3rd Monday of Every Month

Monday, November 17th, 2008 7-9 PM Where:Atlas Cafe
What: Physics for Future Presidents: The Nuclear Reaction
Who: Richard Muller, UC Berkeley and LBL
The Deets:As we head into a new presidency, much of the debate has been centered on one word: Nuclear. Nuclear terrorism, nuclear power, nuclear proliferation, the mispronunciation of the word nuclear...all have been fervently discussed. But When it comes to the nuclear discussion, isn't the science a key component?

We'll discuss the difference between a Uranium bomb, a Plutonium bomb, and a Hydrogen bomb, the real dangers of nuclear waste, and the danger of radiation. Consider it a crash course on nuclear physics that the next president would appreciate.

Here are some nuggets to chew on:

• Of those killed in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear attacks, less than 2% died of cancer induced by the radiation.

• 1 square mile of sunlight with current solar cells would provide as much peak power as a nuclear power plant.

• Plutonium is a thousand times less poisonous than botulism toxin, the active ingredient in botox.

• Purified uranium is hard to get, but easy to design into a bomb. Plutonium is relatively easy to get, but hard to make into a bomb. So different kinds of nuclear bombs are difficult to make, but for different reasons. Terrorists are unlikely to be able to make one; the bigger danger is that they could buy one.

Richard A. Muller is professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley (and my former physics teacher!). He is a past winner of the MacArthur Fellowship. He is the author of Physics for Future Presidents, based on his renowned course for non-science students.

Science in Action Events
Science in Action is a series of tours, trips, and hikes intended to put you in the middle of active science in the Bay Area.
If you're interested in attending, send me an email.

November 1st & 2nd
What: Wonderfest - The Bay Area Festival of Science
Cost: FREE
Details: WonderFest is the the Bay Area festival of Science. On November 1st & 2nd, there will be free science discussions, art, comedy, and trivia events at both UC Berkeley and Stanfurd. The lineup is jam packed with some of the best talent both university have to offer. You can’t beat the price or the quality.

Here are my picks:
• Saturday 11/1 8:00 pm Does Civilization Have a Promising Energy Future?
• Sunday 11/2 1:30 pm Science Laughs (science comedy)
• Sunday 11/2 2:30 pm Are Dreams Psychologically Significant?
• Sunday 11/2 4:00 pm What Science Must Our Leaders Understand?


Check out the full schedule at Wonderfest.org

I will be arranging a DtaS crew to head over on Sunday. If interested, send me an email.