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.

119 = Proportions by Bananas and Polygons from Lava

October 12, 2025 00:54:04 10.05 MB ( 41.85 MB less) Downloads: 0

šŸŒ Is there a more consistent system of measuring things (and is it ā€˜Banana For Scale’)?

šŸŒ‹ Why and how do hexagons occur in nature?

šŸ”” And there will be a whole Bec of Any Other Becness


Head to our socials to see Matt and Bec playing The Metre Game, lots of bananas for scale, and Matt sporting some very fetching headwear.


Some further reading on the origins of ā€˜Banana For Scale’:

https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/banana-for-scaleĀ 


Some further reading on hexagons in basalt:

European Geoscience Union article:

https://blogs.egu.eu/divisions/ts/2023/05/26/features-from-the-field-columnar-basalts-and-why-hexagons-are-natures-favourite-shape/

Physical Review Letters:Ā 

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.154301


See Matt on tour!

http://standupmaths.com/showsĀ 


Here’s how to get involved with Matt’s Moon Pi Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/standupmathsĀ 


And here’s how to volunteer for Calculate Pi By Hand with Matt:

https://forms.gle/w44THpNJ3jWUPqHy6


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


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.Ā 


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.