Measurement is a concept that is so ubiquitous in any experimental science, as it is the only avenue through which we can understand the world, and beyond. In the last two decades, technological advances have allowed us to construct ever more precise sensors, to the point that we are now ...
Where: Cost: Free
Muscle Stem Cells Get a New Look: Dynamic Cellular Projections as Sensors of the Stem Cell NicheMechanisms whereby quiescent stem cells sense tissue injury and transition to an activated state are largely unknown. Quiescent skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) have elaborate, heterogeneous projections that rapidly retract in response to muscle injury; the cytoskeletal changes associated with retraction in turn promote downstream MuSC activation events. MuSC projections ...
Over 90% of global water use occurs in agricultural production, which is subject to two pervasive distortions: (i) incomplete property rights for farmers accessing water and (ii) subsidies, taxes, and tariffs affecting agricultural output. This paper combines a rich collection of global geospatial data with a dynamic spatial equilibrium model ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Thursday, 01/18/24
Easy Walk at WavecrestJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a very easy 2-mile walk at Wavecrest Open Space in Half Moon Bay! We’ll walk through groves of trees and fields where we’ll have a great chance to spot a variety of birds, especially raptors! We’ll also walk along the coastal bluffs where we ...
Where: Half Moon BayCost: Free
Unraveling Sleep in AgingThe seminar will focus on how sleep loss affects the brain, how it may contribute to neurodegenerative disease and the underlying mechanistic changes that are occurring.Speaker: Christine M Walsh, PhD, Associate Professor, Sleep in Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease Program, Memory & Aging Center, UCSF Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for ...
In this talk we will delve into the intricate world of cybersecurity within smart grid systems, focusing on both defensive and offensive methodologies. The smart grid, integral to modern power systems, faces unique challenges due to its complex network architecture and the integration of renewable energy sources. As these grids ...
Insurgent cartographies are an expression of knowing the world from the standpoint of place. This talk delves into the concept of insurgency and its expressions as a modality of cartography and cultural production, exploring the task for enacting fugitive-anti-colonial pedagogies oriented towards liberatory geographies. This study begins through geo-historical analysis ...
Climate activists have pressured financial institutions to accelerate global decarbonization by aligning portfolios with Paris Agreement transition pathways and targets. SFI traces the progression from IPCC scenarios to corporate target setting via the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and financial institutions’ portfolio alignment methods. We identify four critical weaknesses: flawed GHG ...
Where: Cost: Free
After Dark: See for YourselfGlow up your January with a night at the Exploratorium! Sip a cocktail and wander our galleries, where you can play with over 650 interactive exhibits. And don’t miss the final weeks of our seasonal exhibition Glow, inviting you to see, touch, and play with light in thrilling and unexpected ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
Astronomy on Tap Santa Cruz: Voyage of Invisible Radio WondersStrap in for a ride with the Solar Wind as we explore the subtle ways in which human activities have sculpted some of the most energetic structures in our Solar System besides the Sun: Earth’s & Jupiter’s radiation belts. Beyond Jupiter, we’ll discover how surfing and volcanoes cross paths to ...
If you still think of sparrows as LBJs (little brown jobs); skulky little drab guys, hard to identify, and generally unexciting…prepare to have your world rocked! The two Eds will take you on a journey through the world of sparrows to reveal the subtle beauty of their plumage and their songs. Along the way, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Peninsula Gem & Geology SocietyJoint General Meeting with the Sequoia Gem and Mineral Society. Paul Rose will give an in-person presentation on the Quartzite Show and upcoming Tucson Show.
Where: Redwood CityCost: Free
Friday, 01/19/24
King Tide Bair Island Walking TourLearn about this beautiful protected space, and join us for a walking tour of Bair Island during the King Tide! Led by docent Vicki Martell, this hike will take you through ~1.5 miles of paved trails. Bair Island is part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.King ...
Electric energy will replace gasoline and gas to attain our targeted CO2 emissions in the coming years, demanding an increase in transmission capability. Similarly, traffic on telecommunications networks grows with the rise in online services. As more activities depend on electricity supply and the availability of telecommunications networks, we need ...
Where: Cost: Free
Using Physics as a Microscope to Dissect Transcriptional Dynamics in DevelopmentOver the last few decades we have largely identified the repressors and activators that shape gene expression patterns in developing embryos and that, in turn, dictate cellular fates. Yet, despite amassing this great reservoir of knowledge, we are still incapable of predicting how the number, placement and affinity of binding ...
As AI becomes more integrated into physical autonomy, it presents a dual spectrum of opportunities and risks. In this talk, I will introduce our efforts in deploying trustworthy intelligent autonomy at a large scale for vital civil usage such as self-driving cars, assistant robots, and first responders to emergencies. During ...
Join us to learn about eco-grief, how to navigate it, and create action. We will provide food and a presentation from our PoCSC alum, Paradyse Oakley, who will present their data and research on eco-grief. We will also provide healing spaces that include painting, creative writing, journaling, and more. All ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
Postcards from the MoonThe talk introduces the viewer to the evolution of the Moon's face and its varied geology so a telescopic observer can be friends with the Moon and understand what they are seeing.Speaker: Robert ReevesAttend in person or online (see weblink)
Where: LivermoreCost: Free
Saturday, 01/20/24
Morning Hike at Rancho Cañada del OroJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for an excursion where you’ll explore the Mayfair Ranch - Longwall Canyon trails of Rancho Cañada del Oro! You will be guided by POST Ambassadors who will share with you the history of the preserve, the region, and the importance of conservation in the area.The ...
Where: Morgan HillCost: Free
The Physics Show (three performances - SOLD OUT)The Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. These will be the exact same shows that were presented in September, 2023 What is The Physics Show?Links to purchase tickets:Saturday January6, 2024 at 10:00 amSaturday January 6, 2024 at 1:00 pmSaturday January 6, 2024 at 3:30 pmSunday ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
Fungus Among Us at SanbornJoin us for a hike to learn about the fantastic world of fungi! Are they a plant? Which ones are poisonous What happens to it after the mushroom dies? Learn more about one of the oldest living terrestrial beings on our planet!Ages 7 - 12, with registered adultRegister at weblink
Where: SaratogaCost: Free
Saturday Cinema: The Art + Science of Luminous AnimationsCelebrate the Exploratorium’s winter exhibition Glow: Discover the Art of Light with radiant animations, both meditative and kinetic. Five short films capture the holiday spirit, the translucent elements of nature, the radiance of winter’s starry skies and ancestral stories, and the science of salt crystals shaped like jeweled snowflakes.These films ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with admission
TEDx Berkeley: Butterfly EffectA butterfly flaps its wings. The air ripples, and time flows. Months later, a typhoon starts brewing above the ocean.In its popular understanding, the butterfly effect broadly speaks to the ways in which small changes can have drastically larger consequences downstream. Meteorologist Edward Lorenz identified this phenomenon as he struggled ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $75 General, $30 Students
City Public Star Party - CANCELEDCome join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for free public stargazing of the Moon, planets, globular clusters and more!SFAA members with telescopes are encouraged to attend and share their views of the stars with the general public.Dress warmly.Rain, heavy fog and overcast skies cancel. Check the SFAA website for a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Jazz Under the Stars - CANCELEDJazz Under the Stars is a FREE monthly public stargazing event! Occurring on the Saturday nearest the 1st quarter moon (check our Events Page), join us in building 36 on the 4th floor observatory for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our jazz ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Sunday, 01/21/24
The Physics Show (three performances - SOLD OUT)The Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. These will be the exact same shows that were presented in September, 2023 What is The Physics Show?Links to purchase tickets:Saturday January6, 2024 at 10:00 amSaturday January 6, 2024 at 1:00 pmSaturday January 6, 2024 at 3:30 pmSunday ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
Living with Lions in the North BayCome and discover the fascinating world of mountain lions with Living with Lions Education Coordinator Liz Martins and Marin County Parks ranger Alec.The presentation will cover how to coexist with these majestic creatures, their impact on the environment, and the crucial role they play in balancing the ecosystem. There will ...
Where: NovatoCost: Free
What is ChatGPT?Join the Castro Valley Library for an introduction to Generative Artificial Intelligence models like ChatGPT, Bard and Claude.You’ll learn:How they workTheir best usesWays to evaluate their outputTheir shortcomings and potential risksThis workshop is designed for adults and teens who are new to Generative AI.
Where: Castro ValleyCost: free
Monday, 01/22/24
COP28 Debrief: Attendees reflect on Dubai outcomes - LivestreamFor the first time at a United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP), countries have agreed on the need to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.â€Chris Field, Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, will discuss this and other COP28 outcomes with Jonathan Pershing, former Special Envoy ...
Effective ocean conservation and management relies on an in-depth understanding of the health of marine ecosystems. Dr. Kendall-Bar's interdisciplinary approach combines engineering, visualization, and computation to study ocean resilience in terms of the extreme physiology and behavior of marine animals, establishing eco-physiological baselines to track over time in the face ...
Large language models, on their own, have important limitations. I will discuss the trend of "augmenting" language models in various ways to overcome those limitations. Specifically, I will focus on two kinds of augmentation: retrieval augmented generation (RAG) and associated approaches; and vision-augmented language models enhanced to see (LENS).Speaker: Douwe ...
Dr. Robert Sapolsky is John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor and professor of biology, neurology and neurological sciences, and of neurosurgery at Stanford University. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.†He is also a research associate at the Institute of Primate Research operated by the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Maximizing the Value of Water Infrastructure InvestmentsSignificant public spending is required to repair aging water infrastructure and prepare water systems for future changes in supply, demand, and storage driven by climate change. But recent landmark spending bills in the United States represent only a fraction of the American Society of Civil Engineers estimated $2.5 trillion infrastructure ...
Population growth increases urbanization, impacting surface albedos and altering surface energy balances, including the reduction of urban evaporative cooling, thus forming surface urban heat islands (SUHIs). Neighborhoods with higher vegetative densities, therefore, tend to have lower temperatures than those with sparse vegetation. In the United States, racially and ethnically segregated ...
As the most common construction material and second only to water in terms of use by mankind, concrete cannot simply be replaced with another material at a large scale. In terms of global usage, 14B cubic meters of concrete were produced in 2020 using 4.2B tonnes of cement. Concrete provides ...
Supermassive Black Holes from AU to Megaparsec: Fundamentally New Physics in Accretion DisksSupermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies present unsolved theoretical challenges for our understanding of high-energy astrophysics, gravity and gravitational waves, star and galaxy formation, and space plasma physics. For decades, our models have struggled to understand how such “monster†black holes could form and exist at all. But ...
In order to achieve ambitious decarbonization targets, the electric sector is undergoing a massive expansion or renewable energy, storage, and transmission infrastructure. Modeling methods to identify the least-cost resource mix are well-established. However, spatial modeling and planning methods are still emerging. There is a need to identify high-resolution portfolios of ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
LLM + Graph Database for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)LLMs are often like the know-it-all at a bar - they can quickly and confidently produce realistic sounding answers to just about any question - even if the answers are complete fabrications. But an LLM can be grounded in reality by combining it with a Knowledge Graph in order to ...
The Cosmic Neutrino Background (CNB) is a relic of the pre-CMB era which encodes a trove of information about the early Universe and the neutrino sector dating back to when the Universe was less than a second old. In this talk, I will argue that the Earth can significantly alter ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Who Will Build the Ark?Benjamin Kunkel is a co-editor of the New Left Review essay collection Who Will Build the Ark? Debates on Climate Strategy (2023, Verso). Ark lays out various takes on what is needed to restructure societies and economies in the face of climate change. Kunkel will discuss the contours of these ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Getting Ready for California’s New Electrical Grid: A Conversation with KALWCalifornia’s electrical grid is getting cleaner every day. Yet most people in the Bay Area still burn fossil fuels to heat their homes and get hot water for their showers - a major contributor to smog and other harmful pollution. But not for long - clean air officials say we ...
Dr. Jen Gunter, called "the world's most famous and outspoken gynecologist†by The Guardian, returns to The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco to apply her myth-busting, no-nonsense approach to discussing menstruation.Why do people menstruate? The endometrium’s (the uterine lining’s) fascinating connection to the immune system. The impact of stress, vaccines, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General, $15 Members in person, $10/Free web
Embodied Economies: How our Economic Stories Shape the WorldEconomic policy can seem abstract and distant, but it manifests the physical world - affecting us all. Our economic stories shape our systems, and they in turn shape us. What myths continue to constrain us, and how might new stories emerge to scaffold the future? This talk will explore concepts ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: TBA
Wonderfest: The Psychology of ConfidenceHow confident should we be? Overconfidence leads people to delude themselves with wishful thinking, take too many risks, pursue impossible goals, and waste their time on doomed ventures. Underconfidence dissuades people from taking risks that would pay off, and scares them away from trying things they would enjoy. Pschological studies ...
