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Multi-Messenger

Multi-Messenger Astronomy – Feb 24

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The most energetic phenomena in the universe tend to reveal themselves through intense, short-lived signals. These violent transient events include novae, supernovae, and mergers of both neutron stars and black holes. Their signals — their natural messages — can span the entire electromagnetic spectrum, and may include gravitational waves as well as bursts of subatomic particles. The burgeoning field of multi-messenger astronomy inspires new technical observing abilities as it challenges our understanding of astrophysics. In so many new ways, however, the glorious cosmos and its contents come into clearer focus.
 
Our Wonderfest speaker is Raffaella Margutti, Associate Professor of both Physics and Astronomy at UC Berkeley. Dr. Margutti received the 2022 New Horizons in Physics Prize, and she advises three recent Wonderfest Science Envoys.

Dr. Raffaella Margutti

WHAT: Multi-Messenger Astronomy
WHO: Dr. Raffaella Margutti, Associate Professor of Astronomy and Physics, UC Berkeley [https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/raffaella-margutti]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, February 24 — 7:00pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
PhysiologyOfConsciousness

Physiology of Consciousness – Jan 27

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One of the great mysteries of science is how the brain creates conscious experience. Even though neuroanatomy and neuron-control are well understood, and modern tools have revealed many neural circuits, the neuroanatomic center of consciousness remains elusive. We aren’t even really sure how to measure consciousness! If we could build a mathematical model of consciousness, would this help us understand how the brain works its magic? How does an anesthesiologist, who routinely eliminates and then restores consciousness, define and measure the wonder of conscious experience?
 
Our Wonderfest speaker is Art Wallace, MD, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Anesthesia at UC San Francisco. Dr. Wallace is also Chief of Anesthesia at San Francisco’s Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Dr. Art Wallace

WHAT: The Physiology of Consciousness
WHO: Dr. Art Wallace, Professor Emeritus of Anesthesia, UCSF [https://anesthesia.ucsf.edu/people/arthur-wallace]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, January 27 — 7:00pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
EvolutionOfConsciousness

Evolution of Consciousness – Jan 13

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Philosophers, cognitive scientists, and animal welfare advocates tend to agree that consciousness evolved to support action. Yet, puzzlingly, most accounts take relatively passive sensory experiences and bodily sensations (e.g. pains, visual perceptions, and hunger pangs) to be the basic contents of subjective experience. What if consciousness were not a “point of view,” but rather a “point of do,” where the conscious subject is not an observer but a participant who interacts with an environment that pushes back? Thinking carefully about action experience might help us better understand the biological evolution of consciousness on Earth.
 
Our Wonderfest speaker is Dr. Mariel Goddu, PhD in developmental psychology (UC Berkeley) and PhD candidate in philosophy (Stanford). Mariel was — and remains — a wonderful Wonderfest Science Envoy.

Dr. Mariel Goddu

WHAT: Evolution of Consciousness: The Participatory Perspective
WHO: Dr. Mariel Goddu, PhD (Psychology) and PhD candidate (Philosophy) [https://philosophy.stanford.edu/people/mariel-goddu]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, January 13 — 7:00pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
Screenshot

Precious Science – Dec 16

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Albert Einstein: “One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike — and yet it is the most precious thing we have.” This quotation graces the very top of Wonderfest’s large-format Layers of Scientific Understanding (LoSU) poster. In the spirit of holiday appreciation, this special year-end Wonderfest event will review — with much audience participation — each of the fifteen layers within this wonderful graphic depiction of Einstein’s “most precious thing.” Published in the year 2001, and distributed to every high school science department in the Bay Area, the LoSU poster celebrates science as “a worldview for the 3rd millennium” … perhaps with principles that last for eternity.

 
Our speaker is Tucker Hiatt, founding director of Wonderfest. Twenty-five years ago, Tucker created the LoSU poster with the help of six renowned scientists and the graphic artist behind key elements of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos television series.

Tucker Hiatt

WHAT: Most Precious: Layers of Scientific Understanding
WHO: Tucker Hiatt, Wonderfest Founding Director
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, December 16 — 7:00pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
OriginOfLife

Origin of Life – Nov 18

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It’s an age-old question: How did life come about? Even the simplest creatures that exhibit the two hallmarks of life, namely metabolism and replication, are astoundingly complex. While the search for life’s origin has fascinated humans for centuries, recent breakthroughs point us in a more conclusive direction, and have remarkable implications. Among important side insights are the unexpected similarities between prebiotic and human innovation, and the central role that energy and information have played in transforming the planet over the last 4 billion years, leading right up to the present climate crisis.

Our Wonderfest speaker, Dr. Charles Marshall, is Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley. He is also Director of the University of California Museum of Paleontology.


Dr. Charles Marshall

WHAT: On the Origin of Life
WHO: Dr. Charles Marshall, Distinguished Professor of Integrative Biology, UC Berkeley [https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/people/charles-marshall/]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, November 18 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
ThreeIntelligences

Three Intelligences – Oct 28

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A common model of AI suggests that there is a single measure of intelligence, often called AGI, and that AI systems are agents who can possess more or less of this intelligence. Cognitive science, in contrast, suggests that there are multiple forms of intelligence and that these intelligences trade-off against each other and have a distinctive developmental profile and evolutionary history. Exploitation (the pursuit of goals, resources, and utilities) characterizes adult cognition. However, exploration (seeking information about the world) characterizes childhood cognition, and empowerment (of others, through care and teaching) characterizes cognition in elderhood. The combination of these three different kinds of intelligence, across the course of a life, explains human success.

Our Wonderfest speaker, Dr. Alison Gopnik, is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley. She is also Affiliate Professor of Philosophy at Cal, and a member of the Berkeley AI Research Group. In 2021, Dr. Gopnik received Wonderfest’s Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization.


Dr. Alison Gopnik

WHAT: Three Ages and Three Intelligences: Explore, Exploit, Empower
WHO: Dr. Alison Gopnik, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, UC Berkeley [https://www.alisongopnik.com]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, October 28 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
1920 x 1005 Facebook Event - 37

Replacement Anatomy – Oct 9

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The human body may be hard to improve, at least from the perspective of modern medical innovation. Still, we try — especially as these wonderful mortal machines start to fall apart. Mary Roach, New York Times bestselling author of Stiff and Fuzz, follows the astonishing evolution of body-part replacement, from sculpting noses of brass to crafting body parts using stem cells & 3-D printing. While such advancements can be lifesavers, they often beg a difficult bioethical question: How and when does a person decide they’d be better off with a prosthesis? Wonderfest joins the Commonwealth Club for a fascinating conversation with Mary Roach as she investigates the moral, medical, and metaphysical implications of remaking ourselves from the inside out.

Two types of tickets are available: in-person and online-only. Pre-register with the Commonwealth Club / World Affairs via the “Tickets” link, below. Use promo code WONDERNAUTS for a $7 ticket discount.


Mary Roach

WHAT: Mary Roach: Adventures in Human Anatomy
WHO: Mary Roach, Science Writer — author of Stiff, Fuzz, Grunt, Boink, et al! [https://maryroach.net]
WHERE: The Commonwealth Club, Taube Auditorium, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105
WHEN: Thursday, October 9 — 6pm (1 hour)
COLLABORATORS:
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California [https://www.commonwealthclub.org]
HOW: Get tickets by clicking the "Tickets" box, below. During purchase from the Commonwealth Club, use promo code WONDERNAUTS to secure a discount of $7.00 for either type of ticket, in-person or online.
Tickets
AI-for-Learning

AI for Learning – Sep 30

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AI tools are everywhere now, promising to help us write, solve, understand, and create faster and more easily than ever. But there is a growing concern: Are these tools actually helping us learn, or just making it look or feel like we know something? Can we develop AI systems to support deep human learning? Truly useful systems don’t just give answers, but help us to build metacognitive skills to think critically, reflect, and adapt as we learn.

Our Wonderfest speaker, Dr. Kelsey Urgo, is Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of San Francisco.


Dr. Kelsey Urgo

WHAT: Developing AI for Human Learning
WHO: Dr. Kelsey Urgo, Asst. Professor of Computer Science [https://www.kelseyurgo.com]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, September 30 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
Sleep&Recovery

Sleep & Recovery – Sep 16

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Diet, exercise, connection, and sleep are four key determining factors in human health. Sleep, in particular, plays a critical role in recovery and resilience. Fortunately, recent eye-opening (*ahem*) research can help us harness sleep science to improve everyday life and long-term health.

Our Wonderfest speaker, Greg Tranah, PhD, is Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at UC San Francisco. He is also Senior Scientist at California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute.


Dr. Gregory Tranah

WHAT: The Science of Healthy Aging: Sleep and Recovery
WHO: Dr. Gregory Tranah, Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, UCSF
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, September 16 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
FusionEnergyAI

Fusion Energy – Aug 12

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Fusion research aims to bring sun-like energy production safely to Earth. Recent advances have been momentous, including scientific breakthroughs at Lawrence Livermore Lab’s National Ignition Facility, where Earth’s most energetic lasers drive hydrogen atoms to fuse in a controlled thermonuclear reaction. What challenges remain as we work to put the world’s first fusion power plant on the grid?

Our Wonderfest speaker is Ellie Tubman, Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering at UC Berkeley. Dr. Tubman was Research Associate at the UK’s Imperial College, London.


Dr. Ellie Tubman

WHAT: The Future of Fusion Energy on Tap
WHO: Dr. Ellie Tubman, Asst. Professor of Nuclear Engineering
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
QuantumGravity1

Quantum Gravity – July 29

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By allowing space and time to bend, Einstein’s theory of gravity, General Relativity, explains how apples fall, how planets move, how the universe expands, and how black holes form. Quantum Mechanics, on the other hand, describes subatomic physics — in a very different language that seems incompatible with General Relativity. Yet, unlike any other classical theory in physics, General Relativity “knows” about Quantum Mechanics. Einstein’s theory allows us to compute how many quantum states a black hole has, and how much quantum information fits in the universe. Somewhat like an oracle, it has revealed to us profound properties of quantum theory that have since been rigorously proven. Amazingly, gravity encodes quantum information using sophisticated tools that are central to emerging quantum technologies.

Our Wonderfest speaker is Raphael Bousso, Professor of Physics at UC Berkeley. Dr. Bousso leads the Bousso Group at the Berkeley Center for Theoretical Physics.


Dr. Raphael Bousso

WHAT: Gravity as a Quantum Computer
WHO: Dr. Raphael Bousso, Professor of Physics, UC Berkeley [https://lightsheet.berkeley.edu]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, July 29, 2025 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
EvolutionOnTrial

Evolution on Trial – July 8

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2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the “Trial of the Century”: Tennessee vs. John T. Scopes, the first major legal assault against the teaching of evolution in America. Mostly because of the fictional movie Inherit the Wind, the Scopes “monkey trial” is wrongly perceived as a victory for evolution over the forces of obscurantism. The full story is much more complex and interesting, involving science, religion, law, education, politics, celebrities, modern communications, and the politicization of science.

Our Wonderfest speaker is physical anthropologist Dr. Eugenie Scott, author of Evolution vs. Creationism: An Introduction, and former director of the National Center for Science Education. Genie is the recipient of numerous awards from both scientists and educators, including the National Academy of Sciences Public Welfare Medal.


Dr. Eugenie Scott

WHAT: The "Trial of the Century": Scopes at 100
WHO: Dr. Eugenie Scott, Former Director, National Center for Science Education [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenie_Scott]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
ScienceOfLove

Science of Love – June 24

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Love may not “make the world go ’round,” but it surely makes the ride more joyous. The outward displays of love are familiar and simple: a reassuring touch, a passionate kiss, a bedtime story told to a drowsy child. But what is going on inside the brains of people in a loving relationship? Surprisingly, neuroscience can now inform us about the bonds of affection, and how, over each lifetime, love acts to sustain our body and even prolong our life.

Wonderfest’s speaker is psychologist Thomas B. Lewis, M.D., Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco and Asst. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCSF. Dr. Lewis is co-author of A General Theory of Love.


Dr. Thomas B. Lewis

WHAT: Heartstrings and Brainwaves: Decoding the Science of Love
WHO: Dr. Thomas B. Lewis, Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco [https://thomaslewis.com]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
FlamingoPhysics

Natural Physics – June 10

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Basic physics shapes the natural world. Through evolution, creatures have figured out how to use the laws of physics to make biology flourish. Flamingos generate water vortices to trap food. Various birds and fish use vortex shedding and fluid turbulence to control movement. For small animals, electrostatic forces and/or capillary forces can reign over gravity to affect the critters’ very survival. Nature is a beautiful dance of biology and physics.

Our speaker is biophysicist Victor M. Ortega Jiménez, Assistant Professor in the Integrative Biology Department at UC Berkeley. Dr. Ortega-Jiménez directs Cal’s Ornithopterus laboratory in organismal dynamics.


Dr. Victor M. Ortega Jiménez

WHAT: Flamingo Vortex Traps: How Physics Redefines Nature
WHO: Dr. Victor M. Ortega Jiménez, Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley [https://ornithopterus.com]
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 — 7:00pm (1.5 hour)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
Marcou+Moses

Smartphone Seismology & Histamine Neurology – May 27

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Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with enhanced communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:

• UC Berkeley seismologist Savvas Marcou on Smartphones Map Ground Shaking in Our Neighborhoods — California is earthquake country. Everyone would love to know how much shaking the next temblor will deliver to their neighborhood. Fortunately, the humble smartphone, available in everyone’s pockets, can record and map ground shaking patterns in unprecedented resolution, and may transform how we think about the next big earthquake.

• Stanford neuroscientist Ashley Moses on Rethinking Histamine: From Molecule to Motivation — Though primarily known for its role in allergies, histamine influences cognition, mood, and sleep, as well. In fact, this understudied molecule is indispensable for brain health. By studying histamine’s role in motivated behaviors, we can uncover groundbreaking insights into neurological problems like depression, Parkinson’s Disease, and stress disorders.

This interactive science presentation, free and unticketed, is produced by Wonderfest in partnership with Marin Science Seminar.

WHAT: Ask a Science Envoy: Smartphone Seismology & Histamine Neurology
WHO: Savvas Marcou (UC Berkeley) & Ashley Moses (Stanford), Wonderfest Science Envoys
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
COLLABORATORS:
Marin Science Seminar [https://marinscienceseminar.com]
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!

Meister+Rojas

AI Memorization; Frog Secrets – May 13

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Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with enhanced communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:

• Stanford computer scientist Nicole Meister on Has ChatGPT Memorized the Internet? — Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, have recently gained widespread popularity. Trained on vast amounts of internet data, these AI models raise important questions about the nature of their responses: are they truly synthesized or simply memorized? Researchers can statistically evaluate this claim to reveal test set contamination in LLMs.

• Stanford biologist Jenni Serrano Rojas on Unraveling Frogs’ Secrets for Conservation — Biotelemetry tools are revolutionizing our study of animals, from the largest to the tiniest species. They reveal hidden animal interactions, critical living spaces, and essential resources. In poison frogs, in particular, biotelemetry affords insights that inform conservation strategies and help the species to respond to global change.

This interactive science presentation, free and unticketed, is produced by Wonderfest in partnership with Marin Science Seminar.

WHAT: Ask a Science Envoy: AI Memorization; Frog Secrets
WHO: Nicole Meister (Stanford) & Jenni Serrano Rojas (Stanford), Wonderfest Science Envoys
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
COLLABORATORS:
Marin Science Seminar [https://marinscienceseminar.com]
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!

Consciousness & Physics – May ??

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When philosopher Thomas Nagel asked, “What is it like to be a bat?”, he was not asking about what it’s like for a human to be a bat — not the experience of, say, Batman. Nagel was vivifying the so-called “hard problem of consciousness”: What is it like for a bat to be a bat? More broadly, what is the nature of a bat’s — or of any — subjective experience? How does brain activity (from a third-person objective point of view) become a first-person feeling (from a subjective point of view)? Perhaps the “relativity” principles of Galileo and Einstein can help us understand this seemingly profound distinction between the first-person point of view (my experience) and the third-person point of view (another’s brain activity) as recognized by neuroscience.

Our speaker, physicist Nir Lahav, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Consciousness and Cognition Lab at Cambridge University. Dr. Lahav has developed what he and philosopher Zachariah Neemeh call A Relativistic Theory of Consciousness.


Dr. Nir Lahav

WHAT: Consciousness and Physics
WHO: Dr. Nir Lahav, Postdoctoral Researcher, Cambridge University [https://www.lahavnir.com]
WHERE: TBD
WHEN: TBD TBD (1.5 hr)
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!
Brethauer+Williams

Kilonova Metals & Cat Ecology – Apr 29

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Wonderfest Science Envoys are early-career researchers with enhanced communication skills and aspirations. Following short talks on provocative modern science topics, these two Science Envoys will answer questions with insight and enthusiasm:

• UC Berkeley astrophysicist Daniel Brethauer on Astronomically Rocking Out to Heavy Metals — The gold in jewelry, the uranium in a nuclear power plant, the caesium in atomic clocks: what do these all have in common? It turns out they were likely forged in the fires of a cosmic explosion known as a kilonova. These extremely energetic events reveal the origins of the periodic table’s heaviest elements.

• UC Berkeley ecologist Tyus Williams on Unraveling the Ecology of Domestic Cats — What if one of our greatest companions is potentially one of our greatest threats? When free to roam, domestic cats can severely disrupt wildlife communities. However, understanding cats’ behavior and how they’re influenced by their surroundings can allow us to develop better conservation strategies.

This interactive science presentation, free and unticketed, is produced by Wonderfest in partnership with Marin Science Seminar.

 

WHAT: Ask a Science Envoy: Kilonova Metals & Cat Ecology
WHO: Daniel Brethauer (UC Berkeley) & Tyus Williams (UC Berkeley), Wonderfest Science Envoys
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: Tuesday, April 29 — 7pm (1.5 hr)
COLLABORATORS:
Marin Science Seminar [https://marinscienceseminar.com]
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!

ScienceReporting

Science Reporting – Apr 29

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Radio and TV journalist Ira Flatow produced his first science stories back in 1970 during the inaugural Earth Day. Since then, he has worked for Emmy Award-winning science programs and covered science for a number of high-profile news organizations, and has hosted the popular public radio program “Science Friday” for more than three decades. In his career, Flatow has interviewed countless scientists, journalists and other experts about the most exciting developments in science. Now the Commonwealth Club (with Wonderfest!) welcomes Ira in conversation with local journalists to speak about the role of science writing in the current cultural climate.

Ira’s interviewers: Annalee Newitz, science journalist and co-host of the Hugo Award-winning podcast “Our Opinions are Correct” |  Ezra David Romero, climate and water reporter for KQED news | Naveena Sadasivam, fossil fuel and climate change writer at Grist independent media organization.

Two types of tickets are available: in-person and online-only. Pre-register with the Commonwealth Club via the “Tickets” link, below. Use promo code WONDERNAUTS for a $10 ticket discount.


Ira Flatow

WHAT: Science Friday and the Future of Science Reporting
WHO: Ira Flatow, Radio/TV journalist and Science Friday host
WHERE: The Commonwealth Club, Taube Auditorium, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105
WHEN: Tuesday, April 29, — 6:00 PM (1 hour)
COLLABORATORS:
Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California [https://www.commonwealthclub.org]
HOW: Get tickets by clicking the "Tickets" box, below. During purchase from the Commonwealth Club, use promo code WONDERNAUTS to secure a discount of $10.00 for either type of ticket, in-person or online.
Tickets
AnimalGenderDiversity

Animal Gender Diversity – Apr 17

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The words sex and gender challenge us, even scientifically. Sex commonly refers to a creature’s physical and biological characteristics. Gender refers to behavior and self-presentation within a social group. Since nature is replete with social groups, we can take rich delight in trying to understand gender diversity among animals. This is a key topic in the new book by Dr. Nathan Lents: The Sexual Evolution: How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender, and Mating Shape Modern Relationships. Wonderfest joins the San Francisco Public Library to explore gender diversity in the animal kingdom.

Our speaker is Dr. Nathan Lents, Professor of Biology and Director of the Cell and Molecular Biology program at John Jay College, part of the City University of New York (CUNY). This event is co-presented by Wonderfest and the San Francisco Public Library.


Dr. Nathan Lents

WHAT: Gender Diversity in the Animal Kingdom
WHO: Dr. Nathan Lents, Professor of Biology, John Jay College (CUNY)
WHERE: SF Public Library, Main Branch, Latino/Hispanic Rm, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco CA 94102 [https://sfpl.org]
WHEN: Thursday, April 17, 2025 — 6pm (1 hour)
COLLABORATORS:
San Francisco Public Library [https://sfpl.org/events/2025/04/17/presentation-exploring-gender-diversity-animal-kingdom]
HOW: This event is free and unticketed ... and valuable. But what value does it have FOR YOU (and, indirectly, for society)? Accordingly, please use the DONATE button (below) to support Wonderfest in its nonprofit mission to share the scientific outlook.
Help share the scientific outlook - donate!

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