Science Education
Couldn't make it to the last Science Series lecture? Did you like a lecture so much that you just had to see it again? Not to worry! Past lectures are now available on demand!
The recent earthquake may have you wondering what other surprises Virginia's geology may hold. Could there be a volcanic eruption in Virginia? Probably not today, but during the Eocene, about 35-48 million years ago, a number of mysterious eruptions occurred in western Virginia. This talk investigates the possible origins of these eruptions, and what they can tell us about the crust and mantle underneath Virginia.
January 24, 2012
Dr. Elizabeth Baedke Johnson - James Madison University
Adventures in Infectious Diseases
Dr. Susan Fisher-Hoch, Virologist and Epidemiologist, will discuss her research and travels associated with viral hemorrhagic fevers. From the Ebola outbreak in Reston, Virginia to outbreaks of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in South Africa, Senegal, and Saudi Arabia, Dr. Fisher-Hoch has studied and tracked the pathophysiology of these viral diseases. These studies have led her from the Center for Disease Control in the United States, to Lyon, France...
November 1, 2011
Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, M.D. - The University of Texas School of Public Health
Proton Therapy - Accelerating Protons to Save Lives
In 1946, physicist Robert Wilson first suggested that protons could be used as a form of radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer because of the sharp drop-off that occurs on the distal edge of the radiation dose. Research soon confirmed that high-energy protons were particularly suitable for treating tumors near critical structures, such as the heart and spinal column. The precision with which protons can be delivered means that more radiation can be deposited into the tumor...
October 25, 2011
Dr. Cynthia Keppel - Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute
Explore the chemistry of chocolate and how the chemistry relates to the flavor and effects of chocolate on the human body and why, even after 3,400 years of cocoa consumption, chocolate remains somewhat of a mystery.
April 19, 2011
Dr. Andy McShea - Theo Chocolate
DNA: The Strand That Connects Us All
Learn how the methods and discoveries of human population genetics are applied for personal genealogical reconstruction and anthropological testing. We will start with a short general review of human genetics and the biology behind this form of DNA testing. We will look at how DNA testing is performed and how samples are processed in our laboratory. We will also examine examples of personal genealogical results from Family Tree DNA and personal anthropological results from the Genographic Project...
March 29, 2011
Dr. Matt Kaplan - University of Arizona Genetics Core
The Mysterious Universe: Exploring Our World With Particle Accelerators
The universe is dark and mysterious, more so than even Einstein imagined. While modern science has established deep understanding of ordinary matter, unidentified elements ("Dark Matter" and "Dark Energy") dominate the structure of the universe, its behavior and its destiny. What are these curious elements? We are now working on answers to these and other challenging questions posed by the universe with experiments at particle accelerators on Earth...
November 23, 2010
Dr. James E. Brau - University of Oregon
Young Einstein was a rebel who seemed doomed to fail. How did he overcome rejection to become the most famous scientist in history? We will discuss and explain all his theories in plain English and without math, and we will discover how Einstein's achievements impact our lives through DVDs, GPS, iPods, computers and green energy.
October 5, 2010
Dr. Robert Piccioni
The Restoration of the USS Monitor
The ongoing efforts to conserve and exhibit the iconic Civil War ironclad USS Monitor at The Mariners' Museum will be discussed. The presentation will cover past conservation accomplishments by conservators and NOAA specialists, current activities in the lab, and future plans to bring back to life one of the world's most famous warships. Learn about the complex methods and procedures used to treat the ship's revolving gun turret, steam engine...
March 2, 2010
David Krop - Conservation Project Manager, The Mariner's Museum
Eleven elaborate chemical demonstrations which are choreographed and set to popular music. These demonstrations are mixed with two or three numbers involving audience participation.
February 9, 2010
Tidewater Alliance of Chemistry Teachers
Einstein's Biggest Blunder: A Cosmic Mystery Story
Within a decade of adding a "Cosmological Constant" to his triumphant General Theory of Relativity in 1915, Einstein denigrated the addition as his "greatest blunder." In the last decade, however, new observations have led to a revolution in cosmology and a rethinking of Einstein's alleged blunder and its implications for understanding nature and life. In this World Year of Physics Lecture Series talk, Lawrence Krauss, director of the Center for Education and Research...
March 16, 2005
Lawrence Krauss - Case Western Reserve University
Just in time for Thanksgiving! Do you know what toxins may be lurking in your food? How are they produced and how harmful are they? Dr. Kristen Kulp, a cancer research scientist, will perform demonstrations to illustrate methods used to detect these food toxins. She will also describe quick and easy cooking techniques that will reduce the formation of these harmful compounds.
November 23, 2004
Dr. Kristen Kulp - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
The Hidden World of Technology
From the moment the clock radio comes on in the morning to the time we shut off the last light at night, a hidden web of technology - a labyrinth - supports and sustains us. Our speaker takes the first half hour of his day and shows the complex web of technology underlying it. In addition to the technical aspect, he explores the social, political, economic, and cultural context of the material things that surround us.
April 20, 2004
Dr. William Hammack - University of Illinois and National Public Radio
Understanding Flight: A Physical Description of How Airplanes Fly
Did you ever wonder how a Boeing 747, weighing 910,000 lbs at takeoff can possibly get off the ground? Or, did you ever wonder how airplanes fly upside down? Why is there a "backside of the power curve?" What makes a wing efficient? These questions can be answered when lift is developed in terms of Newton's laws. A Newtonian description of lift gives an intuitive feel for how airplanes fly, without the need for complicated analysis or approximations...
March 23, 2004
Dr. Scott Eberhardt - University of Washington
The Physics of Stock Car Racing from a NASCAR Champion's Perspective
A two-time NASCAR Champion will overview the physics of stock car racing from a driver's perspective. Topics will feature various technical aspects of stock car racing, such as, tires, mechanical suspension, aerodynamics and engines, with an emphasis on NASCAR-style cars.
March 9, 2004
Dr. Scott Winters - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
What do those huge canyons on Mars look like? What is waiting for us on the surfaces of the other planets in our solar system? What technologies are now being used to explore the depths of space? Learn about the exploration of space and see images gathered by probes and telescopes!
February 24, 2004
Nigel Hey - Science Author
From the energy supplied by the pitcher to the ball to the way the batter swings the bat to the path of the fly ball to center field, ways that physics can be applied to baseball to better understand and enjoy the game!
December 9, 2003
Dr. Robert Adair - Yale University
Strange Matters: Science Headlines from the 21st Century
Antimatter, black holes and the expansion of the universe were all 'discovered' by physicists studying squiggles on paper. Now, predictions of strange quark matter, invisible stars and new dimensions of space and time set the stage for the biggest science headlines of the 21st century.
November 5, 2003
Tom Siegfried - Science Editor, The Dallas Morning News
Multi-Million Dollar Forgeries Exposed
A million dollar French impressionist painting or a worthless fake? Explore the techniques used by scientific detectives to distinguish between priceless documents and convincing forgeries.
October 7, 2003
Dr. Michael Henchman - Brandeis University
Even superheroes must obey the laws of physics - or do they? Exactly how much force does it take to leap a tall building in a single bound and what does that tell us about Superman's home planet? Did Spider-Man accidentally cause the death of the falling Gwen Stacy when he caught her with a web? Discover what's right - and wrong - with the physics in the world of comics.
March 25, 2003
Dr. Jim Kakalios - University of Minnesota
Hidden Worlds - Hunting for Quarks in Ordinary Matter
How can scientists know anything about quarks, particles which are 100,000 times smaller than atoms? How do quarks arrange themselves to make ordinary matter? Learn about the hidden world of quarks, the particles which are inside of everything, everywhere!
February 26, 2003
Dr. Timothy Paul Smith - Dartmouth College
Dinosaur Extinctions and Giant Asteroids
The story of the Chicxulub impact crater, created 65 million years ago by the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs!
November 19, 2002
Dr. Kevin Pope - Geo Eco Arc Research, Aquasco, MD
Chemistry - It's More Than Puffs and Bangs!
A series of educational and entertaining demonstrations that convey the excitement of science in general and chemistry in particular.
October 29, 2002
Dr. Joe Schwarcz - McGill Office for Chemistry and Society, Montreal, Canada
How a physicist thinks about baseball!
March 28, 2002
Dr. Alan Nathan - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Iceland: Dynamic Land of Ice and Fire
Come and explore the geology and geography of this unique land.
February 8, 2002
Dr. Richard S. Williams Jr. - U.S. Geological Survey
The Science and Technology Behind Television
Learn how your TV works and the changes that will come with Digital High Definition TV.
March 6, 2001
Mr. Paul Cummings - Newport News Public Schools
Chemistry experiments that demonstrate the existence and properties of molecules!
November 14, 2000
Dr. H. Alan Rowe - Norfolk State University
Jefferson Lab's unique and expanding facilities are the platform for studies of contaminated soils and sediments.
October 17, 2000
Dr. Michael Kelley and Christine Conrad - College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Radiation: What is it and how can it affect me?
Learn about different types of radiation, where it comes from, how it is detected and how it affects living cells.
March 14, 2000
Robert May, Scott Schwahn - Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
Mars Missions and the Search for Life
How engineering is used to help scientists study the geology, climate and possibility of life on Mars.
February 15, 2000
Dr. Robert Mitcheltree - NASA Langley Research Center
Eye-popping experiments demonstrating the laws of physics!
October 12, 1999
Dr. Phil Cole - University of Texas, El Paso
From spinning tops to polarized electrons, how you can become a polarized source expert in one easy lesson!
March 9, 1999
Dr. Scott Price - Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
From Star Wars to credit cards, a discussion and demonstration on the inner workings of lasers and 3-D holograms.
February 9, 1999
Mr. Paul Christie - Liti Holographics
Learn about the physics of timekeeping and atomic clocks.
December 15, 1998
Dr. Christopher Ekstrom - U.S. Naval Observatory
Fusion is a potentially limitless source of energy. Can we make it work?
November 3, 1998
Dr. Andrew Post-Zwicker - Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
From diapers to slime, see the many uses of these materials.
January 13, 1998
Dr. Tarek Sammakia and Dr. Gordon Yee - University of Colorado
Eye-popping experiments that you shouldn't try at home!
November 18, 1997
Professor Cynthia Keppel with Mr. R. Neil Green and Mr. Tege Margues - Hampton University
Predict the outcome of physics experiments and brain teasers!
October 15, 1997
Professor Richard Berg - University of Maryland
Symmetry - From Kaleidoscopes to Theories of Everything and Nothing
How the idea of symmetry helps us understand the world.
April 29, 1997
Dr. Howard Georgi - Harvard University
Detecting Einstein's Gravity Waves
LIGO - A project to build observatories for a new window on the universe.
March 18, 1997
Dr. David Shoemaker - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Interactive Computer Games and Animation
Insights on creating and playing interactive games.
December 10, 1996
Ms. Stephanie Barish - Shoah Foundation
Mechanical Properties of Soda Cans
How heat and chemical treatments make aluminum alloys so useful and versatile.
October 23, 1996
Dr. Carolyn Meyers - North Carolina A&T State University
Repairing the Hubble Space Telescope and experimenting in space.
April 17, 1996
Dr. Kathryn C. Thornton - Astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center
Understanding prehistoric archaeology and sea level change.
January 23, 1996
Dennis Blanton - The College of William and Mary
Interpreting Data from Particle Detectors
How we learn about subatomic particles and their interactions.
November 14, 1995
Dr. Gail Dodge - Old Dominion University
Information storage and transmission in the brain.
October 17, 1995
Dr. Charles F. Stevens - Salk Institute
Exploring the Microwave Universe
Invisible microwaves from space provide clues for astrophysicists.
September 26, 1995
Dr. Jacqueline N. Hewitt - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Answers to questions about AIDS: How, Why and How Not
April 4, 1995
Dr. Saundra H. Oyewole - Trinity College
Making hundreds of computers do your bidding - even from home!
March 14, 1995
Dr. Chip Watson - CEBAF
Waste: You Can't Just Throw It Away
Cleaning up hazardous waste provides new challenges for today's scientists.
February 14, 1995
Jacqueline W. Sales - Hazardous and Medical Waste Services, Inc.
Earth on Fire: The Environmental Impact of Global Burning
How human actions and activities affect the atmosphere.
January 11, 1995
Dr. Joel Levine - NASA Langely Research Center
Techniques for reducing the sonic boom of supersonic aircraft.
December 13, 1994
Dr. Christine Darden - NASA Langely Research Center
Collisions of Comets and Asteroids with Earth
How much of a threat do these collisions pose today?
November 9, 1994
Dr. Christopher Chyba - National Security Council
Becoming Enlightened About Light
How the use of light, especially laser light, entertains, heals, and helps us understand our world.
October 27, 1994
Dr. Michelle Shinn - Bryn Mawr College
Exploring Submarine Volcanoes - A New Frontier
Undersea voyages capture geology in action at mid-ocean ridges.
May 25, 1994
Dr. John Delaney - University of Washington
The World in a Glass of Soda Pop
Dramatic and surprising demonstrations of physics with everyday objects.
April 19, 1994
Dr. Charles Hyde-Wright - Old Dominion University
Oysters: A Chesapeake Controversy
The science behind oyster breeding, cultivation and fishery management.
February 15, 1994
Dr. Mary C. Gibbons - McMullen Associates
Pollution Sleuthing Using an Accelerator
Understanding air pollution using nuclear and atomic detective techniques.
January 11, 1994
Dr. Thomas A. Cahill - University of California
Cloning: The Science Behind Jurassic Park
Learn the latest on genetics being discovered by the Human Genome Project.
December 7, 1993
Dr. Paula Gregory - University of Michigan
Finding Subatomic Particles at CEBAF
How physicists detect particles that can't be seen.
November 16, 1993
Dr. Keith Baker - Hampton University and CEBAF
Neutrinos: Much Ado About (Almost) Nothing
Learn about nature's most elusive and nearly undectable particle.
September 28, 1993
Dr. Gina Rameika - Fermilab
Explore the world of jellyfish research with a marine scientist and learn about jellyfish, their sting, and their predators.
April 20, 1993
Dr. Karen Rowe - Hampton University
Avoiding Environmental Problems
Are you worried about our planet's future? Environmental scientists do something about it.
December 2, 1992
Dr. Elizabeth Anderson - Clements International Corporation
Do You Remember When? 100,000 Years Ago on the Peninsula.
How do we know about the Peninsula's prehistoric past? Learn how fossils give us a local history lesson.
October 21, 1992
Geology Professor Jerre Johnson - College of William and Mary
Microscopes and Telescopes - How Does the World Work?
How do we learn about atoms and the universe?
September 30, 1992
Dr. Leon Lederman - Nobel Laureate
Physical Fitness for Athletes . . . and Everyone Else, Too
What constitutes physical fitness? How does the body keep in shape? Athletes especially will be interested in this overview by a sports medicine expert.
May 14, 1992
Dr. David N. Tornberg - Hampton Roads Orthopedic Associates
From Acne to Suntans: Dermatology for the Teenager
How does human skin do its job of protecting the body? What sorts of things can go wrong -- and what can be done when they do?
February 20, 1992
Dr. Susan E. Mackel, M.D. - Oyster Point Dermatology, Inc.
Magnets and Their Attractions for Technology
How do scientists and engineers use magnets? What do magnets promise for the future? See for yourself what's involved in tapping one of nature's fundamental forces: electromagnetism.
December 11, 1991
Dr. Leigh Harwood - CEBAF
Investigating Earth's Atmosphere
Demonstrations of weather forecasting tools and techniques for experiments in the atmosphere and of lasers used to measure atmospheric trace gases and aerosols.
May 14, 1991
Mark Shipham, Scott Bachmeier, Scott Higdon, and Byron Meadows - NASA/Langley Research Center
Explore the World of Scientific Computing LIVE!
Simulations and demonstrations of the human interface for real-time data acquisition, the capabilities and possibilities of computers and networking, and theoretical modeling of the physical universe.
March 6, 1991
Dr. Roy Whitney, Ms. Rita Chambers and Dr. Chip Watson - CEBAF
Is Something Wrong With the Weatherman?
What makes weather forecasting so hard? How can computers help?
January 22, 1991
Dr. Mike Kaplan - North Carolina State University
What IS superconductivity, anyway? In sub-Antartic cold, strange things happen to the superconductor BArium Yttrium Copper Oxide.
December 12, 1990
Dr. Randy Caton and Dr. Fred Hartline - Christopher Newport University
The hows and whys of our disappearing beaches - severe storms, changing of the sea level, and shifting sand.
October 25, 1990
Dr. Suzette Kimball - VIMS Associate Marine Scientist
An overview of CEBAF's purpose and technology.
September 27, 1990
Dr. Beverly Hartline and Kathryn Strozak - CEBAF
In his youth, Dr. William Bertozzi, an MIT professor who has long been a leader in experimental nuclear physics using beams of electrons, carried out an experiment in which he explored the relationship between the velocity of electrons and their kinetic energy by measurements over a range of accelerating voltages between 0.5 MeV and 15 MeV. The kinetic energy is measured using calorimetry and the velocity is measured by time-of-flight. This educational film, made in 1962, documents the experiment...
Sometime in 1962
Dr. William Bertozzi - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
This page is maintained by Steve Gagnon.