Science Videos
These are videos of programs presented to HFFC by scientists on  subjects of interest to humanists.
 
Our motto is Compassion and Reason. We are worried about the war on science in our society.  We hope that these videos will contribute to a greater public awareness of the contributions of science and scientific research to our lives.

Diverse folk answer: why are we celebrating Darwin Day with a February Dinner in Connecticut?

In this video, you will follow the history of Astonomical science discovery from the Greek philosophers up until today. This discovery culminates with the understanding that there are unknown forces in the universe that need further study. These forces have been labelled dark energy and dark matter. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

What are Dark Energy and Dark Matter? In this video you will learn what scientists are currently thinking about these mysterious forces. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this video you will learn about the most easily identifiable indicators that prove the world is warming. Mitch Wagener, the presenter, suggests that you can use these indicators when arguing with your climate change denier friends and family (good luck). This video is an excerpt from a presentation in which Mitch Wagener describes earth's future climate. Hint: more fire and less ice.  It was given to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 14, 2020. You can find this and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org/program-videos.

In this video, you will follow the history of Astonomical science discovery from the Greek philosophers up until today. This discovery culminates with the understanding that there are unknown forces in the universe that need further study. These forces have been labelled dark energy and dark matter. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

What are Dark Energy and Dark Matter? In this video you will learn what scientists are currently thinking about these mysterious forces. This video was recorded during a presentation by Dr. Lachlan Lancaster, Simons Fellow, Columbia University, at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 11, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

Recently, the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield county along with the Connecticut Coalition of Reason hosted two programs where the topic was Darwin and evolution. The presenter for one program was Matthew Sasaki, an evolutionary biologist and for the other program the presenter was James Prosak, an artist. This video combines excerpts from each of their presentations allowing us to compare their thinking. You’re going to be surprised at the result. This presentation was given at a Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (CT) meeting. You can find this and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists, skeptics and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org/program-videos.

Artist and naturalist James Prosek discusses how he has made sense of the natural world through art. His art has taught him that evolution is the great creator of diversity in the natural world. He finds that artists and scientists have a great deal in common. This presentation was given during the 2021 Darwin Day celebration of the Connecticut Coalition of Reason (CTCoR). You can find other videos and information of interest to humanists, atheists, skeptics and other nonbelievers at the CTCoR website at CTCoR.org.

In this video you will learn about actions that Humanists can do about climate change. The presenter, Mitch Wagener, considers climate change to present moral imperatives. He provides actions that can be taken on a personal level as well as issues requiring governmental level action. This video is an excerpt from a presentation in which Mitch Wagener describes earth's future climate. Hint: more fire and less ice. It was given to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on December 14, 2020. You can find this and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org/program-videos.

Did you know that Komodo Dragons don't reproduce sexually? In this scholarly video, Evolutionary Biologist Matt Sasaki explains what that means to our whole view of how scientists classify all life forms. We've learned a lot since Darwin published his theory of evolution and Linnaeus began classifying every life form into species. This video is an excerpt from a presentation which Matt gave to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County Connecticut (HFFC) on October 12, 2020. You can find more information about HFFC and other videos of interest to humanists, atheists, agnostics and other nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County website: hffcct.org.

In this video you will learn how the challenge of conflicting ethical and social values can shape how we prioritize different investigations in the sciences. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains how limitations on resources such as funding, time, and personnel for research require choices regarding what scientific work to do, and these choices may reflect differing values. As a result, humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at http://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

This video answers a lot of questions about electric car (EV) batteries. How long do they last? What is the battery range of EV cars? Should you have Battery range anxiety? The speaker is Bruce Becker, President of the EV Club of Connecticut. This video was recorded during a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County on April 13, 2020.

In this video you will learn how humanists can be hurt because scientists' ethical and social values affect their interpretation of data and formulation of scientific claims. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains how the presence of sometimes hidden values in the background can be significant to what ends up being accepted as scientific knowledge. Humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at https://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

In this video you will learn how ethical and social values can shape methods of scientific investigation and analysis. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains how, for example, values may determine what sorts of research methods we allow as acceptable, and in some cases, how scientific data are understood, classified, and analyzed. As a result, humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at http://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

In this video you will learn the importance of including humanist values in science itself. The speaker, Anjan Chakravartty of the University of Miami, explains that there are different ways in which values are, sometimes inevitably, part of scientific work. As a result, humanists, atheists and other nonreligious people should be vigilant to ensure that their values are considered in scientific practice. Download the program handout at http://bit.ly/2020-07-13meetinghandout. This video is from a program sponsored by the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County. Other videos of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists and other nonreligious people can be found at https://HFFCCT.org/program-videos.

Beata Mierzwa is a molecular biologist working on cell division of animal cells. She combines two passions – science and art – to create unique and unconventional illustrations. Her beautiful and exciting drawings are designed to illustrate scientific themes with an artistic twist, and to highlight fundamental scientific aspects in an unconventional way. This video is an excerpt from a presentation by Beata Mierzwa, PhD at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on March 10, 2024. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

Artist and scientist Beata Mierszwa explains how her video game can teach you how a cell works in your body. The game is designed for young people to learn more about biology. Beata Mierzwa is a molecular biologist working on cell division of animal cells. She combines two passions – science and art – to create unique and unconventional illustrations. Her beautiful and exciting drawings are designed to illustrate scientific themes with an artistic twist, and to highlight fundamental scientific aspects in an unconventional way. This video is an excerpt from a presentation by Beata Mierzwa, PhD at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on March 10, 2024. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this episode, Dr. Kenneth Noll is going to speak as Charles Darwin. He will discuss his discoveries versus the thinking of British and American scientists of his time. He will cover the scientific evidence gathered on the Beagle second voyage and its effects on 19th century science. This video is an excerpt from a presentation at a meeting of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) on February 13, 2023. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

Michael A, with dozens of online addresses, is passionate about his online privacy. In this video you will learn what kind of data is being collected about you online, why you should be concerned and the best practices for protecting your online privacy. Download the summary sheet of best Practices: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10NKb5ZyDKAu9eTRzrQYaSD2XV-7aTzsI/view?usp=sharing. Michael A. is a Managing Director at Blue Owl Capital and member of the Information Technology Team. In his role, he is responsible for the technology and security aspects of the firm's Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) framework. He partners closely with Legal, Compliance, and other stakeholders to ensure Blue Owl's technology operations align with its regulatory, risk management, and strategic objectives. This program was presented to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (CT) on February 10, 2025.

Did you know that the same optical phenomenon that makes your cat's eyes glow red in a flash bulb photo was used in the first and second world wars to locate enemy submarines? CHJ member Dave Shafer will explain how this and many other optical effects are done when he will discuss his long, productive career in high-tech optical systems design. You will be amazed how he used a blend of imagination and calculations to create new designs and inventions. This video is excerpted from the Featured Monthly Speaker Program of the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (CT) on April 13, 2026. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

The Connecticut Darwin Day Dinner science quiz has been a popular activity since the first of these annual events was held in 2008. The quiz covers a wide variety of scientific subjects including events in Charles Darwin’s life, evolution, astronomy, chemistry, and so much more. This video provides a discussion of the quiz answers from the 2026 Darwin Day Dinner. Mitch Kalmus, leader of the quiz team which also includes Natalia Castelo, Branco Matos and Paras Patel presents the answers. In this video, each question is presented and then a discussion of the answer follows. It is recommended that you pause the video as each question is presented and try to answer the question yourself. You may then continue the video to learn more about the answer. The link to the full Question Sheet is https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rwddo4DTRzMbPeaIzaucdp3vSYsUlWxw/view?usp=drive_link. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this episode, we turn our attention to Dale Kutnik, futurist, global AI consultant and longtime HFFC member. Dale will take us into the future of AI and quantum computing. Dale is a senior VP emeritus and distinguished analyst at Gartner, who's worked with CIOs and senior business executives around the world to help them better manage and exploit technology and information to drive business transformation. But more importantly, to advise what is in store for them in the future. He's also an accomplished poet. writes haikus. He's an avid skier and tennis player.

In this insightful interview, Dr. Steven Novella explores the complexities of scientific skepticism, addressing internal disagreements within the skeptic community, and clarifying misconceptions about scientific facts. Discover how evidence, philosophy, and personal biases influence debates on controversial topics. This episode explores the nuances of scientific understanding. The discussion emphasizes the importance of nuance, scientific literacy, and respectful debate in controversial issues. With over three decades of experience as a physician, Dr. Novella is a respected expert in neurology and cognitive neuroscience. He is best known for his involvement in the skeptical movement and as the host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast. This video is excerpted from a presentation to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (CT) on September 9, 2025. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this video, Dr. Steven Novella discusses what he thinks is the is the current most vociferous disagreement among skeptics: Is biological sex in humans binary? He finds that this subject is literally dividing skeptical organizations. With over three decades of experience as a physician, Dr. Novella is a respected expert in neurology and cognitive neuroscience. He is best known for his involvement in the skeptical movement and as the host of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast. This video is excerpted from a presentation to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (CT) on September 9, 2025. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this video, Astrophysicist Lachlan Lancaster, will takes us from the Big Bang up to today in order to understand where we, the Earth, have come to be in the universe. He explores the vast scales of the universe, from our solar system to the cosmic microwave background, and discusses recent discoveries with the James Webb Space Telescope that shed light on the origins of galaxies, stars, and potentially life beyond Earth. This video is the first half of his presentation. The video of the second part is: "Is Earth's Intelligent Life Unique in the Universe?" Part II is available at: https://youtu.be/QiZ1IAgLvUM. Dr. Lachlan Lancaster is currently a Flatiron Research Fellow in the Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute, which is sort of the internal research arm of the Simons Foundation, where he's been investigating the complex gas dynamics and observable properties of star-forming regions. Lachlan has previously been at Columbia University as a junior fellow in the Simons Society of Fellows, and before that completed his PhD in astrophysics from Princeton in 2022. This program was presented to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County, Connecticut on May 11, 2026. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.

In this video, Astrophysicist Lachlan Lancaster, discusses what makes life on earth possible and poses the question "What is the possibility that there is intelligent life anywhere else in the universe?" This video is the second half of his presentation. The video of the first part is: "Our Place (Earth) in the Universe." Part I is available at: https://youtu.be/l3GzGgixsu8. Dr. Lachlan Lancaster is currently a Flatiron Research Fellow in the Center for Computational Astrophysics at the Flatiron Institute, which is sort of the internal research arm of the Simons Foundation, where he's been investigating the complex gas dynamics and observable properties of star-forming regions. Lachlan has previously been at Columbia University as a junior fellow in the Simons Society of Fellows, and before that completed his PhD in astrophysics from Princeton in 2022. This program was presented to the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County, Connecticut on May 11, 2026. You can find more information of interest to humanists, freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, nonreligious and nonbelievers at the Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (Connecticut) website: HFFCCT.org.