The Joy of x

Steven Strogatz and Quanta Magazine

The acclaimed mathematician and author Steven Strogatz interviews some of the world's leading scientists about their lives and work.

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20 episodes
Updated May 17, 2021

Episodes20

Newest first

May 17, 2021 · 40 min
Eve Marder on the Crucial Resilience of Neurons
Behaviors are sometimes described as being "hardwired," but the work of the celebrated neuroscientist Eve Marder of Brandeis University has explored a crucial difference between neural circuits and engineered ones: Neurons need to be resilient in the face of their own ongoing biomolecular transformation. In this episode, host Steven Strogatz talks with Marder about "multiple solutions" as a key feature of life, the similarities between a crab's stomach and our shoulders, and the secret to a sati
May 10, 2021 · 49 min
Charlie Marcus Knows That Quantum Facts Aren’t Complicated
The secret to making a qubit for future quantum computers might depend on knowing how to tie knots in unusual materials, argues the physicist Charlie Marcus. The post Charlie Marcus Knows That Quantum Facts Aren’t Complicated first appeared on Quanta Magazine
May 3, 2021 · 42 min
Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dynamic Chaos in Puff Pastry
To a dynamicist like Amie Wilkinson, understanding the universe is about knowing all the right moves. The post Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dynamic Chaos in Puff Pastry first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Apr 26, 2021 · 40 min
Emery Brown and the Truth About Anesthesia
Anesthesia is very different from sleep — which is why it offers unique opportunities for studying the human brain, says the physician-researcher and statistician Emery Brown. The post Emery Brown and the Truth About Anesthesia first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Apr 19, 2021 · 40 min
Melanie Mitchell Takes AI Research Back to Its Roots
To build a general artificial intelligence, we may need to know more about our own minds, argues the computer scientist Melanie Mitchell. The post Melanie Mitchell Takes AI Research Back to Its Roots first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Apr 12, 2021 · 42 min
Trachette Jackson Fights Cancer With Math
Quantitative models built by the mathematical biologist Trachette Jackson can make cancer therapies safer and more effective. The post Trachette Jackson Fights Cancer With Math first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Apr 5, 2021 · 43 min
Rediet Abebe on Using Algorithms for Social Justice
The computer scientist Rediet Abebe’s passion for applied mathematics closely aligns with her passion to solve problems with poverty and social inequality. The post Rediet Abebe on Using Algorithms for Social Justice first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 29, 2021 · 50 min
Federico Ardila on Math, Music and the Space of Possibilities
Federico Ardila, born in Colombia and now a professor mathematics at San Francisco State University, is an expert in the field of combinatorics, the study of all the possible configurations of finite systems. This week, Ardila talks with host Steven Strogatz about the importance of feelings in mathematics, the music of collaboration, imagining higher dimensional spaces, and the art and science of exploring "the space of possibilities." This episode was produced by Dana Bialek. Read mor
Mar 22, 2021 · 48 min
Sharon Glotzer’s Deep Curiosity About Order From Chaos
The computational physicist Sharon Glotzer finds unifying principles that structure the chaotic dance of the particles that make up matter. The post Sharon Glotzer’s Deep Curiosity About Order From Chaos first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 15, 2021 · 48 min
Frank Wilczek on the Strong Force, Quarks and Dark Matter
The theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek explained what holds atomic nuclei together, and he is still pushing at the limits of what the standard model can tell us. The post Frank Wilczek on the Strong Force, Quarks and Dark Matter first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 8, 2021 · 39 min
Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses
The molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler is deciphering the chemical languages that bacteria use to coordinate their assaults on a host. The post Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 2, 2021 · 47 min
Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution
The paleontologist Neil Shubin talks with host Steven Strogatz about hunting for a 375 million-year-old fossil and finding novel traits that evolved many times. The post Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Feb 23, 2021 · 2 min
Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two
Hosted by Steven Strogatz, The Joy of x podcast is back with new episodes that explore the inner worlds of top-tier scientists and mathematicians like Frank Wilczek, Bonnie Bassler and Amie Wilkinson. The post Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Apr 7, 2020 · 50 min
Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks
Can geometry save democracy from gerrymandering? Mathematician Moon Duchin discusses the possibilities with host Steven Strogatz. The post Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 31, 2020 · 41 min
Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe
The astrophysicist Brian Keating talks to host Steven Strogatz about chasing the universe’s greatest mysteries — and what it’s like to have a major discovery slip through his fingers. The post Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 24, 2020 · 46 min
Rebecca Goldin and Brian Nosek on Hard Truths in Math and Psychology
The mathematician Rebecca Goldin and the psychology researcher Brian Nosek speak with host Steven Strogatz about what it’s like to be the bearers of unpopular truths. The post Rebecca Goldin and Brian Nosek on Hard Truths in Math and Psychology first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 17, 2020 · 53 min
Cori Bargmann on the Genetics of Transparent Worms, Supertasters and Cancer
The neurogenetics pioneer Cori Bargmann speaks with host Steven Strogatz about why a transparent worm became her favorite animal and how a genetic discovery she made inspired a revolutionary cancer treatment. The post Cori Bargmann on the Genetics of Transparent Worms, Supertasters and Cancer first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 10, 2020 · 51 min
Tadashi Tokieda's Special Kind of Magic
The mathematician Tadashi Tokieda and host Steven Strogatz explore what we can learn about the world from simple “toys” with remarkable physical or mathematical properties. The post Tadashi Tokieda’s Special Kind of Magic first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Mar 3, 2020 · 54 min
Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes
The astrophysicist Janna Levin describes the fierce scientific beauty she finds in black holes and reveals why she took a major risk early in her career. The post Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Feb 25, 2020 · 45 min
John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician
John Urschel, who retired from playing professional football with the Baltimore Ravens to become a mathematician, talks to host Steven Strogatz about the fascinations of graph theory that lured him away from the NFL. The post John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician first appeared on Quanta Magazine

The Joy of x

Eve Marder on the Crucial Resilience of Neurons

Charlie Marcus Knows That Quantum Facts Aren’t Complicated

Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dynamic Chaos in Puff Pastry

Emery Brown and the Truth About Anesthesia

Melanie Mitchell Takes AI Research Back to Its Roots

Trachette Jackson Fights Cancer With Math

Rediet Abebe on Using Algorithms for Social Justice

Federico Ardila on Math, Music and the Space of Possibilities

Sharon Glotzer’s Deep Curiosity About Order From Chaos

Frank Wilczek on the Strong Force, Quarks and Dark Matter

Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses

Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution

Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two

Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks

Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe

Rebecca Goldin and Brian Nosek on Hard Truths in Math and Psychology

Cori Bargmann on the Genetics of Transparent Worms, Supertasters and Cancer

Tadashi Tokieda's Special Kind of Magic

Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes

John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician