The Joy of x

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

Steven Strogatz and Quanta Magazine


    • Mar 17, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 27 EPISODES

    4.7 from 215 ratings Listeners of The Joy of x that love the show mention: please come back soon, mathematics, scientists, professor, scientific, science, technical, perhaps, exciting, complex, running, learn something, listeners, mind, excited, engaging, sure, host, conversations, hard.



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    Latest episodes from The Joy of x

    Deep Curiosity Inspires The Joy of Why Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2022 2:43


    The noted mathematician and author Steven Strogatz explains how the conversations with experts in his new Quanta Magazine podcast address his lifelong fascination with timeless mysteries. The post Deep Curiosity Inspires The Joy of Why Podcast first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Eve Marder on the Crucial Resilience of Neurons

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2021 40:37


    Eve Marder’s research into the plasticity and resilience of nervous systems finds universal principles guiding life’s responses to stress. The post Eve Marder on the Crucial Resilience of Neurons first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Charlie Marcus Knows That Quantum Facts Aren’t Complicated

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 49:14


    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

    Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dynamic Chaos in Puff Pastry

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 42:27


    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. The post Amie Wilkinson Sees the Dynamic Chaos in Puff Pastry first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Emery Brown and the Truth About Anesthesia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2021 40:49


    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. The post Emery Brown and the Truth About Anesthesia first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Melanie Mitchell Takes AI Research Back to Its Roots

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 40:59


    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. The post Melanie Mitchell Takes AI Research Back to Its Roots first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Trachette Jackson Fights Cancer With Math

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 42:42


    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. The post Trachette Jackson Fights Cancer With Math first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Rediet Abebe on Using Algorithms for Social Justice

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 43:35


    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. The post Rediet Abebe on Using Algorithms for Social Justice first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Federico Ardila on Math, Music and the Space of Possibilities

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2021 50:48


    The mathematician Federico Ardila takes a creative approach to the search for useful answers hiding among inconceivably huge numbers of possible ones. The post Federico Ardila on Math, Music and the Space of Possibilities first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Federico Ardila on Math, Music and the Space of Possibilities first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Sharon Glotzer’s Deep Curiosity About Order From Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2021 48:52


    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. The post Sharon Glotzer’s Deep Curiosity About Order From Chaos first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Frank Wilczek on the Strong Force, Quarks and Dark Matter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 48:15


    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. The post Frank Wilczek on the Strong Force, Quarks and Dark Matter first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 39:50


    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. The post Bonnie Bassler on Talkative Bacteria and Eavesdropping Viruses first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 47:52


    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. The post Neil Shubin on Tiktaalik, Ballistic Tongues and Evolution first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 2:24


    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. The post Podcast Preview: The Joy of x, Season Two first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2020 50:34


    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. The post Moon Duchin on Fair Voting and Random Walks first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2020 41:24


    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. The post Brian Keating’s Quest for the Origin of the Universe first appeared on Quanta Magazine

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 46:02


    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. The post Rebecca Goldin and Brian Nosek on Hard Truths in Math and Psychology first appeared on Quanta Magazine

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2020 53:30


    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. The post Cori Bargmann on the Genetics of Transparent Worms, Supertasters and Cancer first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Tadashi Tokieda’s Special Kind of Magic

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2020 51:33


    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. The post Tadashi Tokieda’s Special Kind of Magic first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2020 54:10


    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. The post Janna Levin on Seeing and Hearing Black Holes first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2020 45:07


    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 post John Urschel: From NFL Player to Mathematician first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Corina Tarnita and the Deep Mathematics of Social Insects

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2020 51:51


    The mathematical biologist Corina Tarnita explains to host Steven Strogatz how quantitative modeling solved the mystery of fairy circles. The post Corina Tarnita and the Deep Mathematics of Social Insects first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Corina Tarnita and the Deep Mathematics of Social Insects first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Robbert Dijkgraaf on Exploring Quantum Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2020 49:15


    The mathematical physicist Robbert Dijkgraaf and host Steven Strogatz discuss the frontiers of string theory and why space and time might not be the most fundamental things in the universe. The post Robbert Dijkgraaf on Exploring Quantum Reality first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Robbert Dijkgraaf on Exploring Quantum Reality first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Leslie Vosshall on Designer Mosquitoes and Dude Walls

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2020 58:23


    Events take an interesting turn after the neurogeneticist Leslie Vosshall speaks with host Steven Strogatz about ways to make mosquitoes less deadly and the obstacles facing educational inclusiveness. The post Leslie Vosshall on Designer Mosquitoes and Dude Walls first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Leslie Vosshall on Designer Mosquitoes and Dude Walls first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Alex Kontorovich on the Absolute Truth of Pure Math

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 57:56


    The mathematician Alex Kontorovich speaks with host Steven Strogatz about regaining his creative freedom in an intimidating collaboration and about the pleasures of spherical geometry. The post Alex Kontorovich on the Absolute Truth of Pure Math first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Alex Kontorovich on the Absolute Truth of Pure Math first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Priya Natarajan on Black Holes and Mapping the Universe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 65:33


    In this episode, Priya Natarajan, professor of astronomy and physics at Yale University, speaks with Steven Strogatz about her lifelong fascinations, including black holes, mapping the universe and early personal computers. The post Priya Natarajan on Black Holes and Mapping the Universe first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Priya Natarajan on Black Holes and Mapping the Universe first appeared on Quanta Magazine

    Podcast Preview: Introducing The Joy of x

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2020 2:47


    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 universal themes like creativity, collaboration or navigating professional challenges. The post Podcast Preview: Introducing The Joy of x first appeared on Quanta Magazine. The post Podcast Preview: Introducing The Joy of x first appeared on Quanta Magazine

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