The first SciSchmooze of Fall

September 22, 2024

Sep 23, 2024

Hello again Science Fans!

Did you notice a change today? Me either, but at 5:44 AM today, astronomical Autumn began in the Northern Hemisphere, the Autumnal Equinox. So happy fall.

Our calendar has gotten much more active now that schools are back in session and more seminars are on the schedules. We’re listing 94 events over the next two weeks. More will be added to our calendar as we find them, and some already listed will be updated as titles, abstracts, and speakers are provided. As always, should you want to attend an event we list, click through to the host’s website for any last minute updates or cancellations. Or peruse the online calendar for late additions and find something you are interested in attending.

Let’s start this week with Douglas Adams. I was in a conversation with some folks this week when the answer to the Life, Universe and Everything came up. According to Adams in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy novels, the answer is 42. (If you haven’t read this series, you really should).

One of the people had never read this series of books, so we attempted to explain the significance of the question, and the answer. Not as easy as it might sound. And it turns out there’s basis in real-world research on trying to come up with one equation that explains “everything”. This is a bit of a long article, but it is worth the read. Can the answer even be computed? You’ll have to read to find out. (I have to assume this story appeared in my feeds as a result of the algorithm noticing I looked up Adams on Wikipedia as I attempted to give a simple answer to a very complex question.)

Astronomy and Space

It seems every few days one of the amazing space and land-based telescopes, satellites, or rovers currently in operation produces some new piece of information that turns cosmology a little on its head. This week, a supermassive black hole named Porphyrion, wins the prize. It is shooting the largest jet structure of galactic origin we’ve ever seen out in to space. The scale of this is hard to take in.

Meanwhile, using some clever detective work, some scientists have presented evidence that the Earth once had a ring, similar to the rings found above Saturn and other planets. Can you imagine what that would have looked like in Earth’s night sky?

While the ring is theoretical, the fact that we’re about to have a second moon is real! It will only stay around for 2 months or so before heading off into space again, and it is quite small, but it is pretty cool to see such a significant event happen in real time…even just in our lifetimes! The animation in this article is pretty cool too!

Have you heard of Playing for Change? Check out the music they have created with musicians around the world, collaborating remotely. Sarah Gilles, one of the Polaris Dawn astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, took part in a similar collaboration…with her part coming from orbit in the Space Station somewhere over earth. Literally out of this world.

Climate Change and the Environment

Another thing happening right before our eyes is going to have a significant impact on life in the near(er) future. Certainly closer in than most of us would have thought. The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is melting much faster than we thought. Even if we reversed the effects of climate change today, it is probably already too late to reverse this.

This story is a perfect example of our time horizon understanding. When scientists tell us something will happen in (insert favorite number here) years, we mostly tend to think “that’s in the future, and I don’t need to be concerned about it now because someone else will be”. Yet in just the past couple of years we’ve seen observable changes in climate and weather. 100 year events are happening with increased frequency, just years apart, not 100s of years apart. This past week, catastrophic floods affected significant portions of Eastern Europe with deadly results. The lovely city of Vienna, however, has made some efforts to prepare for such events, and this flood showed the rest of the world how they might prepare for the future.

Social Sciences

I’m sure some of you have tried to convince another person of your point of view without success. If the other person believes in some conspiracy theory, for example, it is almost impossible. Some researchers used a chatbot to try to convince subjects that their view was flawed, and many listened and changed their viewpoint! As much as I malign the flaws in artificial intelligence in this newsletter, this example shows promise.

Politics and Science

There’s little doubt that the upcoming Federal election is the most important one in our lifetimes. No less than the respected journal Scientific American agrees, endorsing a candidate, Kamala Harris, for only the second time in their 179-year history. This article presents their reasoning in a very cogent, thorough way, anticipating the differences for Science, Health, and the Environment should either side win. The contrast could not be more stark.

Health and innovations

I had my appendix removed when I was seven years old. I’ve got a 5” long scar on my abdomen from that surgery. Today, appendectomies are performed through a minimal set of small incisions, resulting in much shorter recovery time. Scores of other routine surgeries are performed using similar techniques that are possible through the innovative work of Dr. George Berci, who passed away last month at the age of 103. He’s pictured above in 2018, still at work, and his story is an amazing one. If you’ve had surgery in the past few decades, you owe a lot to this innovator.

2024 Ig Nobel Prizes

In Herb’s absence, here’s a link to the highlights of the Ig Nobel awards for this year. Research that is humorous, but has serious science behind it is a candidate for this award. This is one of Herb’s favorite things to report on and, since Dave and I are filling in for him until November, I thought I’d provide the link this time. A perfect example is the study entitled “Mammalian enteral ventilation ameliorates respiratory failure”, which, in everyday English means some mammals can breathe through their anus. Sort of.

Have a great week in Science!

Bob

Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.

Monday, 09/23/2024

The Effects of Anthropogenic Global Changes on Plant-Pollinator Mutualisms in California Grasslands - 09/23/2024 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park

Speaker: Rebecca Nelson, UC Davis

The Strange Case of Magnetic Field Sensitive Charge Density Waves in UTe2 - 09/23/2024 02:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

Fundamentally new, and unexpected phases may emerge when superconductivity appears in a strongly correlated system. In this work we use scanning tunneling microscopy to study an unusual charge density wave (CDW) order in the heavy fermion triplet superconductor, UTe2. Our STM data reveal an incommensurate CDW whose intensity gets weaker with increasing field, which eventually disappears at the superconducting critical field, Hc2. To explain the origin and phenomenology of this unusual CDW, we construct a Ginzburg-Landau theory for a uniform triplet superconductor coexisting with three triplet pair density wave (PDW) states which would result in daughter CDW states. An interesting prediction of the theory is that vortices and half-vortices of the superconducting and PDW states would create topological defects in the CDW. By mapping the amplitude and phase of the CDW order in magnetic field, we reveal pairs of topological defects (dislocations of the CDW) with positive and negative phase winding. At the location of each topological defect, the amplitude of the CDW goes to zero, We show that the number of these topological defects increases with magnetic field eventually resulting in the diminishment of the CDW phase. This work reveals the important role of magnetic field generated topological defects in the melting the CDW order parameter in UTe2 and provides support for the existence of a parent triplet pair density wave order on the surface of UTe2.

Speaker: Vidya Madhavan, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Regulation of LRRK2: Identifying vulnerabilities for Parkinson’s Disease therapeutics - 09/23/2024 04:00 PM
Stanley Hall Berkeley

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, affecting ~10 million people worldwide. One of the most commonly mutated genes in PD codes for Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2). Autosomal dominant mutations in LRRK2 cause familial PD, while mutations in LRRK2 are risk factors for sporadic PD and increased activity of LRRK2’s kinase has been linked to the sporadic form of the disease as well. This has made LRRK2 the main actionable target for PD therapeutics.

LRRK2 is a large protein with multiple domains, including both a kinase, which phosphorylates membrane-associated Rabs, and a Ras-like GTPase. The bulk of LRRK2 exists in the cytosol in an autoinhibited state and the protein is recruited to membranes, where its substrates are found. While we are beginning to understand LRRK2’s recruitment, how the protein becomes activated and is generally regulated remains a mystery. We are using structural biology (cryo-EM), single-molecule biophysics, chemistry, biochemistry, and cell biology, to understand the LRRK2’s function and mechanism, and how these are affected by PD-linked mutations. Our goal is to use these fundamental insights into LRRK2 to discover new vulnerabilities that can be exploited for PD therapeutics.

Speaker: Andreas Leschziner, UC San Diego

The Science of Why We Exist - 09/23/2024 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford

Speaker:Tim Coulson, University of Oxford

Room: S360

How do Neurons, Humans, and Artificial Neural Networks Predict? - 09/23/2024 04:00 PM
Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do Rohnert Park

Dr. Sarah Marzan of Pitzer, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna College will pose the question: Do neurons, humans, and artificial neural networks predict efficiently, and if so, how? Dr. Marzen attacks this problem with information theory and machine learning, applied to new experimental data.

The Quantum Age: From Bell Pairs to Quantum Computers - 09/23/2024 04:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

The last few years have seen a remarkable development in our ability to control many neutral atoms individually, and induce controlled quantum interactions between them on demand. This progress ushers in a new era where one can create highly entangled states of many particles, break certain limits for quantum sensors by evolution backwards in time, or study quantum phase transitions. I will present results on quantum simulation with atomic arrays containing more than 250 atoms. Finally, I will discuss prospects for near- and medium-term neutral-atom quantum computers with full quantum error correction.

Speaker: Vladan Vuletic, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Taming Big Tech and AI - 09/23/2024 05:30 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco

On balance, will AI help humanity or harm it? Proponents of the new technology say AI could revolutionize science, medicine, and technology, and deliver us a world of abundance and better health. Opponents say it could be a disaster, leading to the downfall of democracy, or even our extinction.

Gary Marcus occupies a position that includes parts of both propositions. He is a noted psychologist, cognitive scientist, businessman, and AI researcher who believes “Big Tech” is taking advantage of us, AI is making it worse, and there’s still a way we can create a thriving, AI-positive world.

He says we still have a choice about what future we have. He lays out his arguments in his new book Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works for Us, and he’ll draw on the ideas raised in the book when he joins us at the Club.

Marcus says Big Tech has effectively captured policymakers and has been playing both the public and the government. Why has the U.S. government thus far been ineffective at reining in Big Tech? What are some suggestions for what a coherent AI policy should like? How can ordinary citizens push for what is so desperately needed?

Part Abbie Hoffman’s Steal This Book and part Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Marcus’ outlook is tuned to this perilous historical moment.

Speaker: Gary Marcus, Geometric.AI; Rachael Myrow, KQED, moderator

Members receive 30 - 50% discounts at checkout

See follow-up event, starting at 7:00 PM, also.

AI Developments in California: Follow-up Discussion - 09/23/2024 07:00 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco

This program will allow attendees to the September 23 program with Dr. Gary Marcus to discuss the implications of his talk and ideas on developments in artificial intelligence in California, especially proposed and pending legislation (such as SB 1047). We will also be seeking attendee input on what areas they would like to see additional future programming at Commonwealth Club World Affairs in this area.

Panel: Aditya Advani, Open Source AI Hacker; Jamie Joyce, The Society Library; Jeremy Nixon, Omniscience; Gerald Anthony Harris, Commonwealth Club, Moderator

Tuesday, 09/24/2024

AI Agents, LLMS, AI Voice & Building AI Assistants - 09/24/2024 09:00 AM
The Event Space at CSI San Francisco

Join us for the premier event exploring the cutting-edge advancements in chatbots, conversational AI, and large language models (LLMs). This three-day conference is a must-attend for technology professionals looking to build AI Agents. We offer a comprehensive exploration of the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in the field.

Gain invaluable insights from industry leaders and experts as they delve into the most relevant topics shaping the future of conversational AI. Discover the transformative power of LLMs, unravel the intricacies of AI agents, and explore the boundless possibilities of voice technology. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, attend insightful panel sessions, and network with like-minded professionals.

Taming Silicon Valley - 09/24/2024 10:00 AM
Gates Computer Science Building Stanford

AI could make society or break it. It could revolutionize science, medicine, and technology, and deliver us a world of abundance and better health. Or it could lead to the downfall of democracy, an explosion in cybercrime, or possibly even worse. It’s also been wildly oversold. In this seminar, moderator Peter Norvig and speaker Gary Marcus will explain why current AI is both morally and technically inadequate, and explain what we need to do as a society - and as individual citizens - to get to AI that works for all of us.

Attend in person (limited space) or online. Register for either option at the weblink

Ranger-Guided Hike: Alice Eastwood Loop - 09/24/2024 10:00 AM
Mount Tamalpais State Park Mill Valley

Have you ever wondered what a ranger looks at when they go for a walk in the woods? You’re invited to come with us!

Ranger Katie will be leading a 3-mile guided hike along the Camp Alice Eastwood Loop. The tour should last approximately two hours. Redwood Creek Trail is almost entirely flat and consists of pavement and boardwalks. Camp Alice Eastwood will include an elevation gain of about three hundred feet along a dirt path.

There will be intermittent stops to discuss interesting aspects of the forest, ask and answer questions, and to provide water breaks. This hike is easy-moderate in difficulty depending on how comfortable one is with stairs. We recommend hiking boots, but tennis shoes will also work well. Please bring at least 1 liter of water with you on the hike. We look forward to seeing you!

Strategies for Selective Alkene and Arene Functionalizations - 09/24/2024 11:00 AM
Latimer Hall Berkeley

My laboratory explores new strategies to directly transform alkenes and arenes for streamlining bioactive small molecule synthesis. This seminar will cover three themes representative of our research program: 1) oxidative Rh(III)/(IV)/(II)-catalyzed C-H functionalization en-route to benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, an approach distinct from conventional Rh(III) catalysis; 2) synergistic Brønsted acid/Lewis acid catalyzed Friedel - Crafts alkylations enabling direct reactions with unactivated, non-benzylic/allylic/propargylic alcohols; 3) anchimeric assisted O-selective functionalization of underexplored oxenium ions.

Speaker: Kevin Kou, UC Riverside

The Digitalist Papers: Artificial Intelligence and Democracy in America - 09/24/2024 12:00 PM
Traitel Building Stanford

The Digitalist Papers seek to inspire a new era of governance, informed by the transformative power of technology to address the significant challenges and opportunities posed by AI and other digital technologies. The Federalist Papers, a series of essays written in the late 18th century, advocated for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and promoted the idea of a nation designed by intent rather than by accident.

This event, which will be held at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, will feature presentations and dynamic discussions with the authors - experts in economics, law, technology, management, and political science - who have contributed essays to this newly edited volume. These essays explore how the intersection of technology with each of these fields might lead to better governance.

By assembling these diverse voices and releasing these essays ahead of the November election, we aim to shift the conversation toward designing a more transparent and accountable system of governance. Our goal is to impact the development and integration of digital technologies and transform social structures for the digital age. Join us as we embark on this pivotal journey to redefine the future of governance.

Agenda:

12:00pm: Check-in and lunch available

1:00pm: Opening Remarks

1:25pm: Leveraging AI and Digital Technologies for Democratic Transformation

2:15pm: Promoting Inclusive and Comprehensive Democratic Action with AI

2:35pm: Break

3:00pm: Integrating AI to Enhance Democratic Governance and Civic Engagement

3:40pm: Examining AI Regulation and Its Impact on Democracy

4:30pm: Fireside Chat

4:50pm: Next Steps

5:00pm: Reception

Women and the Bomb - 09/24/2024 12:00 PM
Encina Hall Stanford

In recent years, a series of initiatives have emerged with the aim to advance women’s participation in the nuclear weapons field. These initiatives are informed by two assumptions. Women are missing, and women’s inclusion can bring change. Currently, empirical evidence is missing to support either of the two assumptions. Systematically collected data is lacking on the number of women working in the nuclear weapons field. Women's experiences have been recorded only anecdotally and the impact of women's increased participation remains unclear. The Women and the Bomb project collects the missing data. It studies the roles, experiences and views of women in various sectors of the US nuclear weapons field, including government departments and agencies, national nuclear laboratories, the military and non-governmental organizations.

Speaker: Jana Wattenberg, Aberystwyth University

William Perry Conference Room

How Enterprises are Building AI Agents with LLMs, Prompt Engineering, & RAG - 09/24/2024 12:30 PM
The Event Space at CSI San Francisco

Formation and dissociation of hydrocarbons under interstellar conditions - 09/24/2024 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley

Hydrocarbons of all shapes and sizes are found throughout the various stages of star- and planet formation. Recently, using radio astronomical observations, a variety of cyclic- and even polycyclic hydrocarbons have been detected in the very cold (10 K) Taurus molecular cloud. These detections challenge our understanding of the chemical formation mechanisms under these low-temperature and low-density conditions. In photon-dominated regions, on the other hand, very large Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) of 50 carbon atoms and larger are commonly detected as a class based on the characteristic mid-infrared emission bands that they emit after being electronically excited by ultraviolet and optical radiation. These large PAHs are exposed to a very strong radiation field that can alter their molecular structure and may even lead to dissociation. In this seminar, I will show how experimental studies using synchrotron and free electron laser radiation - in conjunction with quantum chemical computations - allow us to reveal the formation and dissociation mechanisms of interstellar (aromatic) hydrocarbons at a molecular level of detail.

Speaker: Jordy Bouwman, University of Colorado, Boulder

Quantum Generative AI Lectures - 09/24/2024 06:00 PM
Museo Italo Americano San Francisco

6:15 - 6:35: Emerging Legal Trends in AI

Vijay will explore the evolving legal landscape surrounding AI and quantum technologies, offering insights into the regulations shaping their future.

Speaker: Jijay Sekhon, Sidley Austin LLP

6:40 - 7:00: Quantum Computing for Engineers in a Hurry!

Imran will deliver a fast-paced introduction to quantum computing, perfect for engineers eager to understand the essentials and applications quickly.

Speaker: Imran Bashir, Equal1 Labs

7:15 - 7:35: Dragonfly Rotor Optimization using Machine Learning

Jason will discuss rotor design for the Titan Dragonfly lander, focusing on machine learning optimization for multi-rotor systems across different flight conditions, set to launch in 2028.

Speaker: Jason Cornelius, NASA Engineer

7:40 - 7:55: Quantum Communications

Sophie will present the latest innovations in quantum communications and how the Quantum Society is advancing quantum internet infrastructure and global connectivity.

Bigg’s Killer Whales of the Pacific NW: Supporting and Identifying this orca population - Livestream - 09/24/2024 07:00 PM
American Cetacean Society

Join us for an exceptional story. In March of this year, Vancouver Island residents were gripped with the story of “Brave Little Hunter” who had been stuck in the Zeballos (BC) lagoon since her pregnant mother was stranded and drowned. Join us to hear the story of coaxing this calf into the open ocean by a scientist involved, techniques used, and overall what scientists are learning of this population of Orcas using latest technology and leveraging AI deep learning algorithms.

Speaker: Jared Towers, Executive Director of Bay Cetology, Vancouver, BC

Wednesday, 09/25/2024

The Control of Transposable Elements in Plants - 09/25/2024 12:10 PM
Barker Hall, Rm 101 Berkeley

Transposable Elements are fragments of DNA that can move themselves from one place in a genome to another, creating mutations and potentially genome instability. To control transposable elements, eukaryotic cells target them with chromatin modifications and/or DNA methylation to repress their transcription, and this regulation can be heritable (epigenetic). The Slotkin lab’s long-term goal has been to understand how plant cells first recognize transposable elements and trigger the cycle of chromatin modification and epigenetic silencing. We have used the transfer of foreign transposable elements from other plant species and fungi into the reference plant Arabidopsis to study the de novo initiation of epigenetic silencing, and through this process uncovered how to keep a foreign transposable element active in a plant genome. This control over transposable element activity is useful for genome engineering, as we can now control the activity, insertion site, cargo and timing of transposable elements in Arabidopsis and the major crop Soybean. Using transposable elements and a programmable nuclease such as Cas9 has provided us newfound control over transposable elements and the evolutionary processes they drive.

Speaker: Keith Slotkin, University of Missouri, Columbia

Holistic health indices in a changing environment: pathogens, stress, disease, and death - Livestream - 09/25/2024 03:00 PM
Bodega Marine Laboratory

Speaker: Kristi Miller-Saunders - Professor, University of British Columbia

The microbiome and gut homeostasis - 09/25/2024 03:30 PM
Genetics and Plant Biology Building Berkeley

Speaker: Andreas Baumler, UC Davis

Energy and Resources Group Colloquium - 09/25/2024 04:00 PM
Giannini Hall Berkeley

Despite the increasing focus on the energy impact of AI, internet growth, and data centers, nearly all studies have overlooked the subsea cables that transport over 99% of all transoceanic internet traffic. This talk describes the work of Sustainable Subsea Networks, including the first carbon footprint calculator for subsea cables; a report on best practices in subsea cable sustainability; and the formation of sustainability metrics for manufacturing, operation, and recovery and recycling. The talk with discuss how, given cables’ marine and terrestrial environments, and need to navigate regulatory requirements worldwide, this has been a necessarily global effort rooted in academic-industry collaboration.

Speaker: Nicole Starosielski, Sustainable Subsea Networks

Supporting Tribal Energy Sovereignty - 09/25/2024 04:30 PM
Shriram Center Stanford

Director Johns will discuss the Departments clean energy transition initiatives and how her office supports Tribal energy sovereignty and the next generation of Tribal climate change leaders.

Speaker: Wahleah Johns, US Department of Energy

Attend in person or online (see weblink)

Jupiter’s moon Europa, and what NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will investigate upon arrival in 2030 - Livestream - 09/25/2024 06:00 PM
NASA Night Sky Network

Europa is one of the four moons of Jupiter discovered by Galileo in 1610. It almost certainly harbors a salty ocean underneath a thick ice crust. This ocean has all the requirements for a habitable zone where primitive life could potentially thrive: liquid water, energy in the form of chemical potentials, and organic molecules. Although Europa Clipper isn’t a life-detection mission, it is NASA’s first detailed exploration of an ocean world with an overarching goal of searching for a habitable zone. It will also study the geology, interior, and composition of Europa.

Speaker: Dr. Bonnie Buratti

Click here to watch

Science on Tap: An Invisible Enemy: Pathogens, Colonialism, and Ancient DNA - 09/25/2024 07:00 PM
Museum of Art and History Santa Cruz

Pathogens and colonialism are interconnected threats. Both can be deadly; both can be difficult to see. These forces often work together in the most destructive of ways. Ancient DNA has the power to untangle stories where these “invisible enemies” intersect. My research focuses on the DNA of ancient pathogens brought to the South America by Spanish colonizers, and how that impacted (and continues to impact) people of the region. Connecting the past to the present, this talk discusses colonialism’s impacts on infectious disease spread, infectious diseases’ impact on colonialism, and the involvement of colonialism in the field of paleogenomics itself.

Speaker: Nasreen Broomand, UC Santa Cruz

RSVP at weblink

Dangerous Materials: How California Protects Communities and the Environment from Hazardous Waste - 09/25/2024 07:30 PM
Marin Science Seminar San Rafael

California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) works to ensure that companies are following the rules for proper management of their hazardous waste. Hazardous waste includes materials such as waste oil, no longer needed household products like cleaners or paints, or discarded commercial chemicals, which if not properly managed, can contaminate water, cause adverse human health effects, and impact ecosystems. Speaker Julie Pettijohn will present examples from local facilities inspected and will discuss equity work being done by the department to ensure equitable enforcement activities.

Speaker: Julie Pettijohn, California Department of Toxic Substances Control

Thursday, 09/26/2024

Surface/Interface Engineering for Sustainable Batteries - Livestream - 09/26/2024 10:00 AM
Stanford University

This student-run monthly series spotlights the latest research from Stanford, presented by PhD candidates and postdocs. Registration is required (see weblink)

Speaker: Luqi Li, Stanford University

Advancing Wildfire-Resilient Architecture in a Post-Climate Change California - 09/26/2024 12:00 PM
Studio VARA Architecture Urbanism + Design San Francisco

As wildfires increasingly threaten communities in California and beyond, innovative approaches in architectural design and technology are essential for enhancing resilience. Wildfire-resilient architecture, defined as the capacity of structures to withstand and recover from wildfire impacts, is crucial in mitigating risks to individuals, homes, and communities.To bolster wildfire resilience, building design focuses on using non-combustible materials, eliminating ventilated roofs prone to ember intrusion, and employing fire-resistant roofing and wall materials. These measures significantly reduce the vulnerability of structures to wildfire spread and ember showers, key factors in safeguarding communities.Incorporating advanced technologies such as fire detection systems and smart home technologies further strengthens early warning and response capabilities, which are essential in wildfire-prone regions.Sustainable practices also play a pivotal role in wildfire resilience. Green building techniques not only mitigate environmental impact but also enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprints.Several case studies illustrate the successful implementation of wildfire-resilient architecture, technologies, and sustainable practices, highlighting the efficacy of integrated approaches. These examples underscore the importance of collaboration among architects, technology firms, insurers, and policymakers in fostering comprehensive solutions to wildfire challenges.Looking ahead, ongoing research and technological advancements promise to refine wildfire-resilient strategies, identifying new opportunities and addressing emerging challenges. By embracing innovation and sustainability, architecture can lead the way in creating safer, more resilient communities amidst the growing threat of wildfires.In conclusion, wildfire-resilient architecture represents a paradigm shift toward sustainable and innovative design practices. Through strategic planning, robust building materials, sustainable techniques, and advanced technologies, architects can effectively mitigate wildfire risks, ensuring resilient communities for generations to come.This initiative seeks to initiate a roundtable discussion among experts to explore these themes, share insights, and foster collaboration toward advancing wildfire-resilient architecture on a broader scale.

Speaker: Christopher Roach, architect and urbanist

Ecological genomics in NZ: human-induced evolution of insect color and wing phenotypes - 09/26/2024 12:30 PM
Valley Life Sciences Building Berkeley

Rapid adaptation is thought critical for the survival of species under global change, but our understanding of human-induced evolution in the wild remains limited. In New Zealand, widespread deforestation has underpinned repeated color and wing-phenotype shifts in wild insect populations. Loss of forest has led to color changes across Zelandoperla stonefly lineages that mimic the warning coloration of an unrelated toxic forest stonefly. Predation experiments suggest that the relative fitness of color phenotypes varies between forested and deforested habitats. Genomic and coloration analyses of 1200 specimens show repeated selection at the ebony locus controlling color polymorphism across lineages, representing an example of human-driven evolution linked to altered species interactions. Similarly, anthropogenic deforestation has selected for non-dispersive phenotypes, with wing reduction linked to repeated selection at the AGGF1 locus. These findings highlight the possibility for wild populations to adapt rapidly in the wake of sudden environmental change.

Speaker: Jon Waters, University of Otago, New Zealand

Stellar and Planet Evolution - 09/26/2024 03:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

Speaker: Elisabeth Newton, Dartmouth University

After Dark: Land Use - 09/26/2024 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco

Explore the relationship between humans and the environment at this After Dark, which features the second session of our conversation series Open Question. Hear from UC Davis researchers on climate response, and stop by our Observatory to take in stunning views of the San Francisco Bay, a part of our landscape that’s been rapidly shifting right in front of us.

NightLife: Unusual Perspectives - 09/26/2024 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco

Expect the unusual as art and nature collide at this NightLife providing an exclusive sneak preview of the new BigPicture: Natural World Photography exhibition. Check out special programming like screen printing with Haight Street Art Center, enjoy special talks, and more.

Open Question: Extreme Environments How do we manage increasingly severe conditions? - 09/26/2024 07:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco

How have you been impacted by climate change, and how do you feel about managing our rapidly changing conditions and natural resources? Hear from our expert panelists on climate response and share your own experience.

Part of After Dark

Friday, 09/27/2024

Land x Good Fire: Sonoma Valley - 09/27/2024 09:00 AM
Sonoma Valley Regional Park Glen Ellen

Join fellows from Audubon Canyon Ranch's Fire Forward fellowship program for Sonoma County residents to learn about Good Fire.

Join fellows from Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Fire Forward fellowship program for Sonoma County residents to learn about good fire. Land x Good Fire is part of the Resilient Forests and Watersheds Workshops series, funded in part by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Sonoma County.

Through this series, landowners and managers will feel more empowered to take action on their property by exploring the possibilities and skills needed to reintroduce good fire in a similar environment. Workshops will explore concepts in fire ecology while learning more about what prescribed fire and natural resources work is being conducted nearby.

Each fellow will lead a standalone workshop in different environment types to see how prescribed fire is planned and conducted. These local community leaders across the North Bay are dedicated to learning the intricacies of good fire, increasing the region’s capacity to safely implement prescribed burning in support of healthy ecosystems.

Leader: Len Mazur, Sonoma County Regional Parks

Cybersecurity and the Clean Energy Transition - 09/27/2024 10:00 AM
Sutardja Dai Hall Berkeley

The ability of the US and other countries to meet their clean energy and climate commitments will depend partly on how well we can design secure new, distributed renewable energy infrastructure and train a workforce to manage it - and how well the climate and clean energy and cybersecurity communities are working together.

Join the Institute for Security and Technology and the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity for a dialogue about what we can learn from how each community manages risk, and what steps we need to take now to ensure that cybersecurity is an enabler for an ambitious and rapid-scale clean energy transition.

Advanced registration is required to attend (click to register).

What warmed early Mars?: Investigating impacts, hydrogen, and clouds - 09/27/2024 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz

Speaker: Kathryn Steakley

Educator Resource Giveaway Days at the Astronomy Society of the Pacific - 09/27/2024 01:00 PM
Astronomical Society of the Pacific San Francisco

FREE SCIENCE MATERIALS, GAMES, POSTERS, BOOKS, and MORE!

The ASP is opening its doors to Bay Area educators looking for FREE materials for their classrooms or other educational settings.

We have a lot of games, classroom materials, posters, books, and more all available to take away. Bring your own vehicle to transport your goodies from our office. *No deliveries or shipping available*.

Reimagining Porous Materials for a Sustainable Future - 09/27/2024 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley

Porous materials shape the world around us: many of the chemicals we use in our daily lives have, at some point, been purified or chemically transformed within subnano- to nano-sized pores. In this talk, I will discuss my group’s efforts to enhance the catalytic activity and physical properties of porous materials to meet rising global challenges in clean energy and sustainability. The first half will focus on the synthesis of electrically conductive metal - organic materials. As sources of renewable electricity become increasingly abundant, new porous architectures that can directly interface with electrical energy are needed. I will detail our efforts to apply structural motifs commonly observed in conjugated carbon nanomaterials to the construction of new 0D, 1D, and 2D conjugated metal - organic nanostructures. The second half of the talk will focus on pushing the frontiers of single-site heterogeneous catalysis design. In enzymes, multiple metal centers and organic functional groups work together to catalyze transformations not achievable by a single component in isolation. My group is applying these bioinspired concepts to the development of new bimetallic and bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts.

Speaker: Dianne Xiao, University of Washington

In Town Star Party - 09/27/2024 08:15 PM
San Jose Astronomical Association San Jose

Come join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.

Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park San Jose. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are welcome). If you like to be a volunteer with or without a telescope please email at "itsp@sjaa.net".SJAA as an all volunteer-nonprofit org depends on the City of San Jose to use facilities at Houge Park. To maintain this relationship, we must provide facility-use data to the city. Therefore, we ask you to sign in (no traceable personal data collected) when you arrive at the event.

Saturday, 09/28/2024

Latinx+ Engineering Day - 09/28/2024 07:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco

Join us for a family-friendly collaboration between the Exploratorium and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), where we welcome visitors from all ages and backgrounds to connect with engineers and STEM educators.

Our annual Latinx+ Engineering Day - now in its 25th year - offers a chance to engage with engineering through interactive activities, hands-on exhibits, and a panel of professionals working in STEM fields. This program is conducted in Spanish and English, supporting aspiring engineers through culture and community.

Stewardship Saturday: Valuing Seaweed for Humans and Marine Life - 09/28/2024 09:00 AM
Avila Beach Park Avila Beach

Join Kelpful and The Marine Mammal Center as we explore the many values of the macroalgae, seaweed, for humans, marine mammals, and the ocean! Through this event you will have the opportunity to eat and touch seaweed, learn more about foraging for it, create consumable products out if it, and better understand the role seaweed plays in our ocean ecosystem. We hope by the end of this event you will have a stronger understanding and appreciation of this miraculous macroalgae, and will have some goals for next steps to take on your conservation journey.

Free lunch and snacks will be provided

Accessibility notes:

Handling and eating freshly foraged seaweed - some gloves will be available if desiredMaking seaweed-based bath salts or seasoningExposure to direct sunlight for multiple hours - canopies will be set up to provide some shade

Intended for high school students

Educator Resource Giveaway Days at the Astronomy Society of the Pacific - 09/28/2024 09:00 AM
Astronomical Society of the Pacific San Francisco

FREE SCIENCE MATERIALS, GAMES, POSTERS, BOOKS, and MORE!

The ASP is opening its doors to Bay Area educators looking for FREE materials for their classrooms or other educational settings.

Land x Good Fire: Bodega Bay - 09/28/2024 09:00 AM
Bodega Bay Bodega Bay

Join fellows from Audubon Canyon Ranch's Fire Forward fellowship program for Sonoma County residents to learn about Good Fire.

Leader: Paul Weber, Sonoma County Regional Parks

Science Saturdays: Biodiversity Blast - 09/28/2024 10:00 AM
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Pacific Grove

Did you know that California has a holiday just to celebrate biodiversity? Let's celebrate by having a month long BioBlitz through iNaturalist to help scientists document our local plants, animals. insects, fungi, and more. Come learn about local species and how you and your family can contribute to scientific research and conservation!

Life's Better Electric: Electrification Fair - 09/28/2024 10:00 AM
Women's Building San Francisco

Life is better electric! Most San Francisco homes use natural gas for heating, water heating, clothes drying and/or cooking, which creates indoor air pollution and contributes to climate change. That‘s why the Bay Area is starting to phase out gas appliances in favor of electric alternatives starting in 2027. Luckily, modern electric appliances perform better than their gas counterparts, eliminate the health and climate impacts of natural gas, and lead to a more comfortable and resilient home. Take your first steps to electrification by visiting San Francisco's electrification fair and home tours on September 28-29th!

Lunch, Bocce, and Electrochemical Systems for Large-Scale Energy Storage - 09/28/2024 11:30 AM
Mission Peak Sportsplex Fremont

The United States has set a goal to decarbonize energy production by 2035 and the entire economy by 2050. Multiple analyses estimated that to do so requires significant investment in energy storage technologies to time shift when the energy is produced by sources such as wind and solar to when the energy is consumed by users of the grid. Historically, energy has been stored using pumped hydropower which is limited geographically and by long startup/shutdown times, and therefore is unlikely to meet all the energy storage requirements for a decarbonized 2050 economy. Electrochemical technologies are well-suited to meet the needs of the grid of the future due to their capability to be sized to fit a range of power and energy applications as well as being able to respond to load changes almost instantaneously. Technologies of keen interest and high maturity are lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and multiple flow battery chemistries. In this talk, I will discuss the different battery chemistries under development by groups ranging from academia to industry. The fundamental mechanisms, material challenges, and economic drivers of each technology will be presented to provide a wholistic picture of each unique chemistry.

Speaker: Nicholas Cross, Lawrence Livermore National Labs

Google Colab: AI co-pilot socio-emotional training system for autistic children - 09/28/2024 03:00 PM
Maker Nexus Sunnyvalle

Through demonstration of the latest computer vision technologies in Google colab, Claire will introduce her AI co-pilot socio-emotional training system for autistic children. 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Some key symptoms and supporting neuroscience are: lack of emotion interpretation (amygdala theory), not showing sign of acknowledgement (impaired mirror neuron system), and eyes not focusing on the priority area (relevance detector theory). Claire designed the HarmonyVisage system, a neuroscience-based AI co-pilot training system that tailors to autistic children’s individual preferences (subgroups) and unique facial features. The blendshape analyzer offers real time feedback on socio-emotional cues and reciprocal eye engagement, and explains emotions using 13 measurable facial features. 4 phases of experiments were conducted with a total of 46 participants. Each participant went through 8-week training. 3 out of the 4 subgroups demonstrated statistically significant improvement with p-values 0.027, 0.001, and 0.001 respectively. HarmonyVisage may be used at home for daily training and in therapy clinics to assist therapist accurate assessment. In a world transformed by AI, HarmonyVisage is bridging the gap between perspectives and contributing to an inclusive and harmonic society.

Speaker: Claire Xu, Harker School

Online on Zoom

https://acm-org.zoom.us/

On YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/

Editor's Note: Maker Nexus's address is shown in our listing. The web listing for this event also lists 234 E Caribbean Dr, Sunnyvale.

Jazz Under the Stars - 09/28/2024 09:00 PM
College of San Mateo Bldg 36 San MateoJazz Under the Stars is a FREE monthly public stargazing event! Occurring on the Saturday nearest the 1st quarter moon (check our Events Page), join us in building 36 on the 4th floor observatory for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our jazz from CSM's own KCSM 91.1. Founded in 1964, KCSM has grown to become one of the top 35 most listened to non-commercial stations in the US. With their help, the Astronomy department at CSM opens its observatory doors and balcony, for a night of science and fun! We operate for public viewing 8” dobsonian telescopes, prefect for viewing the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. We also have a 140mm refractor, with which we view the craters on the moon. Finally, our 11’ schmidt-cassegrain is for our deep sky needs. It can peer deep into globular clusters, and nebulae. Occasionally we even have the chance to image galaxies on our 20" telescope. Our astronomers will also be available for questions and conversation, which you wouldn’t get anywhere else! Feel free to ask us your questions about the cosmos. Don't miss out, join us at our next Jazz Under the Stars!*Weather in the bay area is notoriously hard to predict, and often the sources we use don't get it correct. Before leaving you home, be sure to check this webpage. If we are to cancel it will be posted here at least a few hours before the start of the event.

Monday, 09/30/2024

At Every Depth: Stories From Our Changing Ocean - 09/30/2024 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park

Speaker: Tessa Hill, UC Davis

Hydrodynamics of active fluids - 09/30/2024 02:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

In this talk, I will discuss some of our recent efforts to derive effective descriptions of the collective dynamics of active fluids, a broad class of systems for which local energy injection is converted into directed motion. Such systems evolve far from equilibrium, which precludes the standard formulation of hydrodynamic theories and the linear response relationships that tie them to their microscopic constituents, as well as making it difficult to anticipate the scale of their fluctuations. We have developed a framework to deduce effective hydrodynamic descriptions for locally conserved quantities when time reversal symmetry is broken, to generalize linear response relations around nonequilibrium steady-states, and evaluate fluctuations of time-integrated quantities. This framework relies on the mathematics of large deviation theory and stochastic thermodynamics, as well as numerical techniques that afford means of determining rare fluctuations in driven systems. I will highlight some specific examples in scalar and chiral active matter for which we have studied the effect of Hall-like transport coefficients of tracer dynamics and predicted the emergence of propagating boundary modes.

Speaker: David Limmer, UC Berkeley

Drugs, vaccines, and coexistence: toward a comprehensive understanding of population dynamics in Streptococcus pneumoniae under selection by treatment - 09/30/2024 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford

Speaker: Mark Lipsitch, Harvard University

Room: Auditorium

The Physics of Micromachines - 09/30/2024 04:00 PM
Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do Rohnert Park

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) is a highly interdisciplinary field that produces devices integral to modern daily life such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. Daniel Contreras went from physics in undergrad to graduate school in electrical engineering to study MEMS and now works as a professional engineer in radio frequency (RF) semiconductors.This talk will give an overview of MEMS technology and research, discuss his engineering graduate experience, and discuss what a career in industry is like.

Speaker: Daniel Contreras

UC Berkeley Physics Colloquia - 09/30/2024 04:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

Speaker: Ashvin Vinshwanath, Harvard University

Tuesday, 10/01/2024

Novel Synthetic Methods in Photochemistry and Photocatalysis - 10/01/2024 11:00 AM
Latimer Hall Berkeley

UC Berkeley Physical Chemistry Seminar - 10/01/2024 04:00 PM
Latimer Hall Berkeley

The Deadly Trade in Oil and Gas - 10/01/2024 04:10 PM
Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union Berkeley

Wonderfest: Universe of Universes? Reflections on Life and the Cosmos - 10/01/2024 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato

Wednesday, 10/02/2024

OceanWell: LifeSafe Desalination in the Deep-Sea - Livestream - 10/02/2024 11:00 AM
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Whole Earth Seminar - 10/02/2024 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz

Bodega Marine Lab Seminar - Livestream - 10/02/2024 03:00 PM
Bodega Marine Laboratory

Evolving Organisms to Grow new Nanomaterials for Energy, the Environment and Medicine - 10/02/2024 04:00 PM
Stanley Hall Berkeley

America's Energy Transition - 10/02/2024 04:30 PM
Shriram Center Stanford

How to Secure Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition? - 10/02/2024 04:30 PM
Shriram Center Stanford

Birdy Hour: Osprey - Egg Incubation, Chick Rearing and Wild Fostering - Livestream - 10/02/2024 05:00 PM
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

Thursday, 10/03/2024

Anthropogenic impact on biodiversity: consequences for biotic interactions and human wellbeing - 10/03/2024 12:30 PM
Valley Life Sciences Building Berkeley

UC Berkeley Astronomy Colloquium - 10/03/2024 03:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

RF & Microwave Engineering: Perspectives of a Hardware Engineer - 10/03/2024 04:00 PM
Sonoma State Dept. of Engineering Science Rohnert Park

Sustainable design of structural and functional polymers for a circular economy - 10/03/2024 05:00 PM
Tan Hall Berkeley

After Dark: See For Yourself - 10/03/2024 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco

NightLife: Puppies and Puppets - 10/03/2024 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco

Friday, 10/04/2024

Bair Island Walking Tour - 10/04/2024 10:00 AM
Bair Island Wildlife Refuge & Trail Redwood City

Geophysics and Planetary Physics Seminar - 10/04/2024 12:00 PM
Earth and Marine Sciences Building Santa Cruz

First Friday Nights at Curiodyssey - 10/04/2024 05:00 PM
CuriOdyssey San Mateo

First Friday: OTHER WORLDS - 10/04/2024 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland

SETI Talks: A Celebration of Science, Art and Stargazing - 10/04/2024 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland

Night Owl - 10/04/2024 07:00 PM
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Pacific Grove

Astrobee! The ISS Robotic Free Flyer - 10/04/2024 08:00 PM
College of San Mateo Bldg 36 San Mateo

Saturday, 10/05/2024

Science in the Park - 10/05/2024 09:00 AM
Cal State East Bay Hayward

Land x Good Fire: Austin Creek - 10/05/2024 09:00 AM
Austin Creek State Recreation Area Guerneville

Family Nature Day at Huddart Park - 10/05/2024 09:00 AM
Huddart Park Woodside

Fall Festival - 10/05/2024 09:00 AM
Martial Cottle Park San Jose

Foothills Family Nature Walk - 10/05/2024 11:00 AM
Foothills Nature Preserve Los Altos

Nike Missile Site Veteran Open House - 10/05/2024 12:00 PM
Nike Missle Site Mill Valley

Starry Nights Star Party - 10/05/2024 07:30 PM
Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve Morgan hill

Sunday, 10/06/2024

Blue Innovation - 10/06/2024 11:00 AM
Seymour Marine Discovery Center Santa Cruz

Solar Observing - 10/06/2024 02:00 PM
San Jose Astronomical Association San Jose

Monday, 10/07/2024

Naturalized Honey Bees in the Americas: A 7-year Research Project at the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve - 10/07/2024 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park

UC Berkeley Condensed Matter Seminar - 10/07/2024 02:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

Wave-like dark matter: A sea-change - 10/07/2024 03:30 PM
Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) Colloquium Series Menlo Park

UC Berkeley Structural & Quantitative Biology Seminar - 10/07/2024 04:00 PM
Stanley Hall Berkeley

Dark Matter of the Human Proteome - 10/07/2024 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford

What Physicists Do - 10/07/2024 04:00 PM
Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do Rohnert Park

UC Berkeley Physics Colloquia - 10/07/2024 04:30 PM
Physics North Berkeley

Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sun's Atmosphere - 10/07/2024 07:30 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco