Minds, Misinformation, and Making Things Better
Greetings science fans!
Father’s Day has me thinking about mentorship and the people who don’t just advance their field but spend their lives making sure the next generation can, too.
Bruce Alberts is one of the great biochemists of his generation, a pioneering researcher in DNA replication who went on to serve for 12 years as president of the National Academy of Sciences and to edit Science magazine. But alongside all of that, he insisted that science education was a place scientists needed to get personally involved. He has argued that “science education should be about learning to think and solve problems like a scientist, insisting, for all citizens, that statements be evaluated using evidence and logic the way scientists evaluate statements.” Wikipedia
He didn’t just say it. In 1987, while his own children were attending San Francisco public schools, he founded a program to partner UCSF scientists directly with SFUSD teachers and classrooms. And this fall, a piece of the vision he championed will be realized in brick and mortar: SFUSD is opening Mission Bay Elementary School in August 2026, a new school on the UCSF Mission Bay campus, placing K-12 students at the center of one of the country’s great biomedical research ecosystems.
This Saturday at SkeptiCal in Oakland, Alberts is giving a talk on how science education can protect us from misinformation, arguing that when people reject scientific consensus, that’s a failure of how we taught them science in the first place. It’s an urgent message, and the whole SkeptiCal lineup this year rises to meet it: a skeptical look at what the science actually says about wildfire risk and forest management, and a talk on how The Music Man anticipated the tactics of modern misinformation, from fake credentials to manufactured crises. Also on the speaker list: Leonard Tramiel, who, along with Herb Masters, I (and soon thereafter Bob Siederer) co-founded BayAreaScience.org back in 2008, the very site where many of you found this newsletter. Tickets are still available - get them at skepticalcon.com.
The misinformation problem isn’t contained to the stage. Wednesday at SPUR, a panel on AI data centers and sustainable energy gets into territory where the gap between hype and reality has direct consequences for the grid, for water supplies, and for the pace of electrification across the Bay Area. Clear thinking, evidence, the willingness to follow data wherever it leads: that’s the toolkit for this conversation, too.
Happy Father’s Day!
- Kishore
My picks for the week:
Aligning AI Data Centers with Sustainable Solutions for Grid Efficiency (Wednesday, June 24, SPUR, San Francisco)
Nerd Nite SF #161: Rethinking the ABCs, Belly Dancing, and the Definition of Art (Wednesday, June 24, Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco)
SkeptiCal 2026 (Saturday, June 27, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, get tickets at skepticalcon.com)
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Monday, 06/22/2026
PARC Forum: Moving quantum from lab to fab - 06/22/2026 05:00 PM
PARC Forum Palo Alto
Join us at SRI’s PARC Forum as we bring together leading voices across the quantum value chain to explore how to scale quantum technologies into real-world applications.
Featuring speakers from GlobalFoundries and the SRI-managed QED-C, discussions will cover the state of the quantum ecosystem, manufacturing at scale, and emerging applications beyond computing.
Top quantum experts will come together to discuss how the U.S. is working to create a competitive edge across industry, academia, and government. Discussion topics will include:
Manufacturing at scale - what a quantum-capable supply chain looks like & who is building it. The current state of the quantum ecosystem - a maturity assessment across computing, sensing, and communications. Beyond quantum computing - applications that industry is beginning to commercialize QED-C’s role in advancing U.S. quantum industrial strategy
Quantum technologies are rapidly advancing toward real-world applications across computing, sensing, communications, and cybersecurity. As the sector scales, success depends on more than breakthrough science - it requires robust supply chains, reliable manufacturing, and a qualified workforce. The quantum industry doesn’t need to start from scratch: It can leverage deep existing capabilities in semiconductors, photonics, lasers, and electronics to accelerate the transition from lab to market.
Speakers: Gregg Martlett, GlobalFoundries; Celia Merzbacher, Quantum Economic Development Consortium
Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Well-Being - SOLD OUT - 06/22/2026 07:00 PM
Swedish American Hall San Francisco
Our bodies run on internal clocks called circadian rhythms, which influence sleep, energy, mood, and overall health. But artificial light, irregular schedules, shift work, and constant stimulation can throw those rhythms off balance.
In this lecture, UC Berkeley psychologists and neuroscientists Dr. Lance Kriegsfeld and Dr. Sheri Johnson explore how circadian rhythms shape both mental and physical health, what happens when they become disrupted, and why staying aligned with natural day-night cycles matters more than we realize.
Blending neuroscience, psychology, and practical strategies, this lecture offers an accessible look at the hidden systems regulating our daily lives, and how small changes to sleep, light, and routine can help us feel healthier and more balanced.
Speakers: Lance Kriegsfeld and Sheri Johnson, UC Berkeley
Search 360°: From Query Understanding to LLM-Enhanced Retrieval - Livestream - 06/22/2026 07:00 PM
SF Bay Association of Computing Machinery
Search systems are evolving rapidly, powered by advances in deep learning, embeddings, and now large language models. This talk offers a 360° view of modern search architectures: from query understanding and candidate generation to pre-ranking, ranking, and re-ranking. We’ll explore how hybrid retrieval (sparse + dense), multi-task learning, and LLM-assisted query understanding are redefining search quality and personalization. Attendees will gain a systems-level understanding of how each layer contributes to relevance, diversity, and user satisfaction, and where to focus next for scalable innovation.
Speaker: Gauri Sarode, Doordash
Register at weblink
Tuesday, 06/23/2026
Wonderfest: Animal Evolution’s Big Bang: The Cambrian Explosion - 06/23/2026 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato
Charles Darwin was deeply troubled by the sudden appearance of complex animal life during the Cambrian Explosion about half a billion years ago, animal evolution’s Big Bang. He felt the sudden appearance of such diverse animal body-plans was inexplicable, fearing that it was the Achilles heel of his theory. What do we now know of this spectacular event? Drawing on the fossil record, ecology, developmental biology, genetics, and computer simulation, can we understand how and why the Cambrian Explosion occurred?
Speaker: Charles Marshall, UC Berkeley
Wednesday, 06/24/2026
Aligning AI Data Centers with Sustainable Solutions for Grid Efficiency - 06/24/2026 12:30 PM
SF Planning + Urban Research Assoc. (SPUR) San Francisco
As Bay Area companies work to meet growing AI demand, how can we leverage the latest technology to reduce the environmental offset of data centers on the grid? This program will feature two case studies that bring the water and energy infrastructure picture together:
Epic Cleantec will discuss their work on on-site water reuse and cooling efficiency, emphasizing the importance of a full watershed approach to reduce overall water usage in data center operations.
SPAN will present about their XFRA technology and the use of smart home panels as distributed energy resources and virtual power plants, tapping into unused residential panel capacity to reduce peak load and offset the grid investments that new data center construction requires.
The program will follow with a moderated discussion exploring the difference between common perceptions and the reality of modern AI data centers, as well as wider efforts to enable broader electrification and strategies to overcome existing barriers.
Speakers:
Co-moderator: Sean Elsbernd / President & CEO, SPURCo-moderator: Jon Meyer / Chief Technology Officer, CAPTRUSTChris Lander / Vice President of XFRA, SPANAaron Tartakovsky / CEO and Co-Founder, EPIC Cleantec
Register at weblink
Structure and function in coastal vegetated habitats - Livestream - 06/24/2026 03:00 PM
UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory
Speaker: Lillian Aoki, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science, University of Oregon
Register for Zoom at weblink
Virtual Skeptics on the Pub - 06/24/2026 07:00 PM
Bay Area Skeptics
This is a casual night of socializing with fellow science-forward skeptics and with others inhabiting our oblate spheroidal planet.
Please join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.
Get to Know Karl the Fog: The Science Behind Bay Area Weather & Microclimates - SOLD OUT - 06/24/2026 07:00 PM
Planted SF San Francisco
In the span of a single day, San Francisco can be covered in fog while Oakland is sunny and Walnut Creek is pushing 90 degrees. From Karl the Fog to sudden temperature swings and wildly different neighborhood forecasts, Bay Area weather is shaped by a unique mix of ocean currents, mountains, wind patterns, and geography.
In this lecture, meteorologist Jessica Burch breaks down the science behind the Bay Area’s famous microclimates and explains why weather here behaves so differently from almost anywhere else in the world.
Drawing from her experience forecasting Bay Area weather and flying Black Hawks for a California National Guard MEDEVAC unit, Jessica explores how atmospheric science impacts daily life, travel, aviation, and the way we experience the Bay itself.
Nerd Nite SF #161: Rethinking the ABCs, Belly Dancing, and the Definition of Art - 06/24/2026 08:00 PM
Rickshaw Stop San Francisco
How the ABC’s (Don’t) Work
By: Amanda Maillet, speech therapist
I’m sure folks have heard we’re in the midst of a literacy crisis, but do they know what actually goes into learning to read? How about how the ABCs work, or rather don’t, and why we should all be way more pissed off about it? How about how the Vikings and Klingon connect to all this?
Hips don’t lie - or do they? Belly Dance History through the Ages
By: Nishita Rao, sex researcher and educator
What if I told you that the term ‘Belly Dance” does not exist in any African language or in Arabic? So what is belly dance then? What role did the French, the Austrians, the English and even the Russians play in charting this oriental fantasy? Join me as I revisit the dances of Egypt! This session will highlight the 30+ Egyptian dances that existed prior to colonization: Hagala, Alexandrian, Melaya Leff, Henna, Semsemiya, Bambotiya, Dahia, Mashreqiya, Debka, Fallahi, Ghawazee, Gypsy, Baladi, Jawary, Awalem, Oriental, Saidi, Tahtieb game, Bedouin, Kaffafa, Zagala, Burmia Baharia, and more.
State of the Art: The Historical & Ongoing Struggle to Define Art
By: Derek Zhao, Disney
What is art? For something so pervasive in our lives, art is notoriously difficult to define. Just consider the cliches and the problems they introduce. “Art makes you feel something.” So does a sunset. “Art is something made with skill and intention.” So is a highway. “Art is how we communicate feelings words can’t.” So is a panic attack. If we move beyond the slogans, rigorous philosophical definitions face similar challenges. Plato tried to make one. Tolstoy tried. Arthur Danto tried. And yet, appreciators, artists, curators, and philosophers are still left unsatisfied. I will walk you through this fascinating history of attempts to define art, show you what the current philosophical [ahem] state of the art currently is, and propose my own humble framework.
Thursday, 06/25/2026
After Dark: Pride - 06/25/2026 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Celebrate Pride with sci-fi representation, fun activities, and a thought-provoking exhibition about space.
Ages 18+
PRIDE NightLife - 06/25/2026 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Kick off San Francisco Pride in a big way at NightLife. We’re celebrating love, acceptance, and the power of being unapologetically yourself. So get ready to dance the night away in your fiercest fit, shop local vendors, and more!
Friday, 06/26/2026
Skeptics in an Oakland pub - 06/26/2026 06:30 PM
Drakes Dealership Biergarten Oakland
Enjoy an evening of socializing and feasting with fellow Bay Area science-forward folk in Drake’s Biergarten with great food. < Menu >
Join us! This is a free event brought to you by Bay Area Skeptics. All are welcome.
Lick Observatory After Hours - SOLD OUT - 06/26/2026 06:30 PM
Lick Observatory Mt. Hamilton
Take a walk through the Eastside of the Lick Observatory, culminating in a visit to the iconic Shane Telescope. After a journey through time with a history lecture, we’ll transition to a night of star gazing. Experience the cosmos firsthand through our expert-led portable telescope stations.
Our behind-the-scenes After Hours Tour showcases the Shane instruments, technology, and the scientific discoveries we have been making for almost 150 years - including an up-close look at the 3-meter Shane Telescope, the largest telescope on the mountain. During twilight, staff will give a history lecture about the founding and construction of the observatory. Once the sky is dark (and weather permitting), guests will view celestial objects through our portable telescopes. This event will be approximately 4 to 6 hours long. Visitors should be prepared to walk about one mile during the evening, including taking stairs.
Saturday, 06/27/2026
SkeptCal 2026 - 06/27/2026 09:00 AM
Asian Cultural Center Oakland
Get your tickets now for the lowest price of the year for the 2026 SkeptiCal Conference, northern California’s meeting on science and critical thinking.
Speakers (see weblink for abstracts and bios):
Placebos for Pets: Alternative Medicine for Animals (Brennan McKenzie) Burning Questions: A Skeptical Examination of Wildfire Risk and Response (Peter Hess) What Every Skeptic Should Know about Cold-Reading (Susan Gerbic) Adventures at the Festival of Mind Body Spirit (Wallet) (Richard Saunders) Skepardy! (hosted by Bill Patterson with special guest contestants) Skeptics Jukebox (Joey Fabian) Selective Skepticism is not Skepticism (Thomas Smith)We’ve Got Trouble: How The Music Man Anticipated America’s Appetite for Misinformation (Ross Blocher)From False Color to Fake Content: When is an Astrophotograph Real (Leonard Tramel)
$70 until June 15, $75 General, $20 Students with ID
Discover the Flyway Trail - 06/27/2026 10:00 AM
Bedwell Bayfront Park Menlo Park
Join us for a walk along the Flyway Trail! Discover wildlife from a 360 degree view at the Ravenswood Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
We will meet in the Bedwell Bayfront Park parking lot, adjacent to the bathrooms, and walk through Bedwell Bayfront Park to the Flyway Trail, located on refuge lands. Along the walk we will learn about the different habitats and restoration efforts, while doing plenty of bird watching. The trail is flat, compacted dirt with some benches along the route. We will be walking at a slow pace for less than 2 miles.
Register at weblink
Lick Observatory After Hours - SOLD OUT - 06/27/2026 06:30 PM
Lick Observatory Mt. Hamilton
Take a walk through the Eastside of the Lick Observatory, culminating in a visit to the iconic Shane Telescope. After a journey through time with a history lecture, we’ll transition to a night of star gazing. Experience the cosmos firsthand through our expert-led portable telescope stations.
Our behind-the-scenes After Hours Tour showcases the Shane instruments, technology, and the scientific discoveries we have been making for almost 150 years - including an up-close look at the 3-meter Shane Telescope, the largest telescope on the mountain. During twilight, staff will give a history lecture about the founding and construction of the observatory. Once the sky is dark (and weather permitting), guests will view celestial objects through our portable telescopes. This event will be approximately 4 to 6 hours long. Visitors should be prepared to walk about one mile during the evening, including taking stairs.
Unraveling Dark Energy - 06/27/2026 07:30 PM
East Bay Astronomical Society Oakland
Although dark energy makes up about 70% of our universe, it remains one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics. Unraveling its nature is the central mission of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), a flagship cosmology program led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. By constructing the largest three-dimensional map of the universe ever created, DESI traces the evolution of dark energy across 12 billion years of cosmic history.
Results published since 2024 reveal a growing tension with the standard model where dark energy is described by a cosmological constant, challenging the paradigm established over the past three decades. DESI’s findings were recognized by Time Magazine as one of the “top discoveries” of 2024 and are reshaping our understanding of the universe. In this presentation, Dr. Palanque-Delabrouille will provide an overview of our current knowledge of dark energy, explain how we study it, and discuss the implications of DESI’s latest results.
Speaker: Nathalie Palanque-Delabrouille, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Sunday, 06/28/2026
Solar Observing - 06/28/2026 02:00 PM
San Jose Astronomical Association San Jose
It’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 safe. We’ll have white-light telescopes with dense solar filters that reveal sunspots. Further, we’ll show you hydrogen-alpha telescopes that isolate a very specific color of red that reveals prominences (colloquially often thought of as solar flares; see video below) and intricate texture within the Sun’s chromosphere (its atmosphere). We can also share with you a little about how the Sun works and how complex magnetic fields drive the number of sunspots and prominences that we’ll see on a given day. A few minutes after 1:30, we’ll have a short, informal introductory talk, and at other times, you can enjoy the views and ask questions about the Sun, telescopes, or astronomy in general. Often we also have a station where you can get a better feel for the huge scale of our solar system! And you’ll get a solar system you can fold up and carry in your pocket. You may bring your own telescope. If you have a properly filtered white light or H-alpha telescope and want to share views with others, please arrive at 1:00 or earlier, so you have time to set up before the event officially starts. Since we’ll be out in the Sun, consider coming prepared with a hat, sunscreen and water. Conditions may be hot! And with this video you could prepare yourself with a better understanding of solar flares (and how they’re different from prominences):
Sign up at weblink
Marine Science Sundays: Sea Lions of the World - 06/28/2026 10:30 PM
Marine Mammal Center Sausalito
This month is all about celebrating the sea lion. Let’s look at some of the diversity of sea lions around the world and what makes them super special. Join us as we explore the big, the small, the weird, and everything in between!
Talks at 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM, and 2:00 PM, each lasting 30 minutes.
Tuesday, 06/30/2026
A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare - 06/30/2026 07:00 PM
Computer History Museum Mountain View
5 Things Everyone Can Learn From Kink - 06/30/2026 07:00 PM
The Faight Collective San Francisco
You are what you eat, and for killer whales, it’s not always good news - Livestream - 06/30/2026 07:00 PM
American Cetacean Society
Wednesday, 07/01/2026
Birdy Hour: The Many Hats of Honey Bees - Livestream - 07/01/2026 06:00 PM
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
Thursday, 07/02/2026
After Dark: Starstruck - 07/02/2026 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Friday, 07/03/2026
First Friday: The Mother of All Demos - 07/03/2026 06:00 PM
San José Museum of Art San Jose
Saturday, 07/04/2026
First Saturday Tour at the Santa Cruz Arboretum - 07/04/2026 11:00 AM
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Santa Cruz
Monday, 07/06/2026
Harsh Medicine: Gender Bias in Science & Health Care - 07/06/2026 06:00 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco