71: What's the Matter? An Interview with Chris Cogswell of the Mad Scientist Podcast (Material Science)

Matter is that which takes up space, and has mass. It is what we interact with, and what we are. Imagining a world without matter is to imagine light particles drifting aimlessly in space. Gasses, liquids, solids, and plasmas are all states of matter. Material science studies all of these, and their combinations and intricacies, found in examining foams, gels, meshes, and other materials and metamaterials. Chris Cogswell is a material scientist, and host of The Mad Scientist Podcast, a podcast that takes a critical look at things ranging from technological fads, to pseudoscience, and topics that deserve a critical eye. On the first of a pair of two episodes about material science, we interview Chris about his experience with studying material science, and ask questions about the subject in general. Links referenced by Chris Cogswell: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUvi5eQhPTc is about nanomagnetism and cool demonstration of ferrofluid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Dlt63N-Uuk goes over nanomagnetic applications in medicine - http://yaghi.berkeley.edu/pdfPublications/04MOFs.pdf Great review paper on new class of materials known as MOFs which are going to be very important in coming years - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkYimZBzguw Crash course engineering on nanomaterials, really good introduction to the field - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7EYQLOlwDM Oak Ridge national lab paper on using nano materials for carbon dioxide conversion to other carbon molecules - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxVFopLpIQY Really good paper on carbon capture technology challenges and economics [Featuring: Sofía Baca, Gabriel Hesch, Meryl Flaherty; Chris Cogswell] --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/breakingmathpodcast/support

Om Podcasten

Breaking Math is a deep-dive science, technology, engineering, AI, and mathematics podcast that explores the world through the lens of logic, patterns, and critical thinking. Hosted by Autumn Phaneuf, an expert in industrial engineering, operations research and applied mathematics, and Gabriel Hesch, an electrical engineer (host from 2016-2024) with a passion for mathematical clarity, the show is dedicated to uncovering the mathematical structures behind science, engineering, technology, and the systems that shape our future. What began as a conversation about math as a pure and elegant discipline has evolved into a platform for bold, interdisciplinary dialogue. Each episode of Breaking Math takes listeners on an intellectual journey—whether it’s into the strange beauty of chaos theory, the ethical dilemmas of AI, the deep structures of biological evolution, or the thermodynamics of black holes. Along the way, Autumn and Gabriel interview leading thinkers and working scientists from across the spectrum: computer scientists, quantum physicists, chemists, philosophers, neuroscientists, and more. But this isn’t just a podcast about equations—it’s a show about how mathematics influences the way we think, create, build, and understand. Breaking Math pushes back against the idea that STEM belongs behind a paywall or an academic podium. It’s for the curious, the critical, the creative—for anyone who believes that ideas should be rigorous, accessible, and infused with wonder. If you've ever wondered: * What’s the math behind machine learning? * How do we quantify uncertainty in climate models? * Can consciousness be described in AI? * Why does beauty matter in an equation? Then you’re in the right place. At its heart, Breaking Math is about building bridges—between disciplines, between experts and the public, and between the abstract world of mathematics and the messy, magnificent reality we live in. With humor, clarity, and deep respect for complexity, Autumn and Gabriel invite you to rethink what math can be—and how it can help us shape a better future. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Website: https://breakingmath.io [https://breakingmath.io/] Linktree: https://linktr.ee/breakingmathmedia Email: breakingmathpodcast@gmail.com