Foundation models, trained on vast and diverse data that capture broad aspects of the human experience, are at the heart of the ongoing AI revolution, transforming how we create, problem-solve, and work. These models - and the insights gained from developing them - are increasingly relevant to the advancement of ...
We are excited to hear from the Lunar and Planetary Institute’s Allison McGraw: “Everything is Bigger Than Texas: A Tour of the Solar System ” and Univerity of Texas San Antonio’s Austin Patridge ” Space Weathering on the Moon”.Click here to watch
Where: Cost: Free
Astronomy’s Newest Discovery Machine: The Vera Rubin Observatory - LivestreamJoin us as four Berkeley astronomers share how they are using the Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile - which contains the largest camera ever built and will create an ultra-high-definition time lapse of our Universe - to bring cosmic mysteries to light.Register at: basicscience.berkeley.eduModerator: Steven Kahn, Dean, Division of Mathematical ...
Like birds, frogs are a commonly studied species that rely on acoustic communication for survival and fitness. During the frog breeding season, males gather together in big groups and advertise themselves to females. Often times, parameters of male advertisement calls may signal something about the male’s quality, such as genetic ...
Where: Cost: Free
Heat Pump Webinar: HVAC Systems and Water Heaters - LivestreamA free webinar on the benefits of Heat Pump systems! Learn about HVAC and HPWH basics, advice, and all the available incentives.Join us for an engaging Green@Home webinar where we’ll unpack heat pump technology, specifically with Heat Pump Water Heaters and HVAC Systems. Our home heat pump expert, Mike Salameh, ...
Nearly 30 years after the discovery of cosmic acceleration, its origin remains the source of open questions: is it caused by dark energy, a mysterious energy causing the Universe’s expansion to go faster and faster with time? Or was Einstein’s theory of gravity wrong? Cosmology is now at a turning ...
Skillful prediction and projection of tropical cyclone (TC) activity are essential for storm preparedness and risk mitigation, particularly as TC impacts are expected to intensify in a warming climate due to rising sea levels and increased atmospheric moisture. Slowly varying tropical oceanic conditions have traditionally been regarded as a primary ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Battery Energy Storage as a SystemWe will overview decision-making in battery energy storage systems (BESS) across innovation, investment, and deployment. In this work, we apply three analytical lenses to BESS technology: learning curves, deployment costs, and economic feasibility. (1) Technology roadmap modeling - illustrated through a 6,000-scenario evaluation of sodium-ion versus lithium-ion batteries - captures both ...
The availability of low-cost but intermittent renewable electricity (e.g., derived from solar and wind) underscores the grand challenge to store and dispatch energy so that it is available when and where it is needed. Redox-active materials promise the efficient transformation between electrical, chemical, and thermal energy, and are at the ...
What exactly are we talking to when we talk to language models such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini? Do these models have genuine minds with mental states? I will argue that the LLMs we interact with are at least quasi-agents with quasi-beliefs and quasi-desires, in a sense I will explain. ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
After Dark: Ride OnCelebrate Bike Month with the Exploratorium and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition! Hop on your two-wheeler, park it with our secure bike valet service from Bike East Bay, and head inside Pier 15 for the year’s most freewheeling party. Light up an LED tower with your pedaling prowess. Make sorbet ...
Matthew Citron will talk about “Searching for the dark side of our universe with particle accelerators”andTed Swift will speak about “Chasing shadows: measuring asteroids using stellar occultations”
Where: DavisCost: Free
NightLife Carnival SFCarnaval SF is back for year three at NightLife, now with a Fiesta y Fútbol twist! Join our colorful celebration of music, dance, and soccer pride from Latin American, Caribbean, and Afrodiasporic cultures. Experience the joy of Carnaval throughout the museum with hands-on activities, live performances, a pop-up mercado (marketplace), ...
Predicting when evolution will repeat is a central challenge in biology, with implications for evolutionary rescue, biodiversity forecasting, and bioengineering. In this talk, I use examples from bioluminescence, chiton visual systems, and Medusozoa (~jellyfish) to explore three influences on evolutionary repeatability: reuse of existing components, historical contingency, and widespread molecular ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: 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 ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 05/09/26
Hike at Windy HillJoin POST on a guided hike on one of the first open spaces we protected as an organization! A POST Representative will share a few words about POST’s decades of conservation success before hiking groups leave to explore a strenuous but rewarding 7 mile hike with 1,500 feet of elevation ...
Where: Portola ValleyCost: Free
Family Nature Adventures: Mother’s Day Tea Party & Flowers WorkshopThis Months Theme: Mother’s Day Tea Party & Flower WorkshopMake Mother’s Day unforgettable with a perfect mix of creativity, nature, and cherished family moments!Tea Party: Enjoy a charming tea party experience perfect for honoring the special moms and caregivers in your life.Flower Workshop: Dive into the beauty of local flowers ...
Where: OaklandCost: $25 Adults, $35 Youth 3 - 8, $15 off for members
Virology and immunology of emergent arboviruses: learning from the patients - LivestreamEmergent viruses are primarily zoonotic viruses, meaning that they infect both human and non-human animals. They can be transmitted predominantly by aerosols, direct contact or through vectors. This talk will focus on the latter group of emergent viruses, which are transmitted by arthropod vectors (arboviruses). The main arboviruses are transmitted ...
Where: Cost: Free
Electrify Your Life Fair: EV Ride and Drive ActivityLearn how to lower expenses and reduce pollution with electric homes and cars.The Electrify Your Life Fair is for anyone who wants to save money and cut down on pollution at home and in the community. Join to learn how to switch from gas cars and home appliances to clean, ...
Where: SunnyvaleCost: 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 features darker skies ...
Where: Morgan HillCost: Free (registration required at weblink)
Sunday, 05/10/26
Marine Science Sundays: Saving SpeciesJoin us in celebrating Endangered Species Day this month by learning more about marine mammals that have returned from the brink of extinction. You'll hear about the endangered species we care for and more about the Center's efforts to keep the rarest seal in the United States, the Hawaiian monk ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free with admission
Wonderfest: Ask a Science Envoy: DreamFish & WetlandsWonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with enhanced communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:Stanford biologist Marina Luccioni on Fish that Make Dreams - Hawaiian traditional knowledge from the 1400s references “nightmare fish.” Indeed, eating the ...
We examine the prevalence and productivity dynamics of artificial intelligence (AI) in American manufacturing. Working with the Census Bureau to collect detailed large-scale data for 2017 and 2021, we focus on AI-related technologies with industrial applications.We find causal evidence of J-curve-shaped returns, where short-term performance losses precede longer-term gains. Consistent ...
As the global demand for alternative energy intensifies, there is ongoing research and development aimed at enhancing energy storage systems. Lithium metal batteries represent a promising technology for next-generation energy storage solutions. However, stabilizing the lithium metal anode in these batteries remains a significant obstacle to their commercial viability. Given ...
Speaker: Marcus Feldman, Stanford UniversityRoom: Auditorium
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Microelectronics: When the Enabler Becomes the Bottleneck - LivestreamMicroelectronics spans a broad stack from materials and devices to circuits, architectures, and integrated systems, all of which are essential to modern scientific instrumentation. Across fields such as photon science and high-energy physics, advances in microelectronics have enabled new experimental capabilities, from highly segmented detectors to ultrafast, low-noise readout systems. ...
Where: Cost: Free
Powering Global Cooperation: Innovation, Security, & Geopolitics In A Changing Energy LandscapeIn today’s world, energy is a driver of security, prosperity, and strategic influence. As geopolitical shocks, market volatility, and technological change transform the global energy landscape, trusted partnerships are becoming essential to resilience and long-term stability.Join Condoleezza Rice and Arun Majumdar, in conversation, moderated by Šumit Ganguly, on how energy ...
Tribal Nations across California and the U.S. are increasingly asserting leadership in clean energy development-pursuing projects that advance energy resiliency, economic opportunity, and tribal sovereignty. Since many Tribes face unduly high energy costs, long outages and have long borne the brunt of fossil fuel extraction, such projects can have an ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Hidden Health Costs of the Digital AgeScreens - all the time, everywhere, it seems. We sit at our desks facing screens, hold meetings over screens, answer email after email on them. You’ve heard about the mental health harms of screens, but what about the physical ones? Headaches, back pain, restless sleep, and rising rates of preventable ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General in person, $10 online
Skeptics in a Real 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 >Join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.
For over a century, thinkers like Adam Smith and Karl Marx believed that as jobs became more specialized, workers would focus on fewer, simpler tasks. And for a time, that seemed true. But today, many specialized roles - from teachers to doctors to police officers - require people to juggle ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $27
Tuesday, 05/12/26
Black Spot, Black Death, Black Pearl: Tales of Bacterial PathogensMy lab is interested in elucidating the activity of virulence factors from pathogenic bacteria so that we can gain novel molecular insights into eukaryotic signaling systems. The marine bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the worldwide leading cause of seafood-borne acute gastroenteritis. We are working on the two V. parahaemolyticus type 3 ...
As adolescence becomes increasingly digital, public discourse tends to focus on screen time, platform design, and online harms. Yet alongside these concerns, a parallel transformation has unfolded: the steady erosion of physical spaces meant for teens. What happens to youth social life when the outside world contracts? This talk argues ...
I will discuss ideas in modern quantitative finance from the perspective of a theoretical physicist. Starting from the classic picture of price fluctuations as random walks, I will explain how practitioners identify collective modes, or “factors,” and use them to isolate residual predictability, or “alpha.” The problem of trading on ...
Monterey Audubon Society's BLOY project has officially hit 10 years of good, clean data after a few start-up years. Join Judi Romero as she gives an update on the project by sharing what the data is telling us, sharing some stories from the field, and probably some extra-cute photos of ...
A few shark species are, indeed, dangerous wildlife. However, the public portrayal of these animals as villains and killers is overblown. What is the real life of a large shark like? How do they eat? How long do they live, and where do they migrate? Knowing about sharks in this ...
Speakers: Tanya Luhrmann (Stanford Anthropology) on "Voices" Muhammad Khatib (Stanford) on "Fiber Bioelectronics for Precision Medicine" Kathy Aoki (Santa Clara University) on "" Nitya Thakkar (Stanford Medicine) on "AI for Precision Health"
This month, we have two excellent talks lined up: First, Katie Hermanson will tell us about dwarf galaxies in dark matter simulations. Then we’ll hear from Hannah Gulick about hunting for black holes… possibly with the very phone in your pocket!
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) has emerged as a versatile tool for seismic and geophysical studies due to its unprecedented sensor density, converting regular telecommunication fibers into distributed 1D strain sensors. DAS can achieve m-level spatial resolution and kHz sampling rates, enabling direct measurement of the coherent wavefield from seismic events. ...
Parasite diversity is sensitive to habitat disturbance and isolation, yet these expectations have rarely been tested in extreme environments. I studied the metazoan parasite community at hydrothermal vents at 9°50’N on the East Pacific Rise - an island-like, frequently disturbed, successional habitat where few parasite species had yet been discovered. ...
The Moon is entering a new era of exploration, with dozens of commercial, national, and international missions planned for the coming decade. Supporting this activity will require robust Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) infrastructure - a "Lunar GPS" - capable of serving spacecraft, landers, and rovers across the cislunar domain. ...
Ignite SF #19Get ready to be blown away at Ignite SF #19 - 15+ speakers, fast talks, bold ideas, and nonstop creativity on one electrifying stage.Get ready for a night of ideas, insight, and pure adrenaline. In true Ignite fashion, each speaker will have just 5 minutes and 20 auto-advancing slides to ...
People pleasing, perfectionism, overcompensating - these behaviors can help us navigate difficult environments, but they often limit authenticity, intimacy, and connection in our relationships.In this experiential lecture, Darshana Avila explores the roots of these patterns and how they live in the body. Through reflection, humor, and simple embodied exercises, you’ll ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $27
Thursday, 05/14/26
Coastal Walk at Cowell-Purisima TrailJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful 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 winter ...
This talk explores the mechanics of fluid-driven frictional ruptures, accounting for frictional weakening, dilation, and permeability changes. While primarily occurring during hydraulic stimulation of geothermal reservoirs, these processes also impact fault stability, landslides, and glacier mechanics. Assuming a circular rupture geometry, we examine how the rupture propagation behavior can widely ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Infrastructure for Science that Compounds in the Age of AI AgentsAI agents that autonomously conduct research risk breaking a delicate balance in science. The scientific paper is a lossy format: methodological choices and assumptions compressed into a few pages, with peer review and community scrutiny providing the warrant that results are sound. This trade-off worked because the rate of new ...
The international community seeks to increase public and private financial flows to address the climate crisis. Initiatives to promote emissions reductions target forests and waterways across the Global South; their success often depends on the reorientation of local governance practices. This talk draws on mixed methods research in Guatemala to ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
UC Berkeley Energy and Resources Group Colloquium - CANCELED?Speaker: Cris Crespo and Jess KerseyEditor's Note: This event conflicts with a similar event at overlapping times and location. Since no title has been released for this event, we are assuming the other one is correct and UC Berkeley just hasn't canceled or rescheduled this one at this time.
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Drake Awards 2026Join the SETI Institute’s premier space science celebration as we honor pioneering researchers advancing the search for life beyond Earth!Honoring Excellence in SETI & AstrobiologyThe Drake Awards is the SETI Institute’s premier celebration of bold ideas, transformative discovery, and humanity’s enduring question: Are we alone in the universe?This signature evening brings ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost: $150
After Dark: Unplug and PlayGet a taste of life as an Exploratorium engineer! Test-drive prototypes, savor the creative chaos, and find out how your curiosity can shape what comes next. Ages 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
NightLifeThursdays hit different at NightLife. The museum comes alive after hours - wilder, more curious, and full of exciting creatures. Grab your friends, grab a hand-crafted drink, and let yourself wander into whatever weird or wonderful corner calls you. You never know what you’ll stumble into next, and that’s the ...
Breathwork isn’t just wellness - it’s physiology in action. The way you breathe directly shapes your nervous system, influencing stress, focus, and emotional range in real time.In this interactive lecture, Char Lacsina explores the science behind breath and regulation, from the vagus nerve to CO? tolerance, and why stress can ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $27
The Aquatic World of Penguins - Biology of Fish-Birds - LivestreamCenturies ago, when penguins were first encountered by European explorers, they were not thought to be birds but rather a fish-like relative. Subsequent accumulation of knowledge has shown penguins to be an avian species with unrivaled aquatic attributes owing to a number of evolutionary adaptations. David Ainley will introduce us ...
In this talk, Quico Toro draws on his book Charlatans to trace the grifter’s playbook from Renaissance Venice to the algorithmic age. Starting with Mamugnà - a 16th-century fake alchemist who persuaded the Venetian Senate to bankroll his lavish lifestyle for nearly a decade - Toro shows that the basic ...
The biogeography of species is shaped in part by physiological traits that govern tolerance to environmental conditions. The diversity of such traits should thus adapt to the range and relative frequency of abiotic conditions globally, but the slow imprinting of the environment on trait evolution is unobservable. In this talk, ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Exceptional Botanical Diversity of the Siskiyou CrestThe Siskiyou Crest has one of the highest concentrations of officially designated botanical areas on National Forest lands in the country. Along the ridges, slopes and canyons of the Siskiyou Crest, from Mt. Ashland to the Smith River, are 31 officially designated Botanical Areas that recognize concentrations of rare species, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost:
Saturday, 05/16/26
An Easy Intro to Feynman's QED, Part 2: Adding Alternative Histories - LivestreamIn his February 21, 2026, talk, Terry discussed how Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman devised a radically new way to represent quantum mechanics mathematically by fully accepting both Einstein’s controversial insistence that photons must be localized particles of energy and that all wave-like behaviors of those particles are real and must ...
Where: Cost: Free
National River Cleanup Day at the EECVolunteer to help clean up litter at the Environmental Education Center!Join us for National River Cleanup Day! We'd love your help picking up litter from the roads and trails around the Environmental Education Center (EEC) to help keep our waterways and wetlands clean!Please note, volunteers under the age of 16 will ...
Where: AlvisoCost: 0
Stanford Medicine: Health Matters ShowcaseVisionary scientists. Expert health care providers. Thought-provoking presentations. Hands-on activities. It’s all waiting for you at Health Matters 2026.Whether you’re looking for the latest insights to support your heart health or simple tips to improve your nutrition - and everything in between - we’ve got you covered.Join us on the ...
Dr. Yvonne Cagle, MD, PhD, is a NASA Astronaut, aerospace physician, Brigadier General in the California State Guard USAF Retired, senior flight surgeon, and biotech inventor whose career has helped shape the future of human spaceflight and global health. Her work bridges science, medicine, the military, and space exploration with ...
Where: San CarlosCost: Free with admission
Family Bird WalkJoin us on a fun, family, feathered Family Bird Walk! This program is especially recommended for families with children ages 5-10.Let family walks become a shared time of nature learning! We’ll begin by helping kids create their personal bird watching field guides, and then head out onto the trails to ...
Point Bonita Lighthouse has been a guiding light welcoming people and ships to the San Francisco Bay since 1855. The last 170 years have left the lighthouse with many fascinating stories to tell - about its lighthouse keepers, how it came to be in its current location, and more!Rangers offer a ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free
Sunday, 05/17/26
Junior Rangers at the Refuge: Slough SleuthsBecome a Junior Ranger as you explore your local National Wildlife Refuge!Love learning about new habitats? Curious about wildlife? Our Junior Rangers at the Refuge program is perfect for your family! Join us each month as we explore the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge through fun, educational activities.This ...
The United States faces the need to build generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure while meeting a growing electricity demand. I will present results from several ongoing analyses that quantify the costs, benefits, and technology investments needed across the country for a variety of policy and technology scenarios. We use a ...
A mechanistic account of how our environments shape how we learn is critical for understanding individual differences in behavior. In this talk, I will propose that specific statistics of experienced environments shape reward learning across multiple nested timescales via a meta-learning process, focusing on the example of environmental controllability. The ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship and the Evolving U.S. Nuclear Deterrent - LivestreamThe United States has not conducted an explosive nuclear test since 1992, yet confidence in its nuclear deterrent has been maintained through the science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program. Over the past three decades, this effort has driven major advances in high energy density science, materials science, experiments, simulation, and high-performance computing, ...
Dr. Ryan Chin will share the vision for the Sustainable Mobility Center (SMC). Dr. Chin will discuss how grand challenges are powerful instruments for making non-incremental impact on sustainable mobility at a global level. He will also share his previous work on electric, shared, and autonomous mobility systems in both ...
As humans return to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis program, it’s worth asking: What are the most daunting points of a journey to the Moon and back? In its early days, the U.S. space program had little experience with rockets, reentry, or even the lunar surface itself. The same engineering ...
My lab explores (1) how dietary adaptations shaped life over deep time and (2) the effect of prolonged climate extremes on the Amazon rainforest. By tracing the biochemical signatures left by diets in amino acids (and developing new isotopic methods when needed) the Tejada lab aims to uncover the deep ...
I will describe the physics of graphite crystals with rhombohedral stacking, where the competition between electron hopping within- and between- the graphene planes leads to a flat electronic dispersion and the crystallinity leads to a near total absence of disorder. The high electronic density of states and Berry curvature - -both ...
Towering giant kelp forests can reach heights of 100 feet tall in our coastal ocean, but did you know that half of the kelp life cycle is microscopic - hidden beneath the waves on the ocean floor? In this talk, Dr. Brooke Weigel will take you on a tour of ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
My Year With AI: Joanna Stern Hands Over Her LifeWhat happens when you let artificial intelligence run your life?As AI tools move from novelty to necessity - writing emails, making decisions, translating languages, and organizing our daily routines - the line between human judgment and machine assistance is getting blurrier by the day. But how close are we, really, ...
Much of the universe - dark matter, dark energy, and the forces shaping cosmic evolution - remains invisible to us. So how do astronomers study what they can’t directly observe?In this lecture, Xiaosheng Huang, Professor of Physics & Astronomy at the University of San Francisco, explores how scientists use gravitational ...
Where: OaklandCost: $27
Poisonous Mushroom Outbreak: The State Health Department Perspective - Livestream Join us to learn more about the California Department of Public Health's Toxicological Outbreak Program and how they have responded to the ongoing outbreak of amatoxin poisoning cases this season. This talk will include an overview of the toxicology of amatoxin poisonings and a discussion of health implications.Speakers: Russ ...
Learn about the year’s major AI breakthroughs, changes in the workplace, policy shifts, and an evolving public sentiment for this technology. From technical advances to ethical considerations, education trends to economic impact - get the unbiased, data-driven insights that executives, policymakers, and global researchers rely on.The 2026 Index Report provides ...
As Earth orbit grows more crowded, the risks we face from re-entering space debris are growing alarmingly. A key challenge that we face in understanding the hazards posed by these objects, and their impact on the environment, is that we cannot easily track them once they enter the terminal phase ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
May Butterfly Walk - FULLJoin our butterfly docent specialist Sally Levinson and Andy Liu for a guided walk through the Garden in search of butterflies, as you learn about their plant relationships and amazing life cycle. Bring binoculars if you have them.Registered children welcome. Pre-registration is required, space is limited.Fee includes admission to the ...
HOW FLOWERS MADE OUR WORLDJoin us for a very special evening in the Redwood Grove with two-time Pulitzer Finalist David George Haskell in conversation with KQED radio host Alexis Madrigal as they explore the fascinating revelations in Haskell’s just released book How Flowers Made Our World: The Story of Nature’s Revolutionaries. In his book, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: $45 General, $40 Members
Joanna Stern: 'I Am Not a Robot'Humankind is only a few years into the AI Age, but you can get Joanna Stern’s lessons on what to expect and what it means for you.We keep being told that artificial intelligence is going to help us do just about everything. Make us healthy. Personally tutor each student. Run ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 General, member discounts
Join Van for an overview of the California Bird Atlas project, one of the most ambitious community-driven research efforts ever undertaken in the state. While 44 states have already completed a statewide breeding bird atlas, California has long been an outlier. That is now changing. The Atlas officially launched in ...
While public debate continues, forests and natural systems are already adapting to a rapidly changing climate. The real challenge isn’t just environmental - it’s how we understand risk and respond as a society.In this lecture, Dr. Chris Swanston, Director of Science at Save the Redwoods League, draws on decades of ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $27
Stars Up, Down and All AroundOur guest lecturer this month is one of our own, Dan Smiley. Dan will be sharing about past and future travel opportunities for those who like to combine astronomy with travel. We will learn about a few upcoming opportunities, including the Golden Gate Star Party in northern California, OzSky in ...
The story of our existence can be told as a passage through nine interwoven realms - each revealing a new layer of cosmic information. For example, there’s the Middle Realm, where we humans live; the Realm of Life, where organisms flourish across the vastness of space; the Cosmological Realm, where ...
Due to the complexity of the many geophysical processes involved, predictions of future ice sheet mass loss are usually modeled using empirical relations, for example, to determine ice sheet velocities from stresses and meltwater inputs. However, such empirical relations are unlikely to be appropriate for future climate states significantly different ...
Deep decarbonization models of the US energy system suggest that successfully transitioning to clean electricity and electrified energy services could increase power generation capacity needs by a factor of 2 to 6 by 2050. Yet, grid planners and transition scholars have consistently failed to highlight this crucial value, even amidst concerns ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
After Dark: Staying AliveWhat does it take to survive - and thrive - in a digital world? Tonight, join the fire department to learn hands-only CPR. Then dig into conversations about algorithms and driverless cars, guided by Exploratorium scientists. Enjoy expert talks and ponder: How do crowds move through cities? How are algorithms ...
Join us for a very special Birdy Hour! SFBBO's Director of Regional Strategies Dr. Nathan Van Schmidt will answer your questions about our new initiative, Saline Lake Connections. This initiative is bringing together several existing programs (phalarope surveys, California Gull walkthroughs, and gull abatement research) into one integrative program focused ...
Where: Cost: Free
NightLife: SensesBe among the first to experience Vivid: Immerse Your Senses, our newest exhibit, and step into an after-hours escape of sight, sound, and sensation at NightLife.
Marilyn Latta will share information about living shoreline efforts in San Francisco Bay led by the State Coastal Conservancy and a diverse mix of partners. Living shorelines utilize natural materials and nature-based and hybrid green-gray approaches to protect shorelines from sea level rise and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife. ...
Only a decade ago, projects like Galaxy Zoo relied on global human effort to classify millions of galaxies by eye. With the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s first light now underway, these approaches no longer scale. Its Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will image tens of billions of galaxies, ...
Marine snow particles sink from the surface ocean and feed deep sea animals while transporting carbon away from the atmosphere. This "biological pump" of life's detritus to the deep ocean is one way that the ocean regulates our climate. To make more realistic models of the ocean's carbon cycle and ...
Birding Walk at Bouverie PreserveCome spend the morning sparking joy and learning about birding in the rich biodiverse setting of Sonoma Valley.Join us for a welcoming, curiosity-led morning of birding at Bouverie Preserve with ecologist David Lumpkin. This walk is designed to welcome new and aspiring birders - no prior experience needed. If you’re ...
Where: Glen EllenCost: Free
Stewardship Saturday: Discover the Bay’s Oysters and Marine LifeThis free program for high school students features rotating events along our 600-mile range exploring various realms of conservation.Join The Marine Mammal Center and Wild Oyster Project for a hands-on exploration of our local Bay ecosystem! During this event, you’ll learn about marine mammals, oysters, and the many ways Bay ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
A night of mountain lions - Movie night at Martin Griffin PreserveA film night dedicated to mountain lion conservation featuring the short documentary The Path of Puma-36.Join us for this first ever movie night at Martin Griffin Preserve dedicated to mountain lion conservation - featuring an insightful presentation from the Living with Lions project and a screening of The Path of ...
Where: Stinson BeachCost: Free
Sunday, 05/24/26
Marine Science Sundays: Saving SpeciesJoin us in celebrating Endangered Species Day this month by learning more about marine mammals that have returned from the brink of extinction. You'll hear about the endangered species we care for and more about the Center's efforts to keep the rarest seal in the United States, the Hawaiian monk ...
Where: SausalitoCost: Free with admission
Monday, 05/25/26
'Click chemistry': Molecules as Legos!Click Chemistry has been used to build new materials, map livingcells in real time, and revolutionize drugs for cancer treatment.When it comes to simple, elegant reactions, biology has always had chemistry beat. Living organisms seamlessly and effortlessly turn simple, non-toxic building blocks into complex advanced materials. Sugars snap together to ...
This talk will focus on the role and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on children’s cognitive and social development. It will highlight how children interact with, perceive, and learn from AI systems, including how they develop trust in these “AI companions.” The talk will also discuss emerging evidence and open ...
The chemical and thermal conditions of the earliest protoplanetary disk set the stage for everything that followed - from the compositions of the first planetesimals to the volatile budgets of rocky planets. Iron meteorites, as the remnant cores of the first generation of differentiated planetesimals, preserve a direct record of these ...
Anyons are quasiparticles that obey exchange statistics distinct from those of fermions and bosons. Such particles can emerge in fractional quantum Hall (FQH) systems, providing a platform for exploring exotic topological phases of matter. In this talk, I will present our group’s recent efforts to investigate anyons in bilayer graphene-based ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Charismatic Cetaceans and Anthropology of the Sea - LivestreamOn April 5th, 2026, members of the ACS SF Bay chapter gathered in Monterey for a whale watch led by marine biologist and Monterey Bay Whale Watch owner, Nancy Black. What a wondrous four hours we had - treated to cetaceans not commonly seen in the numbers we witnessed. For ...
Where: Cost: $10 suggested donation
Steve Jobs in Exile: NeXT and the Making of a ComebackIn 1985, Steve Jobs left Apple - the company he had cofounded - after a dramatic power struggle. Soon after, he launched a new venture called NeXT. Though often described as his “wilderness years," the NeXT era proved transformative, reshaping Jobs as a leader and creating technologies that would later ...
Where: Mountain ViewCost:
Wednesday, 05/27/26
World Otter DayWe’re celebrating World Otter Day and launching a tribute to our sweet Gunner, the North American River Otter. Special activities all day long. Come remember. Come celebrate.
Don’t let anyone tell you that there are no forests in Antarctica. There are forests of large brown macroalgae (seaweeds), with a rich understory of red macroalgae, along the northern third of the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). The vast majority of the macroalgae are chemically defended from herbivores, but are ...
Strategic stability exists when neither side thinks it can improve its strategic outcome by striking first. Today, strategic stability is increasingly important and potentially fragile. Nuclear weapons are no longer the only technology that threatens a state with devastation. AI competition and emergent AI capabilities could challenge strategic stability in ...
Interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) are small particles ranging from nanometers to centimeters that are present throughout the solar system. IDPs are produced by several processes such as cometary outgassing, asteroidal collisions, and grain-grain mutual collisions. As IDPs orbit the Sun, they impact all planetary bodies and contribute to several important ...
We like to have a good time here at Nerd Nite. In fact, we think of our show as a kind of educational party, a one-bar crawl through the beautiful strangeness of the world and all the fascinating things in it, brought to you every month with a healthy dose ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15
Virtual Skeptics on 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.
Even when we try to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, we’re often missing the deeper frameworks that shape how they think and act.In this lecture, Konner Brewer, Stanford Lecturer and Product Manager for Applied AI at Google, explores why understanding others is more complex than it seems. Through case studies ...
Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with enhanced communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:UC Berkeley geophysicist Caroline Hasler on Measuring Geologic Time with Rock Clocks - In microscopically small crystals within rocks, radioactive elements decay ...
We bring together several sharp critics of the hype machine that has long characterized the internet and our successive tech booms, currently blowing up in the AI bubble. Lost in the hand wringing over the more exaggerated claims of boosters and doomers is the ongoing reproduction of a colonial seizure ...
Glaciers worldwide are subject to large seasonal changes in boundary conditions. This seasonal variation provides a wonderful natural experiment to study the reaction of glaciers to external forcings. This is particularly important in the case of tidewater and outlet glaciers, where the ice discharge directly contributes to mass loss and ...
AI data centers are projected to consume hundreds of terawatt-hours annually by 2035, demanding power conversion technologies that are not only energy-efficient but also cost-effective, scalable, and reliable. It is estimated that the global market for power supplies, distribution, and management systems serving AI data centers and cloud computing is expected ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
SETI Live: Not Planets. Not Stars - LivestreamWhat happens when hundreds of thousands of volunteers team up with NASA to explore the sky? In the case of Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, thousands of new brown dwarfs.NASA citizen scientists have helped discover more than 3,000 brown dwarfs, effectively doubling the known population of these mysterious objects over the past ...
Where: Cost: Free
PARC Forum: Moving quantum from lab to fabFeaturing speakers from GlobalFoundries and the SRI-managed QED-C, discussions will cover the state of the quantum ecosystem, manufacturing at scale, and emerging applications beyond computing.Top quantum experts will come together to discuss how the U.S. is working to create a competitive edge across industry, academia, and government. Discussion topics will ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
After Dark: At The EdgeVibe with a special performance from the experimental music group Circuit des Yeux.Ages 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
NightLife: MabuhayCalling all kaibigan - this one’s for you. Come through for a night of Filipino pride, flavor, and feel-good energy.
The Hayward Fault runs through the East Bay - including Oakland and Berkeley - and is capable of producing a major magnitude 7 earthquake. Its last big event was in 1868, leaving scientists with limited data on what the next one might look like.In this lecture, Artie Rodgers, seismologist at ...
Saumitra Kelkar is a naturalist and educator based in Oakland, California. He taught high school biology in Oakland public schools for 4 years and now works in native plant landscaping. In his free time, he posts videos about Oakland's unique local ecology on his Instagram page, @Oakland.bio, and enjoys photographing ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Friday, 05/29/26
Morning Hike at Bear Creek RedwoodsJoin us for this beautiful hike! A POST volunteer will share a few words about POST’s decades of conservation success before the hiking group explores a strenuous but mostly shaded 5.4 mile hike with ~900 feet of elevation gain.In one of the county’s best preserved, second-growth coastal redwood forests, we’ll ...
Wetland Plant Tour at the EECEnjoy a guided walk through the Refuge's many habitats while learning about our native plant species!Calling all plant enthusiasts! Join us on a guided tour through the Refuge's many habitat types. On our walk, we'll stop to see, smell, touch, and even taste a variety of native plants that call ...
Where: AlvisoCost: Free
Mt. Sutro Geology & Paleo TourLearn about fascinating geologic evidence contained in the rocks underneath Mt. Sutro of ancient island arcs, lost marine basins, oceanic trenches and subduction along the Pacific Ocean Ring of Fire and the important role played by radiolarian fossils contained in chert beds. All part of the interesting story of California's ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25
Science Saturday: Discover DinosJoin us for Science Saturday to dig into the world of geology and paleontology! Fossil fun, special collections, dinosaur crafts, and special guests: this family-friendly event includes free admission to the Museum.
Solar flares drive space weather which can affect satellites, astronauts, and life on Earth. Having a better understanding of what drives solar flares can lead to better space weather prediction. In this talk, I will discuss the GRIPS (Gamma-Ray Imager/Polarimeter for Solar flares) high altitude balloon mission and its applications ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Where are the Aliens?Did they build the pyramids? Nope. Did they make crop circles? No way! Did they crash land near Area 51 in the Nevada desert? Sadly, probably not. So where are the aliens? To answer that, we need to look up, and look out, deep into the galaxy we call the ...
Where: OaklandCost: Free
Lost Wolves of Yellowstone in IMAXWhat happens when an ecosystem welcomes back a missing piece?Lost Wolves of Yellowstone unearths one of the most daring wildlife experiments in American history: the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park after a more than 50-year absence. Told through rare, long-lost 16mm archival footage, this educational film takes ...
Where: San JoseCost:
Sunday, 05/31/26
Gunner: A Celebration of LifeA loving farewell to our sweet North American River Otter, Gunner. Special tribute activities throughout the day. Come remember. Come celebrate.
Where: San MateoCost: Free with admission
Lost Wolves of Yellowstone in IMAXWhat happens when an ecosystem welcomes back a missing piece?Lost Wolves of Yellowstone unearths one of the most daring wildlife experiments in American history: the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park after a more than 50-year absence. Told through rare, long-lost 16mm archival footage, this educational film takes ...
Particle colliders have been the workhorse tool for particle physics since they were invented over 60 years ago. Forward particles are those that are produced at colliders and then travel in a direction close to the beamline. For decades, forward particles were largely ignored, and all of the large detectors ...
In this seminar, Sunya Norman, Senior Vice President of Impact at Salesforce, will explore how the company operationalizes sustainability alongside AI innovation. Learn how Salesforce's three pillar approach to AI sustainability - smart demand, efficiency, and clean supply - supports its ongoing work to understand and reduce the environmental impact ...
The extent to which off-axis hydrothermal activity at slow-spreading ridges relies on proximal magmatism remains unresolved, as exemplified by the debate surrounding the origin of the Lost City Hydrothermal Field (LCHF). The LCHF is hosted by the Atlantis Massif oceanic core complex (30?N, Mid-Atlantic ridge), which consists of tectonically exhumed ...
Precision measurement has long been advanced by the necessity of satisfying our curiosity. In this talk I will describe how 3 threads: quantum metrology, AI driven experimental design and control are being used in the gravitational-wave detection world, and also to look for signatures from the weakest force.Speaker: Rana Adhikari, ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The Godmother of Silicon ValleyWhat if the roots of Silicon Valley’s culture weren’t written in code but taught in a classroom?A new documentary, The Godmother of Silicon Valley, reveals the quiet but profound influence of Esther Wojcicki, a trailblazing educator, journalist, and mother of tech leaders (Susan Wojcicki, YouTube / Google; Janet Wojcicki, UCSF; and, Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe). Through ...
The Arctic is warming over three times faster than the global average, transforming marine ecosystems and climate. Sea ice extent has declined by nearly half, ocean temperatures are rising, and marine mammals are shifting their behavior and habitat use. In this seminar, I will present multidisciplinary research exploring how changing ...
With the advent of GRACE, GRACE Follow-On, and GRAIL in the last 20 years, remote sensing via gravity has made incredible advances, particularly for time variable gravity observations of key climate variables. In this talk, we will review, both technically and scientifically, how we got here, where we are today ...
Rewilding San FranciscoWorld Environment Day with its Global Call for Climate Action is June 5. Restoring nature reduces our climate impact while making our life-places more resilient to climate disruption. Join us for a panel discussion with community stewards caring for and rewilding San Francisco's public open spaces. Learn about current stewardship ...
Kilauea Volcano, the most persistently active basaltic volcano on Earth, has long served as the premier natural laboratory for investigating magma generation, transport, and storage in basaltic systems. For 37 days in 2023, we conducted a hybrid seismic experiment at the summit of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, that combined more than ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
PARC Forum: Nobel laureate John M. Martinis discusses the quantum frontier - RESCHEDULEDJohn M. Martinis, 2025 Nobel laureate, for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit, will join this exciting PARC Forum to talk about today’s quantum ecosystem, emerging real-world applications, and more.The date originally listed is incorrect. This talk was held on June 3, ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
After Dark: Home Away from HomeKick off Queer and Trans Asian and Pacific Islander Week with a drag show and other dazzling activities - then contemplate home off-planet guided by scientists.Ages 18+
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
NightLifeThursdays hit different at NightLife. The museum comes alive after hours - wilder, more curious, and full of exciting creatures. Grab your friends, grab a hand-crafted drink, and let yourself wander into whatever weird or wonderful corner calls you. You never know what you’ll stumble into next, and that’s the ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25
How scientists are building the AI-powered laboratoryHow do we find the next super material? How do we discover the next breakthrough drug? How do we unlock the mystery of dark matter and the structure of the universe? Scientists develop theories about these questions and test those theories with two powerful tools: laboratory experiments and computational models. ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
Open Question: Living in SpaceAs we advance further in our ability to launch rockets - and people - into space, countries and companies alike are exploring how humans might be able to live in space. But is life in space the next exciting frontier, or an escape from our responsibilities on our home planet? ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95
Friday, 06/05/26
From Hantavirus to Ebola: How Changing Environments Are Driving Disease - LivestreamFrom hantavirus outbreaks to the ongoing Ebola emergency in Central and East Africa, emerging infectious diseases are underscoring the growing complexity of responding to health threats in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. Drawing on perspectives from infectious disease, ecology, environmental change, and global health, this panel discussion will explore ...
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 ...
Where: San MateoCost:
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 ...
