The Rest Is Science – “Michael Wrote Some Math Poetry”
Podcast: The Rest Is Science
Hosts: Prof. Hannah Fry, Michael Stevens (Vsauce)
Release Date: February 5, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode explores how scientific and mathematical ideas—often taken for granted or assumed to be fully understood—can become strikingly strange when seriously questioned. The hosts tackle deep philosophical questions about the nature and correctness of mathematics, the acceptance of scientific ideas like germ theory, and the peculiar dynamics of hurricanes in fluid mechanics. The episode then segues delightfully into the unlikely territory of mathematical poetry, with Michael sharing and composing limericks that blend mathematical rigor with playfulness.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Show and Tell: Museum of the Mind
[02:15–02:53]
- Michael introduces the “Fieldnotes” episodes as an interactive show and tell, inviting audience contributions.
- The episode’s theme: “the fusion of math and poetry.”
- The first listener question is chosen: “How do we know math is correct?” from Noor.
2. How Do We Know Math Is Correct?
[03:02–13:30]
- Big Question: Is mathematics a human invention or a discovery about the universe?
- Hannah Fry (on the uncertainty of mathematical truth) [03:25–04:22]:
“We are in a position where maths is either this, like, massive hallucination that all of us have come up with that just so happens to work perfectly, or it really is the language of the universe.”
- Michael Stevens references Wigner’s famous essay on “The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics.” [04:22–04:29]
- Real-World Examples: Antimatter, Neptune’s prediction—mathematical equations predicting unknown phenomena in reality. [04:36–05:58]
- Correctness Defined: The hosts discuss the difference between correctness (philosophical truth) and effectiveness (correspondence to reality).
- Foundations of Math:
- Attempts in the early 20th century (e.g., Principia Mathematica by Russell & Whitehead) to prove math’s consistency and correctness.
- Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorem: The limits to proving math’s foundations. [07:26–09:09]
- Memorable Exchange:
- Michael: “Sometimes you just have to embrace the religious aspect of math, which is that through faith alone, I accept that one plus one equals two. Now let’s move on.” [09:49]
- Hannah: “When it comes down to it... it’s all an act of faith.” [10:03]
Invented or Discovered?
[10:54–13:30]
- Hannah’s Conclusion:
- Tools and notation are invented.
- The phenomena revealed by math are discovered.
- Cites Andrew Wiles’ metaphor: doing research math feels like stumbling through a dark hedge, suddenly realizing it's a “perfectly manicured garden.”
- Quote:
“[You] are in absolutely no doubt whatsoever that it is not of your invention, that you are exploring a space that exists beyond the human mind.” [12:00–13:03]
- The philosophical question is left open for further discussion if listeners wish.
3. Why Was It Hard to Accept Germ Theory? (The Semmelweis Reflex)
[13:56–19:54]
- Listener Question: How difficult was it for the discoverers of germs to convince others of their existence?
- Semmelweis Story:
- In 1847, Ignaz Semmelweis drastically cut childbed fever deaths by mandating hand washing with alcohol.
- His insights were initially rejected due to entrenched medical beliefs and psychological biases (“Semmelweis reflex”).
- Quote (Michael):
“For some reason, we have these barriers to accepting new information, even in light of convincing evidence.” [17:12–18:47]
- Modern Analogue:
- Slow acceptance of airborne COVID-19 transmission.
- It wasn’t until December 2021 that the WHO officially recognized it.
4. The Paradox of Hurricanes and Fluid Dynamics
[21:02–25:27]
- Listener Question: Why do large hurricanes form if energy usually flows from large to small eddies?
- Hannah’s Explanation:
- In 3D fluids (coffee cup), energy cascades to smaller scales.
- Earth's thin atmosphere behaves almost as a 2D fluid—so energy “cascades” upward, creating larger structures (e.g., hurricanes).
- “Quasi-geostrophic potential vorticity equation”—her favorite equation name. [23:46]
- Jupiter’s Great Red Spot:
- A real-world 2D-fluid effect: hundreds of years old, massive storm.
5. Mathematical Poetry: Limericks with Logic
[27:04–43:22]
- Michael delights in mathematical limericks:
- Introduces classic and original examples.
- The art of making equations fit in limerick meter.
- Notable Mathematical Limericks:
- Lee Mercer’s equation-limerick:
“A dozen, a gross, and a score,
Plus three times the square root of four,
Divided by seven,
Plus five times eleven,
Is nine squared and not a bit more.” [29:04] - Integration limerick:
“The integral z squared dz from 1 to the cube root of 3,
Times the cosine of 3 pi over 9
Equals log of the cube root of e.”[29:32] - Mobius strip limerick:
“A mathematician confided
A Mobius strip is one sided.
You’ll get quite a laugh
If you cut one in half,
For it stays in one piece when divided.” [31:56] - Hannah, delighted: “That is delightfully nerdy.” [31:56]
- Lee Mercer’s equation-limerick:
- Original Michael Stevens Limericks:
- On Shapes:
“The rhombus was keenly aware
That his side lengths were famously fair,
But when he brought in his neck,
All his angles were wrecked,
And then the poor guy was a square.” [33:00] - Zero in Division (three limericks) [36:29–39:01]:
- On dividing by zero as a non-operation.
- On zero as dividend (always gives zero).
- On zero divided by zero as undefined (“any number will do—so we say the whole thing’s undefined”).
- Hannah appreciates the recurring image of “maths police” policing the zero crimes.
- On Shapes:
Poems as Memory Tools
- Hannah shares a maths poem by Lewis Fry Richardson on fluid dynamics, tying back to the hurricane discussion:
“Big whorls have little whorls that feed on their velocity,
And little whorls have lesser whorls and so on to viscosity.” [35:11]
On Counting, Parental Anecdotes, and Bored Children
- Michael recounts explaining to his daughter why zero is even. [41:01]
- Hannah shares her own children’s exasperation at scientists:
“Mommy, why are your friends so boring?” [41:46]
Final Personalized Limericks:
- For Hannah:
“A circle of chips was prepared,
But filling it, nobody dared
Till she pointed out with
No shadow of doubt
That the area’s just ‘fry R squared.’” [42:37] - For both hosts:
“Deep thinking’s a kind of defiance,
And so was their nerdy alliance.
Mike was the guy
And the girl was named Fry,
And the rest, as they say, is, well, science.” [43:03]
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- On the nature of math: “We are in a position where maths is either this, like, massive hallucination... or it really is the language of the universe.” – Hannah Fry [03:25]
- On foundational math proofs: “They wrote a book. And by book, I mean books... These are tomes.” – Michael Stevens [08:38]
- On the uncanny effectiveness: “Equations showing us where to look... That kind of couldn't be the case if math was absolute nonsense.” – Hannah Fry [04:36]
- On acceptance of new scientific ideas: “For some reason, we have these barriers to accepting new information, even in light of convincing evidence.” – Michael Stevens [17:12]
- On two-dimensional atmosphere: “It basically acts like a two-dimensional fluid.” – Hannah Fry [22:40]
- On poetry: “A Mobius strip is one sided. You'll get quite a laugh if you cut one in half, for it stays in one piece when divided.” – Anonymous (read by Michael) [31:56]
- On audience challenge: “If you have any limericks that you'd like to share with us... send them to us.” – Hannah Fry [43:22]
- On children’s reactions to science: “Mommy, why are your friends so boring?” – Hannah Fry [41:46]
Segment Timestamps
| Time | Segment / Topic | |----------|----------------------------------------| | 02:15 | Introduction to “Fieldnotes” | | 03:02 | Listener Q: Is math correct? | | 04:22 | Effectiveness of math, real-world cases| | 07:26 | Principia Mathematica & math proofs | | 10:54 | Invented vs. discovered mathematics | | 13:56 | Germ theory and Semmelweis reflex | | 19:54 | Modern analogies (COVID transmission) | | 21:02 | Hurricanes, fluid dynamics, 2D flow | | 23:46 | The “quasi-geostrophic...” equation | | 27:04 | Mathematical limericks, poetry | | 33:00 | Michael’s own limericks | | 36:29 | Division by zero limericks | | 41:01 | Anecdotes about kids & zero | | 42:37 | Limericks personalized for the hosts | | 43:22 | Audience invitation, outro |
Tone & Style
- The conversation is witty, deeply enthusiastic, and occasionally goofy (“maths police,” self-deprecating humor about their own nerdiness).
- Michael and Hannah balance rigorous scientific explanations with playful banter, making highbrow topics approachable.
- Frequent encouragement for audience participation (share your inventions, send in your limericks!).
For Further Listening
Listeners interested in:
- The philosophy of mathematics
- How scientific ideas take hold (or don’t)
- The hidden dynamics in familiar things (like hurricanes, or numbers)
- Playful intersections between science and the humanities
...will find this episode engaging, mind-bending, and oddly comforting.
Want More?
- Submit your own mathematical limericks or science questions to the show!
- Watch for future deep-dives as Hannah & Michael threaten (promise?) to do entire series on the philosophy of mathematics and on the number zero.