SETI Live: Life in Titan’s Ocean?Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is a world of methane rivers and lakes, icy boulders, sandy dunes, and a vast subsurface ocean. Could this distant world harbor life? A new study led by Dr. Antonin Affholder, now a fellow at ETH Zurich, suggests that Titan’s ocean might support life - but ...
“Roger, it’s Just Test Equipment”: Lessons From Four Decades of Engineering 1985: the year introducing both Microsoft Windows and the GNU Manifesto; 2025: the year of GPT4.5 and injectable pacemakers. This talk is for those entering or about to enter the technical fields. It will focus on a few lessons ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Separating Hope from Hype in the Search for Alien Life - LivestreamThe search for alien life is entering a thrilling new phase as next-generation telescopes and missions open unprecedented windows into distant worlds. That means we’re likely to experience an avalanche of “possible biosignatures” that might point to alien life. The truth is out there, but it is not likely to ...
Where: Cost: Free
After Dark: Unplug and PlaySpend a cozy evening at one of San Francisco’s most beloved museums. Test your knowledge at science trivia, get curious about human perception and cognition, and play with 700+ interactive exhibits that will delight and surprise you.Ages 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95, free for members
NightLifeWhen the lights dim, the museum comes alive at NightLife. With live DJs, hand-crafted drinks, glowing lights, and 60,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude, our alligator with albinism), the night is sure to be wild.Plus, you can:Explore our two newest exhibits, Dino Days and Unseen Oceans: Roam among ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
Science is a Piece of Cake: Marine BiologyLearn all about ocean creatures via ... cake! KQED's Check, Please! Bay Area producer Cecilia Phillips is hosting a cake bake-off where marine biology will serve as our visual prompt. Each cake will be inspired by the marine life featured in the California Academy of Sciences' aquariums.Enter the competition as ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $24.38
Friday, 09/05/25
First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey - SOLD OUTSwing into the weekend with science, animals, music, food trucks, and fun! On the first Friday of every month, parents and kids celebrate together at CuriOdyssey.Dance to some of your favorite hits, while enjoying animal presentations and science activities. Activities and programs are different each time, so make it a ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
First Friday: Close EncountersAre we alone in the universe? Or could there be other forms of life out there, waiting far away in the vast expanse of space? Hear from researchers, astrobiologists and astronomers on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and distant exoplanets that could sustain it. Show off your best out-of-this-world attire ...
Where: OaklandCost: $10 Ganeral, $5 kids/seniors, Free members
The Sun, our nearest star, is more than just a blazing ball of fire. Its atmosphere, hotter than its already scorching surface, presents a puzzle that has intrigued scientists for years. How does the Sun’s magnetic field drive the heating of its 10,000-degree chromosphere and million-degree corona? This enigma holds ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Saturday, 09/06/25
Youth Conservation Photography WorkshopJoin us for a photography workshop geared toward youth ages 13-18. Limited number of spaces, register at Eventbrite.Conservation Kids is a non-profit that connects teenagers to conservation and the environment through the use of photography. This workshop, co-led by professional photographers Daniel Dietrich and Sarah Killingsworth, will teach youth about ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: Free
World Shorebirds Day Bird WalkThe Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a haven for shorebirds. In honor of World Shorebirds Day, join us for a beginner- and family-friendly bird outing. We will discuss the wildlife refuge and provide an introduction to shorebirds and a few identification tips!Please RSVP at the weblink to ...
Where: AlvisoCost: FREE
First Saturday: Free Tour of the Santa Cruz ArboretumAround the World in 60-90 Minutes!On the first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum.Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South Africa, California, and Australia. Sometimes you might see combinations of several gardens or the developing World Conifer Collection or Rare Fruit ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission, and for members
Science Is A Piece of Cake: Marine Biology (Kids Edition)Kids and their adults are invited to show off a homemade cake inspired by the Bay Area's marine life! Each cake in this bake-off follows a prompt focused on the incredible creatures featured in California Academy of Sciences' aquariums.Enter the competition with your family (by age bracket) or join the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $24.38 Adults | $12.96 Kids
Sunday, 09/07/25
ConectFestDive into hands-on science fun with 10 of the Bay Area’s top science and technology centers, treat yourself to delicious flavors from local vendors, groove with local deejay, DJ Lex, and enjoy live music from the GRAMMY-winning ALPHABET ROCKERS.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
California Biodiversity Day BioBlitzCalifornia Biodiversity Day is all about appreciating the many species that call California home. We'll be leading a BioBlitz to celebrate! BioBlitzing involves exploring an area in search of plants, birds, insects, mammals, fungi, reptiles and any other organisms around. We'll be snapping photos and posting them to iNaturalist so ...
Speaker: Dr. Bree Grillo-Hill, San Jose State University
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
4D Printing: AI-driven Additive Manufacturing of Functional CompositesAdditive manufacturing is well-known for its ability to place a wide variety of materials at precise locations in 3D space with very few limitations on geometrical complexity. Recent advances in active, shape morphing materials have enabled the design of structures which can change their shape or function in response to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
FACT promotes efficient Pol II transcription by modulating the topographic features of the nucleosomal barrierIn eukaryotic cells, efficient transcription through nucleosomes by Pol II requires the help of several transcriptional regulators including the histone chaperon FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription). However, mechanistic details of how FACT modulates the magnitude of the mechanical barrier of a nucleosome and how this factor affects the elongation dynamics of ...
The incredible capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope have allowed us to look back nearly to the very beginning of time, enabling us to observe some of the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang. Before the launch of JWST, astronomers believed that the first few hundred million ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
Tuesday, 09/09/25
Skeptics in the PubEnjoy an evening of socializing and feasting with fellow Bay Area science-forward folk in an Irish Pub on the Peninsula with great food. < Menu >Please join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.
Where: MillbraeCost: Free
Astronomy on Tap East Bay: Heavy Metal and Supermassive Black HolesThis month, we have two very exciting and wildly different talks lined up: Daniel Brethauer (UCB) will tell us all about rocking out to heavy metals. Then stick around for a talk by Dr. Jean Somalwar (UCB/Stanford/KIPAC), who will talk about supermassive black holes and their unknown origins!
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Counting Molo - a Volunteer Bird Counter's ExperienceHow do you even begin to count over half a million nesting birds on the largest albatross colony on Earth? What is it like to live on a tropical atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for six weeks?Join Kyan Russell this month to hear about his experience and ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Wednesday, 09/10/25
Homeschool Days at The Tech InteractiveHomeschoolers, this is your day to play!The Tech Interactive is rolling out NEW Homeschool Days just for you!Shake up your schedule and enjoy a day of hands-on science, engineering, and creativity that complements your curriculum and keeps your learners engaged from start to finish.Each Homeschool Day Includes:Full access to all ...
Bodega Marine Lab Seminar Series - CanceledJoin us for the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory Seminar Series, featuring speakers from within the marine sciences community and beyond.Speaker: Rory Taylor, Warm Springs Hatchery, GeyservilleThis event has been canceled, replaced by "From the Mountains to the Sea: Restoring Relationships for Landscape and Community Resilience". See our listing for ...
The Fight for Plastic Reduction - INC-5.2 Debrief & Reflections - LivestreamJoin AMBR executives Katie Drews and Martin Bourque, along with our global partners, for a powerful debrief on the recent Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. AMBR Policy Director Lucy Mullany will moderate the discussion.We’ll break down what really happened at the negotiations, expose the challenges standing in the ...
In this talk, Javier Arbona-Homar will draw from his new book, Explosivity: Following What Remains, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2025, as well as introduce new research, to critically examine deeply held assumptions about appearance and disappearance in landscapes. Beyond an academic book, Explosivity is “a vital guide to confronting ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Thursday, 09/11/25
SETI Live: Worlds of Fire?Join communications specialist Beth Johnson and Dr. Charles-Édouard Boukaré (York University) as they dive into new research on molten rocky exoplanets - worlds so hot that their surfaces are oceans of magma. This international study, led by York University, sheds light on how these fiery planets form, evolve, and what ...
After Dark: Dance MachineTake a spin at the intersection of dance and robotics! Hear from “choreoroboticist” Catie Cuan on how she explores the intersection of human and machine movement on the dance floor. Peek inside Manifold, the nine-foot-tall robot hand Catie built as part of her Exploratorium residency, and enjoy a short performance ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95, free for members
In 2024, Larry and Molly planned a transcontinental birding trip from Fairfax to Key West Florida to identify at least 700 species in the American Birding Association (ABA) They added a trip to Alaska, with the chance of identifying a total of 800 species.In their presentation, Larry and Molly will re-live ...
Where: Cost: Free
'James Randi in Australia' - LivestreamIn 1980, James Randi made an historic visit to Australia that formed the basis for the Australian TV documentary “James Randi in Australia”, commissioned by Australian businessman Dick Smith. An elaborate, controlled test of dowsing involving buried water pipes - approved by dowsers themselves - is established, and confident dowsers ...
Where: Cost: Free
Friday, 09/12/25
ACROConnect x Gator Bio: South San Francisco Antibody WorkshopACROBiosystems is co-hosting this year’s Antibody Workshop with Gator Bio in South San Francisco! Join us to explore cutting-edge solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in antibody drug discovery and development, including Bispecific Antibody Drug Conjugates (BsADCs).Free admission includes refreshments, dedicated networking opportunities, and the chance to win ...
The first 3-dimensional Photonic Bandgap was found by an Edison type search, trial-and-error, guided by physical intuition. The 4-year search was beset by pseudo-gaps and required deep physical insights to find the right geometry (diamond unit cell in a face-centered-cubic lattice). In general, the optimization problem is exacerbated by the ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Understanding Addiction Night 3- Drugs Over DinnerJeffersonian Dinners are a get-together over dinner where one meaningful conversation is shared, exchanging different perspectives. The dinners originated in the 1800s with President Thomas Jefferson.Tonight’s dinner is inspired by a group of healthcare and wellness leaders who founded, "Let's Have Dinner and Talk About Drugs" and are committed to ...
The 5th Annual Kits Cubed STEM Fair is coming. Partnering with various organizations such as Heads Up and the Golden State Warriors, and many more, we are excited to once again cultivate young minds in the Bay Area!For our fifth-year anniversary, we invite you to celebrate this special milestone with ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
The Physics Show - Three PerformancesThe Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September, one weekend in December, and three days of shows in January.Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.Venue: Smithwick Theater
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
Family Nature Adventures: Discover the Secrets of Local Owls!Step into the magical world of owls during this month’s adventure! Dive into the habits, calls, and diets of local owls. Experience hands-on science as you dissect owl pellets to uncover the mysteries of their meals. Bring your own binoculars or use our child-sized pairs as you join a guided stroll through ...
Where: OaklandCost: $25 General, $35 ages 3 - 8, $10 off members
Family Nature Adventures: Reptile Roundup - RESCHEDULEDSlither, crawl, and explore the world of reptiles that inhabit the redwood forest! Learn about local reptiles, from snakes and lizards to turtles, and discover how they survive in their unique environments. Head into the forest for a chance to spot these cold-blooded creatures in action, as expert guides reveal their habitats ...
Where: OaklandCost: $25 General, $35 ages 3 - 8, $10 off members
Tackling Toxics: Safer Alternatives to PFAs and Antimicrobials through Green ChemistryPFAS, flame retardants, and antimicrobials are classes of potentially hazardous organohalogen chemicals that are widely used in consumer products and industrial processes, leading to concerns about their human and environmental health harm. To reduce such harm, the Six Classes framework developed by the Green Science Policy Institute groups chemicals with ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $30 General, $15 Student
City Public Star PartyCome join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for free public stargazing of the Moon, planets, globular clusters and more!The event will take place in Tunnel Tops National Park, parking is located adjacent to Picnic Place (210 Lincoln Blvd for GPS) with the telescopes setup in the East Meadow.Dress warmly as conditions ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Starry Nights Star PartyJoin the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) and Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) for an unforgettable night of exploring the night sky. Our knowledgeable docents, members of SJAA, will be your guides to providing valuable insights into the wonders of our universe. The viewing site, Rancho Canada del ...
Where: Morgan HillCost: Free
Sunday, 09/14/25
The Physics Show - Three PerformancesThe Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September, one weekend in December, and three days of shows in January.Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.Venue: Smithwick Theater
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
Why Tides MatterDocent Laurel Stell will talk and walk you through all things tides. What are they? How do they affect wildlife? How have humans reshaped the Bay's tidal lands?The presentation will be followed by an easy 0.5-mile walk. All are welcome.Register at at weblink, which also has additional information about the ...
Communicating Climate Solutions SymposiumTimely, effective and culturally appropriate communication is needed to encourage development and adoption of sustainable climate actions that mitigate the impacts of climate change. Toward this effort, our symposium will bring together journalists, researchers, community leaders, local officials and politicians to identify opportunities and best practices for developing and communicating ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: $30 - $100
Tuesday, 09/16/25
Communicating Climate Solutions SymposiumTimely, effective and culturally appropriate communication is needed to encourage development and adoption of sustainable climate actions that mitigate the impacts of climate change. Toward this effort, our symposium will bring together journalists, researchers, community leaders, local officials and politicians to identify opportunities and best practices for developing and communicating ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: $30 - $100
Insights from AI & Semiconductor Leaders - LivestreamJoin us for two dynamic online panels with industry professionals from top Silicon Valley companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, Cerebras, and Altera. You’ll hear firsthand from leaders shaping the future of AI and semiconductor innovation, with dedicated discussions on each field.Semiconductor Panel at 6:00, AI Panel at 7:00Register at weblink
Where: Cost: Free
Secrets of the Sun - LivestreamJoin the NASA Night Sky Network along with Becca Robinson, where we’ll discuss NASA’s Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) could help us understand the Sun better.See weblink for streaming information
Where: Cost: Free
Urban California MushroomsLearning to identify mushrooms can be a slow process. Books, fungus fairs, and guided outings have traditionally been the best way to learn. iNaturalist, a free app that was developed in the Bay Area, has emerged as a wonderful learning tool. Further. iNat has become the largest community science project ...
Where: SebastopolCost: Free
What is Intelligence?In What is Intelligence?, Blaise Agüera y Arcas, VP, Fellow and CTO of Technology & Society at Google, explores what intelligence really is, and how AI’s emergence is a natural consequence of evolution. Encompassing decades of theory, existing literature, and recent artificial life experiments, Agüera y Arcas’ research argues that ...
Diet, exercise, connection, and sleep are four key determining factors in human health. Sleep, in particular, plays a critical role in recovery and resilience. Fortunately, recent eye-opening (*ahem*) research can help us harness sleep science to improve everyday life and long-term health.Our Wonderfest speaker, Greg Tranah, PhD, is Professor of ...
Mike will show several case studies to highlight various missions and operations, and talk about what to do when you get lost in the woods.Speaker: Michael St. John, Marin County Sherrif's Search and Rescue (retired)Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Wednesday, 09/17/25
Communicating Climate Solutions SymposiumTimely, effective and culturally appropriate communication is needed to encourage development and adoption of sustainable climate actions that mitigate the impacts of climate change. Toward this effort, our symposium will bring together journalists, researchers, community leaders, local officials and politicians to identify opportunities and best practices for developing and communicating ...
Over the past five years, we have implemented continuous eDNA surveys across three major hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil, demonstrating the power of metabarcoding to capture aquatic biodiversity with precision and efficiency. Building on this experience, we are now extending our efforts to test the representativeness of eDNA samples from the ...
The Marine Mammal Center was established 50 years ago as a rehabilitation hospital for locally stranded marine mammals but over the past 30 years, our research has focused on the changing patterns of disease and the emergence of novel pathogens and threats. This temporal window coincides with the period of ...
Freshwater systems sit at the intersection of climate, environment, and society. Addressing their challenges requires approaches that combine rigorous science with real-world decision-making. My research investigates how human activity and hydroclimate variability shape water systems. I use data-driven approaches grounded in hydrologic theory and co-produced with water managers to address ...
On tap this month we have a talk from Steward Observatory graduate student Sophie Lebowitz, here to talk about how monster black holes shape our universe, and an extended Astronomy in the News segment by our resident news anchors and Steward Observatory postdocs Dr. Jackie Champagne & Dr. Danny Krolikowski!Watch ...
Acorn Woodpecker, best known for their unique habit of storing acorns by the thousands in special structures known as “granaries”, exhibit one of the most complex social systems of any bird. Family groups of this species, sometimes numbering a dozen or more birds, contain multiple breeders of both sexes, a ...
We’re bringing the late summer heat with three amazing talks! Who needs antibiotics when you’ve got viruses to fight on your behalf? Sounds too good to be true? How about the REAL nudies under the sea? Who knew sea slugs could be so dazzling? And how do you teach kids ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
The Art of AstrophotographyNew technologies can sometimes open the door for the creation of new types of art. The advancing imaging hardware and software technologies in the last decade have made possible the creation of art with astrophotography. Gary Lopez is one of the first to explore astrophotography as a fine art. In ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Thursday, 09/18/25
SETI Live: When We Find LifeWhat happens after we discover life beyond Earth? The question is no longer “if,” but “when” - and how humanity responds could shape our future. Host and planetary astronomer Franck Marchis welcomes Martin Dominik, one of the authors of a new white paper on the societal, political, and philosophical challenges we’ll face once ...
Energy system models often depend on hourly weather timeseries to simulate supply and demand dynamics. Yet, most global climate models offer only daily projection data, limiting their direct utility for forward-looking energy system analysis. This talk presents a method used at EPRI that combines the advantages of historical weather records ...
Where: Cost: Free
GenAI, The Next Tech WaveHina Ashar is a seasoned engineering and AI leader with extensive experience driving product development across both large enterprises as well as early stage startups. She began her career as a software developer and advanced into executive leadership roles, where she has delivered several new products leveraging modern software and ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
'Shot in the Arm' - Film Screening and Discussion - LivestreamFrom Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Scott Hamilton Kennedy and executive producer Neil de Grasse Tyson, "Shot in the Arm" explores vaccine hesitancy throughout history, spanning distrust of smallpox inoculation to the latest mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Learn how we can replace suspicion with understanding and bridge the political divides that leave us ...
The unknown story of fishermen and environmentalists who turned collapse into cooperation, and why it matters for every resource crisis we face…Oceans were once a case study in collapse: collapsing stocks, collapsing trust, collapsing hope. Then came a quietly radical shift. This talk reveals how wild fish, once written off ...
Viavi Solutions is a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of thin-film optical coatings for a wide variety of markets and applications. Over the past five years, there has been a renewed interest in free-space optical communication, especially for satellite-to-satellite communication links. These systems require filters for signal-to-noise optimization, ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
History of Medical Pseudoscience: A Collection of Quackery - LivestreamMedicine became a science only a few hundred years ago, offering physicians the opportunity to save millions of lives. Unfortunately, some medical practitioners have distorted well-tested medical principles for their personal profit to the detriment of those who suffer the most. Join us for a Skeptical Inquirer Presents livestream with Robert Greenspan, ...
Where: Cost: Free
'Apollo 13' in IMAX® at The Tech Interactive“Houston, we have a problem.” With that iconic phrase, NASA’s most dramatic mission became a story of courage, ingenuity, and survival against all odds. Now, 30 years after Ron Howard’s acclaimed film first hit theaters, you can relive the gripping journey of Apollo 13 like never before, in all of ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20.00
Dive into JadeJoin us for the start of a new Museum program, Dive into Jade! A special look at aspects of jade and featuring discussions, demonstrations, and panels, Dive into Jade will launch with a panel of jade experts: Kenny Comello, Marina Shoupe, and Ryan Masters, as they take us into the ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: $25 General, $15 Members advance, $30 at door
After Dark: Back-to-School NightNostalgic photos, friendly competitions, and arts and crafts - back-to-school season is in full swing at After Dark. Join us to celebrate the power of knowledge, from STEM trivia to a cooking show - inspired game between science teachers. Hang out with your friends, take a throwback school photo, and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, 50% off for educators
NightLife x AXIS Dance CompanyAXIS Dance Company takes NightLife - celebrating access, expression, and the joy of movement for every body. See weblink for more details
Hawaii is tragically known as the endangered species capital of the world and the archipelago is home to approximately one third of all endangered species in the United States. We will introduce you to Hawaii’s rare endemic birds, from petrels to honeycreepers, share the threats they face, and highlight the conservation initiatives in ...
Where: Cost: Free
Cold War ComputingBehind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War lies a high-stakes tale of secret espionage networks, utopian visions of a cybernetic future, and remarkable technocratic reform.Balkan Cyberia, by CHM Book Prize winner Victor Petrov, explores how Soviet-era Bulgaria was a center of innovation in electronics and computing. In an age ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost:
Science Friday LiveNPR's Science Friday uncovers and reports on amazing science news and stories happening in the Bay Area!This is your chance to peek behind the curtain of your favorite national radio show and participate in a special live performance with the experts and conversations you love.This program features interactive moments, audience ...
Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are already impacting our lives at an almost unbelievable pace. The addition of situational context to AI, and real time access to AI analysis through augmented reality and spatial computing, will only stand to further increase this impact. But, despite the incredible leaps in ...
Reactions of water typically involve breaking H-O bonds and are ubiquitous in biological, industrial, and environmental processes. The simplest reaction is heterolytic water dissociation (WD), H2O ??' H+ + OH-, the understanding of which has been a focus of experiment and theory for decades. We use a bipolar-membrane (BPM) electrolyzer, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
'Apollo 13' in IMAX® at The Tech Interactive“Houston, we have a problem.” With that iconic phrase, NASA’s most dramatic mission became a story of courage, ingenuity, and survival against all odds. Now, 30 years after Ron Howard’s acclaimed film first hit theaters, you can relive the gripping journey of Apollo 13 like never before, in all of ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20.00
The Latest on Vera Rubin ObservatoryAfter 20 years of proposals, multiple DOE and NSF reviews, the construction of the Vera Rubin Observatory on Cerro Pachon in Chile was finally approved. While a few minor construction details remain, the observatory has taken several weeks of test images. This talk includes a review of the observatory, the ...
Where: LivermoreCost: Free
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.Event details:Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park San Jose. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 09/20/25
Coastal Clean-Up Day 2025 - Golden Gate National Recreation AreaJoin us on September 20, 2025 for Coastal Clean-up Day - the statewide movement that helps clear trash from California’s coastlines and inland waterways every year! Volunteers will enjoy beautiful ocean views while they remove litter and debris, protect native habitats, and help minimize marine debris. This is a fun ...
Where: Cost: Free
TechfestCHM’s all-day TechFest events offer special family-oriented experiences included in the price of Museum admission. We're going retro with a celebration of 1990s technology and culture. Dress up in your best '90s gear, dance to the pop hits of the time, play '90s video games from The Museum of Art ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: $21.50 General, $16.50 Sr, Student, Teacher
The Physics Show - Three PerformancesThe Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September, one weekend in December, and three days of shows in January.Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.Venue: Smithwick Theater
As our understanding of diverse molecular mechanisms becomes increasingly detailed, the use of 3D animations to depict these dynamic and complex processes has become more common. Animation often requires the synthesis of diverse data, including molecular structures, localization, and temporal information. The completed animation can be thought of as a ...
Where: Cost: 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 ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
'Apollo 13' in IMAX® at The Tech Interactive“Houston, we have a problem.” With that iconic phrase, NASA’s most dramatic mission became a story of courage, ingenuity, and survival against all odds. Now, 30 years after Ron Howard’s acclaimed film first hit theaters, you can relive the gripping journey of Apollo 13 like never before, in all of ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20.00
California Coastal Cleanup DayJoin the Trashure Hunt! This year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will become the world's largest scavenger hunt. Special "trash" items will be hidden at cleanup sites all across the state. If you find one of them, you can redeem it for valuable prizes! Find your local cleanup site and learn ...
Where: Cost: Free
Sunday, 09/21/25
Coastal Cleanup Volunteer Day at the EECJoin us for Coastal Cleanup Day! This year marks the 36th anniversary of Coastal Cleanup Day and is one of California's largest volunteer events with sites all over the state participating. Help us pick up litter from the roads and trails around the Environmental Education Center (EEC) to help keep our ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
The Physics Show - Three PerformancesThe Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September, one weekend in December, and three days of shows in January.Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.Venue: Smithwick Theater
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: $6
Sea Otter ViewingJoin us for Sea Otter Awareness Week at Berwick Park along Ocean View Blvd in Pacific Grove! Our naturalists will having spotting scopes to look for otters, plus special marine specimens.
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
'Apollo 13' in IMAX® at The Tech Interactive“Houston, we have a problem.” With that iconic phrase, NASA’s most dramatic mission became a story of courage, ingenuity, and survival against all odds. Now, 30 years after Ron Howard’s acclaimed film first hit theaters, you can relive the gripping journey of Apollo 13 like never before, in all of ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20.00
Sun DaySun Day is a day of action celebrating the power of clean energy.The clean energy revolution is here. Solar, wind and batteries are the cheapest form of power on the planet, lowering costs, creating new jobs, and strengthening our communities. But some politicians and industries are trying to hold it ...
Dr. Nathan Rank is a professor in the Biology Department at Sonoma State University, known for his famous BIOL 323 Entomology course. Today he presents aspects of his extensive research on beetles in the Sierra Nevada.Speaker: Nathan Rank, Sonoma State University
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
California Spotlight: Tech AuthoritarianismAs a hub of technological innovation, California is increasingly grappling with complex questions surrounding the influence of technology on society and governance. The rise of powerful tech entities and the rapid advancement of digital technologies are giving way to new forms of control, raising concerns about tech authoritarianism and its ...
Life-Saving Laws: Acts and Actions for Sea Otters - LivestreamAs a threatened species, southern sea otters are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. Just how important are these laws for the recovery of sea otters and other wildlife? Join experts from The Marine Mammal Center and Sea Otter Savvy for a special?We Were ...
Where: Cost: Free
The State Water Project’s California Aqueduct: Coping With SubsidenceJesse will talk about his work at the California Aqueduct Subsidence Program (CASP), a State Water Project (SWP) initiative focused on addressing the impacts of land subsidence on the California Aqueduct. Under his leadership, CASP has expanded significantly since its launch in 2019 with a current annual budget of more than ...
Speakers: Sally Benson, Stanford University; Adrian Yao, Stanford University
Where: StanfordCost: Free
From the Innovator's WorkbenchInterventional cardiologist Paul Yock has had a transformational impact on patient care around the world. Beyond his direct contributions as an inventor of paradigm-changing health technologies (including the Rapid Exchange angioplasty and stenting system), he catalyzed a sea change in health technology innovation education with the formation of the Medical ...
My group develops catalysts that merge the benefits of enzymes and abiotic chemistry. In one research area, we are using DNA as a nanoscaffold to accelerate the discovery and enhance the activity of abiotic catalyst systems. I will describe a platform to rapidly evaluate up to a million DNA nano-catalysts ...
In 2008, a groundbreaking milestone was achieved when scientists captured the first mass spectra of intact membrane protein complexes, detached from their native detergent micelles, directly in the gas phase. This achievement opened a new frontier in nanoscience, allowing detailed investigation of the molecular architecture and dynamics of these elusive, ...
California’s nature is world famous, and our state’s environmental policies lead the world combatting challenges like climate change. Today, the Trump Administration is attacking California’s environmental policies while threatening to sell public lands and roll back decades of conservation progress across the country. Join us to hear how California is ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $18 + fees
Wednesday, 09/24/25
Homeschool Days at The Tech InteractiveHomeschoolers, this is your day to play!The Tech Interactive is rolling out NEW Homeschool Days just for you!Shake up your schedule and enjoy a day of hands-on science, engineering, and creativity that complements your curriculum and keeps your learners engaged from start to finish.Each Homeschool Day Includes:Full access to all ...
Where: San JoseCost: $30.00
Progress and Future Challenges in AI, Wearables, and Smartphones for Understanding and Healing DepressionIn this talk, Dr. Picard will share new results from MIT studies that link continuous physiological signals, speech, sleep - activity rhythms, and in-the-moment mood/stress reports with behaviors and AI-generated forecasts of health change. She will discuss what these patterns reveal about autonomic and neurological activity, the promise of personalized, ...
Harpreet Sareen (New School) on "Post-Human Desigh/ The Great Decentering" Alexander Sorenson (Binghamton University) on "Hidden Hearts: On Selfhood and the (Un)sayable in Rilke's Poetry"See weblink to register
Climate change impacts to California’s iconic coastline include higher sea levels, changes in storm frequency and intensity, warmer air and ocean temperatures, and changes in precipitation patterns. The rates of change over the next century are expected to be significantly higher than what has been observed in the past. Sea-level ...
Anthropologist and UC Berkeley alum Anand Pandian (Sociocultural Anthropology, 2004) will speak from a new book about the United States called Something Between Us. The book is based on fieldwork in more than a dozen states, with everyone from homebuilders and truck drivers to activists for gender and environmental justice. ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Seeing and Engineering Biomolecular Condensates with Atomic PrecisionPhase separation of RNA-binding proteins via multivalent interactions between aromatic/polar-rich disordered domains contributes to the formation of functional cytoplasmic granules and nuclear puncta. These domains have also been identified as players in cancer-causing fusion proteins as well as the nucleators of neuronal inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia, ...
Understanding human behaviors is crucial for high-stakes societal decisions: for example, effective pandemic response relies on understanding how infectious diseases spread through contact between individuals and how individuals change their behaviors in response to policies and disease. However, fine-grained behaviors are often difficult to observe (e.g., for cost or privacy ...
The Threat to US AstrophysicsSpeaker 1: Dr. Eric BurnsWhen stars go boom: supernovae and the elements in your beer”Speaker 2: David KekejianClick here to watch on YouTube. Click on the thumbnail for the September talk
Step aside chatbots - AI agents are here. According to a new McKinsey & Company report, the "potentially revolutionary" arrival of AI agents promises to transform the way we work. In July, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, unveiled its latest product, ChatGPT Agent, which it claims can "handle complex tasks ...
Takako Fujioka (Stanford) on "Joint coordination and improvisation in music" Jared Moore (Stanford) on "The Realities and Illusions of AI" Jason Kelly Johnson and Nataly Gattegno (Futureforms) on “Futureforms: Digital Craft”
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Virtual Skeptics in the PubThis is a casual night of socializing with fellow science-forward skeptics and with others inhabiting our oblate spheroidal planet.Please join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.Click here to join in. Passcode 1023
Where: Cost: Free
The Biology of ConsciousnessAn anesthesiologist explores the circuits behind our mental states.Speaker: Art Wallace, UC San Francisco
Between 2000 and 2021, Michigan ranked second nationwide for large, frequent weather-related outages, underscoring the urgent need to better understand the lived experience of vulnerable populations during such events. In this context, researchers interviewed 48 households in the Bryant neighborhood (out of 280 households), a community where three-quarters of residents ...
Where: Cost: Free
SETI Live: 2024 YR4: Lunar Impact?Join host Dr. Franck Marchis and guest Dr. Andy Rivkin (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory) for a discussion on asteroid 2024 YR4 and its potential impact on the Moon.Thanks to new observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists have refined the asteroid’s orbit and determined there is ...
After Dark: PatternsAwaken your senses to the intricate designs of the universe and dive into the mesmerizing world of patterns. Listen for recurring motifs in music performed by the Bay Area Persian Music Ensemble. Get hands-on with fractals and flowers, produce your own banger beat, and uncover the secrets of clouds. Join ...
On April 19, 2021, Ingenuity became the first helicopter to fly on Mars at Jezero Crater, completing a total of 72 flights by the end of its mission. The success of Ingenuity resulted in various research efforts to further explore Mars via vertical flight, including two optimized Ingenuity-sized helicopters proposed ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free (charge for pizza)
Understanding Addiction Night 4 - The Power of Radical InclusionGLIDE staff regularly reverse overdoses and GLIDE has also tragically lost clients and community members to overdose. And GLIDE has the solution: a radically inclusive approach to health access pioneered by the Reverend Cecil Williams and influenced by the historic work of the AIDS activists in the 80’s.The key to ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $18 in person, $9 online
Friday, 09/26/25
Sea Otter ViewingJoin us for Sea Otter Awareness Week at Berwick Park along Ocean View Blvd in Pacific Grove! Our naturalists will having spotting scopes to look for otters, plus special marine specimens.
With the rise in global data demands, energy efficiency in electronics has become a defining challenge for sustainable progress in AI, healthcare, IoT, and beyond. Today’s electronics, constrained by materials and architectures that separate computing and memory, are nearing their energy and latency limits for data-intensive applications. Emerging approaches, such ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Rewriting the Periodic Properties of the f-ElementsThe advent of the nuclear age transformed our society. However, fundamental chemical control of the bonding, reactivity, and electronic properties of the f-elements (the lanthanides and actinides) - the elements that drove this initial technological revolution - is still developing. As a result, fulfilling the promise of the nuclear age ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Saturday, 09/27/25
Birding at Cypress Grove PreserveJoin ecologist David Lumpkin for a morning search for migratory birds at Cypress Grove Preserve.This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature and learn more about the diverse bird species found in the area.We’ll be checking Tomales Bay for the odd jaeger, combing through flocks of returning sparrows, ...
Where: MarshallCost: Free
Science Saturday: Biodiversity BlastJoin us for a Biodiversity-themed Science Saturday where you can explore the rich diversity of life found along the Central Coast. Engaging activities and interactive displays will highlight the importance of biodiversity in our ecosystems, emphasizing the roles different species play in maintaining environmental balance. Visitors will have the opportunity ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free with admission
Green@Home Tour: MarinExplore homes throughout Marin County, ranging from new construction to those transitioning from gas.Gain valuable insights from tour hosts on appliance selection, contractor decisions, installation processes, tax credits and incentives, making your transition to electric living informed and cost-effective.Attendees will have the opportunity to see firsthand a wide variety of ...
Where: Cost: Free
Jazz Under the StarsJazz Under the Stars is a FREE monthly public stargazing event! Join us for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our jazz from CSM's own KCSM 91.1. Founded in 1964, KCSM has grown to become one of the top 35 most listened to non-commercial ...
Abbey Dias is an alum of the Biology Department's Graduate Program at SSU, and former member of the Hughes Lab. She is currently the Assistant Diving and Boating Safety Officer for the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab. Abbey is also a talented underwater photographer, "...combining science with film to promote ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial IntelligenceThis paper examines changes in the labor market for occupations exposed to generative artificial intelligence using high-frequency administrative data from the largest payroll software provider in the United States. We present six facts that characterize these shifts. We find that since the widespread adoption of generative AI, early-career workers (ages ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Compartmentalizing and connecting the mitochondrial collective through pearling and bridgingMitochondria form dynamic networks, transitioning between a highly interconnected reticulum and a collection of dissociated rod-shaped individuals. How these dynamics serve the mitochondrial life cycle of proliferation and quality control remains poorly understood. Moreover, mitochondria can form homotypic membrane contact sites which bridge neighboring organelles - yet their function, protein ...
California has pioneered energy efficiency for more than six decades, transforming it into a professionalized practice and global model. After 20+ years of flat electricity demand, load growth is returning - driven by electrification, digitalization, and new industries - making efficiency more essential than ever.Today’s efficiency goes beyond traditional savings. ...
Stanford Energy welcomes Andrey Shuvalov, Vice President, Energy Transition at Shell USA, for a conversation with Will Chueh, Director of Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy. In this session, Shuvalov will discuss how Shell balances delivering a secure supply of energy sources giving customers more choice and less emissions, all within a dynamic and evolving energy ...
Precise control of structural parameters through nanoscale engineering to improve optical and electronic properties of functional nanomaterials continuously remains an outstanding challenge. Previous work on nanoparticle synthesis and assembly has been conducted largely through solution chemistry at ambient pressure and relies on specific chemical or physical interactions such as van ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Our Humpback Whales: Locals… but not locals only - LivestreamCalifornia humpback whales are seasonal migrants between here and mostly Mexico and Central America, a simple general pattern, but when we look deeper the patterns are complex and persistent across huge population changes. Join us for an exploration of new technology enabling a deep dive into the lives of leviathans, ...
AI tools are everywhere now, promising to help us write, solve, understand, and create faster and more easily than ever. But there is a growing concern: Are these tools actually helping us learn, or just making it look or feel like we know something? Can we develop AI systems to ...
A Dash of Climate Hope: Impactful Climate Actions - LivestreamLet's inspire people to take action on climate through a focus on solutions and hope, rather than a sole focus on climate impacts and fear. Get a dose of optimism as we share climate solutions happening around the world that provide the sense of empowerment and agency we need to ...
Sea-level rise adaptation in San Francisco Bay requires cooperation among policy actors at multiple scales. This talk will investigate the major barriers to sea-level rise adaptation and current steps being taken to address those barriers. There is a central focus on governance issues from the perspective of polycentric structures and ...
Woods Senior Fellow Rob Jackson is the author of Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere (Simon & Schuster). Jackson, a professor of earth science with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, is chair of the Global Carbon Project and one of the top five most-cited ...
Where: Cost: Free
Bodega Marine Lab Seminar Series - CanceledJoin us for the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory Seminar Series, featuring speakers from within the marine sciences community and beyond.Speaker: Halley Froehlich, UC Santa Barbara
Delta Futures explores the competing visions of the future that are crowding into the Bengal Delta’s imperiled present and vying for control of its ecologically vulnerable terrain. In Bangladesh’s southwest, development programs that imagine the delta as a security threat unfold on the same ground as initiatives that frame the ...
We face a “silver tsunami”: the number of older adults is increasing at an unprecedented rate, while shortages of both professional and family caregivers are growing. Can technology help? What if AI could analyze the wireless signals that bounce around a home and measure people’s physiological signals, diagnose new diseases, ...
Characterizing Massive Planets with Direct Imaging and Precision AstrometrySpeaker: Danielle Bovie, University of Texas, San AntonioObserving the Moon: From Backyard to SpacecraftSpeaker: Partice Smith, University of Texas, San AntonioClick here to watch on YouTube
Where: Cost: Free
On the Air: Learn How to Fight Air Pollution In Your NeighborhoodTo celebrate California Clean Air Day on October 1, learn how to affordably transition to cleaner energy - and cleaner air - in your home and neighborhood.Many people think of cars and factories as the main sources of air pollution. But in the Bay Area, gas-powered appliances actually produce more ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free with registration, donations encouraged
The EARNEST Consortium, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is dedicated to identifying and advancing solutions for the future of the U.S. electricity system. As part of its public engagement efforts, EARNEST is hosting its first webinar series focused on “U.S. Grid Reliability and Resilience.” This upcoming session ...
Campi Flegrei are one of the most dangerous active volcanoes on Earth with approximately 2 million people leaving within its caldera. Since the 1950’s the centre of the caldera has uplifted more than 5 m, with 4 main unrest episodes, the last of which is currently ongoing. I will first ...
Speaker: Amory Lovins, Rocky Mountain Institute, retiredAttend in person or online (See weblink)
Where: StanfordCost: Free
SETI Live: Hidden Habitability on Ceres - LivestreamJoin host Beth Johnson and guest Dr. Sam Courville, lead author of a new study on Ceres, as they dive into the possibility that the dwarf planet may have had the energy needed to support habitability for much longer than once believed. Using data from NASA’s Dawn mission, researchers uncovered ...
Expedition in pursuit of protection, exposed humans to a mysterious phenomenon in nature, electricity. His strong sense of curiosity enabled him to develop an understanding along with technology that became an essential part of his life support.In this talk we pursue the discovery, progress in understanding, and engineering of electricity ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Deepfakes, Dirty Tricks, and the Future of Trust - LivestreamFrom ghost photos to UFO sightings, people have always been drawn to illusions. Deepfakes are the modern version - sharper, faster, and designed to exploit trust at scale. They’re already fueling disinformation campaigns, powering scams, and giving cybercriminals a powerful new playbook. Join us for a Skeptical Inquirer Presents livestream with cybersecurity ...
In recent years, we have seen a large body of research using hierarchical matrix algebra to construct low complexity linear solvers and preconditioners. Not only can these fast solvers significantly accelerate the speed of large scale PDE based simulations, but also they can speed up many AI and machine learning ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22 General, member discounts
NightLife: BigPictureStep inside the frame and catch some of nature’s most striking images during the sneak peek event of this year’s BigPicture: Natural World Photography exhibition.Ages 21+
Where: San FranciscoCost: Varies
After Dark: Plug and PlayExplore the world of acoustics, rhythm, and vibrations through playful exhibits and surprising sonic experiences. Treat your ears to an inspiring performance by Awesöme Orchestra, play a round of Science Trivia, and dive into the phenomena of sound with an exhibit scavenger hunt. Whether you’re looking for a group hang ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
Reinventing the way we break down plastic wasteFrom our kitchens to our clothes to the delivery of medicines, plastics play an indispensable role in our daily lives. But, the end-life of these plastics is not always taken into account. Few types of plastics can be readily recycled, and durable plastics take centuries to break down in landfills ...
First Friday Nights at CuriOdysseySwing into the weekend with science, animals, music, food trucks, and fun! On the first Friday of every month, parents and kids celebrate together at CuriOdyssey.Dance to some of your favorite hits, while enjoying animal presentations and science activities. Activities and programs are different each time, so make it a ...
Join us on First Friday for a special opportunity to meet science illustrator and artist Kirsten Carlson! Explore her stunning work that blends art, science, and storytelling, and hear firsthand about her creative process and passion for the natural world.Come get inspired, ask questions, and connect with the artist!
Where: Pacific GroveCost:
First Friday: Spooky AstronomyGet in the Halloween spirit with a night of cosmic chills and family thrills. Join us for a frightfully fun evening featuring live music, ooey gooey science demos, creepy crafting, and a spook-tacular Halloween-themed laser show! Perfect for all ages, this is one event your family won’t want to miss!
Where: OaklandCost: $10 Ganeral, $5 kids/seniors, Free members
Question: How can we learn about matter that we can’t see? Answer: By looking at how the invisible matter’s gravity affects the matter we can see. This is gravitational lensing, an exciting and active field of cosmology research through which we hope to answer fundamental questions about the universe like the nature of ...
