January 12, 2007
Eric Baer
The Giant splat and The origin of The Moon
Our moon is critically important to life on our planet, yet there are several ideas on how it formed. Come to Science seminar today
to find out about the newest idea, and why many think our moon is literally a chip off the ol’ Earth.
[watch video...]
Video - Not Available
January 19, 2007
Lonnie Somer
Forensic Anthropology : the analysis of human remains
You are walking in the woods when you stumble upon a set of what appear to be human bones. Is it an old grave? a homicide victim? a
missing person? an ancient burial of Native Americans? Are they even human? The key to answering these questions comes from the bones
themselves, as they can tell you how old the person was, what gender they were, how old they were at the time of death, when they died,
even in some cases how they died. Perhaps most importantly, one can often tell WHO died. Come find out how forensic anthropologists can
tell gripping stories from a pile of old bones – the REAL C.S.I.!
[watch video...]
Posted on March 14, 2007
January 26, 2007
Bob Baugher
“Whaa-Whaa: The Art and Science of Crying”
We all cry when we're young. Why do some people cry even before the movie "Lion King" begins, while others remain dry to
the end? Bring your hankies, tissue, and lacrimal glands as we explore the mysterious world of tears.
[watch video...]
Posted on July 19, 2007
February 2, 2007
Eric Baer
The ongoing eruption of Mount St. Helens: the erupting volcano in our Backyard
For the last 2 and a half years Mount St. Helens has been quietly erupting, dumping one or two cubic yards of sticky, thick lava
onto the crater floor every second. This has provided an amazing opportunity for scientists to explore this eruption and, indeed all
volcanoes in general work.
[watch video...]
Posted on March 14, 2007
February 9, 2007
Marie Esch-Radtke
Born in the U.S.A.: The state of birth in the 21st century
Birds do it. Bees do it. Dogs and cats and elephants do it. Britney and
K-Fed did it twice. Most every woman in the United States will reproduce
twice in her life, and we're told it's safer and easier than ever. You wait
9 months, present yourself to the clean, shiny hospital, and WHAM! the baby
is delivered by the clean, shiny doctor. That's progress, right? If there
are problems with the process, we can just throw more technology at it,
can't we? So what's the big deal with birth in 2007? Why isn't the picture
as rosy as we like to think? Come find out how birth was, how it is now, and
what we might expect to see through the rest of the 21st century.
[watch video...]
Posted on March 14, 2007
February 16, 2007
James Loetterle
The December 14th, 2006 - Pacific Northwest Windstorm
With the windstorm of last December 14th still fresh in our minds, come
and learn more about the damage this storm caused, other Pacific Northwest
windstorms that have occurred in the past, and how these windstorms work.
Bring your curiosity, questions, concerns, and most of all your stories from
this last windstorm to share with us.
[watch video...]
Posted on July 24, 2007
February 23, 2007
Shawn McDougal
Bend It But Don't Break It: Topology and the Shape of Space
Come find out how the branch of mathematics called topology can let you see shapes in a whole new way!
[watch video...]
Posted on July 19, 2007
March 2, 2007
Ravi Manghani
Fuel Cells- A clean and energy efficient technology that has always been five years away from commercial exploitation
The promise has been there for decades – a car that burns hydrogen gas and, instead of giving off soot, carbon dioxide, highly
toxic carbon monoxide, instead gives off pure water. Fuel cells seem to be the inevitable wave of the future. NASA used them on the
Apollo missions and still uses them on the Space Shuttle. So why did I drive to work in a terribly polluting internal combustion
powered vehicle instead of a clean fuel-cell powered car?
[watch video...]
Posted on July 19, 2007
March 9, 2007
Katie Gulliford & John Pfeffer
Fourth Annual Chemistry Show - Building 7
Featuring chemistry experiments for non-chemistry majors, the much-anticipated annual chemistry show promises to continue its
tradition of providing fun and entertainment…and maybe even a bit of educational content. “At the very least, attendees
will learn that chemists can select materials and create reactions knowing what the outcome will be. This predictive power is what
the science of chemistry is about,” says co-presenter John Pfeffer.
[watch video...]
Posted on March 14, 2007
March 16, 2007
Mark Prothero
DNA and forensic science
Mark Prothero was the lead defense attorney for Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer who was
caught primarily through DNA analysis. He is a frequent lecturer at legal education seminars,
and is recognized for his expertise on Forensic DNA and the Death Penalty. He recently
published a book on his experience defending Ridgeway “Defending Gary: Unraveling the Mind
of the Green River Killer.” Come join us for this very special science seminar as we investigate
the intersection of science, the law, and murder.
[watch video...]
Posted on March 19, 2007
