That Cub fan sitting in the cubicle next to you might be in a bit of a tizzy this morning, hot on the heels of the Cubs 13-1 victory yesterday. And then there was Ryan Dempster’s famous (or infamous) quote that the Cubs will end their 100 years of misery by capturing the World Series this year. I’m not here to lay out any predictions, but I did want to offer up what just might turn out to be a support group for all you North Side loyalists: Tonight, the Cubby Bear hosts the book launch of Your Brain on Cubs: Inside the Heads of Players and Fans, edited by Dan Gordon.

The Illinois Science Council takes a break from talking about cancer-causing viruses and disappearing bees to head up a discussion panel that includes Gordon, Steven Small (neurology and psychology prof at U of C), and Aryeh Routtenberg (nuerobiology and psychology prof at Northwestern), moderated by the Trib’s science and medical writer Jeremy Manier. While they promise to weigh in on such questions as "Why do fans remain devotedly loyal year after year?" (we think it’s in the Old Style) and "What allows them to believe in superstitions?", we can imagine the talk among audience members will turn to thoughts of how Carlos Marmol will fare as the closer and whether Kerry Wood is for real this year. The talk is free (or you might say talk is cheap), but you have to reserve your seat by emailing to info@IllinoisScience.org (include your name and the number attending).