Voices of Mathematics

Mathematics Faculty, University of Cambridge
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Insights and interviews from the Mathematics Faculty, University of Cambridge. Voices of Mathematics takes you inside the University of Cambridge's Mathematics Faculty, the home of the Cambridge Mathematics departments.  From number theory and geometry to cosmology and quantum physics, the Faculty's work explores fundamental and exciting questions to extend the boundaries of discovery. In conversations with researchers from both departments, we explore topics across pure and applied mathematics, mathematical statistics and theoretical physics. Join us for conversations with members of the Mathematics Faculty as they share their personal insights into the fascinating - and wide - world of mathematics and the mathematical sciences. Find out more at maths.cam.ac.uk Voices of Mathematics is hosted by Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, Editors of Plus.

Episodes

  1. MAR 11

    Black holes, dark stars and gravitational waves: Ulrich Sperhake and Seppe Staelens

    Welcome to Voices of Mathematics, a podcast from the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Cambridge. From number theory and geometry to cosmology and quantum physics, join us to explore topics across pure and applied mathematics, mathematical statistics and theoretical physics. In this episode we talk to two members of the Stephen Hawking Centre for Theoretical Cosmology in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Ulrich Sperhake, Professor of Theoretical Physics, and graduate student Seppe Staelens discuss their fascinating research. Gravitational waves, whose discovery was announced ten years ago, have provided a wealth of information about what physicists believe are black holes. But could other objects be hiding in this data too?  "Gravitational wave signals are like fingerprints," says Sperhake. "You and I have similar fingerprints, but they are not the same. Similarly, subtle differences allow us to tell from an observed gravitational wave the properties of the black holes, or neutron stars, that emitted it." Because gravitational waves carry the imprint of the objects that caused them, they have given us a new tool for observing the Universe. And in the ten years since the first detection we have learnt a lot. Gravitational waves have given us the first observational evidence for the existence of black hole binaries, for example, and they have helped to survey the population of black holes that are out there. But at the same time, physicists have been caught in a kind of trap. When they identify an object or event on the basis of its gravitational wave fingerprint, it's like the police matching a fingerprint found at a crime scene to one found in the police database.  However, the person who left their fingerprint at the crime scene might not be on police record, so a close match in the police database would point to the wrong culprit. Similarly, a close match in the gravitational wave database would only ever point to a black hole or neutron star merger, when in reality the fingerprint might have come from something entirely different. The true culprit would never be discovered. When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail For this reason physicists, including Sperhake and his colleagues, have sought to extend their database of fingerprints. To do this they reached for made-up objects we don't know really exist: boson stars. We talk to Ulrich Sperhake and Seppe Staelens to find out more about gravitational waves, and how imagining hypothetical objects can help physicists explore the Universe further.   The podcast is hosted by Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, Editors of Plus, from the communications and outreach team at the Mathematics Faculty.   To find out more about topics mentioned in this podcast see: Our article Dark stars: new theories shed light on black holes Our article Boson stars: beyond vanilla Discover more about the University of Cambridge Faculty of Mathematics at maths.cam.ac.uk.    Image showing the first depiction of hot plasma around what is believed to be a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope. Image credit EHT collaboration, CC BY 4.0.

    42 min

  2. 12/18/2025

    Voices of Mathematics: Hannah Fry

    Welcome to Voices of Mathematics, a podcast from the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Cambridge. In this episode, we revisit one of our favourite interviews from the last year with Professor Hannah Fry. In January 2025 mathematician, author and broadcaster Hannah Fry joined the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics as Cambridge's first Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics. In this podcast, Hannah Fry talks about how her interest in public engagement grew directly out of her research as a mathematician, reveals how she got into maths in the first place, and shares one of her favourite mathematical moments. The podcast was recorded in November 2024 when her appointment was announced to an excited audience at a conference on communicating mathematics, held at the Isaac Newton Institute here in Cambridge. The event was organised by the podcast hosts Dr Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, the Editors of Plus (plus.maths.org).    To learn more about the topics mentioned in this podcast, see: our article about Hannah Fry's appointment as Professor of the Public Understanding of Mathematics Hannah Fry on Instagram    The original episode was released by Plus, part of the Faculty's family of engagement, outreach and education projects (maths.org), for the Maths on the Move podcast. Discover more about study, research and outreach at the Faculty of Mathematics at maths.cam.ac.uk.

    26 min

  3. 12/10/2025

    Voices of Mathematics: Holly Krieger

    Welcome to Voices of Mathematics, a podcast from the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Cambridge. From number theory and geometry to cosmology and quantum physics, join us to explore topics across pure and applied mathematics, mathematical statistics and theoretical physics. In this episode we talk to Holly Krieger, Professor of Mathematics at the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. Holly Krieger works in the overlap of two areas of mathematics: number theory - which is famous for problems such as Fermat's Last Theorem - and complex dynamics, which gives rise to beautiful fractals. This intersection is known as arithmetic dynamics, and it's an exciting, relatively young area of research.  Holly Krieger's research has been recognised with several prestigious prizes and awards. With over 11 million views for her appearances on Numberphile, she has also connected with a wide audience to share the beauty and fascination of mathematics. We talked to her to learn more about her research area, mathematical communication, and the interesting advice she'd give for people starting out on a career in maths.   The podcast is hosted by Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, Editors of Plus, from the communications and outreach team at the Mathematics Faculty.   To find out more about topics mentioned in this podcast see: Our article Holly Krieger and the dynamics of numbers Our article and this Plus podcast about Fermat's Last Theorem and how its solution continues to inspire new mathematics Holly Krieger's videos on Numberphile Discover more about the University of Cambridge Faculty of Mathematics at maths.cam.ac.uk.

    28 min
  4. Colm-cille Caulfield: Reflections from DAMTP

    10/22/2025

    Colm-cille Caulfield: Reflections from DAMTP

    Welcome to Voices of Mathematics, the podcast that takes you inside the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Cambridge. After five and a half years, Professor Colm-cille Caulfield stepped down as Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) here in Cambridge from 1 October 2025, handing over the role to Professor Nick Dorey. Colm took up the role in January 2020, just months before the country was plunged into lockdown during the COVID pandemic. But as well as steering DAMTP during international crisis, his time in post has seen a huge range of innovation, growth and development. This includes the introduction of new taught courses (including three new Masters programmes) and the recruitment of outstanding colleagues at all career stages, working on exciting and diverse fields. We talked to him to learn more about the major challenges and proud moments of this unique job, what makes DAMTP a special place to work and study, and what advice he would pass on to a new head of department.   The podcast is presented by Marianne Freiberger, Editor of Plus (plus.maths.org) and Julia Hawkins, both from the outreach, engagement and communications team at the Mathematics Faculty (https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk). You can find out more about DAMTP at https://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk and read more about our interview with Colm at https://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/features/colm-cille-caulfield-looks-back-his-time-head-department

    36 min

  5. 09/18/2025

    Voices of Mathematics: David Tong

    Welcome to the first ever edition of Voices of Mathematics, a podcast from the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Cambridge. From number theory and geometry to cosmology and quantum physics, join us to explore topics across pure and applied mathematics, mathematical statistics and theoretical physics.   In this episode we talk to David Tong, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. 2025 marks an important milestone in the history of physics: the 100th birthday of quantum mechanics. We ask David about the ongoing impact of the discovery a century ago, and explore how this links to his own research area of quantum field theory.  And, as he publishes a series of textbooks based on his celebrated lecture notes, David shares some of the exciting connections between very different areas of physics.   The podcast is hosted by Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, Editors of Plus, from the communications and outreach team at the Mathematics Faculty.   To find out more about topics mentioned in this podcast see: David Tong's series of text books A brief introduction to quantum mechanics on Plus A brief history of quantum field theory on Plus Sean Carroll's Mindscape podcast featuring David Tong   Discover more about the University of Cambridge Faculty of Mathematics at maths.cam.ac.uk.

    40 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Insights and interviews from the Mathematics Faculty, University of Cambridge. Voices of Mathematics takes you inside the University of Cambridge's Mathematics Faculty, the home of the Cambridge Mathematics departments.  From number theory and geometry to cosmology and quantum physics, the Faculty's work explores fundamental and exciting questions to extend the boundaries of discovery. In conversations with researchers from both departments, we explore topics across pure and applied mathematics, mathematical statistics and theoretical physics. Join us for conversations with members of the Mathematics Faculty as they share their personal insights into the fascinating - and wide - world of mathematics and the mathematical sciences. Find out more at maths.cam.ac.uk Voices of Mathematics is hosted by Marianne Freiberger and Rachel Thomas, Editors of Plus.

Information

  • Creator
    Mathematics Faculty, University of Cambridge
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Voices of Mathematics

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