FLASHCARDS: Gerrymandering and the Math Behind the Maps
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Release Date: 04/18/2025
FLASHCARDS: How a Teenager Discovered the Physics of Black Holes-Chandrasekhar’s Limit Explained
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Episode Overview: What do black holes, a teenage genius, and a long ocean voyage have in common? In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math, Science, History, Gabrielle tells the incredible story of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who, at just 19 years old, sailed from India to England and made a discovery that would transform astrophysics forever. Armed only with a notebook and fresh ideas from quantum mechanics, Chandrasekhar calculated the limit of stellar collapse, now called the Chandrasekhar Limit, which revealed when a star collapses into a black hole. This isn't just a story about...
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Black Holes from Theory to Reality
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Episode Overview Once dismissed as mathematical absurdities, black holes are now recognized as real, powerful features of our universe—cosmic wells where space, time, and even light collapse. In this episode of Math! Science! History!, we explore the astonishing story of how black holes evolved from a rejected theory to an accepted reality. From Einstein’s reluctance and Oppenheimer’s overlooked models, to John Wheeler’s advocacy and Stephen Hawking’s revolutionary radiation theory, this episode traces the full arc of scientific discovery—and what black holes reveal about our own...
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FLASHCARDS FRIDAY! Just say NO to Melanoma
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
In this Flashcard Friday episode, Gabrielle dives into the surprising history and science of sunblock. From ancient Egypt’s jasmine oils to modern SPF 50 sprays, discover how sunscreen evolved and why it’s one of the best defenses against deadly melanoma. Gabrielle shares the statistics on skin cancer, explains how sunblock works, and gives you simple tips to stay protected. With her favorite motto, “Just say NO to melanoma,” she’ll leave you ready to face the sun smartly. 3 Things Listeners Will Learn: - The fascinating history of sunblock, from ancient remedies to modern...
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REPOST: Pascal's Higher Power
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Episode Overview In this special re-release, we revisit the life and mind of Blaise Pascal, a mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and theologian who left a lasting impact on multiple disciplines. From his early genius in geometry to his pioneering work in probability theory, Pascal was a thinker who never stopped exploring the boundaries between logic and faith. In this episode, Gabrielle Birchak explores how Pascal’s scientific brilliance intersected with his spiritual journey, shedding light on the man who helped shape modern science, mathematics, and religious philosophy....
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FLASHCARDS FRIDAY! Charles Darwin: The Lost Boy
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
In this Flashcard Fridays episode of Math! Science! History! Gabrielle Birchak takes listeners on a journey aboard the HMS Beagle with a young, seasick Charles Darwin. This wasn’t just a travel story, it was a five-year working holiday that would ultimately change the course of science. Through field observations, curiosity, and a bit of chaos, Darwin unknowingly gathered the seeds of his future theory of evolution. From the Galápagos Islands to fossil beds in South America, Gabrielle uncovers how a break from academia became one of the most pivotal moments in scientific history....
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Leonardo da Vinci: The Renaissance Genius Unmasked
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Leonardo da Vinci is often remembered for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper—but he was so much more than a painter. In this episode, we uncover the Renaissance icon’s groundbreaking work in engineering, anatomy, and invention, as well as explore the quieter truths of his personal identity. We ask a powerful question: What might the world look like if everyone—regardless of gender or sexuality—could live and create as freely as Leonardo did, without fear of judgment? Join us as we journey through Leonardo’s notebooks, his unconventional relationships, and the brilliance he left...
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FLASHCARDS FRIDAYS! Ancient Vacations
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Episode Overview: Did people in antiquity ever go on vacation? The short answer is yes—and the long answer is a fascinating journey through Roman villas, Greek festivals, Byzantine retreats, Tang dynasty poetry, and sacred pilgrimages. In this Flashcard Friday episode, Gabrielle Birchak uncovers how the privileged, the pious, and the poetic found ways to take breaks, explore new places, and seek leisure across 1,400 years of ancient history. From Pliny the Younger’s coastal villa to early travel writing in Baghdad, we’ll explore how the idea of “getting away” is as old as...
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Queer Nature: A Scientific Perspective
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
In this special Pride Month episode, Gabrielle explores the fascinating world of queerness in nature. From same-sex penguin pairs in New York to gender-changing clownfish in coral reefs, nature has always been more diverse, adaptable, and surprising than human categories suggest. Drawing on over 600 years of scientific observation, this episode takes listeners on a global journey through the history of animal research, challenges long-held myths, and reflects on what science teaches us about identity and diversity today. 3 Things Listeners Will Learn: How scientists from Aristotle to...
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FLASHCARDS! Pride Month: Facts speak louder than lies
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Episode Overview: In this Flashcard Friday episode of Math! Science! History!TM Gabrielle breaks down the powerful numbers behind the misinformation and legislative attacks targeting LGBTQ+ and especially transgender communities in the United States. With over 550 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across 49 states in 2023 alone, it's time to ask: What does the data actually say? From the percentage of Americans who identify as LGBTQ+ to the hard truth about who actually commits acts of harm, this episode unpacks the math that shatters the myths. Because when fear leads, facts must speak...
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How the Ancient Maya Invented Zero and Decoded the Cosmos
Math Science History with Gabrielle Birchak
Episode Overview: Long before Europe adopted the concept of zero, the ancient Maya had already created one of the most sophisticated mathematical systems in the world. In this episode of Math Science History, host Gabrielle Birkjak uncovers the secrets of Mayan mathematics, from the elegance of their base-20 number system, to their revolutionary use of zero, to the celestial precision encoded in the Dresden Codex. We explore how the Maya embedded math into everything from pyramids to calendars, and how European scholars like Ernst Förstemann helped rediscover their brilliance...
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In this episode of Math, Science, History, we explore one of the most quietly powerful forces in American democracy: gerrymandering. From its origin over 200 years ago to its impact on today’s elections, gerrymandering is both a political weapon and a mathematical puzzle.
We break down the mathematical principles used to detect gerrymandering, explore real court cases in Southern states, and examine how computer science and voter data are used to both draw and fight unfair districts. You’ll also learn how other countries handle redistricting—and what the U.S. can learn from them.
Whether you're a math geek, a science lover, or just a concerned citizen, this episode gives you practical tools and knowledge to take action against one of the most manipulative practices in modern politics.
✅ 3 Things You Can Do to Stop Gerrymandering
- Support Independent Redistricting Commissions
Advocate for fair districting in your state by supporting or starting initiatives to create nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
- Use Data Tools to Analyze Your District
Explore your voting maps using free tools like Dave’s Redistricting App or PlanScore to see if your district is gerrymandered—and share your findings with your community.
- Vote in State and Local Elections
Remember, state legislators often control the redistricting process. Voting in state and judicial elections is one of the most powerful ways to influence how future maps are drawn.
📚 Resources to Learn More About Gerrymandering
🧠 Educational & Research-Based
Brennan Center for Justice – Redistricting & Gerrymandering
In-depth articles, research, and legal updates on redistricting and voting rights.
Princeton Gerrymandering Project
Offers tools, research, and nonpartisan analysis for creating and evaluating fair district maps.
FiveThirtyEight’s Gerrymandering Explainers
Data journalism and interactive pieces exploring how gerrymandering affects elections.
🛠️ Tools for Public Use
Dave’s Redistricting App
A powerful tool for citizens to draw, analyze, and compare congressional and state maps.
PlanScore
Provides a scoring system to evaluate gerrymandering in district maps based on real election data.
📖 Books
Ratf**ked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America's Democracy by David Daley
An investigative look into how gerrymandering has shaped U.S. politics post-2010.
Drawing the Lines: Constraints on Partisan Gerrymandering in U.S. Politics by Nicholas R. Seabrook
A deeper academic and legal dive into how redistricting works and how it's abused.
🔗 Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
📚 To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h
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On Matters of Consequence from The Little Prince by Lloyd Rodgers
Until next time, carpe diem!