A Walk Among Giants: Building the Largest Galaxies in the Universe! Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 pm Dr. Elizabeth McGrath will kick off our new Science Lecture Series here at the planetarium with her presentation on galaxies and how these objects help us understand the universe we live in. She serves as the Clare Boothe Luce Assistant […]
Unlocking the Secrets of Proteins: The Rise of Cryo Electron Microscopy Thursday, October 6 at 7:00 pm Proteins are an essential component of all living things, allowing us to grow, breathe, eat, and even sense our surroundings. However, understanding how proteins are shaped and how they work can be one of the most elusive questions in […]
Art and Science: Visualizing Complex Ideas for Everyone Thursday, November 3rd at 7:00 pm Where do science visualizations come from? What is the process of taking a complex idea and making an image that aids in our understanding? Chuck Carter who designs video games (such as the game MYST) and VR experiences is an accomplished […]
Journey Into Climate Thursday, December 1st at 7:00 pm Today, climate change in the polar regions is having remarkable consequences. Recent Arctic warming, induced by greenhouse gases has led to poleward migration of the jet stream – with extreme weather event consequences. In the Antarctic, stratospheric ozone depletion and greenhouse gas warming have caused drought […]
How molecular motors work - insights from the machinist’s toolbox Thursday, February 2nd at 7:00 pm The Nobel prize in Chemistry for 2016 was awarded to Jean Pierre Sauvage, Sir James Fraser Stoddart, and Bernard (Ben) Feringa for their contributions to the design and synthesis of molecular machines. While this field is still in its […]
Wireless Leak Detection for International Space Station Thursday, March 2nd at 7:00 pm How do we detect air leaks in space? Air leaks in pressurized structures such as space habitats due to micrometeorite impacts or structural aging and failure are inevitable. Due to the large pressure differential between interior of the module and the vacuum […]
Meteorites and the Origin of the Solar System Thursday, April 6th at 7:00 pm In April 2016, a very bright fireball was observed over Maine most likely resulting in a meteorite fall north of Bethel. Unfortunately, the meteorite was never found, despite considerable effort to locate it. Meteorites contain material from the birth of our […]
From Lightsabers to Tricorders: Harnessing Light for Biomedical Applications Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 pm Light surrounds us, but how often do we appreciate the power of light for use as a diagnostic tool? Join us as we explore the possibilities of using small alterations of light as captured by microscopes to aid our human […]
Potential Cancer Cures Leveraging 3D Tissue Engineering and Bone Marrow Models Thursday, October 5 at 7:00 pm Join us as we explore new ways to develop 3D models of cancer and bone marrow cells. Experience how fluorescent imaging of cells and biomaterials can bring biomedical research to life. Fly through confocal microscopy images of 3D […]
Dr. Dale Kocevski The Big Bang and the Origin of Our Universe Thursday, December 7 at 7:00 pm Does our Universe have a finite origin or has it existed unchanged for all eternity? Either answer has profound implications about the nature of our reality. Explore how astronomers came to the conclusion that the Universe, and […]
The Science of Wellness: Why Your Doctor Continues to Insist You Sleep, Exercise, and Be Well Thursday, February 1 at 7:00 pm Sleep and exercise are vital parts of what allows us to function and thrive. We rely on sleep to generate growth, form new memories, and promote healing. Exercise promotes strength, muscle development, balance […]
Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator and Rusty Old Bridges Thursday, March 1 at 7:00 pm What does the deceleration of spacecraft and the condition of our roadway bridges have in common? While engineering of course! Explore the University of Maine’s contributions to the Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD), a NASA-developed device ideal for landing spacecraft on […]
Aquatic chemical signaling: How understanding signals in the sea helps us address interdisciplinary challenges Thursday, April 5 at 7:00 pm The chemical signals exchanged by aquatic organisms influence a wide variety of behaviors from predator-prey interactions to mating and habitat choice. Understanding chemical signaling can help us more deeply understand the ecology and evolution of […]
Dr. James W. Jarvis Vaccines: Heroes or Villains (hint: it’s the first one) Thursday, November 15 at 7:00 pm Take a look at the science of immunization, exploring the basic biology of the human immune system and why it is important in society. What recommendations do medical experts have? What are the controversies, myths, and […]
Kristy Townsend, Ph.D. Remodeling in Our Brain and Nervous System: Connections to Obesity and Diabetes Thursday, December 20 at 7:00 pm Obesity and Diabetes are currently global pandemics. Obesity, and most cases of diabetes, stem from an energy imbalance whereby we take in more calories than we burn. This simple energy equation is actually quite […]
Danny Piper Solar for ME! The solar industry in Maine and beyond Thursday, January 17 at 7:00 pm What is the Sun's potential to meet our planet's energy needs? What has the solar industry's growth looked like over the past 5 years? Where does Maine's solar policy lie, and what does future projected policy for […]
Dr. Lauren Ross Harnessing the power of the ocean currents Thursday, February 21 at 7:00 pm How can we use currents to generate sustainable energy? What are the environmental impacts of doing so? Explore how tidal turbines can optimize energy extraction and understand how coastal environmental conditions are affected by the long-term implementation of tidal […]
Dr. Alex Friess Engineering in Sports Thursday, March 21 at 7:00 pm While spectator sports such as the Olympics, the America’s Cup, and World Championships celebrate the achievement of world class athletes, their peak performance is often made possible by engineers that design and optimize their equipment and training. This involvement is critical in […]
Dr. Grant Tremblay Light from the Void: NASA's Once & Future Great Observatories Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 pm The Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory - two of NASA’s Great Observatories - have enabled our farthest reach in the Cosmos. Explore and celebrate three decades of discovery by these great space missions, […]
Dr. Sam Hess Super-Resolution Microscopy: Illuminating Biological Functions to Cure Disease Thursday, September 12 at 7:00 pm New methods of imaging individual molecules are providing exceptional insight into a variety of diseases. Resolution in microscopes is typically limited by diffraction, but in 2006, three new techniques were invented which could break these limitations allowing imaging […]
Dr. Scott Randall Black Holes, Exploding Stars, and Clusters of Galaxies: 20 Years of NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 pm Launched in 1999, Chandra is one of NASA's four "Great Observatories", a series of satellites designed to study the sky over a broad range in wavelengths, from infrared to gamma rays. […]
Dr. Emanuele Berti A New Dawn: Gravitational-wave Observations from Earth and in Space Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 pm The observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO/Virgo marked the dawn of a new era in astronomy. The planned space-based detector LISA will further this vision by opening a new observational window into our universe. The […]
Dr. Melissa Maginnis Going Viral: Silent but deadly virus with a serious sweet tooth Thursday, March 12 at 7:00 pm Viruses infect every living thing on the planet, and we encounter innumerable viruses in the environment each day. In fact, there are over 300 trillion viruses that inhabit the human body. While most of these […]
Dr. Paul A. Mayewski Pushing Climate Change Research to the Roof of the World Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 pm In April/May 2019 the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest Expedition undertook the most comprehensive scientific expedition conducted on Mt. Everest. The international team led by Dr. Mayewski set significant scientific records including the […]
Dr. Neil Comins What If the Moon Didn't Exist Thursday, October 14 at 7:00 pm The Moon is a vibrant part of our lives and has been celebrated for centuries in art, literature and of course science. We find it easily at night and if we look hard enough, also during the day. Most […]
Dr. Seth Campbell Eyes on the Arctic: Global Connections to the Icy North Thursday, November 11 at 7:00 pm Whether you know it or not, the Arctic impacts nearly every living creature across the planet. This vast web of icy mountains, glaciers, tundra, oceans, and ecosystems each play a vital role in global Earth […]
Dr. Cassaundra Rose Maine Won’t Wait: How Maine is Taking Action on Climate Change Thursday, December 9th at 7:00 pm Maine celebrates one year of “Maine Won’t Wait: a four-year plan for climate action” on December 1st. Learn about the science that informed Maine Won’t Wait, what lessons 2021 has brought, and how people, businesses, and […]
Drs. Melissa Maginnis and Ben King COVID: Alpha and Delta and Omicron, Oh My!! Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 pm Drs. Maginnis and King will discuss the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Join us to learn how viruses undergo changes that can result in new variants that impact the properties, alter the transmission and the course […]
Kate Dickerson and Lucas Richman The Warming Sea - an exploration of hope in the face of the climate crisis Thursday, March 10th at 7:00 pm The Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99% of the world’s oceans, leading to the collapse of the cod fishery, increased acidity, rising sea levels, threatening lobsters and other […]
