Fall 2024 OLLI Digital Catalog

Misconceptions of Science (R245)

R – Physical Sciences and Mathematics

This two-semester course deals with common misconceptions of science held by nonscientists as well as scientists. The course is based on Great Courses lectures by Prof. Don Lincoln, a physicist from Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), supplemented with scintillating discussion. Topics include flow of electricity, why airplanes fly, behavior of gases, fictitious Coriolis force, nonelliptical orbits of planets, atoms’ empty space, myths surrounding aliens, nutrition, evolution, genetics, and brain function.

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This offering meets for a total of 11 session(s).

INSTRUCTORS: Howard Barth, Bruce Neff

BARTH, HOWARD G.–B.A. and Ph.D., chemistry, Northeastern University. After a postdoctoral fellowship at Hahnemann Hospital, held research positions at Hercules and DuPont. Although retired, continues to publish scientific papers. Previously taught OLLI quantum mechanics and thermodynamics courses.

NEFF, BRUCE–B.S., mathematics, Tulane University; Ph.D., physical chemistry, MIT; postdoctoral fellow at MIT. Retired from DuPont after a long career in research, research management and chemical regulatory management.

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