BA in Science
By Maggie and Brynna
BA in ScienceNov 16, 2022
Arche
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.
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Featured BA: Thales of Miletus
A Ravishing Harmony
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
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Accidental Entrepreneur
This week, Maggie and Brynna talk about an Indian billionaire who got her start brewing beer.
Featured BA: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
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Safer than Safe
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?
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Outback Angel
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.
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Hammock Heir
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
Prince of Botanists
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
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Season 7 Trailer
We're Back with a bunch of new BAs and their wild science. First episode drops March 6th!
Hammer to Fall, Part 2
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.
Hammer to Fall, Part 1
In part 1 of the season 6 finale, Maggie and Brynna tackle the bios of the people behind the beginning of Big Science.
An Open Brain
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.
Redhot Red
Maggie and Brynna discuss an inventor this week who changed music forever.
Not As Helpful As You Thought
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.
The Art of the Brain
On this week's episode, Maggie and Brynna discuss a Spaniard whose art and science both changed how we see the brain.
Where in the World
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".
The Boy Who Cried Rubber
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.
The Fighting Four, Part 2
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!
The Fighting Four, Part 1
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.
Dark Lady of DNA
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.
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Ball of Burning Gases
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.
The Man Behind the Lab
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?
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Season 6 Trailer
We're back for another season of BAs! Join us on Wednesdays for new episodes starting Nov 6th.
The Difference Between Screwing Around and Science
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.
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I Reject Your Reality
Maggie and Brynna begin their two-part season 5 finale with a bang, covering two BAs who brought the fun back to science.
Crimea River
This week Maggie and Brynna discuss a very well-known BA who gives major Joan of Arc vibes.
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Lemniscate
This week Maggie and a reluctant Brynna dive into the world of geometry, algebra, and analytic geometry. With a BA who was politically savvy during turbulent times, was willing to fight a philosopher (maybe physically if it had come to that), and who got his job because he didn't support a monarchy, how can this episode be anything but interesting?
The Worst Smoothie
It's BS week and wow is that an accurate description of at least one portion of the story Maggie and Brynna have for y'all. But, unlike most of the stars of our other BS episodes, the scientist featured this time is actually not a bad guy, and his science was pretty good. So how did we get here?
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Do You Lie to Your Hygienist?
Maggie and Brynna talk about a BA who knew that the best way to deal with teeth was BEFORE they started to have problems, not after.
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Lions and Monkeys and Metres, Oh My!
This week, we dive back into the geodesy pool and talk about how the meter came to be and why having a single prime meridian is vital to accurate train schedules.
Scents-ability
This week, Maggie and Brynna tackle a Frenchman living in Russia who joined the army and then got moved all over but ended up in Paris, designing perfume for the most iconic Frenchwoman (possibly) of all time.
Adjective Trouble
The two major heavyweights in today's brawl are HUGE names in microbiology - sort of the first names in microbiology. But that didn't stop them from having egos that got in the way of what could've been a very productive collaboration.
Bonus Episode - The Cloud Appreciation Society
Maggie has a treat for you this week! In the Luke Howard episode (S5E3), she mentions an interview with the founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society. His name is Gavin Pretor-Pinney and he is an expert on clouds, to say the least. The conversation they had is so much fun and will have you wanting to see what the Cloud Appreciation Society is all about. Check out the link below!
The Cloud Appreciation Society - Cloud Appreciation Society
Originally released on Patreon 3/15/23
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King of Clouds
If you've got a camera reel full of pictures of the sky, this is definitely the episode for you. Is there anything more relaxing than staring up at the sky and watching the cumulus clouds float by? Chances are, you know exactly what a cumulus cloud looks like, but did you know that the way we name clouds dates back to the 1700s and hasn't changed much since? This week, Maggie and Brynna discuss the BA who named the clouds.
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Cotton Conundrum
Have you ever wondered what it is about cotton that makes it get so wrinkly in the wash? Our BA this week did. Maggie and Brynna will discuss a cool woman who did her best to save us all a lot of time using an iron.
The Disparate Dozen of the Enlightenment
It's finally Season 5! We're starting off with a panoply of BAs who went on a trip and it was a disaster. We've got a great start to the season with mayhem, scientific bickering, and tropical diseases in an episode about an expedition that changed the shape of the world. Sort of.
Season 5 Trailer
Season 5 coming March 1st, 2023!
Not Beautiful, Still Deadly
In the Finale of Season 4, Maggie and Brynna expand on the theme from episode 11: poisons, how they work, and the people who made them famous. Or infamous?
Beautiful, Deadly Lady
In this first part of the Season 4 Finale, Maggie and Brynna talk about a necro-entrepreneur/poisoner, her poison of choice, and some other people who may or may not have fallen victim to chemical mischief.
What the Fish Scales Know
Maggie and Brynna head into the briny deep this week for an adventure with an explorer, scientist, and all around Badass.
Prime
We're got another mathematician this week and Brynna is not excited. But Maggie is, and it turns out that the subject of the show had a complicated and interesting life in both India and Great Britain.
Hola
We've got some very treasonous BS today! Maggie and Brynna explore nuclear science (which is a lot) and talk about a little old lady who sold her country and then didn't even want to take her paycheck.
Willful Wanderer
Listener recommendation! One of our awesome listeners suggested our BA this week and it was a GREAT choice. If you're the kind of person who can't imagine a quiet retirement - because you'd rather be adventuring - then this lady is going to be your new bestie.
Final Frontier
For possibly the first time, Maggie and Brynna picked a BA that has a birthday right when her episode is set to air, so we're releasing it a couple days early! Happy Birthday to Dr Mae Jemison, our BA of the week, who did some actual out-of-this-world science.
Bonus Mini-Sode - Quackery
**Special Treat! This episode originally was posted to Patreon, and we're sharing it here because we love you!**
GUYS! You cannot miss this episode! Brynna shares with Maggie (and y'all) some VERY concerning medical practices through the ages. If this isn't your favorite episode, you're wrong.
Maybe Athletes Should Eat More Donuts
This week, Maggie and Brynna talk some serious biochem! If you're under the impression that a buildup of lactic acid is bad, you might learn a lot from the Coris and the metabolic pathway they discovered.
How Nazis Tried to Ruin Physics
Time for a brawl! This week's episode focuses on two men who were VERY different in temperament and worldview, which led to name calling, general snottiness, and a tarnished legacy.
Drunk and Disorderly
This week, Maggie and Brynna cover a guy who spent a lot of time drunk and disorderly, but his legend and contributions are also somewhat disordered.
Dragon Doctor
Would you invite a lizard to tea? Or invite a toddler to be chummy with a giant venomous reptile? Our BA today would! Maggie and Brynna explore the world of reptiles and talk about a BA who just couldn't have a nice, normal pet.
Enchantress of Number
Maggie and Brynna are back for Season 4 and they're starting off with a bang! Our BA this week had scandalous parents, fascinating friends, and a brilliant mind. Oh and did we mention she knew a thing or two about computers?
Season 4 Trailer!
Check out new episodes starting September 14th. Can't wait that long? Check out our Patreon to find bonus episodes! https://www.patreon.com/bainscience