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James DiGioia
In March, a major breakthrough in understanding the origin of universe took the scientific community–and the general public–by storm. A team lead by astronomer John Kovac, using a powerful telescope at the South Pole, reported evidence of ripples in the fabric of space time produced by the big bang, a long-sought prediction of our most refined approach to cosmology, the inflationary theory. Amidst the worldwide celebration, though, some have been quietly suggesting that the champagne has been uncorked prematurely. Join a singular conversation, among the world’s most respected pioneers in cosmological theory and observation, that will explore the state of the art in the ongoing quest to understand the beginning of the universe.
James DiGioia
Life in the city is complicated, and sometimes the only way to solve an urban problem is with a hack–a science hack, that is. Science hacks are low-cost, elegant workarounds that create useful scientific projects. Science Hack Day is a two-day event that brings together scientists, designers, developers and innovators who will invent, build and test their projects.
James DiGioia
Counseling . . . therapy . . . self-control. The path to curing addiction has never been easy. Addiction short-circuits the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine and other feel-good chemicals that keep you coming back for more. But through a steadily developing understanding of the brain, scientists foresee a future in which a simple medical procedure—even a shot or a pill—could defuse addiction’s power. Join leading researchers studying how addiction changes the very fabric of the brain, and what new insights could mean for addicts trying to win back their lives. This program is part of “The Big, the Small, and the Complex,” a series exploring the latest developments in Astrophysics, Nanoscience, and Neuroscience—fields recognized by The Kavli Prize. Sponsored by The Kavli Foundation, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the Royal Norwegian Consulate General.
James DiGioia
Algorithms are the unsung heroes of everything from fighting crime and searching the world’s information to selecting movies and even choosing mates. These complex digital decision-making mechanisms mine mountains of data to make predictions for, well, nearly anything. And analysts thus armed are revealing unexpected connections between widely disparate systems. Join an exploration of the surprising predictive power of math, and probe the theoretical limits of even the most promising computers of tomorrow. We’re tackling ever more complex problems-but are there some problems simply beyond the reach of machines? This program is part of the Big Ideas Series.
James DiGioia
How do you see colors, and do they look the same to everyone? It’s not an easy question. Most human eyes can see around 10 million different colors, but our eyes can’t see other spectra of light that many insects, birds, and fish can see. Some colors even look different when your brain compares them to other colors, something painters such as Monet and Matisse took advantage of. And some people, synesthetes, can invent colors to go along with words, numbers, or even music. In an action-packed hour, our audience and experts will delve into the world of color. It all leads up to a dazzling sound and light show, helping us see the colors a young synesthete has in her head when she rocks out on the electric violin. This program is in association with the Flame Challenge, an annual contest held by The Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University.
James DiGioia
The first minute of a roller coaster ride and the ninety-seventh minute in line at the DMV don’t seem to pass at quite the same rate. While our watches show time ticking forward at a uniform pace, the experience of time is anything but. Time is relative–not just in an Einsteinian way—but because the brain colors and shades the passage of time. Through an interdisciplinary discussion among some of the worlds leading researchers, explore the human experience of time, including the fascinating relationship between memory and reality, and the chemical and electrical impulses of the brain that drive the experience. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series.
James DiGioia
Imagine exploring the Amazon river to dig up a rare breed of leeches, or heading into space to repair the famed Hubble Space Telescope, or crawling through a tiny crevice in the Earth in search of remains of our earliest ancestors. Well, you don’t have to just imagine these spectacular feats. The World Science Festival has assembled the coolest group of scientists with the most interesting jobs on the planet, who’ll tell you first hand about these explorations and much more. Join us to start your own quest to find a Cool Job in science.
James DiGioia
Are we alone in the universe? Scientists haven’t found aliens yet, but by scanning the sky they’ve shown that our galaxy harbors billions of planets, many of which likely have conditions similar to those on Earth. Which brings new questions into sharp relief: When searching for life beyond our home planet, how do we know what to look for? What human prejudices might cause us to overlook intelligent life forms very different from what we expect? Learn how scientists across disciplines—astronomers, chemists and microbiologists—are intensely studying the evolution of life on Earth to help identify life abroad, a research agenda with wide-reaching ramifications for science, philosophy, religion, and much more. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series.
James DiGioia
The deaf begin to hear. The blind begin to see. Once damaged hearts begin to pump blood. Forget “wearable tech”—we’ve entered a zone where deploying engineering and circuitry inside the human body can help erase disabilities and, more controversially, enhance human capacities beyond their evolutionary limits. Peek into a future where technology will have the capacity to make us stronger, faster and by some measures, better. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series.
James DiGioia