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A Problem Squared

A Problem Squared

By: Matt Parker Bec Hill
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Matt Parker and Bec Hill present: A Problem Squared. A podcast dedicated to solving problems of all kinds, such as, "What should I listen to right now?". A Podcast Squared. First one's free. You're welcome. Episodes released twokly on Mondays.Matt Parker, Bec Hill
Episodes
  • 135 = Pasta Water Solution and QR Code Substitution
    May 25 2026

    🍝 Why do we put salt in pasta water?

    👾 Can you put bespoke characters in to a QR Code?

    🌼And Spring Has Sprung (in the UK) so there’s some Any Other Bloomsness


    Head to our socials to see some frankly-very-silly-but-fully-operational QR Codes.


    Boiling and Freezing Points of Pure and Salty Water https://van.physics.illinois.edu/ask/listing/1457


    Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here: http://standupmaths.com/shows


    Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!

    If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!


    If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.

    Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.


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    52 mins
  • 134 = Tooth and Rock Day 2026
    May 11 2026

    🤘To mark the May Birthday of Dwayne 'The' 'Tooth Fairy' 'Rock' Johnson, Episode 134 is a Tooth and Rock Special!

    🪨 Matt answers your rock-based queries and shares a Salt of the Perth update

    🦷 Bec and Dentist Sophie answer your tooth-based queries and shares an Adult Tooth Fairy update


    Head to our socials to look at some incredibly detailed Salt of the Perth imagery.

    And relatedly…

    Lead Explained:

    https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/-/media/ScottishWater/Document-Hub/Factsheets-and-Leaflets/Factsheets/100620SWFactSheet72020v5web.pdf

    Thallium in Salt Substitutes: A Possible Health Hazard:

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0013935177900433


    And here’s Matt’s Moving Mountains sources:

    https://ourworldindata.org/energy-production-consumption

    https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/courses/eosc350/content/foundations/properties/density.htm


    Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:

    http://standupmaths.com/shows


    Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!

    If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!

    If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.


    Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 21 mins
  • 133 = Oeuf-Bran Geometry and Huffman Decoder Tree
    Apr 27 2026

    🥣 What percentage of a box of Weet-Bix is wheat again?

    🥚 What shape is an egg?

    💬 What’s the most efficient way to write your name on a Pop-it Fidget Toy?

    👎 And would you like some AOB? We won’t take no for an answer


    Head to our socials to see all the Weet-Bix Pix, lots of names efficiently spelt out on a Pop-It Fidget Toy, lots of Girl Scout cookies, and a sheep being sheared by a robot…


    The Sheep’s Back Museum, Naracoorte

    https://thesheepsbackmuseum.org.au/


    Creation: Between Art and Mathematics Exhibition in Paris: https://www.ihp.fr/en/news-science-and-society/creation-between-art-and-mathematics


    Laura Taalman’s Granny Life Crochet:

    https://www.grannylifecrochet.com/


    Get your own Egg-Shaped Spinning Top:

    https://mathsgear.co.uk/products/phitop


    Eve’s beautiful cross-stitch:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DWY-_qzivz6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D


    Matt has extended his tour - and filming the show in London in October - all the dates, venues and tickets can be found here:

    http://standupmaths.com/shows


    And there is a Kickstarter to fund production of the filmed show, which you can get involved with here:

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/standupmaths/getting-triggy-with-it


    Join us on Patreon for early releases and our monthly bonus podcast I’m A Wizard!

    If you’re already on Patreon and have a creative Wizard offer to give Bec and Matt, please comment on our pinned post!

    If you want to (we’re not forcing anyone) please do leave us a review, share the podcast with a friend, or give us a rating! Please do that. It really helps.


    Finally, if you want even more from A Problem Squared you can connect with us and other listeners on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and on Discord.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
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