California Academy of Sciences

Just a Halloween museum-montage (we heard your clamor), via Academy photographer & spotter-of-the-secret-mini-scare, Gayle Laird

Our Chief of Science Dr. Shannon Bennett (a virologist) is so serious about mask-wearing that SHE SEWED ONE FOR THE T. REX. And it's a secret Claude-tribute.

Live, 7 pm PT: Get a little help understanding the fossil record. Journey back in time 4.6 billion years with Curatorial Assistant of Geology, Maricela Abarca; tour the Ice Age with UC Museum of Paleontology's Nick Spano, and check out paleoartist Franz Anthony's vibrant depictions of extinct cephalopods. Extra credit for good questions.

2 words: FRILL SHARK! More words: Swim through the aisles of our 1.2-million-specimen ichthyology collections, aka one of the largest, most significant collections of fishes in the world. With collections manager Dave Catania as our guide, we'll drop into jars, tubs, & buckets containing some of the most incredible ocean denizens known to science. Live questions welcome!

We've missed you, your eyes need new views, the right kind of blues. (Haiku!) Ticket reservations are opencome see it all, from our new "Venom" exhibit to the creatures you know & love. calacademy.org

We’re not saying this urchin is definitely waving at you, but also 1) it’s an urchin; 2) it’s arguably pointed your way; 3) things are waving; 4) it’s heard great things about you.

Live, 7pm PT: Tonight, we're talking about nature and citiesand how cities affect the evolution of the wildlife that lives in them. We'll kick off with an overview of urban evolution with NYC "pigeon stalker" Elizabeth Carlen; learn about city frogs and turtles with Dr. Max Lambert; and dig into how structural inequalities shape cities and the outcomes of wildlife that live in them with Dr. Christopher Schell.

Be a science-digitization hero! (Please.) Step into our new, virtual "Invertebrate Time Machine" on Zooniverse to help scientists access our historically important marine-invertebrate data, which is currently trapped in 1000s of old 3x5 cards. All you need is curiosity, a keyboard, and an appreciation for the special kind of zen that comes from setting info free: bit.ly/33Zumeo.

Live, 10am PT: Meet the creature with the fastest turning strike on Earth, via flattie-spider expert Dr. Sarah Crews! Flatties aren't small nor uncommon, yet they remain a very big mystery with a very low profile. Hear how Dr. Crews began working on the group, her accidental discovery of their record-breaking speed, their life history, behavior, and all the questions that remain. (Plus: Even more new species!) Live Qs welcome.