Jul 29

Special Interest Group (SIG) – Tuesday August 5, 2014: COSMOS & Camaraderie – RSVP Requested

Cosmology, History, Science Comments Off on Special Interest Group (SIG) – Tuesday August 5, 2014: COSMOS & Camaraderie – RSVP Requested

August 5 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

NOTE: This group does NOT replace our regularly scheduled 2nd and 4th Wednesday presentation meetings. For more information on SIGs, please check out the SIG link at the top of this page.

This SIG is FREE for all Pre-Paid LES Members!!!  Others are invited to attend for $5 per meeting to help cover the cost of food and drink. All are welcome!  (Pizza is on the menu for the first meeting.)

“The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be…” It’s been several decades since Carl Sagan spoke those insightful words in his groundbreaking series, COSMOS. Viewers of all ages learned about the mystery and beauty of the cosmos. We also learned about the people, many of them forgotten by history, on whose shoulders modern humanity stands – the  people  who made it possible for us to progress from the hunters and gatherers who stared with wonder at those magical lights in the night sky. Today, we  launch satellites and space telescopes to learn about the stars. We know more about the stars than our predecessors, but those magical lights in the night sky still fill us with wonder – and that wonder connects us to our distant past.

In this informal SIG we’ll journey thru time and space to watch the recent re-make of Dr. Sagan’s famous series, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. The series includes the latest science and scientific theories about the cosmos and is filled with wonderful stories of the people, some of whom you’ve probably never heard, whose lives and work enabled humanity to take that giant leap towards the stars. The series is beautifully filmed with incredible special effects. It’s difficult to watch without feeling a deep connection to the cosmos, for as Dr. Sagan said “…we are all star stuff…and on a journey to go back to our origin...”

Because each episode stands on its own with different subject matter, it’s not necessary to see all the episodes to follow the series. But, each episode is packed with information and all episodes are beautifully done and entertaining, so attend all if you can. The first meeting will be Tuesday, August 5th…the 2nd will be two weeks later, Aug. 19. There’ll be food and drink (water, coffee and soda will be provided – but, you’re welcome to bring other beverages). Please RSVP, using the “Contact Us” tab at the top of the page, so we can plan to have enough refreshments on hand.

Note:  The final three COSMOS SIG meetings will take place on Wed., October 1; Wed., October 15; and Wed., October 29 from 6:00 – 8:30 PM.

There will be a greeter at the front door till 6:05. After that, late entrants may call the phone number posted on the door for admittance. Hope to see you there!!

Click here for our NEW LOCATION (map and directions)

A calendar of upcoming meeting topics can be found here.

May 06

Is The Universe Alive?

Cosmology, Philosophy, Quantum Physics, Science Comments Off on Is The Universe Alive?

Join the Louisville Esoteric Society on Tuesday May 13, 2014 at 6:30 PM for our next meeting topic: “Is The Universe Alive?” presented by Janet Rowland.

In this meeting, we’ll view an episode of the Through The Wormhole series. This episode includes scientific theories pointing to the possibility that the universe is actually a living organism.

After viewing that video, we’ll watch 3 brief video clips featuring MIT Philosophy Professor Caspar Hare. Professor Hare’s clips are from one of the classes he teaches at MIT, and are directed at providing his students the groundwork for formulating convincing philosophical arguments. We won’t be tasked with doing that but, the arguments in the clips will provide more detail – from a philosophical approach – on two concepts discussed in the Through The Wormhole episode; the Teleological or Design argument and the Fine Tuning or Cosmological Constants argument.

In closing, we’ll talk a little about a technological development discussed in the Through The Wormhole episode, quantum computers.

It’s a compelling idea that the science of physics, based on mathematics – and philosophy, based more on pure thought, are merging in a synergistic partnership. Hopefully, this partnership points the way to an ever increasing understanding of the universe and our place in it.

All sincere seekers are welcome. A $5 donation is suggested to support the ongoing expense of Louisville Esoteric Society.

REMINDER…. We have a new location for meetings: Westport Road Church of Christ – Community Room, 4500 Westport Road

Directions to our meeting location can be found here.

A schedule of upcoming meeting topics can be found here.

Mar 03

March 11, 2014 – Cancelled Due to Illness

Consciousness, Cosmology, Multiple Universes, Quantum Physics, Science, Thought Comments Off on March 11, 2014 – Cancelled Due to Illness
Jan 01

January 8, 2013 – Alien Encounters: The Message and The Arrival

Cosmology, Science, UFOs Comments Off on January 8, 2013 – Alien Encounters: The Message and The Arrival

Join the Louisville Esoteric Society on Tuesday January 8, 2013 at 6:30 PM for our next meeting:  “Alien Encounters: The Message and The Arrival” presented by Janet Rowland.

In two dramatic episodes, Alien Encounters lays out a plausible hypothetical scenario for a first contact event. What would really happen if we got a message from space? How will humans react when we learn a spacecraft is on its way to Earth? The world’s leading astrophysicists, astrobiologists, and sci-fi writers unravel the potential impact of this world-changing global event.

Alien Encounters was made in cooperation with SETI Institute (the highly respected organization devoted to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), which was founded in the early 1960s by renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan.

Alien Encounters highlights interviews with a host of experts including Carl Sagan’s son, Nick, who is now following in his father’s footsteps wondering, “How will we meet our galactic neighbors?” Also featured are Jill Tarter, Director of SETI Institute; Frank Drake, renowned astronomer; Seth Shostak, senior astronomer for SETI Institute; Neil Degrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium; and many more of the world’s leading science minds.

Join LES on Tuesday January 8th at 6:30  for “Alien Encounters: The Message and the Arrival.”

All sincere seekers are welcome.  A $5 donation is suggested.

 

 

—> Click on the “Location” page for specifics regarding where LES meets.

—> Click on the “Schedule” page for a list of upcoming LES discussion topics.

Aug 07

August 14, 2012 – Are There More Than Three Dimensions – Are There Parallel Universes?

Cosmology, Multi-Dimensions, Multiple Universes, Quantum Physics, Science 1 Comment »

Join us on Tuesday August 14, 2012 for our discussion group topic, “Are There More Than Three Dimensions – Are There Parallel Universes?” presented by Janet Rowland. We will view two more episodes from the series, “Through The Wormhole“, narrated by Morgan Freeman. These two episodes discuss fascinating theories to universal questions  which have intrigued every thinking person at some time.

Are There More Than 3 Dimensions?: Could there be more ways to travel than back and forth, side to side and up and down? These 3 directions seem to be the only paths we can move in, but cutting edge science now professes there must be more. Unlocking these invisible pathways is the holy grail of science. Physicists believe that the answers to our most burning questions are hidden in these higher dimensions. Now armed with the most ambitious scientific instrument humanity has ever built, the brightest minds of our planet are convinced we are on the verge of unraveling the Universe’s true number of dimensions… and unlocking the secrets hidden inside.

Are There Parallel Universes?: Most scientists believe that you are not really you, but rather, you all. On the edge of space, buried in a black hole, or right on top of you, there could be an exact copy of yourself living a parallel reality. In those parallel worlds, you may be living your wildest dreams, or your worst nightmares. Finding them is no longer restricted to the realm of science fiction. Recent game-changing theories now suggest that if these worlds exist, intelligent life in these alternative worlds could be trying to send us messages. As scientists further unravel this astounding possibility, a new possibility emerges: the fate of our entire universe may depend on these hidden cosmic twins.

 

Join LES on Tuesday August 14 for “Are There More Than Three Dimensions – Are There Parallel Universes?”

All sincere seekers are welcome.  A $5 donation is suggested.

—> To add comments click on the “Comment” link to the right of the topic.

—> Click on the “Schedule” tab/page for a list of upcoming LES discussion topics.

—> Click on the “Location” tab/page for specifics regarding where and when LES meets.

—> Click on the “LES Forum” tab/page and read/post about topics that interest you!

Jul 18

July 24, 2012 – Thunderbolts of the Gods – The Electric Universe

Ancient History, Cosmology Comments Off on July 24, 2012 – Thunderbolts of the Gods – The Electric Universe

Join us on Tuesday July 24, 2012 for our discussion group topic, “Thunderbolts of the Gods – The Electric Universe“ presented by Bob Hartye.

Conventional cosmology has tried to understand and explain the structure and history of the universe based exclusively on the force of gravity between neutral bodies.  However, most matter in the universe is electrically charged plasma and the electric force between charged bodies is over a trillion-trillion-trillion times larger than the force of gravity.  As a result, many of the new discoveries, made possible by our new observational tools, contradict the existing gravitational model, requiring the fabrication of un-provable phenomena and un-detectible entities to hold onto it.  In contrast, these new discoveries can be readily explained by an electrical model of the universe using principles that have been demonstrated in plasma physics labs for decades.

This video introduces an Electric Model of the Universe and recounts how a renewed effort in this area was given an unexpected assist by mythological accounts of an ancient sky much different than what we observe today.   After the 1 hour video there will be a 15 minute presentation on some of the implications of this new Plasma Cosmology.

Join LES on Tuesday July 24 for “Thunderbolts of the Gods – The Electric Universe.”

All sincere seekers are welcome.  A $5 donation is suggested.



—> To add comments click on the “Comment” link to the right of the topic.

—> Click on the “Schedule” tab/page for a list of upcoming LES discussion topics.

—> Click on the “Location” tab/page for specifics regarding where and when LES meets.

—> Click on the “LES Forum” tab/page and read/post about topics that interest you!

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