Today, I travel back to the nineteenth century to meet with Pierre-Simon Laplace, a man who imagined a super-intelligence so powerful, it could calculate the entire history and future of the universe.
PODCAST TRANSCRIPTSDoes Math = Logic? Welcome to Math, Science, History, the podcast where we uncover the fascinating stories behind the numbers, the equations, and the discoveries that have shaped our world. I’m Gabrielle Birchak and today, we’re diving deep into the role of logic and argumentation in mathematics. How do mathematicians prove their theories? What makes an argument in math sound
Lyon, France, was a bustling city in the late sixteenth century. It was a hub for commerce, banking, and intellectual discourse. And it was here, in 1591, that Gérard Desargues was born into a prominent family. His father, Étienne Desargues, was a magistrate and a city official, which meant that young Gérard grew up in an environment surrounded by influential
Though it is Women’s History Month today, I’m writing about two incredible transgender individuals. First, Dr. James Barry is historically significant because of his contributions to medicine and courage in living as a gender-nonconforming individual during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Then, Angela Clayton, a transgender woman, was a testament to the power of courage, brilliance, and the unwavering pursuit
What do rabbits, nature’s cutest fluffballs, have to do with one of the most famous patterns in mathematics? Well, imagine this: a single pair of rabbits start multiplying—just two at first, but soon, the field is hopping with Rabbit DeNiros, Luke Skyhoppers, Marilyn Bun-roes, and Jessicas. Before you know it, you’re asking yourself: How many rabbits are there?’ And boom—you’ve
Francois Viète’s cryptanalysis marked a turning point in the French Wars of Religion, but his genius methods weren’t as complex as one might think.
Foote was never acknowledged as a legitimate climate scientist. That is, until 2011, when Historian Ray Sorenson realized Foote was the first climate scientist to conduct this groundbreaking study, leading us to understand climate change and the steps we must take to save Mother Earth.
Catherine Macaulay spoke up for women. She condemned the treatment of women, advocating for women’s rights and…
Though she was Voltaire’s lover, she did not love him nearly as much as she loved …
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When fifteenth century math became diabolically competitive!