PSW Science

PSW Science PSW Science is a leading science education organization in Washington, DC. Founded in 1871 as the P Election to membership is by the General Committee.

PSW grew out of meetings that were held Saturday afternoons in the middle of the Nineteenth century in the home of Joseph Henry, an early researcher in magnetism and the discoverer of electromagnetic self-induction. It was an association of individuals who were interested in science, but in Joseph Henry's words, would discuss “All subjects of interest to intelligent men.” Now, of course, the socie

ty includes women as well. From these informal meetings, PSW was founded on March 13, 1871. The aims of the Society are the promotion of science, the advancement of learning, and the free exchange of views among its members on scientific subjects. From 1878 to 1887 meetings were held in the library of the Surgeon's General Office in Ford's Theater (converted into Government office space some time after President Lincoln was assassinated there). Since March 26, 1887, the date of the 300th meeting of the Society, the regular meeting place has been the assembly hall of the Cosmos Club, now called the John Wesley Powell auditorium. Today, PSW continues the traditions set by Joseph Henry in 1871 and continues to discuss “all subjects of interest to intelligent men” and women. Membership in the Society is open to all persons who are interested in the aims of the Society. The application for membership is a simple form requesting professional and educational information.

On April 24, 2026, at the 2,535th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Harris Lewin of Arizona State Univ...
05/31/2026

On April 24, 2026, at the 2,535th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Harris Lewin of Arizona State University presented a lecture titled “The Earth BioGenome Project: Reading the Library of Life.”

During the lecture, Dr. Lewin discussed the ambitious goal of the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP): to characterize and map the genomes of approximately 1.6 million known eukaryotic species within the next decade.

He highlighted the project’s progress to date, noting that the EBP has produced more than 5,600 genomes, with over 4,000 meeting the standard for “high-quality reference genomes.”

For more information, visit the PSW website (pswscience.org) or explore recordings on the PSW Science YouTube channel.

PSW Science is a leading science education organization in Washington, DC, founded 1871 as the Philosophical Society of Washington

PSW Lecture TonightWhat happens when Agentic AI joins the search for extraterrestrial life?Today’s PSW lecture explores ...
05/29/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight
What happens when Agentic AI joins the search for extraterrestrial life?
Today’s PSW lecture explores the SETI–NVIDIA collaboration at the Allen Telescope Array and how AI-driven systems and edge supercomputing are reshaping modern astronomy.
Featuring:
• Michael Garrett — University of Manchester
• Adam Thompson — NVIDIA
A fascinating conversation at the intersection of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and scientific discovery.
🕗 Time: 8 PM
📍 John Wesley Powell Auditorium, Washington, DC
🎥 Live: https://www.youtube.com/live/_Wqbx2ueJYc

04/27/2026

PSW Lecture| Minutes

On April 10, 2026, at the 2,534th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Kelly Fast of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office delivered a compelling lecture titled “Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us.”

The talk highlighted critical efforts to search for near-Earth objects, track and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids, and develop strategies to mitigate impact risks. As emphasized during the lecture: “This is a natural disaster that we could potentially do something about.”

To learn more, visit pswscience.org or explore the PSW Science YouTube channel.

PSW Lecture Tonight: Reading the Library of Life 🌍📚Imagine unlocking the genetic blueprint of all life.Join us today for...
04/24/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight: Reading the Library of Life 🌍📚

Imagine unlocking the genetic blueprint of all life.

Join us today for a PSW Science lecture featuring Harris A. Lewin, Chair of the Earth BioGenome Project.

This global effort aims to sequence and catalog the genomes of all known eukaryotic species—already surpassing 5,600 species, with over 4,000 at reference quality. Learn how this ambitious initiative is advancing our understanding of biodiversity, evolution, and the future of life sciences.

Sponsored by PSW Science Member John Cherniavsky

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore one of the most transformative projects in modern genomics.

PSW Lecture Tonight: Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us Join us for a PSW Science lecture featuring Kelly Fast, Actin...
04/10/2026

PSW Lecture Tonight: Finding Asteroids Before They Find Us

Join us for a PSW Science lecture featuring Kelly Fast, Acting Planetary Defense Officer at NASA Headquarters, who will speak on NASA’s Planetary Defense Program and the NEO Surveyor Mission.

🕗 8:00 PM ET
🎥 Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/MdrOH5gc17Y

If circumstances permit, we’ll also show the Artemis II splashdown (8:07 PM ET) just before the lecture begins.

More details on the lecture and speaker will be posted on our website—stay tuned!

Join PSW Science® on April 10 at 8 PM as we welcome Amy Mainzer, Professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences at the University of California, Los Angel...

On March 6, 2026, at the 2,532nd meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Jonathan Coopersmith (Texas A&M Uni...
03/22/2026

On March 6, 2026, at the 2,532nd meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Jonathan Coopersmith (Texas A&M University) delivered a fascinating lecture on “Robert Goddard and the Invention of the Liquid-Fueled Rocket.” 🚀

The talk explored the historic 1926 launch of the first liquid-fueled rocket—an achievement that helped launch the modern era of rocketry. It also highlighted Goddard’s groundbreaking technical contributions and recognized the important role his wife, Esther Goddard, played in preserving and promoting his legacy.

Curious to learn more? Check out the PSW website (pswscience.org) or visit the PSW Science YouTube channel for the full lecture and more insights.

PSW Science is a leading science education organization in Washington, DC, founded 1871 as the Philosophical Society of Washington

Lecture Today | PSWAre we alone in the Universe?Join the Philosophical Society of Washington this evening for:Is There L...
03/20/2026

Lecture Today | PSW

Are we alone in the Universe?

Join the Philosophical Society of Washington this evening for:

Is There Life Out There?
The History, Science, and Relevance of the Search for Life Beyond Earth

Presented by Bill Diamond,
President & CEO, SETI Institute.

From ancient philosophical questions to modern discoveries of potentially habitable exoplanets, the search for life beyond Earth has become one of the most significant scientific pursuits of our time.

📅 Today
🕒 8:00 pm
💻 Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/HVam854dJ34

Sponsored by PSW Science Member Charles Clark

03/10/2026

Lecture Minutes | Philosophical Society of Washington

On February 20, 2026, at the 2,531st meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Karen Lloyd of the University of Southern California presented a lecture entitled:

Intraterrestrials: The Strangest Life on Earth

During the lecture, Professor Lloyd discussed the discovery and study of a remarkable class of organisms found living deep within seabed sediments around the world. These organisms—referred to as “intraterrestrials” or “Aeonophiles”appear to survive for extraordinarily long periods, potentially tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years.

The lecture explored how these ultra-slow-living microbes challenge conventional assumptions about biology, energy use, and the limits of life on Earth.

For additional information and recordings of PSW lectures, please visit the PSW website (pswscience.org) or the PSW Science YouTube channel.

Lecture Today | PSWA century ago, a single rocket flight helped ignite the space age.Join the Philosophical Society of W...
03/06/2026

Lecture Today | PSW

A century ago, a single rocket flight helped ignite the space age.

Join the Philosophical Society of Washington this evening for:

Robert Goddard and the Invention of the Liquid-Fueled Rocket
The 100th Anniversary of First Flight

Presented by Jonathan Coopersmith,
Emeritus Professor of the History of Technology,
Texas A&M University.

The lecture marks the centennial of Robert H. Goddard’s historic 1926 launch of the first liquid-fueled rocket—an experiment that transformed rocketry and helped launch the modern space age.

📅 Today
🕗 8:00 PM
📍 John Wesley Powell Auditorium
2170 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, DC
(Adjacent to the Cosmos Club)

🚪 Doors open at 7:40 PM
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/eyMmam65NN4

Sponsored by PSW Science Member Ciprian Ivanof

On February 6, 2026, at the 2,530th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Stephen Eckel of NIST presented ...
02/21/2026

On February 6, 2026, at the 2,530th meeting of the Philosophical Society of Washington, Stephen Eckel of NIST presented a lecture titled “Measuring the Emptiness of a Vacuum.”

During the lecture, he highlighted the importance of accurate vacuum standards in both research and modern industry. He also described two innovative techniques being developed at NIST to measure vacuum: one based on changes in the index of refraction, and another using laser-cooled atoms.

For more information, please visit the PSW website (pswscience.org) or the PSW Science YouTube channel.

PSW Science is a leading science education organization in Washington, DC, founded 1871 as the Philosophical Society of Washington

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