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Free online lectures: Explore a world of ideas

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Museum of Science, Boston

One of the world's largest science centers, the Museum of Science, Boston attracts 1.6 million visitors a year through vibrant programs and over 550 interactive exhibits. Its mission is to stimulate interest in and further understanding of science and technology and their importance for individuals and society. Other features include the Thomson Theater of Electricity; Current Science & Technology Center; Charles Hayden Planetarium; Gilliland Observatory; and Mugar Omni Theater. The Museum's exhibit plan, Science Is an Activity, has been awarded several National Science Foundation grants and profoundly influenced exhibit development at other major science centers.

http://www.mos.org

  • Maria Zuber of MIT discusses her experiences working with the Mars Exploration Rover 'Spirit', and the discoveries it made. Taking advantage of Earth's proximity to Mars, astronomers and scientists are launching several missions to Mars to find out more about our red neighbor. On January 4, 2004, a Mars Exploration Rover called 'Spirit' landed inside a Martian crater with the assistance of Maria Zuber. Zuber monitored the radio tracking of the entry, decent and landing out at the Jet Propulsion Lab in California; however, before she went, she shared with us some of the reasons scientists want to study Mars in the first place. What are we looking for? How similar are these two planets? And is there life on Mars?
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • This panel presentation reviews the current status of reasons and technologies for hydrogen production in our quest for economical, reliable, environmentally sound energy. It also provides an introduction to proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, how they function, and a discussion of the technological challenges overcome in recent years and those that still exist in developing and commercializing fuel cells. Panelists are from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and include professors Yi H. (Ed) Ma and Ravindra Datta, James P. Dunn, President of Tech Commercialization, and William Durgin, Vice President of Research. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brother's flight, we look toward the future of aviation technology - fuel cell powered electric aircraft. At just 346 pounds, the all carbon DynAero Lafayette III soon will take a critical step toward becoming the first piloted plane to be powered by fuel cells.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • David A. Aguilar and Carolyn C. Porco explain that, while aspects of Saturn are still mysteries, scientists hope that the Cassini-Huyguns Space Craft (due to approach Saturn's orbit in July of 2004) will answer many questions. Saturn, the second largest planet in our solar system, is a gaseous giant encircled by 31 moons and, of course, its brilliant rings. The Cassini Orbitor will circle the planet and its moons, while the Huyguns Probe will land on the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Andrew Revkin details his fascinating adventure to the icy outer limits of earth with a team of scientists whose task was to determine the natural and man-made causes of dramatic climate changes in the Arctic. The award-winning *New York Times* journalist discusses his new book, *The North Pole Was Here: Puzzles and Perils at the Top of the World*. Revkin's talk is moderated by Christopher Lydon of *Open Source*, and produced in association with the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Mitchell Joachim shares some of his 'out of this world' thinking regarding the future of automobile design. Joachim's work is to rethink car design based upon more humanistic principles. From the history of alternative urban design to his own work with Frank Gehry on a Soft Car with omnidirectional wheels and human friendly design, Joachim peers into a future very different from today's SUV-filled one.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Join us for the first in an eight-part lecture series that examines the "arrow of time" of cosmic evolution.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Astronomer Michael Shara and planetologist Dimitar Sasselov explore the many varied changes that have produced our star and our planet as we examine the "arrow of time" of cosmic evolution.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Fred Speir and Jill Tarter examine the continuously unfolding story of cosmic evolution, the modern scientific story of who we are and whence we came.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Lynn Rothschild, NASA astrobiologist, talks about cosmic evolution. Cosmic evolution is the modern scientific story of who we are and whence we came; the story of us.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, and Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center, discuss NASA's Vision, the benefits and disadvantages of manned versus robotic missions, and whether we should be spending money on space-related projects instead of addressing needs here on earth.
    Partner:
    Museum of Science, Boston