The Secret History of Electricity
July 2, 2018 5:34 PM   Subscribe

Kathy Loves Physics is a relatively unknown youtube channel. It tells the story of how humans developed a scientific understanding of electricity, and how we invented the fundamental electric-powered devices. The technical content is supplemented with lots of history about the people and the societal context. Special focus is given to the female researchers whose contributions were often written out of textbooks. Kathy explains the concepts clearly with plenty of humor and not much math. There are dozens of videos already, and she hasn't even gotten to transistors yet!
posted by scose (9 comments total) 68 users marked this as a favorite
 
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posted by Celsius1414 at 6:40 PM on July 2, 2018


This is fun! (I'm on the third video and her initially kind of awkward delivery is already finding its sea-legs, which I mention only as a signpost for anyone initially turned away.)

Also, I'd never heard of Otto von Guericke before, who sounds pretty awesome. This also inspired me to look up my amazing HS physics teacher and I'm happy to find out he's doing really well. So, you know, score all around!
posted by Navelgazer at 9:16 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]


I checked out her "Tesla: fact vs. fiction" video and enjoyed it a lot! Looking forward to watching more of them. Thanks for sharing!
posted by biogeo at 9:16 PM on July 2, 2018


I totally love it. She makes the amazing story she's put together look effortless, like you're talking to a friendly neighbor, but it's an impressive piece of work. Very inspiring. Charmingly unpretentious. It's really refreshing.

Now gotta get back to binge watching...
posted by mondo dentro at 11:16 PM on July 2, 2018


She is so much fun, she's full of happiness -- exuberance? -- as she spins these tales. She's as much fun as Bryson is in A Short History Of Nearly Everything, and that is high praise indeed.

OP, you've ruined my life -- I've got to watch all of these now, and it's all your fault. I hope you're happy.*
*I am!
posted by dancestoblue at 11:57 PM on July 2, 2018 [1 favorite]


I'm into this - thanks!
posted by xammerboy at 1:18 AM on July 3, 2018


Surprisingly dense!

As recent as a week, posting almost weekly for eleven months.

I couldn't even write these three lines without watching episodes in between.
posted by filtergik at 4:13 AM on July 3, 2018 [2 favorites]


These are great!
posted by JHarris at 4:41 AM on July 3, 2018


Subscribed!

And me!

No such thing as too much physics nor history of physics.
posted by Pouteria at 6:23 AM on July 3, 2018


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