Surprisingly Brilliant

Latest Episodes:

The Reinvention of Sex Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

One pill changed the world forever. It replaced crocodile dung inserted into the vagina. It involved rabbit embryos fertilized in a test tube. And it may be available for men in the future. Maren tells Greg a story filled with the wild characters and moral quandaries that have defined our modern sex lives.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Way To Win At Everything Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

Chess... Poker... Rock Paper Scissors... Your daily commute..? Nuclear war..? AND your Social Media?? Turns out you can form a winning strategy for all of these using 'Game Theory' - and in this episode Greg not only tells Maren how, but also untangles the story of its development. It’s the story of two Johns - von Neumann & Nash - and separates fact from fiction in the film ‘A Beautiful Mind’.

[*Winning not guaranteed. Sorry]

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Virus Queen Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

The first human coronavirus, yoga, and the recorder all have something in common: they were all mastered by the same woman. In this episode, Maren tells Greg the story of June Almeida, an extraordinary woman who completely changed the way we literally SEE viruses.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Question Of Who Flew First Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

This is the story of not just one set of brothers, but three: the Wrights, the Montgolfiers & the Lilienthals. It’s a story that does pre-flight checks in Italy, takes off in France, and soars to the US, with a quick layover in Brazil. Along the way Greg tells Maren about the contenders who some claim really flew first, and their journey ends at a surprise destination: the Moon.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Electronic Ear Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

A story that spans from the tiniest cells in your inner ear to a technology that changed the world and will shape our future. It takes us through all of recorded history, uncovering not only how we hear the world, but how biased that world is too. Maren tells Greg a tale of biophysics, Alexander Graham Bell, the future of brain implants, and how we can reframe our perceptions of language and sensory experience.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Twist In The Tale Nov 19, 2020

Show notes

We kick off Season 2 with the story of your most requested person: Rosalind Franklin. But it’s not the story we should be remembering her for either. Greg tells Maren the tale of how the structure of DNA was unravelled, but the twist leads us somewhere else entirely.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

Season 2 Is Here! Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

New amazing stories from science history are coming Thursday, November 19th!

The Fourth Astronaut Jun 25, 2020

Show notes

Meet the ‘Rope Mother’ - the lady whose code, weaved into copper wire and magnetic rings, saved the Apollo 11 mission to the moon… Greg tells Maren the story of an incredible person who has not only been called The Fourth Astronaut, but who also pioneered, and coined the term for, ‘Software Engineering’; Margaret Hamilton.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Fungus that Shaped the World Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

The course of World War II, the development of successful cancer treatment, and just being able to go outside without fear all come down to one thing: the humble Penicillium fungus. Maren tells Greg a tale of accidental discoveries, fungal espionage, and the daunting potential future of medicine without this life-saving substance.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

The Mystery & Might of Ectoplasm Jun 11, 2020

Show notes

What do a children’s birthday party, an accidental discovery, a shoe shop gadget, and Marie Curie have in common?? Have a listen to find out, as Greg tells Maren the amazing origin story of one of the most important pieces of medical tech ever developed: X-rays.

Show notes, sources, and transcript can be found at https://linktr.ee/surprisinglybrilliant

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