A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail
A science comedy podcast that delves into the unnecessary details of everyday phenomena. Hosted by the trio behind Festival of the Spoken Nerd—stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould, and geek songstress Helen Arney—each episode dissects three different science stories. The show explores seemingly mundane topics that become fascinating when examined closely. It also promotes their live shows in the UK and streamed worldwide.
Episodes
3.6 - Running Up That Hill
After a long and unexpected break, the podcast that keeps talking until stuff gets interesting returns with a new episode! This time, Steve tries to solve a long-running problem, Matt gets vexed about triangles and Helen introduces Hertha Ayrton and the Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade.- Steve's bit (00:44)- Matt's bit (15:08)- Helen's bit (36:13)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show note
3.5 - Twelve Pentagons
Another episode of the podcast that fears no detail, where Matt talks balls, Steve talks fiery rings and Helen sings a tortoise into space.- Matt's bit (00:55) - pre-order "Love Triangle" here!- Steve's bit (19:30)- Helen's bit (35:44)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
3.4 - Keep Your Trousers on, Archimedes
Back once again after a seasonal break, Series 3 continues with some Ingenuity from Steve, some DOOM from Matt, and a song about the man, the myth, the mathematician Archimedes from Helen:- Steve's bit (00:55)- Matt's bit (18:36)- Helen's bit (39:56)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
3.3 - "You'll Log"
Series 3 brings 2023 to a close with a festive special that reaches the parts that other festive specials don't reach... 3D programmable tree lights, the real reason people kiss under the mistletoe and a disappointingly bleak Laboratory Christmas Party take us into the new year with more detail than anyone could possibly need or want. Thank you, as ever, for listening!- Steve's bit (00:56)- Matt's
3.2 - That’s Not What A UFO Looks Like
Against all odds, Series 3 continues with a complicated automotive engineer from Helen, a complicated visual processing system from Steve, and a complicated restaurant triangulation problem from Matt:- Helen's bit (00:55)- Steve's bit (22:35)- Matt's bit (41:45)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Cor
3.1 - For Your Local Definition Of "Down"
In a surprise first episode of Series 3 (truly, no-one is more surprised than us to be popping up in your feed right now...) Steve tells the truth about the Prime Meridian, Helen brings a song from her new musical "Almost Astronauts", and Matt attempts to divert an apocalyptic future scenario - with maths:- Steve's bit (00:48)- Helen's bit (17:01)- Matt's bit (34:06)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately
To Infinity And Beyond
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 e
Live And Kicking Part 3
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
Lock And Key
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...
Live And Kicking Part 2
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
On The Ones And Twos
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 contai
Live And Kicking Part 1
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 Swi
Curiouser and Curiouser
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:
Hearts and Minds
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... h
Input and Output
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... H
Go Forth and Multiply
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
Primed and Ready
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 th
Flush and Forget
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 ep
A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail is back!
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
Transmission
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: festivalofthe
Table
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 Twit
Stick
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 fo
Rings
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@
Interstellar
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 mer
Fuel
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.
A Trailer Of Unnecessary Detail
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
