What I learned from reading Planck: Driven by Vision, Broken by War and Scientific Autobiography and Other Papers

Episode Outline:

- Intro to Max Planck

- Early Life and Education

- Tending the Garden of Physics

- The Path to Quantum Theory

- Friendship with Einstein

- Family Life and Personal Tragedies

- The Birth of Quantum Mechanics

- Scientific Legacy

- Planck's Philosophical Outlook

- Final Years and Legacy

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What I learned from reading Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman and What Do You Care What Other People Think

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Episode Outline:

- Intro to Feynman

- Early Life and Father's Influence

- MIT and Princeton Years

- Los Alamos From Below

- Cornell and Teaching Style

- Brazil

- Caltech

- Lessons and Side Quests

- Critique of Science Education

- Nobel Prize and Scientific Contributions

- Scientific Integrity

- The Challenger Disaster

- The Value of Science

- Conclusion

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What I learned from reading The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth

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Episode Outline:

- "Mathematics is the only infinite human activity. It is conceivable that humanity could eventually learn everything in physics or biology. But humanity certainly won't ever be able to find out everything in mathematics, because the subject is infinite. Numbers themselves are infinite. That's why mathematics is really my only interest."

- Early Life and Prodigy Status

- Erdős's Unique Lifestyle: No permanent home, possessions, wife, children, or hobbies — only mathematics. His famous line: "My brain is open."

- Mathematical Output and Collaborative Nature: Authored or co-authored 1,475 academic papers - the most in math history. Collaborated with 485 mathematicians. Erdős numbers and their significance

- Erdős's Personality / Generosity and Compassion

- Mathematical Philosophy and Style

- Key Contributions to Mathematics

- Relationship with Other Mathematicians

- Later Life, Death and Legacy

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Avidan Rudansky is the host of Birds and Frogs, where he studies history's greatest scientists. This is what he learned from reading Dear Professor Einstein: Albert Einstein's Letters to and from Children.

(00:00) Birds and Frogs Podcast Intro

(01:00)  Intro

(04:15) Einstein's Biography

(25:13)  Einstein's Education

(35:11) The Letters - Albert Einstein's Letters to and from Children

(52:31) Summary and Conclusion

Learn from history's greatest scientists. I read the biographies of scientists and tell you what I learned. It's essentially “Founders” podcast for scientists.

Subscribe to the Birds and Frogs substack! I will share notes, transcripts, quotes, and commentary on all of the biographies I read.