In 2002 George Johnson wrote an article that appeared in the New York Times entitled "Here They Are, Science's Ten Most Beautiful Experiments." We shall begin by reading his short article and briefly discuss what might make an experiment beautiful. In the first session several experiments from his list will be described and discussed. Subsequent meetings will include additional experiments. No special prior knowledge is assumed. To understand the significance of each experiment we shall discuss what was known, and more importantly not known, before the experiment. Among the scientists whose experiments and/or explanations we shall consider are Galileo, Newton, Pasteur, Bunsen, Urey, Bohr and Einstein.

Demonstrate to yourself, to your friends and particularly to your grandchildren that you are interested in mathematics and that they should be too. Must there be a Friday the 13th every calendar year? How many randomly selected people in a room assures better than a 50-50 chance of a birth month-and-day match? Are all triangles isosceles? Why are some numbers "perfect" and others deficient? How many prime numbers are there? Euclid knew! We will discuss and answer these questions, more as time allows. Inquisitiveness is the only skill required. No advance reading and no homework.

Explore the news in NH, the US and the world with focus on the interest of the attendees. In a combination of multimedia presentations, participant contribution and discussion, we'll look at the issues of the day, including historical perspectives and their implications for the future. There may be guest speakers to add depth to some of our topics.

Learn about weather terminology, hear about weather that affects New England and why the weather here is different than in other parts of the world. Learn how weather forecasts are made, the difference between weather and climate and how climate impacts our weather.

Darwin's "great idea" was not obvious when he proposed it in 1859; the then current science just didn't match up. So we will look at what the world looked like in 1850 and then the explosion of discoveries in the 20th & 21st centuries. An abbreviated and updated version of our previous "Implications of Evolution" class can be seen at http://is.gd/EvolutionImplications

The museum presentation and exhibits will cover aviators, locations, events and artifacts related to aviation in NH. These pioneering men and women, who have represented NH in the air, will take you back in time and may change the way you think about our state's contribution to aviation history. The program will also include today's aviation trivia, videos of recent flights and events that are happening at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. Museum tour includes time on a computer flight simulator.

In this course, participants will learn about how Frank Lloyd Wright, iconic American architect, created a mid-century masterpiece in Manchester and how this home, once owned by Dr. and Mrs. Zimmerman, was transformed from private home to the biggest work of art in the Currier Collection! After an in-classroom talk at the Currier about Frank Lloyd Wright and his work, participants will be transported via Currier shuttle to the Zimmerman House for a private tour of this stunning 1950 architectural gem. After the tour participants will return to the Currier Museum of Art where they can enjoy the museum collection until 5:00 p.m. Museum admission and the Zimmerman House tour are included in the class. Please note the Zimmerman House tour requires 90 minutes of standing and walking and there are no working restrooms at the house. The house also has limited accessibility.

Did you recently get an iPhone or iPad, or have had one for awhile and are wondering how to make it work better for you? This class is an introduction to the history, basic buttons, and the iOS operating system of these devices. We hope to make you familiar and comfortable with this marvel of modern engineering. Topics will include learning the buttons, sliders, and finger gestures; what do all those funny symbols mean; how do we personalize these wonderful tools and toys and make them work. We will explore (a few) of the millions of apps which could make life easier and more fun. Please bring your own iPhone or iPad to class, and don't silence them when we start.

In an era of perpetual screen time, podcasts are a welcome respite. And just like writing, drawing or photography, telling a story with audio is an immensely personal medium of expression. The first part of this course is introducing you to the vast landscape of audio media, and the second is teaching you how to make it yourself. The cost to start tinkering in the world of audio storytelling is minimal, and the reward great. Attendees will leave with a basic knowledge of audio editing, ideas for potential projects, and a list of inexpensive (or free) resources to help you make audio on your own. Having a computer at home is necessary to make your own content, but there are many other options when it comes to listening.

This class will start with the history of quantum theory and describe its weird features, focusing more on the observable "what" of quantum theory than its mathematical "why." The second session will describe scientists' attempts to harness these weird features to create a computer that is potentially much faster than those being built today. While there are many scientific problems that can be addressed by quantum computing, this class will describe its implications for encryption and privacy.

Enjoy slides and a video presentation, as we explore the secluded area north of Churchill in Manitoba, Canada where polar bears and other tundra wildlife abound. While the polar bears are the main attraction, foxes, snowy owls, rabbits and wildflowers contribute to the natural beauty of this wilderness. Churchill itself is home to 800 Eskimo Americans who have so wondrously adapted to their environment. We will see the bears await the icing over of Hudson Bay so they can hunt seals, their primary source of food.

The program will cover the efforts of our team since 1987 to rehabilitate and release healthy animals back into their appropriate wild habitats. We shall discuss the natural history of local birds and their importance to the environment. As examples, we shall offer "up close and personal" appearances of our "education birds" that were rescued and rehabilitated but deemed unable to be released back into the wild due to the severity of their injuries. Our program encourages people to contact us if one finds an injured or abandoned animal (like bear cubs, bunnies, young birds, etc.); we then work with state and local animal control agencies.