Tuesday, May 21, 8 pm @ the Bell House, FREE! Secret Science Club presents "It's All in Your Mind!" w/ Cognitive Neuroscientist Heather Berlin

How much control do you have over your brain? In recent years, scientists have discovered a tremendous amount of human behavior is actually motivated by unconscious processes. At the Secret Science Club, neuroscientist Heather Berlin delves into your deepest, darkest thoughts.  
She asks:

--Who’s really in control? Is there a neural basis for free will?

-- How do conscious impulses and thoughts become unconscious (as in repression) and vice-versa (Freudian slips)?

 -- What can brain imaging and neuropsychological experiments tell us about our emotions, obsessions, and compulsions?

 --What is consciousness and how did it evolve? What purpose does it serve?

           

A cognitive neuroscientist in the departments of psychiatry and neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Dr. Berlin researches impulsivity, compulsivity, and emotions with the goal of developing more targeted treatments for a variety of disorders. She has appeared as a featured scientist on the Discovery Channel’s Superhuman Showdown and Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk Radio.

Before & After

--Groove to unrepressed tunes

--Stick around for the compulsive Q&A

--Try our Cartesian cocktail of the night, the “I Think, Therefore I Drink”

This brain-boggling edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St. 

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+

No cover. Just bring your smart self!

Tuesday, April 16, 8 PM @ the Bell House, FREE! Secret Science Club presents "Sacred Crododiles, Man-eaters, and Mummies" with Evolutionary Biologist Evon Hekkala

Secret Science Club goes wild with crocodile expert Evon Hekkala

Evolutionary biologist Evon Hekkala of Fordham University has searched for man-eating crocodiles in Madagascar, mined museum collections for DNA locked in ancient animal mummies, and discovered “extinct” creatures surviving right under our noses. Her goal? Finding rare, hidden, and endangered species and saving them from oblivion. At the April edition of the Secret Science Club, Dr. Hekkala discusses:

--genetic sleuthing and the evolutionary origins of rare species

--the sacred crocodile, named for the ancient Egyptian practice of venerating, bejeweling, and mummifying crocs

--DNA and wildlife conservation

--the Nile crocodile, one of the most lethal predators on the planet

Before & After

--Groove to untamable tunes

--Sink your teeth into the Q&A

--Sample the Crocodile Tears, our cold-blooded cocktail of the night. It’ll grab you…

This edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, April 16, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+

No cover. Just bring your smart self!

Tuesday, March 12, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE! Secret Science Club presents a Brain-Boggling Night with Neuroscientist André Fenton

What’s going on in that brain of yours? There may be as many neurons in one human brain as there are stars in the Milky Way Galaxy. Connecting these neurons are hundreds of trillions of pathways along which electrochemical messages constantly fly. The brain’s uncanny ability to save, coordinate, and retrieve these messages is what creates our memories and very identities.

Neuroscientist and biomedical engineer André Fenton is at the forefront of research on memory and forgetting. He and his colleagues discovered the first mind-bending molecule responsible for preserving long-term memories—and then went on to show how suppressing that molecule could wipe out existing memories. Dr. Fenton asks:

--If we can pinpoint how memories are stored, can we selectively erase bad memories? Should we?

--How are memories retrieved? Why don’t all our memories flood our minds, causing traffic jams of thought?

--How does neuronal activity—taking place on the nanoscale—translate into mental processes and thoughts? What tools are used to investigate?

--Are there medical implications to current discoveries? Where will the future of brain research take us?

Professor at NYU’s Center for Neural Science and president of the BioSignal Group, André Fenton also studies electrochemical brain activity and its relationship to brain diseases and disorders. He is the developer of a mobile, wireless brain monitoring system for use in emergency room and ambulatory settings to help diagnose and prevent seizures.

Before & After

--Saturate yourself in cerebral grooves 

--Enjoy the brainy libation of the night—the Fenton Fizz—a potent potion that will realign your neural architecture . . . 

--Stick around for the thought-provoking Q&A!

The next dopamine-spiked edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, March 12, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St. 

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+ 

No cover. Just bring your smart self.

Tuesday, February 12, 8PM @ the Bell House, Secret Science Club presents "Welcome to the Microbiome—It’s a Whole New You" with Microbiologist Martin Blaser, FREE!

Say hello to your little friends—all 100 trillion of them. Each of us harbors about 1,000 microbial species in our noses, mouths, and guts; on our skin. Together, they weigh an astonishing 2 to 5 pounds. If you’re worried about the aliens within, don’t be. A torrent of new medical and genetic research shows that your microbiome is essential to your survival. These itty-bitty bugs help you metabolize food and build your immune system. They make vitamins and protect you from getting sick.

The director of NYU’s Human Microbiome Program, Dr. Martin Blaser is at the forefront of this new research on the jungle of microorganisms inside us. While medical science has traditionally focused on “bad” microbes—the germs that cause illness and how to eradicate them—Dr. Blaser and other pioneering researchers have flipped that idea inside-out, investigating good germs and their role in health and disease. He asks:
--How did the human microbiome evolve? Are we humans actually ecosystems, superorganisms, or symbionts?

-- How does the widespread use of antibiotics affect our microbiota and our health?

--Why are birth and early life such important times for our microbiomes? Is the biodiversity of the human microbiome under threat? 

--How are obesity, asthma, diabetes, and even mood swings linked to changes in our microbiota?

--Are new microbial medicines in our future?

Dr. Blaser is the George and Muriel Singer Professor of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology at NYU. A past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, he is founder of the Foundation for Bacteriology and the Virtual Museum of Bacteria and was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in 2011. He currently chairs the Advisory Board for Clinical Research at the National Institutes of Health.

Before & After

--Try our bugged-out cocktail of the night, the Super Organism
--Wiggle to grooves that wriggle

--Stick around for the scintillating Q&A

This multicellular edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, February 12, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+

No cover. Just bring your smart self! 

Tuesday, January 22, 8PM @ the Bell House, Secret Science Club presents “Dark Mysteries of the Universe” w/ Astrophysicist Jeremiah Ostriker, FREE!

Rocket into deep space with astrophysicist and author Jeremiah Ostriker as he explores dark matter and dark energy!

Making up 95 percent of the known Cosmos, the Dark Duo are maddeningly invisible—yet they shape the very structure of the Universe and drive its expansion. Is dark energy the fabric of space itself? Is dark matter comprised of yet-to-be-discovered subatomic particles? How do scientists detect the undetectable? Drawing on his new book, Heart of Darkness: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Invisible Universe, Dr. Ostriker discusses the latest theories, observations, and data—as well as mind-boggling questions that remain.

Jeremiah Ostriker is professor of astronomy at Columbia University and emeritus professor of astrophysics at Princeton University. A pioneering researcher in the field of cosmology and author of more than 500 scientific papers, he has been awarded the National Medal of Science, the Gold Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society, and the James Craig Watson Medal from the National Academy of Sciences for his “bold astrophysical insights.” Don’t miss a nanosecond of his awesome talk . . .

Before & After

--Groove to intergalactic tunes

--Try our deep, dark cocktail of the night, the Cosmological Constant

--Snag a signed copy of Dr. Ostriker’s just-released new book, Heart of Darkness.

--Win tickets to Isaac’s Eye, a new play about Isaac Newton @ EST

--Stick around for the out-of-this-world Q&A

The next paradigm-shifting edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, January 22 at 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+

No cover. Just bring your smart self!

Photo credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/M.Markevitch et al. Optical: NASA/STScI; Magellan/U.Arizona/D.Clowe et al. Lensing Map: NASA/STScI; ESO WFI; Magellan/U.Arizona/D.Clowe et al. 

Tuesday, December 11, 8PM @ the Bell House, The Secret Science Club presents invertebrate zoologist and leech expert Mark Siddall, FREE!

Spineless wonders! Bloodsucking beasts! Creepy, crawly coolness!

Using his own body as a lure, Mark Siddall wades into Rwandan wetlands, rain forests of Madagascar, and swamps of French Guiana in quest of intriguing leech specimens, such as the world’s largest species, the 18-inch-long Giant Amazon Leech. It's all in the name of exploring leech biodiversity, leech evolution, blood-feeding behavior, and these beasties' anticoagulant abilities. Dr. Siddall asks:

--Why does the newly discovered Tyrant Leech King, a.k.a. T. rex, favor dining on mucus membranes, such as the inside of the human nose?

--What are legitimate (as well as highly suspect) health uses for European medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) and how did these creatures evolve their anticoagulant abilities?

--How might chemicals in leech saliva be used to develop new drugs to prevent heart attacks and fight cancer?

--Is there a symbiotic relationship between leeches and the microbes that live inside them? How have advances in molecular and digital imaging transformed the study of microfauna?

Mark Siddall is curator of Annelida and Protozoa at the American Museum of Natural History, professor of invertebrate zoology at the Richard Gilder Graduate School, and principal investigator at the Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics. The author of dozens of scientific papers, Dr. Siddall has been a featured scientist in the New York Times, Discover, and on PBS NOVA ScienceNOW.

Before & After

--Wiggle to grooves that wriggle

--Try our naturalist-inspired cocktail of the night, the Bloody Marky

--Stick around for the hemoglobin-powered Q&A

This sanguine edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, December 11, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave.

Doors open at 7:30 pm.  Please bring ID: 21+

No cover. Just bring your smart self! 

Photo courtesy of NOVA ScienceNOW.

ALERT! SANDY BENEFIT FOR NY AQUARIUM STAFF DEVASTATED BY STORM. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27.

Hey, science friends. As many of you know, the NY Aquarium was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. Many aquarium staff also lost their homes and belongings to the storm, while they tirelessly protected the sea animals in their care. One of them was shark researcher Hans Walters who gave an amazing talk at the Secret Science Club during Shark Week in August. You can help him and his colleagues recover—and thank them for defending the aquarium—at a super-fintastic fundraiser Tuesday, November 27, 6:30 to 9:30 pm at Irish Exit in Manhattan, 978 2nd Ave (between 51st and 52nd). A $15 cover gets you half-price drinks and $5 appetizers. Zookeeper James Gottlieb of the Prospect Park Zoo will be guest bartending—and he’s donating all his tips to the cause! 

Find out more or make a donation here: http://nyaqfundraiser.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, November 20, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE! The Secret Science Club presents the "Science of Sandy and Extreme Weather" with Atmospheric Scientist Adam Sobel

On October 29, Hurricane Sandy morphed into an epic Frankenstorm that annihilated coastal neighborhoods in New York and New Jersey and sent the Atlantic Ocean, Hudson and East rivers, and Gowanus Canal pouring into our homes, businesses, and critical urban infrastructure.

Climate scientist and physicist Adam Sobel of Columbia University and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory joins the Secret Science Club to discuss the science of Sandy and extreme weather. He asks: 
--How did Sandy evolve into a superstorm and why was it so devastating? Are more powerful hurricanes and megastorms the new norm?
--What meteorological models and techniques were used to project Sandy’s destructive path? What do we need to know in order to be better prepared?
--How will climate change affect forecasting, sea levels, urban storm surge models, and future weather events?

Dr. Sobel is an atmospheric scientist and professor at Columbia University in the departments of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics. He specializes in the dynamics of climate and weather, particularly in the tropics, on time scales of days to decades. He is author or co-author of more than 85 peer-reviewed articles and has received the Meisinger Award from the American Meteorological Society and the Excellence in Mentoring Award from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University. He is a featured scientist on this week’s PBS NOVA Special Presentation: Inside the Megastorm, airing Sun, Nov 18 at 7 pm and Wed, Nov 21 at 9 pm.

Before & After

--Try our balmy cocktail of the night, the Gentle Breeze

--Sway to temperate tunes

--Don’t miss the clement Q&A!

This edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, November 20, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave.

No cover. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+

The Secret Science Club hosts the Imagine Science Film Festival and a NIGHT OF SCI-TASTIC CINEMA @ the Bell House, Wed., Nov. 14, 8PM, FREE!

The Secret Science Club is teaming up with the Imagine Science Film Festival for “Controlled Experiments,” a night of science-inspired short films!

Animation. Documentary. Music Video. Live Experiments! Don’t miss some of the Imagine Science Film Festival’s trippiest, coolest, most futuristic entries from around the Universe including Locus Solus, Flutter, Insane in the Chromatophores, The Whiskey Water Trick, SpacePart12, Microscopic Opera, and much more!

Before & After

--Try our animated cocktail of the night, the Zoetrope

--Groove to cinematic sounds
--Board the BioBus outside the Bell House, talk to researchers, and peer into microscopes

--Plus! A live experiment/performance by filmmaker/provocateur Luis Nieto… science meets the surreal.

The Secret Science Club hosts the Imagine Science Film Festival on Wednesday, November 14, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

FREE! Doors open at 7:30 PM. Please bring ID: 21+

The Imagine Science Film Festival runs from November 8 to 16 at venues all over NYC. Visit here for a complete schedule of films.

ALERT: VOLUNTEERS/DONATIONS STILL NEEDED FOR
POST-SANDY EMERGENCY RELIEF

Hey, science peeps, help is still urgently needed to get supplies and services to folks stranded in shelters, unheated homes, and high-rise buildings without electricity or running water. Here are two awesome local groups that are mobilizing volunteers, making meals, accepting and transporting supplies, and posting immediate needs on their sites. Check them out! And thanks...

                                                  

Sandy Relief at CBEBK http://www.facebook.com/cbebk?fref=ts or relief.fundingcommunity.com/cbe/jobs/list

Occupy Sandy http://stlukeandstmatthew.org/ or www.interoccupy.net/occupysandy/live or http://twitter.com/OccupySandy

Monday, October 22, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE! They Live Among Us! For our "Shocktober" edition, Secret Science Club explores urban evolution and the wild beasts of New York City with biologist Jason Munshi-South

They stalk. They scurry. They haunt the night!

New York is one of the most heavily urbanized places in the world.
And yet . . . alongside the human metropolis—in the parks, beneath the rivers, among hidden groves of trees—is a clawing, crawling, creeping creature-filled world.

Evolutionary biologist Jason Munshi-South of CUNY has tracked elephants in Central Africa and proboscis monkeys in Borneo. Now he is on the trail of elusive animals living right under our noses and rarely glimpsed by unsuspecting humans. Employing the tools of landscape genetics, population genomics, and field studies, he asks:

--What ecosystems survive in the city, and how are NYC’s parks like the Galápagos Islands?

--What impacts do human activities have on wild populations? Have urban-dwelling species evolved?

--What might studying the genetic adaptations of urban wildlife tell us about human disease? Just as mice are used as models in laboratories, might wild mice be used as models to study how humans are affected by urbanization?

Before & After

--Try our cocktail of the night, the Creature Feature

--Groove to wild tunes

--Enter our beastly trivia contest

--Stick around for the scarily informative Q&A!

This Shocktober edition of the Secret Science Club meets Monday, October 22, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+. 

No cover. Just bring your smart self!

Tues, Sept 25, 8PM @ the Bell House, FREE! The Secret Science Club explores the heavyweights of the cosmos—supermassive black holes—with astrophysicist and author Caleb Scharf!

Black holes are mysterious chasms so destructive and unforgiving that not even light can escape their deadly wrath. Yet, as astrophysicist Caleb Scharf reveals, these chasms in space-time don't just vacuum up everything that comes near them; they also spit out huge energy beams and clouds of matter, profoundly shaping the universe around them.

Dr. Scharf takes a tour of the latest black-hole research, peers into the dark heart at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy, and asks: “Would life on Earth even be possible without these celestial monsters?”

Caleb Scharf is director of the Astrobiology Center at Columbia University,  writes the “Life, Unbounded” blog for Scientific American, and is the author of the new book, Gravity’s Engines: How Bubble-Blowing Black Holes Rule Galaxies, Stars, and Life in the Cosmos.

Before & After

--Groove to time-warping tunes

--Try our cosmic cocktail of the night, the Gamma Ray

--Hot off the presses! Snag a signed copy of Dr. Scharf’s superb new book, Gravity’s Engines

This spaced-out edition of the Secret Science Club meets Tuesday, September 25, 8 pm @ the Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Subway: F or G to 4th Ave; R to 9th St.

Doors open at 7:30 pm. Please bring ID: 21+ 

No cover. Just bring your smart self!