Science and Ideas Group: Delusion, Fusion, and The Age of the Sun

- How a collision between Darwin and Lord Kelvin (sort of) gave rise to modern cosmology -
Talk summary:
When he put forth the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin faced criticism from one of the greatest physicists of his day-the renowned Lord Kelvin.
According to Kelvin's state-of-the-art (for the Victorian era) calculations of the age of the Sun and the Earth, there hadn't been enough time for life to evolve like Darwin described!
In the years before Einstein, the public viewed Lord Kelvin as the iconic scientist, inventor, and guiding light of the Industrial Revolution. Indeed, his work in thermodynamics led to the notion of absolute zero and the temperature scale named in his honor.
Come hear how this leading mathematician and physicist became known as one of the great curmudgeons of history. And Kelvin wasn't the only one-we'll share more about the annoying but important role of other curmudgeons in the development of modern cosmology.
Professor Sean Gavin: Ph.D. Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1987
Live transcription available here: drive.google.com/file/d/1w-3G...
---
Transforming how we age in our communities, Ashby Village connects us with one another, offering support and opportunities for meaningful, engaging experiences.
Ashby Village is a vibrant nonprofit that connects members with each other and with the resources we need to stay active, independent and fulfilled. We rely on one another-and on an extensive volunteer pool, screened service providers and partnerships with local agencies, groups and businesses.
Ashby Village launched in 2010 after many discussions and community meetings that began in 2007, initially serving Berkeley, Albany, Kensington, El Cerrito, Emeryville and part of Oakland. In December 2019, Ashby Village expanded to Richmond. July 1, 2020 North Oakland Village merged with Ashby Village.
For more info please visit www.ashbyvillage.org or email us at [e-mail]