World Science Festival | World Science U | The Continuing Quest for the Deep Laws of the Universe

The second day of World Science U focused again on cosmology and physics, without the neuroscientific approach of the previous day. Topics ranged from general relativity to quantum gravity, gravitational waves and string theory.
My favorite lecture "Loop Quantum Gravity: A World Without Time and Space" was delivered byCarlo Rovelli, theoretical physicist at Aix-Marseille University.The lecture introduced Einstein general relativity equations printed on the back of Rovelli's shirt.and focused on four topics:.
1, Gravitational fields combining space time and energy
2. QuantumL Reality is discrete and relational
3. Quantum gravity
4. White holes: Planck star symmetry black and white holes
Feynman graph and spin foam were also introduced with clarity and focus.

SPACETIME fashion: Carlo Rovelli (t-shirt) and Francesca Vidotto (tote bag)

Events, NYC :: World Science Festival | WORLD SCIENCE U FOR A DAY: EVOLUTION OF MIND AND MATTER

Yesterday a live event from the World Science U took place at the Advanced Science Research Center Auditorium of City College, CUNY. The title "Evolution of Mind and Matter" anticipated the fusion of cosmology and neuroscience announced as exploration of "humankind's grandest mysteries, from our accelerating universe to human consciousness" led by some of the foremost experts in cosmology, neuroscience, anthropology, philosophy". 
The event started with Brian Greene's introduction of World Science U, a online educational platform devoted to science. The live events part of the World Science Festival are an exception as the content of the World Science is delivered usually delivered online with video and animations. 

The first lecture "The Accellarating Universe" was delivered by Adam Riess,  Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Johns Hopkins University. Reiss shared the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics with Saul Perlmutter and Brian P. Schmidt "for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae". Reiss introduced the audience to topics including the accelerating Universe, the measure of astronomical distances, the Hubble constant and the Einstein cosmological constant, the role of supernovae, and shared his journey of discovery which led him to the Nobel Prize.

Einstein's Gravitational  Constant κ 

The following lecture "From Chemistry to Life: On Earth and Abroad" was presented by Dimitar Sasselov, Phillips Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University. Sasselov started with an interdisciplinary approach expanding physics questions to the realm of philosophy and asked the audience: "What is life?" anticipating that such a question does not have an agreeable definition. The presentation continued with the definition of life as a chemical system. He included concepts of dark matter and energy and emphasized the importance of water for life and efforts to find life in the universe. 

The focus shift from the cosmos to the self, from astrophysics to neuroscience with "The Biology of Consciousness" presented by Christof Koch, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Allen Institute for Brain Science. Koch introduction started with statements from philosophy, in the Descartes and the mind-body dualism "I am exist because I am conscious". He introduced the hard problem of consciousness in the explanation of our phenomenal experiences and perceptions. how sensations acquire characteristics, such as colors and tastes. He emphasized how consciousness is challenging to be explored, perhaps more than black holes and brains, for its lack of objective areas of explorations. He introduced a neurobiological approach to consciousnes associated to the neuronal correlates of consciousness (NCC). Digital consciousness is also a subject of interest, brought by technology: Apple Siri is an example, amplified in the science fiction movie "Her". Finally Koch introduced  the theoretical framework IITC —integrated information theory of consciousness— developed by neuroscientist Giulio Tononi.

The afternoon sessions was opened by Alfred Mele, William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University with "Free Will and Neuroscience"

Mele introduced three neuroscientific arguments for free will and mentioned that fMRI imaging can show that how human brain makes decisions.

Lee Berger, Paleoanthropologist and Explorer, at the University of the Witwatersrand presented "Exploring Our Humanity". The narration focused on his discovery of fossils of hominidsin  the Rising Star Cave, South Africa. Berger communicated his Passion of discovery and gave, as final suggestion to the audience, to "avoid backyard syndrome" and leave the computer desk: technology is a tool but fieldwork should be revaluated.

Rising Star Cave (25°55′S 27°47′E)

It was an unusual line-up of speakers, from so many different fields, but the results, even if sometimes seemed uncoordinated, was quite interesting and somehow inspiring.

World Science Festival | Sunday, May 31 "What Is Sleep?" and "To Explain the World"

Today was the last day of the "World Science Festival" and I attended two events which show the multifaceted aspects of the science showcased in these five-day marathon of the WSF.

The first event "What Is Sleep" took place at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, where Alan Alda introduced the five panelists, sleep expertsL Mary Carskadon, Paul Shaw, Robert Stickgold, Matthew Wilson. Each panelist is a researcher in different areas of sleep, and mainly with totally different subjects ranging from rats to fruit flies and...humans. While the experiments were understandibly very different, given the diversity of the subjects, the conclusions were similar: sleeping is crucial to the brain functioning and can help to restore memories and maximize our learning potential. The recommendations presented by the panelist, were quite inline with common sense: follow the circadian rhythms and slow-down before going to sleep.The aim was the detect recommendations presented by the panelist, were quite inline with common sense: follow the circadian rhythms and slow-down before going to sleep.
   The centerpiece of the event was the live video observation of human subject, sleeping off-stage whose brainwaves were tracked by EEG. wired-up person sleeping offstage. EEG is a common tool to detect sleep activity as shown by studies ongoing for several years this experiments was not really adding to the educational and informational intent.
     My other critique to this event, otherwise enjoyable and educational, was the lack of attention to sleeping disorders and problems, which are experienced by a large percentage of the world population; a summary of statistics and studies can be found in a webpage from the Center of Disease Control. Even if the event duration was only one hour, some time could been allocated to outline the main sleep problems and disorders as well as the treatment options and other related resources. Every healthy person is aware of the importance of adequate sleep, but how to achieve it often outside our control -or our free will, just to mention another popular theme of the WSF, To overcome the lack of information from the WSF event, below are a few useful sites:

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepdisorders.html
• http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/brain_basics/understanding_sleep.htm
• http://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems

Screenshot of a polysomnographic record (30 seconds) representing Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. EEG highlighted by red box. Eye movements highlighted by red line. Retrieved on June 1 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream#/media/File:Sleep_EEG_REM.png

The other event concluding the five-day WSF marathon was "To Explain the World: a Conversation with Steven Weinberg", moderated by Peabody Award-winning journalist John Hockenberry and hosted by the New-York Historical Society. The conversation was based on the latest book “To Explain the World: The Discovery of Modern Science" written by the Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Steven Weinberg, who also holds the Regental Chair in Science at the University of Texas at Austin.
    Weinberg stated at the beginning of the conversation that "the standard model is not the end of the story" and introduced some of the differences between the classical Greek science and the Hellenistic practitioners, with mentions of Democritus, pre-Socratics, Plato's Academy, Aristotle. Some emphasis was to given to the work of Aristarchus of Samos (c. 310 – c. 230 BC), credited with the first heliocentric model. 
   The conversation was inspiring: Weinberg emphasized the importance of the unity of science and shared more personal details on his research activities. Weinberg, a New York City native and graduate of Bronx High School of Science, discovered the power of mathematics while understanding the equations behind the catenary of a bridge.  He became involved in research at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, which shaped his later studies in particle physics and quantum gravity. He was aware a Nobel prize in 1979 in  physics jointly to Sheldon Lee Glashow, Abdus Salam  "for their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter alia, the prediction of the weak neutral current".

   I wanted to ask Professor Weinberg several questions which, due to the long line-up, were not answered:

• Are built construction of early observational astronomy (archeoastronomy) of relevance in the history of astronomy
• How he situates art in scientific discoveries? What is the role of beauty in science either in a theory formulation of in the geometric cosmological interpretation or configurations itself (e.g. galaxies form). 

Both questions were derived from perhaps a vision of a cross-disciplinary approach to science, where art and science are integrated methodologies in the advancement of knowledge. A vision which perhaps was missing from many of the WFS programs, where art was a mere presentation/communication tool instead of a component of a scientific approach.

From the book cover of "To Explain the World: the Discovery of Modern Science"

NYC, World Science Festival | Afterglow: Dispatches from the Birth of the Universe | Refining Cosmology

Cosmic Microwave Background fluctuations from COBE

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)  image of the CMB temperature anisotropy

Two separate WSF events, both taking place in the NYU campus, have been devoted to cosmology: more specifically to the varies discovery and theories related to the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)  radiation. The CMB is the light coming from the Big Bang explosion, providing information on the birth and evolution of the universe. In "Afterglow: Dispatches from the Birth of the Universe" Lawrence M. Krauss engages in conversations with Nobel laureate John Mather and other scientists on the experiments which led to models and theories on the beginning of the universe.
John Mather was one of the leading designers of the satellite COsmic Background Explorer (COBE), which  provided information on cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) of the universe and crucial measurements for our understanding of the universe. Thanks to the data taken by the COBE, the popular map of the CMB anisotropy was developed.

The curvature of the universe related to density parameter, Omega (Ω)

NYC, World Science Festival | Art: Surface Tension: The Future of Water

The main art event of the World Science Festival Surface Tension: The Future of Water opened at  Eyebeam Art + Technology Center
Water, the most fundamental resource on Earth is explored from an art, science and design perspective with more than 40 exhibits, which were particularly interesting for the variety of approaches and presentations, from more technological to metaphorical, conceptual or educational.
SURFACE TENSION: THE FUTURE OF WATER was created by Science Gallery at Trinity College, Dublin, sponsored by Culture Ireland, the Cordover Family Foundation and the University of Dublin Fund.

For more information visit Eyebeam Art + Technology Center

NYC, World Science Festival | Quantum Biology and the Hidden Nature of Nature

Scale surfing —from the micro world of atoms and subatomic particles to the macro scale of cosmology— seems to be the roller coaster ride of physics, and natural sciences in general.
And it just ruled my schedule and walkabouts of today, from the afternoon panel on cosmology devoted to the Cosmic Microwave Background of the Big Bang —at the NYU downtown campus—to the Quantum Biology panel presentation, hosted by The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. The lively and entertaining award-winning journalist John Hockenberry moderated the panel, which included the cosmologist/astrobiologist Paul Davies and Seth Lloyd, a mechanical engineer working with quantum computers and quantum communication systems. Some of the topics du jour: “Can the spooky world of quantum physics explain bird navigation, photosynthesis and even our delicate sense of smell? Clues are mounting that the rules governing the subatomic realm may play an unexpectedly pivotal role in the visible world.”

Quantum biology applies quantum mechanics methodology to topics in the realm of biology, the study of life and living organism. The quantum phenomena of entanglement or tunneling (a particle penetration through barriers) were discussed in “friendly” terms as applying to commonly observable phenomena at the scale of our life.

One of the recurrent observations during the conversations among panelists was how the physical phenomena are much simpler to study than biological systems: even the simplest bacteria are extremely complex systems. The final question asked by John Hockenberry “Where does life come from?” or “What is consciousness” cannot be answered even by the most sophisticated scientific experiments and methods.

NYC, World Science Festival | How We Bounce Back: The New Science of Human Resilience

How do humans recover psychologically from trauma? As part of the World Science Festival’s multi-disciplinary look at scientific research today, this was the subject of a panel discussion at the Tishman Auditorium at the New School. The panel of experts included George Bonanno, Clinical Psychologist at Columbia, Dennis Charney, Biological Psychiatrist at Mount Sinai, Fran Norris, Social Psychologist at Dartmouth, Mathieu Ricard, Buddhist Monk, and moderator, Bill Blakemore of ABC News. Debate was dovetailed with a series of short videos documenting personal stories of tragedy and how the individual found a road to recovery. Panelists debated innate versus learned behaviors and discussed a full range of solutions from meditation to pharmaceuticals.

David Foell

NYC, World Science Festival | The 2012 Kavli Prizes

The World Science Festival in New York opened its second day with the announcement of the 2012 Kavli Prize winners, announced with a live webcast from the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letter in Oslo. The Kavli Prizes recognize scientists in the fields of astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience.

The Kavli Prize for astrophysics this year "honoured the individuals who showed that there is much more to the solar system and whose work prompted astronomers to re-evaluate what it means to be a planet." The 2012 prize winners are David C. Jewitt, Jane X. Luu, Michael E. Brown, whose research has focused on the Kuiper Belt, shown below.

The prize for nanoscience was awarded to Mildred S. Dresselhaus, selected as a "scientist whose work, over more than five decades, has improved understanding of how and why the thermal, electrical and other characteristics of materials structured at the nanoscale can be dramatically different from those of the same materials at larger dimensions.

 A clip from my work on hexagons in nature: a visualization of a nanotube

Cornelia Bargmann, Winfried Denk and Ann M Graybiel were awarded the 2012 prizes for neuroscience “for elucidating basic neuronal mechanisms underlying perception and decision. Understanding how the brain receives information from the environment and processes it to make decisions is a major challenge in neuroscience. The prize winners have addressed this question in different organisms, from worms to primates. They have used a wide range of approaches and have invented new technologies."

 Movement and Behavior as rhythmical firing of neurons (Credit:Christine Daniloff-MIT-News Office)

Cells and synapses reconstructed from serial block face electron microscopy data 

© Kevin Briggman/Max Planck Institute for Medical Research

The opening remarks were given by John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The event concluded with a panel conversation between ABC News’ chief health and medical editor Richard Besser and Angela Belcher, Thomas Jessell, Claire Max.

I would like to conclude with an image I created for a 3d model of the "Flower of Life", so much similar to the Kavli logo. A quite interesting parallel, to be continued...

NYC, World Science Festival | Icarus at the Edge of Time

Black holes and Greek mythology marked the beginning of The World Science Festival, which opened tonight at the United Palace Theater with the animated film Icarus at the Edge of Time .

Brian Greene, the Festival co-founder, introduced the film: a science fiction interpretation of the Greek myth of Icarus, the son of Daedalus.  Icarus tried to fly by means of wings that his father constructed from feathers and wax, but ignored instructions not to fly too close to the sun, and the melting wax caused him to fall into the sea where he drowned. The Icarus portrayed in the film is boy who challenges a black hole, an area of space-time whose gravitational field is so strong that nothing which enters it, including light, can escape. The slowing of time allows Icarus to escape the black hole in a 10,000 year time travel into the future.
The film Icarus at the Edge of Time by Al and Al featured an original orchestral score by Philip Glass, performed by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Brad Lubman, and narrated by LeVar Burton.
The film could not have been screened in a more appropriate theater: The United Palace Theater, originally known as Loew's 175th Street Theater, in Washington Heights. The 1930 former movie theater was designed by Thomas Lamb for vaudeville and movies. Its eclectic style include Moorish and Mughal architectural elements and decorative elements are based on intricate symmetries, perhaps recalling the intricate multidimensional cosmological shapes.