Friction: The Rules of Contact

Friction: The Rules of Contact

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week explore the all-encompassing emergent property that is friction. No matter what we do in our lives, friction probably has some part to play whether we realise it or not… but what actually is it and how is it studied? Find out about friction types, spontaneous “welding” of metals in space, bearings, ‘Superlubricity’, knee joints, and much much more on this exciting 200th episode of the podcast!

Electromagnetic Radiation II: From Heatwaves to Microwaves

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we continue our exploration into the electromagnetic spectrum. Given the extreme heat (transmitted through infrared radiation… see its relevant ramble!) the boys start the episode exploring heat waves, heat domes, British summer heat, and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation events and what that even is. After that, attention turns to microwaves… ovens and the waves themselves! Tom questions whether microwave ovens are small boxes of magic and explores how they heat your food. Mitch teaches us about radar systems and the other extremely cool uses in everyday life for microwaves!

Electromagnetic Radiation (and books)

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we aimed to speak about the electromagnetic spectrum! But before that we had a deep and impromptu dive about books we are reading and weighed in on the debate of reading books vs listening to them as audiobooks… or both at the same time! When we finally get back on track, we explore what electromagnetic radiation actually is. Particles or waves that do not require a medium to travel? We typically perceive just a small fraction of the spectrum: visible light! But either side of that are radio waves for communication and x-rays!

Electricity: Electrons, Currents, and Sold-State Batteries

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are buzzing at you about electricity! What even is electricity in the first place and how does it interact with magnetism? One of the four fundamental forces of nature we break it down for you here today. The boys dive into the fundamental physics of electricity, explaining electron movement, currents, metal lattices, and electrical resistance. Mitch then explores the next major breakthrough in global energy development: Solid State Batteries! With Chinese manufacturers beginning mass production, how close are we to having safer, smaller, lighter, and more efficient storage for every day life?

Perceptual Divergence: Hyperphantasia, Face Blindness, and Synaesthesia

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are back to our regular two-host shenanigans and we are exploring the different ways that people perceive the world. Hyperphantasia is the enhanced ability to visualise things in your mind’s eye, Mitch conducts the “Cube Test” on Tom to test hist ability, come and try it out yourself! Tom looks at face blindness and asks why specifically encoding identity information with facial features gets specifically targeted. Finally, the boys explore Synaesthesia, a fascinating perceptual experience where some individuals senses are biologically intertwined leading sound to produce colours!