The Last SciSchmooze of 2025
Plus some SciSchmooze history - December 28, 2025
Hello again Science Fans!
I hope you all got through this week’s storms without damage. It was a couple of wild nights of wind and rain around here.
I want to start today with some history, or at least my recollection of it. Herb Masters originally started what turned into the SciSchmooze about 20 years ago. He was frustrated that organizations were all scheduling events on the same nights, while other nights remained empty. So his initial newsletters were intended to help various groups around the Bay with scheduling. That goal was never achieved, however, as this is still a problem.
I first met Herb a few months after I moved to California through an organization we both belonged to. As I got to know him, I realized we had some similar interests and he got me to attend a few lectures. My first, at the USGS, held little interest to me, but I went anyway and was surprised to find I really enjoyed learning about something I didn’t know anythings about before. I was also surprised how many things the USGS did, other than surveying and maps. Another was a Dean Astronomy Lecture, then being held at the SF Jewish Community Center while the new Academy of Sciences was being built.
At this time the SciSchmooze was an email distribution list Herb kept for friends and organizations. Enter Kishore Hari, who was the director of the new Bay Area Science Festival. He had software for the festival that included a calendar and newsletter facilities and suggested Herb list the events he had been emailing about on a calendar, the one we are still using today at www.bayareascience.org/calendar. The two oldest entries on the calendar are for November 5, 2008.
A huge part of the Science Festivals were the Discovery Days, where thousands of families came to look at a variety of vendor booths. Given the opportunity to sign up for the SciSchmooze newsletter at these Discovery Days, our subscriptions increased beyond our expectations, with over 2,000 new subscribers the first year, if my memory is correct. Most likely, many of our current subscribers came to us through the festival’s events.
Herb asked me if I’d be interested in helping populate the calendar and writing the newsletter now and then, and I agreed.
Which brings us to now, the end of 2025. In case you missed it, last week, Herb announced that he would be stepping away from the SciSchmooze. We’ll miss him.
This leaves us with a void…we need more authors for the SciSchmooze. We would prefer two more. The requirements are a general interest in Science and/or skepticism and a willingness to write this blurb at the start of the newsletter once a month.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, or if you know someone who might be interested, please shoot us an email at calendar@bayareascience.org.
The Best of 2025
It is that time of year again…when the “best of…” articles about all aspects of science for the year come out. Here, then, are a few of these lists:
Seasonal News
The origin of the modern version of Santa Claus, from historian Heather Cox Richardson. It isn’t what you probably think.
Last Monday marked the Winter Solstice (for us living north of the Equator), which got Phil Plait musing about time…twice! Part 1 and Part 2. He writes about other things in both newsletter too, which you might find interesting.
‘Tis the season for giving gifts. Did you know that we humans aren’t the only species who gift for reasons other than sex?
AI
Are we in an AI bubble? Enormous amounts of money are being invested in the expansion of artificial intelligence, and there are similarities between this, and previous tech bubbles. But differences too. First, some thoughts from the New York Times Dealbook’s managing editor, Brian O’Keefe (this article might be behind a paywall). Then, some thoughts on the industry, different types of AI, and why putting so many eggs in one basket may not be the best approach.
Last weekend, large parts of San Francisco lost power due to a fire in a substation. To make this worse, Waymo robotaxies in the city froze, jamming traffic, and raising significant questions about the limitations and testing of this technology. Those same questions are being raised in San Jose, where Waymo has just started deploying limited service.
Space
What happens when asteroids run into each other? Astronomers just witnessed this near the relatively new star Fomalhaut.
European regulators issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive at the end of November for several Airbus aircraft models. The cause was a malfunction in the Elevator Aileron Computers (ELAC) , which control pitch and roll, possibly related to solar radiation.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is providing astronomers around the world with an opportunity to study the characteristics of interstellar objects for the U.N.
The space around Earth is crowded, and getting more so every day. A December 9th launch of 9 Chinese spacecraft narrowly missed a Starlink satellite, coming within 200 meters (218.7 yards, or roughly 2 football fields).
A new study, not yet peer-reviewed, shows that satellites in these low earth orbits get within 1 km of each other every 22 seconds (!), and take evasive action to avoid collisions. Each of Starlink’s thousands of satellites have to perform 41 maneuvers on average per year to avoid running into other objects.
There is mini-lightning on Mars! The Perseverance rover recorded the sound of the electrical discharge. This discovery will have an effect on the design of future space suits for manned Mars missions.
Animal Kingdom
Scientists have long wondered at the migration patterns of Monarch butterflies. Many spend the winters in the eucalyptus groves of nearby Santa Cruz or Pacific Grove. New, ultra-light tags attached to Monarchs will allow tracking of these delightful creatures by Bluetooth on smartphones by Citizen Scientists and professionals alike.
The migration is believed to be controlled by an ability to sense magnetic direction, and a scientist in Texas has come up with a way to test this theory.
Lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to study what happens to some wild animals when humans stay home. The dark-eyed Junco, a type of sparrow, changed physical form during the lockdown, and changed back once our lives turned more normal.
Health and the Environment
The news is full of stories documenting the Administration’s attacks on science and the environment, both of which have potentially significant effects on our health.
The FDA is proposing a “black box” warning for COVID-19 vaccines, ignoring decades of study and practice regarding this type of warning. Some thoughts from Henry Miller, former FDA director.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been attacking vaccines for 20 years. Just what is behind this pursuit, and why is he ignoring scientific reasoning for conjecture?
The EPA website got the basics of climate science right…until earlier this month when 80 pages of facts were purged by the Administration, including the research supporting human cause for climate change.
It used to be you could trust government websites to provide data on the Environment, health, climate change, and other topics. But that is no longer true. So where do you go? Who do you trust? I’d suggest you look for backing by peer-reviewed research, not guesses, or anecdotal statements. Is the person making a claim going to profit by that claim? If so, their conclusions may be directed towards the money, not the science.
Dr Jessica Knurick, who I mentioned in my October 5th SciSchmooze, is one such source. Here are three recent posts about issues affecting your health.
Measles Cases, SNAP Waivers, and Unethical Research, news from last week
Hep B Vaccine Delay, Ultraprocessed Food Lawsuit, and SNAP at Risk
Our Food System is Broken. Narratives About it Don’t Have to Be
In Memorium
Lastly, a true legend has passed. Betty Reid Soskin, a Richmond resident, started working for the National Park Service at the age of 85. She was a ranger at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond. She retired 3 years ago, the oldest active U. S. Park Ranger during her tenure. Betty passed away at the age of 104.
Have a great week in Science. All of us at the SciSchmooze wish you a healthy, happy, safe 2026!
Bob Siederer
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Monday, 12/29/2025
Into the Woods 1-Hour Tour - 12/29/2025 11:00 AM
Muir Woods Visitor Center Mill Valley
Tuesday, 12/30/2025
Astronaut Rex Walheim: The Last Space Shuttle Mission - 12/30/2025 11:00 AM
Hiller Aviation Museum San Carlos
First Day Hike at the Refuge - 01/01/2026 10:00 AM
Don Edwards Refuge Headquarters & Visitors Center Fremont
Start the New Year with a hike along the La Riviere Trail!
Start the New Year with a leisurely hike along the La Riviere Trail of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont. Meet at the Visitor Center. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars! We will have a limited number of binoculars available to borrow if needed.
Register at weblink
After Dark: Afterglow - 01/01/2026 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Step into the world of radiance and wonder in the New Year! Watch artist Akiko Nakayama create her signature Alive Painting in person. Interact with a glowing T. rex skeleton, learn about bioluminescent bugs and plants, and bask in the shimmer of artworks that explore color, motion, and reflection.
Friday, 01/02/2026
Into the Woods 1-Hour Tour - 01/02/2026 11:00 AM
Muir Woods Visitor Center Mill Valley
Journey into the heart of Muir Woods National Monument on a 1-hour ranger-led tour with a national park ranger and naturalists. See the forest through the eyes of an expert as they expand your understanding of this diverse ecosystem and help you observe its rich complexity.
Covered topics vary and include old growth redwood characteristics, forest and fire ecology, park history, native stewardship, and contemporary conservation practices. This tour is a great opportunity to ask questions and make seasonal observations of flowers, plants, and animals.
Meet at the entry archway of Muir Woods.
Typically, this program traverses .5 miles from the Visitor Center to Bridge 3 near Cathedral Grove, though guides may extend or abbreviate the mileage. The path is a flat, firm surface accessible to most mobility devices. All ages are welcome.
For day-of scheduling changes, including additional talk times, other programs, and possible cancellations, please view signage at the park entry or ask Visitor Center staff.
First Friday Nights at CuriOdyssey - 01/02/2026 05:00 PM
CuriOdyssey San Mateo
Swing into the weekend with science, animals, music, food trucks, and fun! On the first Friday of every month, parents and kids celebrate together at CuriOdyssey.
Dance to some of your favorite hits, while enjoying animal presentations and science activities. Activities and programs are different each time, so make it a monthly tradition!
Saturday, 01/03/2026
The Physics Show - Three Performances - 01/03/2026 10:00 AM
Foothill College Los Altos Hills
The Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families.
Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.
Venue: Smithwick Theater
King Tides: A Royal Tide Watch Along the Embarcadero - 01/03/2026 10:00 AM
Between Pier 3 and Pier 5 San Francisco
Join the Exploratorium and Port of San Francisco staff along the Embarcadero to observe, photograph, and discuss “Royal” Tides. These exceptionally high tides are often described as “King Tides,” and will be “normal” tides of the future due to sea level rise.
We’ll gather between Pier 3 and Pier 5 on the Bay side of San Francisco’s Embarcadero (Google map location) rain of shine. Come find out what causes the tides, why we have King Tides this time of year, and how the Port is supporting waterfront resilience.
The high tide predicted at Pier 41 that day is 7.32 feet at 10:39 a.m.
First Saturday Tour at the Santa Cruz Arboretum - 01/03/2026 11:00 AM
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum Santa Cruz
First Saturday Tours are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the Arboretum or to deepen your knowledge of the Arboretum’s plant collections. Each tour is a little different depending on the time of year, the interests of the tour guide, and the people who join in. For example, you might learn about the birds and mammals that make this land their home or about the amazing physical adaptations that plants have evolved to better deal with our extreme weather and climate conditions.
January 2026 King Tides at Ravenswood Unit - 01/03/2026 11:00 AM
Bedwell Bayfront Park Menlo Park
Join us for a guided walk and discover how the highest tides of the year give us a glimpse into the future of sea level rise. We’ll learn what King Tides are, how sea level rise is reshaping our coastal communities, why habitat restoration matters and how you can contribute as a community scientist.
We’ll walk along Bedwell Bayfront Park and Refuge trails, where we’ll observe plant adaptations and discuss the impacts of rising oceans. You’ll also learn how to contribute to the California Coastal Commission’s King Tides Project by uploading photos through the Survey123 app - a statewide effort to record changes to our coast and estuaries. Your photos will be added to a map of this season’s King Tides photos.
We’ll meet in the Bedwell Bayfront Park parking lot, adjacent to the bathrooms, before walking to an overlook at Bedwell Bayfront Park, and then continue to the Refuge’s Flyway Trail. The trail is compacted dirt and gravel with some elevation gain. We will be walking at a slow pace for approximately 2 miles.
Stay until 12:30pm for a bonus guided tour of the new Flyway Trail! Spot and identify birds with Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance Volunteer, Howard Friedman.
This interactive event is suitable for all ages. Heavy rains will cancel the event.
Register at weblink
January 2026 King Tides in Alviso - 01/03/2026 11:00 AM
Don Edwards Refuge Environmental Education Center Alviso
Join us at the Refuge in Alviso for a guided walk and discover how the highest tides of the year give us a glimpse into the future of sea level rise. We’ll learn what King Tides are, how sea level rise is reshaping our coastal communities, why habitat restoration matters and how you can contribute as a community scientist.
We’ll walk along Refuge trails, observe plant adaptations and discuss the impacts of rising oceans. You’ll also learn how to contribute to the California Coastal Commission’s King Tides Project by uploading photos through the Survey123 app - a statewide effort to record changes to our coast and estuaries. Your photos will be added to a map of this season’s King Tides photos.
The King Tides also highlight the issue of urban runoff pollution. Trash, toxic chemicals, and other pollutants not normally reached by the tides will be swept into the Bay, affecting humans and wildlife. For information on how you can help keep our watersheds and the Bay clean by preventing urban runoff pollution, visit:
http://www.mywatershedwatch.org
This interactive event is suitable for all ages and will take place rain or shine.
Are There Gray Foxes in Your Backyard? - 01/03/2026 01:00 PM
Don Edwards Refuge Headquarters & Visitors Center Fremont
Learn all about our local gray foxes and how to identify evidence of their presence!
On a walk/talk from the Visitor’s Center out into the refuge, Bill “The Fox Guy” Leikam will show you how to identify indications of the presence of foxes, and tell stories about gray foxes that he’s studied and learned from. Bill will answer questions along the way and at the end reveal something about the foxes right here at the Visitor Center that not many people know is even there!
This program meets outside the Visitor Center. Portable toilets are available onsite. Wear comfortable walking shoes and sun protection/layers!
Winter WonderLabs at The Tech Interactive: Holi-Dough Circuits - 01/03/2026 03:00 PM
The Tech Interactive San Jose
Light up your holidays at The Tech Interactive. In this bright and joyful lab, you will experiment with conductive dough and simple circuits, then bring your creativity to life by crafting a glowing dough character to take home. It is hands-on science with a festive twist, perfect for curious makers who love to tinker and shine.
Best for ages 8 and up. Participants under 8 must work with an adult.Price: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
Sessions offered:Dec. 27, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.Dec. 28, 3 to 4 p.m.Jan. 3 and 4, 3 to 4 p.m.
Come spark your imagination and light up the season, Tech style.
Note: Non-members must purchase General Admission Tickets in addition to workshop tickets:
https://ticketing.thetech.org/
Family Astronomy: Discovering the Whole New Worlds of Exoplanets - 01/03/2026 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Chabot Space & Science Center’s Family Astronomy Series invites families with children ages 6-12 to explore the wonders of the universe together! This program features an engaging presentation in Studio 3 followed by hands-on activities and opportunities to make discoveries together. Each event includes complimentary hot cocoa and snacks.
Celebrate the holiday season with a fun and engaging family astronomy workshop designed for curious minds! Dive into the wonders of exoplanets - distant, mysterious worlds beyond our solar system.Learn how scientists detect planets orbiting other stars and imagine what life might be like on these faraway worlds. Through interactive activities, kids and adults alike will imagine what it might be like to stand on one of these strange new worlds. This engaging experience is perfect for curious families and budding space explorers.
The evening wraps up with public telescope viewing, including special access to Chabot’s historic telescopes, led by our Galaxy Explorers. Warm up with hot chocolate and snacks during this cosmic adventure.
Sunday, 01/04/2026
The Physics Show - Three Performances - 01/04/2026 10:00 AM
Foothill College Los Altos Hills
The Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families.
Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.
Venue: Smithwick Theater
AI Beyond ChatGPT - 01/04/2026 11:00 AM
Los Altos Community Center Los Altos
The focus of this discussion will be on General Artificial Super-Intelligence (GASI) coming next after Generative AI (GenAI, such as ChatGPT) based on Large Language Models (LLMs). We’ll try to look behind the facade of sensationalist claims and fancy images and videos to understand what is technically possible, what to expect, what are the risks, and what we could/should do about all this. Here is a link to the slides: AI beyond ChatGPT. It’s perfectly fine if you review them before our discussion. These slides will likely become obsolete in a few months if not sooner, but they could provide initial pointers for your own research.
Speaker: Michael Abramson, software engineer
Winter WonderLabs at The Tech Interactive: Holi-Dough Circuits - 01/04/2026 03:00 PM
The Tech Interactive San Jose
Light up your holidays at The Tech Interactive. In this bright and joyful lab, you will experiment with conductive dough and simple circuits, then bring your creativity to life by crafting a glowing dough character to take home. It is hands-on science with a festive twist, perfect for curious makers who love to tinker and shine.
Best for ages 8 and up. Participants under 8 must work with an adult.Price: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
Sessions offered:Dec. 27, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.Dec. 28, 3 to 4 p.m.Jan. 3 and 4, 3 to 4 p.m.
Come spark your imagination and light up the season, Tech style.
Note: Non-members must purchase General Admission Tickets in addition to workshop tickets:
https://ticketing.thetech.org/
Monday, 01/05/2026
Allocating Electricity - 01/05/2026 04:30 PM
Building 370 Stanford
The U.S. electricity system is premised on the ideas that utilities have a duty to serve all customers in their service territories and that electricity supply should always meet demand. Until recently, there has been little reason to question these foundational premises. Now, however, electricity experts predict massive load growth - most notably from data centers to power artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency - and building new power plants has financial and environmental risks. In this presentation, based on a forthcoming paper, Professor Klass will discuss law and policy frameworks developed for other resources - natural gas and water - for which short- or long-term scarcity is or was the norm rather than the exception, to reevaluate electricity law’s foundational principles, like the duty to serve, and to propose new approaches to meeting electricity demand. She will lay out a new regulatory framework for regulating data centers called “demand-side connect-and-manage” that can reduce the likelihood of overbuilding energy generation plants, allocate risks to and encourage innovation from major data center companies, and accelerate data center grid interconnection.
Speaker: Alexandra Klass, University of Michigan Law School
Tuesday, 01/06/2026
Reconstructing paleoenvironments using triple oxygen isotope values - 01/06/2026 12:00 PM
Braun (Geology) Corner (Bldg 320), Rm 220 Stanford
The Role of Canopy Turbulence in Wildland Fire Behavior - 01/06/2026 04:30 PM
Building 300 Stanford
Wednesday, 01/07/2026
The Dark Oxygen Research Initiative (DORI) project - Investigating Dark Oxygen Production in the deep sea - 01/07/2026 11:00 AM
MBARI Moss Landing
Thursday, 01/08/2026
From Midcentury Networked Motel to Smart House: Rhetorics and Practices of Tele-hospitality - 01/08/2026 05:00 PM
McClatchy Hall Stanford
Let’s Chat about Healthful Changes - Livestream - 01/08/2026 05:00 PM
Stanford Health Library
NightLife: For the Birds - 01/08/2026 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
After Dark: Unplug and Play - 01/08/2026 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Astronomy on Tap Davis: Two talks - 01/08/2026 06:00 PM
Sudwerk Brewing Company Davis
Dragonflies - Livestream - 01/08/2026 07:00 PM
Marin Audubon Society
The Myth of the “Homeless-Industrial Complex - Livestream - 01/08/2026 07:30 PM
Bay Area Skeptics
Friday, 01/09/2026
Opportunities at ARPA-E - 01/09/2026 10:00 AM
Environment and Energy Building (Y2E2) Stanford
Climate Warming: The World and Lake Merritt - Livestream - 01/09/2026 07:00 PM
Rotary Nature Center Friends
Saturday, 01/10/2026
The Physics Show - Three Performances - 01/10/2026 10:00 AM
Foothill College Los Altos Hills
Foothills Family Nature Walk - 01/10/2026 11:00 AM
Foothills Nature Preserve Los Altos
Starry Nights Star Party - 01/10/2026 06:30 PM
Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve Morgan hill
Sunday, 01/11/2026
Junior Rangers at the Refuge: Salt Marsh Senses - 01/11/2026 10:30 AM
Don Edwards Refuge Environmental Education Center Alviso
Things That Sting - 01/11/2026 11:00 AM
Don Edwards Refuge Headquarters & Visitors Center Fremont
Monday, 01/12/2026
Global Change and the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease - 01/12/2026 04:00 PM
James H. Clark Center (Bldg 340) Stanford
Decarbonizing Metallurgy from Extraction to 3D Printing - 01/12/2026 04:30 PM
Stanford University Energy Seminar Stanford
What do high-power lasers have to do with conjugated polymers? - 01/12/2026 04:30 PM
Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) Colloquium Series Menlo Park
The Unblinking EYE: AI and Fire Response, the Modern Fire Sentinel - 01/12/2026 06:00 PM
Science Buzz Cafe Sebastapol