Math! Science! History!

For Pride Month, I profile eight scientists across eight identities in the 2SLGBTQI+ community. From the equations underpinning modern physics to the brain cells once dismissed as filler tissue, these researchers shaped the world we live in, often while hiding, fighting for, or paying dearly for who they were. Today I trace the lives of Sofia Kovalevskaya, Alan Turing, Margaret Mead, Ben Barres, Christopher Strachey, Magnus Hirschfeld, Paul Erdős, and Lozen, eight stories of brilliance that history tried, and failed, to erase.
3 Things You'll Learn in This Episode
How a forged marriage opened the door to modern physics. Sofia Kovalevskaya couldn't attend university as a woman in Russia, so she found another way in, and ended up proving foundational theorems that every engineer and physicist still relies on today.
Why the man who helped win WWII was punished by the country he saved. Alan Turing's codebreaking work is credited with shortening the war by years and saving millions of lives. Decades later, that same government prosecuted him for being gay, then put him on its currency.
How "supporting" brain cells turned out to be running the show. Ben Barres's research overturned decades of neuroscience consensus about glial cells, and his own experience transitioning gave him a firsthand look at gender bias in science that became one of the most cited accounts of its kind.
Featured Scientists & Resources
Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850–1891), Mathematician
Cooke, R. (1984). The Mathematics of Sonya Kovalevskaya. Springer-Verlag.
Koblitz, A. H. (1983). A Convergence of Lives: Sofia Kovalevskaia, Scientist, Writer, Revolutionary. Birkhäuser.
MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive
Alan Turing (1912–1954), Mathematician & Computer Scientist
Hodges, A. (1983). Alan Turing: The Enigma. Burnett Books.
Turing, A. M. (1950). "Computing Machinery and Intelligence." Mind, 59(236), 433–460.
The Alan Turing Institute
Bank of England: Alan Turing £50 note
Wellcome Sanger Institute Blog: "LGBTQ+ scientists who shaped history"
Margaret Mead (1901–1978), Anthropologist
Mead, M. (1928). Coming of Age in Samoa. William Morrow & Company.
Mead, M. (1975). "Bisexuality: A New Awareness." Redbook Magazine.
Banner, L. W. (2003). Intertwined Lives: Margaret Mead, Ruth Benedict, and Their Circle. Knopf.
QueerBio.com: Margaret Mead
Legacy Project Chicago: Margaret Mead
Ben Barres (1954–2017), Neurobiologist
Barres, B. A. (2018). The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist. MIT Press.
Barres, B. A. (2006). "Does gender matter?" Nature, 442, 133–136.
Allen, N. J., & Barres, B. A. (2005). "Signaling between glia and neurons: focus on synaptic plasticity." Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 15(5), 542–548.
Wellcome Sanger Institute Blog: "LGBTQ+ scientists who shaped history"
Christopher Strachey (1916–1975), Computer Scientist
Campbell-Kelly, M. (1985). "Christopher Strachey, 1916–1975: A Biographical Note." IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 7(1), 19–42.
Strachey, C. (1967). "Fundamental Concepts in Programming Languages." Published posthumously in Higher-Order and Symbolic Computation, 13 (2000), 11–49.
Computer History Museum: Christopher Strachey
Magnus Hirschfeld (1868–1935), Physician & Sexologist
Hirschfeld, M. (1910). Die Transvestiten. Alfred Pulvermacher.
Wolff, C. (1986). Magnus Hirschfeld: A Portrait of a Pioneer in Sexology. Quartet Books.
Encyclopædia Britannica: Magnus Hirschfeld
US Holocaust Memorial Museum: Magnus Hirschfeld
Science Museum Blog: "Magnus Hirschfeld and the Institute for Sexual Science"
Paul Erdős (1913–1996), Mathematician
Hoffman, P. (1998). The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdős and the Search for Mathematical Truth. Hyperion.
Schechter, B. (1998). My Brain Is Open: The Mathematical Journeys of Paul Erdős. Simon & Schuster.
ASBMB: "LGBTQ+ scientists in history"
The Erdős Number Project, Oakland University
Lozen (c. 1840–1889), Medicine Woman & Warrior
Ball, E. (1970). In the Days of Victorio: Recollections of a Warm Springs Apache. University of Arizona Press.
Aleshire, P. (1998). Warrior Woman: The Story of Lozen, Apache Warrior and Shaman. St. Martin's Press.
Multnomah County Library: "Notable Two-Spirit Figures in History"
Legends of America: "Lozen: Apache War Woman & Prophet"
New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program: "Little Sister Lozen"
🔗 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 
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Until next time, carpe diem!

What if the negotiation strategies, workplace rhythms, and relationship instincts you've relied on your whole life already had names in mathematics? In today's FLASHCARDS! episode of Math! Science! History!, I break down three foundational concepts from game theory: dominant strategy, tit for tat, and Nash equilibrium, and connect each one to the everyday decisions, compromises, and unspoken social contracts you navigate all the time. Whether you're a math enthusiast or someone who swore they "weren't a math person," this episode reveals that you've been doing game theory your entire life without even knowing it.
🃏 In This Episode, You Will Learn:
What a dominant strategy is and how to recognize when you're already using one, from sending that follow-up email to ordering your favorite dish at a restaurant.
The fascinating history of tit for tat, the surprisingly simple strategy that beat out complex algorithms in Robert Axelrod's famous 1980s tournament, and how it mirrors the unspoken rules of your closest relationships.
How a Nash equilibrium shows up in everyday conflict, and why the moment you and someone else silently agree to "stop pushing" is actually a mathematically stable outcome.
📚 Sources
Von Neumann's 1928 minimax theorem is widely considered the founding document of modern game theory. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimax_theorem
John Nash received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 1994 for his pioneering analysis of equilibria in the theory of non-cooperative games. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/1994/nash/facts
Robert Axelrod's landmark book The Evolution of Cooperation (1984) explored how cooperation can emerge among self-interested agents, using his famous computer tournament in which tit for tat won. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evolution_of_Cooperation
📣 Calls to Action
Subscribe & Review: If today's episode made you see your everyday decisions in a whole new light, please subscribe to Math! Science! History! and leave a review wherever you listen. It helps more curious minds find the show!
Share This Episode: Know someone who loves psychology, strategy, or really nails the follow-up email? Send them this episode; they're already game theorists and don't know it yet.
Keep Learning: Catch up on last week's full episode on the birth of game theory and Monday's episode on using these strategies in the workplace!
🔗 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
 🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? 🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
☕ 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!

In this episode of Momentum Monday, I cover the unexpected power of game theory, not just for economists or chess players, but as a practical toolkit for smarter decisions in work, relationships, and personal habits. I break down three game-changing strategies: 
1) Know Your "Game" (mapping players, rules, and payoffs)
2) Build Your BATNA (your secret weapon for negotiation leverage)
3) Tilt the Game in Your Favor (shaping interactions for win-win outcomes)
Whether you're negotiating a raise, handling a tough conversation, or just trying to stick to your gym routine, these tactics will help you design your environment for success. Learn more about game theory's real-world applications here and how to apply BATNA in negotiations here.
What You'll Learn:
How to map your interactions like a game, identifying players, rules, and payoffs to make smarter decisions. (Source: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
Why BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) is your negotiation superpower, and how to build one. (Source: Harvard PON)
How to shape your environment and incentives to tilt outcomes in your favor, even in everyday situations.
Call to Action:🔹 Try it this week: Pick one interaction where you'll apply one of these power-ups. Notice how it changes your approach, and your results!🔹 Share your win: Tag me on social media @Math.Science.History with #MomentumMonday and tell me which strategy worked for you!🔹 Subscribe & Review: Help more people discover Momentum Monday by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Every review fuels the momentum!
🔗 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
 ☕ 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 Mark 1.0 Universal and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
Selections from Violin Machine: A Deconstruction of the Bach Concerto by Lloyd Rodgers
Until next time, carpe diem!

In this episode, I'm covering the fascinating origin story of game theory, the mathematical framework that explains how we make decisions when our choices depend on what others do. From the chess board to the Cold War, from traffic jams to Nobel Prizes, game theory is hiding everywhere in plain sight. I explore the brilliant, sometimes tortured minds of John von Neumann and John Nash, walk you through the elegant math of the minimax theorem and Nash equilibrium, and show you how these ideas have shaped economics, artificial intelligence, biology, and even nuclear diplomacy. Whether you're a math lover or just someone who's ever wondered why traffic jams form out of nowhere, this episode will completely change the way you see strategy, competition, and cooperation in everyday life.
What You'll Learn
·         The historical and mathematical context of the early 20th century that made game theory possible
·         What a "game" actually means in the mathematical sense, and why it's about far more than chess or poker
·         Who John von Neumann was and how his 1928 minimax theorem became the cornerstone of game theory
·         How John Nash, a young Princeton doctoral student, revolutionized the field with the Nash equilibrium
·         Why the Prisoner's Dilemma shows that rational individuals can end up with collectively bad outcomes
Quote from the Episode
"As far as I can see, there could be no theory of games without that theorem … I thought there was nothing worth publishing until the Minimax Theorem was proved." - John von Neumann
Episode Resources
·         von Neumann, John. "Zur Theorie der Gesellschaftsspiele" [On the Theory of Games of Strategy]. Mathematische Annalen 100 (1928): 295–320.
·         Nash, John F. "Equilibrium Points in N-Person Games." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 36 (1950): 48–49.
·         Nasar, Sylvia. A Beautiful Mind: The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash. Simon & Schuster, 1998.
·         The Nobel Prize, 1994 Economics Prize Press Release: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/1994/press-release/
·         Google DeepMind, AlphaGo at 10: https://deepmind.google/blog/10-years-of-alphago/
·         Springer Nature, Quantum Game Theory Review (2025): https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11128-025-04913-4
·         Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Evolutionary Game Theory: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-evolutionary/
·         MathWorld, Minimax Theorem: https://archive.lib.msu.edu/crcmath/math/math/m/m254.htm
🔗 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
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Music: All music is public domain and has no Copyright and no rights reserved.
Selections from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers
I Love Math by Gabrielle Birchak – all rights reserved
The Secret to Growing Up by Lee Rosevere - public domain from Pixabay
Until next time, carpe diem!

In this Earth Day week special of Flashcards Friday, we explore the growing environmental impact of artificial intelligence and digital technology. While AI is revolutionizing our world, it comes with a hidden cost, massive energy consumption and increasing strain on our planet. In this episode, you'll learn how data centers contribute to global electricity use, how your everyday digital habits add to the problem, and most importantly, what you can do to help curb energy consumption. From holding tech companies accountable to making smarter personal choices, this episode empowers you to take meaningful action toward a more sustainable digital future.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
How AI and data centers contribute to global energy consumption and carbon emissions
Simple, practical ways to reduce your personal digital energy footprint
How to advocate for sustainable technology and hold companies accountable
Key Takeaways
Data centers already consume ~1% of global electricity, and demand is rising rapidly
Everyday actions like sending emails, streaming, and using AI tools all have an energy cost
Small habit changes can collectively make a significant environmental impact
Consumer pressure and policy advocacy can push tech companies toward sustainability 


Call to Action
Audit your digital habits today: Clean out your inbox, reduce unnecessary emails, and limit high-energy digital activities
Support sustainable companies: Choose tech platforms committed to renewable energy and transparency
Speak up: Ask companies about their carbon footprint and share awareness on social media
Subscribe & Share: If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend and subscribe so you never miss a Flashcards Friday
Flashcards Recap
Ask & Advocate: Demand transparency and support green policies Cut Digital Waste: Reduce unnecessary digital consumption Choose Mindfully: Prioritize energy-efficient habits and technologies
🔗 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
🎧 Enjoying the Podcast? 🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
☕ 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!