The Joy of x
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Eve Marder on the Crucial Resilience of Neurons
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Eve Marder’s research into the plasticity and resilience of nervous systems finds universal principles guiding life’s responses to stress. ...
Charlie Marcus Knows That Quantum Facts Aren’t Complicated
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dynamic Chaos in Puff Pastry
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To a dynamicist like Amie Wilkinson, understanding the universe is about knowing all the right moves. The post Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dyna...
Emery Brown and the Truth About Anesthesia
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Anesthesia is very different from sleep — which is why it offers unique opportunities for studying the human brain, says the physician-researcher an...
Melanie Mitchell Takes AI Research Back to Its Roots
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
To build a general artificial intelligence, we may need to know more about our own minds, argues the computer scientist Melanie Mitchell. T...
Trachette Jackson Fights Cancer With Math
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Quantitative models built by the mathematical biologist Trachette Jackson can make cancer therapies safer and more effective. The post Trac...
Rediet Abebe on Using Algorithms for Social Justice
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The computer scientist Rediet Abebe’s passion for applied mathematics closely aligns with her passion to solve problems with poverty and social ineq...
Federico Ardila on Math, Music and the Space of Possibilities
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The mathematician Federico Ardila takes a creative approach to the search for useful answers hiding among inconceivably huge numbers of possible ones....
Sharon Glotzer’s Deep Curiosity About Order From Chaos
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The computational physicist Sharon Glotzer finds unifying principles that structure the chaotic dance of the particles that make up matter. ...
Frank Wilczek on the Strong Force, Quarks and Dark Matter
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek explained what holds atomic nuclei together, and he is still pushing at the limits of what the standard model ...
Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler is deciphering the chemical languages that bacteria use to coordinate their assaults on a host. The ...
Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The paleontologist Neil Shubin talks with host Steven Strogatz about hunting for a 375 million-year-old fossil and finding novel traits that evolved m...
Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can geometry save democracy from gerrymandering? Mathematician Moon Duchin discusses the possibilities with host Steven Strogatz. The post ...
Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The astrophysicist Brian Keating talks to host Steven Strogatz about chasing the universe’s greatest mysteries — and what it’s like to have a ma...
Rebecca Goldin and Brian Nosek on Hard Truths in Math and Psychology
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Cori Bargmann on the Genetics of Transparent Worms, Supertasters and Cancer
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The neurogenetics pioneer Cori Bargmann speaks with host Steven Strogatz about why a transparent worm became her favorite animal and how a genetic dis...
Tadashi Tokieda's Special Kind of Magic
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The mathematician Tadashi Tokieda and host Steven Strogatz explore what we can learn about the world from simple “toys” with remarkable physical o...
Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 care...
John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
John Urschel, who retired from playing professional football with the Baltimore Ravens to become a mathematician, talks to host Steven Strogatz about ...
Corina Tarnita and the Deep Mathematics of Social Insects
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The mathematical biologist Corina Tarnita explains to host Steven Strogatz how quantitative modeling solved the mystery of fairy circles. T...
Robbert Dijkgraaf on Exploring Quantum Reality
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The mathematical physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf and host Steven Strogatz discuss the frontiers of string theory and why space and time might not be the m...
Leslie Vosshall on Designer Mosquitoes and Dude Walls
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Events take an interesting turn after the neurogeneticist Leslie Vosshall speaks with host Steven Strogatz about ways to make mosquitoes less deadly a...
Alex Kontorovich on the Absolute Truth of Pure Math
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The mathematician Alex Kontorovich speaks with host Steven Strogatz about regaining his creative freedom in an intimidating collaboration and about th...
Priya Natarajan on Black Holes and Mapping the Universe
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Priya Natarajan, professor of astronomy and physics at Yale University, speaks with Steven Strogatz about her lifelong fascinations,...
Podcast Preview: Introducing The Joy of x
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hosted by Steven Strogatz, The Joy of x podcast opens a window into the inner worlds of top-tier scientists and mathematicians while shining light on ...