NO HOST: Nerd Nite @ Live in Ann Arbor
Details
Nerd Nite
Talks start at 7:00pm. These events are sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library.
Parking is $1.65/hr in the city parking structures. The surface lot across from the venue is $2.65/hr.
Gather ‘round for an evening of informed and informal talks from a friendly neighborhood expert! We’ll have three speakers, each presenting on a different topic and sharing interesting facts that you never knew you never knew! Past Nerd Nite speakers have led deep dives into topics from the legacy of Louis Pasteur, to the origin of elements, to how a trumpet works, to a dissection of romance novel tropes. So bring a friend, grab a drink, and enjoy an evening among fellow nerds. Be there and be square!
SPEAKERS
Rabies: The Perfect Virus. For thousands of years, humanity has been followed by infectious diseases. But rabies holds a type of unique horror, a disease carried through the bite of an infected animal carrying with it a pathogen holding a 100%(*) fatality rate in humans without vaccines. But why exactly is it so deadly? What causes the aggressiveness and foaming of the mouth that is the hallmark of the disease? Come ready to learn the ins and outs of the rabies virus, and maybe even gain a new appreciation of the weird, wonderful world of pathogens.
Lee Lecea is an aspiring science writer and current masters student at the University of Michigan studying Microbiology and Immunology. Apart from a special interest in infectious diseases, they are obsessed with baseball and loves the Detroit Tigers.
Light Pollution: Let's combat this adversary! Light pollution: it takes away our view of the universe, creates environmental issues, and makes our communities look trashy at night! Join Eric Fitzpatrick to learn the pitfalls of light pollution and actions you can take to improve your lighting practice and learn to appreciate what the dark environment has to offer.
Eric has been involved in light pollution study for decades. His master's thesis was on outdoor lighting efficiency, he is the founder of the City of Livonia's outdoor lighting policy, and he was the 23rd lifetime member of the International Dark Sky Association.
X-raying Black Holes Black holes are known for swallowing everything that they can grab, even light. But, their role in the universe is just the opposite - they spew radiation and gas, reshaping galaxies and even enormous clusters of galaxies. Now, after 40 years of technology development and three failed launches, we have the satellite we need to understand how this can possibly work.
Jon Miller is the Douglas Richstone Professor of Astronomy at the University of Michigan. When he is not thinking about black holes, he races cyclocross with the Ann Arbor Velo Club. He considered talking about the history of mountain bikes instead of black holes. Maybe next time.