Inside the Wagner

We all use electricity every day for almost everything we do (just try to charge your precious cell phone without it) but we almost never think about where it comes from. Luckily, there are people a hell of a lot smarter than us who do know and are willing to share.

On Wednesday, May 23rd at 5:30 PM, the Wagner Free Institute of Science will present their last Weeknights at the Wagner lecture, “Electrifying Philadelphia: Pageantry, Progress, and Power in the City Beautiful.” Dr. Aaron Wunsch, a lecturer in Penn’s Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, will talk about how Philadelphia first began using electricity, its advertising and how it spread to other parts of the area.

The lecture is free and open to the public with a Members Reception following afterwards. And just think; the next time the power goes out, you’ll be able to regale everyone with stories of how electricity first came to Philly to keep people entertained. Win/win.

Electrifying Philadelphia
May 23rd, 2011, 5:30pm

Wagner Free Institute of Science
1700 West Montgomery Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 763-6529
www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org

Every parent dreads that day, when their precious little offspring asks “Where do trolls come from?” because you know they’re not going to be satisfied with “Scandinavia.”

Prepare yourself for those awkward conversations, or maybe just pick up some fun facts to regale your friends with during your next night at the bars.

Tonight’s Science on Tap features Linda J. Lee, a student in the Graduate Program in Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania, discussing how early modern European fairy-tale writers and collectors combined the scientific and magical thinking of their times to address anxieties about infertility, pregnancy, sex selection, and anomalous births.

Science on Tap is a monthly series of informal presentations by scientists and other experts. They’re held at National Mechanics on the second Monday of every month and are a great way to geek out over different topics.

Science on Tap @ National Mechanics
Monday, May 14th at 6 pm
www.scienceontapphilly.com

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

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Once upon a time, malls had science stores in them. The science stores had every different kind of rock and mineral displayed on in a compartmentalized wooden case. You could score through them for as long as you’d like and pick the perfect Tiger’s eye. Seriously, remember The Nature Company?

There were bugs, moths and butterflies in glass cases, and those static electricity balls that put your hair on ends. It was like Spencers sans goth medallions and sex toys. As a child, it was the only reason to go to the mall.

For those of you naturalists who remember science stores—or better yet, who enjoy all the super awesome stuff that biodiversity and sediment have to offer, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is ready to examine your collection during their Natural History Road Show. The Institute will be accepting and examine specimens brought by attendees for a never-before-done temporary exhibit in the Victorian era museum.

Your specimens will be identified by a panel of experts including Elana Benamy (Academy of Natural Sciences, Department of Invertebrate Paleontology and Botany), Paul Callomon (Academy of Natural Sciences, Department of Malacology), Greg Cowper (Academy of Natural Sciences, Department of Entomology) and Scott Peters (mineral enthusiast and former President of the Delaware Mineralogical Society).

The event will also include museum scavenger hunts, Biodiversity lectures and photo opportunities with critters and a special presentation by Philadelphia firefighter Olly McDonagh called “The Big Bug Show.”

This event is FREE, open to the public, and will be ASL Interpreted. For more information, visit the Wagner’s website.

The end of the world turned out to be a bust. Penn Museum’s Mayan sand sculpture was canceled. The mighty Lords of Time were defeated by lowly PennDOT! You’re lost and confused. Listless. Your whole world is crashing down around you. So what’s a kid to do when his or her chosen apocalypse turns out to be hokum? You look for answers in other ancient traditions!

Just in time to cure those End of Days blues, the Franklin Institute presents a lecture series to accompany its newest exhibit, Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times. Who needs some dumb old Mayan eschatology when you can receive guidance right from the mouths of a bunch of grumpy cave-dwelling ascetics? ESSENES VERSUS MAYANS DEATHMATCH.

The lecture series begins this Sunday, May 13th and runs through Thursday, October 11th. GASP as archeologists discuss their latest findings and THRILL as renowned scholars explain the ancient world in which the Dead Sea Scrolls originated and their continuing influence today. Topics range from the history of Jerusalem to the intersection of science and religion to the more technical aspects of the discovery and preservation of these priceless artifacts. Disappointed Mayan-sympathizers may wish to attend the lecture held on Thursday, August 9, which will focus on ancient astrology.

Lectures will take place at the Franklin Institute. Attendance for the first two talks is included in the cost of admission to the exhibit. All lectures from June 14 forward are $5.00 and attendance at the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit is not required. But whywouldn’t you want to go? This might be your only opportunity to see such ancient and significant pieces, which include—and this is very cool—a three-ton stone from the Second Temple’s Western Wall. So get a move on. Just in case the Mayans were right.

Franklin Institute Dead Sea Scrolls Lecture Series
Now through October 11th, 2012
www.fi.edu/scrolls/programs.php

I paused for a second the first time I ever heard the word “Paleoartist”, even in context, I had to stop and think about it. But considering the nature of what Bob Walters and Tess Kissinger, what would you call it? Bob and Tess are as knowledgeable of dinosaurs as they are skilled in their renderings.

When you meet them, they speak with a passion so strong that if harnessed for evil, it could darken the sky and bring about another ice age. When I swung by Bob and Tess’ studio, I thought that few people would ever know two of the world’s most brilliant and talented dinosaur artists reside in the heart of Fairmount. Behind some unassuming rowhomes, they’ve got their studio where they’ve fashioned together everything from the world’s largest dinosaur mural to the illustration that would later be the Spinosaurus in 2001′s Jurassic Park III.

The path to dinosaur art was one Bob started down at the age of four, when he saw the foldout cover of LIFE magazine. It featured Rudolph Zallinger’s mural of dinosaurs from the Peabody Museum. From then on, there was no turning back. For Tess, she took her love of art and science, and gravitated toward paleontology when she met Bob. Along the way, she even became good friends with the paleo guys at the Smithsonian.

Seasoned veterans in traditional fine art, they’ve since gravitated to doing their work entirely digital. As they stated themselves, the pair work at the intersection of art, science and technology — and I’m hard-pressed to think of a finer example than their stunning work depicting plants and animals long since departed from our world. (more…)

Heads up, trivia nerds! Science on Tap, the lovely group that brings fascinating presentations to National Mechanics each month, has organized a Science Quizzo to celebrate the Philadelphia Science Festival!

Topics will cover everything from atomic weights to dinosaurs to Benjamin Rush (founding father, professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania, and the dude who repaired the broken bromance of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams).

Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

Science on Tap @ National Mechanics
Monday, April 23rd at 6 pm
www.scienceontapphilly.com

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

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Last week we teamed up with the Philadelphia Science Festival to dish out an all access pass to see every film during the week long celebration of science.

Today, we’ve got something just as awesome. A pair of tickets to All About Ales, an awesome beer event at the Yards Brewing Company on Friday, April 27th. Here’s some details regarding the event from the Science Festival’s website:

Why did Ben Franklin brew with spruce trees? What makes a porter a porter? And why do oysters taste so good with stout? Discover the answer to these questions during a night of sensory experiences at Yards Brewing Company.

Interact with the Yards brewers as they explain the science of the brewing process and the chemistry behind some of their favorite brews — what happens to make an IPA different from a saison? In the tasting room, explore some great beer and food pairings and find out from taste experts the chemistry that makes them go together.

Other collaborators include Percy Street BBQ and Betty’s Speakeasy & Fudge, so you know this is going to be a fantastic evening of tasty brews and delicious nibbles. Please note, you have to be 21+ to attend.

The winner will score two tickets (worth $30 a piece) to the event. To enter, just leave a comment about your favorite local beer. I’ll select one of you at random this Friday. Easy as that.

Good luck!

All About Ales @ the Philadelphia Science Festival
Friday, April 27th, 2012
http://ph.ly/_b1x_

According to the Mayans, December 21, 2012 is going to be a really, really bad day for everybody. Or if you talk to fans of The Walking Dead, a zombie uprising is inevitable and we all need to be ready.

Thankfully for everyone, Nerd Nite has our backs. As a public service, they are going to host A Nerd’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse as part of the Philadelphia Science Festival. For just $5, you will learn what to be on the look out for, discuss the various ways movies and television have portrayed the end of days, and be trained how to survive and what you need to make your very own apocalypse survival kit.

So be at Frankford Hall  at 8:00 PM on April 26th to learn what to do when the world ends. Remember, when have the Mayans ever been wrong?

Nerd’s Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse @ Philly Science Festival
April 26th, 2012, $5
www.philasciencefestival.org

Frankford Hall
1210 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125
www.frankfordhall.com

Do we have any ichthyology geeks among our readers? Ichthyology is the study of fish and the life’s passion of Dr. Mark Sabaj Pérez. All amateur ichthyologists will want to check out this month’s Science on Tap presentation to hear all about Pérez’s trip through Mongolia (yes, Mongolia) to track down the elusive Amur catfish.

Pérez had to battle through difficult transportation and less-than-ideal environments, like icy rivers and freak summer hail storms. He’ll discuss his epic journey through northern Mongolia with a team of American and Mongolian scientists.

Science on Tap is a monthly series of informal presentations by scientists and other experts. They’re held at National Mechanics on the second Monday of every month and are a great way to geek out over different topics.

Science on Tap @ National Mechanics
Monday, April 2nd at 6 pm
www.scienceontapphilly.com

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

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So our BFFs over at the Academy of Natural Sciences are busy throwing their yearlong Bicentennial celebration, and in honor of that, they are offering up special behind-the-scenes tours of their collections, which are normally only open to researchers.

From plants collected by Lewis and Clark to fossils excavated for Thomas Jefferson, the Academy has amassed more than 18 million cataloged plants and animals, many of which are the first ever studies. And you’ll get to see ‘em.

These special tours kick off on Sunday, April 15th, and will run through March of 2013. Different collections will be highlighted each month, with mini 20 minute guided tours on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, all at 11am.

Tickets can only be purchased at the Academy on the day of the tour, and tours are limited to 10 people. So get there early! Tickets are only $5 for Academy members, $7.50 for nonmembers.

Scope out the list of tours below, and visit the Academy’s website for more information.

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1009
www.ansp.org

· April – sustainability and the earth, featuring a tour of the Mineral Collection.

· May – female scientists and historic natural history books, featuring a tour of the Academy’s Library and Archives.

· June – birds, featuring a tour of the Ornithology Collection.

· July – mammals, reptiles and amphibians, featuring a tour of the Herpetology or Mammalogy Collections.

· August – insects, featuring a tour of the Entomology Collection.

· September – diatoms (microscopic algae), featuring a tour of the Diatom Herbarium.

· October – seashells, featuring a tour of the Malacology Collection.

· November – living animals, featuring a behind-the-scenes tour of the Live Animal Center.

· December – fish, featuring a tour of the Ichthyology Collection.

· January – plants, featuring a tour of the Botany Collection.

· February – fossils, featuring a tour of the Vertebrate Zoology Collection.

Dr. Bonnie Bassler, Talking During TED

You know that bacteria can be terrible (food poisoning), or it can be awesome (probiotics). But did you know that bacteria can talk to each other?

Yeah. They can do that.

If you’d like to find out more about this crazy phenomenon, come on down to the next Science on Tap presentation at National Mechanics!  On Monday, March 12th, Dr. Bonnie Bassler will be there to talk about her research regarding chatty bacteria. Her work has focused on a process called “Quorum Sensing,” which is the cell-to-cell communication that allows bacteria to coordinate and synchronize.

Her research is currently focused on disrupting quorum sensing and keeping deadly bacteria from becoming, well, deadly.  Dr. Bassler received a MacArthur fellowship in 2002, was interviewed on NOVA in 2007, gave a TED talk in 2009, and her nickname is the “Bacteria Whisperer.”  All this, plus she’s a member of the National Science Board.  Admit it, you want to buy this woman a beer.

Science on Tap is a monthly series of informal presentations by scientists and other experts. They’re held at National Mechanics on the second Monday of every month and are a great way to geek out over different topics.

Science on Tap @ National Mechanics
Monday, March 12th at 6 pm
www.scienceontapphilly.com

National Mechanics
22 South 3rd Street Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 701-4883
www.nationalmechanics.com

Stem Cells, Photo via the Wagner Institute

Next Thursday, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is hosting a special lecture with Dr. John Gearhart, the Director of the Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He’s giving a talk entitled Instructing Our Cells to Rebuild Our Bodies.

According to the Wagner, “Gearhart will discuss the evolution of stem cell research, the current status of the field of regenerative medicine and what lies ahead for clinical applications.” For more information on Gearhart and the talk, visit the Wagner’s official website.

As always, the event is free. Its called the Wagner Free Institute of Science for a reason, kids.

Wagner Free Institute of Science
1700 West Montgomery Ave (191210
(215) 763-6529
www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org