Hello again Science Fans!
Climate change and the environment have been in the news a lot this month, and almost none of the news is good. Extreme weather events have been happening all over the globe. Predictions are dire.
Let’s start with the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, which includes the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. Read here to understand why this is so important.
In the Pacific, La Niña is coming! There’s a 70% chance of La Niña conditions forming in the between now and October. Historically there’s an even chance of drier or wetter than normal conditions for our area in La Niña years.
Here are some frequently asked questions about El Niño and La Niña.
At the hightest point in Greenland, rain fell for the first time in recorded history.
The wildfires in California and western Canada and the US are bad. But there are also enormous wildfires burning in Siberia, and they have put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 2 1/2 months than the top six most poluting countries put out in a year!
The United Nations report on the environment sounded a “code red for humanity” this month. Things are indeed looking dire.
In space news, scientists believe they have found the source of the Dinosaur-killing asteroid that formed the Yucatán peninsula. The bad news is that there are more asteroids like that one out there!
We think we have a pretty good idea of what the Milky Way galaxy looks like. It is, after all, our home galaxy. Well, surprise! There’s a previously unknown structure sticking out from it that hadn’t been detected before, even though some of the best known and studied nebulae are in it. (Beware, audio from an ad may start playing when you open this one).
Lastly, there is a lot of COVID news. Still. By now we all hoped COVID would be less of a story than it is, but the Delta variant is keeping things front and center. Texas and Florida, states who’s governors are actively discouraging or preventing precautionary measures, now account for 40% of the new cases of COVID in the US. Here in California we’ve seen mask mandates reinstituted and vaccine requirements announced for gatherings and events.
While California has been a leader in vaccination rates, it is useful to look at Israel to see what is happening there. Israel leads the world in vaccination efforts, and they too are seeing a surge in new COVID cases. Here’s a look at why that is happening and how it might play out here.
Those who look at vaccinations as a political ploy, or who are anti-vaccine in general, see this and say “this is proof the vaccines don’t work.” No, they do work. They prevent cases from becoming severe and prevent deaths.
Those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines should be eligible for a third booster eight months after their second shot. But some scientists are not sure that this third booster is necessary. There’s a ton of conflicting information out there. Do your best to weed through the noise and decide for yourself. In other words, exercise some critical thinking.
Me, I’ll err on the side of caution.
Have a great week in Science!
Bob
Monday, 08/23/2021
Hardcore National History: Beyond the Lens: Photography & Conservation - 08/23/2021 06:00 PM
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Photography can raise awareness of conservation issues through evocative images that create an emotional connection for the viewer. Join us for this month's Hardcore Natural History as we chat with accomplished freelance wildlife photographer and polar expedition guide Jacqueline Deely to discuss more on this topic. A certified California Naturalist, Deely has joined efforts to protect the Western snowy plover and the black oystercatcher through photography, as well as through community science monitoring.
Secure and Interpretable AI: Scalable Interactive and Practical Tools - Livestream - 08/23/2021 07:00 PM
SF Bay Association of Computing Machinery
We have witnessed tremendous growth in Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) recently. However, research shows that AI and ML models are often vulnerable to adversarial attacks, and their predictions can be difficult to understand, evaluate and ultimately act upon.Discovering real-world vulnerabilities of deep neural networks and countermeasures to mitigate such threats has become essential to the successful deployment of AI in security settings. We present the first targeted physical adversarial attack (ShapeShifter) that fools state-of-the-art object detectors; a fast defence that counters adversarial noise by data compression; and interactive systems that further democratize the study of adversarial machine learning and facilitate real-time experimentation for deep learning practitioners.To amplify people’s ability to interpret AI models, we present scalable interactive visualizations that have provided key leaps of insight, from increased model interpretability (Gamut with Microsoft Research), to model explorability with models trained on millions of instances (ActiVis deployed with Facebook), increased usability for non-experts about state-of-the-art AI (GAN Lab open-sourced with Google Brain), and our latest work Summit, an interactive system that scalably summarizes and visualizes what features a deep learning model has learned and how those features interact to make predictions. We conclude by highlighting the next visual analytics research frontiers in AI.
Speaker: Duen Horng (Polo) Chau, Georgia Tech
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Tuesday, 08/24/2021
Effects of pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments - bridging the gap between lab and field - Livestream - 08/24/2021 09:30 AM
Environment Protection Authority Victoria
Humans consume more pharmaceuticals than ever, and consumption is set to rise. The rise in demand has resulted in an increase in the quantity and diversity of pharmaceutical contaminants being discharged into the environment.
As Victoria’s environmental regulator, EPA’s goal is to protect the environment and human health from harm due to pollution and waste. Knowledge of the impact of contaminants such as pharmaceuticals on the environment is still emerging. Nevertheless, it is essential that we continue to build our understanding of what happens once these contaminants are in our waterways.
EPA's Chief Environmental Scientist, Professor Mark Patrick Taylor, will host special guest speaker Professor Tomas Brodin, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, who will outline the issues, present his research into this global problem, and highlight the importance of taking science out of the lab and into the field.
EPA’s Senior Applied Scientist, Dr Minna Saaristo, will also provide an overview of our Emerging Contaminants Program and present recent findings from a study of wastewater treatment plant effluent on fish in Victoria, Australia.
Caring for Ourselves: The Science of Emotional Resilience - Livestream - 08/24/2021 02:00 PM
UC Berkeley
As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, how can we re-emerge with a sense of hope and vitality? Join us for a talk with Amy Eva, Associate Education Director at the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. Her presentation features research-based skills and strategies for developing self-compassion during difficult times, understanding and naming our emotions, and learning how to challenge default thoughts and beliefs. As an educational psychologist and teacher educator, Dr. Eva writes, presents, and leads online courses about adult well-being and resilience.
Register at weblink to receive connection information.
Afternoon Hike on the Coast with POST! - 08/24/2021 02:00 PM
Peninsula Open Space Trust Half Moon Bay
Join us for a beautiful, 6-mile walk along the Cowell-Purisima Trail that POST helped to create by protecting adjacent farmland. This hike will be approximately 6 miles out and back, completing most of the Cowell Purisma Trail. We will provide guests the option to turn back at the halfway point in order to complete 3 miles instead of the full six miles.
This hike is rated moderate. It is mostly flat throughout, however, it is quite a long walk! Please consider you or your children’s ability to complete the hike prior to signing up. All minors must be accompanied by an adult guardian for the entirety of the hike. Due to the sensitivity of the farmland/crops nearby, dogs are not allowed on the Cowell-Purisima trail.
This walk is a great opportunity to learn about POST’s work with farmers on the coast, and to create recreational opportunities along one of the most scenic stretches of our state’s coastline! We hope to see you there.
Register at weblink to receive meetup location.
The Fungal World Wide Web - Livestream - 08/24/2021 04:00 PM
UC Merced
Hidden in the ground beneath us is an information superhighway made up of diverse biological cell populations that allow individuals who may be widely separated to communicate and help each other out. This biological World Wide Web is made up of fungi. Fungal bodies are made up of a mass of thin threads, known as a mycelium that link cells to the roots of plants as far as many meters away. We will look at these fascinating networks that aren't just sitting around; rather they are actively involved in biological, physical, and chemical processes and signaling including the sharing of nutrients and information.
Speaker: Arvind Gopinath, UC Merced
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Target audience: K - 12 school students
Collecting Kelp - Livestream - 08/24/2021 04:00 PM
ExplOratorium
The California coast is a dynamic, active system that supports all sorts of ocean organisms. Dive below the surface at today's online event inspired by the Exploratorium’s once-a-year dry-docking of our data collection buoy and examination of the organisms that have taken residence on its underside over the past year.
How can dried seaweed help ocean conservation efforts? Understand the future of the ocean requires an understanding of the past. To date, historical data has been largely limited to instrument records and observations that begin around 1950. Research technician Emily Miller shares how kelp and other marine algae from herbaria repositories, and the female scientists who collected them, are helping extend historical records all the way back to 1878. With this data, Emily offers a new perspective on upwelling cycles and documents these patterns to help understand the shifts in the foundation of the food web of Monterey Bay.
Speaker: Dr. Emily Miller, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Paradise: Inside California's Deadliest Wildfire - Livestream - 08/24/2021 06:00 PM
Commonwealth Club - Online Event
In November 2018, Paradise, California suffered through the nation's deadliest wildfire in a century. The Camp Fire leveled the mountain town, killing 85 people and destroying more than 18,000 structures. At the time, reporter Lizzie Johnson was a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Her definitive firsthand accounts of the fire and its wreckage helped tell the vivid story of this massive disaster.
Three years later, Johnson's new book, Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire, provides a detailed overview of the fire that destroyed Paradise, examines what went wrong and suggests ways to avert future tragedies as the climate crisis unfolds and California's drought worsens. Drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting and reams of public records, including 911 calls and testimony from a grand jury investigation, Johnson provides a minute-by-minute account of the Camp Fire, following residents and first responders as they fight to save themselves and their town.
As California enters what is usually the toughest part of its fire season during a historically dry year, please join us in a timely look back at the tragedy of Paradise, California, what is being done to bring that city back, and what we all need to be aware of regarding the increasing dangers from wildfires in our "new normal."
Speaker: Lizzie Johnson, "The Washington Post"; Elizabeth Weil, "ProPublica", Moderator
Salish Sea Minke Whales: Insights From a 40-Year Study of Photo-ID - Livestream - 08/24/2021 07:00 PM
American Cetacean Society
Minke whales are the most numerous whale species worldwide, yet relatively little is known about this small whale. In the Northeast Pacific, the minke is surprisingly rare despite never being subject to the commercial hunts that other large whale species were. Eleanor Dorsey started the first study of minke whales in the San Juan islands in 1980. This study has since become the longest-running study of the species in the Pacific, if not the world. Data spanning 40 years have been collected through dedicated fieldwork and sightings and photos donated by enthusiastic naturalists and whale watch captains, providing insights into individual presence, distribution, habitat use, and foraging ecology. This talk will summarize some of this work and present the latest findings on long-term individual presence, highlighting the importance of the Salish Sea to minke whales in the Northeast Pacific.
Speaker: Dr. Frances Robertson, Marine Program Coodrinator, San Juan County, Washington
Astronomical Observing Basics Virtual Bootcamp - Setup and Operation of Astronomical Telescopes and Binoculars - Livestream - 08/24/2021 07:00 PM
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers
The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA) is excited to offer a Zoom-based Observing Basics Virtual Bootcamp series, open to newcomers and observers at all levels. This 4-part series features a robust agenda to help you make the most out of your stargazing time and equipment choices. (Members and non-Members are welcome to attend.)
The series is prepared and presented by SFAA's Vice President, Bill Kircher. As a long-time amateur astronomer, Bill has created a virtual Observing Basics course to provide a solid foundation for optimizing your night sky viewing time and equipment choices. He has learned from experience that the best telescope is the one you’ll actually use and he recommends keeping it simple, especially at the beginning.
Attendees will be able to continue to expand on what they learn in each session. We look forward to being able to meet up at SFAA star parties on Mt. Tamalpais and share the night sky with you when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Experienced telescope operators will be on hand to help with set up and questions.
Wednesday, 08/25/2021
Baja California kelp forests and climate change: Different effects, similar challenges - Livestream - 08/25/2021 11:00 AM
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Predicting changes in the structure and function of ecosystems requires large-scale, long-term studies. Integrating kelp forest data from 469 sites/373 species spanning Alaska, USA, to Baja California, Mexico has revealed that changes in community structure were most evident within the southern and north-central ecoregions. Drivers of change seem different from north to south, with marine heatwaves having a profound effect in Baja California while sea urchins grazing in Central California. This work has been only possible with a sweeping display of international coordination and cooperation of a team of scientists and countless volunteers from 14 different organizations joining forces to document the northward migration of kelp forests due to warming waters. Improving forecasting capacity can enhance our understanding of species shifts and inform better management strategies for sustainability. This is an excellent example of collaboration between researchers, communities, and civil society organizations in the USA and Mexico that can work together to better understand how climate change will impact the kelp forest and, therefore, fisheries and coastal communities in the next 30 years.
Speaker: Rodrigo Beas, Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
The Fungal World Wide Web - Livestream - 08/25/2021 04:00 PM
UC Merced
Hidden in the ground beneath us is an information superhighway made up of diverse biological cell populations that allow individuals who may be widely separated to communicate and help each other out. This biological World Wide Web is made up of fungi. Fungal bodies are made up of a mass of thin threads, known as a mycelium that link cells to the roots of plants as far as many meters away. We will look at these fascinating networks that aren't just sitting around; rather they are actively involved in biological, physical, and chemical processes and signaling including the sharing of nutrients and information.
Speaker: Arvind Gopinath, UC Merced
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Target audience: K - 12 school students
Speaker: Professor Ruth Misener, Imperial College, London
See weblink for Zoom information
Deepening Local and Regional Connections to Adapt to Sea Level Rise - Livestream - 08/25/2021 05:00 PM
SF Planning + Urban Research Assoc. (SPUR)
The bay is rising and the time to come together to act is now. Climate change and sea level rise are causing San Francisco Bay to rise, threatening shoreline communities, wildlife, infrastructure and businesses. Where do we go from here? Join SPUR, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and regional leaders for an interactive discussion about Bay Adapt, the Bay Area’s first region-wide, consensus-driven strategy to protect people and the natural and built environment from a rising bay. As part of a month-long public feedback period for the strategy, come hear about the draft Bay Adapt Joint Platform, a set of priority actions to prepare equitably and collectively as a region, and learn how we can jointly implement the necessary steps it proposes through local leadership, regional cooperation, funding, education, training, planning and regulation.
Register at weblink to receive connection information.
Speaker: Dr. Harriet Lau, UC Berkeley
See weblink for registration information
Mobile Blood Drives and the Impact on Collections During a Global Pandemic - Livestream - 08/25/2021 06:00 PM
Cafe Scientifique Stanford Blood Center
The COVID-19 pandemic has had major implications for blood centers, including at SBC. One of the greatest challenges we faced was the cancellation of blood drives. But, despite these unforeseen challenges, our recruitment team stepped up their game, implementing new policies and procedures, along with creating new community drives to meet patients’ need for blood. So, what does it take to set up and support a mobile drive in this changing landscape? Join our Mobile Recruitment team members for this online talk to learn how they worked to find a “new normal” and, with the help of our amazing donors, continue to overcome barriers during the global pandemic.
Speakers: Karen Hendryk, Phillip Martin, and Clayton Toller, Stanford Blood Center
See weblink for Vimeo link to attend
Is There Life on Mars - Livestream - 08/25/2021 06:00 PM
University of Washington Astrobiology
Four panelists (Andrew Shumway, Yuk Chun Chan, UW Alumna Dr. Elena Amador-French, and UW Alumnus Dr. Kenneth Williford) will draw upon their unique research experiences to tackle the mysteries of the Red Planet. How could life originate and survive in Mars's cold, dusty conditions? If it is there, how will we find it? Come find out what our panelists think about life on Earth's neighbor!
Thursday, 08/26/2021
SSI: Higgs & Baryogenesis - Livestream - 08/26/2021 09:00 AM
Kavli Institute for Particle Physics & Cosmology
Speaker: Patrick Meade, Stonybrook University
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Bright Galaxies, Dark Matter, and Beyond - Livestream - 08/26/2021 10:00 AM
Commonwealth Club - Online Event
Join us to discover how astronomer Vera Rubin's persistence, after her work was initially dismissed, finally convinced the scientific community that dark matter might exist. It is now taken for granted that the universe is mostly dark, made up of particles that are undetectable even by our most powerful telescopes. This discovery of the possible existence of dark matter signaled a Copernican-like revolution in astronomy: not only are we no longer the center of the universe, but even the stuff we’re made of appears to be insignificant. By showing that some astronomical objects seem to exaggerate gravity’s grip, Rubin played a pivotal role in this discovery.
Yeager tells the story of Rubin’s childhood fascination with stars, and her scientific education at Vassar and Cornell. She became a rarity, a woman in science, and her findings were equally incredible to her colleagues. Since some observatories still restricted women from using their large telescopes, Rubin was unable to collect her own data until a decade after she had earned her Ph.D. But in 1993 she received the National Medal of Science for her groundbreaking work. She’s also been memorialized with a ridge on Mars, an asteroid, a galaxy, and most recently the Vera C. Rubin Observatory- the first national observatory named after a woman.
Speaker: Ashley Jean Yeager, "Science News"; George Hammond, Author, Moderator
Democratizinig Our Data - 08/26/2021 10:00 AM
Barrows Hall, Rm 820 Berkeley
There is enormous interest in building a better understanding of how evidence and data can inform policy. New possibilities have opened up to enable data to be shared and used across states and agencies. One is a technical approach - the Administrative Data Research Facility - which provides a secure environment within which education, training, and workforce data can be shared across agencies and states. The other is human - the Applied Data Analytics training program - which trains government agency staff how to combine and use the data to serve their agency missions. Over 650 participants from over 150 agencies have participated and produced new products and new networks in the process. This presentation discusses the approach sponsored by the California Department of Social Services, joint with the Department of Education and the Economic Development Department. The D-Lab worked with the Coleridge Initiative to successfully combine the two approaches. The presentation will also address the broader vision of how approaches like this can serve to democratize data for the United States.
Speaker: Julia Lane, New York University
Register at weblink. Available in person or online.
Are Viruses Alive? - Livestream - 08/26/2021 11:00 AM
The Royal Institution
Countless scientists around the world study life, and yet they can't really agree on what it is. Are viruses alive, for example, or are they lifeless packages of protein and nucleic acid? Join New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer as he explores the boundaries of life, encountering viruses and other strange residents of the borderlands.
Copies of Carl's book, 'Life's Edge: The Search for What It Means to Be Alive' are available from amazon and all good bookshops.
SSI: Higgs & Gravity Connection? - Livestream - 08/26/2021 11:40 AM
Kavli Institute for Particle Physics & Cosmology
Speaker: Mikhail Shaposhnikov, EPFL
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Zoom Talk: Carnivorous Plants of the Garden - Livestream - 08/26/2021 01:00 PM
UC Botanical Garden
Why are some plants carnivorous? What kinds of carnivorous plants are there? Can I grow carnivorous plants at home? Where are carnivorous plants found in the wild? Learn about the wonderful diversity of carnivorous plants with horticulturist James Fong! James has over 15 years of carnivorous plant growing experience in the Bay Area and grows a multitude of carnivorous plants in his own home garden. From the menacing jaws of the Venus flytrap to the glistening sundews of South Africa, James will showcase highlights from the collection, including some that are not currently on display, as well as give a background on carnivorous plant biology and cultivation during this live Zoom program. Find out which plants we grow and sell here at the Garden year-round that make great additions to your own home. He will be answering your questions as well!
The Fungal World Wide Web - Livestream - 08/26/2021 04:00 PM
UC Merced
Hidden in the ground beneath us is an information superhighway made up of diverse biological cell populations that allow individuals who may be widely separated to communicate and help each other out. This biological World Wide Web is made up of fungi. Fungal bodies are made up of a mass of thin threads, known as a mycelium that link cells to the roots of plants as far as many meters away. We will look at these fascinating networks that aren't just sitting around; rather they are actively involved in biological, physical, and chemical processes and signaling including the sharing of nutrients and information.
Speaker: Arvind Gopinath, UC Merced
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Target audience: K - 12 school students
Learning to Become a Scientist: Our Journey into the World of Field Research - Livestream - 08/26/2021 05:00 PM
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
Join us as two students share the journey of their first experience in scientific field research as SFBBO interns at the Coyote Creek Field Station. The students attend nearby Mission College and were sponsored by the community college’s HSI-STEM summer research program. Twice a week over the summer, the students had hands-on interaction collecting data from birds banded at the field station. They used this data, along with two decades of historical field station data, to search for patterns that might be associated with the amount of rainfall.
Speakers: Katrina McCollough, Mission College; Erin Clear, Mission College
NightLife: Art Lab - 08/26/2021 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Engage both sides of your brain while exploring the intersections of science and art. Full event details at weblink!
After Dark: See For Yourself - 08/26/2021 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Spark your curiosity at After Dark - as the sun sets, we’ll hit the rainbow lights, turn the music up, and open our doors, inviting you to take your imagination out to play. Fuel up with a cocktail and prepare to roam free through six spacious outdoor and indoor spaces. Be ready to bring fresh eyes to old favorites and uncover phenomenal new experiences.
Search for Life Outside the Solar System - Livestream - 08/26/2021 06:30 PM
UC Riverside
Are we alone or is the universe teeming with life? The search for life beyond the Solar System is one of the most compelling - and ambitious - efforts humanity has ever undertaken. Thousands of exoplanets, planets outside our Solar System, are currently known, and some of them may possess the right conditions for life. However, we will not be able to visit any of these worlds for the foreseeable future. How then will we be able to remotely determine the presence or absence of life over the immense gulf of interstellar space? Join Prof. Edward Schwieterman to learn about the science of exoplanet biosignatures, the future missions and observatories that may detect these biosignatures, and how studying the Earth today and in the deep geologic past will aid us in the search for life beyond our own planet.
Speaker: Edward Schwieterman, UC Riverside
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Micromitigation: Fighting Air Pollution with Activated Carbon - Livestream - 08/26/2021 07:00 PM
Counter Culture Labs
We would like to invite new members to join Counter Culture Labs' Micromitigation Meetup alternate Thursdays. We will be discussing ways to deploy existing adsorption technology using commodity granulated activated carbon for the mitigation of air pollution.
We welcome those interested in both the environmental justice and technical engineering aspects of air quality.Please sign up by joining the Counter Culture Labs' Meetup group, then RSVPing for the event. Weblink provided after signup.
Species Modeling for Endangered Species - Livestream - 08/26/2021 07:00 PM
US Geological Survey Public Lecture Series
Speaker: Thomas Edwards, Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, USGS
See weblink for instructions on how to connect
Friday, 08/27/2021
SSI: The Higgs Boson & Cosmology - Livestream - 08/27/2021 09:00 AM
Kavli Institute for Particle Physics & Cosmology
Speaker: Mikhail Shaposhnikov (EPFL)
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Sunset Science - 08/27/2021 06:30 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Enjoy a warm summer evening of activities and stargazing on Chabot’s stunning Observation Deck! Learn about stellar concepts and preview our new offerings with special demonstrations, hands-on challenges and more. When the Sun goes down, the stars come out for exploring the cosmos through historic telescopes.
During this event, we’ll be learning all about meteors! Those illusive streaks of light that flash across the sky hold clues to the remnants of space rocks like asteroids and comets. Enjoy comet demonstrations, hands-on activities, and games and simulations that unlock the mysteries about these space objects. Find out where meteors originate and where to catch the next meteor shower.
Saturday, 08/28/2021
Zero Waste Living: How Do Busy People Achieve a Lighter Footprint? - Livestream - 08/28/2021 03:00 PM
Bay Area Humanists
What actions could you take today that would help solve the climate and waste crises? In this talk, Stephanie Miller will describe easy steps that busy people can take and know they are having a positive environmental impact. These actions fall into three areas she calls her “magic three”: focus on food, purge plastics and recycle right. You will leave the conversation feeling empowered to take action today and help others around you do the same.
Speaker: Stephanie Miller is the former Director of the Climate Business Department at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.
Register at weblink to receive connection information.
Coyote Point Movie Nights - 08/28/2021 08:00 PM
Coyote Point Recreation Area San Mateo
Gather friends and family, pack a picnic and join CuriOdyssey for a fun-filled summer evening during Coyote Point Movie Nights in July, August, September and October at Coyote Point Park in San Mateo. Watch your favorite movies, experiment with fun CuriOdyssey science experiments, play creatively with San Mateo County Libraries, and learn more about the San Mateo County Parks Foundation. Movies begin thirty minutes after sunset, the last Saturday of each month, activities will open one hour before the movie begins.
Virtual Telescope Viewing - Livestream - 08/28/2021 09:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center
Join our resident astronomers on Facebook Live every Saturday evening live from Chabot’s Observation deck!
Each week, our astronomers will guide us through spectacular night sky viewing through Nellie, Chabot‘s most powerful telescope. Weather permitting we will be able to view objects live through the telescopes and our astronomers will be available for an open forum for all of your most pressing astronomy questions.
Sunday, 08/29/2021
Evening Tours of Lick Observatory - SOLD OUT - 08/29/2021 06:00 PM
Lick Observatory Mt. Hamilton
Monday, 08/30/2021
UC Berkeley Condensed Matter Physics Seminar - Livestream - 08/30/2021 10:00 AM
UC Berkeley Condensed Matter Physics Seminar
Speaker: Yasaman Bahri, Google
See weblink for Zoom link.
Deep Mutagenesis of a DNA Polymerase Clamp-Loader System - 08/30/2021 04:00 PM
Stanley Hall Berkeley
Clamp loaders are AAA+ ATPases that load sliding clamps onto DNA. We have developed a high-throughput platform for mutagenesis of components of the DNA replication system of T4 bacteriophage, and are using it to understand allosteric coupling in the component proteins.
Speaker: John Kuriyan, UC Berkeley
What the Heck is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? A Psychology Professor Tells All! - 08/30/2021 05:00 PM
Speakeasy Science
In this 60 minute talk, I will describe what CBT is and how it differs from other kinds of psychotherapy. I will explain what to look for in a good CBT therapist and once you begin, how to maximize the beneficial effects of CBT.
This talk is suited for people who are thinking about starting therapy, or those who are in therapy but wondering if they are actually getting good therapy!
By the end of this talk, you should have a clear understanding of what CBT is, how it is supposed to help you, and what to look for in a CBT therapist.
Speaker: Dr. Camilo Ortiz
Wonderfest: Aging and Cancer - Rival Demons? - 08/30/2021 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato
Aging greatly increases our susceptibility to a myriad of diseases, ranging from neurodegeneration to cancer. Given the very different tissues and manifestations of these diseases, aging researchers suspect there are basic aging processes that drive all or most of them. One such process is cellular senescence. Researchers, including those at Marin's Buck Center, are now beginning to understand the senescence response in some detail and, importantly, beginning to develop new drugs to deal with senescent cells.
Speaker: Dr. Judith Campisi, Buck Institute on Aging
Wednesday, 09/01/2021
A Measurements-Based Approach to Machine Learning - Livestream - 09/01/2021 12:00 PM
CITRIS Research Exchange
September LASER Event - Livestream - 09/01/2021 06:00 PM
LASER Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous
Thursday, 09/02/2021
NightLife - 09/02/2021 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
After Dark: Science of Breathing - 09/02/2021 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
NightSchool: Nature is Nurture - Livestream - 09/02/2021 07:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences
Friday, 09/03/2021
The effect of stellar activity on the detection of terrestrial planets - Livestream - 09/03/2021 11:30 AM
Astronomical Society of Edinburgh
Saturday, 09/04/2021
Virtual Telescope Viewing - Livestream - 09/04/2021 09:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center