Cover image of The Scientific Odyssey

The Scientific Odyssey

An examination of scientific inquiry through a discussion of the history and philosophy of the scientific endeavor.

Warning: This podcast is a series podcast

This means episodes are recommended to be heard in order from the very start. Here's the 10 best episodes of the series anyway though!

Ranked #1

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Episode 4.2: Hypothetically Speaking

Episode 4.2: Hypothetically Speaking

In this episode we consider several possible solutions to Hume's Problem of Induction including William Whewell's descri... Read more

3 Aug 2018

1hr 3mins

Ranked #2

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Episode 5.8: Heaven and Earth

Episode 5.8: Heaven and Earth

In this episode, we trace the development of Hellenistic geography from the work of Polybius, through Strabo, to its con... Read more

24 Dec 2019

1hr 16mins

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Ranked #3

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Episode 5.1: Uncharted Waters

Episode 5.1: Uncharted Waters

Wherein we prepare to once again slip our lines in search of new knowledge.  We discuss the effects of modern technologi... Read more

24 Feb 2019

31mins

Ranked #4

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Episode 2.25.1: Supplemental-Erwin Schrodinger and the World's Most Famous Cat

Episode 2.25.1: Supplemental-Erwin Schrodinger and the World's Most Famous Cat

A discussion of the life and scientific work of Erwin Schrodinger.  Specific attention is paid to the "gedankenexperimen... Read more

10 Oct 2015

36mins

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Ranked #5

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Episode 2.17: Of Matter and Anti-Matter

Episode 2.17: Of Matter and Anti-Matter

A discussion of the work of Paul Dirac to produce the relativistic wave equationand the discovery of anti-matter as he t... Read more

14 Jun 2015

36mins

Ranked #6

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Episode 5.2: Defining Space

Episode 5.2: Defining Space

Wherein we look at mapping as a human activity and begin our exploration of the evidence of the earliest maps known.

25 Mar 2019

1hr

Ranked #7

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Episode 3.27.7: Supplemental-Edmond Halley-Gentleman Adventurer

Episode 3.27.7: Supplemental-Edmond Halley-Gentleman Adventurer

In our second episode devoted to the life and work of Edmond Halley, we recount his three voyages aboard the Paramour to... Read more

19 Mar 2017

52mins

Ranked #8

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Episode 2.22: Renormalization

Episode 2.22: Renormalization

A discussion of the development fo renomalization to save quantum field theory from the problem of the various infinties... Read more

27 Aug 2015

40mins

Ranked #9

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Episode 3.27: A New Physics

Episode 3.27: A New Physics

In this episode we look at the work in mathematics and physics of Isaac Newton from his time at the University of Cambri... Read more

22 Jan 2017

1hr 1min

Ranked #10

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Episode 3.50.6: Supplemental-Einstein's Angels

Episode 3.50.6: Supplemental-Einstein's Angels

This week we look at the period of Albert Einstein's life from 1905-1913 as he moved from one position to another on his... Read more

12 Apr 2018

1hr 2mins

Ranked #11

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Episode 3.29.1: Supplemental-William Herschel and the Discovery of Uranus

Episode 3.29.1: Supplemental-William Herschel and the Discovery of Uranus

William Herschel was a Hanoverian musician turned British astronomer.  In this episode we look at his journey from milit... Read more

9 Apr 2017

1hr 1min

Ranked #12

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Episode 2.17.1: Supplemental-Paul Dirac, The Mathematician

Episode 2.17.1: Supplemental-Paul Dirac, The Mathematician

In this episode we take a look at the early life and education of engineer, mathematician and physicist Paul Dirac.

26 Jun 2015

30mins

Ranked #13

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Episode 2.19: Into the Nucleus

Episode 2.19: Into the Nucleus

A discussion of both the theoretical and experimental work of Enrico Fermi in the field of nuclear physics.  Additional ... Read more

19 Jul 2015

33mins

Ranked #14

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Episode 3.50.7: Supplemental-Albert Einstein, The Best and Worst of Times

Episode 3.50.7: Supplemental-Albert Einstein, The Best and Worst of Times

When Einstein moved to Berlin in 1914, he entered into a period of intense turmoil, both in his scientific work and in h... Read more

7 May 2018

1hr 24mins

Ranked #15

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Episode 3.27.1: Supplemental-Isaac Newton, The Miracle Years

Episode 3.27.1: Supplemental-Isaac Newton, The Miracle Years

In part 1 of our multipart biography of the father of physics, we look at the life of Isaac Newton from his early years ... Read more

29 Jan 2017

49mins

Ranked #16

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Episode 2.18: Of Fields and Particles

Episode 2.18: Of Fields and Particles

In this episode we discuss the development of the first quantum field theories including quantum electrodynamics for the... Read more

12 Jul 2015

43mins

Ranked #17

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Episode 3.50.9: Supplemental-Albert Einstein, Entanglement

Episode 3.50.9: Supplemental-Albert Einstein, Entanglement

In the words of physicist John Wheeler,  “In all the history of human thought, there is no greater dialogue than that wh... Read more

23 May 2018

58mins

Ranked #18

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Episode 3.50.2: Supplemental-Albert Einstein, The Bourgeois Bohemian, Part 1

Episode 3.50.2: Supplemental-Albert Einstein, The Bourgeois Bohemian, Part 1

In 1896, Albert Einstein enrolled in the teacher preparation program for physics and mathematics at the Zurich Polytechn... Read more

12 Feb 2018

1hr 6mins

Ranked #19

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Episode 2.13: The Quantum Atom

Episode 2.13: The Quantum Atom

In this episode, we look at the development of a theoretical model of electron behavior for Rutherford's nuclear model o... Read more

15 Mar 2015

36mins

Ranked #20

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Episode 5.3: Dead Reckoning

Episode 5.3: Dead Reckoning

In this episode, we discuss the development and use of basic navigational tools and how they lead to map knowledge in an... Read more

8 May 2019

1hr 12mins

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