Importance of Science--Illusions
Why would a science teacher show optical illusions at the start of a science course?
Optical illusions illustrate the differences between human perception and reality and how scientific analysis can help us determine what is true. Optical illusions highlight the challenges of measurement and observation.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool. Richard P. Feynman Feynman is a famous scientist and arguably one of the smartest people who has ever lived. Listen to an old, but fairly funny public lecture by him. He was an enjoyable and wonderful speaker. The Feynman Technique can help you learn faster. |
Can we buck the trend??? Tune in tomorrow, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!
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Importance of Science--Pareidolia
Illusions and pareidolia
Science is the best method or tool ever devised for understanding how the universe works. Case Study: Martian Coffin |
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Science Writing #1 "Scooby"
How does this quote change how you feel about the supernatural and paranormal?
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We learned the scientific method in ____ grade. Why do we have to learn this? This class is not about memorizing facts and ordering the steps of the scientific method so you can complete some science fair project. Average Americans are terrible at science. Adult scientific literacy rate has improved to about 28% which is an increase but still unacceptable, especially at the beginning of the 21st century. We currently rank 23 in the world. Scientific literacy is a HUGE contemporary issue in science.
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The Zener Card Demo was performed in class to demonstrate probability. Students filled out a data table to keep track of their results.
We tend to remember the hits and forget the misses. In science it is essential that we check the misses as well as the hits.
In the 1930s, J.B. Rhine started investigating ESP (extra sensory perception). Rhine used Zener cards to test this phenomenon and his studies included people who claimed to have ESP powers. The following activity is designed to study ESP in the classroom and consider the difficulties in testing such a phenomenon.
- Create a pack of 25 Zener cards using the following template provided. (Each card should be repeated five times.)
- The set includes 25 cards, 5 each of a square, wavy lines, a cross, a circle, and a star.
- To test for ESP, a person tries to guess what’s on each card. After all guesses are made, the answers are revealed.
- Emphasis is placed on correct scientific testing and techniques.
Completed via card set (group)
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Completed via smart phone (solo)
An online Zener tester can be accessed here http://www.teacherled.com/resources/probesp/probespload.html
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Evaluating an extraordinary claim--ESP and mind reading
Science Writing #2 "Foolish"
science_writing.ppt | |
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Fuzzy Thinking
Most of us have difficulties seeing errors in our thinking
“The axioms or universally accepted principle or rules of human belief”
As humans with a thinking brain we need to recognize the problems. We will not be able to approach reality without recognition of our limitations and we need to devise mechanisms that help reduce these problems. This is where science is helpful. |
A lot of students wind up writing ‘sweet’ in their list of remembered words. The catch is however, that word never appeared in the original list. When we see the words ‘cake’, ‘sugar’, ‘chocolate’ and ‘jam’, our brains immediately think ‘sweet’. |
Better Thinking Strategies
Student groups receive one of the following strategies
Each group explains to the class their strategy and provides an example it can apply to
Each group explains to the class their strategy and provides an example it can apply to
This list is abstracted from "Why People Believe Weird Things", written. by Michael Shermer.
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6. Unexplained does NOT mean not explainable.
7. Watch for rationalization of failures. 8. Look out for "post hoc, ergo propter hoc" reasoning. 9. Beware of coincidence. 10. Check the misses as well as the hits. |
A lot of people today think they are “good” at multitasking. They’re wrong. –LOTS of science has been done, ALL of the evidence says the same thing. They’re wrong. Here’s one way to show you –From Psychology Prof at U. Mich, David E Meyer: –Say the letters A-J out loud quickly. Go. –Say the numbers 1-10 out loud quickly. Go. –Say them both out loud, alternating. A-1, B-2, etc. Go.
Baloney Detection Kit
The Ten Questions
Crap detection can be framed even easier than this, as one simple but profound question: How do you know? |
Expanded Baloney Kit
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Anomaly:something which cannot be explained by currently accepted scientific theories
Artifact:something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure Baloney:foolish or deceptive talk; nonsense Counterargument:an argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument Critics:a person who expresses an unfavorable opinion of something Heretic:a freethinker Incredulous:unwilling or unable to believe something Pseudoscience:false science;a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on science Theory:a scientific explanation |
There are other ways to group these questions:
Source:
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What is bias? Try to write down what you think bias is, and give an example.
Select two to three students to read their responses. Do all the students agree with the definitions? Where might there be room for improvement? Discuss for a five minutes. Try to understand their reasoning; lead the students toward a shared definition for what a bias is, and how bias might impact the result of a research process.
Confirmation bias Anecdotal evidence Correlation Causation Errors
Select two to three students to read their responses. Do all the students agree with the definitions? Where might there be room for improvement? Discuss for a five minutes. Try to understand their reasoning; lead the students toward a shared definition for what a bias is, and how bias might impact the result of a research process.
Confirmation bias Anecdotal evidence Correlation Causation Errors
Skepticism--some questions are better than others
Good thinking is good thinking, and not something unique to scientists. |
Cecil and the Fool
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Conspiracy Hypothesis
Conspiracy Theories are great at illustrating confirmation bias and fuzzy thinking. They are not really theories but are hypotheses.
Create your own personal conspiracy. Strange and unusual ones are fine. The conspiracy must include:
Dragon In My Garage
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Using Reason & Evidence To Decide What is True.
Ask yourself:
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Belief in pseudoscience class poll data
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Survey of beliefs (public)
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Science Writing #3 "Pseudoscience"
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Case studies will be used to examine arguments for and against each potentially pseudo-scientific idea, using evidence that either supports or weakens the conclusions. More case studies may be added as time permits.
Evaluating a pseudoscience--case studies
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What is pseudoscience?
“Pseudo” means “false” and pseudoscience is false science. Pseudoscience is any body of knowledge claiming to be scientific (or at an even higher level than science) but which contradicts both the methods and content of science because it:
· Mental powers · Spirit world. · Natural mysteries ·Aliens and UFOs. Click here for specific examples of each category Activity On a 3x5 card provide the following information
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Resources
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Evaluating an Extraordinary Claim--Astrology
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Key Question Does Astrology produce reliable predictions?
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Watch James Randi and test of astrology with college students 1:34 minutes. On a half sheet
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“Astrology works.” Explain one argument that may be used against this defense of astrology.
Horoscope Funny |
Is this stuff just made up? What if it were true?
Do you believe in Bigfoot? If you said yes you're not alone. Many people hold beliefs about the existence of paranormal phenomena. However, many of these things cannot and have not been supported by scientific evidence. While certainly there is nothing wrong in believing in Bigfoot , its important to distinguish what science is and how it is used to discover patterns and knowledge about the world around us. Science is based on natural and predictable phenomena that can be tested and is the best tool we have for understanding how the universe works.
Watch this video on "Evidence of Yeti".....What do you think? |
Evaluating Claims on The Internet
1. Go to the www. Find two science sites, one that you think is really good, and one that you think is bogus. Science sites are ideal.
For the "bogus" site, I'll be most impressed if you find something that looks credible, but is actually not true. 2. Write the web addresses like this: Good site: _________________________________ Bogus site: _________________________________ 3. Now comes the most important part of the exercise.
4. Navigate to the pseudoscience madness page. Pick one of the links that looks interesting.
Submit to Mr. D using the "submit assignment" feature under the "contemporary issues" tab Please be thoughtful about your answer, and include it when you submit the assignment: |
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Single and Double Blind Experiments |
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Pseudoscience Essay
For the following topic, write a short essay in response to the news article linked below.
People believe in lots of weird stuff. This semester we've discussed the difference between science and pseudoscience, and some of the ways that people can make errors in reasoning. |
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Current Event
Interesting student finds
experiment_design_project.doc | |
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Evaluating an Extraordinary Claim #1--Psychics
The great psychic Cire Noslrac, on the TV show “Bridge to the Dead,” chooses an audience member. The psychic’s comments are in italics below.
“Someone close to you passed away recently, didn’t they?” “Yes, my Mother did.” Click here to continue... |
1. Give one or more possible non-supernatural explanation of how the psychic was able to predict that this person’s mother and aunt passed away, the aunt’s name and cause of death, and the fact that the audience member had received a marriage proposal.
http://www.vice.com/read/i-asked-psychics-to-connect-with-my-non-existent-dead-sister |
9/24/14 Secrets of the Psychics
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Questions/Notes Sheet to accompany the video below, Secrets of the Psychics
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Can they make accurate predictions and help to solve crimes?
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Homeopathy claims water can cure you, because it once held medicine. That's like saying you can eat off an empty plate because it once held food. Pseudoscience Example #2 Homeopathy
Ever heard of the claim "you are what you eat"?
How about the claim that "water has a "memory"? Today we will evaluate an extraordinary claim by creating a model and testing it. The basic principle of homeopathy is that like cures like: that an ailment can be cured by small quantities of substances which produce the same symptoms. For example, it is believed that onions, which produce streaming, itchy eyes, can be used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. Homeopaths dilute the substances they are using in water or alcohol due to many of the substances being toxic at high levels. Homeopathic solutions are diluted so many times they are unlikely to contain any of the original ingredients at all. Using all of this the practice of homeopathy goes a little like this… Patient: I have aches in my feet, a swollen neck and am feeling nauseous. Homeopath: let me consult my repertoire……Ah I see, a teaspoon of X causes those symptoms. Ill prepare a remedy of diluted X and you will be better before you know it. Proponents of homeopathic remedies claim that their heavily diluted remedies retain a memory of the original substance. Scientific evidence points to any beneficial effects observed from homeopathic preparations being due to a placebo effect (It works because the patient believes that it works.) |
On the board
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Yesterday we saw a rather dramatic demo and came to the conclusion as a class that homeopathy is a pseudoscience.
Read this article and prepare for discussion after. Why do you think that these "remedies" are sold at stores claiming to treat illness?
Read this article and prepare for discussion after. Why do you think that these "remedies" are sold at stores claiming to treat illness?
Homeopathic pseudoscience part 2
Did you really drink urine? Nope. I made an extreme dilution of an active ingredient. The laws of chemistry state that there is a limit to the dilution that can be made without losing the original substance altogether. This limit, which is related to Avogadro's number, is roughly equal to homeopathic potencies of 12C. My test dilution was 30C. A 30X dilution means that the original substance has been diluted 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times.
How is it that we can be so confident the the bleach, or worse yet the urine test will not hurt us?
Aside from a placebo effect the "remedy" has no effect at all. This is due to the solute (stuff being added) having its concentration diluted way way down by the water. How diluted. Click me and find out.
How is it that we can be so confident the the bleach, or worse yet the urine test will not hurt us?
Aside from a placebo effect the "remedy" has no effect at all. This is due to the solute (stuff being added) having its concentration diluted way way down by the water. How diluted. Click me and find out.
Evaluating an Extraordinary Claim #3 Balance Bracelets
Students are then allowed to take the placebo bands home and try to convince their friends and families of their merit. To report back next week. |
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Evaluating an Extraordinary Claim #4 "Quantum"
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Here are the results of an alternate experiment |
Students filled out some index cards with some descriptive words about their personality along with an identifying numerical code. This data will be used for tomorrows investigation activity.
Students had computer lab time to work on their skeptical investigation projects.
Students had computer lab time to work on their skeptical investigation projects.
How was the prediction worded? Did the prediction use
specific statements OR general and vague statements that could be open to
interpretation? Did the prediction sound personal? Was the prediction
accurate?
The Barnum Effect is the tendency for a people to believe that a so-called ‘personal’ statement is about themselves even though it includes broad and vague descriptions. These descriptions are cleverly written to make the statement sound personal. Pseudosciences, such as astrology and fortune telling, are accused of using such statements. The Barnum Effect was named after P.T. Barnum, a man who coined the phrase, ‘There is a sucker born every minute’.
Why isn’t astrology classified as a science?
Think of another way to scientifically test a pseudoscience such as astrology.
The Barnum Effect is the tendency for a people to believe that a so-called ‘personal’ statement is about themselves even though it includes broad and vague descriptions. These descriptions are cleverly written to make the statement sound personal. Pseudosciences, such as astrology and fortune telling, are accused of using such statements. The Barnum Effect was named after P.T. Barnum, a man who coined the phrase, ‘There is a sucker born every minute’.
Why isn’t astrology classified as a science?
Think of another way to scientifically test a pseudoscience such as astrology.
Testing an Extraordinary Claim #5 Dowsing
Dowsing is the practice of holding dowsing rods by your hands and letting it guide you to underground water, oil, gold, treasure or anything really. When you hold the handles of the rod, the metal bars are allowed to freely rotate. Apparently, they will point in direction of whatever you are looking for. Y-shaped sticks have also been used and are more traditional. As bizarre as this seems it is actually possible. If, for example, you are in the desert looking for sand. Dowsing for cars walking down the middle of a road is quite doable as well.
Here is the magic explanation. Some dowsers, like this guy who has been practicing for forty years, do not know how it works or even care. Despite what dowsers will tell you, it is not electromagnetic vibrations of geophysical energy fields or ESP or benign angels or little pixies that make dowsing work. It is a little something called the 'ideomotor effect'. Lets find some water for farmer John or some do landmine dowsing for Uncle Sam over at the Depleted Cranium Blog. Mr. D thought this old lady was a zombie and started to prepare his weaponry until he realized that she was dowsing...or drunk, or just an idiot. Mr. D made a custom coat hanger dowsing rod. I walked around the bedroom and sure enough it found some clothes. He was thrilled at how well it worked. |
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Science fail # 1 Light streak in a photo? Must be a ghost......
Read the article: Ghost-Hunting Mistakes: Science and Pseudoscience in Ghost Investigations Should ghost hunting be considered a real scientific investigation? After reading informational texts on how ghost hunting investigations are performed, write a paragraph that compares Support your position with evidence from the texts. |
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Science fail #2 Complex pattern in a field? Must be an alien.......
Complex crop circle Funny and complex crop circle Making a crop circle
The aliens making crop circles must be incredibly stupid. We all know that Frosted Mini Wheats >Shredded Mini Wheats
Could these be made by humans? Certainly. Crop circles are beautiful patterns created in wheat fields which are created by humans flattening the wheat stalks according to some design. Despite all of the evidence, many people still think crop circles are the work of something paranormal or by aliens as a way of communicating with us. These people are often called cerealogists. What is unusual is that these refuse to accept the fact that they have been made by humans using very simple technology. Crop patterns are pretty weak. Check out these insane snow patterns.
The aliens making crop circles must be incredibly stupid. We all know that Frosted Mini Wheats >Shredded Mini Wheats
Could these be made by humans? Certainly. Crop circles are beautiful patterns created in wheat fields which are created by humans flattening the wheat stalks according to some design. Despite all of the evidence, many people still think crop circles are the work of something paranormal or by aliens as a way of communicating with us. These people are often called cerealogists. What is unusual is that these refuse to accept the fact that they have been made by humans using very simple technology. Crop patterns are pretty weak. Check out these insane snow patterns.
Ghosts
Given the amount of evidence we have on what does happen after death, how life appears to operate and how our universe works, I would suggest that the weight of evidence we do have strongly points towards ghosts not existing. In fact I am pretty confident ghosts do not exist, but that’s an opinion, not a scientific conclusion. That’s not good science. I will happily change my opinion if ghosts are discovered.
I was always bothered as a kid that I was never supposed to ask questions about ghosts. You’re supposed to just believe. Lets take a crack at a few questions that prove to be problematic when it comes to showing the existence of ghosts.
Nearly half of Americans believe in ghosts. Why? http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/20
I was always bothered as a kid that I was never supposed to ask questions about ghosts. You’re supposed to just believe. Lets take a crack at a few questions that prove to be problematic when it comes to showing the existence of ghosts.
Nearly half of Americans believe in ghosts. Why? http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/20
What does science say about ghosts?
Here is an interesting list that I found on Skepticblog that illustrates why it’s never right to jump to the conclusion of “It was a ghost”:
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Do you watch ghost hunters? No. I do not enjoy shows where everything leads to nothing. Until one is caught, those shows should be renamed “ghost seeking” or maybe “ghost spotting”
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Creative Science Fiction Writing UFOs
UFOs – do they exist? Open ended.
DISCUSS: sightings? Stories? Myths.
View videos and photos : photos first.
Homework: Create a fake UFO photo – art materials or smart phone app required. Digital Cameras required. We will analyse the results of your photo sessions. (You will need to go outside to photograph the UFOs.)
Analyse the results of last week’s photo session. (Some students to go outside to finish photographing their UFOs.)
Prepare fake newspaper story to go with the photo.
Recap UFO videos and photos….. what makes them persuasive?
What is persuasive text? Adverts are the simplest examples but many writers attempt to persuade their readers.
The fake newspaper must be a piece of persuasive writing. Conventional Newspaper writing is supposed to be factual. Fake UFO stories do make it into the media. Journalists are not always accurate. Read newspapers with a certain degree of skepticism. Some stories can appear factual but be biased or badly written.
Writer must convince the reader that the UFO is real or that an alleged UFO sighting/photo was faked by a group of students. Students must think of a convincing backstory.
Conventions of newspaper writing: cover
The best fake story + photo will be submitted to the school newsletter. All of them will be put on display.
Students will prepare an exhibition of fake UFO photos made by students.
DISCUSS: sightings? Stories? Myths.
View videos and photos : photos first.
Homework: Create a fake UFO photo – art materials or smart phone app required. Digital Cameras required. We will analyse the results of your photo sessions. (You will need to go outside to photograph the UFOs.)
Analyse the results of last week’s photo session. (Some students to go outside to finish photographing their UFOs.)
Prepare fake newspaper story to go with the photo.
Recap UFO videos and photos….. what makes them persuasive?
What is persuasive text? Adverts are the simplest examples but many writers attempt to persuade their readers.
The fake newspaper must be a piece of persuasive writing. Conventional Newspaper writing is supposed to be factual. Fake UFO stories do make it into the media. Journalists are not always accurate. Read newspapers with a certain degree of skepticism. Some stories can appear factual but be biased or badly written.
Writer must convince the reader that the UFO is real or that an alleged UFO sighting/photo was faked by a group of students. Students must think of a convincing backstory.
Conventions of newspaper writing: cover
The best fake story + photo will be submitted to the school newsletter. All of them will be put on display.
Students will prepare an exhibition of fake UFO photos made by students.
Astrobiology is the science that studies life everywhere in the universe (not just here on Earth)
Evaluating an Extraordinary Claim -- "Ancient Aliens"
The History Channel often puts out pseudo documentaries on alien visitation. Evaluate the "evidence" presented by the program.
Source#1 Alien visitation in artwork. http://illuminutti.com/ancient-aliens-debunked/ Source #2: Interview with an anthropologist discussing the History Channel program. According to the scientist, Ken Feder who was quoted in the article, what are the three separate hypotheses put forth by the History Channel? |
Are We Alone?
People have long wondered if there is life elsewhere in the universe.
There are billions of stars in each galaxy and about 100 billion galaxies within reach of our telescopes. The total number of stars in the observable universe is of order 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (or 10^22).
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Monday 11/5/12 Alien Life Probability
We determined the statistical probability for how many intelligent, communicating civilizations there may be in our galaxy using the Drake Equation.
Your task is to complete a table and use those values to solve the Drake Equation in order to estimate the number of intelligent civilizations in the Milky Way.
Here is an alternate interactive Drake equation app that can be used for this assignment
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120821-how-many-alien-worlds-exist
N = R x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x fL
N = the number of advanced civilizations in our Milky Way Galaxy
R = Number of stars in our Milky Way Galaxy fp = Percentage of stars with planets orbiting around them ne = Number of planets around stars that are suitable for life |
fl = Percentage of planets (above) on which life actually arises
fi = Percentage of planets (above) on which intelligent life arises fc = Percentage of planets (above) with intelligent life that can communicate fL = Fraction of planetary lifetime graced by advanced civilization |
_N = 200 billion x 20% x 2 x 50% x 20% x 50% x 1/100,000,000 ( ~10,000 years) =
N = 10, 000
Check out this Vsauce Youtube clip Are we Ready For Aliens?
Animation explaining famous Drake Equation- YouTube
A TED video about the Drake Equation: Calculating the odds of intelligent alien life - a TED video by Jill Tarter.
Sheldon and the Drake Equation - YouTube
Here is an interactive Drake equation app http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120821-how-many-alien-worlds-exist
N = 10, 000
Check out this Vsauce Youtube clip Are we Ready For Aliens?
Animation explaining famous Drake Equation- YouTube
A TED video about the Drake Equation: Calculating the odds of intelligent alien life - a TED video by Jill Tarter.
Sheldon and the Drake Equation - YouTube
Here is an interactive Drake equation app http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120821-how-many-alien-worlds-exist
Choose one of the following prompts and write a paragraph discussing which factor of the Drake equation makes you are either optimistic or pessimistic for alien life in our galaxy. Paragraph will be due E.O.P. When done vote via phone.
Science writing--alien life
Is there good evidence for aliens?
We do have some interesting evidence. It is known as the "Wow!" signal. This signal was received by a radio telescope in 1977 may be the best evidence yet for extraterrestrial intelligence. To this day it is still truly a mystery,
Check out this Skeptoid episode Was the Wow! signal alien?.
NPR also covered the Wow Signal in the article Aliens Found in Ohio the Wow Signal
We even beamed a reply in 2012 consisting of Twitter replies and some movie files with repeating headers using a transmission 20 times stronger than normal radio.
http://www.space.com/17151-alien-wow-signal-response.html and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSEXB7gsaxY
There are some natural radio emitters in our universe that were dubbed "Little Green Men" or LGM signals. They turned out to be rotating neutron stars shooting out beams of energy.
Update: We have discovered new interesting signals. Alien FAQ: 6 questions about strange cosmic radio bursts
Check out this Skeptoid episode Was the Wow! signal alien?.
NPR also covered the Wow Signal in the article Aliens Found in Ohio the Wow Signal
We even beamed a reply in 2012 consisting of Twitter replies and some movie files with repeating headers using a transmission 20 times stronger than normal radio.
http://www.space.com/17151-alien-wow-signal-response.html and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSEXB7gsaxY
There are some natural radio emitters in our universe that were dubbed "Little Green Men" or LGM signals. They turned out to be rotating neutron stars shooting out beams of energy.
Update: We have discovered new interesting signals. Alien FAQ: 6 questions about strange cosmic radio bursts
aliens_movie_pitch.docx | |
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how_aliens_have_changed_over_time.jpg | |
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Creative Science Writing--Mom! The aliens are making fun of me!
Fermi Paradox
Why can't we see evidence of aliens?
Classroom Exercise - Do This Now: On a single piece of paper: 1. Write down your estimate of how much longer the human species will be able to survive on planet earth. 2. Do you believe that eventually we will colonize other worlds in our Galaxy? 3. Do you believe that intelligent life exists on other planets in the Galaxy? |
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- What are alternatives to Carbon Chemistry?
- What are the problems of Silicon as an alternative to Carbon?
- What are alternatives to Liquid Water?
Chemistry of life
Planet Quest : Search for Habitable Planets. In this activity you will learn about the history for the seach for extra-terrestrial planets and the factors that make a planet habitable. See the instruction sheet handed out in class and visit the Planet Quest website to do your research.
Search for types of extremophiles on Earth with “Alien Safari” – for each of the six “life zones”, name and describe the associated life form and their location of Earth. Then select a solar system habitat and predict which type of extremophile might be living there. Defend your thesis! (hint: use this essay format: Intro/Thesis; Supporting Elements; Conclusion.)
https://secure.flickr.com/photos/47808265@N08/11254888464/in/photostream/
Take a few mintues and check out the Planet Quest website. It is a nice review of some of what we've learned in this course, espcially the "Alien Safari" section.
Lecture notes on: The Rare Earth Hypothesis & Some Critical Thinking Topics
Here is the Hypothetical Dialog used in class.
Take a look at the following list Astrobiology A-to-Z and make sure you can define and explain all the terms. (NB: I need more items for the Q,X,Y,Z letters -)
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/faculty/wfw/CLASSES/ASTROBIO/news.html
Repeat Lecture notes: What is astrobiology?
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/faculty/wfw/CLASSES/ASTROBIO/LECTURES/quiz2.txt
Lecture notes on: The Rare Earth Hypothesis & Some Critical Thinking Topics
Here is the Hypothetical Dialog used in class.
Take a look at the following list Astrobiology A-to-Z and make sure you can define and explain all the terms. (NB: I need more items for the Q,X,Y,Z letters -)
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/faculty/wfw/CLASSES/ASTROBIO/news.html
Repeat Lecture notes: What is astrobiology?
http://mintaka.sdsu.edu/faculty/wfw/CLASSES/ASTROBIO/LECTURES/quiz2.txt
Interstellar Travel and Colonization
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1/9/14 Thursday --Science Articles
http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/dogs-poop-in-alignment-with-earths-magnetic-field
Shark or dolphin? http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=16296
The year in awesome science GIFs
the best science images of the year
Shark or dolphin? http://www.southernfriedscience.com/?p=16296
The year in awesome science GIFs
the best science images of the year
1/13-1/14 Final Exam Brain Science Presentations
Tuesday What is Space?
A physicist, Brian Greene reveals that scientists no longer think of space as an empty void but that it is reveals space as a dynamic fabric that can stretch, twist, warp, and ripple under the influence of mass and gravity. Space is far from being a vast nothingness.
- Sir Issac Newton determined that space was a fixed framework for things like planets, stars and asteroids.
- Albert Einstein and later scientists concluded that space is malleable and can stretch, twist, warp, and ripple.
- Greene demonstrates how space can bend and stretch this by launching pool balls across a pool table. If the surface of the table weren't hard but rather rubbery and if you dropped a large, heavy orb onto it, that would affect the speed of the pool balls and actually put them into orbit around the big ball in the middle of the table.
- A famous gyroscope experiment shows how Earth bends space
The SpaceTime Lemonade Stand
People near the MIT campus explain spacetime in exchange for free lemonade. See what they said.
Transcript: Female voice: Explain spacetime and get free lemonade! Man 1: Okay, so the idea behind spacetime is that space and time can really be interchanged and sort of treated as the same thing. Man 2: The universe essentially has four humanly observable dimensions… Woman 1: I know nothing about spacetime. I’m a biologist. Man 2: Three linear dimensions, and one that’s in time. Woman 2: Normally you think about these things as very different sorts of entities, but spacetime is this wibbly-wobbly sort of stuff that combines properties of both spatial dimensions and time. Man 3: If you travel fast through space, you get what’s called time dilation, so, like, you travel through time slower. Woman 1: The only thing that I think about when I hear that word is “spacetime continuum.” Man 4: Well, time is the stuff that keeps everything from happening all at once. Woman 1: Time. Man 4: And space is the thing that keeps everything from getting in everything else’s way. Woman 1: Space. Man 4: How’s that? Man 5: Spacetime is kind of a fabric in which everything else exists, so that when you’re changing one part of it, it bends to accommodate. I guess that’s the best way to describe it. Woman 3: Space is three dimensions and time is supposed to be the fourth, but you can’t travel through it like you can through space, so they say. But I think that’s just lack of imagination. Man 6: We’re used to thinking about time and space as being two very different things. Man 3: Uh. Woman 2: Um. Man 2: Uh. Man 5: Jeez, now I can’t do it. Man 6: You only actually see spacetime-y things if you’re traveling very fast or if you’re in a very strong gravitational field. So it’s totally outside our everyday experience. There’s no reason in the world we should be able to understand it. Man’s voice: And one free lemonade… Man 6: Hot diggity dog, I get lemonade! |
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