Is There Math Beyond the Equal Sign?

FromThe Joy of Why

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Is There Math Beyond the Equal Sign?

FromThe Joy of Why

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Length:

50 minutes

Released:

Mar 22, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Can mathematics handle things that are essentially the same without being exactly equal? Category theorist Eugenia Cheng and host Steven Strogatz discuss the power and pleasures of abstraction.

Released:

Mar 22, 2023

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (35)

The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz interviews leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time.

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Can Computers Be Mathematicians?: Artificial intelligence has bested humans at problem-solving tasks including games like chess and Go. Is mathematics research next? Steven Strogatz speaks with Kevin Buzzard, professor of pure mathematics at Imperial College London, to learn about the ongoing multidisciplinary effort to translate math into language that computers understand. by The Joy of Why
33 min listen
What Is Life?: Without a good definition of life, how do we look for it on alien planets? Steven Strogatz speaks with Robert Hazen, a mineralogist and astrobiologist, and Sheref Mansy, a chemist, to learn more. by The Joy of Why
42 min listen
Where Do Space, Time and Gravity Come From?: General relativity and quantum mechanics are cornerstones of modern physics but they don't mesh together easily. Physicist and author Sean Carroll talks with Steven Strogatz about how space and time might be emergent properties of quantum reality. by The Joy of Why
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Why Do We Die Without Sleep?: Host Steven Strogatz speaks with the researchers Dragana Rogulja and Alex Keene about the evolution of sleep and the complex biochemical effects of going without sleep for too long. by The Joy of Why
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The Joy of Asking About Infinity, Jellyfish and the End of the Universe: As The Joy of Why podcast returns for a second season, producer Polly Stryker and host Steven Strogatz invite listeners to join them and their brilliant new guests on another voyage of discovery. by The Joy of Why
3 min listen
Will the James Webb Space Telescope Reveal Another Earth?: The space telescope is one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever undertaken. Marcia Rieke and Nikole Lewis, two of the scientists leading JWST investigations, talk to Steven Strogatz about how it may transform our understanding of the universe. by The Joy of Why
50 min listen
What Is Quantum Field Theory and Why Is It Incomplete?: Quantum field theory may be the most successful scientific theory of all time, but there's reason to think it's missing something. Steven Strogatz speaks with theoretical physicist David Tong about this enigmatic theory. by The Joy of Why
42 min listen
How Will the Universe End?: "The Joy of Why" is a podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge from Quanta Magazine. The acclaimed mathematician and author Steven Strogatz interviews leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. by The Joy of Why
44 min listen
Why Do We Get Old, and Can Aging Be Reversed?: Everybody gets older, but not everyone ages in the same way. In this episode, Steven Strogatz speaks with Judith Campisi and Dena Dubal, two biomedical researchers who study the causes and outcomes of aging, to understand how age works - and what scientists know about postponing or even reversing the aging process. by The Joy of Why
38 min listen
How Could Life Evolve From Cyanide?: How did life arise on Earth? It's one of the greatest and most ancient mysteries in all of science - and the clues to solving it are all around us. Steven Strogatz speaks with Jack Szostak, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist, and Betül Kaçar, a paleogeneticist and astrobiologist, to explore our best understanding of how we all got here. by The Joy of Why
39 min listen
How Do Mathematicians Know Their Proofs Are Correct?: Just as scientists test hypotheses, mathematicians prove or disprove conjectures. But what makes a proof stronger than a guess? What does evidence look like in the world of mathematics? Hear Melanie Matchett Wood, professor of mathematics at Harvard University, explain how probability helps to guide number theorists toward certainty. by The Joy of Why
28 min listen
Is Perpetual Motion Possible at the Quantum Level?: A new state of matter called a "time crystal," recently created on a quantum computing platform, can bend our expectations of thermodynamics. The physicist Vedika Khemani talks with Steven Strogatz about counterintuitive quantum behavior. by The Joy of Why
37 min listen
What Has the Pandemic Taught Us About Vaccines?: Should Covid-19 vaccines be judged by how well they prevent disease or how well they prevent death? Anna Durbin, a public health expert and vaccine researcher, talks with Steven Strogatz about the science behind vaccines. by The Joy of Why
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How Can Some Infinities Be Bigger Than Others?: All infinities go on forever, so how is it possible for some infinities to be larger than others? The mathematician Justin Moore discusses the mysteries of infinity with Steven Strogatz. by The Joy of Why
46 min listen
Why and How Do We Dream?: Dreams are subjective and fleeting, but laboratories have developed ways of getting into the minds of people while they are dreaming. In this episode, Steven Strogatz speaks with sleep researcher Antonio Zadra about how new experimental methods have changed our understanding of dreams. by The Joy of Why
45 min listen
What Is the Nature of Consciousness?: Consciousness, our experience of being in the world, is one of the mind's greatest mysteries, but as the neuroscientist Anil Seth explains to Steven Strogatz, research is making progress in understanding this elusive phenomenon. by The Joy of Why
52 min listen
Is There Math Beyond the Equals Sign?: Can mathematics handle things that are essentially the same without being exactly equal? Category theorist Eugenia Cheng and host Steven Strogatz discuss the power and pleasures of abstraction. by The Joy of Why
50 min listen
Why Locusts Swarm, Humans Do Good and Time Marches On: The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and the astrophysicist and author Janna Levin interview leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. by The Joy of Why
2 min listen
Can We Program Our Cells?: By genetically instructing cells to perform tasks that they wouldn't in nature, synthetic biologists can learn deep secrets about how life works. Steven Strogatz discusses the potential of this young field with researcher Michael Elowitz. by The Joy of Why
45 min listen
What Is Quantum Teleportation?: Teleporting people through space is still science fiction. But quantum teleportation is dramatically different and entirely real. In this episode, Janna Levin interviews the theoretical physicist John Preskill about teleporting bits and the promise of quantum technology. by The Joy of Why
30 min listen
What Can Jellyfish Teach Us About Fluid Dynamics?: Jellyfish and other aquatic creatures embody solutions to diverse problems in engineering, medicine and mathematics. John Dabiri, a fluid dynamics expert, talks with Steven Strogatz about what jellyfish can teach us about going with the flow. by The Joy of Why
44 min listen
Does Nothingness Exist?: Even empty space is bubbling with a form of energy, according to quantum mechanics - and that fact affects almost every facet of physical reality. The theoretical physicist Isabel Garcia Garcia explains to Steven Strogatz why it's so important in modern physics to understand what a true vacuum is. by The Joy of Why
45 min listen
What Is the Nature of Time?: Time is all around us: in the language we use, in the memories we revisit and in our predictions of the future. But what exactly is it? The physicist and Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek joins Steve Strogatz to discuss the fundamental hallmarks of time. by The Joy of Why
31 min listen
Are There Reasons to Believe in a Multiverse?: Several areas of physics suggest reasons to think that unobservable universes with different natural laws could lie beyond ours. The theoretical physicist David Kaplan talks with Steven Strogatz about the mysteries that a multiverse would solve. by The Joy of Why
49 min listen
Can Math and Physics Save an Arrhythmic Heart?: Abnormal waves of electrical activity can cause a heart's muscle cells to beat out of sync. In this episode, Flavio Fenton, an expert in cardiac dynamics, talks with Steve Strogatz about ways to treat heart arrhythmias without resorting to painful defibrillators. by The Joy of Why
46 min listen
What Causes Giant Rogue Waves?: Once dismissed as myths, monstrous rogue waves that tower over ships and appear without warning are real. Wave-science researcher Ton van den Bremer and Steven Strogatz discuss how rogue waves can form in relatively calm seas and whether their threat can be predicted. by The Joy of Why
40 min listen
What Makes for 'Good' Math?: Terence Tao, who has been called the "Mozart of Mathematics," wrote an essay in 2007 about the common ingredients in "good" mathematical research. In this episode, the Fields Medalist joins Steven Strogatz to revisit the topic. by The Joy of Why
36 min listen

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What Is the Nature of Time?: Time is all around us: in the language we use, in the memories we revisit and in our predictions of the future. But what exactly is it? The physicist and Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek joins Steve Strogatz to discuss the fundamental hallmarks of time. by The Joy of Why
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Why Locusts Swarm, Humans Do Good and Time Marches On: The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and the astrophysicist and author Janna Levin interview leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. by The Joy of Why
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Does Nothingness Exist?: Even empty space is bubbling with a form of energy, according to quantum mechanics - and that fact affects almost every facet of physical reality. The theoretical physicist Isabel Garcia Garcia explains to Steven Strogatz why it's so important in modern physics to understand what a true vacuum is. by The Joy of Why
45 min listen
Can Math and Physics Save an Arrhythmic Heart?: Abnormal waves of electrical activity can cause a heart's muscle cells to beat out of sync. In this episode, Flavio Fenton, an expert in cardiac dynamics, talks with Steve Strogatz about ways to treat heart arrhythmias without resorting to painful defibrillators. by The Joy of Why
46 min listen
What Can Jellyfish Teach Us About Fluid Dynamics?: Jellyfish and other aquatic creatures embody solutions to diverse problems in engineering, medicine and mathematics. John Dabiri, a fluid dynamics expert, talks with Steven Strogatz about what jellyfish can teach us about going with the flow. by The Joy of Why
44 min listen
What Causes Giant Rogue Waves?: Once dismissed as myths, monstrous rogue waves that tower over ships and appear without warning are real. Wave-science researcher Ton van den Bremer and Steven Strogatz discuss how rogue waves can form in relatively calm seas and whether their threat can be predicted. by The Joy of Why
40 min listen
What Is the Nature of Consciousness?: Consciousness, our experience of being in the world, is one of the mind's greatest mysteries, but as the neuroscientist Anil Seth explains to Steven Strogatz, research is making progress in understanding this elusive phenomenon. by The Joy of Why
52 min listen
Are There Reasons to Believe in a Multiverse?: Several areas of physics suggest reasons to think that unobservable universes with different natural laws could lie beyond ours. The theoretical physicist David Kaplan talks with Steven Strogatz about the mysteries that a multiverse would solve. by The Joy of Why
49 min listen
Is Perpetual Motion Possible at the Quantum Level?: A new state of matter called a "time crystal," recently created on a quantum computing platform, can bend our expectations of thermodynamics. The physicist Vedika Khemani talks with Steven Strogatz about counterintuitive quantum behavior. by The Joy of Why
37 min listen
How Can Some Infinities Be Bigger Than Others?: All infinities go on forever, so how is it possible for some infinities to be larger than others? The mathematician Justin Moore discusses the mysteries of infinity with Steven Strogatz. by The Joy of Why
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What Has the Pandemic Taught Us About Vaccines?: Should Covid-19 vaccines be judged by how well they prevent disease or how well they prevent death? Anna Durbin, a public health expert and vaccine researcher, talks with Steven Strogatz about the science behind vaccines. by The Joy of Why
43 min listen
Can We Program Our Cells?: By genetically instructing cells to perform tasks that they wouldn't in nature, synthetic biologists can learn deep secrets about how life works. Steven Strogatz discusses the potential of this young field with researcher Michael Elowitz. by The Joy of Why
45 min listen
How Will the Universe End?: "The Joy of Why" is a podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge from Quanta Magazine. The acclaimed mathematician and author Steven Strogatz interviews leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. by The Joy of Why
44 min listen
The Joy of Asking About Infinity, Jellyfish and the End of the Universe: As The Joy of Why podcast returns for a second season, producer Polly Stryker and host Steven Strogatz invite listeners to join them and their brilliant new guests on another voyage of discovery. by The Joy of Why
3 min listen
Why and How Do We Dream?: Dreams are subjective and fleeting, but laboratories have developed ways of getting into the minds of people while they are dreaming. In this episode, Steven Strogatz speaks with sleep researcher Antonio Zadra about how new experimental methods have changed our understanding of dreams. by The Joy of Why
45 min listen
What Is Quantum Field Theory and Why Is It Incomplete?: Quantum field theory may be the most successful scientific theory of all time, but there's reason to think it's missing something. Steven Strogatz speaks with theoretical physicist David Tong about this enigmatic theory. by The Joy of Why
42 min listen
Why Do We Get Old, and Can Aging Be Reversed?: Everybody gets older, but not everyone ages in the same way. In this episode, Steven Strogatz speaks with Judith Campisi and Dena Dubal, two biomedical researchers who study the causes and outcomes of aging, to understand how age works - and what scientists know about postponing or even reversing the aging process. by The Joy of Why
38 min listen
How Do Mathematicians Know Their Proofs Are Correct?: Just as scientists test hypotheses, mathematicians prove or disprove conjectures. But what makes a proof stronger than a guess? What does evidence look like in the world of mathematics? Hear Melanie Matchett Wood, professor of mathematics at Harvard University, explain how probability helps to guide number theorists toward certainty. by The Joy of Why
28 min listen
Can Computers Be Mathematicians?: Artificial intelligence has bested humans at problem-solving tasks including games like chess and Go. Is mathematics research next? Steven Strogatz speaks with Kevin Buzzard, professor of pure mathematics at Imperial College London, to learn about the ongoing multidisciplinary effort to translate math into language that computers understand. by The Joy of Why
33 min listen
What Is Life?: Without a good definition of life, how do we look for it on alien planets? Steven Strogatz speaks with Robert Hazen, a mineralogist and astrobiologist, and Sheref Mansy, a chemist, to learn more. by The Joy of Why
42 min listen
How Could Life Evolve From Cyanide?: How did life arise on Earth? It's one of the greatest and most ancient mysteries in all of science - and the clues to solving it are all around us. Steven Strogatz speaks with Jack Szostak, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist, and Betül Kaçar, a paleogeneticist and astrobiologist, to explore our best understanding of how we all got here. by The Joy of Why
39 min listen
Will the James Webb Space Telescope Reveal Another Earth?: The space telescope is one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever undertaken. Marcia Rieke and Nikole Lewis, two of the scientists leading JWST investigations, talk to Steven Strogatz about how it may transform our understanding of the universe. by The Joy of Why
50 min listen
Where Do Space, Time and Gravity Come From?: General relativity and quantum mechanics are cornerstones of modern physics but they don't mesh together easily. Physicist and author Sean Carroll talks with Steven Strogatz about how space and time might be emergent properties of quantum reality. by The Joy of Why
42 min listen

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Is There Math Beyond the Equal Sign?

Is There Math Beyond the Equal Sign?

Description

Titles in the series (35)

More Episodes from The Joy of Why

Related podcast episodes