Celebrating Mothers with the SciSchmooze
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Hello again fans of Science!
Today is Mother’s Day, that day where we honor mothers everywhere. I had always thought that, while certainly mothers are worth celebrating, the day itself was the invention of the hospitality industry. Not so!
According to historian and fellow Substack writer Heather Cox Richardson, Mothers’ Day started in the 1870s as part of women’s efforts to gain power and change modern society. A very interesting read. Professor Richardson’s daily writings offer an historical perspective on modern politics and life and I highly recommend subscribing to her newsletters.
Unfortunately, it seems this fight for womens’ rights is never ending. This week, a draft decision by the Supreme Court on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked to Politico. Reaction has been swift and loud, from both sides of the issue. But this is bigger than just abortion. It signals potential attacks on many things we assume are “rights”, including the right to be with who we want to be with, the right to birth control, and more.
Also significant is the outrage from Justice Roberts over the fact that the leak happened. Roberts seems to be more interested in finding and punishing the leaker than the fact that the court appears to be ready to overturn Roe v Wade, which has been law since 1973. Remember that every one of the justices on the court gave testimony in their confirmation hearings under oath where they said that they were not interested in relitigating existing decisions, specifically Roe v Wade. Should this decision actually come out as written, the justices could face perjury charges and impeachment.
For more on the logic used in the draft to define what the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution actually protects and the fallout from the draft, I again turn to Professor Richardson in her newsletters of May 4 and May 5.
Space
Next Sunday there will be a total lunar eclipse and, for a change, it will occur at a reasonable hour for those of us on the west coast. Several local organizations are having watch parties, including one on Stanford’s campus. Or you can just walk outside and take a look. The best times to watch will be between 8:30 and 10:00 pm. Remember, you don’t need any special glasses or protection to watch a lunar eclipse. Those precautions are for an eclipse of the sun, not the moon. For more information on this eclipse, and lunar eclipses in general, see this article, but note that the times given in it are for the UK, not the US.
As if Russia isn’t causing enough problems here on Earth, one of their spent rocket motors exploded in orbit this week, adding to the cloud of space junk that endangers satellites and other objects. And this isn’t the first time it has happened. At least 54 of these have exploded before! The US Department of Defense tracks more than 27,000 pieces of space debris. Seems we humans can’t go anywhere without making a mess!
Space fights back though. A meteor fell to earth over Mississippi on Wednesday, and fragments have been found on the ground.
A significant announcement is coming from the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration on Wednesday, May 12. It has to do with our home, the Milky Way, but that’s all we know so far. This same group provided the first image of a black hole in 2019.
Health and the Environment
The UN’s Global Assessment Report has sounded an alarm that humanity’s faulty perception of risk has set us on a “spiral of self-destruction.” Our lack of disaster prevention efforts and failing to act on issues such as climate change contribute to this dark view.
The corona virus is getting closer to acting like a seasonal virus, such as the flu. But it isn’t there yet. Cases are increasing in California, and, for the first time, the Bay Area is trending worse than the rest of the state with case rates almost 3 times what they were in March.
Using artificial intelligence, an algorithm has been developed by researchers at the Mayo Clinic that detects asymptomatic heart disease, using data from Apple Watches.
COVID-19 has affected much more than just health. One huge impact has been on the education of children. New research shows just how high the costs of long school closures have been on students’ progress.
I have written here many times about the importance of clear, concise communications from officials to the public regarding health issues such as COVID. It seems the federal government still can’t put out a consistent message, this time with vaccinations for children under 5 years old.
As the West continues to suffer through an historic drought, here in California we are beginning to realize that we’ll never get back to normal, and that our water shortage is permanent.
Ending on a positive note, on April 30 California reached a milestone. For the first time, nearly 100% of the electricity used in California came from renewable sources, with two-thirds coming from solar sources.
I’m filling in for Herb this week as he takes a well deserved vacation. David will be here next week.
Have a great week in Science!
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Monday, 05/09/2022
Mechanisms Underlying Flight Polymorphisms in Gryllus Crickets - Livestream - 05/09/2022 12:00 PM
Sonoma State Biology Colloquium
Speakers: Caroline Williams, UC Berkeley
See link for Zoom information
Astrophysics and Cosmology with Black Hole Mergers - Livestream - 05/09/2022 02:00 PM
Kavli Institute for Particle Physics & Cosmology
LIGO and Virgo have observed over 70 gravitational-wave sources to date, including mergers between black holes, neutron stars, and mixed neutron star- black holes. The origin of these merging neutron stars and black holes -- the most extreme objects in our Universe -- remains a mystery, with implications for stars, galaxies and cosmology. I will review the latest LIGO-Virgo discoveries and discuss some recent astrophysical lessons, including mass gaps, evolution with cosmic time, and implications for cosmology. I will conclude by discussing what we can expect to learn from future gravitational-wave and multi-messenger discoveries.
Speaker: Maya Fishback, Northwestern University
See weblink for Zoom information
Building an Inclusive Green Economy - Livestream - 05/09/2022 04:00 PM
Stanford Energy Seminar
Mayte Sanchez will present the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator's approach to building an inclusive green economy by unlocking innovation, transforming markets, and enhancing community. LACI aims to build a regional innovation ecosystem that supports the discovery and commercialization of clean technologies by creating new companies, derisking the go-to-market process, and helping companies successfully deliver market-ready cleantech solutions along with accompanying jobs in Southern California.
Mayte Sanchez is Director of Energy at Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
See weblink for link to online presentation
Wonderfest: Ask a Science Envoy: Memory & Supernovae - Livestream - 05/09/2022 08:00 PM
Wonderfest
Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with special communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:
Stanford neuroscientist Douglas Steven Miller on Why Can't I Remember? - Memory is a fundamental component of life. However, memory within and across individuals can vary. By studying attention, we can illuminate key components of these differences and perhaps strengthen our memory. UC Berkeley astrophysicist Sergiy Vasylyev on Cosmic Fireworks - Some stars go out with a bang: a cataclysmic explosion known as a supernova. Supernovae allow us to study the composition and dynamics of the Universe. Astronomers are able to use certain properties of light and atoms to peer inside the extreme environments of these cosmic fireworks from the safety of planet Earth.
See weblink for Zoom information
Tuesday, 05/10/2022
May Bird Walk with Chris Carmichael - 05/10/2022 09:30 AM
UC Botanical Garden Berkeley
Join Chris Carmichael in search of both resident and migrant birds in the Garden's many bird friendly micro habitats. Both beginning and experienced bird watchers are welcome. Rain or shine, dress in layers. We suggest bringing binoculars if you have them, and layers in case it is a chilly morning. Heave rain cancels this walk.
Understanding Grief - 05/10/2022 12:30 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco
The loss of a loved one can be overwhelming. Grief can impact us tremendously, both mentally and physically. How do we endure grief? Can we simply forget, or "get over it?"
In her new book, Marin County clinical psychologist Dr. Mary Lamia explains the science behind bereavement, from emotion to the persistence of memory, and shows people how to understand and adapt to death as a part of life. The book aims to expand our understanding of bereavement, placing it in alignment with how emotions work. Using numerous case examples and personal vignettes, Dr. Lamia's latest work helps people recognize the ways in which emotions are connected to memories and influence our experiences of loss. Dr. Lamia demonstrates how negative emotional responses experienced in grief often follow experiences with positive emotional memories.
Please join us for a powerful conversation on understanding and overcoming grief.
Speaker: Dr. Mary Lamia, Wright Institute; Michael Krasny, moderator
Attend in person or online
Transdisciplinary explorations of sustainability at the Bonneville Salt Flats - 05/10/2022 03:30 PM
Natural Science Annex Santa Cruz
Speaker: Brenda Bowen, University of Utah
Ultracold polar molecules: an emerging tool for quantum science - 05/10/2022 03:30 PM
Hewlett Teaching Center Stanford
Ultracold atomic gases have enabled remarkable breakthroughs in areas as diverse as precision measurements, quantum few- and many-body physics, and quantum information science. Over the past decade, it has increasingly become possible to create ultracold gases of simple polar molecules, and to manipulate and measure them with the powerful methods of atomic physics. Polar molecules have several key features that are quantitatively different from those of atoms, and these features promise to enable a similarly broad range of scientific advances. For example, the large polarizability of molecules makes them orders of magnitude more sensitive than atoms to tiny perturbations such as those due to CP-violating particle electric dipole moments. In addition, because electric dipole-dipole interactions between molecules are much stronger and longer range than the van der Waals interactions between atoms, molecular quantum gases can form new types of strongly-correlated quantum many body systems. I will describe recent progress in this field and highlight exciting prospects for the near future.
Speaker: David Paul DeMille, University of Chicago
See weblink for Zoom information or attend in person. Email link to receive password
Dark Matter in the Disordered Cosmos - 05/10/2022 07:00 PM
KIPAC Public Lectures
Today, we know that everything visible in the universe is made from a set of basic building blocks known as elementary particles. We call this picture the standard model of particle physics, and we understand it in great mathematical detail. Comprehending the standard model is an enormous achievement - but we are now certain that it describes very little of what's out there. In this talk, Prof. Prescod-Weinstein will discuss the effort to understand dark matter and how this work can help motivate us to build a better world. She will also speak about gender- and race-related issues in science.
Speaker: Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, University of New Hampshire
Register at weblink. This will be a hybrid event, with attendance in-person or online. Details will be made available to registered attendees.
Wednesday, 05/11/2022
Science Symposium 2022: Celebrating our Science - Livestream - 05/11/2022 09:00 AM
South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project
Learn about the science that undergirds the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project at our 2-day Symposium, featuring up-to-date presentations and discussion on tidal marsh and pond restoration, waterbirds, sediment, exciting collaborations and more.
See weblink for full symposium daily schedule and to register and receive connection information
Climate Change: Insights from Indigenous Peoples - 05/11/2022 11:00 AM
California Section American Chemical Society
ACS invites a panel of climate change and policy experts to describe the many ways that climate change is already impacting Indigenous Peoples, how they are adapting to survive, and what you can do to advocate for climate change policies.
Speakers: Nikki Cooley, The Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals / Oliver Moles, U.S. Department of Education Research Office (Retired) / Mary Sabuda, ACS Office of the Secretary and General Counsel Moderator: Dorothy Phillips, ACS Board of Directors
What You Will Learn:
How climate change is impacting Indigenous Peoples in the United StatesThe resilience and adaptation strategies Indigenous Peoples are applying within their communitiesHow to advocate for policy and legislative change as related to climate change in the United States. Register at weblink
Bird Migration: Opportunity Wants A Map - Livestream - 05/11/2022 12:00 PM
Stanford University
Avian migration is one of the most beautiful events on earth. From the clamorous departure of Geese flying north overhead to the cautious arrival of Songbirds in spring, these ancient feats of orientation, navigation, and critical fuel management are all around us. Join us for a webinar with Matthew Dodder, Executive Director of the Santa Clara Valley Audobon Society, and learn how this behavior evolved, how it works, and why it may be at risk. We will also explore ways you can observe migration in your own back yard.
Register at weblink for connection information
Ask the Scientist: Michelle Jungbluth - Livestream - 05/11/2022 02:30 PM
Estuary & Ocean Science Center
How do scientists go from OMG to PhD? How do they turn their passion for science into their profession? What advice do they have for future scientists?
If you are a 5th-12th grade student, undergraduate, teacher or parent, join us to ask these questions and more in a Q&A session on Zoom with our weekly Seminar speakers.
Dr. Michelle Jungbluth is a Faculty Researcher at San Francisco State University's Estuary and Ocean Science Center. She is an ecologist, naturalist, and oceanographer. In her career, she has primarily studied the biology and ecology of zooplankton--the animals that "drift" in the sea that form the critical base of aquatic food webs. Her expertise includes a combination of traditional and advanced molecular biological methods to characterize cryptic interactions in aquatic ecosystems. Dr. Jungbluth's goal in her work, through revealing this world of the unknown, is tohelp us find more ways to prepare and prevent the changes that entire ecosystems will experience as a result of climate change.
Parents must give permission for children under 18 to participate.
Register to attend here. (Zoom webinar)
Questions? Contact Erin Blackwood at erin70@sfsu.edu.
Revealing the hidden diversity, abundance, and feeding interactions at the base of aquatic food webs - Livestream - 05/11/2022 03:40 PM
Estuary & Ocean Science Center
There are millions of microscopic organisms in a cup of water from our estuary, yet we struggle to understand what they are, what they are doing, and what would happen if they disappear. From the bacteria, to primary producers and small aquatic crustaceans and everything in between, the planktonic organisms that form the base of aquatic food webs aren't just passively drifting particles, they have unique behaviors and environmental roles that make them very interesting and important members of our ecosystems. Join Dr. Jungbluth to learn about the how and why of her past and recent explorations into the world of plankton. She will talk about developing a novel technique to measure plankton abundance and biomass using just an animal's DNA. She will explore the diversity of organisms in the bacteria, phytoplankton, and microzooplankton that are fueling food webs in the San Francisco Estuary through dietary DNA sequencing. Finally, she will share her recent discoveries about similarities and differences in the diets of larval fishes, many of which are less than a centimeter long, that have important implications for our understanding of how the estuarine food web is functioning today.
Speaker: Michelle Jungbluth, Estuary & Ocean Science Center
See weblink for Zoom registration
May LASER Event - Livestream - 05/11/2022 06:00 PM
LASER Leonardo Art Science Evening Rendezvous
Kris Paulsen (Ohio State Univ) on "Virtual Surrender: Agency and Embodiment in Artists' Virtual Reality" Doga Cavdir (Stanford CCRMA) on "Movement-based Music-making" Jerold Chun (Sanford Burnham Prebys) on "Our Genomically Mosaic Brain" Register here or here
Cocktails and Conservation: Climate and Wildlife - 05/11/2022 06:00 PM
Rocky's Market Brooklyn Basin Oakland
Oakland Zoo will explore how climate change impacts the animals, plants, and people that share our Bay Area habitat, from poppies to pumas with our special guests: California Native Plant Society, Mountain Lion Foundation, and Oakland Zoo Climate Education.
Register at weblink
Building Great Things - 05/11/2022 07:00 PM
Computer History Museum Mountain View
What does it take to design technologies that change the world? Who are the people behind the gadgets you love? What does it REALLY take to be successful in Silicon Valley?
Tony Fadell had a hand in creating some of the most influential devices of all time, including the iPod, the iPhone, and the Nest thermostat that pioneered the Internet of Things. With over 300 patents and 30+ years of experience founding companies and designing products that profoundly affect people's lives, he's ready to share hard-won insights about leadership, design, and startups from his new book Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.
Attend in person or online. Register at weblink.
Speaker: Tony Fadell, Author
Thursday, 05/12/2022
Science Symposium 2022: Celebrating our Science - Livestream - 05/12/2022 09:00 AM
South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project
Learn about the science that undergirds the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project at our 2-day Symposium, featuring up-to-date presentations and discussion on tidal marsh and pond restoration, waterbirds, sediment, exciting collaborations and more.
See weblink for full symposium daily schedule and to register and receive connection information
Weekday Morning Walk at Pillar Point Bluff - 05/12/2022 10:00 AM
Pillar Point Bluff Half Moon Bay
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for an afternoon walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay! You will be guided by a POST representative who will share details about the area's interesting natural history, from the coastal scrub habitat to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve that hosts tide pools and breeding grounds for harbor seals.
The walk is moderate at about 2.5 miles round trip with around 350 feet of gradual elevation gain.
In 2004, POST stepped in to fund protection of the bluff, restore it to ecological health, and construct a 1.6-mile section of the California Coastal Trail that now runs across it. Today, all 161 acres of the bluff are fully protected in perpetuity - a process that took four transactions, 11 years of work, and an array of visionaries, landowners and donors, both public and private.
Please note that all minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the hike. While dogs are allowed on this trail, we kindly ask that your pups stay home for this community hike.
The Uses of Delusion: Why It's Not Always Rational to Be Rational - Livestream - 05/12/2022 04:00 PM
Skeptical Inquirer
Although reason and rationality are our friends in almost all contexts, in some cases people are better off putting reason aside. In a number of very important situations, we benefit by not seeing the world as it is, and by not behaving like logic-driven machines. Sometimes we know we aren't making sense, and yet we are compelled to act against reason; in other cases, our delusions are so much a part of normal human experience that we are unaware of them. As intelligent as we are, much of what has helped humans succeed as a species is not our prodigious brain power but something much more basic.In behavioral scientist Stuart Vyse's new book, THE USES OF DELUSION: Why It's Not Always Rational to be Rational he looks at the aspects of human nature that are not altogether rational but, nonetheless, help us achieve our social and personal goals.
Speaker: Stuart Vyse, Author
Why Quantum Computing? Why Now? - 05/12/2022 05:00 PM
Mind the Bridge San Francisco
Quantum Computers have the potential to revolutionize computation by solving certain types of hard computational problems faster or better. In recent years, great progress has been made in Quantum Computing -- the Quantum Ecosystem is growing in all directions, from academia to industry, and producing new hardware, software, and partnerships.
In this meetup, Yianni Gamvros, Head of Business Development at QC Ware Corp, will explain the basics of Quantum Computing (e.g. what it is) and present market trends and updates (e.g. why we want it and why now). Jiyoung Choi, COO at VALUENEX, Inc., will also share the Quantum Computing landscape using data visualization.
After the meetup, we will have a networking event (6:30-8:30pm) with participants from Mind the Bridge, SACC (Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce), and VALUENEX (INSIGHT CAFE) for open innovation. Please join us!
Frank Drake Award Ceremonies - 05/12/2022 06:00 PM
SRI International Menlo Park
Join us on to celebrate SETI pioneer, Dr. Shelley Wright, as she receives the 2022 Drake Award. Dr. Wright leads the Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences, University of California, San Diego. She is the principal investigator on NIROSETI, an instrument designed to detect infrared laser pulses that could originate from distant advanced civilizations.
Celebrate Dr. Wright together with winners of the SETI Forward Award for undergraduates and the Carl Sagan Center Director's Award - an incredible set of individuals who have and will advance our understanding of life in the universe. The Drake Award will be held in person at the SRI International Headquarters in Menlo Park, CA, or online from wherever you live.
Previous winners of this prestigious prize include Frank Drake himself, Nobel Laureate Charles Townes, and Kepler mission scientist William Borucki.
FOR TICKETS, and to see the agenda, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-drake-award-tickets-304864908147. Students and teachers receive discount in person, or can attend online for free.
Blinded by the Light! How Light Pollution Affects the Behavior, Physiology, and Ecology of Birds - Livestream - 05/12/2022 06:00 PM
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
For 4 billion years, life has evolved under dark nights, brightened only by the moon and stars. The light/dark cycle dictated by the earth's rotation around the sun is one of the most reliable environmental cues on the planet, and so nearly all living organisms have mechanisms for detecting and responding to light in their environment. Birds use daylight as a cue for all kinds of things €" waking up in the morning, breeding in the spring, orientation when migrating, etc. Light pollution disrupts this cue, leading to changes in behavior and physiology, which can scale up to affect whole ecosystems. Join us to learn about the diverse ways in which light pollution affects our local birds, what this means for the broader ecosystem, and what we (humans) can do about it.
Speaker: Valentina Alaasam, University of Nevada, Reno
Register at weblink to receive connection information
Nightlife - 05/12/2022 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Calling all creatures of the night: explore the nocturnal side of the Academy at NightLife and see what's revealed. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 40,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude the albino alligator), the night is sure to be wild.
Step inside the iconic Shake House and our four-story Rainforest, where you can explore the Amazon's treetops surrounded by free-flying birds and butterflies. Reservations for these exhibits are no longer required. However, please note that the last entry into the rainforest is 7:30 pm - our animals need their sleep.
Venture into our latest aquarium exhibit Venom to encounter live venomous animals and learn the power of venom to both harm and heal.
Visit the BigPicture exhibit in the Piazza to marvel at the most recent winners of the BigPicture Natural Photography competition.
Bask in the glow of one of the largest living coral reef displays in the world: our 212,000-gallon Philippine Coral Reef tank.
Take in the interstellar views from the Living Roof, then grab a bite from the Academy Cafe and head to the West Garden outdoor bar to drink and dine under the stars. For adults 21+.
After Dark: Double Horizon Opening - 05/12/2022 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. Tonight, get a special preview of the newest Black Box installation, Lia Halloran's Double Horizon. Shot from cameras mounted to a plane piloted by Halloran, Double Horizon is an immersive three-screen video installation that envelopes the viewer in Halloran's portrait of Los Angeles.
Meet the Artist With Lia Halloran 7:30 p.m. Osher Gallery 1
Join artist Lia Halloran to learn more about her work Double Horizon. In celebration of opening night of the Exploratorium's newest Black Box installation, Halloran will share more about the piece and her process as an artist while also inviting conversation.
Lia Halloran often incorporates science and nature to create projects that draw from scientific materials, historical influences, and identities. She has participated in a wide range of interdisciplinary collaborations with scientists and architects, including an upcoming book with Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne about the "warped side of the universe." She lives in Los Angeles where she is represented by Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, and is an Associate Professor at and Chair of the Art Department at Chapman University, teaching courses that explore the intersection of art and science.
Ages 18+
PubScience: What Makes the Earth Shake? From Slow Slip Events to Large Quakes - 05/12/2022 07:00 PM
Ocean View Brew Works Albany
PubScience is our monthly event series where we bring scientists to local bars to give short, casual science talks and presentations on a variety of topics. These events are always free and open to the public of all backgrounds and interests.
Speaker: Ryan Yohler, UC Berkeley
Superstitions, Aliens, and Conspiracies: Tales from the Frontlines of Astronomy Outreach - Livestream - 05/12/2022 07:30 PM
Bay Area Skeptics
Interest in astronomy and space is virtually universal. Knowledge is not. For me and legions of outreach astronomers I work with around the world, astronomy is the gateway to STEM education, accessible to all. But unlike other sciences, people rarely know the basics, like what a star or planet is, so astronomy outreach has to start with the ABCs. For some, aliens, conspiracies, and dogma have filled the knowledge gap before we encounter them. Many stories I hear are just shockingly poor interpretations of personal observations; lights in the sky are usually evidence of alien spacecraft (what is the opposite of Occam's Razor?). Real science gets distorted, and ancient superstitions dominate in some cultures, like the harm a partially eclipsed Sun's rays can do. For those lamenting the lack of scientific knowledge and critical thinking these days, welcome to my Universe.
Speaker: Mike Simmons, UC Los Angeles School of Medicine, retired
See weblink for link to the talk
Friday, 05/13/2022
Europa's Surface Composition as a Window on its Ocean Chemistry - 05/13/2022 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
Speaker: Samantha Trumbo, Cornell University
Saturday, 05/14/2022
Impacts of Fire on Reptiles and Amphibians in Sonoma County - Livestream - 05/14/2022 10:00 AM
Audubon Canyon Ranch
How are amphibians and reptiles, known collectively as herpetofauna, impacted by fire? Some species may be particularly vulnerable to negative impacts from fire due to their relatively low dispersal abilities compared with other groups of animals. In order to effectively plan prescribed burns and prioritize mitigation for potential wildfires, ecologists and land managers must understand the responses of local flora and fauna to fire. In this presentation, we will learn from biologist Julianne Bradbury, about her pre- and post-fire research surveying herpetofauna at Pepperwood (only there?). Plywood coverboards arranged in grassland and mixed oak-conifer forest habitats adjacent to seasonal ponds were surveyed for two years prior to and two years following the 2017 Tubb's wildfire event at Pepperwood Preserve in Sonoma County, CA. Join us to learn about Julianne's findings, and how this research can help better inform land stewardship practices to support a healthy population of reptiles and amphibians living with wildfire.
Speaker: Julianne Bradbury, Audubon Canyon Ranch
Celebrating 175 Years of Neptune: A Story from its Discovery to the Present - Livestream - 05/14/2022 07:30 PM
Mt. Tam Astronomy
Neptune was discovered on 24 Sep. 1846, i.e., ~175 years ago. Since its discovery we have a learned much about the planet itself, its moons and ring system. This talk will present the story of Neptune, from its discovery to the present, using data at visible, near- and mid-infrared, and radio data.
Our speaker, Imke de Pater is a Professor emerita and professor of the Graduate School in the departments of Astronomy and of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California at Berkeley.
Speaker: Imke dePater, UC Berkeley
See weblink for Zoom link
Sunday, 05/15/2022
Afternoon Walk at Pillar Point Bluff - 05/15/2022 04:00 PM
Pillar Point Bluff Half Moon Bay
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for an afternoon walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay! You will be guided by a POST representative who will share details about the area's interesting natural history, from the coastal scrub habitat to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve that hosts tide pools and breeding grounds for harbor seals.
The walk is moderate at about 2.5 miles round trip with around 350 feet of gradual elevation gain.
In 2004, POST stepped in to fund protection of the bluff, restore it to ecological health, and construct a 1.6-mile section of the California Coastal Trail that now runs across it. Today, all 161 acres of the bluff are fully protected in perpetuity - a process that took four transactions, 11 years of work, and an array of visionaries, landowners and donors, both public and private.
Please note that all minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the hike. While dogs are allowed on this trail, we kindly ask that your pups stay home for this community hike.
Total Lunar Eclipse Watch Party - 05/15/2022 08:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Curl up on Chabot's Observation Deck for a live watch party of this year's Blood Moon Total Eclipse. Dark skies, hot chocolate and excited astronomers offer an exciting viewing experience you won't want to miss! In one of the year's greatest eclipses, the Moon passes through Earth's shadow and appears red in color.
To learn more about the science behind this fascinating phenomenon, arrive by 8 p.m. to hear from Chabot astronomer Gerald McKeegan. By 8:30 p.m. the sky show will begin as the event becomes visible from Chabot. The eclipse will reach its peak by 9:11 p.m. Watch with us until the eclipse rescinds at 11 p.m.
Lunar Eclipse Viewing Party - 05/15/2022 08:30 PM
Stanford University Stanford
The next total lunar eclipse will be viewable from Northern California! Join us to observe the eclipse on the Stanford campus naked-eye and through telescopes. You will also get to talk to astronomers about anything -- the Moon, our solar system, and much more!
Exact location and parking instructions TBA. Register at weblink.
Monday, 05/16/2022
How to Prevent the Next Pandemic - Livestream - 05/16/2022 11:00 AM
Commonwealth Club - Online Event
Though the COVID-19 pandemic isn't over, it is heading into a new phase, particularly in Western countries such as the United States and throughout Europe. Increasingly, citizens want a return to normal, with fewer restrictions, and are showing willingness to find ways to live with and manage the virus. As government leaders around the world strive to transition their countries to this new normal, they are also starting to talk about what happens next and how we can prevent another pandemic from once again killing millions of people and devastating the global economy. But given the controversies around fighting COVID-19, is this even possible?
Bill Gates believes the answer is yes.
In his new book, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic, Gates lays out what he believes the world can learn from COVID-19 and what can be done to ward off another disaster like it. Relying on the knowledge of the world's foremost experts and his own experience combating fatal diseases with the Gates Foundation, his new book shows us how the nations of the world, working in conjunction with one another and with the private sector, can stop future outbreaks and ultimately save lives.
Join us for an in-depth discussion on what the world can and must do to prevent the next pandemic.
Speaker: Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Hunting of the quark - 05/16/2022 03:30 PM
SLAC Colloquium Series Menlo Park
Between 1967 and 1976, experiments at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (and elsewhere) demonstrated the existence of fundamental particles known as quarks inside protons, neutrons, and other hadrons. I describe the key SLAC experiments and the related theoretical advances that led to the quark-parton model becoming the accepted picture of subatomic matter by the late 1970s. Among the experiments were the MIT-SLAC deep-inelastic electron-nucleon scattering experiments in SLAC End Station A and the SLAC-LBL experiments on the SPEAR electron-positron collider, both of which led to Nobel prizes for physicists involved. From the historical perspective of one participant, these experiments proved pivotal in the establishment of the now-dominant Standard Model of elementary particle physics.
Speaker: Dr. Michael Riordan, UC Santa Cruz
Shell Long-Range Research Platform - Livestream - 05/16/2022 04:00 PM
Stanford Energy Seminar
Decarbonization is one of the biggest challenges faced by aviation, and the pathway to net-zero emissions will take innovation, collaboration, and legislation. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) has a key role to play but requires bold action from airlines, fuel providers, and policymakers in order to reach the necessary scale. One challenge the industry faces is finding more ways to make SAF at commercial scale using different feedstocks and processes. Shell has collaborated with industry partners in a breakthrough technology from Shell Aviation that shows the feasibility of an innovative, lower-carbon pathway for making SAF. In May 2020 Shell accepted a BHAG challenge (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to produce an amount of sustainable synthetic kerosene beyond laboratory scale at the Energy Transition Centre Amsterdam. What started with an innovative industry challenge, ended with the world's first flight using certified, synthetic kerosene made from hydrogen and recycled carbon. Thus, it was an important first step and together with our partners we now need to scale up, accelerate and make it commercially viable.
Speaker: Marwa Al-Ansary, Shell Oil Company
Tuesday, 05/17/2022
From There to Here: My Asian American Journey - 05/17/2022 09:00 AM
California Section American Chemical Society
The uncertain case for anthropogenic extinctions prior to Homo sapiens - 05/17/2022 03:30 PM
Natural Science Annex Santa Cruz
Future of Work: Design Your 100 Year Life - 05/17/2022 05:30 PM
swissnex San Francisco San Francisco
Wine, Kombucha, Vinegar - How to Ferment by the Herbal Oganoleptic Style with Emphasis on Mushrooms - Livestream - 05/17/2022 07:00 PM
Mycological Society of San Francisco
Wednesday, 05/18/2022
How to Make a Star - 05/18/2022 06:00 PM
UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus Santa Clara
Student Work: Improving on Traffic Lights & Helping the Visually-Impaired - Livestream - 05/18/2022 07:00 PM
SF Bay Association of Computing Machinery
Imaging Extrasolar Planets - Livestream - 05/18/2022 07:00 PM
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers
The TESS Mission: A Search for E.T. - Livestream - 05/18/2022 07:00 PM
SETI Institute
Thursday, 05/19/2022
Carbonate Systems in Continental Extreme Environments of South America - 05/19/2022 03:30 PM
Natural Science Annex Santa Cruz
NightLife: Secret Garden - 05/19/2022 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Science of Cocktails @ After Dark - 05/19/2022 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
After Dark: How to Die in Space - 05/19/2022 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
The Secret Perfume of Birds - Livestream - 05/19/2022 07:00 PM
Golden Gate Audubon Society
NightSchool: Into the Mangroves - Livestream - 05/19/2022 07:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences
Friday, 05/20/2022
A Deep Learning approach for boulder detection - The key to understanding planetary surfaces evolution and their crater statistics-based ages - 05/20/2022 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz
History of Astronomy - Leviathon of Parsontown - Livestream - 05/20/2022 07:30 PM
Tri-Valley Stargazers
In Town Star Pary - 05/20/2022 08:30 PM
San Jose Astronomical Association San Jose
Saturday, 05/21/2022
Family Nature Walks - Baylands Nature Preserve - 05/21/2022 10:00 AM
Environmental Volunteers EcoCenter Palo Alto
Investigating Space: Back to the Moon - 05/21/2022 01:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Monday, 05/23/2022
The stress on faults: fundamental physics of earthquakes - 05/23/2022 03:30 PM
SLAC Colloquium Series Menlo Park
Student Work: AI-based computer interface for enhanced accessibility - Livestream - 05/23/2022 07:00 PM
SF Bay Association of Computing Machinery