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Greetings Fans of Science and Reason,
World Mosquito Day August 20th, is meant to celebrate the time in which Dr. Ross discovered that female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans.
This weeks edition of the SciSchmooze is a bit different than usual. One of my biggest challenges is to say no to something that sounds interesting and/or fun. This week really hit me with this conundrum. So I am just going to put down a bunch of links and let you sort it out.
First though, you should consider what offerings are available here in the SF Bay Area. Here are a few that I think are worth all of our consideration…
Everything You Never Knew You Wanted to Know about Mosquitoes San Mateo-Tue-6:00 (Just a note. the SMCMVCD rocks! It’s Vector Control too!!)
Science Saturday: Water Wild! Pacific Grove-Sat-10:00
Fear and Loathing in the Heavens: The 1910 Return of Halley’s Comet Oakland-Sat-7:30
So here’s a list of a few of the articles that I have set aside to include in the SciSchmooze. I hope that you find some of them worth a read. Let me know what you like or don’t like!
Judge Sides With Montana Youths in Historic Climate Ruling Montana kids win historic climate lawsuit – here’s why it could set a powerful precedent
The Deadly Intersection of Labor Exploitation and Climate Change
A new study finds that the first two “Rs,” reduce and reuse, are getting the short shrift
What will it take to shrink the carbon footprint of health care
Ötzi the Iceman’s true appearance revealed by new DNA analysis
1968: What's on the MOON? | Children Talking
The chemistry of a Barbie doll
What's slowing down disruptive science
Why people believe their own lies.
A warning sign may be available two hours before an earthquake strikes?
From God’s shoes to satellites in heaven
Neil DeGrasse Tyson on How Did America Become Stupid
The reason why America has become 'uniquely stupid'
Richard Feynman Lecture -- "Los Alamos From Below" There are quite a few copies of this Feynman lecture floating around out there, but most end prior to the question from the audience. After the lecture, a guy in the audience asks Feynman about his safe-cracking stories and Feynman goes on for about another ten minutes relating three different stories on his safe-cracking while at Los Alamos National Laboratories. Enjoy!
Have a great week but keep those that are facing the wrath of nature in your thoughts and find something to do to help our little planet.
herb masters
"Science is the tool we use to understand the natural world, and the quest for knowledge is a never-ending journey of discovery." Jane Goodall
Upcoming Events:
Click to see the next two weeks of events in your browser.
Sunday, 08/20/2023
Morning Hike at Rancho Cañada del Oro - 08/20/2023 09:30 AM
Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve Morgan hill
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for an excursion where youâll explore the Mayfair Ranch â" Longwall Canyon trails of Rancho Cañada del Oro! You will be guided by POST Ambassadors who will share with you the history of the preserve, the region, and the importance of conservation in the area.
The hike is moderate to strenuous at about 4 miles round trip with about 700 feet of gradual elevation gain.
This wonderful preserve is a hub for wildlife, such as deer, bobcats, mountain lions, and more! In the Spring, you can expect a colorful array of wildflowers adorning the hillsides, and you may get a chance to see a beautiful little creek running through Llagas meadow.
Sign up at weblink
Presidio: Changes Through Time - 08/20/2023 11:00 AM
The Presidio San Francisco
Join the National Park Service and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the GGNRA!
This half-mile, level walk shows the historical changes to the Presidio, from the Spanish fort all the way to the new Tunnel Tops. Who benefitted from these changes, and who did not?
Learn about the people who lived here, and who now occupy these buildings, and how the landscape has been transformed over the years. Afterward take advantage of the food trucks nearby and the stunning views of the Golden Gate.
Monday, 08/21/2023
SCVAS Learn: Shorebirds 2023 - Livestream - 08/21/2023 07:00 PM
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Each summer, millions of Arctic breeding Shorebirds leave their northern nesting grounds and make their way toward southern wintering grounds. In Santa Clara County, we have many locations where dense clouds of these magnificent birds can be seen and admired as they arrive for the season. Others simply pass through on their way further south. Each species is truly unique yet identifying them can often be a challenge especially when they shed their colorful breeding plumage. Join SCVAS Executive Director, Matthew Dodder for an online class focusing on Santa Clara Countyâs diverse Shorebirds. Learn how to differentiate between the confusing Peeps and how to spot juvenile birds within the crowded flocks. We will dive first into the common species found here, and them move on to the rarer visitors and the challenges they present to birders. This class was first offered in 2021 and has been updated.
This is a three session class. See weblink
Tuesday, 08/22/2023
StorageX Tech Talk - Two Talks - Livestream - 08/22/2023 10:00 AM
Stanford University
Design of high-performance Li-S batteries: revisiting the role of lithium polysulfides
Speaker: Xin Gao, Peking University
Ni Anchored to Hydrogen-Substituted Graphdiyne for Lithium Sulfide Cathodes in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Speaker: Louisa Greenburg, Stanford University
See weblink for streaming information and to register
Everything You Never Knew You Wanted to Know about Mosquitoes - 08/22/2023 06:00 PM
San Mateo Public Library San Mateo
San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District offers no-charge services to county residents! Join us to learn about basic mosquito ecology, common water sources, the history of mosquito control in San Mateo County, and current pest management âtoolsâ including storm drain treatments, mapping software, insect repellent options, and more. We'll also hear about how your taxes pay for mosquito control, rodent inspections, yellowjacket nest treatment and removal, insect/tick ID, disease surveillance, and more.
Speaker: Rachel Curtis-Robles, PhD, Public Health Education and Outreach Officer at San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector District.
Radical Sharing - 08/22/2023 07:00 PM
The Interval at Long Now San Francisco
Our bodies, our houses, our land, our space - we humans donât always like to share. Author Bette Adriaanse talks with Chelsea T. Hicks, and virtual guests Brian Eno and Aqui Thami, about property and sharing, and how to make a lasting positive change in the way we share the world with each other. Alternating between thinkers and doers, whose actions help foster long term equality, this evening explores the choices that can be made to share time and resources with others in radical ways.
Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies in California's National Marine Sanctuaries - Livestream - 08/22/2023 07:00 PM
American Cetacean Society
Please join ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter and Jess Morten, Director of the Marine Resource Protection Program at the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF), as we delve into the efforts to halt or reduce fatal collisions between ships and whales. Global shipping is vital to the economy, but high volumes of large vessel traffic off of our coastlines have negative impacts on public health and the marine environment. Large vessels traveling at higher speeds produce more emissions that contribute to reduced air quality in our coastal communities, increased underwater noise, and a higher risk of fatal collisions with whales. Known as ship strikes, these collisions are a main contributor to large whale mortality globally and in California's waters. There have been 53 recorded incidents of fatal ship strikes on endangered whale species in California from 2007-2022, and modelers estimate that these observed and documented incidents represent only a small fraction of the total number of fatal ship strikes taking place. To mitigate this global and regional threat to large whales, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries in California - which includes Greater Farallones, Cordell Bank, Monterey Bay, and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries - works alongside many partners to implement conservation measures to reduce ship strike risk, including collaborating with international and federal partners to reconfigure shipping lanes and engaging with industry to implement an incentive-based vessel speed reduction program known as Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies (www.bluewhalesblueskies.org).
Registration required.
Wednesday, 08/23/2023
Vision and signaling behavior in cleaner shrimp-client fish mutualisms - Livestream - 08/23/2023 11:00 AM
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Cleaner shrimp are small tropical crustaceans that clean their reef fish clients by removing ectoparasites. Although many client species eat crustaceans, cleaner shrimp are rarely eaten during cleaning interactions. In this talk, I discuss evidence supporting the hypothesis that cooperation between cleaners and clients is mediated by visual signals. I first discuss the visual capabilities of each party, and then apply those measures of visual capability to in situ interactions between cleaner shrimp and client fish in two cleaner species - the Caribbean Ancylomenes pedersoni and the Indo-Pacific Lysmata amboinensis - to examine how they may appear to their mutualistic partners. Network analysis approaches show that certain cleaner and client behaviors function as visual signals. In A. pedersoni, we found that signaling by both parties, but primarily the cleaner, is necessary to initiate cleaning. In L. amboinensis, we found that cleaners adjust their signaling and cleaning behaviors when interacting with predatory versus non-predatory clients, in a way that minimizes potential risks. Despite being in different families and living in distinct parts of the globe, both species possess conspicuous white antennae that play a role in signaling. In both species, the antennae broadly reflect 40-65% of light, and scanning electron microscopy revealed the antennae have a layer of densely packed nanoparticles 300-400nm in diameter, which likely have a high refractive index. Optical modeling showed that the nanoparticle layers are well sized to increase reflectance, enhancing the brightness of these important signaling structures. I briefly touch on future work on this system, which is poised to become a model for studies of the evolution and dynamics of interspecific signaling.
Register at weblink
Speaker: Eleanor Caves
Survival of the Friendliest - Livestream - 08/23/2023 06:00 PM
Leakey Foundation
What if the secret to survival of the fittest isn't strength, smarts, or power but rather the ability to connect and cooperate?
Join evolutionary anthropologist and bestselling author Dr. Brian Hare and discover how cooperation and sociability have shaped the success of species like dogs, bonobos, and especially us humans.
With compelling examples from recent research, Dr. Hare will explore the links between friendliness, survival, and evolution. The online talk will be followed by an interactive Q&A and a chance to hang out and discuss big ideas with other curious minds in lively breakout room group chats.
Register at weblink to attend online
Thursday, 08/24/2023
After Dark: Visualize and Sonify - 08/24/2023 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
How can translating data into compelling sensory experiences - visual, aural, multimedia, and more - make stories of the world around us resonate more deeply? As scientists, journalists, and researchers search for inventive, inclusive ways to share their data - and artists reference data to create impactful artworks - visualization, sonification and artistic interpretation have become prominent ways to share information about our environment and beyond. Tonight, dive into projects that incorporate scientific data in different forms of storytelling. Donât miss a site-specific performance of the multimedia work Carbon Song Cycle by composer/performer Pamela Z and media artist Christina McPhee.
NightLife: Pacific Island Paradise - 08/24/2023 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Get ready for an unforgettable NightLife dedicated to the vibrant Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Celebrate Pasifika arts, culture, and science with a night of CHamaru food, Polynesian dance, Samoan Tatau (tattoo), and more.
Featured events:
Join Ponipate Rokolekutu, Assistant Professor at the Critical Pacific Islands and Oceania Studies under the Department of Race and Resistance Studie sat San Francisco State University, as he unveils the intricate ties between colonialism, land alienation, and the marginalization of Indigenous communities in Fiji.Grab a seat and hang with Chef Shawn Naputi and Shawn Camacho, the talented minds behind the restaurant Prubechu, as they share the flavors and traditions of Guam style cuisine and the rich Indigenous C Hamoru culture. Learn how the history of war and shifting political control influenced the C Hamoru community and how cooking became a cornerstone of their unity. Then, watch a live demo and delve into the traditions of cooking Kelaguen, a beloved C Hamoru dish that will leave your taste buds tingling (and yes, there will be samples!).Immerse yourself in island rhythms with a music and dance performance from MANUIA Polynesian Revue, a Bay Area dance organization dedicated to preserving the music and dances of the Polynesian islands for over 20 years.Learn about the Samoan art of Tatau (tattoo), a century-old tradition representing community, power, status, respect, and honor. Catch a live demo fromSi'i Liufau, owner of A Town Tattoo and specialist in Polynesian and traditional cultural tattoos.Stop by and say hello to a few local Pasifika organizations:By Ki'ihua- From hats to shirts, shop handmade designs that mix traditions of the past with Ki'ihuaâs family style. M.A.N.A. Pasefika- A doula program created by and for Pacific Islanders of Melanesian, Micronesian, and Polynesian descent. Learn how they are working to maintain Ancestral kNowledge & Autonomy within the community. Kava samples will also be available with a donation.
Astronomy on Tap Santa Cruz: Transients and the Ever-Changing Sky - 08/24/2023 06:30 PM
Humble Sea Brewing Co Santa Cruz
Supernovae! Neutron star mergers! What do these have in common? They are known as Transients! Short, dramatic and energetic events that occur on human timescales. Many things in the universe take millions or billions of years to change and evolve. Transients, however, can change over seconds or years, and illuminate deep mysteries of physics unknown. Come learn about some special kinds of astrophysical transients With Sierra Doddand Alex Mannings - two tellar people.
Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset Tour - 08/24/2023 07:00 PM
Point Bonita Lighthouse Sausalito
On the Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset Tour, you will enjoy stunning sunset views and learn the compelling story of this landmark. The tour will include elements of natural and cultural history as well as thought-provoking guided discussion that ties the lighthouseâs history to our present. The tour does not include moonrise.
Reserve your space at www.recreation.gov.
This 90-minute tour starts at the Point Bonita Trailhead service gate where you will check in. Led by a ranger or volunteer docent, the group will go on a half mile hike to the lighthouse, which includes a downhill slope, a hand carved tunnel, and a suspension bridge to the lighthouse itself. The suspension bridge has a sheer drop on either side.
Friday, 08/25/2023
Sunset Science: Stars Across Cultures ft Native Skies Star Stories - 08/25/2023 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
The night sky has had a major impact on humans throughout our existence. Often different cultures and countries adopt their own interpretation of the night sky that could change through time. Stars, constellations, the sun, and the moon have inspired stories, helped us navigate our world and let us understand our place in the universe. In this months Sunset Science, we explore various unique stories, myths, and practices from around the globe connected to the cosmos through presentations, demonstrations, music, and activities. Spend time on our Observation Deck as speakers and astronomers take you on a tour of the cosmos and enjoy our Native Skies Star Stories program.
Native Skies Star StoriesÂ
For thousands of years, humans have looked at the night sky with a sense of wonder and meaning. Working with the East Bay Ohlone community, a native storyteller will speak to an Indigenous East Bay understanding of the sky and land as you gaze at the stars in an outdoor setting. Listen to old-time stories, living in the hearts and minds of the Ohlone community today, and teachings that will amplify the philosophy of the Ohlone and connect with the natural world as you gain a deeper understanding of the richness of their living culture.
Pictures of Distant Worlds - SOLD OUT - 08/25/2023 08:00 PM
Lick Observatory Mt. Hamilton
Our Evenings with the Stars programs are held annually as part of our Summer Series. Each year we bring world-renowned astronomers to the summit of Mount Hamilton for a night with the stars you won’t forget!
The event activities include:
Astronomy talk by star scientists Viewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor telescope Viewing through the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescope Fascinating history talk about Lick Observatory After-hours gift shop access Astronomy discussions with amateur astronomers and viewing through small telescopes Speaker: Bruce Macintosh, UC Observatories.
In the past two and a half decades, more than 4000 planets have been discovered orbiting other stars beyond our own Solar System. This has sparked a revolution in astronomy as we realize our Solar System is not alone. However, we still donât know if our Solar System is rare or unique - the powerful techniques that detect extrasolar planets have discovered systems very different than our own. In recent years, advances in technology have allowed a handful of giant planets to be imaged directly.
Find out about the first-ever images of other solar systems - and the technology that has allowed us to discover them, such as the Gemini Planet Imager - as well as the future planet-hunting space telescopes. The ultimate goal is detection of a second âpale blue dotâ - an Earth twin where we could even see the biosignatures of extrasolar life. Such a discovery will truly complete the evolution of our view of the Universe.
Tickets go on sale at noon, May 8, 2023. Limit 4 per customer.
Saturday, 08/26/2023
Science Saturday: Water Wild! - 08/26/2023 10:00 AM
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Pacific Grove
Water! It’s the secret to life on Earth (and everywhere, as far as we can tell!). Join us for another free Science Saturday Event: Water Wild at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. We will explore the role water plays in the natural history of the Central Coast, wonderful aquatic wildlife, and experiment with waterpower and biomechanics. Sea you there!
Stewardship Saturday: Searching for Marine Life in the San Francisco Bay - 08/26/2023 10:00 AM
Angel Island Tiburon Ferry Belvedere Tiburon
This free program for high school students features rotating themes exploring the science of the Center.
In collaboration with Angel Island Tiburon Ferry and The Marine Mammal Center, we invite you to adventure through the Bay waters with us! During this event, we will have the chance to search for various marine mammals that we care for at the Center and learn more about the Bay water’s ecosystem and history. Our hope is that you will leave with a new experience that will help you describe the beauty of these waters and explain why we need to keep this environment clean and healthy.
Register at weblink to attend.
Science Safari - Backyard Sanctuaries - 08/26/2023 10:30 AM
Youth Science Institute Los Gatos
The San Franciso Bay area is an important area for a lot of different species. Whether theyâre furry, feathered, or scaly, lots of animals can have difficulties trying to navigate our urban areas. Learn how you can give local animals some extra aid without having to leave your backyard! Make a seed bomb with native plants, a shelter for small reptiles and amphibians, and a bird feeder! Get your creativity going with a fun day of animal-friendly crafts!
Family Nature Walks - Foothills Nature Preserve - 08/26/2023 11:00 AM
Foothills Nature Preserve Los Altos
Environmental Volunteersâ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help students and their families get to know our local open space areas. Small family groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based activities, and a chance to learn more about the plants and animals all around us. Join us for some fun, outdoor learning!
Each group will have a maximum limit of 12 participants.
Families/groups are welcome to sign up for as many as they like. The nature walks are intended for children aged 6 to 11, and we ask that each group is accompanied by an adult.
If registration is full, get on the waitlist! If the waitlist is large enough, additional groups can be created if EV Nature Walk leaders are available.
Intended for ages 6 - 11, plus adult supervision.
Nocturnal: Space, The Final Frontier - CANCELED - 08/26/2023 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
Grab some Romulan Ale and bring your inner Trekker to a night celebrating all the things that we love about Star Trek. This iconic collection of television shows and movies has inspired generations of science fiction fans to not only pursue careers in space science, but it has influenced culture in areas as diverse as fashion, technology, civil rights, linguistics, and space exploration. Learn about how sci-fi stories and shows inspired real inventions and discoveries. Enjoy hands-on Trekker games and activities, view and make Star Trek-inspired artwork and watch scientistsâ presentations in this fun-filled evening every Trek fan will love!Â
Costumes are highly encouraged for a social evening of fun!
Ages 21+
Editor's Note: This event has been canceled.
Fear and Loathing in the Heavens: The 1910 Return of Halleyâs Comet - 08/26/2023 07:30 PM
East Bay Astronomical Society Oakland
In 1705, Edmond Halley liberated humanity from the belief that comets were portents of doom; two centuries later, in 1910, as Halley’s Comet returned to perihelion, newspapers and magazines, religious leaders, misguided theorists, and shameless grifters managed to rekindle that fear. When astronomers announced that the earth would pass through the cometâs tail, opportunists exploited human anxiety, often with fatal consequences.
Join Dr. Richard J. Goodrich, author of "Comet Madness: How the 1910 Return of Halley’s Comet (almost) Destroyed Civilization", for an entertaining lecture about the comet’s 1910 return and the reasons that many believed the earth would not survive the encounter.
Attend online or in person
City Public Star Party - 08/26/2023 07:45 PM
City Star Parties - Point Lobos San Francisco
Come join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for an evening of stargazing at Landâs End! We meet at the USS San Francisco Memorial at El Camino del Mar parking lot
Telescopes will be set up to show you the craters and mountains of the Moon, planets, bright and colorful double stars, and deep sky objects including star clusters and nebulas!
SFAA members with telescopes are encouraged to attend and share their views of the stars with the general public.
Dress warmly. Rain, heavy fog and overcast skies cancel. Check the SFAA website for a cancellation notice before leaving for the star party.
Dark Energy - How to observe the invisible - 08/26/2023 08:00 PM
Lick Observatory Mt. Hamilton
Each year Lick Observatory brings world-renown musicians and astronomers to the summit of Mount Hamilton for a musical night to remember.
The event activities include:
ConcertAstronomy talk by world-renowned scientistsViewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor telescopeViewing through the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescopeAstronomy discussions with amateur astronomers and viewing through small telescopesPerformer: Melody of China
Speaker: Claire Poppett, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs.
Dr. Claire Poppett is a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Her PhD training was specifically orientated towards developing theoretical models to predict the optical performance of multi-mode fibers and validate the models with experimental evidence.
Dr. Poppett is the lead fiber scientist for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) installed on the 4-m Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak Observatory. During the R&D phase of the project she undertook fundamental fiber testing which allowed her to establish requirements and specifications within the fiber system. This work also allowed her to develop a new fiber connection system using fiber splicing that greatly improved fiber performance.
Tickets go on sale at noon, May 8, 2023.’ Limit 4 per customer.
Jazz Under the Stars - 08/26/2023 08:30 PM
College of San Mateo Bldg 36 San Mateo
Jazz 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 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 four 8â 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 8â schmidt-cassegrain is for our deep sky needs. It can peer deep into globular clusters, and nebulae! 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. Occasionally we even have the chance to image galaxies! Don't miss out, join us at our next Jazz Under the Stars!!
Weather dependent, check the weblink before attending.
Sunday, 08/27/2023
BioBlitz at Hellyer Park - 08/27/2023 09:00 AM
Hellyer County Park San Jose
Join Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Bioblitz.club, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, and POST for a BioBlitz! A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to get an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms that live in a place.
Join the BioBlitz at Hellyer Park where you and experts come together to explore and document observations of all living things in a short period of time.
Docents will guide you and teach you to use the iNaturalist app on your smartphone to record all the living things you encounter. Flowers, trees, butterflies, dragonflies, and beetles, birds, and squirrels. We love them all - now let's go find them!
Ages 10+
Resilient Forest Series - 08/27/2023 10:00 AM
The West Mill at Green Valley Farm + Mill Sebastopol
Join Forestree Collective, Regenerative Forest Solutions and Audubon Canyon Ranchâs Fire Forward program for this series highlighting forest health practices, ecological stewardship, regional milling infrastructure, prescribed burning, and more.
Each series date will engage participants in stewardship strategies employed at Green Valley Farm + Mill for improving the forest and watershed, a demo and information about Forestree Collective's small-diameter milling infrastructure and Regenerative Forest Solutions' biomass campus project. Staff from Audubon Canyon Ranchâs Fire Forward program will share about the prescribed burn they accomplished alongside Green Valley Farm + Mill and will share resources for those wanting to bring good fire back to the land.
Our day will be broken into two portions: 1) from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm; 2) Afternoon Session: Forest stewardship work from 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm. A waiver and survey will be sent out to all participants prior to the workshop date.
At the end of each workshop, attendees will be offered a locally cultivated blue elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp cerulea) start to take home as well as a recently published guide produced by Fire Forward.
Coastal Walk at Pillar Point Bluff - 08/27/2023 10:00 AM
Pillar Point Bluff Parking Lot Moss BeachJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay!
Join Peninsula Open Space Trust for a beautiful walk at Pillar Point Bluff just north of Half Moon Bay! You will be guided by POST ambassadors who will share details about the area’s interesting natural history, from the coastal scrub habitat to the Fitzgerald Marine Preserve which hosts tide pools and breeding grounds for harbor seals.
The walk is moderate at about 2.5 miles round trip with about 300 feet of gradual elevation gain.
In 2004, POST stepped in to fund protection of the Bluff, restore it to ecological health, and construct a 1.6-mile section of the California Coastal Trail that now runs across it. Today all 161 acres of the Bluff are fully protected in perpetuity - a process that took four transactions, 11 years of work, and an array of visionaries, landowners, and donors, both public and private.
Register at weblink
Monday, 08/28/2023
Chromosome Organization in Human Adult Cells - 08/28/2023 12:00 PM
Sonoma State University - Biology Colloquium Rohnert Park
Speaker: Jemeery Morales, Sonoma State University
Andrew Fraknoi: Two Eclipses of the Sun - 08/28/2023 05:30 PM
Commonwealth Club San Francisco
Two eclipses of the sun are coming to North America during the 2023 - 24 school year - an annular (ring of fire) eclipse on October 14, 2023 and a total eclipse on April 8, 2024. People in two narrow paths will have the full eclipse experience each time. Everyone else (an estimated 500 million people, including all of us in the Bay Area) will see a nice partial eclipse, where the moon covers a good part of the sun.
Andrew Fraknoi will describe how eclipses come to be (and why they are total only on Earth), what scientists learn during eclipses, exactly when and where the eclipses of 2023 and 2024 will be best visible, and how to observe the eclipses and the sun safely.
Everyone who attends this program in person will receive a free pair of safe-viewing glasses for the eclipse (which enable you to look at the sun without eye damage), courtesy of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Speaker: Andrew Fraknoi, Foothill College, Emeritus
Attend in person or online
Use discount code WonderfestPromo for $10 off. (That price reduction renders the online ticket entirely FREE.)
Re-examining the 'wood-wide web' - 08/28/2023 08:00 PM
Bay Area Mycological Society Berkeley
In an exclusive Bay Area presentation, meet the driving force behind a re-examination of the 'wood-wide web', who, along with Dr. Melanie Jones and Dr. Jason Hoeksema, is challenging data and media inflation of claims about Common Mycorrhizal Networks.
Few ecological concepts have affected academic and public discourse as much as the âwood-wide webâ. This concept holds that all trees in a forest are physically connected belowground by mycorrhizal fungi, with the fungi serving as passive conduits for the flow of resources and signals among the networked trees. Through these fungal networks, Mother trees recognize and warn their kin of danger, and, in one final act of altruism, dying trees send pulses of resources to neighbors. Though widely appealing and massively popular, is any of this true? In this seminar, I will separate fact from fiction regarding the âwood-wide webâ.
Dr. Justine Karst is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta. She studies the mycorrhizal ecology of boreal forests.
Tuesday, 08/29/2023
Creepy, Happy Halloween - 08/29/2023 10:00 AM
Lawrence Hall of Science Berkeley
Wonderfest: The Science of Healthy Aging - 08/29/2023 07:00 PM
Hopmonk Tavern Novato
Wednesday, 08/30/2023
Swim Down: Finding Neurodivergent Identity in the Depths - 08/30/2023 11:00 AM
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Moss Landing
Environmental and Energy Economics Seminar - 08/30/2023 12:10 PM
Giannini Hall Berkeley
Thursday, 08/31/2023
Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium - Shiva Esturi - 08/31/2023 12:00 PM
Silicon Valley Leaders Symposium San Jose
After Dark: Discover Wonder - 08/31/2023 06:00 PM
ExplOratorium San Francisco
Indigenous Communities in the United States: Leaders in Climate Adaptation - Livestream - 08/31/2023 06:00 PM
US Geological Survey Public Lecture Series
NightLife - 08/31/2023 06:00 PM
California Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Colombiaâs Biodiversity - Livestream - 08/31/2023 07:00 PM
Golden Gate Audubon Society
Point Bonita Lighthouse Sunset Tour - 08/31/2023 07:00 PM
Point Bonita Lighthouse Sausalito
Friday, 09/01/2023
First Fridays: Stellar Ending, Death of Stars - 09/01/2023 06:00 PM
Chabot Space and Science Center Oakland
PixInsight post-processing basics - Messier 13 The Great Hercules Cluster - 09/01/2023 08:00 PM
College of San Mateo Bldg 36 San Mateo
Saturday, 09/02/2023
Plant Identification at Sanborn - 09/02/2023 08:00 AM
Sanborn Science and Nature Center Saratoga
Taming the Crazy: Lessons from the Science of Mental Immunity - Livestream - 09/02/2023 03:00 PM
Bay Area Humanists
Monday, 09/04/2023
SCVAS Learn: Warblers 2023 - Part 1 - Green, Yellow and Gray - Livestream - 09/04/2023 07:00 PM
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society