LINDA HALL LIBRARY HEDGEHOG Number 57* Fall 2015

'Failure is Not an Option* Gene Kranz to Speak at Fall Lecture, Annual Dinner Donor Profile: A Personal Side What Would You Do With More Time? to Giving - Gary Lee McDonald Before the Seattle Mariners faced off against the Los Angeles Longtime Linda Hall Library supporter and President's Angels in July, 108-year-old Evelyn Jones became the Circle member Gary Lee McDonald recently extended 1 L Wk . I 1 M oldest person to throw out his philanthropy through a gracious contribution as the ceremonial first pitch at a a planned giving donor, becoming a member of the Major League Baseball game. A Herbert and Linda Hall Legacy Society. devoted fan, Jones never misses a televised Mariners game. An Independence, MO, native, McDonald graduated from Central High School and studied mathematics at Kansas If granted an extended life, what would you do with the additional years? How would you spend the time? City University, which later became the University of A colloquium presented by the Linda Hall Library -Kansas City. He took a job in sales for a number of Foundation on October 2 - 3 is devoted to the topic of years and eventually returned to finish his degree and work longevity, which has prompted me to think about how in computer at UMKC. McDonald worked next door others use the gift of time. to the Library for nearly 20 years. He began making frequent visits, became a fan of the exhibitions and programs, is A recent study focusing on trends in aging found that 47% of American retirees have to or plan to work, while known as one of the Library's most frequent attendees, and 72% of pre-retirees anticipate they will keep working in has become one of its most committed donors. retirement. The results indicate that working retirees are not just looking for income; they are also looking for purpose, stimulation, and personal growth. Furthermore, the study implied that staying active in retirement is an important part of maintaining ones cognitive abilities.

The benefits of meaningful activity were evident for Stephanie L. Kwolek, the inventor of Kevlar, who lived to be 90. Having invented a bulletproof fiber that saved thousands of lives, Dr. Kwolek spent her retired years tutoring high school students in chemistry, grooming young women for work in the . Did Dr. Kwoleks retirement activities extend her life? They V.C' 'A surely enriched it as she helped others. Gary Lee McDonald Dr. Ruth Benerito was a USDA chemist who helped perfect wrinkle-free cotton, better known as permanent As a science enthusiast, McDonald frequently attends press, in the mid-1960s. In retirement Dr. Benerito lectures in the Library's Main Reading Room and is joined the University of New Orleans faculty and taught recognizable to other attendees by his blue fanny pack chemistry until she was 81. Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2008, Dr. Benerito died in 2013 and his habit of reading a thick book while waiting for at age 97. events to start. McDonald can recall Library events and special guests as if they took place yesterday and cites Drs. Kwolek and Benerito appear to support the findings Brian Greene's 2007 Paul D. Bartlett, Sr. lecture, "The about active retirements and cognitive health. The ways Theory of Everything" as one of his favorites. in which we remain active throughout life, along with the technological advancements on the horizon, hold out the promise of longer, more productive lives than previous The Linda Hall Library is grateful to Gary Lee McDonald generations could expect. Join us as we delve into the for his passion in supporting the continued exploration topic of longevity in October. of science and his generous philanthropic contributions to the public programs. NASA Legend Gene Kranz to Deliver Annual President's Circle Lecture

On November 5, the Linda Hall Library will welcome Kranzs lecture is open to the public; however, tickets special guest Gene Kranz, retired NASA Flight Director, are required. Guests can register on the website at who will deliver the annual President s Circle lecture at 6:30 www.lindahall.org/event/failure-not-option. p.m. at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 West 47th Street, Kansas City, MO. Following the lecture, members of the President's Circle are invited to attend the annual groups dinner hosted by the Linda Hall Library Board of Trustees, President Lisa Browar, and Presidents Circle Chairs John and Daisy MacDonald. In addition to the annual dinner, this membership benefit includes shuttle transportation to and from Unity Temple, reserved seating for the lecture, and a signed copy of Kranzs book Failure is Not an Option.

Dinner guests have the option to park at the Linda Hall Library and board a shuttle from the Library to

Kranz, sporting one of his famous vests Unity Temple for the lecture. Following the lecture, the shuttles will return guests to the Library for the annual Kranz was the flight director for Apollo 13's failed mission dinner, beginning with a cocktail reception at 7:30 p.m. to land on the moon. More importantly, he led the effort to and dinner at 8:00 p.m. Kranz will make brief remarks bring that spacecrafts crew safely back to Earth. Kranz was following dinner. memorably portrayed in the film Apollo 13 by Ed Harris. The title of Kranz s talk is "Failure is Not an Option," a phrase For information about the Presidents Circle and its made famous during the scene in Apollo 13 in which Kranz member benefits, please contact Angela Tangen at announced to the NASA team that the crippled spaceship's [email protected] or call 816.926.8727. imperiled crew would return home alive.

Apollo 13 Lunar Module pilot Fred Haise, Apollo 13 commander James Lovell,and Gene Kranz The Science of Longevity: Collection, a large library of science fiction, at the An Interview with Dr. Greg Benford University of California-Riverside. They had an annual conference on longevity and aging in science fiction. Dr. Gregory Benford is the co-founder of Genescient, We had a presentation on cryonics by the people from a biomedical company in Fountain Valley, CA, whose Alcor Corporation and I eventually wrote a novel about mission is to extend healthy human lifespan by using it called Chiller. At that time, a big health issue loomed advanced genomics to develop therapeutic substances larger because my wife was very ill and ultimately died that attack the diseases of aging. He is also a Professor of cancer. After that, I gained a fair amount of money Emeritus of Physics at the University of California- by selling our house we had in Laguna Beach, CA, and Irvine, and a noted science fiction author. Genescient is I started the biotech company. It's based on a rather the first company founded to exploit artificial selection different idea in the field. A co-investor and I bought of animal models for longevity. the longest-lived animal model in the world.

Dr. Benford will speak at the Linda Hall Library EW: Those are the fruit flies known as the Methuselah Foundation's colloquium The Science of Longevity on Flies? October 2 and 3. Dr. Benford spoke with Eric Ward, Vice President for Public Programs, about aging research at GB: We still have them and we've increased the rate of Genescient. elasticity of selection for longevity in them. These are flies, when we purchased them, that had been bred through around 735 generations for longevity simply by waiting until half of each generation is dead and then take the eggs they lay and start the next generation. It's simple brute force. No one had done it before. It was achieved by Michael Rose, a good friend of mine who is still on the UC-lrvine faculty. We took those flies, did the genetics, and translated that information into genes that flies have in common with humans. This has given us a number of longevity genes that no one else knows and, more importantly, gene networks.

Dr. Gregory Benford Go to lindahalllibraryfoundation.org Eric Ward: You taught physics for several years and to findou t more and purchase tickets have published more than 30 science fiction novels. for the October 2 & 3 event. Why did you decide to leave academia to take up longevity research? EW: You looked at the flies that lived the longest? Greg Benford: I've actually never abandoned anything. I'm sort of an intellectual magpie. I still have GB: Remember, each generation lives longer than the an office at UC-lrvine in the physics department, and I previous. By the time we bought the flies, they lived still do research and publish papers. I just don't teach about four times longer than ordinary flies. We now anymore. I've always been interested in longevity have flies that live over five times longer because we've because that is the uniquely human problem. My increased the force of selection. So we continue to get first encounter with the issue came about, indirectly, more genetic information. The key idea is that flies are through science fiction. I was on the board of the Eaton like the beta testing for many of the systems we use. Additional Science of Longevity panelists (clockwise from top left) Evan Snyder, Stephen Badylak, Jonathan Weiner, Martha Montello, and Jay Olshansky

Flies die primarily of cardiomyopathy and diabetes. The We are also contemplating doing a Parkinson's same is true of humans, although humans have cancer human trial soon, and we're continuing the arc of the and flies largely don't. We then tried to find molecules Alzheimer's research with an even larger trial with that help regulate these genes and carry out repairs. maybe 1,500 people in it. Aging is the failure to repair. EW: Do you have a goal to increase lifespan by a certain EW: I read where one of your colleagues said that, number of years? "Aging is the disease that we all have." GB: We concentrate not just on lifespan, but on what GB: Right, yet it's not a disease according to the Food we call healthspan, remaining healthy and vibrant as and Drug Administration. You can't advertise that long as possible. Because one thing we learned from something affects aging, which is ironic because that's the Methuselah flies is that the longest-lived flies are the deep problem. So we have gone ahead through the more robust than the shorter-lived flies. In humans, last decade discovering molecules that help regulate everybody gets frail in the end, but the bulk of the repair. Just this summer we finished the 23rd month really long-lived people are vibrant into their 90s and of a human trial on Alzheimer's in which we found sometimes even into their 100s. we could completely stop Alzheimer's in all the mild patients. So we know we have something that works. EW: And many of them seem to have unhealthy habits. And we had a similar smaller trial in cardio conditions. Interview continued on next page. Interview continued from previous page. Linda Hall Library Fellows 2015-2016 GB: I often point out to people that the longest lived person ever, Jeanne Calment, in southern France, decided, finally, to give up smoking at the age of 115. The Library Welcomes New Fellows She continued her ration of at least a half-liter of red This summer and fall, several scholars will gain access wine a day until 122. So it simply isn't true that longevity to resources at the Linda Hall Library for research equals frailty. We learned from the Methuselah flies projects on topics ranging from motivating students that they are more robust, perform better athletically, toward better math comprehension to interfering with and laid more eggs than the control flies. motion and matter theory. Since 2012, the Library has awarded 20 fellowships, EW: Can you envision the average lifespan, or determined on a competitive basis through vetting by healthspan, reaching 150 years by the end of this internal and external reviewers. Library Fellowships century? have been awarded to the following scholars for residency periods in 2015-2016: GB: I think it's possible. We don't know anything about this frontier because nobody has lived longer than 122. Karl L. Galle, Visiting Assistant Professor, School of The goal really is to push forward your ability to repair, Sciences and , The American University use that to extend the human healthspan, and to get in Cairo more productivity from everybody. We are learning a Dr. Galle's research project is, "Scholar, Bureaucrat, lot of real biology here. There are fundamental reasons Diplomat, Revolutionary: CopernicusThrough the Eyes why we age and die. of His Contemporaries." Dr. Galle will be in residence for nine months beginning in November 2015. EW: I understand that you plan to share new research data at the colloquium. Can you give us a hint about Andre Hahn, PhD Candidate, Oregon State what that will be? University Hahn's dissertation is entitled,"Finding Form: Goethe's GB:The principal thing I want to show is the data from Morphology Among Twentieth Century English the human Alzheimer's trial, which plainly shows that, Speakers." He was in residence for three months if you catch it early, then you can stop it. beginning June 16,2015. Cynthia Huffman, Professor of Mathematics, EW: You mean stopping the disease, not just slowing it? Pittsburg State University Dr. Huffman's research focuses on "Influential Books GB: That's right. In fact, in mild patients, we were able in the Development of European Mathematics from to reverse the number of symptoms significantly, 1500-1820." One of the anticipated outcomes of Dr. particularly in memory. Huffman's research is the publication of materials for use by mathematics teachers at various levels to EW: That will be fascinating to hear about. We're motivate students to develop a more meaningful looking forward to your presentation at the colloquium comprehension of mathematics. She will be in on October 2 and 3. Thank you for your time. residence for six weeks beginning August 31.

Reem Elghomini, PhD Candidate, University Texas, Austin Connect with Linda Hall Library online with Elghomini's residency will be used to refine the focus Vimeo, Tumblr, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter. of her dissertation,"Interfering with Matter and Motion Theory: Optics, Alchemy, and the Naturalization of Arabic in England, 1640-1672." She will be in residence E for the month of September 2015. "Because of Linda Hall Library's strong emphasis Black & Veatch Signs On in engineering literature it's fair to assume Black & as a Corporate Partner Veatch has been accessing information since the beginning of Linda Hall Library," Connell said. The Engineering firm Black & Veatch has announced dedicated Linda Hall Library reference staff has a its support as a Corporate Partner to the Linda strong tradition of assisting B&V staff in finding Hall Library to assist science, technology, and the exact information on a timely basis. engineering firms as they perform their jobs, while investing in public programming that spreads and enhances knowledge of these Rll BLACK & VEATCH 3 vibrant disciplines. mlM Building a world of difference.

Craig Connell, Vice President and Director Since 1915, B&V has worked on projects that have of Technologies for B&V's Energy Division, improved people's lives in more than 100 countries cited the Library's collections in engineering, through consulting, engineering, construction, science, and technology as a perfect match operations, and program management. Together, for B&V's commitment as a global leader in the Linda Hall Library and B&V will collaborate to building critical infrastructure in energy, water, promote science, technology, and engineering telecommunications and government services. learning that doesn't end with a diploma, but While B&V has a corporate library for engineers remains a lifelong endeavor. to use globally, it still relies on the Linda Hall Library for access to standards, specifications, To learn more about the benefits of becoming a Linda journal articles and other materials not readily Hall Library Corporate Partner; contact Angela Tangen available to them. at 816.926.8727 or [email protected]

Library's Acquisition of Sought After Work Dedicated to Retired Staff

Earlier this year, the Linda Hall Library added to its holdings a long sought after copy of Le Regne Animal by Georges Cuvier in honor of recently retired staff members.

The 20 volume Disciples of Cuvier edition includes nearly 1,000 hand-colored plates. Cuvier was one of the leading naturalists in the history of science. He had a passionate interest in anatomy, and sought to learn how each animals systems came together to form its unique character.

The work was purchased to honor 11 longtime Linda Hall Library staff members who retired at the end of 2014. Library President Lisa Browar called the acquisition an important way to remember the commitment of those staff members.

"Those 11 individuals represent more than 300 years of experience and knowledge," Browar said. "They were dedicated and passionate about the Library and the scholarly advancement of science, engineering and technology We felt the best way to honor them was to dedicate this important acquisition to them."

Le Regne Animal was first published in 1817 in four volumes. Cuvier trained many of the next generation of French natural scientists, and the 1836 Disciples of Cuvier, in 20 volumes, was compiled by those students. Linda Hall Library SCIENCE, ENGINEERING &TECHNOLOGY - INFORMATION FOR THE WORLD 5109 Cherry Street Kansas City, MO 64110-2498 USA

Levy Donates Observation Logs to Library HEDGEHOG The 25 observation logs that comet hunter Number 57•Fall 2015 David Levy is donating to the Library may tell us as much about the making of an astronomer as they do about comets.

Levy is donating the logs following his September 10 presentation, "Writing the Same Book Over Almost Sixty Years: A Record of a The Fall 2015 issue shows an illustration A notation from one of Levy's observation logs Nightwatchman's Journey Under the Night Sky." The donated logs are an initial set that span 1955 of a hedgehog from Claude Perrault's Memoires pour servir a I'histoire to the summer of 2015, and the remaining logs have been bequeathed to the library. naturelle des animaux, 1676. More illustrations from this book can be Levy began keeping the observation logs as a youngster in the 1950s, and over the found in the LHL Digital Collections as years he has discovered or co-discovered 22 comets, including nine using a backyard part of The Grandeur of Life collection. telescope. The logs trace Levy's development from someone who knew nothing, to Cover photo: Gene Kranz in NASA somebody who developed a passion for the night sky, and finally to somebody "who got Mission Control with Astronaut Gene the hang of how to search for comets," Levy wrote in an email. Cernan. HEDGEHOG Levy first considered the donation during a 2004 trip to the Linda Hall Library, when is published twice a year by he was shown several volumes from the Library's collection, including The Linda Hall Library observation logs by famed 19th century British astronomer Sir WilliamHerschel. Levy's of Science, Engineering & Technology donation will enhance an already significant astronomy collection at the Library, with 5109 Cherry Street an estimated 4,000 books and more than 500 journals devoted to the subject. Kansas City, Missouri 64110 816.363.4600 fax 816.926.8790 Go to lindahall.org to register for tickets to Levy's free lecture on September 10 at the Library. W www.lindahall.org EVENT SCHEDULE Linda Hall Library • Fa 11 2015 SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY-INFORMATION FOR THE WORLD

SEPTEMBER 10

Writing the Same Book Over Almost Sixty Years: A Record of a Nightwatchman's Journey Under the Night Sky David Levy, Astronomer and Best-selling Author 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 10,2015 Linda Hall Library Reading Room David Levy is a science writer who co-discovered, along with Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker of the Palomar Observatory in California, the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet that collided with Jupiter in 1994, producing the most spectacular explosion ever witnessed in the solar system. Mr. Levy will share some of these experiences as he donates his observation logs he kept over the past 60 years to the Linda Hall Library.

OCTOBER 22

IceCube: Seeing the Universe in Neutrinos from the South Pole Dr. Naoko Kurahashi Neilson, Assistant Professor of Physics, Drexel University 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22,2015 Linda Hall Library Reading Room IceCube is a neutrino observatory located at the U.S. Amundsen-Scott Station at the geographic South Pole. This is a new kind of astronomy, which uses detectors to observe radioactive decay, opening a new window into the universe by seeing what optical telescopes cannot. Learn firsthand what it's like to live, work, and do science at the South Pole.

NOVEMBER 5

Failure Is Not An Option Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5,2015 at Unity Temple on the Plaza This year marks the 45th anniversary of the aborted flight of Apollo 13. Gene Kranz led NASA's "Tiger Team" of flight directors who brought the spaceship safely back to Earth, and orchestrated what many historians consider to be NASA's greatest engineering achievement. (Actor Ed Harris portrayed Kranz in the film Apollo 13.) Kranz served as flight director for the 33 missions of Projects Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab, and led the flight control team during NASA's firstluna r landing.

Lectures are free and open to the public; however, seating is limited and e-tickets are required. The e-ticket registration form is available at wwwJindahall.org/events. If you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 816.926.8772 to leave a message. Science Matters - Second Saturday Conversations SEPTEMBER 12 OCTOBER 10

Dairy Tech The Art and Science of Winemaking September 12,11:00 a.m. - Noon October 10,11:00 a.m. - Noon Matt Shatto, Shatto Milk Company Jerry Eisterhold, Owner and Founder, Vox Vineyards; and Moss Bittner, Located in Osborn, MO, Shatto Milk Winemaker Company is a family owned and Vox Vineyards is an emerging winery operated dairy farm and bottling plant on the outskirts of Kansas City, with a 100 year history. Bottles of their varieties of milk have dedicated to retrieving the heritage become a familiar sight in Kansas City stores. But what goes of rare Midwest native vines. Join Jerry into getting fresh milk from cow to bottle to shelf? Join Matt Eisterhold for a conversation about the Shatto for an insider's look at the science involved in his founding of the vineyard and its philosophical foundation. family's dairy. Moss Bittner will discuss his work to bring out the varietal character of the more than 40 varieties being studied at the vineyard.

NOVEMBER 14 DECEMBER 12

Comet Hunter: Observation Logs of David H. Levy December 12,11:00 a.m. - Noon Eric Ward, Vice President for Public Programs, Linda Hall Library In conjunction with the Library's exhibition "Comet Hunter," Eric Ward, At press time, Linda Hall Library's programming team Vice President for Public Programs, will lead a gallery talk is finalizing details for the Second Saturday lecture on showcasing observation logs from over 60 years, which Dr. November 14. Please look for updates on our website at David Levy has donated to the Library. Along with Eugene lindahall.org. You can sign up for our monthly Hedgehog and Carolyn Shoemaker, Levy discovered the Shoemaker- Express newsletter, which will give you the latest information Levy 9 comet that collided with Jupiter in 1994. Levy either on all of our programming. discovered or co-discovered 22 comets, including nine using a backyard telescope. SOCIAL Science Tired of being stuck in rush hour traffic? Need to spice up your social life? Drop by the Library on your way home for a little science and socializing with like-minded friends. Social Science is an adult event, welcoming those 21 and over to grab a drink and enjoy a science talk on a fun topic. SEPTEMBER 21 I OCTOBER 14

Dark Horse Distillery Kansas City Bier Company Monday, September 21,5:30 p.m. - Wednesday, October 14,5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

Damian Garcia, Director of Marketing Kansas City Bier Company opened and Sales, and Patrick Garcia, Head in 2014 and has become Kansas Distiller, Dark Horse Distillery City's largest locally-owned craft The team from Dark Horse Distillery will brewery. Join Steve Holle, founder and talk about the science of distillation and how they create brewmaster, for a look at the technology and science of their hand-crafted spirits from grain to bottle. brewing traditional German-style beers.