It’s time to stand up and speak out!
Herb Masters
14 April 2025
Greetings Science Fans,
There are so many cool things going on these days, it’s hard to imagine. Yesterday I went to Magnifed at the explOratorium. (You may know that I have a soft spot for the explO and almost any institution that is engaging people is science and how we experience life, the universe, and everything.) I can’t encourage you enough to go to these institutions when they are open and see how people can get so excited about learning something new, that may help them make better decisions about how they live their lives, and can enrich their lives by increasing understanding about everything. This is why skepticism is so important to embrace too. Understanding how to observe and think critically is more important now that we have information, half-truths, and out-right lies foisted upon us all the time. This weekend was microscopes! The Foldscope people were giving Foldscope 2.0 kits.
It’s not new but still amazing that there are so many threats to the understanding, application, and practice of science happening so quickly. Consider these…
Politics v. science (pubmed 2022),
Scientists Must Rise in Defense of Democracy (SciAm 2020)
An assault on science anywhere is an assault on science everywhere,
Since January 2025 major changes to the federal government have disrupted research and research institutions around the world.
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As is the case every week there are an amazing number of presentations scheduled. For the next two weeks there are 118 opportunities! Here are a few that I think warrant your consideration…
Wonderfest – Ask a Science Envoy: Tiny Galaxies; Eye Movements – 04/15/2025 07:00 PM
How to Live with a Calculating Cat: The Feast of Kings – 04/17/2025 06:00 PM
Wonderfest: Gender Diversity in the Animal Kingdom – 04/17/2025 06:00 PM
KIPAC + Friends Community Day – 04/19/2025 01:00 PM
(Please note that many presentations are now live on-line so you can catch more than you ever could before!)
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Here are a few more interesting links I have come across and think you might enjoy too…
ALL OF PHYSICS explained in 14 Minutes
Jellyfish Go Through Their “Stack of Pancakes”
4 minerals shaping the world’s energy future
In War Against DEI in Science, Researchers See Collateral Damage
Antarctica- What scientists found under it startled them.
Scientists Stunned To Discover What’s Hidden Under The Ice In Greenland
Tunguska Meteor Explosion in Siberia Was Really a UFO Crash
NASA’s Mesmerizing View of Earth’s Underwater Highways
The Turbo Encabulator’s long, weird and very funny history
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Have another adventurous week learning new and cool stuff!
herb masters
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“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire
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A bit of a note is due here… There is so much info in some of the listings we are trying to make the list here more manageable, there’s over 100 in this edition!!! Bob, David, and I each have ideas about what it should look like. You may notice variations in how the Schmooze looks and reads. We like it that way. Sometimes we miss things and we apologize for those mistakes but not the various ways we make the SciSchmooze a personal expression. Also note that the SciSchmooze would not even exist if it wasn’t for Bob. BOB MANAGES EVERY CALENDAR LISTING! Everyone who uses the Schmooze or our website bayareascience.org are benefactors of Bob’s diligence.
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