The Allusionist

169. The Box


Listen Later

Erwin Schrödinger is one of the "fathers of quantum mechanics". He also sexually abused children. Trinity College Dublin recently denamed a lecture theatre that had been named after him - but his name is still on an equation that won the Nobel Prize for physics. And a cat.

Writer and historian Subhadra Das recounts how and why you rename a university building, and retired physicist Martin Austwick considers that renaming an eponymous equation or theory might be more difficult than unscrewing a sign from a wall.

This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming.

Content note: this episode contains references to  racism and eugenics, and to the sexual abuse of children. There is also a Category B swear.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/box, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow, while it still stands.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The AllusionistBy Helen Zaltzman

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

2,956 ratings


More shows like The Allusionist

View all
Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,821 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,709 Listeners

Answer Me This! by Helen and Olly

Answer Me This!

821 Listeners

the memory palace by Nate DiMeo

the memory palace

6,863 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,163 Listeners

Imaginary Worlds by Eric Molinsky | QCODE

Imaginary Worlds

1,989 Listeners

Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

Gastropod

3,590 Listeners

Sidedoor by Smithsonian Institution

Sidedoor

2,176 Listeners

Twenty Thousand Hertz by Dallas Taylor

Twenty Thousand Hertz

3,914 Listeners

Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne

Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics

629 Listeners

Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

23,443 Listeners

Decoder Ring by Slate Podcasts

Decoder Ring

2,073 Listeners

Articles of Interest by Avery Trufelman

Articles of Interest

3,299 Listeners

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris by Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

58 Listeners

Hyperfixed by Hyperfixed & Radiotopia

Hyperfixed

531 Listeners