The Mathematicians Podcast

Episode 1 - Ahmes - Let's Start Somewhere in the Middle

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 07:39:40 +0000

Our first look at a mathematician dating back to 1700 BCE - Ahmes. What was maths like back in Ancient Egypt?

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 2 - Thales of Miletus - A Point of Interest

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:51:12 +0000

The first mathematician to have a theorem named after them; Thales - Come with me to the 6th Century BCE to learn more about what it meant to be a mathematician in ancient times.

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 3 - Pythagoras of Samos - The Mythmatician

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 06:54:54 +0000

In this exciting episode we discover who Pythagoras really was. Did he really do Pythagoras' theorem? Did he have a golden leg? Was he a human embodiment of god? ... Maybe!

Join me on Instagram @mathematicians.pod

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 4 - Zeno of Elea - The Paradoxician

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 07:01:29 +0000

I would invite you to press play on this podcast, but alas motion is illusory, so you finger will not move. Hopefully I will move you to like and subscribe with this whimsical history of Zeno of Elea.

Follow @mathematicians.pod on Instagram for more, less serious, content.

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 5 - Oenopides of Chios - Where we draw the line

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 06:34:51 +0000

Let me invite you to drink in the joys of learning about a Mathematician you have possibly never heard of. This week we measure the tilt of the earth using the most advanced technology of the day: a stick.

Follow @mathematicians.pod on Instagram for more, less serious, content.

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 6 - Hippocrates of Chios - Moving in Mathematical Circles

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 09:35:14 +0000

This week we do the impossible - square the circle... or at least part of it. Listen in to hear what the cutting edge of research mathematics was in the 4thC BCE.

Follow on Instagram @mathematicians.pod

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 7 - Hippias of Elis - Ahead of the Curve

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:08:10 +0000

This week, let me draw you into a story about an ancient curve-ist, as we meet the first non-circular curve that is formally defined - and the mand who first drew it.

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 8 - Theodorus of Cyrene - Getting back to our roots

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 07:57:12 +0000

This week we explore beauty, in the form of some more very old maths. Theodorus, one of the leading figures in the Pythagorean movement, will move you to joy, I am sure.

The music was "Danse Macabre - Finale"

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 9 - Democritus of Abdera - The finer detail.

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 07:23:48 +0000

Today I plan to share with you the smallest possible unit of information, and I will do this an infinite number of times. Are we talking about the introduction of calculus? A theory of atoms? Both? Who can say, well hopefully I can in this episode.

The music was :

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 10 - Archytas of Tarentum - Things are in Motion

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Today we learn about the man who invented the wooden pigeon, along with some slightly more serious contributions. We've learnt already about how the Pythagoreans thought everything was made up of numbers, now it is time to meet the guy that said 'Well why don't we use numbers to describe stuff then?'

The Music is:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 11 - Injectives - Peter Adamson on The Early Philosophers

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 11:04:25 +0000

In today's episode we have a special treat as I sit down with Professor Peter Adamson to ask all of the questions that have been brewing over the past 10 weeks. Be prepared for significantly more expertise from a professional of philosophy and a podcast ledged himself.

You can find Peter's work at: https://historyofphilosophy.net/ , and I highly recommend that you do.

The Music is:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 12 - Plato - In Top Form

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 06:45:37 +0000

This episode is modelled on the the form of the good, or at least the good podcast. Step out from the shadows of your caves and enjoy a dialogue on Plato. Sadly, there is nothing in this episode that you didn't already know, from before you were born - but perhaps I can help you to recollect it.

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 13 – Theaetetus - The Definite Article

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:09:04 +0000

Today we introduce the titular character from Plato's 7th greatest dialogue and discover the contributions he made to the 'Platonic' solids and more.

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 14 - Eudoxus of Cnidus - Where we Take Pleasure

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 06:36:14 +0000

This week we take an exhaustive look at the mathematician that invented calculus... arguably. We can certainly have that argument. So let us enjoy the good life, by taking pleasure in the pursuit of knowledge with Eudoxus.

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 15 - Xenocrates of Chalcedon - The Philosopher Behind the Silence

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0100

There are a Myriad reasons to listen along this week as we explore the formation of ancient Greek number, as well as looking at early combinatorics with Xenocrates.

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 16 - Menaechmus - Iconic Sections

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Today we introduce the conic section, and it's iconic founder Menaechmus. A bit of a one trick pony, but my goodness what a trick that was.

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 17 - Thymaridas - Simultaneous Genius

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week we take a crucial next step into the history of algebra and simultaneous equations with the Bloom of Thymaridas. Listen along for a bloomin' good time!

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 18 - Dinostratus - A Roarsome Mathematician

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week we finally come full circle on the Quadratrix, and meet a man who was able to draw a square with equal area to the circle. Yes, that ancient problem finally gets solved: for a given definition of solved. Tune in to find out exactly how one does 'Square the Circle'.

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 19 - Aristotle - On The Philosopher

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week we have a big one! One of the greats, if not the greatest, philosophers of all time: Aristotle. We will explore how this philosopher-scientist also wears a heavy crown of mathematics, despite never publishing a work of maths. Tune in for discussions on logic, set theory, combinatorics and the ever interesting syllogism.

The music:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 20 - Autolycus of Pitane - Got the Ball Rolling

Wed, 07 May 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week we look up to one of the most influential stargazers of all time. Autolycus, the very first non-Euclidean geometer, even before Euclid hit the scene.

The music is:

"Danse Macabre - Finale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 21 - Euclid - In His Element

Wed, 14 May 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week: The big cheese. It's Euclid time. Come with me on a journey through his optics, astronomy and or course the elements - a week of exceptionally good maths.

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 22 - Injectives - Mikhail Koroteev on Instructional Puzzles

Wed, 21 May 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This episode has been a real favourite of mine to record - I sit down with the co-creator of www.euclidea.xyz to ask all of my puzzling questions on how the game was developed, the inspiration behind the puzzles and the role of Euclidean geometry in today's world.

Further reading for some of the referenced papers:

https://arxiv.org/abs/1709.02562

https://www.cut-the-knot.org/triangle/TriangleFromBisectors.shtml

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 23 - Aristarchus of Samos - Got The Measure of Things

Wed, 28 May 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week we look at a man who looked at the moon whilst it looked at the sun and thought: "Gosh, that looks far away".

But how far away is the sun, really. Or the better question would be: "How far away are we?"

Let's find out as we measure the life and works of Aristarchus of Samos. The second greatest Samos-ian that we have covered so far.

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 24 -Archimedes of Syracuse

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this week's episode we look at the life an works of the Great Archimedes. A man who was so much more than what we all think, and we all think quite highly of him. But let's look behind the claw, the screw and the lever and find out who was the mathematician behind the engineer.

You can also find my debut YouTube video about the Quadrature of the Parabola here: @Un-Applied-Maths

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG-SNPXWN-Q3YxLp_R

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG-SNPXWN-Q3YxLp_RiDaAQ

The Music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 25 - Philo of Byzantium -

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Grab your ventriloquist dummies and your gimbles, as we catapult ourselves into a story about the worlds first mathematical engineer. If you thought Leonardo Da Vinci was pretty metal, well you're about to meet the 'wood and papyrus' version. It's Philo of Byzantium.

In an exciting new segment of the 'Episode Show Notes', may I present an unappealing list of hashtags for the Search Engine Optimisation:

#MathHistory #MathsHistory
#AncientMath #AncientMaths
#PhiloOfByzantium
#GreekMathematics
#HistoryOfMath #HistoryOfMaths
#AncientScience
#EngineeringHistory
#ByzantineScience
#MathematicalHeritage
#SciencePodcast
#MathPodcast #MathsPodcast
#AncientEngineers
#PhiloTheEngineer
#MechanicsHistory
#HellenisticScience
#InventionHistory
#MathAndMachines #MathsAndMachines
#GreekInventors
#MathematicsThroughTime
#FromPhiloToPhysics

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 26 - Eratosthenes - A Prime Example

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, host Benjamin Cornish paddles upstream—literally and figuratively—to explore the remarkable life and ideas of Eratosthenes of Cyrene, the polymath who measured the Earth with astonishing precision and devised one of the most famous algorithms in history: the Sieve of Eratosthenes.

In the show today

How Eratosthenes measured Earth’s circumference over 2,000 years ago
The ingenious method behind the Sieve of Eratosthenes and why it still matters in modern computing
His groundbreaking work in geography, including latitude, longitude, and early ideas of a spherical Earth
His role as chief librarian at the Library of Alexandria—aka the Google of the ancient world

From ancient geometry to prime numbers and historical timekeeping, this episode is a celebration of interdisciplinary thinking, curiosity, and mathematical creativity. Whether you're a teacher, student, or just a curious mind, you'll come away with a renewed appreciation for how math shapes our understanding of the world.

Plus: Learn how to get involved with Un-Natural Numbers, a new YouTube maths chat show supporting emerging voices in math communication.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfve_tIM3e9jh5b_kzIPICmRViIXIcBJ38DyQ5YwfBLzNMHKg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108012955586926932884

Oh no, a list of Keywords (for SEO):
Eratosthenes, Sieve of Eratosthenes, measure Earth circumference, Library of Alexandria, prime numbers, ancient Greek mathematicians, history of mathematics, geography and maths, interdisciplinary STEM, maths communication, educational podcast, number theory, velocity problems, maths teaching podcast

Have a free list of Hashtags:
#MathematicsPodcast #Eratosthenes #PrimeNumbers #MathsEducation #HistoryOfMaths #STEM #MathsInRealLife #MathsTeacher #LibraryOfAlexandria #GeographyAndMaths #EducationalPodcast #NumberTheory #UnNaturalNumbers

Episode 27 - Chrysippus - A Good Proposition

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0100

What do ancient logic, Stoic philosophy, and paradoxes have in common? Chrysippus of Soli. In this episode, Ben Cornish explores how Chrysippus revolutionised logic and gave Stoicism its rational backbone. Discover his pioneering work in propositional logic, his take on fate and free will, and why his ideas still matter today.

#MathematicalLogic #PropositionalLogic #StoicMathematics #Chrysippus #FormalLogic #HistoryOfMaths #AncientMathematics #LogicalReasoning #PhilosophyOfMaths #MathematicsPodcast #TheMathematiciansPodcast

Episode 28 - Apollonius of Perga - What Goes around comes around

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish turns his attention to Apollonius of Perga—the ancient Greek mathematician whose work on conic sections shaped the way we understand curves, orbits, and even space travel.

We explore Apollonius' life, his lesser-known contributions beyond geometry, and the deep mathematical ideas that earned him the nickname "The Great Geometer." From the invention of the terms ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola, to the legendary Apollonius Problem—a deceptively simple tangency puzzle with lasting implications—we trace his influence through history and into the modern age.

Perfect for students, teachers, and lovers of mathematical storytelling, this episode offers technical depth, historical intrigue, and a few terrible puns on the side.

Keywords: Apollonius of Perga, conic sections, ancient Greek mathematics, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola, Apollonius problem, tangency geometry, history of mathematics, mathematical storytelling

Hashtags:
#ApolloniusOfPerga
#ConicSections
#HistoryOfMathematics
#GreekMathematics
#Ellipse #Parabola #Hyperbola
#GeometryPodcast
#MathematicsEducation
#AncientMathematics
#TheMathematiciansPodcast
#MathematicalStorytelling

Episode 29 - Perseus - In High Spirics

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week on The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish reflects on a tragic bagel incident, files an HR complaint, and somehow ends up discussing the mathematics of toroidal cross-sections. Join us as we explore the life and work of Perseus the quietly brilliant 2nd-century BCE mathematician who gave us spiric sections. We slice through geometry, history, and a bit too much cream cheese, uncovering how one man's fascination with intersecting bagels helped shape the maths behind modern physics, computer graphics, and breakfast regret.

#SpiricSections #MathsHistory #Torus #AncientMath #MathsPodcast #PerseusTheMathematician #TorusTalk #BagelMaths #MathsIsEverywhere #HistoryOfMaths #NonConicCurves #MathsWithFlair #HellenisticGeometry #MathsPuns

Episode 30 - Dionysodorus of Amisus & Hypsicles of Alexandria

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week on The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish presents a double bill of underappreciated thinkers from the back shelves of Greek geometry: Dionysodorus of Amisus and Hypsicles of Alexandria in an episode that's part mathematical history, part cubic conundrum, part "wait, he also did astronomy?"

We begin with Dionysodorus, who solved the doubling of the cube problem the way most of us try to solve awkward social encounters: by introducing a few curves. Using a hyperbola and a parabola, he cracked a cubic equation long before Cardano showed up with his pen and existential dread. Along the way, we explore his contributions to sphere-cutting, tomb-building, and possibly very literal underground thinking.

Then it's on to Hypsicles, the man who gave us Book XIV of Euclid’s Elements, redefined the zodiacal calendar, and possibly invented the idea of π/6 symmetry just to impress his astrologer friends. We look at what he added to geometry, why ancient timekeeping is a cosmic mess, and how his legacy has been hiding in plain sight; like a leap day with good PR.

Come for the cubes. Stay for the calendar. And don’t forget to intersect your conics responsibly.

#TheMathematiciansPodcast
#GreekMathematics
#HistoryOfMaths
#Dionysodorus
#Hypsicles
#DoublingTheCube
#CubicEquation
#AncientGeometry
#ConicSections
#EuclidsElements
#MathsPodcast
#MathematicalHistory
#AstronomicalMaths
#ZodiacMath
#GeometricConstruction
#AlgebraBeforeAlgebra
#ClassicMathematicians
#MathsEducation
#CurvedThinking

Episode 31 - Hipparchus - Going Supernova

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish dives into the life and legacy of Hipparchus, the Greek thinker who gave us trigonometry, mapped the stars, and even invented tools to measure the heavens.

From creating the first star catalog and predicting eclipses to introducing spherical projections and the chord table, Hipparchus wasn’t just stargazing, he was shaping the future of science. We’ll explore his inventions, his obsession with accuracy, and why Greenland is not as big as your world map told you.

Perfect for maths enthusiasts, history lovers, and anyone curious about the origins of the tools we still use today.

Keywords: Hipparchus, trigonometry, spherical projection, history of maths, Greek astronomy, star catalog, precession of the equinoxes, ancient inventions, mathematics podcast, navigation, geography, astrolabe, astronomy history.

Hashtags:
#MathematiciansPodcast #Hipparchus #HistoryOfMaths #Trigonometry #AncientAstronomy #MathsPodcast #AstronomyLovers #STEMHistory

Episode 32 - Hero of Alexandria - A Hero to us all

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week, Benjamin Cornish invites you to step into the steam-powered sandals of Hero of Alexandria—the ancient world’s most enthusiastic gadgeteer. Was he a mathematician? An engineer? A magician in a toga? Yes. Yes. And absolutely yes. From vending machines that accepted drachmas to the first recorded steam engine (that did absolutely nothing useful), Hero turned math into motion and geometry into gears.

Join us as we unpack Hero’s life in the shadow of Archimedes, his flair for theatrical automation, and his deeply satisfying triangle-area formula that has saved generations of students from drawing impossible altitudes. Along the way, we reflect on mirrors, vending machines, and whether Hero secretly invented the Rube Goldberg machine 1,900 years before Goldberg was born.

Keywords: Hero of Alexandria, ancient mathematics, triangle area formula, aeolipile, Greek engineering, historical inventions, automata, classical geometry, ancient optics, early machines, Metrica, Heron’s formula, steam engine history

Hashtags:
#MathsPodcast #HistoryOfMaths #HeroOfAlexandria #AncientInventions #SteamPowerBeforeItWasCool #MathematicalHistory #EngineeringOrigins #HeronsFormula #Pneumatics #AlexandriaEra

Episode 33 - Injectives with Dr Daffern - Religion and Maths - Part 1

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this one-to-one edition of The Mathematicians Podcast, part of our Injectives subseries, host Benjamin Cornish sits down with philosopher, peace theorist, and long-time educator Dr Thomas Daffern to explore the deep and often surprising intersections between mathematics and religion.

Together, they trace the parallel histories of mystical belief and mathematical thought, from the temples of ancient Egypt and the philosophies of Greece to the shifting theological landscapes leading up to the Islamic Golden Age. Why were certain numbers considered sacred? Was ancient religion a catalyst for mathematical inquiry; or was it the other way around? And how has religious belief shaped our understanding of the infinite, harmony, and even the very definition of mathematics?

This conversation ranges from Thales to Galileo, from pre-Islamic Arabia to modern mathematical axioms, all with a generous sprinkling of curiosity, nuance, and dry wit. Expect reflections on sacred ratios, philosophical migrations, and a surprising number of school memories.

If you've ever wondered whether math and faith are fundamentally at odds—or fundamentally entwined—this episode is for you.

Books that have been mentioned:

Alphabet vs the goddess

https://www.alphabetvsgoddess.com/index.html

Herod the Great

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/herod-the-great-jewish-king-in-a-roman-world

Talking Commentary on the Qur'an

http://www.educationaid.net/homepage.html?../pages/lectures.html

Drunk with Blood

https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/bible-study/academic-bible-study/drunk-with-blood-gods-killings-in-the-bible/

Being and Knowledge

https://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-thomas-clough-daffern/being-and-knowledge-volume-one/paperback/product-1jqk6wvk.html?srsltid=AfmBOop3Vrge4wmi0YwHjhYMC9W2FZYELvLRu21pLBdz1HpOitQAnRU0&page=1&pageSize=4

Encyclopedia of Druid Studies

https://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-thomas-clough-daffern/encyclopaedia-of-druid-studies-volume-one/paperback/product-1y5gmeyv.html?srsltid=AfmBOoop6XoUBqvxafFMBOyxW6yqU646gl4yE_BcxU_F7QKTyyZW6sbd&page=1&pageSize=4

Periodic table of world religions

https://interfaithpeacetreaty.wordpress.com/periodic-table-of-the-worlds-religious-philosophical-traditions/

Dr Daffern's main web page: http://www.educationaid.net/homepage.html

Keywords: Mathematics and Religion, History of Maths, Ancient Mathematics, Philosophy of Mathematics, Sacred Numbers, Mathematical Harmony, Religious Influence on Science, Islamic Golden Age, Ancient Philosophy, Dr Thomas Daffern, The Mathematicians Podcast, Interdisciplinary Thinking, Mathematics and Metaphysics, Education and Belief Systems, Maths and Faith

Hashtags: #MathematicsPodcast #HistoryOfMaths #MathsAndReligion #AncientMaths #PhilosophyOfMaths #SacredNumbers #IslamicGoldenAge #MathsThroughHistory #TheMathematiciansPodcast #DrThomasDaffern #InjectivesSeries #MathsAndPhilosophy #MathsEducation #InterdisciplinaryThinking #SpiritualMaths

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 34 - Injectives with Dr Daffern - Religion and Maths - Part 2

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0100

If you've ever wondered whether math and faith are fundamentally at odds—or fundamentally entwined—this episode is for you.

Books that have been mentioned:

Alphabet vs the goddess

https://www.alphabetvsgoddess.com/index.html

Herod the Great

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/book/herod-the-great-jewish-king-in-a-roman-world

Talking Commentary on the Qur'an

http://www.educationaid.net/homepage.html?../pages/lectures.html

Drunk with Blood

https://www.eden.co.uk/christian-books/bible-study/academic-bible-study/drunk-with-blood-gods-killings-in-the-bible/

Being and Knowledge

https://www.lulu.com/shop/dr-thomas-clough-daffern/being-and-knowledge-volume-one/paperback/product-1jqk6wvk.html?srsltid=AfmBOop3Vrge4wmi0YwHjhYMC9W2FZYELvLRu21pLBdz1HpOitQAnRU0&page=1&pageSize=4

Encyclopedia of Druid Studies

Periodic table of world religions

https://interfaithpeacetreaty.wordpress.com/periodic-table-of-the-worlds-religious-philosophical-traditions/

Dr Daffern's main web page: http://www.educationaid.net/homepage.html

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 35 - Menelaus of Alexandria - The straightest Curve

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish explores the life and work of Menelaus of Alexandria; the mathematician who transformed how we think about geometry on curved surfaces. From his treatise Sphaerica to the elegant power of Menelaus’s Theorem, discover how this quiet figure of ancient Alexandria helped shape spherical geometry, astronomy, and the trigonometry still used in navigation, GPS, and astronomy today.

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Keywords :
Menelaus of Alexandria, spherical geometry, Menelaus’s Theorem, history of mathematics, spherical trigonometry, ancient astronomy, Greek mathematicians, geometry podcast, mathematics history, Euclid, Hipparchus, Ptolemy, trigonometry in navigation, GPS and geometry.

Hashtags:
#MathematiciansPodcast #Menelaus #SphericalGeometry #Trigonometry #HistoryOfMathematics #Geometry #AncientMathematics #MathematicalHistory #Euclid #Hipparchus #Ptolemy

Episode 36 - Nicomachus of Gerasa - That which divides us

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, Benjamin Cornish explores the life and works of Nicomachus of Gerasa—a philosopher, mystic, and mathematician whose obsession with numbers shaped centuries of thought. From perfect and amicable numbers to cosmic harmonies and the mystical side of arithmetic, Nicomachus blended maths with philosophy, music, and spirituality in ways that still resonate today.

We’ll look at how his Introduction to Arithmetic became the medieval go-to textbook, how his Pythagorean passions fed into Neopythagorean and Neoplatonist traditions, and why he thought numbers weren’t just useful but divine.

Whether you’re into number theory, history of maths, philosophy, or just like your integers with a side of cosmic karaoke, this episode has something for you.

Keywords: Nicomachus of Gerasa, history of mathematics, perfect numbers, amicable numbers, Neopythagoreanism, Neoplatonism, Pythagoras, number theory, arithmetic, medieval philosophy, music theory, quadrivium, maths podcast, philosophy of numbers.

Hashtags:
#MathematiciansPodcast #HistoryOfMaths #Nicomachus #Pythagoras #NumberTheory #PerfectNumbers #AmicableNumbers #PhilosophyOfMaths #Quadrivium #Neopythagorean #Neoplatonism #MathsAndMusic

Episode 37 - Theon of Smyrna - A Number for a Name

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Join Benjamin Cornish as he uncovers the story of Theon of Smyrna (c. 70 CE), the ancient world's ultimate study-guide writer!

He wasn't a revolutionary, but Theon's "Mathematical Matters Useful for Reading Plato" was a game-changer for anyone trying to decipher the mathematical underpinnings of Plato's philosophy.

In this episode, we explore:

Theon's life and philosophical context as a Middle Platonist.
His monumental work: a comprehensive guide to Pythagorean and Platonic arithmetic, music theory, and a glimpse into ancient astronomy.
The fascinating world of ancient "number personalities," where numbers were categorized as noble, deficient, or abundant
The monochord : how Theon used a simple instrument to demonstrate the mathematical structure of music and the cosmos.
Why Theon's seemingly unoriginal work was crucial for preserving Greco-Roman mathematical thought through the Islamic Golden Age and beyond.

Discover the often-overlooked importance of the "Great Explainers" – the compilers and clarifiers who ensure that genius remains accessible. Theon didn't just push knowledge forward; he carried it, providing the essential "cheat sheet" for understanding the universe through numbers and the role of maths.

Keywords: Theon of Smyrna, Plato, ancient maths, history of maths, Pythagoras, Nicomachus, Middle Platonism, Greek philosophy, mathematical history, arithmetic, music theory, astronomy, monochord, harmony of the spheres, perfect numbers, figurate numbers, ratios, ancient Greece, Roman Empire, historical figures, mathematical concepts, podcast, education, Benjamin Cornish, The Mathematicians Podcast.

Hashtags: #TheonOfSmyrna #HistoryOfMaths #AncientMaths #Plato #Pythagoras #MathematicalHistory #Podcast #MathsEducation #Philosophy #GreekMaths #Arithmetic #MusicTheory #Astronomy #AncientGreece #TheMathematiciansPodcast #STEM

The music was:

"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 38 - Ptolemy - Beneath the Sheets

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Imagine writing a book so influential it becomes the undisputed authority on the nature of the universe for the next 14 centuries. Now, imagine its core premise is completely wrong. That's the legacy of Claudius Ptolemy.

In this episode, we're exploring the ancient world's ultimate spreadsheet guy. Ptolemy didn't just guess that the Earth was the centre of the cosmos; he built a stunningly complex and predictive mathematical model to prove it; a system of circles-on-circles that could accurately chart the strange, looping paths of the planets.

We'll follow his influence from the library of Alexandria to the courts of Islamic scholars and the universities of Renaissance Europe. We'll look at his world maps that inspired Columbus (for better or worse) and his theorems that enabled modern trigonometry. This is the story about the power of a useful idea and why, in the history of maths, being right isn't always the most important thing.

Episode 39 - Diophantus of Alexandria - A whole lot of fun

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week, we're taking another trip to ancient Alexandria to meet Diophantus, often hailed as the "Father of Algebra."

Join us as we untangle the fuzzy biography of a mathematician whose life story is a riddle, and whose monumental work, the Arithmetica, started us working towards systematic equation-solving. From the proto-symbols of syncopated algebra to the birth of Diophantine equations (where only whole numbers dare to tread!), we explore how this ancient Greek genius sought to generalize mathematical problems, shifting math from "apples" to "variables."

Keywords: Diophantus, Algebra, Arithmetica, Diophantine Equations, Ancient Greece, Alexandria, History of Mathematics, Number Theory, Equation Solving, Rational Numbers, Integers, Fermat's Last Theorem, Hilbert's 10th Problem, Undecidability, Al-Khwarizmi, Brahmagupta, Cryptography, Computer Science, Podcast.

Hashtags: #MathematiciansPodcast #Diophantus #AlgebraHistory #AncientMaths #NumberTheory #DiophantineEquations #MathsPodcast #STEM #HistoryOfScience #Fermat #HilbertProblems #ProblemSolving #MathsFacts #Alexandria #EquationSolver #MathematicalJourney #ListenAndLearn

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 40 - Pappus of Alexandria - Burn the Bridges

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week, Pappus of Alexandria, a pivotal figure in 4th-century mathematics. Often considered one of the last great Greco-Roman geometers, Pappus compiled the monumental Synagogue, a comprehensive collection that sought to revive classical Greek geometry.

In this episode: A candid look at Pappus's personality and his notorious public critique of the female mathematician Pandrosion and her student. Pappus’s distinction between "plane," "solid," and the more expansive "linear" problems. Concepts like the Pappus Chain (or Steiner Chain) and his non-Euclidean approach to classic problems like doubling the cube.

Join us as we explore Pappus's legacy, his undeniable impact on the history of mathematics, and Benjamin’s honest (and sometimes scathing!) personal opinions on this complex figure. Plus, a crucial discussion about the often-overlooked women in mathematics and a personal announcement about the future of the podcast!

Keywords: Pappus, Alexandria, Greek Geometry, Synagogue, History of Mathematics, Pandrosion, Female Mathematicians, Euclidean Geometry, Analytic Geometry, Steiner Chain, Pappus Chain, Doubling the Cube, Menaechmus, Archimedes, Apollonius, Ptolemy, Theon of Alexandria, Diophantus, Descartes, Fermat, Newton, Euler, Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Mathematics Podcast, Geometry, Algebra, History of Science, Mathematical Concepts, Platonic Solids.

Hashtags: #Pappus #MathematicsHistory #GrecoRomanGeometry #AncientMaths #Podcast #TheMathematiciansPodcast #GeometryProblems #AnalyticGeometry #WomenInSTEM #MathsEducation #HistoryOfScience #Alexandria #STEM #ClassicalMathematics

Episode 41 - Hypatia - Less than fairer

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week we explore the brilliant, and tragically short, life of Hypatia of Alexandria. Born around 370 CE, she was a pioneering female mathematician and philosopher who led the last great school of mathematics in the ancient world.

Hypatia’s story is also a dramatic tale of political and religious upheaval. A respected pagan intellectual with influence in Alexandria's civic life, she found herself caught in the violent conflicts of the early Christian church. Join us as we examine the forces that shaped her world and led to her untimely end, reflecting on the fragile legacy of knowledge and the powerful impact of teachers, both ancient and modern.

Keywords:

Hypatia, Alexandria, history of mathematics, female mathematicians, ancient philosophy, Neoplatonism, Theon of Alexandria, early Christianity, Roman Empire, ancient history, mathematics, philosophy, women in STEM, The Mathematicians Podcast.

Hashtags:

#Hypatia #HistoryOfMaths #WomenInMaths #AncientAlexandria #Philosophy #Neoplatonism #TheMathematiciansPodcast #HistoryPodcast #WomenInSTEM #AncientHistory

Episode 42 - Boethius - A Fork in the Road

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0100

The Romans are here, in ROME! Discover the dramatic rise and fall of the Roman Empire, its lasting global impact, and the fascinating (and sometimes contentious) question of who inherited its crown. Then, meet Boethius, the last classical scholar, whose time on death row led to The Consolation of Philosophy. This episode unpacks his brilliant philosophy of causation, free will, and how god knows the future without pre-determining our choices. We'll explore Aristotle's Sea Battle paradox, Boethius's own #LogicalInnovations (like De hypotheticis syllogismis), and his monumental effort to translate Greek mathematics and #Philosophy, shaping the entire medieval intellectual landscape. Get ready for #AncientHistory, deep #PhilosophyPodcast, and the "sneaky maths" that saved #WesternThought! Keywords: #Boethius #ConsolationOfPhilosophy #RomanEmpire #LateAntiquity #MedievalPhilosophy #TemporalLogic #FreeWill #Causation #Providence #Fate #Quadrivium #HistoryOfMaths #HistoryPodcast

Episode 43 - John Philoponus - To infinity and stopping

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0100

Welcome back to The Mathematicians Podcast! This episode introduces our first "John" – John Philoponus, also known as John the Grammarian or John of Alexandria. This Christian theologian, philosopher, and arguably mathematician from 6th-century Egypt is primarily known for his religious doctrine, but we look into the fascinating overlap between mathematics and religion: the nature of infinity.

Join us as we explore Philoponus's arguments against the Aristotelian view of an eternal cosmos, his insights into the conservation of momentum and the concept of "initial impetus," and his revolutionary thoughts on the vacuum and fluid drag. We'll trace the historical arguments around infinity from Zeno to Aristotle, Euclid, and Archimedes, showing how Philoponus's ideas shaped both theological orthodoxy and the future of scientific thought.

You'll also discover John Philoponus's crucial role in documenting and popularizing the astrolabe, a pivotal scientific instrument of his era. Prepare for an episode that proves how deeply intertwined mathematics, physics, and theological debates were in the ancient world.

Keywords: John Philoponus, John the Grammarian, John of Alexandria, infinity, Aristotelian physics, Christian theology, ancient mathematics, history of science, astrolabe, momentum, vacuum, impetus, ancient Egypt, 6th century CE, philosophy of mathematics, cosmology, Unmoved Mover, Theism, Pantheism, Deism, The Mathematicians Podcast.

Hashtags:
#TheMathematiciansPodcast #HistoryOfMaths #JohnPhiloponus #Infinity #AncientScience #ChristianTheology #Aristotle #Astrolabe #Momentum #Vacuum #PhilosophyOfScience #MathematicalHistory #Podcast #SciencePodcast #AncientEgypt #6thCentury #EarlyScience #MathsAndReligion #Cosmology

Episode 44 - The Injectives with Hope Duncan - On Infinity

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0100

This week on The Mathematician's Podcast, we take a break from the philosophical and theological debates of the past to chat with an intellectual heavyweight of our own age! In another special "Injectives" episode, Ben is joined by Hope Duncan, a maths communicator and researcher at the University of Leeds whose particular interest is infinity.

Join us as Hope tackles some fundamental (and some silly!) questions from Ben's school students, concepts like dividing by zero and the mass of the universe. The conversation quickly escalates into a fascinating discussion on the history and modern understanding of infinity, covering:

The historical struggle with infinitesimals and their surprising decline in modern calculus.
The dichotomy of potential vs. actual infinity, from ancient philosophers to modern #SetTheory.
How we can "increase" infinity without changing its #Cardinality, illustrated with clever #Bijections between natural numbers and integers.
The work of #Cantor in proving that not all infinities are created equal, introducing the concept of different "sizes" of infinity, like the uncountably infinite Real Numbers.
A look at the #ZFC axioms, exploring the foundations of modern set theory, from the obvious (axiom of extensionality) to the profoundly abstract (axiom of choice).
The implications of #Gödel's incompleteness theorems, revealing the inherent limits of axiomatic systems and the existence of independent statements within ZFC.
Hope's personal research into #LargeCardinals – even bigger infinities that offer new ways to tackle unsolved mathematical problems.

This episode is a captivating journey through the evolution of one of maths' most mysterious concepts, revealing that even at the bedrock of mathematics, there's still so much to explore and discover. Hope shares what motivates her to sit with the uncomfortable "why" of mathematics, making set theory sound like the ultimate puzzle.

You can find out more from Hope on Bluesky @hopeiona.bsky.social, or Youtube @hopeduncanmaths

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Keywords: #Mathematics #MathsPodcast #Infinity #SetTheory #Calculus #Infinitesimals #Cantor #ZFC #Axioms #Gödel #IncompletenessTheorems #LargeCardinals #PhilosophyOfMaths #HopeDuncan #TheMathematiciansPodcast

Episode 45 - Simplicius - Keeping it Simplicius

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to The Mathematicians Podcast! In this episode, host Benjamin Cornish takes us back to the 6th century CE to explore the life and legacy of Simplicius of Cilicia. A pivotal figure caught between two intellectual giants, Simplicius studied under both Aristotelian and Platonic traditions, becoming one of the last significant scholars of Plato's Academy before its closure by Justinian.

Join us as we uncover Simplicius's crucial role as a pagan apologist, philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician. Learn how he became a conduit for preserving ancient knowledge, meticulously commenting on the works of Aristotle and Plato, and attempting to bridge their philosophical divide on topics like rationalism vs. empiricism, and idealism vs. realism.

The episode also revisits the epic debate between Simplicius and John Philoponus on the nature of infinity, the eternal universe, and the concept of motion and impetus.

Keywords: Simplicius, John Philoponus, Plato's Academy, Aristotle, Neoplatonism, Pagan philosophy, Byzantine Empire, Persian Empire, infinity, actual infinity, potential infinity, momentum, cause and effect, unmoved mover, ancient mathematics, philosophy of mathematics, history of science, ancient Greece, late antiquity.

Hashtags: #TheMathematiciansPodcast #Simplicius #AncientPhilosophy #HistoryOfMathematics #Plato #Aristotle #Neoplatonism #JohnPhiloponus #Infinity #Paganism #ByzantineHistory #ClassicalStudies #Philosophy #ScienceHistory #Podcast

Episode 46 - Anthemius of Tralles - On Burning Mirrors

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Join us on The Mathematicians Podcast as host Benjamin Cornish uncovers the whimsical and often mischievous side of Anthemius of Tralles, the Byzantine Greek architect and mathematician! From earthquake pranks on his neighbour Zeno to pioneering work in optics and conic sections, Anthemius proves that genius can be seriously fun. Discover the forgotten history of burning mirrors, the true shape of light, and the secrets behind the magnificent Hagia Sophia.

Keywords: Anthemius of Tralles, Byzantine mathematics, history of optics, conic sections, Hagia Sophia, ancient architects, mischievous mathematicians, podcast, mathematics history, geometry

Hashtags: #MathematiciansPodcast #AnthemiusOfTralles #HistoryOfMaths #Optics #ConicSections #HagiaSophia #AncientGreece #MathsHumor #STEMeducation

Episode 47 - Isidorus of Miletus - Build it, and they will come

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:54:00 +0000

This week, we bridge the gap between Alexandria and Constantinople with Isidorus of Miletus, a mathematician and architect who preferred teaching to writing. We look into how he and his partner, Anthemius of Tralles, were commissioned to build the legendary Hagia Sophia in a mere five years, after a sports riot burned down half the city. Discover the architectural genius behind its "floating" dome, a marvel of pendentives that has stood for centuries.

Then, we follow the extraordinary journey of a lost text by Archimedes, which Isidorus himself studied. From a library in Constantinople to a 10th-century copy in Jerusalem, this priceless work was scraped clean by a monk for a prayer book, painted over by an art forger, and finally sold at auction for millions. Uncover the cutting-edge science that resurrected the hidden text, revealing Archimedes' work in combinatorics—the Stomachion puzzle. It’s a tale of genius, destruction, and incredible rediscovery, proving that sometimes the most interesting things are hiding in the most boring places.

Hashtags:
#HistoryOfMathematics #IsidorusOfMiletus #HagiaSophia #ByzantineArchitecture #Archimedes #Palimpsest #AncientHistory #MathsPodcast #STEM #Constantinople #HistoryPodcast #Architecture

Keywords:
Isidorus of Miletus, Hagia Sophia, Anthemius of Tralles, Byzantine, Constantinople, Archimedes Palimpsest, The Method, Stomachion, Procopius, Justinian, Nika Riots, Pendentive Dome, History of Science, Combinatorics, Eutocius of Ascalon.

Episode 48 - Eutocius of Ascalon - Show Your Workings

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

This week on The Mathematicians Podcast, join Benjamin Cornish as he shines a spotlight on Eutocius of Ascalon, the unsung hero who kept the flames of ancient mathematics burning! Born in 480 CE, Eutocius headed the prestigious Alexandrian school and dedicated his life to preserving and elucidating the monumental works of mathematical titans like Archimedes. We'll explore his crucial commentaries on "On the Sphere and Cylinder" and "Measurement of a Circle," unravelling fascinating insights into early approximations of pi and the elusive origins of square root calculations. Discover why some figures count more than their theorems.

Keywords: Eutocius of Ascalon, History of Mathematics, Archimedes, Alexandrian School, Greek Mathematics, Mathematical Commentaries, Pi Approximation, Square Root, Ancient Geometry, Preservation of Knowledge, On the Sphere and Cylinder, Measurement of a Circle, Apollonius' Conics, Doubling the Cube, Mathematical Heritage.

#EutociusOfAscalon #HistoryOfMathematics #Archimedes #AncientGreece #AlexandrianSchool #MathematicalCommentaries #Pi #SquareRoots #MathematicalHeritage #Podcast

Episode 49 - Bede - Just in Time

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Was Bede a mathematician? Well, he certainly made history count. Join Benjamin Cornish for a trip to Northumbria (which is definitely in England) to meet the "OG monk" who mastered the calendar. In this episode, we dip into "On the Reckoning of Time" to discover how one man calculated the date of Easter, argued with the tides, and dated the Garden of Eden to a Tuesday (or close enough). We also explore why we use the AD/BC system and why you should never trust a Solstice.

Keywords: Bede, History of Mathematics, Northumbria, Calendars, Paschal Moon, Tides, Chronology, AD/BC.

Hashtags: #MathsHistory #TheVenerableBede #MedievalHistory #Podcast #Calendar #Northumbria #Maths

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 50 - Alcuin of York - A wolf, a Goat and a Cabbage

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

How do you get a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage across a river without turning the boat into a buffet? Welcome to the Season 1 Finale of The Mathematicians Podcast! Today, we go to the court of Charlemagne to meet Alcuin of York: clergyman, poet, teacher, and potentially history’s first queer mathematician.

Alcuin arguably invented the genre of "Recreational Mathematics." In this episode, we open his book Propositiones ad Acuendos Juvenes (Problems to Sharpen the Young), a collection of logic puzzles that includes the world’s first recorded river-crossing problems, inheritance riddles, and a few "impossible" questions designed solely to troll his students.

We also discuss Alcuin’s contribution to literacy (specifically the invention of the question mark), his thoughts on baptism, and why he might have been the original miniscule fan.

Housekeeping:
Please note that the show will be moving to a monthly release schedule as I prepare for the arrival of a new family member. If you would like to support the show through this next phase, please visit the new Ko-Fi page below!

Support the Show: Ko-Fi.com/BenjaminCornish
Contact: @mathematicians-pod on Bluesky

Keywords:
Alcuin of York, Charlemagne, Carolingian Renaissance, Recreational Mathematics, History of Mathematics, Logic Puzzles, River Crossing Problem, Medieval History, Education History, Series Finale.

Hashtags:
#MathsHistory #AlcuinOfYork #LogicPuzzles #Charlemagne #MedievalHistory #RecreationalMaths #Podcast #STEMHistory #CarolingianRenaissance #SeasonFinale

Episode 51 - Baudhayana - Back to 1 square

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:04:05 +0000

In this episode a journey back to 800 BCE to explore the life and work of Baudhayana, one of the earliest known mathematicians from the Indian tradition.

This episode also offers context on the Vedic tradition, the role of mathematics in ritual practices, and the broader connections between ethical, social, and technical knowledge. We discuss how mathematics was a practical, problem-solving craft in ancient India, designed to be memorized, teachable, and repeatable, an engineering mindset long before modern formalizations. Listeners will gain a rich understanding of the spiritual, cultural, and mathematical landscape in which Baudhayana worked, and why his contributions remain significant today.

Finally, the episode touches on questions of historical credit, colonial narratives in mathematics, and how we name mathematical discoveries, challenging us to reconsider what we think we “know” about the history of ideas.

You can support my work here: https://ko-fi.com/benjamincornish, any tips are most gratefully received.

Keywords:
Baudhayana, Sulbasutras, Vedic mathematics, ancient India, Pythagoras’ theorem, history of mathematics, approximations of pi, √2, sacred geometry, mathematical history, applied mathematics, Indian mathematicians, Vedic tradition

Hashtags:
#Baudhayana #VedicMathematics #Sulbasutras #AncientIndia #PythagorasTheorem #MathsHistory #SacredGeometry #AppliedMaths #HistoryOfMaths #MathematiciansPodcast

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 52 - Apastamba - What He Said.

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:52:15 +0000

Episode 52 of The Mathematicians Podcast, takes us deep into the world of ancient Indian mathematics with a focus on Apastamba and his contributions to the Sulvasutras. Following in the footsteps of Baudhayana, Apastamba codified and clarified Vedic ritual geometry, transforming abstract rules into practical, modular construction techniques. We explore his mathematical approach, the subtle differences between his Sulvasutras and those of Baudhayana, and his work on the Dharma Sutra, which laid out ethical and social laws with remarkable precision.

Keywords & Hashtags:
Ancient mathematics, Indian mathematics, Apastamba, Sulvasutras, Vedic mathematics, Baudhayana, Yajurveda, Dharma Sutra, Indian mathematicians, history of mathematics, geometry, Pythagoras, ethics, moral philosophy, Vedic ritual, math history podcast, mathematicians podcast, Benjamin Cornish, mathematicians, educational podcast, maths podcast, Indian history, cultural history, modular constructions, ritual geometry, maths enthusiasts, STEM history, historical maths

#AncientMathematics #IndianMathematics #Apastamba #Sulvasutras #VedicMathematics #Baudhayana #Yajurveda #DharmaSutra #MathsPodcast #HistoryOfMathematics #Geometry #Ethics #MathematicsHistory #BenjaminCornish #MathematiciansPodcast #STEMHistory #MathsEnthusiasts #EducationalPodcast

Support me here: https://ko-fi.com/benjamincornish

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 53 - Nabu-rimanni & Kidinu - Systematically Speaking

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:49:10 +0000

When is an approximation "good enough"? This week on The Mathematicians Podcast, host Benjamin Cornish opens the doors to his gem and fossil shop to discuss why a polished piece of glass, or a clever mathematical shortcut, can sometimes be just as effective as the real thing.

We are shifting our focus toward the sprawling, shifting history of Mesopotamia. Today, we tackle a double bill of Babylonian titans: Nabu-rimanni and Kidinu. Though separated by two centuries and a revolving door of empires (from the Persians to the Greeks), these two temple astronomers foresaw the blossoming of predictive science.

In this episode, we explore:

The "Feet of Clay" History: A whirlwind tour of Babylon, from the Tower of Babel and Hammurabi’s Code to the rise of the Persians and the lightning conquest of Alexander the Great.
System A vs. System B: How Nabu-rimanni’s constant velocity model evolved into Kidinu’s sophisticated "zigzag" acceleration system.
The Two-Second Error: How ancient mathematicians using little more than water clocks calculated the synodic month with a precision that rivals modern satellite data.
The Babylonian Legacy: Why the Greeks (including Hipparchus) owe their greatest discoveries to the meticulous clay tablets of the East.

Keywords:
Babylonian Mathematics, History of Astronomy, Nabu-rimanni, Kidinu, System A and System B, Synodic Month, Ancient Babylon, Cuneiform Tablets, Persian Empire, Seleucid Empire, Mathematical History, Benjamin Cornish, Naburimannu, Kidinnu.

Hashtags:
#Mathematics #HistoryOfMaths #Astronomy #AncientBabylon #NabuRimanni #Kidinu #STEMHistory #SciencePodcast #AncientHistory #Babylon #MathsIsBeautiful #TheMathematiciansPodcast #PersianHistory #ScientificDiscovery

Support the Show:
If you enjoy the history of the people that count, consider supporting Benjamin via his tips page at https://ko-fi.com/benjamincornish

Connect with us:
Follow Benjamin on BlueSky at @mathematicians-pod

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 54 - Umaswati - Mind the Gap

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:40:51 +0000

In this episode of The Mathematicians Podcast, I am jumping ahead 800 years and travelling 5,000 km back to India to pick up the threads of a fascinating mathematical tradition. I’ll be introducing you to Umaswati, a pivotal figure from around the 2nd Century CE who helped systematise the teachings of Jainism, a religion where "Right Knowledge" and the study of the cosmos made maths a fundamental pursuit.

Together, we explore the four broad periods of Indian religious development: Vedic, Śhramana, Puranic, and Bhakti, and see how the Jain tradition carved out a unique space for mathematical inquiry. We’ll discuss:

The approximation of \pi : Why the Jains used \sqrt{10} and how they handled circular segments.
The power of place value: How ancient Indian poets and scholars were comfortably using numbers as large as 10^64 while the Greeks were still stuck at the Myriad
The Five Types of Infinity: Long before Georg Cantor revolutionised set theory in the 19th century, Umaswati and the Jain scholars were already classifying different scales of the infinite and the transfinite.

Join me as I navigate the intersection of faith, philosophy, and the infinite.

You can find Ben on Bluesky @mathematicians-pod. You can support him at ko-fi.com/benjamincornish.

Hashtags:
#Maths #HistoryOfMaths #Mathematics #Jainism #Umaswati #India #History #Infinity #LargeNumbers #AncientIndia #STEMPodcast #TheMathematiciansPodcast

Keywords:
Umaswati, Jaina Mathematics, Indian Mathematics, History of Maths, Brahmanism, Vedic Tradition, Śramaṇa, Mahabharata, Place Value System, Transfinite Numbers, Enumerable and Innumerable, Pi Approximation, Mathematical Philosophy, Ancient Indian Scholars.

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 55 - Injective - Thomas K Briggs - On The Mathematicians' Library

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:00:00 +0100

In this special book club episode of 'The Mathematicians Podcast', I sit down with author, maths communicator, and museum learning consultant, Thomas K. Briggs. Join us for a glass of wine and a deep dive into Tom's book, 'The Mathematicians Library', a title so intriguing it was a must-have for the show.

This 'Injectives' sub-series episode is a one-to-one conversation; today exploring the vast history of mathematical literature. Discover the oldest book in Tom's personal collection and unravel the criteria for what truly constitutes a "book of mathematics". Tom paints a vivid picture of ancient mathematical works, describing the evolution of writing media before the age of flat sheets and ink.

The discussion navigates through the emergence of authorship in the Mediterranean, Indian, and Chinese traditions, and Tom shares his favourite example of a significant mathematical work without a known author. He also recounts the fascinating journey of a particular mathematical text through the ages, a story of translation and transcription that has preserved ancient knowledge.

In a new segment of "Desert Island Codex," Tom reveals which ancient mathematical document he would choose to study in solitude and which ancient lecture he would love to have heard.

Moving beyond the book, the episode looks into Tom's work as a museum consultant. He sheds light on the origins of encryption and the methods ancient leaders used to send secret messages. The discussion also explores the vast, untranslated collection of Babylonian tablets and what they might still reveal about Mesopotamian mathematical understanding.

Finally, Tom offers his own insightful, pithy definition of what mathematics truly is. He also reveals which mathematician he is most excited to see featured on a future episode of the podcast.

Tune in for a captivating conversation that journeys through the annals of mathematical history, from ancient texts to modern museum exhibits.

You can find Ben on Bluesky @mathematicians-pod. You can support him at ko-fi.com/benjamincornish.

You can find Tom: on his website https://tkbriggs.co.uk/ ; on Bluesky @TeaKayB.mathsy.space ; Join the History and Mathematics in Education Network https://historyand.mathsy.space/ ;

The music was-
"Danse Macabre - Finale"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Keywords: history of maths, ancient mathematics, mathematical literature, Thomas K. Briggs, The Mathematicians' Library, Euclid, ancient texts, encryption, Bletchley Park, Babylonian tablets, museums, history of science, mathematics podcast.

Hashtags: #TheMathematiciansPodcast #HistoryOfMaths #AncientMaths #MathematicalBooks #STEM #Podcast #Interview #Maths #History #Science #Books #Museums #Encryption #TheMathematiciansLibrary