My research lab focuses on answering applied ecological questions that promote improved marine management and conservation by focusing on species and ecosystems confronting anthropogenic stressors such as urbanization, climate change, and fishing pressure. To address questions of applied ecology, I use and apply a wide variety of tools ranging from ...
AI is advancing rapidly at the cognitive tasks that make up knowledge work, raising fears among firms, policymakers, and, not least, workers of a “China shock” for white-collar jobs. Neil Thompson will present new research on whether those fears are warranted. The research asks which tasks AI will take over ...
Batteries are increasingly central to transportation and the electric grid, yet many of the processes that determine their lifetime, safety, and performance remain hidden from conventional measurements. In this talk, I will discuss two complementary approaches for gaining access to this hidden information. First, cryogenic electron microscopy enables direct visualization ...
Speaker: Alfred Q.R. Baron, RIKEN SPring-8 Center Materials Dynamics Group Director, RIKEN
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Discovery and Design of Living AlgorithmsOur group investigates fundamental mechanisms of information processing and computation (what we term “living algorithms”) across biological scales, from single proteins to tissues. Biological systems dynamically sense inputs, integrate information, and generate adaptive responses through intricate networks, including protein, cellular, and neural circuits. A central challenge is reconstructing these networks ...
The Higgs boson is a fascinating particle that is connected to many of the outstanding mysteries of the universe. The Large Hadron Collider has now produced more than 50 million Higgs bosons, allowing us to study it in unprecedented detail and to use it as a tool to search for ...
The U.S. renewable energy industry is in the midst of a financial crisis. Over the past 18 months, more than 100 companies have filed for bankruptcy, even as solar accounted for roughly 80% of new U.S. electricity generation last year. In this seminar, Nick Franchot of GoodFinch will explain what ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Tuesday, 10/13/26
Global Skeptics in the PubInternational Zoom gathering to celebrate International Skeptics DaySee weblink for details
Low-valent reactive intermediates of carbon and nitrogen - namely, transition-metal complexes of carbenes and nitrenes - display diverse and powerful reactivity in the synthesis of complex organic molecules. Our group has focused on rhodium carbene complexes derived from substrates that lack electron-withdrawing groups. The diminished electrophilicity of these intermediates imparts ...
SETI Live: Searching the Moon for Microscopic Alien TechnologyCould evidence of ancient extraterrestrial technology be hidden in the Moon's dust? A new study led by SETI Institute Affiliate Scientist Dr. Lewis Pinault proposes searching lunar regolith for microscopic technosignatures: tiny, durable particles of engineered material that could have traveled through interstellar space and accumulated on the Moon over ...
Chemical reaction dynamics in aqueous solution have traditionally been studied using optical methods such as absorption, emission, and scattering spectroscopy. In this talk, I will describe our efforts to follow chemical reactions in solution in real time by detecting photoelectrons emitted from the surface of an aqueous solution - that ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Could a “Super El Niño” be coming?UC Santa Cruz researchers are closely tracking the development of a potential “super El Niño” this year. In this Kraw Lecture, two UC Santa Cruz experts will explore the natural forces that drive El Niño events, how scientists forecast major climate shifts, and what current research can tell us about ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
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 >Also: This is International Skeptics Day! We will join others via the Zoom “Global Skeptics in the Pub” event.
Measles, an explosive cyclospora outbreak, a hantavirus scare aboard a cruise ship, an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rising sexually transmitted infections, and an HIV pandemic playing out amid U.S. funding cuts to global health. Meanwhile, COVID-19 is never fully out of the picture.In this talk, ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free, registration required
Astronomy on Tap: East BayThis month, we have two excellent talks lined up. First, Natalie LeBaron will share about the life and death of stars, and how they scatter ingredients for new worlds throughout their evolution. Next, we’ll hear from Tony Rodriguez about extreme binary stars (did you know most stars in the Universe are not ...
Best-selling author Michael Pollan has spent decades exploring what it means to be human, from the politics of food to the science of psychedelics. In his most recent book, A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness, he examines the mystery of consciousness through scientific, philosophical, literary, spiritual, and psychedelic perspectives. ...
The harvest of Atlantic sea scallops ranks among the most economically important fisheries in the United States. However, landings have declined by 70% over the last seven years, leaving fishermen, scientists, and policy makers searching for more effective management strategies. In this seminar, Andrew will highlight two avenues to improve ...
The dual quests - to understand intelligence as it arises in biology and to build it in machines of our own making - have been with us for nearly a century. While neuroscience and psychology seek to characterize intelligence in terms of underlying neural mechanisms and emergent behavior, we still ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Designing next-generation vaccines through control of antigen dynamicsFollowing infection, even “acute” viral and bacterial infections are often accompanied by prolonged antigen and/or inflammatory cue exposure, which can extend weeks after infectious pathogen is cleared. This is in contrast to the relatively short duration of antigen/inflammation that accompanies many subunit vaccines. Further, the structural integrity of vaccine antigens ...
The recent Nasdaq debut of a Korean semiconductor memory producer, SK hynix - raising $26.5 billion in the largest-ever listing by a foreign company - has garnered global recognition after temporarily overtaking Samsung Electronics as South Korea’s most valuable chipmaker. Together, the two companies account for more than half of ...
Antibiotics can acutely and persistently compromise microbiome stability and resilience, enabling enhanced colonization of pathogenic microbes, and loss of host-beneficial functions from depleted commensals. We interrogate resistome, taxonomic, and functional dynamics of microbiota of humans, animals, soils, and built-environments via high-throughput functional metagenomic selections, whole metagenome and transcriptome sequencing, and ...
Decades after President Kennedy stood at Rice University to articulate the moonshot of that generation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as the defining “space age” of our decade, transforming all aspects of our lives. In this talk, we will discuss the “rocket engines” necessary to power this moonshot, including the ...
Ventana Wildlife Society biologist Mike Stake describes how technology is shaping non-lead outreach to help save condors in central California. But while struggling with roadblocks here at home, Mike takes us on a detour halfway around the world, where he draws hope from vulture recovery in a European country still ...
Since their reintroduction to the wild in 1992, endangered California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) populations have increased due to releases of captive-bred individuals and natural reproduction. Condors now nest across four subpopulations: Central and Southern California, Arizona/Utah, and Baja, Mexico. Most nests involve a male and female who share incubation and ...
Where: Pacific GroveCost: Free
The San Andreas Fault - LivestreamLearn about the San Andreas fault and its neighbors in the Pacific-North American Plate Boundary, across the Bay Area and Northern California.The San Francisco Bay Area sits within the boundary of two great plates, the North American and Pacific, and is one of the most highly faulted regions of the ...
Where: Cost: Free
The Science Scoop: Holly IngrahamThe SpeakerHolly A. Ingraham, PhD, is the Herzstein Professor of Molecular Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on hormone-responsive nodes in the brain and peripheral tissues that impact metabolic, skeletal, and gut physiology and women’s health. Through question-driven basic science, Ingraham has uncovered how hormonal ...
Dinosaurs were the dominant large animals on Earth for well over 100 million years, and they still manage to captivate generation after generation of humans. But beyond their entertainment value, what is the meaning of dinosaurs, and what important knowledge might we extract from their ancient remains?Scott D. Sampson, PhD, ...
We're all going to age, but the path our brains take along the way is not entirely out of our hands. In this talk, clinical scientist Dr. Breanna Bullard explores the science of successful aging: what actually happens inside the brain over the decades, why some people stay sharp well ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $27
AI and the Future of Academic LaborJournalist Kari Lydersen in conversation with Robert Ovetz and Lindsay Weinberg, authors of the forthcoming book AI and the Future of Academic Labor.Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly being integrated into higher education, putting the very mission and work of learning, research and teaching at risk of automation. Higher education ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free (donations welcome)
Direct geophysical constraints on the Moon’s interior chemistry and thermal evolution are limited to nearside measurements. Using the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter’s magnetometer, we perform the first electromagnetic sounding of the lunar farside interior. We identify a high electrical conductivity layer near the top of the mantle that indicates the ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
The neural basis of cuttlefish camouflage and social behaviorAll animals form internal neural representations of the external world that guide their behavior. Cuttlefish, coleoid cephalopods related to octopus and squid, perform visually driven adaptive camouflage by dynamically altering the color, pattern, and texture of their skin to create an approximation of their surroundings - a process directly controlled ...
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has opened a new window into the early universe, enabling sensitive, high-resolution images of the near-infrared sky and spectroscopy of faint, distant sources. The JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) is a collaboration of the NIRCam and NIRSpec GTO teams pooling over 1000 hours of ...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming resource management and environmental sustainability by enabling smarter, data-driven decisions across energy, agriculture, water, transportation, and climate science. This presentation explores how AI technologies - including machine learning, predictive analytics, digital twins, and the Internet of Things (IoT) - are improving resource efficiency, supporting environmental ...
The land down under is quite a stunner when it comes to fungal diversity. A wide array of landscapes coupled by equally fascinating plants and animals has pressured fungi into some unique forms and niches. This presentation will focus on fungi found in Western Australia, the Daintree area of Queensland, ...
Where: SebastopolCost: Free
After Dark: Speak EasyDecode the hidden patterns in how we communicate, and challenge yourself to change your perspective.
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Free for members
NightLifeThursdays hit different at NightLife. The museum comes alive after hours - wilder, more curious, and full of exciting creatures. Grab your friends, grab a handcrafted drink, and let yourself wander into whatever weird or wonderful corner calls you.Plus, you can:Step inside our four-story Osher Rainforest, where you can explore ...
Why Are Exoplanetary Systems Unlike the Solar System?NASA's Kepler mission discovered over 4,400 transiting planets around other stars, including over 700 systems with multiple planets. This sample of exoplanet systems enables us to study planetary systems as a population, and test planet formation theory. The results are that our Solar System has a relatively rare configuration, and ...
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Friday, 10/16/26
Reimagining Our Waterways: The Second Art & Climate SymposiumThe San José Museum of Art (SJMA) and the City of San Jose Climate Art Program (SJ Climate Art) are pleased to hold its second symposium dedicated to the intersection of art and climate, themed Reimagining Our Waterways.Responding to the effects of drought, climate change, pollution, and the diversion of ...
Semi-artificial photosynthesis interfaces biological catalysts with synthetic light absorbers to overcome the inherent limitations of both artificial and natural photosynthesis. Furthermore, this emerging approach can also unlock novel reaction pathways and chemistries with significant technological potential and thus provides new opportunities that are currently not available in solar fuels or ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Saturday, 10/17/26
Coastal prairie fire ecology walkSee how we’re using beneficial fire to restore biodiversity in West Marin.Join Director of Prescribed Fire Julia Berkey and Fire Ecologist Brian Peterson for a fire ecology walk along Bourne Ridge at Martin Griffin Preserve. During this educational walk, Brian and Julia will be your guides in learning about the ...
Where: Stinson BeachCost:
Reimagining Our Waterways: The Second Art & Climate SymposiumThe San José Museum of Art (SJMA) and the City of San Jose Climate Art Program (SJ Climate Art) are pleased to hold its second symposium dedicated to the intersection of art and climate, themed Reimagining Our Waterways.Responding to the effects of drought, climate change, pollution, and the diversion of ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20.00
Baylands ExplorationsJoin expert EV docents for an exploration of the science and nature of the Palo Alto Baylands. What makes this habitat so special? How do the plants and animals survive the salty conditions? Why is it so different at different times of day or times of the year? How can ...
Northern California's Largest Free celebration of ScienceThe 13th edition brings together STEM role models, families, youth and adults to experience the wonder of science. Bring the whole family to experience 125+ jaw-dropping demonstrations, hands-on experiments, astounding games, behind the scenes lab tours, film screenings and science talks. Inspire future scientists. ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: Free
Creepy, Crawly, & Cute!Who says creepy crawlies have to be scary? Join YSI for a close-up look at the fascinating world of insects, spiders, and other amazing arthropods! Meet some of our live animal ambassadors as we discover how they move, what they eat, where they live, and the incredible adaptations that help ...
Where: Los GatosCost: Free
Foothills Family Nature WalkJoin us at Foothills Nature Preserve for a family-friendly nature walk, guided by EV docents. Good for ages 6 and up; all children must be accompanied by an adult.Register at weblink
Where: Los AltosCost: Free
Twilight ExplorationsNature enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join our Twilight Nature Walk led by one of our friendly and knowledgable docents. An expert naturalist will lead an easy walk to discover the diverse species animals that live in the Baylands, especially those that you might only see in the ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
Sunday, 10/18/26
Garden Science: Native Seedball Workshop - Ages 5 - 7This engaging class is designed to teach children about the importance of native plants and pollinators and will have two versions tailored to 5 to 7 year olds and 8 to 12 year olds. Making and planting native seedballs, also known as native seed bombs, is one way to support ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20 SJ residents, $24 non-residents
Berkeley Bird FestivalEvery bird holds a memory. Every memory holds a meaning. Across different cultures and communities, across time and space, birds have played a significant role in shaping our understanding of the world, ourselves, and our relationship in nature.This year’s Berkeley Bird Festival invites you to celebrate our incredible birdlife here ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Garden Science: Native Seedball Workshop - Ages 8 - 12This engaging class is designed to teach children about the importance of native plants and pollinators. Making and planting native seedballs, also known as native seed bombs, is one way to support biodiversity and pollinators. Native plants also provide native wildlife the necessary resources, such as food and habitat, to ...
Where: San JoseCost: $20 SJ residents, $24 non-residents
Some of the most energetic and fascinating objects in the universe are exploding stars known as supernovae. These huge outbursts come from the violent deaths of stars and can briefly become brighter than the entire galaxy that contains them. The atoms needed to build life are forged inside stars and ...
