All upcoming Science & Nature programs

Pop culture is populated by plenty of fictional cephalopod and cephalopod-inspired characters, from Squidward of “SpongeBob SquarePants” to the heptapod aliens of Arrival. Whether these portrayals accurately represent the biology, anatomy, and behavior of the animals that inspired them is another question. Come find out how quickly Finding Dory’s Hank could regenerate his eighth arm and whether a kraken could really sink a ship as cephalopod expert Danna Staaf proves that truth can be stranger than fiction.

The picture-perfect snowcapped cone of Mount Fuji has attracted Japanese artists and pilgrims for more than a thousand years. Historian Justin M. Jacobs examines the history of human influences on this dormant volcano and its dynamic—and symbolic—role in Japanese history, including the elaborate network of Shinto and Buddhist shrines that that have drawn countless pilgrims from far away.

Through the story of a pebble, paleobiologist Jan Zalasiewicz illuminates a complex history that begins in the farthest reaches of space and continues on Earth with volcanic eruptions, extinct animals and plants, long-vanished oceans, and transformations deep underground. The pebble’s story shows how geologists reveal the Earth’s past by forensic analysis of even the tiniest amounts of mineral matter crammed into a pebble.

Meet in Arizona and embark on a springtime exploration of some of the Grand Canyon State’s best-known sites (as well as hidden gems) that highlight its rich ecology, geology, stunning landscapes, and architectural masterworks. Wayne Ranney, a geologic educator, author, lecturer, and trail and river guide, leads the outdoor adventure.

Historian Daniel Schlafly and limnologist Michael Meyer explore the intertwined natural and human histories of Lake Baikal, from its geological origins at least 25 million years ago to the present. The lake is both the deepest and the most voluminous in the world. More than a thousand plant and animal species live here and nowhere else. Its human history has been touched by Cossacks and the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and its waters hold profound spiritual meaning for the indigenous Buryat Mongols.

Cappadocia in central Türkiye is best known for its surreal landscapes of sculpted tuff, fairy chimneys, and ancient underground cities. But Cappadocia is more than just a natural marvel. Its valleys and rock-cut dwellings reveal a rich tapestry of history, from Hittite strongholds and Persian satrapies to Roman and Byzantine settlements to cave churches. Turkish tour guide Serif Yenen brings Cappadocia to life by weaving together its natural beauty, historical depth, and religious significance.

Newport, Rhode Island, is one of America’s earliest colonial seaports and a cradle of both freedom and fortune. Founded in 1639, Newport flourished as a center of trade, religious tolerance, and revolutionary thought before transforming into the summer playground of America’s elite during the Gilded Age. Participants in a 5-day tour led by historian Fred Zilian discover Newport’s layered history, from its cobblestone colonial streets and harbor-front wharves to its grand seaside mansions.

Tens of billions of birds share the planet with us, an astonishing array of species that are present nearly everywhere humans call home. They are delicate creatures with hollow bones and thin skin protected by feathers, but birds actually evolved from dinosaurs over 150 million years ago. Evolutionary biologist Steve Brusatte investigates why birds were the only dinosaurs to survive the cataclysmic asteroid impact 66 million years ago and chronicles how these survivors proliferated to produce the many species seen today.

Stretching for more than 1,400 miles across the northeastern coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is home to the world’s largest coral reef system as well as an extraordinary range of marine life. Historian Justin M. Jacobs highlights the geological and biological evolution of the reef, its evolving cultural importance, and the manmade and environmental forces that now threaten its existence.

This is a fun, relaxing class that presents facts and trivia about orchids, discusses famous orchids, and explains how 120 million years of evolution have created the family of flowering plants that we know as Orchidaceae.