In a World…A Hollywood View of Planets (Caitlin Ahrens, Ph.D.) @NCASVideo

Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

In this presentation, Dr. Caitlin Ahrens will explore the changing views of planetary sciences through cinematic history, venturing across fascinating planetary landscapes, first on the silver screen, and then again in real planetary photographs. She will also discuss “dangerous” planets and their prospects for astrobiology.

Dr. Ahrens is a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, studying lunar ices and impact craters. She also produces the “Scratching the Surface” weekly segment (and forthcoming podcast) about planetary science news for KUAF-FM, the NPR station in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Named one of the 2018 Ten Outstanding Young Americans by JCI USA, Dr. Ahrens volunteers as a “NASA Solar System Ambassador,” communicating the science and excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and discoveries with the people in their communities.

Dr. Ahrens will answer questions posted in the live chat at the conclusion of her talk.

All views expressed in this talk are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Capital Area Skeptics.

In a World…A Hollywood View of Planets (Caitlin Ahrens, Ph.D.)

$2. Arboreal Mind: Finding Self in Nerve Cell Branching (Giorgio Ascoli) Part 2 of a 2-part talk. Presented by Giorgio Ascoli, Ph.D., Computational Neuroanatomy Group, Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study, George Mason University, VA The importance of neuronal morphology, i.e. the tree-like shape of nerve cells, in modern neuroscience is rooted in two foundational aspects. On the one hand, dendrites and axons mediate respectively the functional input and output of neurons. On the other, they constitute the essential substrates for network connectivity. To connect this level of scientific analysis to the philosophical problem of the mind-brain relation requires a radical shift in the current research paradigm to include first-person (subjective) experience as a legitimate topic of empirical investigation. To date, the exact neural correlates are not yet known for any conscious function. However, two general principles are commonly (if implicitly) believed. First, mental states (thoughts, feelings, memories, intentions, etc.) consist of spatio-temporal activity patterns in networks of neurons. Second, learning, meant as the acquisition of the potential to instantiate a previously unknown mental state, corresponds to the formation of new connections among neurons, enabling the activation of the new spatio-temporal pattern underlying said mental state. In this talk, Dr. Ascoli will introduce the notion that the branching structure of neurons provides a fundamental physical underpinning for a key cognitive function, namely the capability to learn. In particular, he will explain that this capability is far from trivial and that any individual can typically only acquire a fraction of the relations that can in principle be known. Moreover, he will illustrate how the spatial architecture of axons and dendrites provides a crucial constraint (and insight) on the capability to acquire knowledge. This talk will be presented at a lay level because subjective experience and tree shapes are accessible to all humankind. Dr. Ascoli is head of the Computational Neuroanatomy Group at the Krasnow Institute. The groups main effort is to model neuronal morphology (the shape of brain cells) and its influence on network connectivity and electrophysiological activity. One of the products of that group is L-Neuron, a modeling tool that generates and describes realistic neurons. Among the current research projects of the Computational Neuroanatomy Group are anatomically plausible neural networks and autobiographic memory. He edited the scientific book, Computational Neuroanatomy: Principles and Methods, which defines Computational Neuroanatomy in broad terms. His main long-term scientific and philosophical goal consists in establishing a working model for the highest cognitive functions such as human consciousness. His current consciousness model is fundamentally based on associative learning. On the experimental side, Dr. Ascolis research involvement is primarily in neuroanatomy, but his scientific background is biochemistry. As a researcher at the former Laboratory of Adaptive Systems of the N.I.H., he worked on the structural characterization of a learning-associated neuronal protein, Calexcitin, and on the Prion protein, the infective agent of Mad Cow disease. He received his M.Sc. (Laurea) from the University of Pisa, and his Ph.D. from the Scuola Normale Superiore, in Italy, where he investigated drug-protein binding. The views expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Capital Area Skeptics.$

Scientifical Americans: Paranormal Researchers and the Public Understanding of Science (Sharon Hill)

No Blueprint for the Moon: Navigating the Unknowns of Extraterrestrial Construction (Caitlin Ahrens)

The World of Weird News: Bigfoot, UFOs and Other Questionable Claims (Sharon Hill)

7. A Conversation with Ray Hyman and D.J. Grothe (Klass Award)

DDT WARS: Misinformation, Disinformation and Mythology of the DDT Issue

Q & A with Science Friction Executive Producer Brian Dunning

7. Myths & Realities About Hydrogen Fuel

A National Capital Area Skeptic (Chip Denman)

Industrial Scale Renewable Energy: A Skeptic’s Scrutiny From The Hinterlands (Mark Haynes)

Mysterious Delusions of Satan: Witchcraft at Salem (Prof. Walter F. Rowe)