Herb Masters
20 January 2025
Greetings Science Fans,
I hope that you are not feeling too bad about how this week is starting out. I fear that “Science” is going to be put to many tests and challenges in the next few years. I’m going to try and avoid politics and polemics here! But to do that exclusively would be to deny what for many of us is reality, that science is being denied and decisions are being made without evidence or reason, and also to deny the use of science to preserve or even improve and understand our amazing home planet and universe. There will be risks to be taken as we move forward. Who will be empowered to decide? Should science be “democratized”?
Here’s a bit of a recap of what things were like in the world of science 4 years ago. What might we see in science in the near future? Some in our government seem to be embracing anti-vaccination policies. What are we to make of very large dam projects? There have certainly been some proposals published that make me wonder what is coming in the near future, here’s one. What might we expect in climate and nature science in 2025? We have been watching many fellow Californians live what many say is one more point of evidence of the challenge of climate change. Science makes so much sense to me, I have a very difficult time understanding why so many don’t trust science. I firmly believe we all need to stand up for, talk about, and support Science as one of the most powerful tools we have to better life for all on the planet.
With that in mind here are some presentations that I think warrant our attention in the next week…
–What RFK Jr.’s Confirmation Could Mean for the American Health Care System – Livestream Thu@ 4:00
-After Dark: AI Curious and Open Question: Artificial Intuition will ask some questions that we need to think about as AI becomes more ubiquitous and less recognizable. Thu 1.23@ 6:00
–Wonderfest: The Science of Healthy Muscle, Strength, and Aging Sat 1.5@ 4:00
Under the category of check these out…
The Bay Area Skeptics are hosting their first SkeptiCamp on Feb 9. I hope that you can make this and please spread the word… SkeptiCamp is an opportunity to hear about topics of science and reason that may very well make a difference in your life. It is also an opportunity to speak you thoughts on science and reason and see what others think of your ideas. There will be all sorts of people there to hear and propose ideas. So if you can make it to a very stimulating day of discussions, want to discuss and promote your ideas, or know of any other so inclined to do so make sure they and you are there. It is also in a very cool venue!
I would like to ask something of you. Go to the science museum nearest where you live. Go in and open yourself up to watching the joy of people learning why things are the way the are and why they work that way. Talk to people that you don’t know, ask them a question or help them figure something out. If you aren’t a member please consider joining. Our smaller museums in the communities need our support. They are gateways to understanding science, why it’s important, and how cool it can be. If you are a member and can bring a guest, ask someone outside if they would like to come in as your guest. It’s a gift worth giving that costs you nothing! If you’re not a member, join! Then bring a guest!!
As always, here is a list of links to things I have found to be interesting, intriguing, or challenging…!
As if Times Weren’t Unsettling Enough, Saturn Is Losing Its Rings
What we lose by being overly scientific about healthcare
Living in the Age of Risky Science
Maps That Show How The World Really Is
Earth likely just had its hottest two days in thousands of years again!
ScienceAdviser: Focusing on excitement for 2025
I hope that you have an inspired week of science and reason.
herb masters
“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.”
— Louis Pasteur
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.