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President Biden recently stated that the Pandemic is over. The resumption of travel and in-person activities seems to corroborate this view. Meanwhile, the current COVID death rate in the US puts us on track for nearly 150,000 excess deaths (per year) and a marked lowering of overall life expectancy. This presentation, with a healthy amount of audience Q&A, will explore the relationship between science and narrative in confronting SARS-Cov2.

Our speaker, Dr. Robert Siegel, is Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University. He is also a member of Wonderfest’s formal Board of Advisors.

Dr. Robert Siegel

Could frightening claims of world-wide climate change be mistaken? Do we really know that climate change is happening, and that humanity is the cause? In optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, how bad could it get? … even in the Bay Area?! Finally, have we passed a global climate-change “tipping point,” or do possible adjustments to economics and policy — stemming from a popular climate clarity — give us hope?

Our speaker is Dr. Carl Mears, Senior Scientist at Remote Sensing Systems. He was a lead author for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, and he has contributed to the IPCC, the Nobel Prize-winning International Panel on Climate Change.

Dr. Carl Mears

Physicists do their best to discover the deepest rules of reality. Renowned physicist and author Sean Carroll — formerly at Caltech, now at Johns Hopkins — has just published the first of three books on The Biggest Ideas in the Universe for the physicist in each of us. In this presentation, jointly produced by the Commonwealth Club and Wonderfest, Prof. Carroll will focus on how the most basic concepts in nature (space, time, and motion) allow us to build a coherent sense of physical reality — and how they can lead us to newfound wonder.

Dr. Sean Carroll is the Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. His popular books include Something Deeply Hidden and From Eternity to Here, and his podcast is entitled Mindscape. Here, Dr. Carroll’s 45-minute presentation will be followed by 15 minutes of audience Q&A via YouTube chat.

Dr. Sean Carroll

Potatoes are often invisible on one’s plate, but this is a food you can rely on to soothe your soul and your stomach. Due to the humble spud’s capacity to keep people alive in so many diverse environments, several cultures lay claim to originating it. The potato actually first emerged 10,000 years ago in highland South America. While introducing the science of the potato and its complexities of diversification, we will learn how it is farmed in its home and how pople are helping it adapt to the changing climate.

Our speaker, Dr. Christine Hastorf, is Professor of Anthropology at UC Berkeley. She also directs Cal’s Archaeological Research Facility and McCown Archaeobotany Laboratory.

Dr. Christine A. Hastorf

Once upon a time, the Milky Way was heavenly milk squirted from the breast of Greek goddess Hera. Today, it is a vast galaxy, an “island universe,” of almost unimaginable proportions. (A light beam will circle Earth 7 times in a second; but to span the planets, stars, black holes, and dark matter of the Milky Way, light needs more than 100,000 years!) Astronomer and folklorist Dr. Moiya McTier explores this vastness in her new book, The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy. According to Caltech physicist and author Sean Carroll (next month’s Commonwealth/Wonderfest speaker): “It’s about time we heard the story of the Milky Way in its own words. The good news is that our galaxy is not only ancient and magestic; it’s also whimisical, amusing, and downright chatty. Moiya McTier’s book is an entertaining introduction to some of the most profound features of our astrophysical neighborhood.”  

Dr. Moiya McTier is “folklorist to the stars and astrophysicist to the folks.” She earned bachelors degrees in astrophysics and folklore/mythology from Harvard University, and an astronomy PhD from Columbia University. Dr. McTier will be interviewed by Gerald Harris, Commonwealth Club governor.

Dr. Moiya McTier

Without reading tea leaves (or consulting a crystal ball), the methods of science help us to gain deep understanding about the workings of the universe. This two-part presentation by four astronomers from the University of Chicago will discuss a broad spectrum of cosmic concerns. The first presentation is entitled Reading the Tea Leaves of Eternity: Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and the Beginning of Time. The second is New Messengers (Gravitational Waves and Neutrinos) and What They Can Tell Us.

Our speakers all hail from the University of Chicago: Dr. Joshua Frieman (Chair of Astronomy & Astrophysics), Dr. Dan Hooper (Associate Professor, Astronomy & Astrophysics), Dr. Gordan Krnjaic (Assitant Professor, Astronomy & Astrophysics), and Dr. Angela Olinto (Dean, Physical Sciences Division).

When I shake my first at the universe, however benignly, I make gravitational waves — vibrations of spacetime that travel throughout the universe at the speed of light. My personal gravitational waves are far too feeble to detect. However, the spacetime waves of cataclysmic astronomical events (exploding stars, the merger of black holes, and the big bang itself) are relatively mighty. Modern gravitational wave detectors are giving us a new awareness — a new sense — of the cosmos.

Our speaker, Dr. Rana Adhikari, is Professor of Physics at the California Institute of Technology. He leads Caltech’s Adhikari Research Group in exploring “experimental gravitational physics,” particulary involving the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, LIGO.

Dr. Rana Adhikari

As humans, our appreciation of the natural world is tied to our senses — the sights, sounds, and smells we experience. Recent scientific research, however, has shown just how limited our viewpoint is. Most creatures on Earth perceive — and produce — vibrational signals that are imperceptible to humans. With the help of technology, researchers have finally started to open up this hidden world, unlocking key insights into animal biodiversity and animal evolution in general.

Our speaker, Dr. Damian Elias, is Associate Professor in the Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management Department at UC Berkeley. At the Elias Lab, he investigates the interplay among physics, behavior, and sexual selection that allows animals to produce and process complex stimuli.

Dr. Damian O. Elias

Humans have sought “signs from above” for millennia. The scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) began circa 1960, and, today, grows ever deeper and more technologically diverse. The scope of modern research is breathtaking. Methods include continuous scans over the entire sky for electromagnetic (EM) signals, targeted EM searches near known Earth-like exoplanets, the hunt for exotic forms of communication, and the careful search for ET artifacts on/near Earth.

Our Zoom speaker, Dan Werthimer, is Chief Technologist at the Berkeley SETI Research Center. Since 1979, Dan has helped to design and build numerous sensitive tools for the detection of ET. In 2019, Dan earned Wonderfest’s Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization.

Dan Werthimer

Quantum physics is arguably the most successful scientific theory ever devised. (And recall: “In science, theory is as good as it gets!”) Yet, there is a problem: What does this immensely fruitful theory say about deep reality? Why does “measurement” play a special role in the theory? Can we say anything about atoms and subatomic particles when we’re not actually measuring them? For years, the standard answer to questions like this was to “shut up and calculate” — to ignore these issues, and simply use quantum physics to predict the outcomes of experiments. But our curiosity persists. What are the puzzles at the heart of quantum physics, and why do they matter?

Our speaker, Dr. Adam Becker, is a freelance author and astrophysicist. He has written for the NY Times, BBC, NPR, New Scientist, Scientific American, et al. His most recent book, WHAT IS REAL? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics, will be available for purchase at this event.

Dr. Adam Becker

What does it mean to be female? (… Ovum-producing? … Nurturing? … The “weaker sex”?) In her latest book, Bitch: On the Female of the Species, zoologist Lucy Cooke reveals a marvelous cast of animals that enlarge our understanding of biological femininity. Rebecca Giggs of The Atlantic, writes: “[Cooke] is motivated to find new ways for humans to see themselves reflected in nature, … [and not just in] primates, but in venomous intersex moles, hyenas that give birth through their clitoris, filicidal mother meerkates, and post-menopausal orcas.” Consequently, our view of humanity as a whole is enriched and enlightened.

Lucy Cooke earned her masters degree in zoology from Oxford university, studying with renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. She is a New York Times best-selling author of three books, and she has presented a range of natural history programs for the BBC. Ms. Cooke will be interviewed by Brian Hackney, anchor and meteorologist at CBS5 KPIX TV.

This event is produced by the Commonwealth Club in collaboration with Wonderfest. We can enjoy it in either of two ways: in person or online. Access to the two different ticket types is described in the HOW space, below. Each type is deeply discounted for Wondernauts who use the discount code WONDERFESTPROMO.

Lucy Cooke

Recent evidence suggests that psychedelics mitigate several mental health problems. Specifically, clinical findings show that psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca, ibogaine, and ketamine may be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, depression, alcohol and substance use disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. MDMA (“ecstasy”) will most likely be the first psychedelic to undergo evaluation for full FDA approval (for treatment of PTSD) and DEA rescheduling.

Our speaker, Dr. Jennifer Mitchell, is Professor of Neurology and of Psychiatry at UC San Francisco. She is also Deptury Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development at San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Jennifer M. Mitchell, PhD

The stars beckon. But humans evolved on Earth, not to hurtle through space. For long-duration travel — interplanetary and, even, interstellar — what spacecraft accomodations are necessary? Is on-board human hibernation an option? Might we overcome the problems of space radiation and prolonged weightlessness? Finally, scientists may argue that the ideal craft for fast human interstellar travel is the constantly-accelerating “1-g starship,” but what do engineers say?

Our two speakers are Dr. Pascal Lee, Planetary Scientist at the SETI Institute and the Mars Institute, and Tucker Hiatt, Director of Wonderfest. This Wonderfest event is part of The Bay Area Science Festival.

Dr. Pascal Lee

What does it mean to be happy, and what can one do to be happier? Scientific research is yielding a heartwarming picture: Happiness is linked to feelings and behaviors that are prosocial — that contribute to a greater good. Happy people routinely report having strong, supportive social connections; they find common humanity with others, and assume trust and good intent. Despite popular assumptions about competitiveness, self-reliance, and self-interest, evidence indicates that dedicated psychological systems (for nurturance, affiliation, and shared joy) incline humans toward cooperation and generosity. Increasing happiness, it seems, hinges largely on prioritizing interpersonal belonging and genuine kindness — both towards ourselves and other people.

Our speaker, Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas, is Science Director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. She is a leading expert on the neuroscience and psychology of prosocial skills that boslter human happiness.

Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas

Wonderfest joins St. Helena’s Cameo Cinema to present Q&A with Dr. Melanie Gilbert immediately following a special screening of 2021’s CODA (95% “Fresh” at Rotten Tomatoes). Peter Travers of ABC News calls CODA (children of deaf adults) “an emotional powerhouse … one of the year’s best.” This Science on Screen event  promises to be a lively journey deep into sound and silence — exploring the adaptive power of the brain and the impact technological advances can have on individuals with hearing loss.

Our guest speaker, Dr. Melanie Gilbert, is cochlear implant research audiologist in the Music and Sound Perception Lab at UC San Francisco.

Dr. Melanie Gilbert