Happy Halloweeny Weekend!

There are SO many science-y events to look forward to this weekend. Lucky that we have that extra "fall back" hour. Here's a look at Saturday's events:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST
Canoeing and Birding at Constitution Marsh
Get out your paddles and binoculars! The NYC Audobon Society is hosting a trip to Constitution Marsh to see nature in action. The event is a little on the pricey side, but what isn't in this city?

A Skeptic's Guide to String Theory
Is there really a unified theory of everything out there? Or are these string theorists kooked up on whippets? At the New York City Skeptics event, George Musser, the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to String Theory" will try to convince you that it's the first one. In addition to explaining the theory itself, he will address how it may be involved in Chinese traditional medicine. Now that's something I'm skeptical of.

Shared Frequencies
A sound installation/performance that I really can't explain. Check out the link to learn more.

My Favorite Website Today

Wondering whether that penny you dropped off the Empire State building actually killed someone? Or whether the gum that you swallowed will now remain wedged in your small intestine for the next 7 years? These questions and more are answered at LiveScience.com.

Physics for Presidents

Last night, Richard Muller addressed science groupies at AMNH. He talked about the physics that a president would need to know and focused on climate change and energy policies. He inserted some weird facts amid the substance (did you know that chocolate chip cookies have more energy per gram than computer batteries?) and surprised me more than once, especially when he began discussing global warming.

Apparently, the world's average temperature hasn't actually gone up in the past ten years; however, this decade HAS been the warmest in human history. Luckily for us, the sun has had decreased activity this decade. He also mentioned that if cloud coverage across the world increases by 2%, the effect would offset global warming. Strange that Al Gore never really mentioned this...

Nonetheless, looking at sea levels and temperatures since the turn of the century, we can say that global warming is real. But even though America has been responsible for 25% of increased CO2 output, our future is going to rely on developing countries - India, China, Russia - to cut back on their CO2 emissions. Convincing these countries to hold back their economy for the environment is something that the US has no right to do. When we were growing economically, we said "Screw Kyoto!" It's a lot of do what I say, not what I do. Muller had a unique but politically unlikely suggestion of giving economic incentives for using cleaner technology. A lot of Americans didn't want to give money to our own businesses; how would we ever approve pouring money into commie-red countries (we'll just forget the fact that they're adopting capitalist practices)?? It's an interesting question that I'm sure we will have to address in our lifetime.

The Saga of Cholera

Cholera - that pleasant disease that makes getting sucked by a man-made black hole look good. Literally meaning "diarrhea" in Greek, cholera can cause such severe diarrhea and vomiting that it has killed within 2-3 hours of the onset of symptoms. The bacterium releases a chemical that increases the production of cAMP, which in turn releases a ton of chlorine ions into the intestinal tract. Water and other ions follow to balance the osmotic and electrical gradients. This causes the major symptom - explosive diarrhea.

There was actually a series of cholera epidemics in our very own city beginning in 1832. More than 3000 people out of the population of 150,000 died. Looking comparatively at NYC's current population, that would equate to about 100,000 deaths today. Poor immigrants and free blacks living in the Five Points area (near Columbus Park) were the most hard hit, due to overshared and overflowing outhouses and a general lack of city sanitation services.

Because cholera thrives in areas with contaminated water, global warming will likely increase the number of outbreaks across the globe through flooding and drought. Tomorrow night, Dr. Rita Colwell will be addressing that very subject in her lecture titled "Climate, Oceans, Infectious Disease, and Human Health: The Saga of Cholera." The event will take place at Columbia's Morningside campus from 6-7pm, and you need to register in order to get in. Here's to clean water and good health!

This Wednesday

What a gross day! I hope everyone is staying dry today.

There are two science events that look particularly interesting tomorrow:

A Natural History of Jamaica Bay
For all of you nature-lovin' people out there, author Betsy McCully will be talking about the estuaries and wetlands around the city, including Jamaica Bay, and our impact on them. It's going to be held at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge visitor center at 7pm. It's a nice surprise that a wildlife refuge in the five boroughs even exists!

Physics for Future Presidents
My favorite pick for the night (sorry, herons) is AMNH's Physics for Future Presidents. Berkeley professor Richard Muller will be talking about what the next president should know to make informed decisions about energy policies, climate change, and the fight against terrorists. Yep, all of the things in school that Bush missed while he was snorting things up his nose. Muller's class at Berkeley was voted "best class" by the students, so I'm expecting greatness. The event starts at 7:30pm at the planetarium.

I have a link on the right to the Science Events Calendar. Check it out if you want to know about events that are happening later this week and into November.

Tonight

Being Fall, the time of getting back to scholarly learning, it's not surprising that there are a lot of events going on this week in the city. Tonight, there are two of note:

Musical Creatures: How Vertebrate Locomotion Shapes Human Music

The Multidisciplinary Study of Imagination (God, please don't make me type that again) is hosting a night centered around the question Where did Music even come from? And What is it that makes most of us love it so much? Violinist Stephanie Chase and Professor/Composer Andrew Warshaw will be there to give their professional opinions. This one looks like a winner if the interplay between science and the arts appeals to you.

Wine and Climate Change

I kind of hate mentioning this one because it's actually sold out, but if you do get your hands on a ticket, don't tell me because I may have to resort to violence to nab them from you. AMNH is hosting a lecture/wine tasting tonight that will feature climatologist Gregory Jones, wine connoussieur and author Tyler Colman, and Evan Springarn, a wine importer. They'll be talking about the changing climate's effect on wine regions and the new biggest thing in the wine world - "eco-wines" that have smaller carbon footprints. Best of all, there will be a wine tasting included! And when is science + booze ever a bad idea?

Lost Without Science

Since I moved to New York, I've met a ton of artists and a lot of schmoozy investment bankers, but I haven't met many scientists. I'm one of those people who went to college thinking I was going to win a Nobel prize in four years and then when I got there, I realized I never wanted to do research. Ever. So I graduated with a degree in geology and biology and then got a job doing reality TV.

I have something that I need to say. Science, I'm sorry. I moved to the big city and was distracted by all of the shiny lights and big buildings. I left you like a pregnant stripper leaves her pole. But you knew I couldn't stay away. And I'm back, ready to do whatever you want me to do to gain your trust. Except I can't kill Sarah Palin for you. Even though you may think it's for the best and she believes that we walked with dinosaurs once, I just don't think it's a nice thing to do. So I am giving you the second best thing - a blog in your name. A blog dedicated to news about you and events that you inspire. No need to thank me, Science. Someday you'll repay me by figuring out how to safely defrost my cryogenically frozen body.