BA in Science

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Sisters Maggie (a mathematician) and Brynna (a chemist) discuss badass human beings who also were amazing scientists. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bainscience/support

Maggie and Brynna


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 23m AVG DURATION
    • 115 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from BA in Science

    Putting the Pea in Punnett Square

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 69:48


    This week, Maggie and Byrnna discuss a monk who was VERY invested in the breeding habits of pea plants, and his work is how we know that two brown-eyed parents can have a blue-eyed child.Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BA: Gregor Mendel

    Forwards and Backwards

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 78:47


    Maggie and Brynna discuss an oft-forgotten BA this week who made a huge impact on mass transit in the United States and around the world.Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BA: Frank Sprague

    Snake Pit

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 94:12


    Maggie and Brynna get into the BS of unwitting human experimentation in mental health facilities in this week's episode. Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured Story: Willowbrook Hepatitis Experiments

    Clever Clogs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 86:27


    Maggie and Brynna love an over-achiever, and the BA they discuss this week is the very definition of that. It wasn't easy to squeeze even a small list of the guy's accomplishments into a regular episode; he could probably have had his own season.Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BA: Thomas Young

    clever clogs
    Mathematical Mermaid

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 98:48


    In this week's episode, Maggie and Brynna discuss a woman who had a fake husband and figured out how to find the conditions for where very real (as in not imaginary) solutions to certain problems can be.Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BA: Sofya Kovalevskaya

    You Need To Calm Down

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 70:49


    This week, Maggie and Brynna discuss a very chill BA who took on histamines because they were being too loud. But is it really the histamines, or something else?Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BA: Nancy T Chang

    Pronoun Trouble

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 99:40


    For the Season 9 Brawl, Maggie and Brynna discuss two guys with huge egos, one of whom just kept holding a grudge. But were both of them to blame for the brawl that took place around the discovery and isolation of a little hormone we all need to live?Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BAs: Fred Banting and JJR Macleod

    BRAT: Not Just a Season, a Whole Diet

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 74:01


    Maggie and Brynna discuss a woman who did her best for the children in her country and who may correctly be credited with giving us a way to get our digestion back on track after the yuckiest kind of illness.Find us on Patreon: patreon.com/bainscienceFeatured BA: Fe Del Mundo

    Blue Collar Chemistry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 82:45


    This week, Maggie and Brynna talk about a guy who had a few wild moments when he was young, but who became the father of organic chemistry and an excellent professor, too.Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | PatreonFeatured BA: Justus von Liebig

    Late Nights and Excesses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 89:14


    Join Maggie and Brynna as they kick off Season 9 with a BA who lived a scandalous life even by today's standards, but also made a major contribution to physics and chemistry and thermodynamics.Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | PatreonFeatured BA: Emilie du Chatelet

    Season 9 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 0:48


    We're back and ready to entertain and inform with more wild and interesting stories of badass humans who also happened to do science.

    Sounds like Something a Cultist Would Say, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 58:58


    In this last episode of Season 8, Maggie and Brynna discuss the impact Pythagoras has had on culture though the centuries, as well as the fact that the Pythagorean theorem might be misnamed. Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Sounds Like Something a Cultist Would Say

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 55:20


    In part 1 of the Season 8 Finale, Maggie and Brynna discuss the life and myths of one of the biggest names in mathematics. Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Pythagoras --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    A Curious Love Affair

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 59:00


    This week, Maggie and Brynna discuss a woman who would probably insist that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Or maybe an old rat. Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Marian Diamond --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Quinine and Chlorophyll and B12; oh my!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 67:24


    On this week's episode, Maggie and Brynna talk about an organic chemist who smoked, hated exercise, and was one of the most brilliant chemistry minds ever. Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Robert Burns Woodward --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Just Open the Box

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 152:32


    In this season's BS episode, Maggie and Brynna discuss a physicist who perhaps had more drama in his personal life than BA in Science has ever dealt with before. CONTENT WARNING! Some material might be more than you'd like to share with your kids, so screen it before you share it! Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Erwin Schrodinger --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Brigand of Hotel Dieu

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 88:21


    Maggie and Brynna head back to the days of the French Revolution to talk about a French surgeon who did a little bit of everything, including make enemies where he worked. Check us out on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Guillaume Dupuytren --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Whatever Turns Your Waterwheel

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 74:48


    We're halfway through Season 8, and Maggie and Brynna are talking about a medieval Chinese BA who refurbished a giant landmark and brought the heavens to earth. Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Su Song --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Glancing Blows

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 69:17


    We don't often get to talk to our featured BA, but this week, we did! Joining Maggie and Brynna this week to talk about his life and his science is Dr. Jay Wile, a chemist, textbook author, and educator. Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Rains in Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 107:58


    It's time for the Season 8 brawl! Maggie and Brynna discuss the explorers who tried to find the source of the Nile, but couldn't do it without fighting. Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BAs: Richard Burton and John Speke --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Rubber Ducks and Bugs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 78:20


    This week, Maggie and Brynna talk about a BA woman who changed the way we communicate with computers. Check us out on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Grace Hopper --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    More than Peanuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 63:12


    Maggie and Brynna discuss a guy from the US in the late 1800s who used his knowledge of plants to help poor farmers in the South. Check us out on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: George Washington Carver --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Helios

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 98:38


    Maggie and Brynna are officially back for season 8 with a BA who was a chemist, an artist, and an alleged murderer. Check us out on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Eadweard Muybridge --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Season 8 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 0:46


    Are you ready for Season 8? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    It's Pronounced NO-ble not no-BEL, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 62:00


    In the Season 7 finale, Maggie and Brynna do a deep-dive into the chemistry and uses of noble gases. Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    It's Pronounced NO-ble not no-BEL

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 60:46


    In part one of the Season 7 finale, Maggie and Brynna talk about the men who found new elements and figured out what to do with them. Eventually. Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon⁠ Featured BA: Sir William Ramsay and Neil Bartlett --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Invisible War

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 107:09


    This week, Maggie and Brynna talk about two BAs who fought Nazis and the Japanese during WWII without ever leaving the US. Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: William and Elizebeth Friedman --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Don't Cry for Me, Nuclear Fusion

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 54:44


    It's time for a BS episode! This season, Maggie and Brynna talk about science that was complete BS at the time, but may one day be possible. Find us on Patreon! Featured BA: Ronald Richter --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Arche

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 58:40


    This week, Maggie and Brynna discuss a BA from ancient times who dabbled in math, astronomy, and philosophy, and contributed in a big way to all of Western thought. Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon Featured BA: Thales of Miletus --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    A Ravishing Harmony

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 64:31


    This week, Maggie and Brynna are talking about a French monk who was friends with Rene Descartes and wanted to make music a little more scientific. Featured BA: Marin Mersenne Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast |⁠ Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Accidental Entrepreneur

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 78:21


    This week, Maggie and Brynna talk about an Indian billionaire who got her start brewing beer. Featured BA: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Safer than Safe

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 101:08


    It's time for a brawl! In this episode, two big names in the world of medicine took on polio - and each - other. Who was the real winner? Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Outback Angel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 59:49


    In this listener-suggestion episode, Maggie and Brynna tackle a BA whose ideas on physical therapy helped countless children recover from a literally crippling disease. Find us on Patreon! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Hammock Heir

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 101:26


    Maggie and Brynna bring you a BA today that Brynna has met in person and who got his start in a coal mining town. Find us on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Prince of Botanists

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 77:43


    Maggie and Brynna are back for season 7! In this episode, they discuss the guy who made it possible for Roadrunner and Coyote to teach fake Latin to kids. Featured BA - Carl Linnae Can't get enough? Check us out on Patreon! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Season 7 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 1:00


    We're Back with a bunch of new BAs and their wild science. First episode drops March 6th! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Hammer to Fall, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 70:38


    Maggie and Brynna are back to wrap up Season 6 with a discussion on atomic weapons, the reality of making the Manhattan Project work, and the fallout that resulted from the government getting involved in science. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Hammer to Fall, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 99:49


    In part 1 of the season 6 finale, Maggie and Brynna tackle the bios of the people behind the beginning of Big Science. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    An Open Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 73:02


    This week, Maggie and Brynna discuss a Hungarian mathematician who had no interest in doing anything unless it was math. Solving problems, finding new ones, talking about math, thinking about math, and collaborating with other mathematicians is all he devoted his time to. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Redhot Red

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 63:55


    Maggie and Brynna discuss an inventor this week who changed music forever. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Not As Helpful As You Thought

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 77:12


    Sometimes, even with the best intentions, things go awry. Our BA today and the subject of our BS episode this season understands that all too well. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Art of the Brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2023 83:43


    On this week's episode, Maggie and Brynna discuss a Spaniard whose art and science both changed how we see the brain. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Where in the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 61:12


    This week, Maggie and Brynna talk about a truly delightful human being whose math makes it possible for you to "in 400 ft, turn left". --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Boy Who Cried Rubber

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 75:52


    How does a man who did most of his science in his wife's kitchen become one of the most well-known names in a company he didn't even found? It certainly didn't have anything to do with his business acumen or money management skills, as Maggie and Brynna will tell you about in this week's episode. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Fighting Four, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 79:14


    It's time for the epic conclusion of our brawl. We've got 4 contenders, 3 Nobel prizes, and one major discovery to discuss. Not to mention all the petty fighting! BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Fighting Four, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 112:38


    It's brawl time! this season's epic battle was too big to cram into one episode, so you're getting two! This week, Brynna introduces us to the remaining 3 of our 4 BAs. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Dark Lady of DNA

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 76:41


    No, not Cher's Dark Lady. Our Dark Lady and BA today got her nickname because her work directly led to the discovery of how DNA works. It also will lead to a very interesting scientific brawl that you won't want to miss. Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Ball of Burning Gases

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 84:53


    Sure we have stars and the sun and all that, but what are they made of? How do they work? Maggie and Brynna discuss the BA this week that found the answers to those questions and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Man Behind the Lab

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 74:19


    Maggie and Brynna are back for season 6! We're starting off with a BA who had some very strange habits, but when you view them through a 21st century lens, maybe they're not that weird? Find us on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    Season 6 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 0:46


    We're back for another season of BAs! Join us on Wednesdays for new episodes starting Nov 6th. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

    The Difference Between Screwing Around and Science

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 89:06


    In the Season 5 Finale, Maggie and Brynna continue their discussion of The Mythbusters and the way that their show made science truly BA for an entire generation. Check us out on Patreon: BA in Science | creating A Podcast | Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bainscience/support

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