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Science for the Public

Science for the Public is a grassroots nonprofit organization committed to the promotion of adult science literacy. The organization hosts public presentations by scientists at Boston Public Library, a community science TV series, and online science resources. Citizen participation is actively encouraged in the development of our programs and resources. Today, many of the most pressing issues of modern life require the expertise of scientists. Citizens must therefore have a reasonable understanding of science in order to function as responsible members of society. Further, as the pace of scientific discovery accelerates, modern citizens must be able to grasp new concepts and information that are reshaping our perspectives. Although the issue of science literacy is now being addressed at the K-12 level, there is no science curriculum for the adult population. And it is the adult population that votes, pays taxes and raises children.

http://www.scienceforthepublic.org/

The Struggle to Ban Pesticides That Disrupt Brain Development

Tue, Jul 5, 2022

For almost 30 years, Dr. Philip Landrigan and other distinguished scientists appealed to the EPA to ban chlorpyrifos and widely used pesticides known to impair brain development. The link between chlorpyrifos and brain disorders such as autism and ADHD was well known for years, but the manufacturers of this toxin were able to block efforts to ban chlorpyrifos. Dr. Landrigan explains the effects of this toxin, and also scientists’ decades-long effort to protect pregnant women, children, and farm workers and communities. This struggle has raised the question: Who does the Environmental Protection Agency protect: industry or the public?

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Who Funds the FDA - And Why Does It Matter?

Tue, Jun 7, 2022

The Food and Drug Agency (FDA) was established in 1938 to ensure the quality of foods and medications. At the time, many medications and processed foods contained impurities and toxins that were threatening public health. When the FDA took charge of testing and guaranteeing the safety of products it represented the public interest and was funded by the taxpayer, not the pharmaceutical and food companies. That situation began to change in the 1980s when a special arrangement was initiated in which pharmaceutical companies paid fees to the FDA that were meant to expedite the testing and approval of new medications. The public is largely unaware of this partnership between the regulator (FDA) and the regulated (pharma industries). Dr. Kesselheim explains the background and the concerns about this arrangement. Photo credit: Science for the Public

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Reconstructing the Ancient Viking Colonies

Tue, May 31, 2022

Norsemen/Viking seafarers navigated unpredictable waters to create colonies in remote lands. Dr. Bolender explains how archaeologists locate and reconstruct the far-flung settlements in Greenland, Iceland and elsewhere. The ancient ruins suggest how the Norsemen/Vikings adapted to new territories and transformed the environment in ways still felt today. Dr Bolender discusses the known settlements and also the question of Viking settlements in North America. Dr. Bolender appeared in the BBC/PBS Nova documentary, Vikings Unearthed.

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Hard Facts about Carbon Capture and Storage

Wed, May 18, 2022

How much CO2 does the much-promoted carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology actually extract from the atmosphere—and at what cost? Answer: very little extraction and at great cost with serious environmental risks. CCS keeps the fossil fuel industry going at taxpayer expense, although renewable energy and biological sequestration are available, much less expensive, and environmentally beneficial --definitely the only viable solution to the excess atmospheric CO2 crisis. This discussion provides important facts the public rarely gets.

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Finding Their Way: How Migratory Creatures Get Where They’re Going

Wed, Apr 20, 2022

Migratory birds and other such creatures can navigate vast distances to annual retreats and nesting sites because they are endowed with magnetoreception. Dr. Walcott explains the biological adaptations that enable the connection to Earth’s magnetic field. He describes his pioneering work on the homing pigeon, one of the major sources of evidence for magnetoreception. Dr. Walcott also discusses some other interesting sensory mechanisms, such as spiders that “hear” with their legs. IMAGE CREDIT: BBC & treehugger.org

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Distinguishing Scientific Facts from Disinformation and Distortion

Tue, Apr 5, 2022

Vested interests have the resources to distort public information about important issues such as climate change, fossil fuels, nuclear energy. Elliott Negin has been confronting artificial facts for years. In this discussion, he provides examples of disinformation and explains when to be suspicious and how to get the real facts.

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A Potential Solution to the Methane Problem

Tue, Mar 29, 2022

Methane is a greenhouse gas that is released by farming, mining, fossil fuel drilling, and by melting permafrost. For climate scientists, the increasing emissions are a major concern, and the 2021 COP26 emphasized the need to reduce atmospheric methane quickly. But reduction is a serious challenge. A potential solution has been developed by the Plata lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this discussion, Dr. Plata explains the serious challenge of methane emissions and an ingenious solution created in her lab: an inexpensive system using zeolite clays and copper. This solution is still in development, but is receiving a lot of attention. IMAGE CREDITS: [“Methane Leaking through the Cracks,” by NASA Earth Observatory. Image cropped. CC BY 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/68824346@N02/7165132252) # Resources [It Might Be Time to Take Methane Removal Seriously](https://www.wired.com/story/it-might-be-time-to-take-methane-removal-seriously/) [A dirt-cheap solution? Common clay materials may help curb methane emissions](https://news.mit.edu/2022/dirt-cheap-solution-common-clay-materials-may-help-curb-methane-emissions) [How an ingredient found in cat litter could help fight climate change](https://www.fastcompany.com/90711976/how-an-ingredient-found-in-cat-litter-could-help-fight-climate-change) [Methane Leaks in New Mexico Far Exceed Current Estimates, Study Suggests](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/24/climate/methane-leaks-new-mexico.html?campaign_id=54&emc=edit_clim_20220325&instance_id=56747&nl=climate-forward&regi_id=74549671&segment_id=86590&te=1&user_id=555ee595e2e27c47f3dee1879dce3a3f)

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How to Talk to a Science Denier

Tue, Mar 8, 2022

Philosopher and popular author Lee McIntyre discusses his latest book, **How to Talk to a Science Denier**. This is a must-read for people who confront denialism on the one hand, and misinformation/disinformation on the other. Dr. McIntyre provides examples of various types of denialism together with a strategy for dealing with this serious problem. In an era when scientific facts and scientific thinking are essential for saving civilization as well as our planet, we need a plan for dealing with denialism. This book might be the starting point.

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Great Adaptations

Tue, Feb 8, 2022

William Detrich’s pioneering research on the Antarctic icefish was among the first efforts to reveal how certain DNA features enable some creatures to adapt to extreme environmental conditions. As climate change accelerates extinctions, that genetic advantage of certain species is of great interest. Relatively few creatures have that endowment. Dr. Detrich explains what the genetic advantage is, how it works, and what species seem to be predisposed to successful adaptation in extreme conditions. In recognition of his outstanding discoveries, an Antarctic island near Palmer Station has been named Detrich Island in his honor.

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How "Clean" Is Blue Hydrogen Energy?

Tue, Jan 11, 2022

Among the numerous “green” (clean) energy resources being developed, one that has received significant government and industry support is “blue” hydrogen. But this alternative fuel is actually very questionable. According to a major analysis by climate scientists Robert Howarth (Cornell Univ) and Mark Jacobson (Stanford Univ), “the greenhouse gas footprint of blue hydrogen is more than 20 percent greater than burning natural gas or coal for heat and some 60 percent greater than burning diesel oil for heat,” Dr. Howarth explains what blue hydrogen is, how it is produced, and why we must consider the environmental and climate risks of developing this particular resource.

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