The Curiosity of!? Podcast

53: 🌱 Sowing Hope: The Vavilov Institute. Intelligent Speech 2023 Talk

This is a recording of our presentation at Intelligent Speech 2023. The theme was contingencies and we tell the story of the Vavilov Institute and a contingency plan bigger than those involved. You can also watch the presentation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g335sNB_8rQ Buy tickets for Intelligent Speech 2025 and use the promo code curiosity for 10% off! For full details of all the speakers and the event visit: https://intelligentspeechonline.com/

52: ☠️ Perilous poisons!

This episode we brew poison! But how dangerous is it? Join us to find out as we take a look at the history and science of poison. You’ll learn about the hemlock used to kill Plato and Pliny’s less than effective remedies to the arsenic detecting Marsh test developed in the 1800s. We also find a not so famous Famous Anton who should probably be better known for his advancement in the field that formed the foundation for clinical trials today. Get your early bird ticket for Intelligent Speech 2025: https://intelligentspeechonline.com/ [https://intelligentspeechonline.com/] Use code curiosity for 10% extra off!

51: 🪄🃏The Devil’s Picture Books and Wild West Magic

This episode we take a peek at the devil’s picture books – a name given to playing cards. We start with Chinese accounts dating back nearly 1000 years then go via beautiful Mamluk designs to Thomas de la Rue industrialising the printing process 100 years ago. But what are playing cards without magic? We meet one of Anton’s namesakes, Anton Zamloch AKA Zamloch the Great! He put on fantastic magic shows in the late 1800s, touring America with his blend of magic, mayhem and mischief! Show notes: https://curiosityofpod.com/episodes/the-devils-picture-books-and-wild-west-magic [https://curiosityofpod.com/episodes/the-devils-picture-books-and-wild-west-magic]

50: ♠️♥️ Magic and Playing Card History with Magician Lee Asher ♣️♦️

It’s episode 50 and we have a very special guest - the magician and playing card historian Lee Asher! Anton has been learning magic for the last 18 months and also become an avid playing card collector so Lee was the perfect guy to have on. He’s worked with some of the big names in magic and even invented his own card tricks - his knowledge and advice is invaluable. What we really enjoyed about talking with Lee was the passion and humanity he brings, he sees magic a positive force, something to share and a path to being a better person. Lee is also president of 52 Plus Joker, the world’s largest playing card collecting club, and gave us a brilliant rundown of playing card and magic history. We really enjoyed our chat and hope you will too and a massive thank you to Lee, be sure to check out his website and 52 Plus Joker! Show notes: https://curiosityofpod.com/episodes/magic-and-playing-card-history-with-magician-lee-asher-interview [https://curiosityofpod.com/episodes/magic-and-playing-card-history-with-magician-lee-asher-interview] Check out: https://www.leeasher.com/ [https://www.leeasher.com/] and https://52plusjoker.org/ [https://52plusjoker.org/]

49: 👁️The Curiosity of Sight. How eyes work and how we discovered that.

We’re back! Podcasts, being an audio format, make the perfect medium for talking about sight and how eyes work. This episode Anton and I discover how animals see. From the Cambrian Explosion and mass of new creatures that evolved to neutral implants via some unfortunate German rabbits we uncover the history and the science. Show notes: https://curiosityofpod.com/episodes/the-curiosity-of-sight-how-eyes-work-and-how-we-discovered-that [https://curiosityofpod.com/episodes/the-curiosity-of-sight-how-eyes-work-and-how-we-discovered-that]