Popular Lectures in February

The Popular Lectures series from Popular Mechanics magazine will be held at DI Telegraph in February, with each lecture starting at 7:30 p.m. DI Telegraph is located at Tverskaya Blvd. 7, with the entrance from Gazetny Pereulok, next door to the Kruzhka Café.

On Feb. 4, psychologist Sergei Mats will explain how each person has a psychology gender. When did gender originate and what is it for? Why can some creatures in nature change their gender but humans cannot? What does the word “gender" actually mean, and is there a difference between a person’s “sex" and their “gender"? Which factors determine the psychological gender and when can it be considered fully formed?

On Feb. 11, astrophysicists Sergei Popov and Alexei Toporensky will speculate on the question: “How is the Universe Expanding?" Which particular features concerning the expansion of the universe do popular publications rarely discuss and why? What are the event horizon and the particle horizon in cosmology and how do those horizons differ from the horizon of a black hole? What methods exist for determining the universe’s rate of expansion and how can we visualize the expansion of the universe from the viewpoint of an observer on earth?

On Feb. 18, physiologist Vyacheslav Dubynin will present a talk on “The Brain and Curiosity." Why is it so interesting to check out every little nook and crevice we encounter? What gives humans and animals new information? Why is it pleasurable to learn new things? What chemical processes in the brain are connected with curiosity and how can we influence them? How can we continue to be amazed by the world even into our old age? What is the connection between curiosity and creativity? Between curiosity and humor?

On Feb. 25, physiologist Zoya Zorina will present a list of the most important facts concerning the thinking process of animals. How do chimpanzees and gorillas, crows and parrots and cats and dolphins solve new problems in emergency situations that are constantly changing? Is it accurate to say that the development of some animals’ minds approaches that of a two-year-old human? Do animals manifest signs of higher mental functions peculiar to humans, or are they bound by reflex, instinct and genetically determined programming?

Tickets will go on sale just before each lecture. Learn more details at popmech.ru.