In this episode of pplpod, we explore the short but brilliant life of Blaise Pascal (1623–1662), a French polymath who made groundbreaking contributions to mathematics, physics, and philosophy before his death at age 39. A child prodigy educated by his father, Pascal wrote a treatise on conic sections at age 16 that was so advanced René Descartes refused to believe a teenager had written it.

Join us as we discuss Pascal’s journey from a young inventor to a Catholic mystic, covering:

• The Mechanical Calculator: How Pascal invented the "Pascaline"—a forerunner to modern computer engineering—to help his father calculate taxes.

• Physics and Vacuums: His experiments with barometers and mercury that proved atmospheric pressure changes with altitude and challenged the Aristotelian belief that "nature ...