Luigi Anzivino, neuroscientist and magician, expains how the phenomena of cognitive and sensory illusions are responsible for the "magic" of magic tricks. Oct 2009. Photos: J. Mandel, Checkerbox Photography. |
The Oakland Museum's Douglas Long and our state fossil, Smilodon californicus (a sabertooth cat). Feb 2009. Photo: Sevda Eris. |
Authors Thomas Hayden and Malcolm Potts talk about the biological roots of warfare. March 2009. Photo: Erika Check Hayden. |
Amateur astronomers David Frey, Douglas Smith, and Jayson Wechter set up their telescopes for us after Jennifer Heldman's talk about the moon. Oct 2008. Photos: William Suguitan |
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David Calkins, one of America's most respected robotics authorities, talks about the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. August 2008. Photos: Dave Schumaker |
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Left: Meteorologist and storm chaser John Monteverdi answers questions about tornadoes. Right: John chats with weather-enthusiasts during the break. April 2008. Photos: J. Mandel, Checkerbox Photography. |
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Left: David Barker, Linda Shore, and Keith Devlin talk about the science and math of baseball. Right: Outdoorsie types enjoy the talk from Axis's back patio. Co-presented with KQED's QUEST program. March 2008. |
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Our first Physics Circus was a blast! From top left: Ringmaster Zeke Kossover performs and explains the tablecloth trick; Zeke busts some common myths about lenses; the famous electric pickle glows; attendees ride a hovercraft; a volunteer lies on a bed of nails; Zeke takes a sledgehammer to the chest. Feb 2008. |
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Stanford physics professor Pat Burchat wows the crowd with the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Dec 2007. |
One of AaS's top puzzle solving teams works out a tough one at our 2007 Holiday Puzzle Party. |
Physical oceanographer Toby Garfield and big wave surfer Grant Washburn talk about the science of monster waves. Co-presented with KQED's QUEST program. Oct 2007. |
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Proud winners of Ask a Scientist's 4th Anniversary Trivia Contest. August 2007. |
UC Berkeley's Lynn Robertson talks about synesthesia. Nov 2007. Photo courtesy of bunrab.com. |
Left: Puzzle Master and math tutor Wes Carroll teases brains at Ask a Scientist's Pi Day Puzzle Party. Right: Contestants collaborate in the Bazaar Cafe's back garden. March 2007. |
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Stanford physics professor Shamit Kachru uses familiar objects to try to explain string theory to an attentive crowd. Feb 2007. |
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Left: Contestants compete their brains out at Ask a Scientist's Holiday Trivia Party, hosted by science writer Robin Marks. Right: And the winners are..."The Bus Drivers!" Dec 2006. |
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Physicist Hitoshi Murayama explains the meaning of the world's most famous equation: E=mc^2. Dec 2006. |
Ask a Scientist and the Leakey Foundation co-present Sandy Harcourt's talk on why we study monkeys. Nov 2006. |
Skyline College biology prof Shari Bookstaff answers questions about gray whales. A whale-loving little one examines some models. July 2006. |
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From top left: David Schwartz of the USGS talks about earthquakes on the eve of the 1906 centennial anniversary; Trivia Mistress Robin Marks and AaS director Juliana Gallin show off trivia contest prizes; attentive attendees play Temblor Trivia to test their seismic smarts; our three contest winners. April 2006. Photos: Alan Warshaw. |
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Andrew Fraknoi, chair of Foothill College's astronomy program, describes the mysterious world of black holes. Jan 2006. Photos: Mark Johnson. |
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Eddy Rubin, director of the JGI, talks about sequencing the DNA of an extinct species of cave bear. Aug 2005. Photo: David Gilbert. |
Berkeley's Rich Ivry (orange shirt) explains right and left brain function. January 2005. Photo: Aaron Walburg. |
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