|
Join me in reliving my experience on a space themed voyage in Antarctica with fellow space enthusiasts. The video and photos include comments by our speakers on board. The space legends included: William Shatner, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, astronauts: Jose Hernandez, Scott Kelly, and Charlie Duke, along with Ann Curry and Celine Cousteau. We explored several islands via wet and dry landings. Of course, we could never get tired learning about and watching those adorable penguins amongst the icebergs surrounding us.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
I plan to familiarize the group with the work of Michael Levin, PhD who heads the Allen Institute at Tufts University. His early training was in computer science, and he applies programming techniques to ion channels and gap junctions in order to direct cellular behavior. He would argue that this is the key to addressing cancer, birth defects, degenerative disease, aging, and limb regeneration. Dr. Levin's groundbreaking research explains that DNA encodes the proteins we are able to produce, but it does not dictate how they can be utilized. "Programming" cellular behavior may hold the key to exciting new therapies.
Stevenson Oaks
|
|
|
|
Many of us think climate change is a problem for far in the future. But it's not. We are all being affected now. If your health or property have not yet been impacted, then your homeowner's insurance has. In this class we will not only specifically explore how climate change is impacting our daily weather, but also examine indirect consequences such as its effect on homeowner's insurance, agriculture and our food supply.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
Science overwhelmingly asserts the existence of Dark Matter and Energy, but has no idea how these possible phenomena might affect you. Avoiding math and technical language, we will discuss why scientists think this. But more importantly, we will explore the astounding implications of Dark Matter and Energy on our World and on you. Topics will include the nature of life, the reliability of science, the continuation of humanity, and the survival of the soul.
The Stayton
|
|
|
|
Supercells are the least common type of thunderstorm, yet they are responsible for the most violent of tornadoes and severest of hailstorms. We will examine how these unique storms develop, how to recognize them, and most importantly, how to survive them.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
This lecture will describe the major mechanism of the human brain that create the miraculous awareness of information we experience as consciousness. We will focus on the key roles played by some of the brain’s major components, including sensory inputs and the cortex, thalamus, basal ganglia, hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala, mamillary bodies, cerebellum, and brain stem…and the key role played by dynamic tuning of different parts of the brain into each other. In addition, we will briefly touch on the electronic and quantum properties of microtubules, which play a major role in our unification of conscious awareness.
On Campus Session
- Section Code: F25FSFSCT044A
-
Instructor: Edward Porter
-
Dates: 9/8/2025 - 9/29/2025
-
Times: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
-
Sessions: 4
Days: M
-
Building: Secrest Wible
Room: 119
|
|
|
|
Every disease, every medical condition (except trauma) has a genetic component. Sequencing DNA for these genetic components is revolutionizing diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, inter alia. Course will cover novel technologies (e.g., CRISPR enabled gene editing & therapy) and pharmaceuticals (e.g., mRNA vaccines, cancer immunotherapies). Course is designed for non-geneticists interested in gaining general understanding of current and anticipated benefits from DNA sequencing and medical genetics research.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
This 2-session course will provide an overview of the science of launching rockets and maneuvering spacecraft in Earth orbit, with a sampling of how these craft are sent beyond Earth orbit, to the likes of the moon and Mars. A description of the physical elements for all orbits will lead to demonstration of how to transfer from one orbit to another. For those who grew up watching the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions we’ll explain the meaning and purpose of the terms you heard often, but didn’t understand: launch window, main engine cutoff, delta-velocity burns, orbital insertion, deorbit, reentry, and splashdown. All this will be done with an absolute minimum of equations.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
Are you acquainted with the legend of Atlantis? Have you looked into it? Do you have an opinion about its being fact or fiction? If, like me, you find this subject fascinating, then regardless of how you answer these questions you should enjoy this examination of recent evidence that supports surprisingly varied claims that Atlantis did exist, perhaps in an unexpected form, and maybe in an unexpected location.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
Come along for a virtual visit to one of the most beautiful gardens in Fort Worth. The 7 1/2 acre Japanese Garden sits within the 120 acres known as the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. A trip here offers experiences in gardening, history, culture, and wildlife. From the Tea House to the Spring-flowering Cherry Trees to the almost barren and intriguing Karesansui and the beautiful Mikoshi, a gift from Fort Worth's sister city, this garden offers a place of tranquility and beauty as well as amusing interludes. Visitors from all over the world come to experience this amazing place.
The Stayton
|
|
|
|
Paleontologists try to understand human evolution based on bones, fossils, and artifacts that they find in the field. In recent times, this has been supplemented with knowledge gained from DNA. This lecture will give a very brief review of what they have learned. The topic is open to a lot of controversy, even among paleontologists. The lecture titled "Geochronology: How Paleontologists and Archeologists Date the Objects They Find in the Field" is intended to be taken together with this lecture, but it is possible for either lecture to stand on its own.
On-Campus Session
|
|
|
|
Explore the fascinating world of meteorites and what they reveal about the history of our Solar System! Using specimens from TCU's Monnig Meteorite Collection, one of the largest university-based collections in the world, this course will examine the origins, composition, and impact of these cosmic visitors. Learn how scientists use meteorites to unlock secrets about planets, asteroids, and even the early Earth. Perfect for curious minds, this course will bring space science down to Earth in an accessible and engaging way!
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
On December 16th, 2017, The New York Times (NYT) published a news article titled "Glowing Auras and Black Money: The Pentagon's Mysterious U.F.O. Program" coauthored by Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal, Leslie Kean. Since the publication, Congress has held three bipartisan hearings on the topic. Multiple government reports have been published across several official agencies. Additionally, new legislation has been introduced with new terms as Unidentified Aerial phenomena (UAP) and Non-Human Intelligence (NHI). This lecture will provide an overview of the recent past event taken place since the publication of the NYT article, as well as the present and future of the subject.
On Campus Session
|
|
|
|
