Episode 11 – Science & Art Deco

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Show Notes:

In this episode, Zahra takes us on an unexpected journey to what she calls the happiest place on earth — and spoiler: it’s nowhere near Disneyland. From particle accelerators to mind-bending artist residencies, she opens a door into a world where science and creativity collide in the most surprising ways.

Then Sami shifts gears and brings us back to the streets of Paris for the 100-year anniversary of a movement we all think we know… until we realize we don’t. Dramatic entrances, glamorous lines, and a story that all begins with one very peculiar exhibition.

Are you ready to see physics and design with completely new eyes? Let’s dive in.

Highlights:

• Zahra reveals the unexpected reason CERN might actually be the real happiest place on earth

• A behind-the-scenes look at Arts at CERN — the artist residency program nobody sees coming

• The strange, futuristic artworks hiding in plain sight on CERN’s campus

• How physics secretly shapes everything from your steps to your favorite masterpieces

• Sami unpacks the (surprisingly messy) origin story of Art Deco

• Why 1925 Paris hosted one of the most influential exhibitions of the century

• The visual codes that define Art Deco — from speed lines to ships, subways, and sleek geometry

• A poster so iconic it becomes the symbol of early Art Deco glamour

What we promised:

• The Arts at CERN program

• The giant CERN statue with formulas

• Black Quantum Futurism

• A.M. Cassandre’s Normandie ocean liner poster

• The 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industrielles Modernes