence Tao is widely considered to be one of the greatest mathematicians in history. He won the Fields Medal and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics, and has contributed to a wide range of fields from fluid dynamics with Navier-Stokes equations to mathematical physics & quantu ... Show More
3h 23m
May 2024
Why am I bad at maths?
When CrowdScience listener Israel from Papua New Guinea received a bad grade on a maths test in third grade, he looked around the class and realised that almost all the other students had received a better result. Since then, he has always wondered: why are some people better at ... Show More
30m 34s
Dec 2024
Brian Keating on Fixing the Biggest Problems in Modern Science
What does it mean to go “into the impossible”? For Professor of Cosmology Dr. Brian Keating, it’s all about shattering the limiting beliefs around what a human being is capable of.In his latest book, Into the Impossible: Think Like a Nobel Prize Winner, Dr. Keating explores this ... Show More
2h 4m
Sep 2024
The Hidden Secrets of Math: Beauty and Power (Part 1)
Mathematics communicator and drag queen Kyne Santos will help you discover the beauty and power of math in this three-part Friday miniseries. Kyne takes us back to ancient Greece to illustrate the elegance of mathematics. We meet mathematician Tom Crawford, who combines fieldwork ... Show More
14m 26s