With the advent of large language models, the number of artificial texts we encounter on a daily basis is about to increase substantially. This talk asks how this new textual situation may influence what one can call the “standard expectation of unknown texts,” which has always included the assumption that ...
In this talk, i describe the problem of “future contingents” - in effect, how we determine the truth of statements about the future - and outline “branching times” theoretic approaches to this question. in recent work in linguistic semantics, these models have shed light on the notion of “reality status”, ...
Humidity in the air is a vast water resource representing 6 times more freshwater than all rivers and lakes. This humidity can be converted to drinking water via moisture sorption-desorption, serving as a potentially decentralized, passive, and low-cost pathway to mitigate the pressing water scarcity challenge. However, the productivity and ...
The quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE), first observed in Cr/V-doped (Bi,Sb)2Te3 [1], holds promise as a disruptive innovation in quantum metrology, for its potential to define a new generation of quantum standards of resistance. A goal of modern metrology is to combine the various standards into a combined “quantum electrical ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
AWAKE: beam-plasma interactions and plasma wakefield accelerationPlasma-based accelerators have demonstrated their ability to accelerate electrons at very high gradients (>100GeV/m). They have a number of niche applications. The AWAKE experiment, located at CERN, aims at producing high-energy electron bunches (50 to 200GeV) for application to particle physics. Large energy gain is in principle possible by avoiding ...
Digital technologies are transforming fresh produce retail by enabling real-time freshness tracking and direct consumer access to supply chain data. However, adopting these technologies comes at a high cost. It is therefore essential to determine whether an innovator - the first retailer to adopt supply transparency technology - gains a ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
The quantum limit of gravitational-wave detectionSpeaker: Prof. Victoria Xu from UC Berkeley will share how the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) uses subtle tricks in quantum squeezing to expand our new gravitational-wave window into the Universe.
The enduring mystery of high-temperature superconductivity in copper-based materials, with critical temperatures surpassing earlier expectations set by the BCS theory, remains one of the most intriguing puzzles in physics, even three decades after its initial discovery. What makes this enigma so captivating is its simultaneous simplicity - characterized by a ...
Join Stanford Energy Club for an in-depth conversation with Scott Burger, Director of Business Development & Analytics at Form Energy, to explore the evolving landscape of long-duration energy storage.Form Energy is pioneering multi-day energy storage with its iron-air battery technology, designed to enable a reliable, fully renewable electric grid.With extensive experience in clean energy investment, economic ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
March LASER EventFor this LASER we'll experiment a different format than the traditional 20-minute talks. We'll try the "A.T.O.M.I.C." format: A for Anthropology, T for Technology, O for "Omega Point", "M" for Music, "I" for Images, "C" for Cognitive Science. Six discussions on six topics. "I" will be led by Jennifer Parker, ...
The Golder Research Team utilizes fundamental principles of molecular structure to control synthetic polymer function. Many of society’s greatest advancements spanning health, sanitation, construction, electronics, and transportation have been enabled by the invention and application of plastics. Simultaneously, these materials have created significant concerns about global sustainability, climate impact, ...
Body size drives the energetic demands of organisms, constraining trophic interactions between species and playing a significant role in shaping the feasibility of species' populations in a community. On macroevolutionary timescales, these demands feed back to shape the selective landscape driving the evolution of body size and diet. We develop ...
Agilent is a global leader in analytical instrumentation, software, and services, supporting scientists and engineers in addressing complex challenges across life sciences, pharma and biopharma, clinical diagnostics, advanced materials, and food and environmental analysis. With a legacy originating from Hewlett-Packard (HP) and operating independently since 1999, Agilent combines decades of ...
Where: Cost: Free
Large scale data processing with MapReduceLarge scale data analytics frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Apache Hadoop, Map Reduce, FlumeJava, and Dryad) are now widely used to derive value from massive amounts of raw data. In this talk, I’ll describe how these frameworks work. I’ll introduce the Map Reduce paradigm, and describe why it made it much ...
We study the unintended environmental consequences of “bonus depreciation,” one of the largest investment tax incentives in US history. To do so, we pair emissions data from the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory and National Emissions Inventory with quasi-experimental policy variation in the extent to which establishments benefited from the policy. ...
Excitons are composite bosons made of bound electron-hole pairs in semiconductors. With a much smaller mass than atoms, they are expected to Bose-condense at much higher temperature scales. This is especially the case for the tightly bound excitons in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors; theoretical studies have predicted the possibility of realizing ...
Zeolites are the principal solid catalysts in the chemical industry and are also widely used as adsorbents and detergent builders. Their remarkable topological diversity - 255 realized polymorphs to date, with over 300,000 more proposed - enables highly tunable shape-selective catalysis and adsorption. However, this same diversity underlies a longstanding ...
Why is the human brain so vulnerable to false beliefs and conspiracy theories despite evidence to the contrary? And what can be done to protect ourselves, our families, and society from our collective propensity to fall into these seductive traps?Dr. Joe Pierre, health sciences clinical professor at UCSF and a ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22 General, discounts for members
Spritacular: Electrical Discharges Above Thunderstorms - LivestreamSpritacular is a community science project that aims to collect observations of sprites and other optical phenomena occurring above thunderstorms - collectively known as Transient Luminous Events (TLEs). TLEs have been frequently captured by storm chasers all around the globe with off-the-shelf DSLR cameras, however, they are sporadically shared over ...
Where: Cost: Free
Sal Khan's Brave New WordsSave the date for an inspiring evening with Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, as he shares insights from his upcoming book, Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing). Discover how artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of learning and why it offers ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Feed the Planet: A Photographic Journey to the World’s FoodDo you know where your food comes from? To find out, acclaimed photographer George Steinmetz spent a decade documenting food production in more than 36 countries on 6 continents, 24 US states, and 5 oceans. In his new book, Feed the Planet, filled with never-before seen aerial images, Steinmetz documents ...
I’m an evolutionary geneticist and I’m interested in identifying complex patterns of evolutionary adaptations within fishes. I use genomes and transcriptomes (genes expressed within a given set of cells or tissue type) to better understand adaptations related to diet, metabolism, and depth. I’m interested in looking at the genetic variation ...
Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have leaped from the confines of computer labs into our vibrant social, business and organizational fabric.Leaders and members of established organizations - from governments to hospitals and nonprofits - are zealously exploring ways to harness these powerful tools to amplify their intended impact. ...
Join the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity for an expert panel examining the implications of “open radio access networks,” or Open RAN, a movement focused on “unbundling” the hardware and software in wireless telecommunication systems to reduce dependence on a small number of suppliers.This webinar will feature key insights ...
The UK is going through an accelerated transition of its' energy system with the grid to deliver net zero clean power by 2030, deployment of green/blue hydrogen into decarbonisation and ramping up of small and large nuclear power. There are ambitious plans related to decarbonisation of transport. This is the ...
Circadian rhythms are highly conserved, 24-hour, oscillations that tune physiology to the day/night cycle, enhancing fitness by ensuring that appropriate activities occur at biologically advantageous times. Circadian rhythms are a phenomenon that exist across the tree of life and throughout biological scales, with broadly conserved atomic-level timekeepers enhancing fitness at ...
In this conversation, we explore the creative power of rock, clay, soil, and salt in catacomb architecture designed to contain nuclear waste. Scattered across the American West, these man-made structures resemble meso-American pyramids and ancient subterranean crypts designed to function at 1,000-to-10,000-year timescales and beyond. These structures are becoming cultural ...
Three major global challenges - climate change, loss of biodiversity and its benefits, and inequality and inequity among people - are typically tackled within three separate silos. However, scientific knowledge tells us that the three are inextricably linked. If the problems are not considered together, solutions to one may undermine ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Artificial Art - AI vs Human ComposersArtificial Art - AI vs Human Composers is an innovative production of the interdisciplinary Swiss music festival Interfinity that explores the fascinating interplay between human and artificial intelligence in music - set in an engaging and interactive game show format, this production invites the audience to become musical detectives, testing ...
Humans impact ecosystems in a variety of ways, with urbanization, climate change, and infrastructure projects posing unique challenges organisms must overcome. In freshwater river systems, human-made dams pose major risks to endangered fish species, disrupting habitats in many ways. Jackie Galvez’s research investigates the influence of damming on one important ...
In the work presented, we use an incentivized consumption measure to assess the behavioral impacts of watching a roughly 15-minute video about industrial-scale pork production (clipped from the Dominion documentary). They find, provisionally (based on data collected thus far), that the demand for meat-containing meals decreases by 26.4% immediately after ...
Robotics in Construction: Advancing Refurbishment and Material ReuseThe current construction industry is inherently misaligned with the planetary boundaries. Not only do we exceed our budget of CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, but the industry’s increasing demand for new resources is damaging our natural environment. Robotics in construction promises to support the transition to a sustainable building industry. ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Four Fish: How Science and the Media Shaped What We Eat from the SeaThere are plenty of fish in the sea, we’re told, but over the last fifty years, Americans have seen their seafood choices shrink to the point where often we’re usually choosing among just four “flesh archetypes” of protein from the ocean. How did this simplification of our markets and our ...
Data-driven dynamical modeling, fundamental to control and Reinforcement Learning in systems with unknown dynamics, faces challenges from data scarcity, such as low-resolution measurements. For example, in power systems, smart meter data may not capture fast load dynamics. This prevents us from training an accurate and robust Deep Learning model.In this talk, ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
SETI Live: Amino Acids on Bennu! Building Blocks for Life Detected in Asteroid Bennu SamplesThe OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security - Regolith Explorer) mission has been a resounding success so far, from taking a sample of asteroid Bennu to returning that sample to Earth. Now, the first in-depth analysis of the space rocks is complete, and the results have been published ...
Where: Cost: Free
Theoretical perspectives on modern machine learning paradigms: generative, scientific and out-of-distributionOver the past decade, machine learning models have grown in scale and complexity. Generative models, for instance, have gone through many iterations of model classes (e.g., GANs, diffusion models, autoregressive models), architectures (e.g., Transformers), as well as an increasingly involved training and inference-time pipeline. Machine-learned systems have also started to ...
It’s time for a new narrative for the ocean, one that reflects current scientific knowledge and acknowledges innovative new partnerships and solutions that center the ocean in our future. The two current dominant narratives for the ocean are anchored in the past. The older one considers the ocean to be ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Vector MediaThe capability of neural networks to generate texts and images by learning from large amounts of data is often framed as both the most significant contribution and the most obvious flaw of contemporary artificial intelligence research. Much critical work thus starts from a reading of training datasets - but the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
After Dark: SyzygyDive into the science and history of eclipses with experts from the Exploratorium.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, free for members
NightLifeCalling all creatures of the night: explore the nocturnal side of the Academy at NightLife and see what's revealed. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 60,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude, our alligator with albinism), the night is sure to be wild.Step inside the iconic ...
Motivated reasoning - confirmation bias, disconfirmation bias, and related concepts - can get in the way of making well-reasoned decisions. And people certainly are capable of poor reasoning, especially when it comes to conspiracy theories. Psychologists debate whether mistaken ideas are the result of “information deficit”, and even whether it’s ...
Beavers and their dams create wetlands, store and filter water, augment fish populations, raise the number of migratory and songbirds, and have a dramatic positive impact on biodiversity. Dr. Perryman will discuss how working to help people understand and coexist with this single species will continue to have a beneficial ...
Join Chabot astronomers for a live watch party of the magnificent Total Lunar Eclipse from Chabot’s Observation Deck. Bring your friends & family and a lawn chair to enjoy Eclipse-themed crafts and demonstrations, then get bundled up with a cup of hot cocoa to watch this stunning celestial show. Between ...
Where: OaklandCost: $10 Adults, $5 kids/Seniors, Members Free
Lunar Eclipse Observation - CANCELEDCome to the Foothill Observatory to see the moon pass through Earth's shadow. The Foothill College Astronomy Department and the Peninsula Astronomical Society will open the observatory and have additional portable telescopes out at parking lot 4 to observe our cosmic companion as our planet blocks direct sunlight from its ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free
Lunar Eclipse Watch PartyOn the night of Thursday, March 13, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States for the first time since 2022. Join us at The Lawrence for a late-night watch party to catch this celestial spectacle, also known as a Blood Moon! Learn from local astronomers about ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Friday, 03/14/25
Bair Island Walking TourJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walking tour at the Bair Island Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge! You’ll be guided by POST ambassadors who will share the history of this beautiful protected space, information about the species that live there, and what you ...
"Construction" contributes around 20% of human related GHGs every year. This is from the embodied emissions of materials, the transportation and construction processes. These embodied emissions occur mainly “upfront” before the building or infrastructure is even in use and is then effectively “locked in”. This means it has become the ...
Where: StanfordCost:
Pi DayJoin the 38th annual celebration of our own homegrown holiday! March 14 (3/14) commemorates the irrational, transcendent, and never-ending ratio that helps describe circles of all sizes. Explore math-inspired activities and presentations, then join our pi parade and eat a free piece of pie. Come for the STEAM and stay ...
Superconducting van der Waals Devices For Quantum Technology2D van Der Waals materials-based heterostructures have led to new devices for fundamental science and applications. Superconducting Josephson devices based on 2D materials offer unique opportunities to engineer new functionality for quantum technology.I will present results from two classes of materials. First, proximitized graphene-based Josephson junctions lead to a quantum ...
KALW LIVE: Pi Day with Science Friday featuring Ira FlatowIra Flatow and Ethan Elkind will take the stage of 111 Minna to do an exclusive live in-person Science Friday with a focus on climate change and environmental solutions.Special guest speakers also include:Etosha Cave - Cofounder and Chief Science Officer at Twelve, a company that recycles carbon dioxideKrishna Niyogi - ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 - $20 donation requested
Sonoma Mycological Association General Meeting: David AroraDavid Arora’s Wheel of FungiJoin us with the esteemed mycologist for a variety of mushroom-related topics across Asia, Africa, and California!Mycologist David Arora is the author of the very popular mushroom guidebooks All that the Rain Promises and More as well as the epic and humorous tome Mushrooms Demystified. He ...
Where: SebastopolCost: Free
Saturday, 03/15/25
Keeper Academy at CuriOdysseyIf you have ever dreamed of being an Animal Keeper this is the workshop for you! In this four-hour crash course, participants will experience a day in the life of an Animal Keeper. Spend a morning with us cleaning, prepping food, and making behavioral observations as you learn what goes ...
Where: San MateoCost: $130-$150
AI Workshop: Humanoid RoboticsWelcome to our immersive AI technology workshop series. During these sessions you will be introduced to new and established AI tools that will help you create and manipulate content in new and powerful ways. Each session is led by an industry expert who will guide you through the material and ...
Where: Santa ClaraCost: $95
Salamander Search at SanbornSanborn is famous for its amphibians; you just need to do some extra searching to find them! Join us for a fun day of looking under rocks, logs, and other unique hiding spots that Sanborn’s Salamanders call home!Register at weblinkAges 4 - 12
Where: SaratogaCost: Free
Foothills Family Nature WalkEnvironmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help community members get to know our local open space areas. Small groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based activities, and a ...
Dr Karen Holl will discuss what we can and cannot achieve from tree planting and how we can improve project outcomes. Research from her lab evaluates how well the many nonprofit organizations and private companies who support tree-growing projects are following best practices for successful, long-term reforestation.Editor's Note: The event's ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free
April Fools: After Hours at the Museum of the EyeCelebrate our popular exhibit, Hoodwinked: 19th Century Quack Medicine, at our special after-hours event! Explore bonus quack devices and patent medicines that didn’t make it into the original show while enjoying a specialty cocktail. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity before these artifacts return to the vault and before the “Hoodwinked” ...
