Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by comedian Jo Brand, mathematicians Prof Hannah Fry and Dr Eugenia Cheng, and xkcd webcomic creator Randall Munroe to discover how thinking like a mathematician could solve some tricky everyday conundrums. From the optimal strategy to finding your true love, to how to fix a wonky table in the pub, thinking like a mathematician can help you in some very unlikely situations. They discover how mathematical thinking can help answer some truly out of this world questions as well: how much soup would it take to fill the solar system? What would happen if you shrank Jupiter to the size of a house? Not problems we'd encounter in everyday life maybe, but all questions sent to Randall Munroe for his "What If?" series of books. At first glance the questions may seem impossible, but, as it turns out, maths and physics can provide an answer to these headscratchers, as the panel discover.Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem

Mathematician and author of Hello World and The Mathematics of Love, Hannah Fry discusses the role of maths in society, the dating world and we explore what it means to be human in the age of algorithms. -- Want even more? Members get early access, hand-edited transcripts, member-only episodes, and so much more. Learn more here: https://fs.blog/membership/   Every Sunday our Brain Food newsletter shares timeless insights and ideas that you can use at work and home. Add it to your inbox: https://fs.blog/newsletter/   Follow Shane on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish

Mathematician Prof Hannah Fry, computer scientist Dr Kate Devlin, and comedian Rufus Hound explore the pros and cons of AI. They discuss the intelligence of AI, the potential for AI to replace humans in various roles, the limitations of AI, testing the human feel of words, emotional connections with AIs, and the dilemma of human decision-making vs algorithmic efficiency.

Eric Topol and Abraham Verghese chat with the UK's professor Hannah Fry about taking risks and asking the right questions. This podcast is intended for US healthcare professionals only. To read a full transcript of this episode or to comment please visit: https://www.medscape.com/features/public/machine Eric J. Topol, MD, Director, Scripps Translational Science Institute; Professor of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Abraham Verghese, MD, Physician, author, and educator; Professor and Vice Chair, Theory & Practice of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California Hannah Fry, MSc, PhD, Professor, Mathematics of Cities, University College London, London, United Kingdom Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine https://hannahfry.co.uk/book/hello-world/ You may also like: Medscape's Chief Cardiology Correspondent Dr John M. Mandrola's This Week In Cardiology https://www.medscape.com/twic Discussions on topics at the core of cardiology and the practice of medicine with Dr Robert A. Harrington and guests on The Bob Harrington Show https://www.medscape.com/author/bob-harrington For questions or feedback, please email: news@medscape.net

At Short Wave, it's an unspoken goal to ask and answer every question under the sun — after all, science underpins the entire universe. Today, we think we've finally met our curiosity match in mathematician Hannah Fry and geneticist Adam Rutherford. They're the duo behind the science mystery podcast The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry and co-authors of the new book Rutherford & Fry's Complete Guide to Absolutely Everything (Abridged). In the book, they ask questions like: How old is the Earth? Does your dog love you? And, is there free will?Obviously, the middle question is of particular interest.Are you also curious about a scientific mystery? DM us the old-fashioned way — over email at shortwave@npr.org. We'll open an investigation.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hannah Fry, a scientist tracking researchers probing a new geological epoch influenced by humans, dives into a thrilling global quest sparked by a conference in Mexico. She discusses the concept of the 'golden spike'—a marker of the Anthropocene defined by human impacts like plastics and nuclear fallout. The conversation highlights the Great Acceleration, examining how human activities since the Industrial Revolution have dramatically altered our planet, and the ongoing controversy over recognizing our current epoch.

Mathematician Hannah Fry discusses the importance of being proactive in finding a partner, even at the risk of humiliation. The podcast explores the fascinating mating rituals of birds and bees, from impregnation mid-air to selective behavior in choosing mates. It also touches on animal behavior, intelligence, and humorous comparisons to human relationships.

Mathematician Hannah Fry, domino artist Lily Hevesh, and comedy writer Brian David Gilbert discuss topics such as flying planes upside down, improving inventions like ketchup bottles, the existence of two javelin events in the Olympics, the mystery of a man-made water trough, and the challenges of organizing a massive funeral scene in a movie.

Hannah Fry, a researcher delving into the intriguing spike in male births in 1970s UK, joins the conversation to unravel this demographic mystery. As Britain faced economic turmoil in 1973, she connects the dots between the 'returning soldier effect' and fluctuating birth ratios. The discussion extends to how historical events and social changes, like rising teenage pregnancies, shape gender dynamics. Fry highlights the complex interplay of hormonal and environmental factors influencing sex ratios, offering a captivating look at a pivotal year in history.

Hannah Fry, a researcher in network science, dives into the intriguing connections that shape workplaces and power grids. She recounts a tale from a Hungarian tile factory, showing how personal relationships can drive productivity. The discussion reveals how a well-connected employee often has more influence than their manager. Drawing parallels to a significant power line failure, Fry highlights how gossip and communication can impact both employee dynamics and critical infrastructure. It's a revealing look at the power of connections in unexpected places.