Smart Futurama Jokes You Need A PhD To Understand

When Bender gets an X-ray during "Fry and the Slurm Factory," viewers are treated to a look inside the foul-mouthed robot's head. There, we can see that Bender uses a processor labeled "6502." As computer scientists are well aware, the 6502 microprocessor was the same model Steve Wozniak used for the Apple II in 1977.

Perhaps that lack of computational power explains some of Bender's more questionable decisions. 

Ken Keeler invented a real mathematical theorem in order to explain the body switching featured in "The Prisoner of Benda." Keeler, in addition to writing for Futurama, holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics. Apparently, he included the joke to help popularize mathematics among young fans of the show.   

Officials use an electron microscope to determine the winner of a horse race in "The Luck of the Fryrish." The officials declare the race a "quantum finish," and Professor Farnsworth complains, “No fair! You changed the outcome by measuring it!” This refers to the observer effect, a phenomenon in physics that observing quantum particles can change their position.

Which means all Futurama episodes might be different if they were played in an empty room. Food for thought.   

The number 1729 shows up in Futurama too many times to be a coincidence. As seen in "Xmas Story" from a holiday card, we know that Bender is Mom's 1729th son. In "The Farnsworth Parabox," Fry visits Universe 1729, and 1729 happens to be the registration number of The Nimbus, Zap Brannigan's ship.  

So, then, why does this number keep cropping up? It's actually known in mathematics circles as the Hardy-Ramanujan number. Apparently, when British mathematician G. H. Hardy once rode to visit his friend (and fellow mathematician) Srinivasa Ramanujan. He remarked that the cab he took there had been a dull number (1729) to which Ramanujan replied that it was, in fact, an interesting number. 1729 is the smallest number expressible as the sum of two cubes in two different ways. Comedy!  

This joke is so fast, you can be forgiven for missing it. Seen in the episode "War is the H-Word," a quick establishing shot of a 7-11 establishes that it's open for 28 hours a day, the poverty of the cashier, and most interestingly offers a promotion for a free bag of Ice-9 with the purchase of a six-pack. 

Ice-nine is a literary reference to Kurt Vonnegut's fourth novel Cat's Cradle. In the book, ice-nine is a crystalline substance capable of changing all the water in the world to an non-potable ice-like material. The fact that such a devastating material would be available for free at a convenience store showcases Futurama's absurdity at its finest. 

Colleen’s shirt features a math equation that parodies the famous "I Love NY" campaign.  It basically translates to “for all X, I love X”.  Or “I love everything/everyone."

Very appropriate given the plot line featured what amounts to a planet-spanning orgy in "The Beast with a Billion Backs," and Colleen is a polyamorous character who loves everyone.