al-mofhariz

Step into liquid with ichthyologist and explorer Melanie Stiassny as she plunges into the heart of darkness. Described by Joseph Conrad as an “immense snake uncoiled, with its head in the sea . . . and its tail lost in the depths of the land,” the Congo is the deepest river on Earth, home to raging rapids , and hidden submarine canyons . Such mysterious depths shelter astonishingly strange creatures , ranging from blind fishes to truly monstrous needle-toothed carnivores . Axelrod Research Curator of Fishes at the American Museum of Natural History, a New York Times blogger, and featured scientist on The Colbert Report , Dr. Stiassny researches the evolutionary biology of fishes, focusing on freshwater conservation and Old World tropical systems. She discusses her recent fish-finding expeditions to the Congo and plumbs the river’s amazing biodiversity. Prepare to go deep . . . Before & After --Groove to siren song and the murmurs of mermaids --Imbibe the wet and wild cocktai...

SPECIAL EVENT: The Secret Science Club is teaming up with the Imagine Science Film Festival to present a selection of science-inspired short films, plus “Dance Your Ph.D.” and live music by neuroscientist rockers, the Amygdaloids , and Balún . Techno noir. Music Video. Animation. Don’t miss some of the festival’s quirkiest and coolest entries, featuring subjects like murder and meteorites, particles and prescription drugs, and the dark nature of fear. Check out the following films from the USA, Australia, France, Thailand, Canada, Portugal, and the Future: Mind Over Matter, Velvet Cell, Origin of Mass, Breu, Skhizein, and more! When : Monday, October 18, 8 pm Where : The Bell House, 149 7th St. (between 2nd and 3rd avenues) in Gowanus, Brooklyn. FREE! Just bring your smart self. Doors open at 7:30 PM. 21 and over. The Imagine Science Film Festival runs from October 15 to 22 at a whole host of venues around the city. Visit here for a complete listing of events.

No more monkeying around . . . The Secret Science Club goes ape! The order Primates represents more than 400 living species , including the Pig-Tailed Macaque, the Golden Lion Tamarin, the Mountain Gorilla—and yours truly, Homo sapiens . We primates all share certain characteristics, but humans are the only ones that live on all seven continents, question the meaning of life , and conduct DNA analysis. Dr. Todd Disotell of NYU’s Center for Human Origins is an anthropologist and molecular primatologist who uses DNA to study the evolution of Homo sapiens . He also uses DNA analysis to throw a monkey wrench into “evidence” of cryptozoological primates, such as Bigfoot, and has appeared on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show , National Geographic’s Naked Science , and Monster Quest . The author of scores of scientific papers and recipient of numerous grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, Dr. Disotell asks: --When did our first primate ancestors evol...