Science Lush

The Lush List: 11/05/2011: Santa Fe Special

This weekend I went to Santa Fe with my college roomates. Our plans included walking, wine, galleries and good eats, but of course some science-related moments popped up amidst the art and the appetizers...

When sending mail to a secret laboratory...
While on a restaurant tour of some of Santa Fe's best eateries, we stopped into La Casa Sena Wine Shop and Lounge. Turns out that in addition to some lovely bottles, the wine shop is also know for its address, 109 E. Palace. This was where all the mail from Los Alamos was sent during the Manhattan Project so that no one would find out why a whole bunch of physicists were sequestered on a mesa 35 miles outside Santa Fe. For more on the history of the Manhattan Project, check out Jennet Conant's 109 East Palace.

 

Sci Fi Art
Canyon Road features gallery after gallery, so we spent one early afternoon strolling through town checking out the artistic offerings. My favorite by far was Chalk Farm Gallery, which bills itself as "The world's leading gallery for visionary art." It was a treat to see fantastical works by Daniel Merriam, Robert Bissell and Michael Parkes up close. I was particularly thrilled to catch an exhibit from science fiction and fantasy artist Stephan Martiniere, who has done work in a variety of entertainment fields including feature films, animation, video games, theme parks, editorial, commercial and book covers. His work as a concept artist for live action films includes such movies as Star Wars Episodes II and III, The Time Machine, Red Planet and I,Robot.  Seven  36" x 24" fine art canvas giclees of his pieces were on display - I wish I could have jumped into them to explore some of the worlds he's dreamed up.

World Too Near
Pic from www.martiniere.com, where you can purchase the artists' work and find out more about him.  

 

 

 

 

The Lush List: 05.23.11: Zombies, Portal 2 & the Fracking Song

1. PORTAL 2: THE VIDEO GAME THAT MAKES YOU THINK

Confession: I am not into video games. I realize this takes my geek status down a notch, but c'mon, I've got enough other things that should qualify me...like my love of science...which in this case, boomerangs right back into video games with Portal 2. The New York Times' review of the game  describes it as "The achingly brilliant new game from the Valve Corporation that wrings more fun out of physics than all of the shoot-’em-ups in the world."

Reviewer Seth Schiesel says the key to the game is that it helps the player to undersand the beauty of physics without the pesky math that often gets in the way.

...the brain seems to understand this science at a basic level. Gently toss a ball to a dog or a small child, and he or she will catch it without the faintest conscious understanding of acceleration, momentum and gravity. Throw the same ball as hard as you can, and that dog or child will try to defend against it or dodge, instinctively understanding complex calculations of velocity and potential impact.

With Portal 2, it's not a ball but rather a portal ray gun that is the player's toy of choice as (s)he attempts to escape what the game describes as a "funhouse of diabolical science," complete with robots, shifting wall panels and some very cool boots. Intrigued? Here's a look at the TV launch ad; for more videos, check out the official game site. This might just be the game that turns me into a player...

 

 

2. EVOLUTION VIDEO COMPETITION

Here's the scoop on a video contest from the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent). Application deadline is Friday, June 10, 2011.

 Submit your best evolution-themed video for screening at this year’s Evolution meeting!

The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) invites scientists of all stripes — graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty — to enter the first annual Evolution Video Competition. To enter, please submit a video that explains a fun fact, key concept, compelling question, or exciting area of evolution research in three minutes or less. Entries may be related or unrelated to your own research, and should be suitable for use in a classroom (K-12, undergraduate, graduate…your choice). Videos should be both informative and entertaining. (In other words, no taped lectures or narrated Powerpoint presentations!) Animations, music videos, and mini documentaries are all fair game. To enter your video, please complete our online registration form.

[Via @Sheril_]

 

3. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, ZOMBIE STYLE

With natural disasters such as the recent Missouri tornado becoming all too common, everyone should have an emergency kit ready to go, and an agreed upon emergency plan that has been reviewed by all family members. However, when you're not caught in the eye of the storm, taking the time to put these things together often claims a very low position on the priority list.

Enter the Center for Diseases Control's (CDC) Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness Guide, a cheeky exploration of how the CDC would handle a Zombie outbreak. Turns out that just as with hurricanes and earthquakes, having an evacuation route and a list of emergency numbers is key when the Zombies show up.

[via Gawker via Instapundit]

 

4. THE FRACKING SONG

At last year's Sundance, I was horrified when I saw Josh Fox's documentary GasLand and learned about the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." Not familiar with the topic? For an intro, check out My Water's on Fire Tonight (The Fracking Song), a project spearheaded by NYU journalism student David Holmes. 

 

For a behind-the-scenes look at how the project came about, check out Mallary Jean Tenore's piece "From Schoolhouse Rock to 'The Fracking Song,' Explainers as 'acts of empathy.' " 

[via @BoraZ]

Martha Graham Google Doodle

As you may know, I'm a big ol' So You Think You Can Dance addict, as well as a fan of any movie that features a rich ballerina with family problems who meets an earnest yet troubled guy from the opposite side of the tracks who teaches her how to dance from her soul (cue breakdancing scene in an abandoned warehouse).  So of course this Martha Graham-inspired Google Doodle caught my eye as a lovely fusion of tech & dance...

Google - Martha Graham from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

[Via Business Insider SAI]

YouTube & NASA Plan Streaming Interview From Endeavour

Head's up - the April 30th deadline is approaching to submit your questions to YouTube for the live broadcast with the crew of the upcoming Endeavour voyage. As detailed on Mashable, NASA and YT have partnered on the interview, which will be streamed from space on PBS NewsHour's YT channel on Monday, May 2nd at 2:15pm, barring any launch delays.

Intrigued? Miles O'Brien, who will conduct the interview, tells you all about the project in this li'l video...

Technical Theater: 'Company' at the NY Phil

Usually, when one talks about "tech rehearsals" in the theater, it refers to the chunk of rehearsal time when lights, sound, etc are all being worked out.  However, as detailed in a New York Times article today, a new production of the musical Company directed by Lonny Price is taking the term to a whole different level.

The show, which is gearing up for four performances with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall starting on Thursday, April 7th, 2011, features a cast of A-listers who it's been problematic to get in the same room together. The solution? Technology! For example, Neil Patrick Harris Skypes with his voice teacher and rehearses songs listening to MP3 tracks while driving (and there's always an abundance of drive time in Los Angeles). Jon Cryer relied on the video capability of the iPhone to learn some of his dance routines (and according to the article, has now developed the unique skill of beimg able to hoof it while looking down at his phone). Other cast members include Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone, Craig Bierko, Anika Noni Rose and Christina Hendricks.

One of the joys of theater is usually working with the other actors, refining and deepening your work through the rehearsal period. It'll be intereseting to see how this process works for the show, as many of the actors come together at the last minute for Thursday's performance. Curious? You'll be able to check it out when Company is shown in movie theaters in June. Yep, that's right...in today's all-screens, all-the-time world, even live theater gets captured by the camera for a larger audience.

NASA Astrobiology Press Conference Today

I take a few months off to have a baby and we discover life on other planets!!

Ok, that's a bit of an exaggeration...but maybe there's a grain of truth in it? NASA has announced a press conference for today at 2pm EST "to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe."

So far, the most serious announcements about extraterrestrials tend to come from movie producers touting the box office figures for their latest alien invader blockbuster; I'm looking forward to hearing what NASA has to say.

For those who want to tune in, the conference will be streamed live at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

 

 

 

On maternity leave!

I'll be taking a short break from Science Lush while I welcome my daughter to the world (and figure out how to change diapers and exist on minimal sleep!). See you in a few months!

The Lush List: 07/18/10: Summer Entertainment Options

1)INTOXICATING MOVIES: INCEPTION

While not strictly science-related, I saw Inception last night and had to post about this smart, gorgeously shot movie that will satisfy your desire for popcorn action thrills as well as provide some more deeply nourishing food for thought.  If The Matrix, 2001 or Blade Runner hold any fascination for you, get your butt into a theater to check out Christopher Nolan's latest. I won't give away any other details from the film because you should see it without knowing too much about it, but I'll just add that Nolan (The Dark Knight, Memento) continues to remain one of my favorite filmmakers. 

2)ONLINE SHOWS: JOE GENIUS

If you don't feel like hoofing it to the theater for your entertainment, check out Joe Genius, the new online show from Revision3. As described by their PR materials, "Joe Genius highlights home-grown Newtons who experiment, tinker, and yes, blow stuff up in the name of science. And it's all caught on tape! Join [comedian] Jonah Ray as he whizzes through these geniuses' most epic failures and thrilling successes -- and of course, the science behind it all."

The show features online vids from citizen scientists and students - some that go well, others which go horribly wrong. The first episode focus on chemistry, and includes such experiments as mixing rubbing alcohol and chlorine, concocting homemade rocket fuel, and an endeavor titled "watermelon versus liquid nitrogen."

Much like G4's new show It's Effin' Science, the show approaches science like an extreme sport, accompanied by comedic commentary. I am curious about the very last line of the show, which states that the show is "brought to you in part by the National Science Foundation"...interesting...will let y'all know when I find out more...

3) PBS'S HISTORY DETECTIVES

The PBS show History Detectives traces the history, mythologies and family legends behind found objects. This year, as part of the 8th season space-themed premiere, the show made a direct interactive pitch to viewers to help solve the mystery of whether or not a miniature piece of collaborative art was snuck aboard the Apollo 12 space mission, possibly created by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and others. It's a story of collaboration between engineers and artists, cryptic telegram messages and the fascination with getting a teeny bit of oneself up into space. The show's producers ask the public to help solve the mystery here and over 170 viewers have already done so. 

Watch the full episode. See more History Detectives.

[Source: Cynopsis Digital]

4)NSA GEEKY AFTER DARK

Many folks get through the hot summer by heading out to the pool club. The folks at the NSA have a different idea of how to blow off steam. A post on Wired's Danger Room blog details how NSA staffers get down & dirty after work. Turns out that hacking at top levels during the day isn't enough for these guys - they continue their exploits in 12 different "Learned Organizations" after the work day is done. From the Wired post:

Most of the clubs revolve around cryptoanalysis, communications analysis and language translation. Which is pretty much what employees at the NSA do from 9 to 5 — and, it seems, still shell out $15 in annual fees to do on evenings and weekends, too. But at least on evenings and weekends, snacks are involved...

The clubs offer more than chips & dip. In addition to the work they do, the Crypto-Linguistics Association (CLA) has an International Cookbook; the KRYPTOS Society has an annual literature contest; and the Crypto-Mathematics Institute (CMI) has a fondness for word puzzles.

I'd love to sit in on a meeting of the Pen & Cursor Society (P&CS), which sponsors “creativity seminars,” where members are invited to “explore childhood memories,” “break rules!” and “fertilize the garden in which you grow ideas.” I'd even bake some killer cupcakes if they'd let me come play, but alas, the clubs are only open to NSA Staff.

The Lush List: 6/17/10 - The LA Film Festival Edition

It's a crazy night in Downtown LA - the Lakers won the NBA championship, E3 continues to generate buzz and the Los Angeles Film Festival kicks off it's 16th edition with a screening of Lisa Cholodenko's The Kids Are All Right. Luckily, I'm far away from the madness...though I have already seen people lighting off fireworks in celebration of the yellow & purple.

Personally, it's the film festival that gets me all revved up, so in honor of the LAFF, here's a special movie edition of the Lush List, highlighting some of the science-related films that will be playing at this year's fest. You may recognize some of the titles from my Sundance round up, and if you're in LA, make sure to check out the post-screening conversation for One Lucky Elephant. Descriptions courtesy of the 2010 LAFF Film Festival Guide.

1. Cane Toads: The Conquest

Summer Showcase

(Australia, US, 2010, 85 mins, 3D DCP)

Directed By: Mark Lewis; Executive Producers: Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann, Clark Bunting; Producer: Mark Lewis; Cinematographers: Toby Oliver, Kathryn Milliss, Paul Nichola; Editor: Robert Demaio

The cane toad was imported to Australia in the 1930s to save its sugar crop from beetles. Big mistake. Not only did the ugly critter utterly fail at its job, some seven decades later it had multiplied from a hundred to an estimated 1.5 billion, overrunning most of northern Australia in its unstoppable migration. Protected by a poison it secretes through its skin, the cane toad has wreaked havoc everywhere it hops, and every effort to stop it has proven futile.

The mischievous maverick Mark Lewis first told this story in his short 1988 classic Cane Toads: An Unnatural History. Now, aided by eye-popping 3D, he updates the horror in his inimitable tongue in cheek style. Documentary and archival footage come together as the toad's victims are interviewed and the elaborate efforts to stomp the interlopers out are demonstrated. But nothing can match Lewis’ recreations. They are in a class by themselves, as Lewis shows us the effects the toad has on any dog who happens to lick it. If you've ever wondered what a canine acid trip looks like, look no further. (David Ansen)

2. Farewell
Documentary Competition
(Netherlands, 2009, 90 mins, DigiBeta (NTSC))
US premiere
Directed By: Ditteke Mensink; Producer: Pieter van Huijstee; Screenwriter: Ditteke Mensink; Editor: Jessica de Koning; Cast: Narrated by Poppy Elliott

In 1929, celebrated journalist Lady Grace Drummond-Hay was invited to take part in the first round-the-world flight of a commercial airship, the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin. Recently widowed from a man 50 years her senior and bored to tears with covering ladies fashion, Lady Grace leaped at the chance to be the only woman onboard one of the media sensations of the decade. At journey’s end she returned to America a star, thanks to her good looks and gutsy charm. But her reports on the ship’s travels for the front pages of the Hearst press empire only told part of the story. In her diary she recorded a far more intimate journey—her struggle to get over her secret affair with shipmate, mentor, and married man Karl von Wiegand.

Combining spectacular archival footage of the journey across New York, Siberia, Tokyo, and the Pacific with narration drawn from Drummond’s articles and her private journals, this sweeping black and white documentary stands as a vision of technological marvels and global hope in that narrow window between world wars when everything seemed possible except true love. (Amy Nicholson)

3. One Lucky Elephant

Documentary Competition

(USA, 2010, 83 mins, HDCam — Frame Rate 29.97)

World Premiere

Directed By: Lisa Leeman; Writers: Cristina Colissimo, Lisa Leeman; Producers: Cristina Colissimo, Jordana Glick-Franzheim; Co-Producer: Miriam Cutler; Executive Producers: Elizabeth Zox Friedman, Greg Little; Cinematographers: Sandra Chandler, Neil Brown, Shana Hagen, Cristina Colissimo; Editors: Kate Amend, Tchavdar Georgiev; Cast: Flora the elephant, David Balding, Carol Buckley, Laura Balding, Willie Theison

What happens to a circus elephant when it’s time to retire? After 16 years in the spotlight, Flora, an African elephant living in St. Louis, must find a new home, and David, the circus owner who has cared for her all these years, must say goodbye to the animal he thinks of as a “daughter.” The road to Flora’s retirement, however, is a difficult and emotional one. While David finds himself drawn into the current debate in the animal rights community over the ethical treatment of elephants, Flora must adjust to living among other elephants for the first time ever.

Ten years in the making, One Lucky Elephant is a remarkable achievement. Eschewing easy sentimentality, the film beautifully captures the delicate love between David and Flora, but it also doesn’t shy away from examining the problems and mysteries posed by keeping wild animals in captivity. It’s a complicated, fascinating issue, and there are no clear answers for anyone involved, least of all David and Flora, two extraordinary individuals you’ll never forget. (Doug Jones)

To note: A post-screening Q&A and extended conversation to explore the timely issues raised by the film will follow the screening on June 19. Moderated by Charles Siebert, acclaimed New York Times journalist and author of An Elephant Crack Up, Angus, and The Wauchula Woods Accord, with guests Ron Kagan (Director, Detroit Zoo), Dr. Toni Frohoff (behavioral and wildlife biologist; TED Global 2010 conference speaker), Laura Balding (Equestrian Advisor and Co-Founder, Therapeutic Horsemanship), and filmmakers Lisa Leeman (director) and Cristina Colissimo (producer and co-founder of Ahali Elephants).  Additional special guests to be announced.

4. Space Tourists
International Showcase

(Switzerland, 2009, 98 mins, DigiBeta (NTSC))

In English, Russian, Romanian with English subtitles
Directed By: Christian Frei; Producer: Christian Frei; Cinematographer: Peter Indergand; Editors: Christian Frei, Andreas Winterstein; Cast: Anousheh Ansari, Jonas Bendiksen, Dumitru Popescu, Charles Simonyi

In the not so distant past, media outlets gathered excitedly every time the U.S. or Soviet Union launched a flight into space. Today, space flights only receive secondary coverage, leaving many to wonder what happened to the promise that space travel once held. Christian Frei’s dream-like documentary Space Tourists addresses this question as he transports us to the rarely-glimpsed world of Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. With its crumbling edifices, abandoned housing projects, and timeworn artworks, the once-great Baikonur is only a shadow of its former self. With the high price tag of space flight, space tourism—priced at $20 million per journey—has become the only way for Russia to fund their space program.

Examining both the idealism and the reality behind space exploration today, Frei’s documentary launches us into space with the first woman space tourist, an Iranian-American Texas millionaire, while on the ground a motley crew of “space junk” collectors make their living off what comes tumbling to earth. (Jennifer Wilson)

5. Gasland
Special Screenings
(USA, 2010, 104 mins, HDCam Frame Rate 23.98)
Directed By: Josh Fox; Executive Producers: Debra Winger, Hunter Gray; Producers: Trish Adlesic, Josh Fox, Molly Gandour; Screenwriter: Josh Fox; Cinematographers: Josh Fox, Matthew Sanchez; Editor: Matthew Sanchez; Cast: Josh Fox, Theo Coburn, Dr. Al Almendariz, John & Kathy Fenton, Mike & Marsha Markhan, Amee & Jesse Ellsworth, Debbie Mae, Pat Farnelli, Renee McClure, Jeff & Rhonda Locker, Lewis Meek, Lisa Bracken, Weston Wilson, Calvin Tilman, Scott Stinger, James Gennaro

We all know about the recent and well-publicized environmental risks of oil, coal, and nuclear energy, but what about natural gas‾ When banjo-picking everyman Josh Fox is offered big bucks to lease his property to a natural gas company, he decides to investigate the industry’s dubious safety claims. Armed with a camcorder, a cellphone, and an inquisitive mind, Fox sets out on a harrowing journey across the heartland, where he uncovers damning evidence of contaminated water, polluted air, and corporate bullying.

In a down-to-earth and unassuming style, Fox explains the complicated and costly process of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” and exposes its environmental impact on our air, soil, water, and livestock. Meanwhile, the citizens of “Gasland” testify to the health hazards posed by the industry, including an unforgettable demonstration of flammable tap water. In this time of energy handwringing and green initiatives, Fox’s extraordinary example of DIY muckraking is a vibrant testament to the vitality of citizen journalism and a must-see for every American who is concerned about the environment. (Matt Cornell)

6. Climate Refugees
Free Screenings
(Bangladesh, Chad, China, Kenya, Tuvalu, USA, 2010, 89 mins, HD - CAM 1080I 59.94)
In English, Bengali, Chinese, Sudanese with English subtitles
Directed By: Michael P. Nash; Executive Producers: Pat McConathy, Stephen Nemeth; Producers: Michael P. Nash, Justin Hogan; Screenwriter: Michael P. Nash; Cinematographer: Michael P. Nash; Editors: Michael P. Nash, Bret Langefels, Nancy Frazen; Cast: Rajendra K Pachauri Ipcc, Dr.Stephen Schneider, Gov. Bill Ritter Jr., Lester R. Brown, Newt Gingrich, Prof. Wangari Maathai, Secretary Ken Salazar, Senator John Kerry, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Tino Cuellar, Yvo De Boer; Music: Michael Mollura

“Climate Refugees” is a term few people outside the U.S. military and U.N. circles were familiar with outside the US military and UN circles…until now. As alarming as it is prescient, Michael Nash’s illuminating documentary examines the facts behind the phrase and exposes what is being called the biggest challenge facing mankind.

Climate refugees are populations who are being displaced by the effects of extreme climate change, both natural and manmade. Through intimate interviews, expert testimony, and unforgettable images, Nash and his dedicated team convey the disastrous political, social, and ecological effects this migration could cause. While Congressional and U.N. leaders attest on-screen that the situation is critical, the fact remains that there is no contingency plan or multi-national accord addressing the issue.

Capturing a world that is distressingly unaware of this aspect of the global warming crisis, Nash’s film is an urgent call for action. To sustain life as we know it, and to guarantee a future for the next generation, we must mobilize to find solutions now. (Christine Davila)

The Lush List: 5/7/10 - Art & Bones, Neanderthal DNA and a Free Program at Griffith Observatory

1. ORGANIC ART

When one thinks art, "cockroach" isn't the term that usually comes to mind. However, a group of visual artists profiled in THE NEW YORK TIMES article "Of Compost, Molecules and Insects, Art Is Born" find their inspiration in such unlikely, organic subjects. Examples of such art are currently on display in the show “Dead or Alive,” at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. Reports Natalie Angier:

The museum recently hosted a round-table luncheon in which scientists and artists addressed the hardy evergreen issue of how much the arts and sciences had in common and where they differed. The basic conclusion: both enterprises are important, difficult, creative, driven by insatiable curiosity and a desire to solve problems, but artists are allowed to make stuff up and scientists really shouldn’t.

Helen Altman creates skull-shaped, spice-enhanced sculptures to turn death into a "sweet" thing; this made me think of my trip to Rome in 2008 during which I visited the Capuchin Crypt. The small space features artwork created out of the bones of over 4000 Capuchin friars who died between 1528 and 1870. Though some might find it a bit macabre, I was fascinated by it. Clearly, the bones hadn't just been thrown up on the walls - someone had to sort the bones and design the intricately constructed images I was now looking at, such as that of a skeleton surrounded by angel wings created out of pelvic bones.

As a writer, the Crypty piqued my curiosity about what kind of person would have been able to find the beauty in the bones. Did he or she see him/herself as an artist? As someone sentenced to a horrible task? Did they view it as a service to the dead? Angier's article shows that finding inspiration in such unusual materials is not a lost art.

Perhaps a clue from an inscription in the Crypt:

"Quello che voi siete noi eravamo; Quello che noi siamo voi sarete."
What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be." 

2. NEANDERTHAL + MODERN HUMAN SITTIN' IN A TREE...K-I-S-S-I-N-G...

Next time someone says you're acting like a Neanderthal, you may be able to reply, "Well, that's because we share DNA." As reported by Chris Stringer in TimesOnline,

In this week’s issue of the journal Science, a truly international team of more than 50 researchers have published their findings from a reconstructed Neanderthal genome of more than three billion bits of DNA coding...Using massive improvements in DNA recovery techniques and computing power, three small fragments of bone excavated from the Croatian cave of Vindija have provided most of the sequence. These three female Neanderthals who died around 40,000 years ago have been immortalised through their DNA.

The Neanderthal genome was compared to those of 5 modern day humans. Turns out that if you are European, Asian or New Guinean, the research suggests you may have between 1%-4% in common with the Neanderthal genome. Not so much so if you are from Africa, although researchers only looked at the genomes of a west African and a south African. A mixture would have been more likely to occur in someone from northeast Africa.

For a more in depth look at this story, including video commentary and a timeline of Neandertal-related discoveries, check out Science Magazine's special online feature on the Neandertal Genome.

3. LOS ANGELES EVENTS

If you're looking for something fun & science-y (& free!) to do in Los Angeles on Friday, May 7th, stop by Griffith Observatory for ALL SPACE CONSIDERED, their monthly astronomy update. Topics this month include the first images of the sun from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, volcanoes in the solar system, the May sky report, and birthday celebrations for both Griffith (75!) and the Hubble telescope (20). The event is held in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater from 7:30-9:15pm