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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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Museum of Science, Boston

One of the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science, Boston attracts 1.6 million visitors a year through vibrant programs and over 550 interactive exhibits. Its mission is to stimulate interest in and further understanding of science and technology and their importance for individuals and society. Other features include the Thomson Theater of Electricity; Current Science & Technology Center; Charles Hayden Planetarium; Gilliland Observatory; and Mugar Omni Theater. The Museum's exhibit plan, Science Is an Activity, has been awarded several National Science Foundation grants and profoundly influenced exhibit development at other major science centers.

http://www.mos.org

Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth II

Wed, Oct 5, 2005

James Hanken, evolutionary biologist, talks about cosmic evolution- the modern scientific story of who we are and whence we came; the story of us.

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Onset of Civilization and Prospects for the Future II

Wed, Oct 12, 2005

Fred Speir and Jill Tarter examine the continuously unfolding story of cosmic evolution, the modern scientific story of who we are and whence we came.

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Museum of Science, Boston
Early Universe and the Origin of Galaxies I

Wed, Sep 21, 2005

Join us for the first in an eight-part lecture series that examines the "arrow of time" of cosmic evolution.

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Museum of Science, Boston
From Stem Cells To Cancer Cells

Fri, Oct 21, 2005

Fernando Camargo discusses his research on how cancer arises, what can be done to stop it, and whether cancer is related to stem cells. The human stem cells found in our bone marrow have the amazing ability to develop into different types of cells such as blood or immune system cells. This happens in all of us everyday, but we know little about how it happens. Camargo's research centers on figuring out how stem cells travel down their path to become a new bone or blood cell. Recently, new theories suggest that stem cells have some of the same characteristics as cancer cells. Figuring out how stem cells replicate themselves, divide into specialized cells, or even give rise to a cancer would provide answers for research scientists and maybe treatments for patients.

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Museum of Science, Boston
Stem Cells 101 and Beyond

Fri, Mar 17, 2006

Divya Mathur and Chris Lengner from Rudolf Jaenisch's lab at the Whitehead Institute discuss the basics of stem cell research, as well as their latest findings.

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Museum of Science, Boston
Exploring Space with Humans and Robots

Wed, Apr 26, 2006

Jeffrey Hoffman, a former space shuttle astronaut, discusses personal experiences of space flight and shares his thoughts on the synergy between human and robotic exploration of space. He points out that the vast majority of space exploration is currently performed by machines ranging from telescopes to robots. (Photo: ["STS-135 begins takeoff"](http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/5916678920/in/photostream/. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:STS-135_begins_takeoff.jpg#/media/File:STS-135_begins_takeoff.jpg "") by Bill Ingalls)

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Museum of Science, Boston
NASA's Vision for Human Space Exploration

Wed, Apr 19, 2006

Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, and Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center, discuss NASA's Vision, the benefits and disadvantages of manned versus robotic missions, and whether we should be spending money on space-related projects instead of addressing needs here on earth.

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Museum of Science, Boston
Art of Living a Second Life

Wed, Apr 25, 2007

Eric Gordon moderates a panel discussion about art practice in *Second Life*, an 3-D online world where real business is conducted using virtual dollars that can then be traded in the real world. Called "the biggest digital art installation in the world" by Warren Ellis, *Second Life* is a highly imaginative, online, 3-D rendered environment populated with avatars (graphic representations of people). In *Second Life* you can teleport, fly, do not age, live in a house, go to clubs, take classes, make and view art, or just "hang out." Spanning more than 42,000 acres in real-world scale, *Second Life* is second home to over 2 million "residents," many of whom collaboratively create its content. This lecture is a part of the 2007 Boston Cyberarts Festival and produced in partnership with Emerson College and Turbulence.org's "OurFloatingPoints 4: Participatory Media" series.

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Museum of Science, Boston
Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World

Fri, Dec 1, 2006

Andrew Revkin details his fascinating adventure to the icy outer limits of earth with a team of scientists whose task was to determine the natural and man-made causes of dramatic climate changes in the Arctic. The award-winning *New York Times* journalist discusses his new book, *The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World*. Revkin's talk is moderated by Christopher Lydon of *Open Source*, and produced in association with the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

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Museum of Science, Boston
Wild Trees: Uncharted Canopy Biosphere of Redwoods

Wed, May 9, 2007

Richard Preston, author of *The Hot Zone*, tells the story of Steve Sillett and Marie Antoine and a group of botanists and amateur naturalists who discovered a mysterious world hidden above California. *The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring* is the tale of their adventures exploring the uncharted canopy biosphere of the largest and tallest organisms the world has ever sustained, the coast redwood trees (Sequoia sempervirens).

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Museum of Science, Boston