Very tippy top of a possible NASA rocket coming to the Franklin Institute this weekend (10/16-17, 9:30am to 5pm)
Posted on | October 13, 2010 | Comments Off
| October 16, 2010 9:30 am | to | October 17, 2010 5:00 pm |
NASA is touring the mockup of their proposed launch abort system (las) for the Orion spacecraft.
So, its the pointy bit that sits atop the passenger bit (Orion), which is supposed to sit atop the Ares rocket. The Ares rocket, however, may or may not ever be built as the president declined to include Constellation program (the over-arching name for the program that includes Orion and the Ares I and IV rockets) in the budget for 2011, but apparently its something Congress needs to act on one way or the other.
So Pathfinder (the las) sits on Orion which sits on the Ares as part of the Constellation will be sitting on a flat bed truck outside the Franklin Institute.
Does that make sense? Not to me, and I like this sort of stuff.
If you like this sort of stuff, you should come down to the Franklin Institute and check it out.
What: Lockheed Martin and NASA Bring Orion Hardware to Philadelphia for Two Days
When: Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010 & Sunday, Oct. 17; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Franklin Institute Science Museum
222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103What: After a successful test flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft Launch Abort System (LAS), Lockheed Martin and NASA are bringing a 45-foot-long launch abort system mock-up, known as the LAS pathfinder, to Philadelphia to be displayed outside of The Franklin Institute Museum for two days only.
Hear conservation legend Jim “Wild Kingdom” Fowler (11/4 6pm Academy of Natural Sciences)
Posted on | October 6, 2010 | Comments Off
| November 4, 2010 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Hey, did you know you can watch whole episodes of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom online?
Don’t feel so bad…until I went looking for a clip of Jim Fowler, I didn’t either.
Watch them chase that polar bear down via helicopter at the three minute mark. Kind of a different take on the plight of the polar bear back in 1987, huh?
But I digress, I wanted to post that Fowler is visiting the Academy of Natural Sciences courtesy of the Philadelphia chapter of the Explorer’s Club.
An Evening with Wildlife Conservationist Jim Fowler
Thursday, November 4
6 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m. Lecture
Free
To register: http://jimfowlerwildlife.eventbrite.com/
Jim Fowler, one of the world’s best known wildlife conservationists, has presented information about wildlife and wilderness to the American public on television for more than 40 years. He first served as co-host and later became host of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” and also hosted “Mutual of Omaha’s Spirit of Adventure.” Both programs received many awards including four Emmys. Fowler also was the wildlife correspondent for NBC’s Today Show for many years, and he was a regular on the “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” Fowler is actively involved in a nationwide conservation education program conducted at the local community level. He is president of the Fowler Center for Wildlife Education in New York and serves as the honorary president of the Explorers Club. In 1994 he received the prestigious Explorers Club Medal, the club’s highest honor.
20 Years of Cheetah Conservation (10/21, 6PM Academy of Natural Sciences)
Posted on | October 6, 2010 | Comments Off
| October 21, 2010 | ||
| 6:00 pm | ||
| 6:00 pm |
OK, I’ll say it, my original title was “Never Say Never: Cheetahs Sometimes Win”
And aren’t you glad I didn’t use that one?
The Academy of Natural Sciences is hosting a free talk by Laurie Marker, one of the world’s foremost experts on cheetahs.
20 Years of Cheetah Conservation, Dr. Laurie Marker
Thursday, October 21
6 p.m. Reception
6:30 p.m. Lecture
Free
To register: http://cheetahconservationfund.eventbrite.com/
Dr. Laurie Marker is among the world’s leading experts on cheetahs, the world’s fastest land animal. She has conducted groundbreaking research on the re-introduction of captive-born cheetahs into the wild, helped identify their limited genetic makeup, and contributed vital information on cheetah health, reproduction, mortality, evolution, and genetics. In 1990, Marker founded the Cheetah Conservation Fund and established its headquarters in Namibia. She has led her conservation organization from its humble beginnings in a tiny farmhouse to a worldwide model for predator conservation. In addition to continuing
research on the cheetah and its ecosystem, the foundation works internationally with scientists, government officials, businesses, and communities to raise awareness, develop policies and initiate business practices linking the economies of country landowners to international consumers and businesses. In addition to many international awards, Marker was recognized in 2000 as one of Time magazine’s Heroes for the
Planet.
Scientists weigh in on the Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus debate tonight! 5-9pm
Posted on | July 22, 2010 | Comments Off
| July 22, 2010 | ||
| 5:00 pm | to | 7:00 pm |
How could I have missed this?
The folks at the Academy of Natural Sciences are assessing the scientific merits of Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus.
I love these sorts of scientists-take-on-pop-culture events. Unfortunately, the movie is nearly unwatchable…despite the great acting chops of Debbie Gibson and Lorenzo Lamas
It isn’t free, but it is likely worth it. To register online: anspmegashark.eventbrite.com
Thursday, July 22, 2010, 5–9 pm
Join with the Penn State Alumni Association’s Philadelphia Chapter to watch the “awesomely awful” MegaShark vs Giant Octopus. The Academy’s own Paul Calloman and Jason Poole will provide running commentary on the film’s scientific veracity and many cinematic qualities—think Mystery Science Theater!5:00 pm: Enjoy hors d’oeuvre and drinks. Explore the Creatures of the Abyss exhibit and see a real giant of the seas—the Colossal Squid.
7:00 pm: Showtime!
To Register:This is an Adults only event (18 years old and over, visitors to the bar will be carded).
$30 for Academy members.
$40 for non-members.
Register online at anspmegashark.eventbrite.com/,
or call 215-299-1060.
This event is supported in part by Philadelphia Brewing Co.
There’ll Be Murder Afoot in National Mechanics: Science on Tap (7/12, 6PM)
Posted on | July 8, 2010 | Comments Off
| July 12, 2010 | ||
| 6:00 pm |
How could you possibly resist a lecture at a bar that has “Sixteen Good Reasons Not to Drink Whiskey with Strangers” as a subtitle?
The wheel of hosts falls to the Mutter Museum for this month’s Science on Tap, and they’ve picked Stockton College history prof Lisa Rosner as their speaker, appropriately enough. Her new book is “The Anatomy Murders: Being the True and Spectacular History of Edinburgh’s Notorious Burke and Hare and of the Man of Science Who Abetted Them in the Commission of Their Most Heinous Crimes,” which has earned some raves at Amazon.
Science on Tap provided a helpful background link to the Burke and Hare murders, if you have some time to kill.
As always, Science on Tap is held 6PM the first Monday of the month* at National Mechanics on third street in Old City Philly.
*Well, usually, when there isn’t a national holiday.
Test the limits of human survival with Mary Roach at the Free Library (August 3)
Posted on | June 23, 2010 | Comments Off
| August 3, 2010 | ||
| 7:30 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
“Spook” author,Mary Roach, will be at the Free Library of Philadelphia in August to discuss her forthcoming book “Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void.”
The book hasn’t been released yet, but I feel certain it will cover what happens to bodies exposed to the vacuum of space. You know you want to know.
Mary Roach | Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void (A)
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at 7:30PM
Central Library
1901 Vine Street, 19103
215-686-5322
Cost: FREE
No tickets required. For Info: 215-567-4341.“One of those rare writers who can tackle the most obscure unpleasantness and distill the data into a hilarious and informative package,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle, New York Times bestsellingscience writer Mary Roach has explored what happens to our bodies after we die (Stiff), what may happen to our souls after we die (Spook), and what happens physiologically behind closed bedroom doors (Bonk). With wit and unflagging curiosity, Packing for Mars examines the science of space travel and the oddities of life in such an inhospitable environment.
Thanks for the tip, Lene!
Science Fair First Friday at the Chemical Heritage Foundation (July 2)
Posted on | June 21, 2010 | Comments Off
| July 2, 2010 | ||
| 1:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
I hope this will start your Fourth of July weekend off with a bang…figuratively, if all goes correctly:
First Friday at CHF – Science Fair
Date: 2 July 2010
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106Free and open to the public.
Sponsors: This event has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through the Heritage Philadelphia Program.
You should take the kids just for the Gummi Bear sacrifice.
More info here.
Event Calendar
| « Jan |
|
Apr » |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | EC | |||
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |