In this episode... Can a spoon keep open champagne fizzy? Are two minimalist rulers more effective than one 30cm ruler? There's some Any Other Bubbness. And, you're cordially invited to the Royal Society! If you'd like to watch Matt on a very fast motorbike, have a look at this! You can find 'Rapid Motion Through Space: An Incomplete History of Speed' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYDdHSXRQro&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmicshambles.com%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&feature=emb_t...
Feb 27, 2023•50 min
In this episode... 🪨 Which human names are the least elemental? 🕰️ Why do clocks run clockwise? 🧳 Some news from the business briefcase! 🪵 And an even NEWER stumpdate. If you'd like to know how to bring plants and more specifically, your stumps, into the UK without an infestation of termites, have a look how, here: https://www.gov.uk/bringing-plants-and-wood-into-great-britain/from-outside-the-eu Here are the free IMBD data sets used by Matt in his problem: https://www.imdb.com/interfaces/ A...
Feb 13, 2023•40 min
In this episode... 🛀 How do you keep a bath warmer for longer? 💼 Matt solves a problem about business. 🗞️ We have some AOB. 🪵 And a brand new stumpdate! If you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram ....
Feb 06, 2023•55 min
In THIS very meta episode... * Did Matt forecast a million downloads correctly? * When should your toothpaste be wet? * And there's some Any Other Sizeness. You can find 'Fibonacci New Year' from @ayliean on Tiktok right here: https://www.tiktok.com/@ayliean/video/7183451455569923355. You can also find her on Twitter ! And if you want to listen to Bec officially beef with Joel & John of The Deam Factory, you can do that here: https://shows.acast.com/dreamfactory/episodes/who-brings-a-ball-to...
Jan 16, 2023•51 min
In this BRAND NEW and Perth based episode... * Which Perth is the best Perth? * If you scale human DNA to match the DNA tower in Kings Park could you reach the ISS? * And, Bec and Matt present: Any Other Beersness! If you want to see more from this week's episode, check out Twitter for social links and images! As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . You can buy A Problem Squared 'DING' t-shirts here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com . ...
Jan 02, 2023•59 min
In THIS episode: * How do you get a billion dollars on GTA 5 as fast as possible? * What are some sneaky but effective ways to measure a ring finger? * And some ANY OTHER BUSINESSSS! The three norths are aligned! Here's a map of the North by North North tour: https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/newsroom/blog/magnetic-true-grid-north-align-over-great-britain You can find 'band merch' by Matt for that here: https://standupmaths.teemill.com/collection/north-north-north/ If you want to see more from Da...
Dec 19, 2022•55 min
In this episode... How do we repurpose a satellite dish? How does Matt do his calculations so quickly? And some any other bugness! IF you want an A Problem Squared Christmas card, do become a Patreon! If you're ALREADY a Patreon, make sure you've given us your postal address. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . AND if you've got a Perth related problem for our 050th episode send them in! You can buy A Problem Squared merch here https:/...
Dec 05, 2022•49 min
047 = If Bees Flew Your Weight and Honey Use-By Date In this episode... How many bees would it take to lift a person? Does honey really have an infinite shelf life? Anddd some any other beesness! As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . You can buy A Problem Squared merch here https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram ....
Nov 21, 2022•49 min
In THIS episode... * What is the most interesting way to store books? * How many years would you need to play the lottery to reach a net positive? * A-to-the-O-to-the-B If you want to listen to Bec’s BBC podcast, 'Elon Musk vs Twitter' you can do that here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0d7q0h8 Check out the cool people Bec and Matt played pool with: ‘Average Pool Player’ Rollie Williams: https://www.youtube.com/user/RollieWilliams Jennifer Baretta. Here’s Rollie + Jennifer together! https...
Nov 07, 2022•48 min
In THIS episode... * Can we increase the chance of catching the subway by walking to the nearest stop in the direction of travel? * How long is a New York Minute, really? * And some serious jet lag. Thank you to everyone who sent in New York related questions! If you want to read more about Todd W. Schneider, you can find them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/todd_schneider Here is the code and wait times graph referenced in Matt's problem: https://toddwschneider.com/posts/nyc-subway-data-an...
Oct 24, 2022•52 min
In THIS episode... * Which utility would be most useful on a utility belt? * How fast is the speed of smell? * Matt comes one step closer to finding his stairs. * And, when does a plate become a bowl...decided? IF you want to look as cool as Bec and Matt (and who doesn't) head on over to: https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com for merch. The book Bec mentions in her problem is called ' End State: 9 Ways Society Is Broken & How We Fix It' by James Plunkett. If you have a suggestion for what go...
Oct 10, 2022•59 min
In this episode... * We run the numbers on the 2002 hit song 'Year 3000' * Why do all humans have nipples? * And, A Problem Squared goes to New York City! If you happen to be in New York City at 4pm on Saturday the 8th of October, Matt will be performing with A Podcast of Unnecessary Detail. That's at Caveat Comedy Club in Manhattan! You can find tickets for that, here: https://caveat.nyc/events/aeoud-10-8-2022 Please send your New York related problems to the Problem Solving Page, and tag it 'N...
Sep 26, 2022•49 min
In this episode... * When does a plate become a bowl? * And, five five-letter words with twenty-five unique letters: Some mind-blowing solutions. Juat a reminder that you can now buy APS merch! Head on over to: https://a-problem-squared.teemill.com. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram ....
Sep 12, 2022•37 min
In this episode... * How do you stop a wobbly table from wobbling? * Which is more effective for your dental hygiene: a toothbrush without toothpaste or toothpaste without a toothbrush? * A-to-the-O-to-the-B. * Plus! Some exciting merch news. If you want to see more of Matt's wobbly tables on ridiculous maths surfaces, you can do that here: https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0511490 . For the best system for teeth brushing and more tips on dental hygiene have a listen to ‘APS 03 - Teeth Tips and Definin...
Aug 29, 2022•51 min
In THIS episode... * What's the most appropriate gift for a couple’s -1 year anniversary? * How do you write a podcast review without Apple podcasts? * And Bec and Matt return to rather a lot of AOB. We would like to thank shittyflute on YouTube for letting us use their rendition of the A-Team theme tune. You can find more tunes you love, badly played here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHMmLi8z1HbyhTEvfBgXpyg As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblem...
Aug 15, 2022•55 min
In this very special episode, live from Blue Dot Festival... * How many astronauts does it take to change a light bulb? * What is the most environmentally friendly way to launch an object into space? * And APS are live for the first time at Blue Dot Festival! A huge thank you all the contributors that helped make this episode happen; To Professor Steven Lockley from Harvard. You can find more about his contributions to sleep in space here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0...
Aug 01, 2022•42 min
In this episode... * Can you guess 5 unique words with unique letters in Wordle? * How do you get out of your head and into the scene in improv? * And any other Cheesness. Here's the dictionary text file Matt started with for his problem. It contains 370,000 words: https://github.com/dwyl/english-words A huge thank you to everyone who helped with Bec's dinglett. Alex Holland at the Free Association - this is where Bec did her improv course, and you can find details about that here: https://thefr...
Jul 18, 2022•55 min
In this episode... * When does a high five become a low five? * What is the most efficient digital display? * And, some any other beesness Just 18 more sleeps until APS is LIVE at Bluedot - that's between 19:45 - 20:45 on Friday the 22nd July. Please send in your Bluedot specific questions to the Problem Solving Page including the phrase 'Bluedot'. You can do this on Twitter too, but it might get lost! A big shout out to Mr Thing, just because they are fantastic. You can find them on Twitter: @w...
Jul 04, 2022•47 min
In this episode: Can you create an order from a numbered menu that is always comprehensible to the server? When someone is behind you as you open a door, what is the polite distance to wait for them? And, the cards are on the table. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . Please send in your Blue Dot problems, and we may just solve it live on stage. Just post your problem with the tag 'Blue Dot' to aproblemsquared.com - Do it now! If you w...
Jun 20, 2022•57 min
In THIS episode... * How long would it take us to eat the moon if it was made of cheese? * If you shot and dropped a bullet at exactly the same time, they would hit the ground simultaneously? * And Bec and Matt give thanks. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram.
Jun 06, 2022•42 min
In this episode... * How related are you to a Harbour seal? * Bec gives some novel advice. * Matt mends a mistake. * And there's all sorts of AOB. If you want to bid on the £5,000 t-shirt referenced in 006 of A Problem Squared, join us on the 26th of May, 2022! All proceeds go to Water Aid - links to come. Bec's new book 'Now LiveScreaming' is out now! Go buy it! You can find Yale's incredible evolutionary and ecological chat here: https://vertlife.org/ And just a little recap, seals are in the ...
May 23, 2022•45 min
In this episode: * Can you alter the smell of your farts based on what you eat? * When does a computer become a supercomputer? * And, Any AOB! A huge thank you to Dr Jess Biesiekierski, you can find them at @jessbersa and @monashnutrition on Twitter, Dr Dr CK Yao, find them at @yao_ck on Twitter and of course, Gareth Turkington , @G_Turkington on Twitter, @gareth.turkington on Insta, who created, sung and recorded the fantastic “Fart Life”. If you want to find out more about pop-off related rese...
May 09, 2022•45 min
On this episode... * How many molehills would you need to make a mountain out of them? * How do you find friends? * Matt revisits some mistaken maths. Don't forget to send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live! And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram....
Apr 25, 2022•41 min
In this episode... * Why are aspect ratios so whack? * How many phone numbers actually exist? * Wheels or Doors: Revisited. * And, closure on A Pudding Squared. A big thank you to Tom Salinsky for helping with this week's problem. You can find more from him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomsalinsky?lang=en and his podcast, Best Pick Pod, here: https://twitter.com/bestpickpod?lang=en If you want to see Matt, Bec AND Lucie at the belated and brilliant Nine Carols variety show on the 16th and 17t...
Apr 11, 2022•56 min
In this episode... * What are the odds of having the same child twice? * Wheels or Doors? * And Bec recommends some new nerdy podcasts! Don't forget too send in your Blue Dot Festival problems to us on the website below - we might just do it live! And, as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on aproblemsquared.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared (and who doesn't) find us on Twitter and Instagram...
Mar 28, 2022•50 min
Happy Pi Day 2022! In this episode... * Which edible products have protected names? * How much tax paid by a civil servant would pass into their own salary? * And of course. We have AOB-B-B-b-b-b.... To watch a crack team of 30 calculate 11 digits of Pi by hand, head over to Stand-up Maths on YouTube. If you want a qualification of your own, why not take the Food Standards Agency Food Labelling e-course here , or if you'd rather do something else instead, just ask Bec for the source elements. Ge...
Mar 14, 2022•51 min
In this episode... * Could a GPS sat nav work on the moon? * A Pudding Squared returns. * An APS announcement. * AND format news! If you have any memory of how 'Is This Your Card' started please (please) let us know. As always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website aproblemsquared.com . And if you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram....
Mar 01, 2022•45 min
In this episode... * How do you reuse an old radiotherapy mask? * What is the optimal way to utilise postcodes in Scrabble? * And, the results of our 2021 listener survey are in. For more on radiotherapy masks, head on over to Macmillan . And do check out the Bravery Unmasked project for some truly incredible mask transformations. If you want want even more from A Problem Squared, find us on Twitter and Instagram. And as always, if you've got a problem or a solution, hit us up on our website www...
Jan 31, 2022•44 min
APS 026 is here, and it's the last of the year! In this episode... * How fast could a team of penguins complete a 4 x 100 relay race? * How can you fix your sleeping schedule? * And, AOB - lot's of it! As ever, we value your thoughts on A Problem Squared so head on over to: www.thatsurvey.ilikeit.aproblemsquared.com and give us some feedback! You can learn more about circadian rhythms here: https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx How to change them, here: htt...
Dec 31, 2021•54 min
In this month's episode Bec finds out how many Beck's beers would fit in Bec Hill. And Matt investigates how much he'd have in Euros, if every person gave him 1 in their local currency. Plus! A ding is given, and Matt goes to Antarctica. A big thank you to Adam Kay , Doctor Xand and sword swallowers Snookie Mono and Snake Fervor for their help with this episode. As always, send your problems to www.aproblemsquared.com , EXCEPT if it's related to Antarctica, in which case, ask on Twitter: @AProbl...
Nov 30, 2021•53 min
