Segment
10th Planet (5:27)
Prime Number Conjecture (2:52)
Pandemic Bird Flu (6:23)
Stem Cell Update (8:17) |
Panelist
Dr. Robert Mitchell, physics and astronomy professor, St. Ambrose University
Dr. Douglas Nelson, mathematics professor, Augustana College
Dr. Matthew Halfhill, biology professor, St. Ambrose University
Dr. Kristin Douglas, biology professor, Augustana College |
Pandemic Flu |
|
7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Auditorium,
Rivermont Collegiate School
Becherer Hall, 1821 Sunset Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa
Directions given below. |
|
Stem Cells |
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The public is invited to
join a local mathematician and three scientists in discussing four of the top science stories of
2005. After watching four short segments of the one hour NOVA ScienceNow
program that was broadcast on Jan. 10, 2006, there will be a panel
discussion. Light refreshments will be served. This program is sponsored jointly by the local PBS station WQPT and the John Deere Chapter of Sigma Xi, a
national organization of research scientists.
|
10th
Planet.
In January of 2005, astronomers discovered a distant object larger than
Pluto orbiting the sun. However, since there is no authoritative
definition for the term planet, disagreement exists between those who
think the discovery may be a tenth planet and those who think it is
another kind of object. The newly detected object was given the
temporary code name Xena, and its satellite was named Gabrielle; both
names came from characters in a television program.
Dr. Robert Mitchell |
 |
|
Prime
Number Conjecture. A
prime number is
a number which can only be divided by itself and one. Starting
with 5 and 7, they seem to clump together as illustrated in this
list of the first 30 prime numbers: |
| 2 |
3 |
5, 7 |
11, 13 |
17, 19 |
23 |
29, 31 |
| 37 |
41, 43 |
47 |
53 |
59, 61 |
67 |
71, 73 |
| 79 |
83 |
89 |
97 |
101, 103 |
107, 109 |
113 |
|
|
2300 years ago Euclid
wondered if these twin-primes continue to infinity. Now number
theorists have moved a step closer to resolving the twin prime
conjecture. A paper
published by Dan Goldston, Cem Yildirim and Janos Pintz gives a proof
that the spacing between consecutive primes is sometimes very much
smaller than the average spacing. The new proof is given with full
details in about 8 pages using techniques familiar to number theorists.
There is a belief among some number theorists that a psychological
barrier has been broken and that a proof of the twin prime conjecture
may not be far away.
Dr. Douglas Nelson |
 |
|
 |
Pandemic
Bird Flu. Scientists contrast the ways bird flu and human
flu spread. This segment describes how the current bird flu
infects people but does not spread easily from person to person.
This virus spreads through bird feces and the one that causes human
flu spreads through coughing and sneezing. A model is used to
explain how viral-RNA copying mistakes might give rise to a bird
virus that can infect humans.
Dr. Matthew Halfhill |
 |
Stem Cell
Update. Stem cell research has the potential to help
scientists understand and, someday, possibly treat certain diseases. Yet
there are compelling arguments for and against the cloning of embryonic
stem cells. This segment describes the process of cloning a cell by
transferring its nucleus into an unfertilized egg cell that has had its
own nucleus removed. It explains how embryonic stem cells might be
used both to heal patients and to understand the root causes of certain
diseases. It also outlines the political struggle and emotions
surrounding stem cell research.
Dr. Kristin Douglas |
Rick Best, General
Manager of WQPT, will show the four segments of the NOVA program which
was originally broadcast on Jan. 10, 2006. The panel will be
chaired by Dr. Sarah Vordtriede of the St. Ambrose Biology
Department and Program Chair of the John Deere Chapter of Sigma Xi.
|
