Math! Science! History!

• REPOST Hipparchus: Mapping the Stars, Measuring the Earth

  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 axial precession to laying the groundwork for the astrolabe, Hipparchus helped humanity understand our place in the cosmos: mathematically, geographically, and philosophically. Three Key Take-Aways How Hipparchus measured the Earth's axial precession and why this was a monumental scientific discovery. The mathematical brilliance behind his trigonometric tables and how they informed tools like the astrolabe. How ancient astronomy evolved into cartography, influencing how we view geography and time today. Resources & References Griffith Observatory Astronomers Monument: https://griffithobservatory.org Ptolemy's Almagest: Loeb Classical Library Hipparchus in The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://iep.utm.edu/hipparchus/ Cosimo Bartoli’s Del modo di misurare: https://archive.org/details/delmododimisurar00bart  🔗 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! Website: mathsciencehistory.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.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 ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal 🛍 Checking 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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• FLASHCARDS: How a Teenager Discovered the Physics of Black Holes-Chandrasekhar’s Limit Explained

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

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• Black Holes from Theory to Reality

  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 Einstein’s reluctance and Oppenheimer’s overlooked models, to John Wheeler’s advocacy and Stephen Hawking’s revolutionary radiation theory, this episode traces the full arc of scientific discovery—and what black holes reveal about our own place in the cosmos.   Three Key Take-Aways Why Karl Schwarzschild’s World War I-era math predicted black holes decades before anyone took them seriously How John Wheeler changed the game by naming—and championing—the black hole What modern observations like Cygnus X-1, Hawking radiation, and LIGO’s gravitational wave detection tell us about collapsed stars and spacetime Resources & References (the books include affiliate links) Oppenheimer & Snyder (1939): On Continued Gravitational Contraction David Finkelstein (1958): Past-Future Asymmetry of the Gravitational Field Kip Thorne’s book: Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy Marcia Bartusiak’s book: Black Hole: How an Idea Abandoned by Newtonians, Hated by Einstein, and Gambled on by Hawking Became Loved LIGO and gravitational wave discovery (2015) 🔗 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! Website: mathsciencehistory.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.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 ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal 🛍 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 🎵 Audio: Podcast mixed by David Aviles Until next time, carpe diem!

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• FLASHCARDS FRIDAY! Just say NO to Melanoma

  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!

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• REPOST: Pascal's Higher Power

  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 boundaries between logic and faith. In this episode, Gabrielle Birchak explores how Pascal’s scientific brilliance intersected with his spiritual journey, shedding light on the man who helped shape modern science, mathematics, and religious philosophy. Whether you're hearing this episode for the first time or giving it a second listen, Pascal's story continues to resonate through the centuries. 3 Things You Will Learn How Pascal’s early work in conic sections and projective geometry led to “Pascal’s Theorem.” Why his collaboration with Fermat on probability theory is considered the foundation of modern decision science. How Pascal reconciled science and religion through his writings, including Pensées and Pascal’s Wager. Resources & References Read the blog: Pascal’s Higher Power Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Blaise Pascal Khan Academy – Pascal’s Triangle and Applications   🔗 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! Website: mathsciencehistory.com Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.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 ☕ Support the Show: Coffee!! PayPal 🛍 Checking 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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