Press Center
February 2017: Programs and Events at the California Academy of Sciences
Animal love is in the air!
Valentines for Penguins! Monday February 13 and Tuesday February 14 10:30 am and 3 pm (during regular feeding times) African Hall Cuteness alert! Academy scientists continue the time-honored tradition of offering hearts to the Academy’s most lovable creatures on Valentine’s Day. African penguins make nests by burrowing and collecting any available material to line their nests—including felt valentines. The valentines are collected mostly by male birds, then offered to the females or placed in nests to encourage breeding. As novel items, the hearts help reinforce the penguins' couple bonds. Enrichment activities like this are done frequently by biologists to keep the Academy’s penguin colony engaged. You can also view this event on our live penguin cams.
Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover Saturday February 11 and Friday February 24 Ages 5-17, with adult chaperone Speaking of penguins, why not snuggle up next to them in your warmest PJs and flannels at the Academy’s Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover? With two dates to choose from in February, this after-hours event lets you fall in love with the Academy all over again! Includes a bedtime story and snack, plus breakfast and Academy admission the following day. $89 members, $109 non-members. Registration required. Visit calacademy.org/sleepovers for program details and registration.
Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture Detecting the Highest Energy Gamma Rays with an Observatory Made of Water Monday February 6 | 7:30 pm Morrison Planetarium Brenda Dingus, Los Alamos National Laboratory The High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) observatory detects the highest gamma rays ever observed. Why is this important? Gamma rays, which come from supermassive black holes in distant galaxies as well as sources within the Milky Way galaxy, provide clues to dark matter searches and act as Nature’s particle accelerators. Dr. Dingus will discuss how this unique observatory works and what we are learning about astrophysics and high energy physics through it. Reservations required. $12 members and seniors; $15 non-members.
Don’t forget: February 26 is a Quarterly Free Sunday at the Academy. This quarterly day is presented by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Early admission is recommended due to high demand.
Ongoing Events at the California Academy of Sciences
Animal Attraction Daily February is the perfect time to visit the Academy’s Animal Attraction exhibit, where “love is in the air”! This “G-rated” exhibit details the unique—and often bizarre—methods in which creatures such as banana slugs, praying mantises, shrimp, filefish and more than a dozen other live creatures pass on their genes and add color and diversity to our planet.
Family Nature Crafts Saturday and Sunday | 10 am February 4, 5, 11 and 12 The Swamp During the season of love at the Academy, kids can make their own heart-shaped animals that can be used as valentines. The Academy will provide the materials and inspriation; you do the rest! Adult supervision required.
Twilight Zone: Deep Reefs Revealed Daily Steinhart Aquarium Scientists know more about the surface of the moon than they do about the mysterious realm of the ocean known as the “twilight zone” –situated 200 to 500 feet beneath the surface. Advanced technology including rebreathers have enabled Academy scientists to explore this undiscovered subsection where they have discovered never-before-seen fish that dart in and out of darkness with vivid pops of neon. Recently, Academy scientists discovered a new groppo fish that was the deepest sea fish discovered by human hands!