Albuquerque: Events @ the NM Museum of Natural History & Science

How Cosmic Catastrophes Killed the Mammoths
Richard Firestone, Ph.D.
Thursday, January 10, 2008, 7:00pm

We are just beginning to understand the importance of cosmic catastrophes to life and climate on Earth. New data indicate that numerous impacts, large and small, have plagued Earth relatively recently. Hear about cutting-edge research on Ice Age events that caused extinctions and mutations that may have led to the emergence of modern man. Learn about a meteor explosion over the Arctic 35,000 years ago that embedded micrometeorites in the tusks of mammoths and bison skulls. Find out whether a comet might have been the cause of the extinction of mammoths and other large Ice Age mammals.

Dr. Richard Firestone has degrees in chemistry and nuclear chemistry and has been a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 1979. Author of over 200 publications and seven books, he is a consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and does experimental research at the Institute of Isotopes in Budapest. In 1990 he was asked to help explain the presence of metallic microspherules and high levels of radioactivity at a Paleoindian site in Michigan. This question ultimately led to the publication of the book Cycle of Cosmic Catastrophes and a recent article by an international collaboration of 25 authors in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Cost: $2 public/$1 members, seniors, students

Monthly public lectures for adults and older children presenting eminent scientists and currently newsworthy "hot topics" in science, or topics that relate to the Museum's exhibits, DynaTheater films, or Planetarium shows.

Museum Coordinator: Tish Morris, 841-2882

You may reserve tickets for any lecture by contacting Chris Sanchez at 841-2872, chris.sanchez@state.nm.us

Questions regarding Short Talks should be addressed to:
Becky Pate
Coordinator of Volunteers
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
1801 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104-1375
505-841-2877
505-841-2866 fax
becky.pate@state.nm.us

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Amateur photographers are encouraged to participate
in the 2008 Natural History Photography Salon
of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History
and Science. This year’s theme is “Wild, Wacky
Weather: Precipitation and Drought in New
Mexico.”(An amateur photographer does not earn a
major portion of her or his income from photography.)
Awards will be presented for First Place, Second
Place, and Third Place. The first-place entry becomes
the property of the Museum. Previous winners may
enter.

http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/exhibits/NS2008CallforEntries.pdf

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Dynatheater

Current Schedule:
Ride Around the World: 10:00am, Noon, 2:00pm, 4:00pm
Greece: Secrets of the Past: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm

Prices for each show are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for children 3-12.

**Ticket sales stop 10 minutes before showtime.**

For more information about the Lockheed Martin DynaTheater call (505) 841-2800

Visit www.GreeceFilm.com to learn more about Greece: Secrets of the Past

Visit www.ridearoundtheworld.com to learn more about Ride Around the World

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Current Planetarium Schedule

Night of the Titanic
The sinking of the Titanic in 1912 was part human error and part natural disaster. Weather, ice, sun, moon and stars all played a part in this horrific tragedy. Witness the catastrophe in full-dome and discover how this complex series of natural, but unlikely, events sank the "unsinkable" ship.

Enchanted Skies
Travel through the digital universe with our state-of-the-art 3D immersive reality tools and astronomical data and fly through the cosmos in stunning detail. Learn about the constellations and current celestial events in tonight's beautiful New Mexico sky. Explore our solar system and travel to the stars and beyond to see the universe as never before.

Enchanted Skies - 11:00am, & 3:00pm

Night of the Titanic - Noon & 2:00pmIt's About Time - 1:00pm

Prices for each show are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for children 3-12.

**Ticket sales stop 10 minutes before showtime.**

For more information about the Planetarium call (505) 841-2800

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http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/index.html