Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: “Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease”, "Darwin Day 2019 Lecture"

"Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease"
By Robert A. Hendrix, MD
Saturday, February 9 at 10 AM PST

"Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is of increasing prevalence and can lead to cirrhosis and total liver failure and can be found in children as young as 2 years of age through adulthood.  Death can occur not only from liver failure but more likely, associated cardiovascular disease.  This talk will review the clinical presentation and natural course of this  disease process and its possible associations with modern lifestyle, diet and gastrointestinal (gut) microbiota.

"GOAL – to raise awareness and basic understanding of NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE for lay people."

For more information: Click Here

The Science Circle (61/127/32)

* * * * *

Darwin Day 2019 Lecture "Heroes of Evolution"
by Stephen L. Gasior, Ph.D
Tuesday, February 12th at 6 AM PST

"Heroes of Evolution: Kettlewell and Majerus: Of Moths and March of Science

"This lecture will honor the accomplishments of two scientists who helped demonstrate “Evolution in Action.”

"Dr. Henry Bernard Davis Kettlewell spent time in the field counting moths in response to increasing amounts of pollution. This phenomenon of industrial melanism was an excellent demonstration of microevolution showing how a population of organisms change in accordance with environmental changes. Unfortunately, scientific criticism lead to junk science criticisms by anti-evolutionists.

"Dr. Mike Majerus followed up on the scientific criticisms with his own updated experiments solidifying this basic concept of modern evolutionary theory. This talk focuses on the basics of the science and also the process of how science works.

"It will, as is typical for the speaker, criticize the bad faith arguments of the anti-evolutionists and reflect on the challenges for rational thought in today’s culture."

For more information: Click Here

The Science Circle (61/127/32)

Announcement: UoH "The Telescope in Astronomy: Historical Perspectives"

Univ of Hawaii, Astronomy Presents: "The Telescope in Astronomy: Historical Perspectives"

By Jim Mayo
Thursday, Sept 13th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater: 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/CUH%20Alliance/49/206/4002

And on the web: http://tinyurl.com/ifamaui

In “The Telescope in Astronomy: Historical Perspectives,"  Jim Mayo discusses the emergence of astronomy as one of the most ancient of all sciences going back to the world’s earliest civilizations. Starting with “Astronomy of the Ancients” to include Egypt, Babylonia, China and Phoenicia, the focus moves to Greece and Rome, and then to Arabic and early European astronomy.  The critical telescope precursors of the 16th Century are covered leading to the explosion of the telescope onto the scene in 1608. Mayo covers the development and early astronomical use of refractors and reflectors, the emergence of the achromatic object glass in the 1750s, the large refractors of the late 19th Century, and the great reflectors of the 20th Century.

Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle: “Student Virtual World Science Projects in Sine Space”

"Student Virtual World Science Projects in Sine Space”

Saturday, June 9th at 10AM - 11AM PDT

Members here at Science Circle regularly attend our meetings for online discussions and collaboration. On June 9, I will discuss my attempts to get my students to collaborate and work together online. Sine space seems to provide the online networking in a safe networked environment we need. One of my students has created a space colony for Europa, and another has created a geological simulation called Eagle Rock, based on an actual area in Virginia. The creator of the sims can control who has access to the sim and can even delete it if so desired.

An optional field trip will be given at the end of the lecture. Details on how to log in will be giving at the end of the lecture. These sims can be accessed with a web browser and a guest account. Although the sine space client for pc and an account is recommended at https://sine.space.

by Dr. William F. Schmachtenberg (Dae Miami SL)

For more information, Click Here.

Announcement: University of Hawaii Presents "When Sunspots Collide"

Univ Hawaii Astronomy is presenting: "When Sunspots Collide" by Dr Sarah Jaeggli 
Friday December 2 at 8:30 pm PST.

http://tinyurl.com/ifamaui

University of Hawaii System, UH  Aquaculture Island,  (35, 74, 24)

Announcement: "UoH - Exoplanets: Discovering New Worlds"

University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy Presents:
"Exoplanets: Discovering New Worlds"

By: Dr. J.D. Armstrong
Friday, Sept 16th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater: 

Alliance, Chaminade University (49, 205, 4002)
http://slurl.com/secondlife/CUH%20Alliance/49/205/4002

And on the web: http://tinyurl.com/ifamaui

Scientists have discovered thousands of “exoplanets” - planets orbiting other stars. These new worlds could harbor new life and new civilizations. But when we look at stars with even the most powerful telescopes we see only a point of light. Somewhere in that point of light is the planets that scientists claim to detect. How can we tell from just a point of light that there are planets, their size and mass? If these planets exist, what does it tell us about the possibility of any cosmic neighbors?

Review of "Brain Mechanism Linking Stress and Illness" at Virtual Ability

Gentle Heron started the Virtual Ability's 2016 Mental Health Symposium with a warm welcome and an introduction to nine presentations.  She then turned the podium over to the first introducer, PedroLevy Indigo.  PedroLevy Indigo introduced himself and explained that he was diagnosed in 1999 as a carrier of Bipolar Disorder.  PedroLevy also explained that he is trying to cope with the new drugs as the old ones do not have effect on his brain. 

PedroLevy then introduced us to Dr. Vanja Duric.  Dr. Duric is an Assistant Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Des Moines University in Iowa, USA.  Dr. Duric started the session wtih explaining what stress is.  He explained that there are several different types of stress.  Dr. Duric went into details about the neurological and psychiatric disorders.  He talked about depression and people in chornic pain.  He did add something positive.  "On a positive note, there is some hope in treatment of depression." said Dr. Duric.  He talked about Ketamine, the new antidepressant. 

When the session was over, Dr. Duric did his best in answering some questions.  He did leave the contact information.  That way, if any one of us want further information, he can be contacted.

Deaflegacy

Press Release: "Down But Not Out" Discussion at The Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island

We invite you to attend the symposium and tell your friends about it. In fact, bring them along, especially if they are skeptical about the value of virtual worlds.

See below for details about the presenters and their topics, and join us on the 18th of June as we explore latest approaches in the improvement of quality of life for people with mental illness.

SATURDAY June 18, 2016
Times listed are US Pacific Daylight Time/Second Life Time.

8:30am - Brain Mechanism Linking Stress and Illness, Dr. Vanja Duric


10:00am - Understanding the Emotional Aspects of Multiple Sclerosis, Andrea Arzt

11:30am - Hippocrates Wept: Psychologically Surviving Modern Medicine During A Health Crisis, Colleen Crary, M.A. (SL: Anya Ibor)

1:00pm - The ABCs of DBT, Rienna Rieko
(DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

2:30pm - Faith and Health: Research, Clinical Applications, and Resources, Dr. Harold Koenig

4:00pm - Mental Health Outreach in Second Life: Past, Present, and Future, Dr. Tammy Fletcher (SL: Avalon Birke)

5:00pm - Poetic Reflections

6:00pm - Lifestyle Medicine and Supplementation for Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders, Dr. Jerome Sarris

7:30pm - The National Disability Insurance Scheme - Supporting Australians Living With Mental Health Issues, Louse Dibbs and Lyn Ainsworth

Read the full press release in Extra, with more in-depth descriptions of the events and presenters.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/54/170/23

Announcement: May's Aether Salon - Secret Societies!

Due to complications, the Salon will NOT be on the third Sunday of May but the fourth, the 22nd, instead.

Secret Societies have existed since the dawn of Man, and all throughout history.  For this month's Aether Salon, Jimmy Branagh explores the whys and wherefores of some of the most famous of these secretive and often malevolent organizations.

Please arrive a tad early to receive your gift, and instructions.

New Babbage

Announcement: University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy Presents: "Challenges and Approaches to Star Flight"

University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy Presents:
"Challenges and Approaches to Star Flight"

By: Marc Millis
Friday, May 13th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater: 

And on the web: http://ps1puka.ps1.ifa.hawaii.edu/liveVideo.php

Comprehending star-flight – reaching other worlds across interstellar space – is mind boggling.  Distances are beyond familiarity and ideas for getting there are difficult to sort from science fiction. This talk introduces the reality of potential destinations, how to get there, and the lessons learned in the attempt. An unexpected lesson is that human behavior is a much larger factor than technological progress. The energy levels required for interstellar flight are so enormous that errant use could extinguish humanity – meaning that humanity must mature to where it responsibly wields such powers for the common good rather than against each other. Designing 'world ships’ (isolated, multi-generation colonies on a journey to new worlds) must address sustainable living both physically and socially. The far-future nature of this goal offers a more academic context to fully digest the facts and unknowns of human behavior to create a sustainable peaceful society with meaningful lives for all.

Alliance, Chaminade University (49, 205, 4002)

http://slurl.com/secondlife/CUH%20Alliance/49/205/4002

Announcement: The Science Circle - “Measuring the Universe With Machine Learning Methods”

By Giuseppe Longo – Giulon Ragu

10 AM SL Time

 

Modern digital sky surveys produce terabytes of high quality data which can be used to achieve a panchromatic view of the Universe of unprecedented depth and complexity.

Hundreds of millions of galaxies are observed and the parameters describing their morphological and spectral properties are stored in large databases which are often accessible to the astronomical community at large.

One of the key issues to pursue the scientific goals of these surveys is to estimate with accuracy the distance (or the redshift) of these galaxies: a fact which cannot be done using traditional spectroscopic techniques but requires advanced methods capable to estimate the redshifts using photometric data alone.

A difficult task which can be achieved only exploiting the possibilities offered by the modern computer infrastructures and methods derived from the machine learning methodology.

The talk will outline the main problem of evaluating galaxy distances and will focus on the most modern methods used to derive the so called “photometric redshifts”.

The Science Circle (139/206/95)

Announcement: UH Astronomy: "New Discoveries in the Solar System"

Our ancestors could see Solar system objects with their naked eyes. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were the planets known in ancient times. In 1609 Galileo Galilei made the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope. One year later he was the first person to observe Saturn’s rings. Uranus was discovery in 1781 and in 1977 Keck telescope in Hawaii observed rings around Uranus. Neptune was discovered in 1846 and in 1977 a telescope in Chile discovered that Neptune also has rings. Voyager 1 spacecraft found rings around Jupiter in 1979. Voyager 2 discovered more rings around Uranus and Neptune in the 80’s. In this talk we will talk about general proprieties of solar system objects including planets, comets and moons and a technique called stellar occultation that led the discovery for the first time of rings around an asteroid by a group of scientists that includes the speaker.

By: Dr. Marcelo Emilio

Friday, March 4th at 8:30 PM PST

Alliance, CUH Alliance (49, 205, 4002)

Announcement: "The Universe in 2016: A House of Cards?"

By:  Dr. Yuan M. Unson
Friday, Feb 5th at 8:30 PM PST
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater

The "Big Bang" model is a good description of the Universe.  In 2016, we know the value of the key parameters although we do not know what constitutes the majority of the matter and energy content of the Universe.

Measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation as well as of type Ia supernova explosions indicate that the dynamics of the Universe is determined by some kind of "dark energy" which causes the expansion of the Universe to accelerate.

There are significant challenges to our understanding:  we do not know the nature of key components and there appears to be insufficient time for the evolution of the stars, galaxies and structures that we see.  While these might be just details to be worked out, it is instructive to remember that in 1900 Physics was considered a "complete and finished" science just before the Quantum revolution pulled out the rug from under the "Classical" description.

Alliance, Chaminade University, CUH Alliance (49, 205, 4002)

Press Release: "The Art & History of the Microscope"

University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy Presents:
"The Art and History of the Microscope"

By Gary Greenberg
Friday, June 26th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater: 

Web: http://ps1puka.ps1.ifa.hawaii.edu

In the year 1600, the existence of a microscopic world was utterly unimaginable.  A few years later, Robert Hooke published his famous book, "Micrographia: Or Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses with Observations and Inquires Thereupon". This was the world’s first best seller, and it revealed for the first time the hidden world that exists beyond our everyday perception. Since its invention, visionaries have used microscopes to save lives and reduce human suffering. Today, microscopes can image individual molecules and atoms, and have spawned the burgeoning field of nanotechnology.

Alliance, Chaminade University (49, 205, 4002)

Press Release: University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy Presents: "Laser Ranging at Haleakala"

By Dan O'Gara
Friday, May 29th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater

The use of lasers (laser ranging, or LR) to make precise measurements to natural and artificial Earth satellites is of immense value to geodesy. Information on the movement of Earth's tectonic plates, its gravity field, and its orientation in its orbit can all be accomplished with high accuracy via LR. More recently, LR is being used to produce precise orbits of Earth-sensing satellites that monitor changes in Earth's climate. This talk is about the history and future of LR at Haleakalā Observatories, how LR measurements are used by scientists, and the instrumentation used to make the measurements.

Alliance, CUH Alliance (49, 205, 4002)

Press Release: "Life Around Our Active Star" by the University of Hawaii

University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy Presents:
"Life Around Our Active Star"

By Dr. Tom Schad
Friday, April 24th at 9:30 PM PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater: 

Over the centuries, humanity has tuned its existence to Earth's seasons, created by our yearly travel around the Sun.  At the dawn of the Machine Age, however, the seasons of the Sun itself proved influential to our progressing world.  In this talk, we will explore the cycles of solar activity, and study the impact of these cycles throughout the heliosphere and on our modern society.  We will learn of the interplay of new and old methods for the study of solar epochs, and anticipate the great advances of the Senator Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) currently being built on Haleakala.

Alliance, Chaminade University (49, 205, 4002)

Talking About the Roman Diet

If you're like most people, when you think of what ancient Romans ate, what probably comes to mind are those fancy banquets of wine and exotic fruits and meats. But was that really the case? Peter Woody says there will be a discussion about what food was available in the days of ancient Rome.

Salvete Friends! Are you interested to know about ancient roman food?

Then come on Thursday, 9th April at 1 pm to Roma SPQR.There will be held a lecture about ancient roman food.

ROMA Subura Street, ROMA Subura (141, 156, 23)

Press Release: Astronomy Discussion at University of Hawaii

By Dr. Gary Davis
Friday, Aug 1st at 9:30 PDT
Institute for Astronomy - U. Hawaii Astronomy Ampitheater: Astronomy Ampitheater:
Alliance, Chaminade University (49, 205, 4002)

In a continuation of the British presence in Hawaii, two of the telescopes on Mauna Kea are owned by the United Kingdom: the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. Opened in 1979 and 1987, respectively, both telescopes observe the heavens using forms of light which cannot be seen with the naked eye. In this talk I will describe why we do this challenging type of astronomy, why we come to Maunakea to do it, what we have achieved here over the last three decades, and the imminent withdrawal of the UK from Hawaii. Along the way I may also reflect on the importance of astronomy and why science is such a powerful approach to understanding the world in which we live.

University of Hawaii Astronomy Amphitheater Presents "The Properties of Asteroids"

By Dr. JD Armstrong
Friday, May 23th at 9:30 PDT (SL Time)
Institute for Astronomy

It has been two centuries since the first asteroid was discovered.  We now know of about half a million asteroids.  But what are they?  Where did they come from?  Where are they going?  How do we know?

Astronomy Amphitheater:   Chaminade University (56/204/21)

Discussion of Victorian Medicine and Surgery At The Aether Salon

 Medical practice as the world knows it developed in the 19th Century. Things people in all but the most isolated areas take for granted such as anesthesic drugs and doctors washing their hands and instruments before surgery came about at this time. The development of these practices, and other details of medicine and surgery during the Victorian Era, was the subject of this month's Aether Salon discussion, on Sunday April 27 in New Babbage at 2PM SL time. Normally on the third Sunday of the month, as Easter fell on it's normal time it was delayed a week.

 Jimmy Branagh, whom normally roleplays a young "scamp" in Steelhead and other places in the Steamlands, though given credit for developing a "mechanical musical liver" led the discussion. Before the use of ether for surgery, the only way for the patient to deal with pain was a "mug of rum and a stick to bite on." And although disinfecting one's hands before surgery was proposed by one doctor in 1847, his "observations conflicted with the established scientific and medical opinions of the time, and his ideas were rejected by the medical community." It would be years later, after the acceptance of germ theory, in which doctors would start washing their hands before surgery.

The high point of the discussion was when Jimmy performed a demonstration of an amputation before the use of knockout drugs, in which the only thing the doctor could do, besides getting assistants or restraints to hold the patient down, was to do the job as quickly as possible, using a knife to cut through muscle, "it's much like ... cutting through a moderate sized ham," then a bone saw. A skilled doctor could get the job done in under a minute. Jimmy stated the subject, securely restrained, was "drunk ... with luck he will sleep through the entire procedure and be none the worse for wear."

Unfortunately for the audience, the subject didn't stay unconscious, and the place was filled with horrible, blood-curling screams, combined with the sprays of blood, staining Jimmy's hands, making the demonstration a bit too realistic for some, "Grossest thing, ever." Once the demonstration was over, one observer remarked, "Jimmy, you have a sick mind. I am proud to be your friend."

Edited and unedited transcripts of the discussion are available on the Aether Salon blog. More and better detailed pictures of the surgery can be seen on the New Babbage Municipal Gallery.

Bixyl Shuftan

Press Release: "Mid-Century Life on Mars" Talk at University of Hawaii

Wondering what life might be like for Mars settlers?

Join in on a talk on "Mid-Century Life on Mars" by science fiction author and regular Space.com journalist, Doug Turnbull. Second Life audience members can ask questions. The event will be live streamed to/from the University of Hawaii.

When: Friday April 11th, 2014. 9:30 PM PDT
Where: Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii
http://slurl.com/secondlife/UH Aquaculture Program/48/85/26

 
About the Talk:

Since the late 1800s, and the discovery of "canals" on Mars by astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, science fiction and science fact have come together in a productive, though hotly debated, symbiotic relationship driving both curiosity and progress toward our understanding the Red Planet. Most recently, a similar fact versus fiction debate emerged in the news surrounding the lack of space science realism in the hit movie 'Gravity.' As a writer of 'hard science fiction,' Doug Turnbull has successfully balanced elements of astronomical fact and fiction in his novels, novellas, short fiction and science publications. During his interview by Alan Boyle, NBC News Science Editor, Boyle noted that science fact and science fiction are an "interesting intersection." Boyle compared Turnbull's more realistic approach to "the John Carter on Mars stories that Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote," saying that given the plentiful information provided to us by orbiters and survey robots like Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity, that "fanciful views of Mars...seem so old fashioned nowadays" as readers count on science facts to ensure the believeability of science fiction.

Doug's talk, 'Mid-Century Life on Mars' will be based on his Space.com Op Ed article that had over 40,000 readers and became the subject of great debate, with more than 230 specialist comments on LinkedIn groups like 'NASA,' 'National Space Society,' and 'Science, Technology & Innovation Policy.' His discussion will present a variety of real efforts currently underway designed to reach Mars, prepare astronauts for living on Mars, and speculate upon the challenges that will be faced by Mars astronauts. Throughout the talk he will explore--both fictionally through his characters and factually with completed and concurrent atmospheric, radiation, and geologic studies--the possibility of humans living on Mars by the mid-twenty-first century.