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The Road to Europa — Chris McKay & Film Screening, Jun 30

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“Europa Report” is, scientifically and dramatically, one of the best science fiction films to come along in years. According to Popular Science, it “sets a new standard for realism in sci-fi.” At the same time, the critics at Rotten Tomatoes rate Europa Report as “80% Fresh.” (That’s high praise even for a Scorsese or Allen film!) The only way that Wonderfest and SF in SF can improve “Europa Report” is to follow it with the insights of legendary astrobiologist Dr. Chris McKay. McKay will likely poke some intriguing holes in Europa Report. In doing so, he will vastly inflate our understanding of interplanetary travel AND of hypothetical life in Europa’s temperate ocean –– in orbit around mighty Jupiter.

Europa Report

WHAT:  The Road to Europa
WHO:  Dr. Chris McKay, Planetary Scientist, NASA-Ames Research Center
WHEN:  7:00pm, Monday, June 30, 2014
WHERE:  SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 – 11th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
HOW:  First, a special screening of 2013’s Europa Report, then discussion and Q&A with Dr. McKay. Produced in collaboration with SF in SF.
WHY:  Because we’re curious creatures.
ADMISSION: FREE.  Please register with Eventbrite, below:

Please consider making a donation to Wonderfest to help us promote science. Even a modest gift will make more events like this possible. 

When Worlds Collide

When Worlds Collide, May 31

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When Worlds CollidePlanet Earth is constantly being struck by interplanetary debris: fine dust, rocks, boulders (big enough to outshine the Sun when they die), asteroids, comets, and even small stray planets. Some of these events offer glorious night-time views, others can cause planetary annihilation. Please join Dr. Zahnle as he explores the glories and the threats … when worlds collide.

Wonderfest and the Mt. Tamalpais Astronomy Program present Planetologist Kevin Zahnle from the NASA-Ames Research Center for a talk on Earth’s status as a “rock star” for powerful impacts from space.  

After Dr. Zahnle’s presentation, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA) will provide big telescopes for wonderful close-up views of the heavens.

WHAT:  “When Worlds Collide,” a lecture followed by star gazing
WHO:  Dr. Kevin Zahnle, planetologist, NASA-Ames Research Center, and Paul Salazar, the Urban Astronomer
WHEN:  Saturday, May 31, 2014;  8:30 PM
WHERE:  Cushing Memorial Amphitheater, Mt. Tamalpais State Park, 801 Panoramic Hwy., Mill Valley, CA.  Also, try this Google Maps URL <http://goo.gl/maps/w0pFy>
HOW:  Presented in collaboration with the Mt. Tam Astronomy Program, SFAA, Friends of Mt. Tam, and California State Parks. Just in case, please wear warm clothes in layers, and call 415-455-5370 if the weather looks dodgy. Bring a flashlight, a seat cushion, and a heavenly amount of curiosity.
ADMISSION: FREE

Please consider making a donation to Wonderfest to help us promote science. Even a modest gift will make more events like this possible. 

Placebo and the Illusory Nature of Perception

Placebo and the Illusory Nature of Perception

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Placebo and the Illusory Nature of Perception

The word placebo, from Latin “I shall please,” was defined in Quincy’s Lexicon-Medicum (1811) as “[any medicine] adapted more to please than to benefit the patient”. But as you probably know, pharmacologically inert “sugar pills” can do much more than just please — they can bring about very real physical benefits for patients suffering from a range of painful and debilitating conditions. This extraordinary phenomenon is both tangibly promising, in terms of disease management, and intellectually tantalizing. You gotta wonder: Are people really being cured? Do placebos work on children? How about people with cognitive impairments? Are hypnosis, acupuncture, and prayer related to the placebo effect? Are there certain conditions that are completely impervious to placebos? UCSF’s Dr. Howard Fields will answer our questions and share his expertise on the tremendously fascinating placebo (and nocebo) effect.

WHAT:  Placebo and the Illusory Nature of Perception
WHO:  Dr. Howard Fields, Professor of Neurology, UC San Francisco
WHEN:  7:00pm, Monday, June 2, 2014
WHERE:  SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 – 11th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
HOW:  Presented in collaboration with Ask a Scientist.
WHY:  Because we’re curious creatures.
ADMISSION: FREE.  Please register.

Please consider making a donation to Wonderfest to help us promote science. Even a modest gift will make more events like this possible.

Mysteries of Sleep

The Mysteries of Sleep

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We spend one third of our lives asleep, yet doctors and scientists still have no complete understanding as to why. It is one of the great scientific mysteries. This talk will describe new discoveries suggesting that sleep is a highly active process, essential for improving brain functions including (1) learning, (2) memory, (3) creativity and (4) emotional regulation.

  • TITLE: The Mysteries of Sleep
  • SPEAKERS: Matthew P. Walker, Associate Professor of Psychology, UC Berkeley
  • WHEN:  Wednesday, May 7, 2014; 7:00pm
  • WHERE:   SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 – 11th Street, San Francisco
  • HOW:  Produced in collaboration with Ask a Scientist.
  • WHY:  Because we’re curious creatures
  • ADMISSION:  FREE!  Register here.  (But Wonderfest needs your support to continue producing these events. Please consider even a small contribution. All donations are put to excellent use and are fully tax-deductible.)
Understanding Pain

Understanding Pain

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Pain speaks as forcefully and as personally as any human experience. While the ability to experience pain is essential for survival, chronic pain is the scourge of sentient existence. As a topic of research, pain presents a formidable challenge for scientists. How does individual perception of pain vary? Why are some chronic pains so difficult to control? How effective are alternative and complementary methods, such as acupuncture and hypnosis, and how do they exert their pain-relieving effects?

WHAT: Understanding Pain
WHO: Allan Basbaum, MD, Professor and Chair, Anatomy Department, UC San Francisco [http://profiles.ucsf.edu/allan.basbaum]
WHEN: 2014-04-15
COLLABORATORS:
Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley [https://www.commonwealthclub.org/]