During the past few years, the United States' citizens have witnessed the devastating power of hurricanes as they've battered the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard.

As this year's hurricane season draws to a close, the Noble Foundation's scientific speaker series, Explorations in Science (formerly Public Lectures in Science) will host Kevin Goebbert with the University of Oklahoma's Meteorology Department.

Goebbert's presentation Storms of Fury: Atlantic Hurricanes and their U.S. Impact will provide audiences with an in-depth look at one of nature's most powerful events, as well as examine the social and economic aftermath left in a hurricane's wake. Goebbert will present at 7p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Ardmore Convention Center.

"We've all seen the overwhelming images of hurricane-ravaged communities on TV and in the newspaper," said Marilyn Roossinck, professor at the Noble Foundation and series organizer, "but what do we really know about hurricanes? How are they formed? What gives them their power? Mr. Goebbert's presentation promises to go beyond the headlines and provide us an exciting and informative evening."

After a holiday break, Explorations in Science will continue in the spring with a look at home gardening. With the increase in food costs and more awareness about the benefits of homegrown food, many people are turning back to home gardening. Even experienced gardeners will learn a trick or two from Roossinck, who will present some little known science about common garden plants, like why does rhubarb make your teeth feel funny? Roossinck's presentation will be offered on Thursday, Feb. 19, just in time for the 2009 gardening season.

The Explorations series will wrap up with Nanoscience: Evolution and Revolution, a presentation by Mike Santos and Matt Johnson of the Center for Semiconductor Physics in Nanostructures. While "micro" may be small, "nano" is even smaller. Many people have heard of nanotechnology, but on Thursday, April 2, Santos and Johnson explain just what this new science can do and how it is changing medicine, computers and many other aspects of everyday life.

For additional information about Explorations in Science, contact the Noble Foundation at 580.224.6600.

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News Release Issued: October 25, 2008

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.