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A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail

Comedy

Series 2 is here! Looking for a science comedy podcast that doesn't skimp on the details? We've got you. One starting point sets off three different science stories from the trio behind comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd. Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney take a single phrase and use it to investigate things that might not seem particularly interesting on the surface, but become fascinating when you get down to the nitty and / or gritty. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

Series 2 is here! Looking for a science comedy podcast that doesn't skimp on the details? We've got you. One starting point sets off three different science stories from the trio behind comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd. Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney take a single phrase and use it to investigate things that might not seem particularly interesting on the surface, but become fascinating when you get down to the nitty and / or gritty. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twitter:

@FOTSN

Language:

English

Episodes

To Infinity And Beyond

6/14/2022
In the final episode of this series, Steve gives faint stars the side-eye, Helen sings a relatively short song about relativity and Matt gives a standing ovation to the desktop calculator that rerouted a space probe. Up, up and away! - Steve's bit (01:54) - Helen's bit (16:13) - Matt's bit (36:07) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - None, so far. This...

Duration:00:53:14

Live And Kicking Part 3

6/7/2022
Steve, Helen and Matt introduce the final installment of their live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With sets from astrophysicist and emo kid Jen Gupta, NATO alphabet innovator (in-NATO-vator) Ted Hill, stand-up medic Matt Hutchinson and Rock ‘n’ Roll IT consultants Foxdog Studios. Also contains extra details from Steve talking about tastebuds, and Helen singing about radioactive bananas: - Steve's bit (01:29) - Jen's bit (12:08) - Ted's bit (21:32) - Foxdog Studio's bit...

Duration:00:47:25

Lock And Key

5/31/2022
In this episode, Matt exposes false advertising in the Jigsaw Puzzle industry, Steve matches up what we know about the immune system, and Helen writes a new tune that fits an old song. If you like detail, have a listen. You’ll fit right in: - Matt's bit (01:28) - Steve's bit (19:23) - Helen's bit (32:56) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - Harlekintiger on...

Duration:01:00:52

Live And Kicking Part 2

5/24/2022
Matt, Helen and Steve introduce more favourite moments from their recent live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With comedian Rachel Wheeley talking about the Greenwich Time Signal, biochemical engineer Michael Sulu on the potentially fatal difference between tubes and pipes, and zoologist Hana Ayoob sharing the Honey Badger love. Plus Matt on fast food, bad maths and McCombinations, and Helen with a song about losing love at the circus: - Matt's bit (1:27) - Rachel's bit...

Duration:00:54:50

On The Ones And Twos

5/17/2022
In this episode, Steve explains why all the molecules in your body are right handed, Matt bigs up the strong law of small numbers and Helen grabs the mic to get on the ones and twos. Stand by to receive details! - Matt's bit (1:10) - Steve's bit (18:19) - Helen's bit (32:49) - "One" Song from "Hello Numbers" (40:25) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - Every...

Duration:00:46:09

Live And Kicking Part 1

5/10/2022
Helen, Matt and Steve introduce the best bits of their recent live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With nerdy guest performers Dr Rohin Francis aka Medlife Crisis discussing why the human body isn’t really fit for purpose, and comedian Rosie Wilby on whether monogamy is truly dead. Plus the Nerds share their own unnecessary details on stage, with Matt throwing the rule book at Swiss Trains, Helen singing numbers in rhyming order, and Steve breaking into his own car: -...

Duration:00:53:48

Curiouser and Curiouser

5/3/2022
In a different kind of episode, our intrepid Detailers reveal three facts that they just could not believe the first time they heard them, but turned out to be true. The reproductive habits of barnacles, the unexpected mating call of the tawny owl and a freaky formula that draws a picture of itself all get the Unnecessary Detail treatment: - Helen's bit (01:12) - Matt's bit (16:08) - Steve's bit (34:12) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to...

Duration:00:44:57

Hearts and Minds

4/26/2022
In this episode, logical thought and raw emotion meet as Matt finds two numbers that say “I Love You”, Helen sings mathematical equations that are guaranteed to make your brain light up and Steve embarrasses himself with the science of blushing: - Steve's bit (00:51) - Matt's bit (11:15) - Helen's bit (30:13) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - Liran...

Duration:00:45:26

Input and Output

4/19/2022
In this episode, Steve explains how computers talk to each other behind our backs, Helen co-writes a song with a popular internet search engine (if you can’t work out which one, Google it) and Matt brings an Oscar-winning algorithm to the table: - Steve's bit (00:56) - Matt's bit (16:18) - Helen's bit (36:24) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... Head to the episode page to see them. If you're looking for the API that Steve and Matt...

Duration:00:51:02

Go Forth and Multiply

4/12/2022
In this episode, Matt finds out how a runaway algorithm created the world’s most expensive book, Helen searches for the most singable fruit fly genes and Steve considers whether donating a kidney is easier than buying a house: - Steve's bit (00:46) - Helen's bit (11:05) - Matt's bit (37:30) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - None, so far. This series is...

Duration:00:50:02

Primed and Ready

4/5/2022
In this episode, Matt finds his portrait in a Prime Number, Helen sings about the biggest Prime Number ever discovered (at the time of recording) and Steve discovers the hot new trick that wild honey bees are using to defend themselves: - Steve's bit (00:52) - Matt's bit (13:33) - Helen's bit (26:12) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - None, so far... This...

Duration:00:44:10

Flush and Forget

3/29/2022
In this episode, Steve discovers the greedy cup siphon hiding inside your loo, Matt delves into Joseph Bazalgette’s calculations for London’s sewer system and Helen teaches everyone how to flush a toilet, through the medium of song: - Steve's bit (00:48) - Helen's bit (11:48) - Matt's bit (28:03) SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything. Corrections and clarifications: - None, so far. But we have...

Duration:00:50:25

A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail is back!

3/17/2022
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes as soon as they are released! Looking for a science comedy podcast that doesn't skimp on the details? We've got you. One starting point sets off three different science stories from the trio behind comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd. Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney take a single phrase and use it to investigate things that might not seem particularly...

Duration:00:01:08

Transmission

9/22/2020
In this final episode of Series 1, Steve talks about how plants transmit their genes, Helen eavesdrops on whales and Matt decodes spacecraft transmissions. Plus a song about the bravest little transmitter in the known universe: - Steve's bit (00:45) - Matt's bit (13:40) - Helen's bit (26:15) - The Philae Song (39:15) For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email...

Duration:00:44:28

Table

9/15/2020
Steve goes to war against rote learning; Matt tells us how ancient numbers affect what we can and can't name our dogs; and Helen's bit is elementary, my dear listener: - Matt's bit (00:50) - Steve's bit (11:15) - Helen's bit (22:00) - Helen's bonus brassy song (37:05) For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the...

Duration:00:43:10

Stick

9/8/2020
In this episode, Steve talks about a sticky effect, Matt gets us tangled up in stick knots, and Helen gets stuck into sticky numbers: - Steve's bit (00:45) - Matt's bit (10:15) - Helen's bit (22:05) For live shows, merch, mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. SHOW NOTES Unfortunately our show notes...

Duration:00:35:41

Rings

9/1/2020
In this episode, Helen investigates a curious ring that lives in the sea, Steve contemplates the meaning of life itself and Matt brings along some bagels: - Helen's bit (00:45) - Matt's bit (11:05) - Steve's bit (19:55) For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast...

Duration:00:33:08

Interstellar

9/1/2020
In this episode, Steve tries to measure distant stars with his thumb, Matt talks black holes & plot holes and Helen plays some of her favourite space sounds. Plus a song from Helen that may provide useful information for your future interstellar travel needs: - Steve's bit (01:00) - Helen's bit (12:30) - Matt's bit (24:40) - Helen's Cryonic Love Song (38:50) For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re...

Duration:00:43:03

Fuel

9/1/2020
In this episode, Helen talks fuel for your body, Matt talks plane fuel (or lack of it…) and Steve talks origin theories for a particular fossil fuel. Plus a song from Helen about the ultimate source of Earth’s fuel: - Matt's bit (01:10) - Helen's bit (10:30) - Steve's bit (22:30) - Helen's Sun Song (33:50) For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email...

Duration:00:39:06

A Trailer Of Unnecessary Detail

11/6/2018
Series 2 coming soon! Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes. Looking for a science comedy podcast that doesn't skimp on the details? We've got you. One starting point sets off three different science stories from the trio behind comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd. Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney take a single word or phrase and use it to investigate things that might not seem particularly interesting on the...

Duration:00:01:12

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