Modern science is evolving faster than laboratory fruit flies. 
How are busy, curious people supposed to keep up with all the latest information? Even if you read Scientific American and watch Nova faithfully, you still probably wind up with more questions than answers.
Ask a Scientist is an informative, entertaining, monthly lecture series, held at a San Francisco cafe. Each event features a speaker on a scientific topic, a short presentation, and the opportunity to ask all those burning questions that have been keeping you up at night. No tests, grades, or pressure…just food, drinks, socializing, and conversation about the universe’s most fascinating mysteries!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, February 16th, 7:00 pm
Topic: Quantum Mechanics
The world of the very small isn't simply a scaled-down version of the big world we experience in every day life. That's why while classical mechanics accurately describes the motion of heavenly bodies, rocket ships, baseballs, and seesaws, we need quantum mechanics to describe the behavior of energy and matter at the atomic scale. And in this miniature world, some weird stuff can happen. An object can be in two places at the same time. Particles can pop into existence and then vanish, or go from spot to another without crossing the distance in between. One particle can even affect another particle meters away instantaneously. Weirdest of all, taking measurements of particles can fundamentally change their behavior — so how do scientists even know what they're talking about? Come learn the fundamental difference between the quantum world and the classical, and discover the principle methodology for probing particles.
Speaker: Ryan Nurmela, Director, QuantumCamp
Location: Horatius, 350 Kansas (btw. 16th & 17th) San Francisco
Cost: Admission is free, but please support our generous hosts at Horatius with a purchase of food or drinks.
Monday, April 26th, 7:00 pm
Topic: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks was a poor tobacco farmer, a young mother of five who died of cervical cancer in 1951 and is now buried in an unmarked grave. Yet her cells, which have become one of the most important tools in modern medicine, are still alive today. The remarkable HeLa cells, the first human cells to live indefinitely outside the body, helped eradicate polio and develop AIDS treatments, and were vital to advances such as in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping. They've been subjected to nuclear testing, shot into space, and have helped scientists win Nobel prizes — all without the knowledge of Henrietta or her family. Science writer Rebecca Skloot tells this fascinating and dramatic story of science, bioethics, race issues, history, and family in the new book that one reviewer calls, "a science biography like the world has never seen." (I got a lump in my throat just reading the synopsis.) Come meet Rebecca and hear one of modern science's most powerful and gripping tales. Books will be available for sale at the event.
Speaker: Rebecca Skloot, Science Journalist and Author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Location: Horatius, 350 Kansas (btw. 16th & 17th) San Francisco
Cost: Admission is free, but please support our generous hosts at Horatius with a purchase of food or drinks.
To join the Ask a Scientist mailing list, sign up here.
NEW SF EVENT! "How-To Night" at Bazaar Cafe
Learn how to do all kinds of fun stuff at my new monthly "How-To" series. 2nd Weds of each month at Bazaar Cafe. On Weds Feb 10th, learn how to do magic tricks with magician Robert Strong. More info.
Amateur astronomers share their scopes after Jennifer Heldman's talk about the moon. Oct '08. See more photos.
Don't miss Evolutionpalooza: Feb 13th, 2:00 - 4:00.
San Francisco's "oldest & best Darwin Day Party." SF Library Main Branch.
Finally, watch AaS online:
Several of our recent talks are now available for online viewing, thanks to Fora.tv. More to come.
Ask a Scientist
has been making news
Read about Ask a Scientist in Chemical Heritage Newsmagazine. Spring 2009.
Ask a Scientist is the SF Bay Guardian's "Best Place to Get an Expert Opinion." (PDF)
And 7x7 Magazine calls us San Francisco's "Best Way to Get Smart Quick."
Visit our press page for more.
Want to get freaked out? Click here.