Feliz Año Nuevo con la SciSchmooze
Greetings dear science-aware reader,
I've always liked illustrations of plesiosaurs and ichthyosaurs. They look so lithe and strong, evoking visions of pelagic ballerinas with the lethality of a T Rex. The fossilized head above came from Cymbospondylus youngorum, an especially large (15-meter-long) ichthyosaur. I wonder whether, unlike Great White Sharks, they would have found humans palatable.
¿And what did i do on New Year’s Eve (besides cleaning the cat box, cooking breakfast, taking out the trash, and other quotidian tasks)? I watched “Don’t Look Up,” a dark comedy about a repeat of the Chicxulub Extinction Event. It even has a song performed by Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi with lyrics that include, “Listen to the goddamn qualified scientists” and “Turn off that s--- Fox News.”
Twice (here & here) i’ve written that the biblical destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah may have been caused by an air-burst meteorite. I might have been bamboozled since some evidence for that event appears to be falsified. Dr. Elizabeth Bik (SkeptiCal 2019 speaker) found altered photos presented as evidence for the airburst. Dr. Mark Boslough of the Skeptical Inquirer found other problems with the research. Once again we see value in the peer review process.
Speaking of apocalypses, i am so glad that we are getting so much rain and snow in California, Oregon, and Washington, but i keep thinking about the California Flood of 1605 and the Great Flood of 1862.
Obviously you survived New Year’s celebrations this year, but how did your brain fare? Some studies suggest, but do not prove, that moderate (very moderate) consumption of red wine might be be heart healthy - but at the expense of brain health.
Here’s a cheap segue: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is quite healthy as of this writing. It reached the halfway point on New Year’s Eve (day 6) and it will reach L2 on day 29. Take a moment to see where it is and what it’s up to. Since we have spent big bucks on this astronomy/cosmology endeavor rather than on alleviating social ills, i do hope this project is successful. NASA demonstrates its desire to sell this mission in this video that uses the voice of the late Carl Sagan.
I set my alarm at 4 AM on Christmas to watch the launch of the JWST on top of an Ariane 5 rocket. Here are some fun facts of rocket power sending the telescope to its destination 1.5 million kilometers away:
From launch to 2 min 25 sec: 3,400,000 pounds thrust until boosters separated
From then to 8 min 42 sec: 228,000 pounds thrust until main engine cut off
From then to 24 min 50 sec: 15,000 pounds thrust until 2nd stage separation
Available thrust from JWST’s 16 rocket engines: 1 pound each
We are giving away another large JWST pin to wear or to give as a gift. Just send an email to david.almandsmith@gmail.com (only one) before noon Friday with an integer between zero and 1,000. We will then use a random number generator to select the target number and mail the pin to the person who chose the closest number. Dimensions: 3.5 x 4.5 x 0.2 cm.
Public responses to COVID-19 demonstrate that a large portion of Americans - and people around the world - are woefully deficient in their understanding of science. (Once, as my neighbor and i were watching the ISS pass over, she spotted the lights of an airliner moving toward it. “OMG! I hope they don’t collide.”) Yes it’s good to understand “risk levels” and that the Earth is (approximately) a sphere that orbits around the Sun, but most importantly people should know “what the enterprise of science actually is” and that “applying the best known science to our societal problems positively impacts all of us.” However, a ‘naive respect for science’ - a.k.a. Scientism - led my mother to forgo breastmilk and instead raised me on “formula” because Nestlé Foods scientists in white lab coats claimed formula was better.
My ONLINE picks of the week:
Dandelion Energy (home geothermal) - 4pm Monday
Why Rationality Matters - 4pm Thursday
Night School: New Year, New Species - 6pm Thursday
My IN PERSON pick of the week (outdoors only):
Afternoon Hike at Mindego Hill - 1-4pm Sunday, Los Altos
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 apparently spreads more easily than the Delta variant - it is better at evading our immune system - but it is easier on the lungs. Two ways to help avoid Omicron infection are by reducing exposure and getting a booster shot. Using an N95-rated mask when indoors will reduce your exposure. Researchers found that a salt coating on masks helps protect against viruses. Here is how you can improve the virus filtering properties of lesser masks using a mask insert made from household materials. Dissolve 2 tbsp salt in ½ cup hot water, add 1 tsp nonionic surfactant (such as Dawn or similar dishwashing liquid), soak paper towels in the solution, dry them on a flat surface, then cut to size. However, a good filter insert will not help if the mask fits poorly.
You probably have an appetite for learning fun things in science. How about ¿Where does emergency oxygen come from on airplanes? Here’s an interactive site of the evolutionary tree. (Unlike most depictions, it’s not easy to locate humans on this tree.) ¿What happens if a Black Hole hits the Earth? (It may have already happened.) ¿Is the Hyperloop just hype? (We learn that 430 kph = 270 mph = 1.4 x 10^9 hands per fortnight.) ¿What is it like to do field research on Polar Bears?
Have a wonderful week,
Dave Almandsmith, Bay Area Skeptics
Humans aren't as good as we should be in our capacity to empathize with feelings and thoughts of others, be they humans or other animals on Earth. So maybe part of our formal education should be training in empathy. Imagine how different the world would be if, in fact, that were 'reading, writing, arithmetic, empathy.'
- Neil deGrasse Tyson
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Monday, 01/03/2022
The Cleantech Startup Journey of Dandelion Energy - Livestream - 01/03/2022 04:00 PM
Stanford Energy
Kathy Hannun will tell the story of founding and growing Dandelion Energy, a startup focused on replacing fossil-fueled furnaces and boilers with home geothermal heating and cooling systems. Kathy started Dandelion as a project within Alphabet's X lab before spinning it out as a standalone startup. As Dandelion's CEO, Hannun navigated raising venture capital for Dandelion, a startup taking on hardware and an operationally complex business model at a time when cleantech funding was scarce. In the time that's elapsed since Dandelion raised its initial seed round of funding in the summer of 2017, it has grown to become the largest home geothermal company in the US and brought renewed attention to geothermal heat-pump technology.In her talk, Kathy will discuss how to start and fundraise for a cleantech company, overcoming the challenges of hardware and operational complexity, the mistakes she made along the way, and why she sees so much promise in geothermal heat pumps as a tool for furthering the energy transition.
Speaker: Kathy Hannun, Dandelion Energy
See weblink for Zoom information.
Putting the ecological biogeography of vascular plants on the map - 01/03/2022 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford
Barnabas Daru is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He received his PhD in Botany from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa in 2015. He then joined Harvard University in 2016 where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship on new uses of herbarium specimens for ecology and evolutionary biology. He joined the faculty as Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2018. He has pursued his interest in plant ecology and phylogenetic biology through a combination of research and teaching. His primary work focuses on elucidating the ecology and evolutionary determinants of floristic diversity, from local to global scales. He is Associate Editor at the journals eLife, American Journal of Botany, and he was also a subject Editor for the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B special theme issue: Museum Specimens as a Roadmap for Understanding Biodiversity in the Anthropocene.
Tuesday, 01/04/2022
Whole Earth Seminar - 01/04/2022 03:30 PM
Natural Science Annex Santa Cruz
Speaker: TBA
Thursday, 01/06/2022
After Dark: Finding Fungi - 01/06/2022 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Foraging for fungi? Discover some fun facts about the beautiful, diverse, and curious fungus kingdom, including mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. Learn about the fungi that are most local to the Bay Area and how to identify species. And discover a few of the new uses inventive minds are finding for fungi.
Fungus Among Us With Simon Meyers 6:30, 7:30, and 8:30 p.m. Moore Gallery 4 Explainer Station
Immerse yourself in a sensory exploration of our planet’s most versatile decomposers - join the Explainers as they dive into the weird, delicious, and suspicious world of fungi. Come marvel at the role fungi play in the balance of life and death.
Testing for Toxins With Cat Adams 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Osher Gallery 1
Have you ever wondered whether a wild mushroom was deadly poisonous? We can’t see the toxins lurking inside poisonous mushrooms, but with the help of science, we do have test strips that can do it for us. These strips detect the deadly toxin amanitin, both in mushrooms and in urine samples of reckless foragers, say, or curious dogs. Join Cat Adams to learn more and see the strips in action.
Fascinating Fungal Finds With Alan Rockefeller 7:30 p.m. Osher Gallery 1, Kanbar Forum
Join mycologist Alan Rockefeller on a mushroom ID tour. A prolific mycologist and super-user of the community science tool iNaturalist, Rockefeller will showcase some (err...a couple hundred!) of his favorites finds, honing in on edible mushrooms you might discover on local hikes and super-special species that are often overlooked without attentive observation. He’ll also share the mighty power of iNaturalist as a tool for real-time identification and understanding the mushroom species in a particular area.
The Poison Games: Deadly Poisonous Mushrooms From the Bay Area and Around the World With Cat Adams 8:30 p.m. Osher Gallery 1, Kanbar Forum
In this interactive deadly digest, Cat Adams will explore the world of deadly poisonous mushrooms, their toxins, and how to treat accidental poisonings. She’ll compare and contrast dangerous mushrooms that can be found locally with edible species, as well as survey understudied toxic mushrooms from around the world. Throughout the talk, audience members will play the Poison Games, choosing carefully between paired images of one poisonous and one non-poisonous mushroom. May the fungal odds be ever in your favor!
Mycological Society of San Francisco 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Osher Gallery 1
Learn about the characteristics of local fungi and see fresh specimens up close! The Mycological Society of San Francisco was founded in 1950 to promote the understanding and enjoyment of mushrooms and other fungi. Tonight, they invite you to learn more about the various fungi in our local environments, from edible to poisonous to medical - and to revel in fungal beauty as they take specimens under the microscope, showcasing magnificent spores and gills.
NightSchool: New Year, New Species - Livestream - 01/06/2022 07:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences
From the lowland forests of Madagascar to Easter Island’s coral reefs, Academy scientists described 70 new-to-science planet and animal species this year! Join us and hear from the researchers themselves as they teach us about their unique discoveries, as well as the importance of new species research and its role in regenerating our natural world.
They say it takes a village, and when it comes to new species, Center for Biodiversity and Community Science Co-Director Alison Young is here to share the importance of citizen science - and how to get involved! From iNaturalist to local bioblitzes, community involvement is an integral part of species identification research. With ninety percent of our planet’s species unknown to science, this collaborative effort fills in the ever-changing mosaic of Earth’s biodiversity. Christopher Mah from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History will lead us in a deep dive into the world of deep-reef sea stars! These include previously undescribed species discovered by Hope for Reefs initiative co-leaders Luiz Rocha, PhD, and Bart Shepherd from a recent expedition to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and New Caledonia. Join us for a glimpse at a stunning collection of sea stars, and learn more about their role in maintaining the health of coral reef ecosystems. Ever wonder why some insects are so brightly colored? Entomology Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Van Dam is joining us to share his research on the newly described Pachyrhynchus obumanuvu, an Easter egg weevil from a Philippine cloud forest that boasts complex patterns of green, yellow, and black. We’ll learn about this dramatic color display and how these beetles use it to their advantage.
See weblink for YouTube link.
Friday, 01/07/2022
The micromechanics of transient creep and the brittle-ductile transition - 01/07/2022 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Speaker: Chris Thom, UC Santa Cruz
First Friday: The Science of Spheres - CANCELED - 01/07/2022 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Editor's Note: This event has been canceled due to COVID-19
Free Telescope Viewings - CANCELED - 01/07/2022 07:30 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Editor's Note: Event canceled due to COVID-19.
Saturday, 01/08/2022
Free Telescope Viewings - CANCELED - 01/08/2022 07:30 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Editor's Note: Event canceled due to COVID-19.
Sunday, 01/09/2022
Point Reyes National Seashore Fungus Fair - CANCELED - 01/09/2022 10:00 AM
Bear Valley Visitor Center Point Reyes Station
Editor's Note: The Fair has been canceled due to COVID-19.
Afternoon Hike at Mindego Hill - 01/09/2022 01:00 PM
Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve Los Altos
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful 5-mile hike from the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve to the top of the POST-protected Mindego Hill. You will be guided by POST ambassadors who will share details about how we protected this beautiful property featuring panoramic views of redwood ridges and undulating hillsides.
The hike is strenuous at about 5 miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, so be prepared for a workout! Athletic wear and sturdy shoes are recommended! If you would like to bring your own hiking poles, you’re more than welcome.
Protected by POST and recently opened to the public by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Mindego Hill is an excellent example of how POST works with various partners to protect some of the most threatened lands in our area.
Please note that dogs are not allowed at this Community Hike and that all minors must be accompanied by a parent and guardian for the entirety of the hike.
Register at weblink
Monday, 01/10/2022
Building India's Fastest-Growing Residential Solar Company - Livestream - 01/10/2022 04:00 PM
Stanford Energy
India has one of the most ambitious national plans for rooftop solar - 100 GW by 2023 - yet adoption by homes and small businesses remains slow due to broken customer experience and lack of awareness. Rooftop solar is expected to become ubiquitous in a few years in India, just like Wifi or refrigerators. This market is eyed by thousands of local contractors as well as India's biggest corporate houses such as Tata & Reliance. SolarSquare aims to be the #1 residential solar company in India and solarize 100k homes by 2024. Shreya Mishra will share her entrepreneurial journey and how the company plans to win in this market that is about to explode. She will elaborate on SolarSquare's business model, cracking sales & distribution in a country with millions of addressable homes for solar, raising venture capital, and challenges ahead.
Speaker: Shreya Mishra, SolarSquare
See weblink for link to event.
Changing migrations in a changing world: a big data perspective - 01/10/2022 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford
Dr. Benjamin Van Doren studies the eco-evolutionary responses of migratory birds to environmental change. His research spans spatial and population scales and straddles ecology, evolution, behavior, and conservation. Dr. Van Doren earned a PhD in Zoology from Oxford University, and he has received achievement awards from the Linnean Society of London, Zoological Society of London, and the American Ornithological Society. As a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University, he explores how climate change, light pollution, and human-dominated landscapes influence migrants’ ecology and behavior. He is also developing deep-learning approaches for monitoring the billions of migratory birds that cross North America each spring and fall.
Tuesday, 01/11/2022
Whole Earth Seminar - 01/11/2022 03:30 PM
Natural Science Annex Santa Cruz
Wednesday, 01/12/2022
The Youth Mental Health Crisis: What's Next? - Livestream - 01/12/2022 12:00 PM
Commonwealth Club - Online Event
Thursday, 01/13/2022
Weekday Morning Walk at Pillar Point Bluff - 01/13/2022 10:00 AM
Pillar Point Bluff Moss Beach
After Dark: Wondrous Fungus - 01/13/2022 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Weirdness!: What Fake Science and the Paranormal Tell Us about the Nature of Science - Livestream - 01/13/2022 07:30 PM
Bay Area Skeptics
Virtual Telescope Viewing - 01/13/2022 09:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center
Friday, 01/14/2022
Ice and ocean dynamics on Enceladus - 01/14/2022 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Free Telescope Viewings - CANCELED - 01/14/2022 07:30 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Saturday, 01/15/2022
#NoToPlastic Community Clean-Ups - 01/15/2022 09:45 AM
Oakland Zoo Oakland
Investigating Space: From the Earth To Mars: Steps Toward the First Human Journey to the Red Planet - 01/15/2022 01:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Free Telescope Viewings - 01/15/2022 07:30 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Sunday, 01/16/2022
Morning Hike at La Honda Open Space Preserve - 01/16/2022 10:00 AM
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Redwood City
Afternoon Hike at Rancho Canada del Oro - 01/16/2022 02:00 PM
Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve Morgan hill