Motivation, Representation, and Autonomous AgentsThe past decade’s series of dramatic AI successes has brought us closer to realizing the dream of the autonomous agent - an artificial system that can learn about its world, make decisions, and set and achieve goals, all with minimal human intervention. Nature has given us an incredible motif for ...
Along rivers, bedload transport causes collision and wear of sediment particles, by both surface attrition that produces sand and silt, and chipping that produces larger fragments. As a result, riverbed sediments exhibit two downstream trends: rounding and fining where particle size decreases with distance downstream. Sediments supplied by hillslopes to ...
The presentation delves into the prevalent challenges of human infertility and congenital defects exacerbated by environmental toxins. Chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, present in plastics, cosmetics, and personal care items, disrupt hormones and pathways as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). Despite efforts to replace BPA with alternatives labeled “BPA-Free,†these ...
Where: EmeryvilleCost: Free
Doors Open 2023: Go Behind - the - Scenes at the Physical ArchiveWe are excited to offer a behind-the-scenes tour of the physical collections of books, music, film, and video in Richmond, California.With this special insider event we are opening the doors to an often unseen place. See the lifecycle of physical books - donation, preservation, digitization, and access. Also, samples from ...
Near-Earth objects present both an existential threat to human civilization and an extraordinary opportunity to help our exploration and expansion across the solar system. The risk of a sudden, civilization-altering collision with an asteroid or comet has markedly diminished in recent decades due to diligent astronomical surveys, but a significant ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free
What Can AI Teach Us About the Human Mind...and vice versa?Scientists often use models to study complicated and interesting phenomena (think the model of the atom, mouse models to study cancer, etc.). In particular, computational models allow us to improve our understanding of phenomena that cannot be observed directly, whether due to time (such as predicting earthquakes) or access constraints ...
Where: San RafaelCost: Free
Thursday, 10/12/23
Coastal Walk at Cowell-Purisima TrailJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful Thursday walk along the Cowell-Purisima trail that POST helped create by protecting adjacent farmland. While it may be foggy, we hope to catch gorgeous views of the ocean, nearby farmland, and glimpses of harbor seals, pelicans, hawks, rabbits, and whales during the ...
Listen carefully to the secret sounds of the animal world. In this collection of videos created by scientist Karen Bakker she takes you up close to five species and their fascinating sounds, and the stories of how scientists have studied them. Drawing from her book The Sounds of Life, Karen ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 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.Venture into our latest ...
When we contemplate how bird diversity has changed, we often focus on the handful of species we have lost entirely. But while we have yet to lose a single bird species to our rapidly changing climate, birds and other creatures are currently adapting and responding in myriad ways. Across the world, species are shifting their geographic ...
Join Bay Area Skeptics president Eugenie Scott in a wide-ranging conversation with science journalist and creator of the very popular skeptical YouTube channel, Potholer54. Through clips from the channel, Scott and Hadfield discuss his approach to his long-time production of science-related videos, and the importance of outreach to the public ...
Where: Cost: Free
Friday, 10/13/23
Bair Island Walking TourJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a walking tour at Bair Island! 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 can do to contribute.This easy 1 mile walk with little to no ...
Deep ocean industrial and hazardous waste disposal was a pervasive global practice near coastlines in the 20th century. Uncertainty in the quantity, location, and contents of the discarded materials at historic dump sites pose ongoing risks to marine ecosystems and human health. This talk will describe observations and analytic techniques ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
Public Astronomy Viewing NightsCome for public viewing of the night sky at Sonoma State University's Observatory.Check the weblink for weather conditions before going as the event is weather dependent.
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
How to Survive the A.I. ApocalypseAfter two sold-out shows in NYC, Shiva and Ben of KRAZAM are coming to SF, bringing you the knowledge you need to survive in the post-AI world!Live ComedyInteractive SegmentsExclusive New KRAZAM VidsExistential DreadForbidden KnowledgeAppSec Lessons
Where: San FranciscoCost: $35
Saturday, 10/14/23
Annular Solar EclipseThis fall, here in the Bay Area, we will have one of our last chances to experience a solar eclipse in our own back yard until 2024! Chabot Space & Science Center will be open early to ensure guests have the best chance to spot the annular solar eclipse from ...
Where: OaklandCost: $30 Adult, $25 Youth/Sr/Student, under 2 free
Partial Eclipse Viewing At Houge ParkEveryone is invited to join us at Houge Park to observe a partial solar eclipse where the moon will cover most of the sun. Come between 7:30 and 8 if you want to see the full eclipse, but don't hesitate to join us after the eclipse has started, it will ...
The Sage and Drifter bar hosts an eclipse viewing party,On Saturday October 14 there will be a Total Annular Solar Eclipse of the Sun! The path of totality crosses the US from Oregon to Texas. From San Francisco 83% of the Sun will be covered.Safely View this spectacular event with ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Annular Solar EclipseLearn MoreFor general eclipse information, and specifics on this eclipse, check out the NASA 2023 Solar Eclipse website!Eye safety is very important when looking at the sun! Here’s a helpful NASA guide on Eclipse Safety.To see the path of this annular eclipse, and next year’s total eclipse, check out NASA’s 2023 ...
Where: Los Altos HillsCost: Free
Eclipse Viewing PartyOn October 14, an annular solar eclipse will be visible across the United States. The Lawrence will have eclipse glasses for sale leading up to and during the eclipse. Join us for a viewing party and an exploration of how eclipses occur!
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free with admission
Partial Solar Eclipse at Stanford/KIPACPlease join us to watch the solar eclipse together! While the Bay Area is not on the path of annularity, we will still have around 80% coverage with a partial eclipse and would love to invite you to celebrate this astronomical event together! Please see below an overview of the ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Annular Eclipse LiveOn Saturday, October 14, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. The SETI Institute and Unistellar are joining together for an expanded SETI Live, with teams on the ground in Oregon, Nevada, and Utah using eVscopes equipped with solar filters to observe the event. Additionally, we’re ...
Where: Cost: Free
Fall Baylands BioblitzJoin the BioBlitz.club and Environmental Volunteers for a Fall BioBlitz in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and Byxbee Park.Fall is a wonderful time for migrating birds. Join us to learn about some of our native and non-native species, become a community scientist and help us collect scientific data.Please bring ...
Start your morning with a solar eclipse at the Exploratorium!Join us for an outdoor solar eclipse viewing in front of Pier 15. Exploratorium educators will be present to demonstrate safe viewing techniques and engage families in hands-on activities. We have a limited supply of free eclipse glasses available to hand ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Friends and family birding day at Bouverie PreserveJoin us for a fun-filled day of birding at Bouverie Preserve! Whether you’re an experienced birder or just starting out, this event is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages. Spend the day exploring the beautiful preserve and spotting a variety of bird species in their natural habitat.Bring your friends ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: Free
Family Nature Day at Huddart ParkJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), Friends of Huddart & Wunderlich Parks, and San Mateo County Parks for a family-friendly morning filled with hikes for all ages, hands-on learning experiences and arts activities. Register now to reserve a free ticket for you and your friends and family!$6 parking fee, cash ...
Where: WoodsideCost: Free
Fire Ecology HikeJoin us to learn about the importance of getting ‘good fire’ back onto coastal landscapes and our ongoing work to steward the preserve using prescribed burning. A guided 4-mile hike will reveal the progress and preparations we’re making within two unique burn projects in coastal prairie and coastal redwood habitats.The ...
Where: Stinson BeachCost: Free
TechFestCHM’s all-day TechFest events offer special family-oriented experiences included in the price of Museum admission. We’ll be bringing you tech-themed demos, performances, hands-on activities, and more. Explore CHM exhibits, shop in the Museum store, enjoy a tasty treat from the Cloud Bistro or a visiting food truck, and have fun ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: Free
Sunday, 10/15/23
Presidio: Changes Through TimeJoin the National Park Service and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the GGNRA!This half-mile, level walk shows the historical changes to the Presidio, from the Spanish fort all the way to the new Tunnel Tops. Who benefitted from these changes, and who did not?Learn about the people who lived here, and ...
The Nature Sounds Society's lecture-demonstration with surround sound.LEARNhow wildlife is disturbed by human noisehow the national parks are conserving their natural soundscapesTUNE UP YOUR EARShear the difference between mono, stereo, and surround soundhear the environment that we usually try to ignorehear the individual voices in a chaotic jungle soundscapeLISTENtake your ...
Humans have sought "signs from above†for millennia. The scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) began circa 1960, and, today, grows ever deeper and more technologically diverse. The scope of modern research is breathtaking. Methods include targeted searches for electromagnetic (EM) signals near known Earth-like exoplanets, continuous EM scans over ...
At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco, catching most of the city asleep. For approximately one minute, shockwaves buckled streets, shattered water mains, collapsed buildings, crushed hundreds of residents to death and trapped many alive. For the next three days, fires ignited and ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $20 General, $10 Members
Phonon thermal conductivity in ferroelectric materials: the case for “polarization caloritronicsâ€What is the nature of the thermal fluctuations of polarization in ferroelectric materials, the equivalent of magnons in ferromagnetic materials? In displacement ferroelectrics they are phonons involving the atoms that carry Born effective charges; these describe the electrical polarization induced by the displacement of individual atomic sublattices. These phonons are ...
Synthetic biology is one of the most promising fields of research for the 21st century. It offers powerful ways to build the global economy, manufacture sustainable materials, and address climate change. However, current access to biotechnology breakthroughs is unequal, largely due to bottlenecks in infrastructure and education. Here, I describe ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Scalable Quantum Nanophotonics: From Nanofabrication to Quantum Circuit MappingDr. Radulaski explores light and matter interaction at the nanoscale for applications in quantum and classical informationprocessing hardware. Photonic systems are the leading candidates for creating reliable sources of quantum information and other important tools for quantum computing. Recent advances in photonic technology have important applications in building quantum networks, ...
Dr. Karine Gibbs studies the social behaviors of tiny organisms. Her team asks how bacteria recognize one another, engage in collective behaviors such as territory formation, and cause disease. They use molecular biology, biochemistry, and live-cell imaging to examine shapeshifting, fast-moving residents of humans and animals. Dr. Gibbs (A.B., Harvard ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Scouting for light new physicsThe two most common ways particle physicists are searching for the existence of new forces or new degrees of freedom are either by producing heavy new particles directly, using collisions at the highest achievable energies, or by measuring precisely processes that are very rare. In the colloquium I will review ...
The US State Department's Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) develops and executes US international energy policy through diplomatic and programmatic engagement that promotes a low-emissions future, energy security for the United States and our allies and partners, and economic prosperity through sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy access. In a conversation ...
It's a challenge to make the best decisions in a world that is unpredictable and full of contradictions. Help is now available in the form of advice from quantum physicist Jim Al-Khalili, who shares 8 lessons from the heart of science that he says can help people get the most ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 General, Free for Members
Tuesday, 10/17/23
Understanding Food Loss and WasteFood that is lost or wasted on its journey from farm to fork creates the potent greenhouse gas methane and results in lost environmental resources, energy, and economic productivity. Reducing food loss and waste (in the U.S., the goal is to cut food waste by 50% by 2030) represents a ...
Extreme wildfire has become a global crisis - affecting lives, property, air quality, economies and ecosystems. What role can technology and startups play in helping address it? Bill Clerico is the founder and managing partner at Convective Capital, a wildfire-focused venture capital firm and will share his perspectives on the ...
Quantum error correction was invented as a graceful answer to how quantum computing would be feasible despite continuous noises from environment. It was soon realized that gauge theories had been a quantum error correcting code in disguise. This perspective has influenced designs of quantum fault-tolerant protocols. On the other hand, ...
Speaker: Eugenia Bone is an internationally known food and nature writer. Her work has appeared in many anthologies, magazines, and newspapers, including The New York Times, The National Lampoon, Saveur, Gourmet, BBC Science, and The Wall Street Journal, where she is a frequent book reviewer.Attend in person or online.
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Astronomy on Tap Tucson #92: Revealing the Hidden - LivestreamUnveiling the Missing Universe with Arizona’s Own Space TelescopeSpeaker: Carlos VargasThe Search for Stealth Ocean WorldsSpeaker: Adeene DentonOn tap this month, we have Steward Observatory professor Carlos Vargas and Lunar and Planetary Laboratory postdoc Adeene Denton! Carlos will tell us all about the University of Arizona’s very own view of ...
