Press Center

Browse the latest news, fact sheets, and images from the Academy’s Press Office.

Featured Releases

sea lillies california academy of sciences
Four-hundred-eighty-million-year-old fossils reveal sea lilies’ ancient roots

New fossil animal named after the goddess Athena shows how sea lilies’ arms evolved.

Siphamia arnazae [© 2019 Mark Erdmann]
Academy scientists describe 71 species in 2019

From geckos to goblin spiders, flowering plants, and island ants, these new species grow Earth's tree of life.

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Tis the Season exhibit wall
Annual holiday exhibit ‘Tis the Season for Science: Life on Ice returns this winter

Interactive exhibit explores the science of frozen polar regions with live reindeer, festive programs, and more!

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Scott Sampson
California Academy of Sciences appoints Dr. Scott Sampson as new executive director

Sampson, a renowned paleontologist and seasoned museum leader, will join the institution in September.

Releases

© 2018 California Academy of Sciences
Science & Sustainability
Citizen scientists across the globe compete in City Nature Challenge April 27 – 30, 2018
April 4, 2018

Third-annual competition will document global biodiversity using iNaturalist. Results announced May 4.

Ocean acidification
Science & Sustainability
Unprecedented coral reef experiment shows acidification from carbon dioxide slows growth
March 13, 2018

New findings are a clear call for immediate global action on climate change.

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Expedition Reef planetarium show
Exhibits, Programs & Events, Science & Sustainability
Expedition Reef, an all-new planetarium show, opens March 16
March 9, 2018

Deep-diving show explores the hidden world of coral reefs and science-based solutions to keep reefs healthy.

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Students on an Academy field trip

Tripling the total reach of the program, this expansion ensures that all kindergarten through fifth grade students in San Francisco can benefit from the joy, inspiration, and education of a facilitated visit to the Academy. (Photo credit: Noah Graham/Golden State Warriors)

Education
Academy announces unprecedented free field trip program thanks to $20 million endowment from Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock
March 5, 2018

Acclaimed program for all 4th and 5th grade students in San Francisco will expand to K-5.

Control burns
Science & Sustainability
Scientists team up to investigate fire—and long-term resilience—in a Northern California forest
February 13, 2018

How can we avoid megafires? A healthy stretch of forest near Lake Tahoe hints that active management is key.

Flattie spider © 2015 Dr. Yu Zeng
Science & Sustainability
Fastest spin on Earth? For animals that rely on legs, scientists say one spider takes gold
February 8, 2018

Study shows flattie spiders turn to capture their prey at a speed nearly three times faster than an eye blink.

California owls
Science & Sustainability
Marijuana farms expose owls to rat poison in northwest California
January 11, 2018

As timberland converts to cannabis, spotted and barred owls test positive for rat poison.

Frank Almeda © 1998 California Academy of Sciences
Science & Sustainability
85 new species described by the California Academy of Sciences in 2017
December 15, 2017

From fish to flowering plants and sea slugs to scorpions, these discoveries add to the tree of life.

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