(RP3) Inertia, Mass, & a Bad Law of Physics

The third taproot episode of Radical Physics is RP3 – Inertia, Mass, & a Bad Law of Physics. The “bad law of physics” refers to a common misstatement of Newton’s first law of motion (N1).  Once inertia is properly understood, then the power, scope, and surprise of the real N1 can be appreciated.

Wonderfest hosts special NOVA screening with David Pogue

Dear Wonderfest friends,
 
Are you available for short-notice excitement?  David Pogue, heir to Neil deGrasse Tyson’s host position at NOVA ScienceNOW, will present a special screening of NOVA’s Hunting the Elements next Wednesday, April 4, at the Randall Museum Theater.
 
YOU are invited to this free event hosted by Wonderfest.  Exploits will begin at 8:00 PM with an introduction and behind-the-scenes exposé by the witty Pogue.  Then, a bit before 9:00, we’ll start “Hunting the Elements” on Randall’s big screen.  Here is a preview of the show.
                                                     
 
And here are the particulars:
 
WHO:  David Pogue, host for PBS-NOVA and columnist for Scientific American & the NY TimesWHAT:  A special screening Read more [...]

Wonderfest and the Bay Area Science Festival

Dear Wonderfest friend,
For over a decade, November’s approach has gotten Bay Area science lovers all hot and bothered: Wonderfest was near!
Now that Wonderfest is the Bay Area Beacon (not Festival) of Science, and its events are spread throughout the year, perhaps we are all feeling the effects of November nostalgia and Wonderfest withdrawal.
BASF to the rescue!  The Bay Area Science Festival (BASF) includes several Wonderfest-like presentations.  In fact, one BASF event is actually co-produced by Wonderfest, and several other events involve long-time Wonderfest friends.

On Nov. 5, Wonderfest joins the Mt. Tamalpais Astronomy Program in presenting a lecture on one of the great mysteries of science: dark matter.  This weird stuff constitutes more than 80% of the material universe, Read more [...]

Ask A Scientist: Science Trivia Contest

Join Wonderfest’s team at the Ask a Scientist “Science Trivia Contest,”
Wednesday, Nov. 2 <http://www.askascientistsf.com>.
Just show up by 7pm; no Ph.D. necessary!
Ready to put your science smarts to the test? Tonight we will be celebrating the Bay Area Science Festival the best way we know how — with a boisterous science trivia contest hosted by Robin Marks of Discovery Street Tours. (It’s just like a pub trivia night, but without all those other boring categories.) Even if you don’t know your cortex from a coprolite, come enjoy a night of fascinating science trivia and general revelry. You can bring your own team of ringers with you, assemble a team with others on the spot, or just come to cheer, hang out, and learn stuff. The winning team will receive an awesome prize and a Read more [...]

Special Edition Wonderfest Newsletter

Dear Wonderfest friend,
I am especially excited about our next event, just two days away.  On Thursday, September 22, we will explore Does Quantum Weirdness Influence the Brain? at the Randall Museum Theater in San Francisco.  I am “especially excited” for two reasons: (1) this is the first Wonderfest collaboration with Ask a Scientist, and (2) this title question involves topics that get my wonder gland working overtime.
To get some overtime yourself, please take another look at the “blurb” that described this talk in the last Wonderfest newsletter:
Neuroscientists say that there is a mystery at the core of our understanding of consciousness. Physicists say that there is a mystery at the core of our understanding of quantum mechanics. Do these two mysteries have anything to do with each Read more [...]

Better than the Rapture?

Dear friend of Wonderfest,
Were you a little disappointed(!) by last spring’s Rapture no-show? Well, maybe Wonderfest can help!
On Sunday, August 28, you are cordially invited to San Francisco’s Roxie Theater to learn about Real Doomsdays: How Life Could End on Earth. This trademark Wonderfest dialogue will feature two outstanding speakers: UCSC’s Greg Laughlin and NASA’s Chris McKay.

Here’s a compact, eminently forwardable summary of all the specifics, in case you don’t want to send this entire message to your friends. (But please do spread the word!)

WHAT:  A public science dialogue on Real Doomsdays: How Life Could End on Earth
WHO:  UC Santa Cruz astrophysicist Greg Laughlin and NASA planetologist Chris McKay
WHERE:  Roxie Theater, 3117 – 16th Street, San Francisco Read more [...]

Wonderfest Beacon of Science

Dear friend of Wonderfest,

The previous issue of this newsletter described how Wonderfest is “merging” with the Bay Area Science Festival (BASF).  The unfortunate title of that message, “Wonderfest becomes BASF,” disappointed a few thoughtful folks who are fond of Wonderfest, and they made their disappointment clear.

We all want BASF to be a glorious success.  And we can be proud that key elements of Wonderfest promise to be a big part of that success.  However, Wonderfest is not “becoming” BASF. In fact, Wonderfest is beginning a year-long, multi-faceted period of profound growth and experimentation:

(1) After fourteen years as “The Bay Area Festival of Science,” Wonderfest’s subtitle is becoming “The Bay Area Beacon of Science” — reflecting that growth and experimentation.

 
(2) Read more [...]