A growing number of people claim being “test blind” to applicants’ SAT scores is lowering standards at the University of California. Math Professor Zvezda Stankova is among the academics calling for SATs to be re-introduced to the admissions process.

Jane Street intern applications (episode sponsor): https://jane-st.co/internships2027-NumberphilePod

Here’s the Open Letter signed by over 3000 people at UC (including five Nobel laureates, they are keen to point out): https://ucstudentsuccess.org/



This New York Times editorial gave the issue extra prominence: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/opinion/university-california-sat-testing-admissions.html

This LA Times comment pieces argues against re-introducing SATs to the process: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-07-08/chabria-column-uc-sat-act-admissions

Numberphile videos with Zvezda: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt5AfwLFPxWIbAPK1oJgRIpe0sWiPKkQ4

Numberphile Podcast interview with Zvezda about her life and career: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGbASf6W7SE

Numberphile is supported by Jane Street - https://www.numberphile.com/jane-street

With thanks to the Ben Delo Foundation - https://delo.org/

You can support Numberphile on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/numberphile

Here are our Patrons - https://www.numberphile.com/patrons

Numberphile is created by Brady Haran

Destin Sandlin discusses missile testing, astronaut applications, and why he created the wildly popular YouTube channel Smarter Every Day.

YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/Anmaky0Kksw

Listen to the latest Signals & Threads podcast episode: https://jane-st.co/Numberphile-ST-WillWilson

Check out other episodes Signals & Threads here: https://jane-st.co/Numberphile-SignalsandThreads

Destin’s YouTube channel is Smarter Every Day: https://www.youtube.com/smartereveryday

We also co-hosts the podcast No Dumb Questions: https://www.nodumbquestions.fm/

With thanks to the Ben Delo Foundation - https://delo.org/

You can support Numberphile on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/numberphile

Here are our Patrons - https://www.numberphile.com/patrons

Numberphile is created by Brady Haran

Dan Harris is a chief meteorologist at the UK Met Office - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

See him talking weather equations on Numberphile - https://youtu.be/YmZiq00CO60

Dan's websites - https://www.roostweather.com/ and https://istheukhotrightnow.com/

Check out some Met Office archive stuff at Brady's Objectivity channel - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd5y2WfrtsPrauSfrdFfkE7iZ-KG9pCzO

Weather videos on Brady's Sixty Symbols channel - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcUY9vudNKBNpsv8AWUvJxbOl6S2pw8so

Numberphile is supported by Jane Street - https://www.numberphile.com/jane-street

With thanks to the Ben Delo Foundation - https://delo.org/

You can support Numberphile on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/numberphile

Here are our Patrons - https://www.numberphile.com/patrons

Numberphile is created by Brady Haran