Posted on 01/20/2011 11:25:56 AM PST by markomalley
(ANSA) - Rome, January 20 - Rome's Science Festival kicked off its 2011 edition on Thursday, dwelling on the likelihood of humanity's impending doom. "The End of the World" is the official theme that will be the subject of lectures, discussion panels, simulations, exhibits, cocktail parties and other activities organized at the Auditorium Parco della Musica from January 20 to 23.
Over 60 scientists will speak, including astrophysicist Brandon Carter, internationally renowned for his "doomsday argument" from 1983. He predicted, on the basis of statistical principles, that humanity has a 95% chance of being in the last half of its existence, with a possible lifespan of another 9,120 years. Other noteworthy speakers include physicist Lisa Randall, whose models of the universe hypothesize other dimensions; ecologist and bestselling author Bill Streever; and philosopher John Leslie, who is convinced of humanity's capacity to colonize other galaxies before depleting its possibilities on earth. The future of humanity on other planets is also the focus of an exhibit by the Italian astrophysical institute Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (Inaf) called, "End of the world, the astrophysicists answer". One can even experience a touch of catastrophe through 3D simulations of volcano eruptions and earthquakes.
The theme "was a good idea that demonstrates the large popular appeal of the festival," observed Rome's mayor Gianni Alemanno, who presented the event.
The festival took its inspiration from a worry that has obsessed cultures the world over for thousands of years, inspiring stories and beliefs from the Bible's Apocalypse to the myths of the ancient Maya, for whom December 21, 2012 marks the last day of their calendar.
The Maya prophecy "is the least scientific theme that one can imagine," commented Carlo Fuortes, CEO of the Foundazione Musica per Roma, which organizes the festival. "Naturally, the end of the world will be spoken about in a scientific manner and will be an occasion for quality discussion without (being) boring," he added.
Fittingly, the festival will feature not only scientific discussions, however, but a good dose of irony, entertainment and culture, ranging from the "Bad TV Science" contest to a spectacle entitled, "The last spaceship", probing just what would go on the last spaceship from earth when humanity meets its doom. Celebrated author Ian McEwan will lead a session entitled "Blues for the end of the world," and the National Geographic Channel is proposing "We are the Martians", hosted by astrophysicist Giovanni Bignami. The Tashi Lama, leading singer of the Dalai Lama's monastery Drepung, will even put on a concert divulging the Tibetan perspective on the theme.
Curious, provocative, and humorous venues just add human interest to a gravitas of a serious event, explained Carlo Bo, the scientific director of the festival.
"In reality, the attention of science is focused on the depletion of the planet's resources, and most of the events will talk about this", he clarified.
The danger from cosmic objects diminishes with every passing day. Short period comets, volcanism, and earthquakes have been damping exponentially since Roman times; they are remnants of recent systemic catastrophes and there is no further probabale cause of any such catastrophe on the horizen. There would be hundreds of years worth of warming were any such danger again to arise.
There would be hundreds of years worth of warming were any such danger again to arise.Sorry, but that's just psychic prognostication.
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