How Do I
Black Holes, Beakers, and Books:
A Popular Science Book Club
Are you interested in exploring the vast mysteries of the cosmos, understanding human evolutionary history, or talking about the long-term future of the planet earth? These topics and more will be discussed in Black Holes, Beakers, and Books, a popular science book club that reads and discusses popular science books published within the last five years.
Upcoming Discussions
Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will take place:
Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 pm
Director's Conference Room, First Floor
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh -- Main
4400 Forbes Ave. in Oakland
Sunday,
March 21, 2010
Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet
by Mark Lynas
What will happen to the earth and human civilization if the planet warms by one-to-six degrees Celsius? Mark Lynas tries to answer this question by looking at warming data past and present, concluding that, depending on the level of warming, the consequences range from the loss of mountain glaciers and coral reefs to the total destruction of life on the planet. Lynas recommends some preventive measures to avoid this calamity, but are we already too late to implement them? An employee of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will be joining us with objects from the Polar World exhibit to talk about the influence of climate change on polar habitats!
Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet
by Mark Lynas
What will happen to the earth and human civilization if the planet warms by one-to-six degrees Celsius? Mark Lynas tries to answer this question by looking at warming data past and present, concluding that, depending on the level of warming, the consequences range from the loss of mountain glaciers and coral reefs to the total destruction of life on the planet. Lynas recommends some preventive measures to avoid this calamity, but are we already too late to implement them? An employee of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will be joining us with objects from the Polar World exhibit to talk about the influence of climate change on polar habitats!
Sunday,
April 18, 2010
The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One
by Sylvia A. Earle
Described by some as "a Silent Spring for our era," The World is Blue is Sylvia Earle's depiction of Earth's oceans in crisis, as overfishing, pollution, and climate change drive species into extinction and throw off the delicate balance of the entire planet's ecosystem. Like Rachel Carson before her, Earle calls for an impassioned response to this environmental crisis before it spirals out of control. An employee of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will be joining us to show us objects from the Whales/Tohora exhibit!
The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean's Are One
by Sylvia A. Earle
Described by some as "a Silent Spring for our era," The World is Blue is Sylvia Earle's depiction of Earth's oceans in crisis, as overfishing, pollution, and climate change drive species into extinction and throw off the delicate balance of the entire planet's ecosystem. Like Rachel Carson before her, Earle calls for an impassioned response to this environmental crisis before it spirals out of control. An employee of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History will be joining us to show us objects from the Whales/Tohora exhibit!
Sunday,
May 16, 2010
Chasing Spring: An American Journey Through a Changing Season
by Bruce Stutz
Part science, part travelogue, Chasing Spring follows Bruce Stutz's journey across America to "see spring in various phases." What he discovers on his trip is both fascinating and disturbing: climate change is causing spring to arrive earlier, resulting in altered migration patterns for animals, glaciers that melt more quickly, and unbalanced relationships between plants and pollinators. In the end Stutz's book is both a personal and scientific appreciation of spring, and a warning about our planet's future. Bruce Stutz will be joining the discussion via teleconference!
Chasing Spring: An American Journey Through a Changing Season
by Bruce Stutz
Part science, part travelogue, Chasing Spring follows Bruce Stutz's journey across America to "see spring in various phases." What he discovers on his trip is both fascinating and disturbing: climate change is causing spring to arrive earlier, resulting in altered migration patterns for animals, glaciers that melt more quickly, and unbalanced relationships between plants and pollinators. In the end Stutz's book is both a personal and scientific appreciation of spring, and a warning about our planet's future. Bruce Stutz will be joining the discussion via teleconference!
Contact Information
Wes Roberts, newandfeatured@carnegielibrary.org, 412-622-3151Visit Local Science Organizations
The Carnegie Museum of Natural History offers exciting exhibits,
science lectures, and more.
Cafe Scientifique presents monthly science
lectures at the Carnegie
Science Center.
Previous Discussions
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Darwin's Origin of Species: A Biography
by Janet Browne
Join us for a discussion of Darwin's Origin of Species: A Biography by Janet Browne, which probes the life of scientist Charles Darwin and explains why his theory of evolution is as controversial today as it was more than a century ago. This discussion coincided with Ms. Browne's appearance at the Drue Heinz Lecture series on February 9, 2009.
Darwin's Origin of Species: A Biography
by Janet Browne
Join us for a discussion of Darwin's Origin of Species: A Biography by Janet Browne, which probes the life of scientist Charles Darwin and explains why his theory of evolution is as controversial today as it was more than a century ago. This discussion coincided with Ms. Browne's appearance at the Drue Heinz Lecture series on February 9, 2009.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors
by Ann Gibbons
The First Human throws readers into the competitive world of fossil hunting as four international teams race to solve the mystery of human evolution. Ms. Gibbons joined us to fuel the discussion about her fascinating book.
The First Human: The Race to Discover Our Earliest Ancestors
by Ann Gibbons
The First Human throws readers into the competitive world of fossil hunting as four international teams race to solve the mystery of human evolution. Ms. Gibbons joined us to fuel the discussion about her fascinating book.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
by Neil Shubin
This book explores the evolutionary past of our body's anatomy by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years - long before the first creatures walked the earth. Representatives of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History brought fossils to supplement this discussion.
Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body
by Neil Shubin
This book explores the evolutionary past of our body's anatomy by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years - long before the first creatures walked the earth. Representatives of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History brought fossils to supplement this discussion.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
by Ray Kurzweil
Some scientists have predicted the coming of the “singularity,” at which time human biology and technology will merge. In The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, Ray Kurzweil explores this idea with optimism, predicting that the singularity will create a new human species free from the constraints of biology, even bodily death. Mark Palatucci, a Ph.D student in Robotics/AI at Carnegie Mellon University, joined us for this discussion.
The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology
by Ray Kurzweil
Some scientists have predicted the coming of the “singularity,” at which time human biology and technology will merge. In The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, Ray Kurzweil explores this idea with optimism, predicting that the singularity will create a new human species free from the constraints of biology, even bodily death. Mark Palatucci, a Ph.D student in Robotics/AI at Carnegie Mellon University, joined us for this discussion.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Almost Human: Making Robots Think
by Lee Gutkind
Amazing advancements in robotics engineering are being made right here in Pittsburgh. In Almost Human, Lee Gutkind, a professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh and foremost writer of creative nonfiction, describes the fascinating world of robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. Lee Gutkind joined us to talk about his book.
Almost Human: Making Robots Think
by Lee Gutkind
Amazing advancements in robotics engineering are being made right here in Pittsburgh. In Almost Human, Lee Gutkind, a professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh and foremost writer of creative nonfiction, describes the fascinating world of robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. Lee Gutkind joined us to talk about his book.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind
by Marvin Minsky
In the quest to create a viable artificial intelligence, understanding the multifaceted features of the human mind is vital. The Emotion Machine is Marvin Minsky’s call for a “back to basics” approach to using the human mind as a model for artificial intelligence. Marvin Minsky joined us via telephone to discuss his book.
The Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind
by Marvin Minsky
In the quest to create a viable artificial intelligence, understanding the multifaceted features of the human mind is vital. The Emotion Machine is Marvin Minsky’s call for a “back to basics” approach to using the human mind as a model for artificial intelligence. Marvin Minsky joined us via telephone to discuss his book.
