“In Search of Memory,” a film by Petra Seeger chronicling neuroscientist Eric R. Kandel’s life and work, examines how one man escaped from Nazi oppression to become what one student in the film calls, "the rock star of neuroscience."

Raised in Vienna during the onset of World War II, Kandel and his Jewish family were ripped from their home by Nazi officers just after his ninth birthday. The incident left Kandel with questions he would spend the rest of his life answering through science:

What motivates us? What makes us remember certain events over others? And how does memory define us as human beings?

"I wanted to understand how cultivated, intelligent people could listen to Heiden, Mozart and Beethoven one day," he says, "and kill Jews the next."

Seeger seamlessly combines Kandel’s own recollections with archival World War II footage and old photographs. The result is a film that is part biography and part history, and an intimate glimpse into the life of one of the world’s most influential and captivating scientists.

The film takes viewers through Kandel’s childhood up through his Nobel Prize win in 2000 for his work in understanding how memories are recorded and stored in the brain.

Kandel, never without a bowtie or Muppet-sized grin, is the reason the film is must-see for science and history enthusiasts. His ability to explain complicated brain processes makes the science of the film understandable. His charm and subtle comedy make his extraordinary experiences relatable. Kandel possesses the key quality of all of the best teachers—an ability to teach viewers about the meaning of life outside of the classroom.

“In Search of Memory” will open Friday at the Kendall Square Cinema. Advance tickets are available online for $10 general admission, $8 for students.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — I tell people I’m from Orlando. All of us do.

The second the word "Celebration" escapes your lips, you start to raise some serious questions. Yes, Celebration, Florida is a real place. Yes, I grew up on Disney property. No, I am not an animatronic Disney robot. If I am, they did a great job of making me lifelike because I am freezing my little robotic ass off right now in Boston.

I moved to Celebration when I was 11, right as the school was being built and Walt Disney’s picture was still up on the wall. Celebration was designed to be the real EPCOT — an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow — where residents could work, eat, sleep and die all in the same place without ever leaving. Sometimes I feel like I grew up in either the 1950s or on “The Truman Show.”

And then I moved from "Pleasantville" to Somerville.

I’d always wanted to come to Boston. Mainly, I blame Celebration’s Town Tavern, which was the only place in town to hang out once you turned 21. The Tavern was like a home away from home, with Celtics and Red Sox gear on the walls and the "Boston Garden" patio. It seemed so great, but I forgot to take two factors into account. First, I was always drunk when I was there. Second, we had the heat lamps on once it reached 60 degrees. So did I know what I was in for? No. Not really.

Definitely, no.

But during the holidays, there are always parts of my new place up north that will remind me of home.

Like… snow.

Yes. This rumor is true. They pump out fake snow in the streets of Celebration during the winter. We needed something to keep us feeling festive in between the holiday decorating contest and the Radio Disney Holiday Concert in the middle of town.

Sure, you could bide your time watching that house that has their Christmas lights synchronized to holiday music. Or you could ride in the little toy train around the lake in search of Santa Claus and alligators.

But nothing beats fake snow.

Last winter was the first time I’d ever been freaked out by going home. As I sat drinking a glass of wine with a friend on Market Street, a loudspeaker made an announcement to the throngs of tourists gathering on the street.

“Once … In a magical land called Celebration … a little girl made a wish that she could see snow…”

The voice in the loudspeaker proceeded to get the entire street of people to wish as hard as they could for world peace and for dreams to come true. And then it happened. It snowed.

After experiencing real snow for a full winter, it was strange to sit on Market Street and watch perfect flurries fall from the sky while I was wearing a tank top.

Sidebar: For those of you back home who have never seen snow, it’s a lot like cold sand from hell. But in a good way.

Celebration snow is not actually snow. It’s what residents refer to as “snope,” a flurry of soap bubbles designed to look like snow that conveniently melt into the sidewalk after 10 minutes. No windshield scraper needed.

It might not seem so magical once you’ve moved north and have had to shovel off the top of your car, only to find a dozen orange parking tickets frozen to your windshield.

But all in all, it’s pretty much the same thing.

Keep wishing for snow, Little Girl. But snope is so much better.

FOXBOROUGH — We may be near Boston, but there was still only one place on Sunday to pass twelve taps of Guinness followed by a “Free Burma” booth. Get out your Irish flags, your sunglasses and a charitable heart, because U2 wants to get closer to you than they ever have before.

U2′s 360 Tour, their first tour since Vertigo in 2006, is named for the round set design that allows fans to encircle the stage. The tour supports U2′s latest album, “No Line on the Horizon,” which was released worldwide in March. The gig brought the band back to Massachusetts on Sunday to kick-off two nights of shows at Gillette Stadium.

Snow Patrol was the opening act for Sunday’s show. The opener’s highlight was an impromptu sing along. When vocalist Gary Lightbody called it “humiliating” when a previous crowd declined to sing with him, Gillette Stadium was instantly filled with the a capella voices of thousands. “Shut your eyes and sing to me,” the crowd sang”"a line from the band’s “Eyes Open” album. As Irish flags waved in the upper tiers, the support for the Irish and Scottish band members was palpable. The band’s 30-minute set also included their radio hits “Chasing Cars” and “Hands Open.”

When thanking U2 on stage, Lightbody told the audience to get prepared. “It’s the best gig I’ve ever been to,” he said, “and I’ve been to it seventeen times. It’s gonna blow your freakin’ minds.”

The futuristic stage was mind-blowing on its own, towering over the field with a 360-degree screen and a smoking center structure that resembled a rocket. Bono called the set a cross between a “space station” and a “rock-and-roll laboratory” during Sunday’s show. “Great to be back home in Boston,” he said to the crowd of over 60,000 fans. “Are you ready for the ride?”

The set list covered most of U2′s hits, with an intensity that mounted like a countdown to blastoff. The 360-degree screen gave the illusion of spinning faster and faster as the band performed “Vertigo.” By “Elevation,” the crowd on the field was worked into a frenzy as band members crossed moving bridges on the set to get closer to the audience. Guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton, and percussionist Larry Mullen, Jr. all had solo moments on the bridges near the fans.

The show was made better by the sound quality, which was clear from the top levels to the field. The additional lighting helped transport the audience to another planet, coaxed there by a non-stop intensity from the band and the energized (and notably Irish) crowd.

The only indication that Gillette Stadium was still on the ground came in the last quarter of the show, which was dedicated to the band’s political activism. An Irish lullaby was dedicated to pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, who has been under house arrest since she won the Burmese election in 1990. Bono asked the crowd to hold up her picture or put on masks of her face, which were handed out before the show. “Let her face be your face,” Bono told the crowd. “Tonight we walk on for her.”

As part of the political message, certain sections of the floor were designated for those with (RED) Zone tickets, which were auctioned off to the highest bidders. Part of the proceeds will benefit Product (RED), an initiative that raises money to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The crowd grew solemn after this section of the set, leaving the call for an encore quiet and anticlimactic.

Despite the added weight of the message, most the audience stayed throughout the encore. Cell phones were lifted throughout the stadium and the lights were dimmed, creating the illusion of being in space, surrounded by thousands of illuminated stars. Bono finished the show by thanking the audience. “Thank you for giving us a great life,” he said.

The show offered up a sample of what the future might offer us, both musically and politically, and the crowd was mesmerized for the whole ride. If the future needs a big kiss, it tastes pretty damn good.

Photography and video by Allison Hughes for Blast

QUINCY, Mass. — Last Sunday night marked the kickoff to Quincy Fashion Week. And by week we mean day. And by day we mean half hour.

The clear highlight of Quincy Fashion Half Hour was the Betsey Johnson fashion show, held at the Marina Bay Beach Club. The models strutted a beachside runway wearing playful styles currently available at Johnson’s Newbury Street store, including summery dresses, swimsuits and handbags.

Stylists from Salon Marc Harris primped the models for the event, turning out spunky up-dos and making frizzy pigtails a worthy fashion trend. The show started off with the stylists presenting a birthday cake and singing “Happy Birthday” to Harris, who attended the event and blew out his candles on the runway.

While Johnson and her trademark cartwheel were absent from the event, the show stayed true to the designer’s high energy. Models danced along the runway to upbeat music from The Ting Tings, Alien Ant Farm, Lady GaGa and Kevin Rudolf.

The Connecticut-born designer recently unveiled her Fall 2009 collection in New York, entitled
“Betsey’s Crocker’s Recipes for Dressings.” All of the outfits in the collection are named after comfort food recipes, including Sex Pot Pie and Triple Cheeseburger Deluxe.

Sunday’s show, however, was more about celebrating what’s left of summer. The sand-strewn runway and whimsical party dresses made us wish there’s a whole lot left.

Red Bull Simply Cola was launched last year by the makers of Red Bull, and advertised as a “100 percent natural” cola with a jolt of energy. After running tests on the drink, officials in Germany concluded people might be hooked on the cola for the wrong reasons. They found traces of cocaine in the drink — about 0.13 micrograms per can. They even prohibited its sale in 11 states and considered a nationwide ban.

But is Red Bull really competing with Coke by using, well, coke? Did summer Jager Bombs suddenly get a little more edgy? Can drinking colas lead to a failed drug test?

Here’s a quick guide to separating the facts from the Red Bullshit.

Do colas really contain cocaine?

Coca-Cola was refined by pharmacist Dr. John Stith Pemberton, and originally sold as an elixir to cure hangovers, headaches and nervousness. The name comes from the drink’s two main ingredients — cocaine from the coca leaf and kola nut to add caffeine. It was estimated the cola once contained up to nine milligrams of cocaine per glass — enough to feel slight side effects from the drug including increased energy, blood pressure and heart rate. By the early 1900′s, people began to fear the side effects of cocaine and a social outcry began over use of the ingredient. Cocaine was removed from the cola by 1905. The current Coca-Cola recipe contains non-narcotic coca flavoring in place of the real thing. According to a Time Magazine report, Red Bull has said the traces of cocaine found in their new cola are also de-cocainized cocaine extracts.

What is de-cocainized cocaine?

De-cocainized cocaine is what is left over from the coca leaf after the narcotic cocaine has been removed. Also called “spent” coca leaves, the ingredient is used as a natural flavoring in foods and can also be found in some cosmetics. In Bolivia, it is an ingredient in some toothpastes, shampoos, and candies.

Why is it added to colas?

According to Red Bull, the ingredient is needed to add natural flavoring to the drink. Its tea-like flavor is said to balance out the flavor of the kola nut, making for a tastier beverage. Removing the coca flavoring would change the taste of the drink.

How significant is the amount of de-cocainized cocaine in these drinks?

According to Time Magazine’s report, a person would need to drink approximately 12,000 liters of Red Bull Cola to feel any cocaine-related side effects. That equals about 48,000 cans of Red Bull. At which point, cocaine effects may be the least of the health concerns.

Why the ban?

According to the food safety department at Germany’s federal ministry for consumer protection, any traces of cocaine are enough to cause concern. German officials initially banned the sale of Red Bull Cola in six states. Five states followed suit, fearing they would violate narcotics laws if they continued to sell the drink. The ban might seem ridiculous in countries like Bolivia, however, where even President Evo Morales is a coca-grower. According to Time Magazine’s report, coca-growers in Bolivia, Peru, and surrounding countries have seen the controversy as a chance to prove the coca plant is not naturally harmful.

Is there reason to worry?

The Food and Drug Administration has listed de-cocainized coca leaf as safe and natural, so companies like Coca-Cola and Red Bull have found no reason to remove it from their products. After further study, Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also said the traces of cocaine found in Red Bull Cola were not enough to pose a health risk. It’s also not enough to cause side effects or fail a drug test. So, drink up. Just keep the energy jolts to a 47,999 can maximum.

CAMBRIDGE — Sure, we’ve evolved, but there’s still a lot we can learn from our primate relatives. When it comes to the evolution of our sex lives, researchers have been taking notes on what separates man from ape. The human approach to sex may be different, but there are still lessons we can take away from a primate’s way of handling business. (Insert your own Curious George reference here.)

Zarin Machanda, a Harvard biological anthropology graduate student and resident primate “sexpert” shared her thoughts on sexual evolution at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on June 18. Her lecture, “Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know about Primate Sex but Never Wanted to Ask,” covered some lessons to be learned from the sex lives of our closest links.

1. Be a lover, not a fighter

Our DNA may be 98.6 percent identical to chimpanzees, but their relative bonobos take a more human approach when it comes to the value of sex. According to Machanda, if two bonobos become anxious about sharing a resource like food, they will engage in sexual activity to relieve anxiety and then share the goods. “Let’s reduce tension with some sexual behavior, and then we’ll share some fruit,” Machanda explained. Bonobos will use this tactic for conflict resolution and stress reduction. So the next time the stock market crashes or rent is due, take a note from the bonobos.

2. Size matters

The need to compete and exert their sexual dominance has made male primates much larger than their female counterparts. For a male primate to survive and pass on his genes, bigger is always better — in more ways than one. “What would be your reaction,” Machanda asked, “if I told you a chimpanzee brain is the same size as a chimpanzee testicle?” The ability for chimps to reproduce frequently is just as important as their ability to think. According to Machanda, human males compete less, which changed these proportions. (Although some females who attended the lecture strongly suggested this was up for debate.)

3. Sometimes quantity is just as important as quality.

Quality can never be overrated, but when it comes to chimps, the good, old-fashioned quickie is key. Not that it doesn’t take a certain amount of patience. According to Machanda, who videotaped chimpanzee interaction in Uganda, male chimpanzees are experts in persistence. “He’s been shaking that tree for half an hour waiting for her to come down,” she said, showing a video of a male chimp coaxing a female from a tree. Eventually, his patience paid off. But when all is said and done, chimpanzee sex lasts a whopping eight seconds– less time than it takes to read this paragraph. This time frame allows females to have sex up to 50-60 times per day.

4. Don’t rule out the cougars.

According to Machanda, both human and chimpanzee males discriminate by age. “Human males are really interesting,” said Machanda. “It is almost always the younger, the better.” Chimps on the other hand, prefer to put age before beauty. “If you are a male chimp,” she said, “the oldest, sagging breasts female– that is your Venus.” Why? According to Machanda, the oldest females have proven their fertility, which makes them more desirable mates.

5. Attraction makes us civilized.

The defining factor between primate and human sexual interactions rests in the hands of the females. “One of the biggest differences with humans is that human females are permanently attracted to the males,” said Machanda. Instead of only desiring companionship during ovulation, human females are attracted to their mates at any point in the month. According to Machanda, “That has a lot of implications for our social system.” And our sex lives. It is this difference that allows humans to bond in pairs for life, and what makes our sexual practices distinct from our primate kin. “The human condition is very interesting in terms of sexual behavior,” Machanda said. “That is really, strikingly different.”

Machanda’s lecture was the first of three on evolution, as part of the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s, “Summer Nights at the Museum.” The next event, “Life’s a Niche,” will be held July 16. For more information, click here.