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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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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/

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    Social Media and Mental Health

    Tue, Feb 21, 2023
    As the negative effects of social media increase, parents, educators, and health professionals are searching for solutions. Teens are especially susceptible to the problem. Dr. Jacqueline Sperling describes the addictive nature of social media and its impact on self-esteem and attention span. She offers some possible solutions.
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    Virus vs Host: An Enduring Battle

    Tue, Feb 14, 2023
    The virus-host struggle is one of the most fascinating in Nature. Virus-based illnesses –smallpox, measles, polio, flu, covid—have been a major force in human history. But modern science has developed effective protective vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Viruses will continue to be a threat, and that keeps experts busy. Dr. Connor explains how viruses invade selected organisms, how immune systems fight against the invaders, and how vaccines provide vital protection against virus diseases.
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    Coastal Wetlands and Salt Marshes

    Tue, Jan 17, 2023
    Coastal wetlands and salt marshes are major ecosystems . They also absorb and store large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), which, combined with CO2 absorbed in ocean ecosystems, is called “blue carbon." These ecosystems are especially important in this era of climate change, but there is still much to learn about the absorption systems. Dr. Fulweiler discusses how she and her colleagues are working to measure this process. The Fulweiler team is also developing a citizen-science participation project.
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    Vital Ocean-Atmosphere Dynamics

    Tue, Jan 10, 2023
    The relationship between atmosphere and oceans is a major factor in the dynamics of Earth’s climate. One of the most important regions for this interaction is the Bay of Bengal. Dr. Mahadevan, a leading researcher on this area, emphasizes that the Bay of Bengal impacts more of humanity than any other ocean area in the world. She explains how ocean-atmosphere dynamics create the monsoons that deliver freshwater to more than a third of the human population on this planet, and how, in turn, the freshwater deposited by the monsoons impacts the ocean’s structure and circulation
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    Reconstructing the Inaccessible Cosmic Dawn

    Tue, Dec 6, 2022
    About 400,000 years after the Big Bang, the dark universe cooled enough that particles were able to form the first atoms (hydrogen, helium), and then light. This is known as the “reionization” era. It is the most important period to astrophysicists because features and conditions in the reionization, including dark matter, determined the evolution of the universe. But this early epoch is inaccessible to telescopes. Astrophysicists devise very complex models to test their theories of the reionization and formation of the earliest galaxies. Dr. Vogelsberger, known for some of the most accurate simulations of the earliest galaxy formations, describes the Thesan project he developed with other scientists at MIT, Harvard University, and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics. This is of particular interest now that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will eventually be able to site these earliest formations. Dr. Vogelsberger will also discuss other related simulation projects.
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    Nutrition for a Healthy Aging Brain

    Tue, Nov 8, 2022
    Dr. Susan B. Roberts is well known for her research on the relationship between nutrition and cognitive development. She is currently expanding that work to evaluate how nutrition affects the aging brain. in this discussion she explains the brain-nutrition relationship in general, and how these two studies underscore the need to provide a healthy diet for all ages. She is particularly interested in how specific dietary adjustments improve child cognitive development and, for the aging, prevent cognitive decline.
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    Harnassing Geothermal Energy

    Tue, Oct 11, 2022
    One of the most abundant sources of renewable energy is the heat deep in the earth. This geothermal energy could provide clean heat and energy to whole cities, and in some parts of the world, such as Iceland, it does. But accessing this resource can be difficult. Dr. Woskov is developing a way to convert coal and gas electric power plants by drilling deep geothermal wells to replace the fossil fuels. He discusses the abundance of geothermal energy, the challenges of accessing it, and the geothermal project using a microwave-emitting mechanism called a gyrotron.
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    The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): A New Era for Astrophysics

    Tue, Oct 4, 2022
    The JWST, launched far from Earth in December 2021, is the most sophisticated telescope ever created. It will reveal stars, galaxies and other objects in the very early universe. Scientists are still amazed that such a complex project –25 years in the making– succeeded. Astronomer Silas Laycock describes the technical achievement and the incredible images the telescope has produced so far. The JWST reveals features of the early universe, the birth and death of galaxies, planets that may support life, and much more.
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    Why Are We Spending Billions on Carbon Capture and Storage?

    Tue, Sep 20, 2022
    Despite the hype, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is not a solution to the CO2 problem that has caused global warming. Taxpayers continue to pay for the federal investment of billions of dollars that are subsidizing fossil-fuel industry’s CCS projects. And those projects have consistently failed to reduce CO2. Dr. Harvey discusses how these ineffective CCS projects continue to be promoted and he explains the necessity of shifting to renewable energy, which can be done now and with much less expense.
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    Weighing In On Metabolism

    Tue, Sep 13, 2022
    Dr. Susan B. Roberts is a leader in the science of metabolism. She has concentrated a great deal of her research on the rise of obesity, especially in Western nations. In this program, she discusses how metabolism works under normal conditions, the relationship between metabolism and obesity, and the impact of certain diets on the metabolic system.
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