The Information Entropy Podcast

Conservation

This week, we’re getting into the wild world of conservation — the science of saving stuff before it disappears forever. But it’s not all noble rangers and panda logos. Conservation is complicated. It’s where ecology crashes headfirst into politics, economics, and some big ethical questions about what we value and why.
We break down what conservation really means today, why it’s not just about protecting animals but entire ecosystems, and why humans are now part of the systems we’re trying to save. Then we dive into the IUCN Red List — the global scoreboard of extinction — and unpack how scientists actually figure out whether a species is vulnerable, endangered, or officially gone. It’s got spreadsheets, thresholds, and way more urchins than you’d expect.
From the origins of the conservation movement to the hard science behind who lives and who dies, this episode asks: can we really protect nature while still being part of the problem?
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The Middle Ages: Metallurgy and Forges

In this final "Middle Ages" episode, we take a closer look at how medieval weapons were made—from the blacksmith’s forge to the battlefield. We explore the practical science behind forging and quenching steel, how techniques developed across Europe and Japan, and what this meant for the weapons themselves. We also examine how swordsmanship evolved alongside metallurgy, from early battlefield combat to the structured environments of tournaments. That includes a look at techniques like the Mordhau, and how fighting styles changed as both armour and social attitudes shifted. It’s an episode about materials, methods, and the people behind the weapons—not just how they were used, but how they were made to last. Music: HOME - AWAY

The Middle Ages: Rock, Paper, Halberd!

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast. This week, we are following the evolutionary arms race between medieval units. The infantry, the missile troops, and the cavalry. A delicate balance of strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield, but how and why did these roles evolve over time and what were the driving forces behind that change? As the art of the sword became more refined and “gentlemanly”, we look at the codex Wallerstein to see how it became the guidebook on swordplay and took influence from martial arts. Music: HOME – AWAY

The Middle Ages: Siege You Later!

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast. This week, we’re storming the gates—literally. From scaling walls and battering gates to digging tunnels under your enemies and flinging plague-ridden cows into castles, we dive into the gritty science and strategy behind medieval siege warfare. Learn how castles were taken (or not), how defenders fought back, and why flinging a bucket of piss wasn’t just personal—it was tactical. Trebuchets, moats, murder holes, tunnelling, and a whole lot of rocks—because sometimes brute force really was the plan. Music: HOME – AWAY

The Middle Ages: Fortress and Fire

In this episode of The Information Entropy Podcast, we catapult ourselves into the world of medieval castles. Join us as we unpack the science and strategy behind castle defence, from murder holes and machicolations to position, structure, and power. We’re digging deep into how medieval castles were designed as layered defensive machines and the evolution of their design. Castles weren’t cosy stone palaces—they were engineered war machines. Music: HOME - AWAY

Memories

This week, we're diving deep into the weird and wonderful world of memory — both biological and mechanical. From how your brain stores the smell of grandma’s house to how your laptop remembers where your holiday photos are, we explore what memory actually is, how it works, and why your version of events might be completely wrong. We’ll explain how neurons store memories, why your brain edits the past like a drunk film director, and how trauma changes memory in ways that can shape your entire life. Then we plug in and switch gears to look at how computers store information — from magnetic disks to binary code to why your SSD might outlive your attention span. As always, expect a healthy dose of solid science, questionable analogies, and the kind of off-topic nonsense that makes this The Information Entropy Podcast. Music: HOME - AWAY

Music and Orchestras

Welcome back to The Information Entropy Podcast! This week, we’re diving into the fascinating world of music. Mitch kicks things off with some important news and clarifications for the ASD community, clearing up a few common misconceptions. Then it’s straight into the science, as Tom unpacks the origins of musical notes — where they came from, and why we even have them in the first place. From there, the conversation flows into the physics of harmonics and the evolution of the orchestra as an organised collective of sound-makers. To wrap it all up, Mitch asks the question we’ve all thought at some point: what exactly is the conductor doing up there? Music: HOME – AWAY

Life History Theory: Speed or Immortality?

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where this week we are questioning why some animals live to be 500 and others less than a day! Tom starts with some out of this world news before the boys get onto the topic in a semi-reasonable time this week! The boys explore different life history strategies and the effects it has at an individual and population level, when is it more beneficial to live fast and when is the slower approach more appropriate, and what effects does each have on our ability to perceive and interact with the world around us? The boys discover how much they didn’t know about the Greenland shark, so you’re bound to learn something! Music: HOME - AWAY

Landcycling: Forests

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast we’re exploring the fascinating world of forests…. Eventually. First the boys get lost on their adventure and they talk about moving house and some life updates. Mitch explores the next steps in light-based computing technologies before the boys debate whether dire wolves are really back! Then onto forests: Tom defines what they are and explores the different layers and their ecological niches. Mitch looks at the different types of forests and how they sequester carbon from our atmosphere. To round out the show the boys discuss forest psychology and the impact that being in a forest has on us. Music: HOME - AWAY

Landcycling: Plains

Welcome back to the Information Entropy Podcast where today we are exploring the world of Plains and Grasslands! What are plains and grasslands in the first place and why are they scientifically interesting? Mitch defines them and Tom looks at how they form. The boys then explore the important ecosystem services that plains provide in the form of carbon sequestration while also investigating the fascinating interactions keystone species (such as lions) have on their environment. Music: HOME - AWAY