Axions are some of the best-motivated beyond the Standard Model particle candidates at present. These ultralight particles may account for the cosmological dark matter and explain other outstanding problems in nature, such as the strong-CP problem; they also are now known to emerge generically in string theory. Axions are expected ...
This presentation will have two parts on using single-molecule approaches to study foundamental catalytic processes. In part 1, I will describe our efforts in developing and applying single-molecule super-resolution imaging approaches to study catalysis on nano/micro-scale catalyst particles, focusing on our recent work of imaging nonfluorescent surface processes. In part ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
AI Transition Week: AI in the Context of Technological RevolutionsWhat do the technological revolutions of the past teach us about this AI transition?What can we learn from the Industrial Revolution or the Digital Revolution?How do they help us predict the outcomes of the AI transition?And what questions remain unanswered?Two professors of history and experts in technological revolutions will set ...
In her new book Valley of Death, former Wall Street Journal national security editor Sharon Weinberger draws on deep, exclusive reporting to reveal how a new military-industrial complex is arising from the cradle of Silicon Valley, with vast implications for American democracy and the global balance of power.Elon Musk, Peter ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $25 in person, $10 online, discount for members
AI-Driven Discovery: Vowels and Diphthongs in Cetacean Communications - LivestreamPlease join us as we delve into cetacean communications and recent developments aided by AI. We are excited to be joined by Dr. Gaspar Begus to share his work using AI to help us uncover patterns previously unobserved by human researchers. He presents a case where AI facilitated the discovery ...
Where: Cost: Free
Elders of Time: Art & Science at the Nevada Bristlecone PreserveFor the first time in over a decade of research, Long Now Research Fellow Anne Heggli will present her synthesis of high-resolution climate data collected using paradigm-shifting long science principles at Long Now's Nevada Bristlecone Preserve in the Great Basin.The Preserve is located in the Snake Range, one of the ...
Artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping who and how we love. AI companions, humanoid robots, and immersive sex tech are no longer science fiction premises, they are products people are using right now to seek connection, comfort, and desire.Kaamna Bhojwani, a certified sexologist and researcher whose work spans psychology, sexuality, technology, ...
From the mangrove bays of the Galapagos to the submarine canyons of California, marine biodiversity remains a challenge to observe. The Galapagos has more than 600 known endemic species. In the Gulf of California 39% of the world’s marine mammal species, including an endemic porpoise, live with over 90 endemic ...
Planetary atmospheres - and their potential habitability - evolve under external energy inputs, including stellar irradiation, cosmic rays, and meteoroid accretion. Meteoroid entry is ubiquitous across planetary systems but its role as a driver of atmospheric chemical evolution remains relatively underexplored. Meteorites readily acquire high entry velocities through planetary gravitational ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
California Agriculture and the Seeding of Silicon ValleyIn the years immediately following World War II, California’s Santa Clara Valley was an agricultural breadbasket to the world. A mere 30 years later, the Santa Clara Valley would be known as ‘Silicon Valley’, and would be the most technologically productive region on the planet. This transition from an agricultural ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
City Creatures: Pest Art Pop-UpCity Creatures is a one-day exhibition at Terra Gallery exploring urban ecology through art, science, and the perspective of people who work closely with the hidden systems of cities.Presented by Pestec, the event looks at pests, wildlife, waste, buildings, infrastructure, and the ways those systems overlap.The free daytime open house ...
Speakers: Dr. Dat Tran, Louisiana State University; Sandra BlandClick here to watch
Where: Cost: Free
AI Transition Week: Will AI Change the World for the Better? (Debate Night)An AI Optimist, Pessimist, and Optimist-turned-Pessimist debate on the biggest concerns and opportunities of AI coming in our future.As professionals and experts in this field, what is giving them hope right now? What areas are cause for concern?From technological breakthroughs to policy choices, we will explore what is contributing to ...
Astronomy on Tap is is a free public lecture series where astronomers give short, laid-back talks over drinks at local bars. No background in science required - our scientists share cool stuff about space while the audience sits back and relaxes, with plenty of time to indulge their curiosity and ...
SETI Live: How to Tell if a Star Ate Its PlanetsWhat happens when a star swallows its own planets - and how can astronomers tell?A new study has identified beryllium as a promising chemical fingerprint of planetary engulfment. Researchers examined the binary stars HD 129171 and HD 129209, two Sun-like stars that formed together and should have started with nearly ...
Many applications in computational geophysics require modeling seismic wave propagation across a set of closely related subsurface models. In such cases, it is often preferable to recompute wavefields locally, only in regions of change, rather than across the full model. Immersive boundary conditions make this possible: they capture the full ...
Where: StanfordCost: Free
Chases, clusters, and surfin’ birds: Effects of group flight on locomotor biomechanics and energeticsContext matters in locomotion biomechanics, through direct effects such as differences in terrain or the environment altering the physics of locomotion, and indirectly when different contexts alter the underlying trade-offs between different approaches to movement. Group or collective movement represents one such context and here I use field recordings and ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Black holes, disks and jets: understanding the multi wavelength world of tidal disruption eventsWhen unfortunate stars are scattered sufficiently close to a massive black hole they can be ripped apart, in their entirety, by tidal forces. These so-called tidal disruption events (TDEs) power multi wavelength flares which promise to offer insight into a wide range of questions in contemporary astrophysics, including the evolution, ...
Speaker: Ian Furniss is a Senior Payload Systems Engineer at Astranis, a San Francisco based company that designs, builds, and operates communications satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO). In this presentation, he'll introduce the fundamentals of GEO and explain what a Payload Systems Engineer does, covering topics such as orbital mechanics, ...
Where: Rohnert ParkCost: Free
Beyond LLMs - How AI is reshaping scientific discoveryFor decades, scientific progress has been shaped by a fundamental process: hypothesis, experiment, iteration. AI is changing that, compressing the space between insight and discovery. The World Economic Forum’s 2026 Top 10 Emerging Technologies report finds this shift already reshaping fields as distinct as cancer treatments, energy storage, and environmental ...
Where: Palo AltoCost: Free
After Dark: EchoesDo you hear that? Uncover surprising acoustic phenomena and immerse yourself in experimental music by saxophonist Cole Pulice and the TANK Center for Sonic Arts.Ages 18 +
Where: San FranciscoCost: $22.95 General, Free for members
AI Transition Week: Is it Too Late to Stop the AI Revolution?How far reaching is AI’s grip on humanity?Is pausing the frontier of AI development necessary, and indeed possible?What are governments doing “right” and “wrong” for safeguarding AI as a tool and not an enemy to humanity?This conversation will center on the policy choices that could shape a safe and effective ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $9
Fall Burning Seasonal Outlook WebinarJoin burn planners of the Good Fire Alliance as we look ahead at community burning in Sonoma and Marin Counties this fall.Local burn planners and land stewards will speak to the weather forecast, seasonality for our local ecology, and share the burns being planned for the coming months. We will ...
Where: Cost: Free
Water and AIThe Water and AI panel brings together four speakers with different answers to a simple question: What is water?For Tiah Ross-Butner, a UC Berkeley student and enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, water is family. For Sheena Conforti, a Stanford researcher who studies wastewater and public health, water carries information ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
A Different Way to Learn Bird SongThe GGBA Travel Program is excited to announce our next Travel Program Speaker Series talk featuring Sue Riffe, owner and lead guide of Colorado-based “She Flew Birding Tours”. GGBA participants in Sue’s previous tours for the GGBA Travel Program have uniformly marveled at her birding-by-ear skills. Sue launched her bird tour business after more than 20 years ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
Friday, 10/02/26
How Do You Find a Bug in a Billion-Transistor Chip?Modern System-on-Chip (SoC) designs contain billions of transistors and integrate processors, memory controllers, high-speed interfaces, security engines, and many other complex components. With this level of complexity, how do engineers find a tiny design bug before the chip is manufactured? This presentation introduces the fascinating world of Design Verification (DV) ...
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:
Bats AliveJoin us for Bats Alive, an evening exploration into the fascinating world of bats! Hosted by Dr. Dave Johnston, this special YSI event offers an opportunity to learn more about these incredible animals, including the Mexican free-tailed bat. After the presentation, join us for a guided nighttime hike using flashlights ...
Where: Los GatosCost: $10 General, $5 Members
Ultraviolet Attraction: Moths at the RefugeJoin us for a presentation that will cover some of the typical moths of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in San Jose. The presentation will also include info about moths and other insects' attraction to light, particularly ultraviolet light. We will have a few lights up ...
One of the most accessible, fascinating, and brighter planets in the night sky for amateur astronomers to view is Saturn. And Saturn was the destination of one of NASA’s most memorable space voyages: the Cassini mission. Cassini was one of the most ambitious efforts ever mounted in planetary exploration. Cassini ...
Where: San MateoCost: Free
Saturday, 10/03/26
Science in the Park 2026Science in the Park is a biennial event hosted by Supervisor Elisa Márquez and created by the late Supervisor Richard Valle. It is an opportunity for the community to learn more about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), the environment, and health, while having fun and supporting the school districts ...
Where: HaywardCost: Free
Wax and Suds: Candle and Soap Making ClassJoin us at Emma Prusch for a fun and creative candle and soap making class! The class will begin with a 10-minute guided tour of our Native Plant Garden, where participants will learn about some of the aromatic native plants that they can add to their candle or soap. Then, ...
Where: San JoseCost: $38 SJ residents, $42 non-residents
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your knowledge of the Arboretum’s plant collections. Each tour is a little different depending on the time of year, the interests of the tour guide, and the people who join in. For example, you ...
Where: Santa CruzCost: Free with admission
A Slow Walk Through WavecrestUnlike a typical hike focused on reaching the destination, this experience invites us to slow down and notice the natural world around us. Together, we’ll explore the landscape through guided observation activities, quiet reflection, and opportunities to appreciate birds, wildflowers, coastal views, and the small details that are often missed ...
Where: Half Moon BayCost: 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, 10/04/26
Emma's Little FarmersEver wondered what it would be like to be a farmer at Emma Prusch? Join us for Emma's Little Farmers! Participants will experience the joys of rural life as they engage in hands-on activities and immersive experiences at Emma Farm Park. Kids will explore various aspects of farming, from planting ...
Where: San JoseCost: $49 San Jose Residents, $53 non-residents
Solar ObservingIt’s there for us year round, lighting our days and providing energy for our lives, so maybe it’s time to give it a closer look. Join SJAA for amazing and detailed views of the Sun, and be assured that we’ll be using special telescopes that will keep your eyeballs perfectly ...
Dr. Kornberg’s research has addressed four major biological issues. His discovery and characterization of E. coli DNA polymerase III established the enzymatic mechanism of DNA polymerization in chromosomal replication. His lab’s cloning and genetic characterization of the Drosophila engrailed, cubitus interruptus and hedgehog genes established the molecular genetic basis of ...
Nanoscale materials exhibit fascinating light-matter interactions: in twisted multilayers, bound electron-hole pairs called excitons are trapped by the moiré superlattice potential and in metallic nanoparticles collective charge density oscillations called localized surface plasmons give rise to enormous light absorption cross-sections which can be harnessed in optoelectronic devices. In my talk, ...
Where: BerkeleyCost: Free
From the early days of SLAC to the near future- A very personal viewI will describe my early experiences at SLAC, beginning in the late 60’s with the electron-proton scattering program which discovered point-like structure in the nucleon. I will then move to the beginnings of SPEAR and the November Revolution and a few of the almost concurrent discoveries. I will then shift ...
Where: Menlo ParkCost: Free
The private life of lipids: small chemical changes that shape cell membranesOur lab investigates how - and why - cells control the composition of their lipid membranes. In this talk, I will focus on our efforts to uncover how lipid composition is controlled in intracellular membranes and describe emerging biophysical models to explain its chemical diversity in cells. I will first ...
Join us for this special edition of the What Physicists Do series, where we will hear from Sonoma State physicists and astronomers. In these talks, we will hear about their individual journeys through physics and astronomy. Additionally, they will teach us about some of the exciting phenomena in their subfields ...
Nature has provided many hints that our best current theoretical models of the universe are missing important constituents. These undiscovered constituents could include exotic ultralight bosons such as axions. Many well-motivated theories predict that such fields interact with the intrinsic spins of ordinary particles, producing extremely feeble torques that might ...
The United States needs to build generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure to meet growing electricity demand. However, there is a lack of decision tools and frameworks to inform investment decisions for energy technologies amid policy, technological, and other contextual uncertainties. Prof. Azevedo will present results from several ongoing analyses that ...
The cells of our body follow a strict rulebook: they copy their DNA and divide in a highly controlled manner. However, both the placenta and cancer cells defy this rulebook. To build the placenta, early stem cells break this rule through a unique process called endoreplication. Instead of dividing, they ...
