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'Tis the Season for Science at California Academy of Sciences

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'Tis the Season for Science at California Academy of Sciences


Young reindeer having a snack at the California Academy of Sciences in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park. (California Academy of Sciences via Bay City News)

Two young reindeer lounging in their pen the Saturday before Thanksgiving — the day of their big holiday season premiere at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco — were taking a break after eating lunch.

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They were lying around, but children outside the pen were fascinated, pointing, calling out to the deer and doubtlessly wondering why they weren’t training. After all, the reindeer’s biggest day of the year was only about a month away.

The academy employee supervising the scene said they were saving their energy, being from Northern Europe, which is very cold.

Uh-huh. That’s why they save their energy.

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Everyone knows why a reindeer needs a lot of extra juice. They’re really saving it for the long trip on Dec. 24.

The academy just opened its annual “‘Tis the Season for Science” program. Besides the young reindeer jolly old Saint Nick lent the academy, there’s festive decor, public programs about visiting animals, music, dance and magic performances, cookie decorating and seasonal photo ops.

There’s also snow periodically falling inside the big presentation space in the center of the museum. The snowflakes were a big hit Saturday, if running, screaming, dancing children trying to catch snow on their tongues were a good indicator.  

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There are also lots of spots for photo ops and more practical winter wonderland information, like how animals adapt to climate change.

Of course, the best thing about going to the Academy of Sciences during the holidays is having an excuse to do something really cool and tell oneself it’s educational for the kids. It is, but it’s also a lot of fun.

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The four-legged holiday visitors are just outside the academy’s eastern end. Baby camels are scheduled to make an appearance Dec. 6, followed by baby yaks on Dec. 20. 

They all have a place in holiday lore, but the academy makes sure visitors get some scientific facts as well. 

Signs outside the pen explain these two reindeer are only seven months old and recently weaned from mom. They’re tiny but tough, one sign says, and are built for the cold. From birth, reindeer, camels and yaks are adapted to withstand the elements.

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Reindeer quickly develop insulation for arctic (North Pole?) life, camels grow thick fur to protect them from chilly desert nights, and yak calves’ sport shaggy coats for high Himalayan mountains. 

“As climate change alters and reduces habitats, these species — and many others — face new challenges. Humans can help these resilient young animals thrive by protecting and regenerating ecosystems,” a sign said.

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Then there’s of course, the year-round penguin exhibit, which is a favorite, judging by the crowds gathered around the viewing window. Unlike the other animals brought in to celebrate the holidays, penguins are typically from the planet’s (very) deep south, where it’s very cold.

“Every year the academy catches the holiday bug with ‘Tis the Season for Science,’ more than a month of wintry festivities with a special academy science twist,” academy executive director Scott Sampson said in an email. “This year we are stepping up the action with visits by pairs of live baby reindeer, camels, and yaks for two weeks each to explore winter survival adaptations and other unique features of these adorable creatures.

“The museum also is buzzing with other fun and educational activities, including falling snow inside our piazza; seasonal science experiments (think dry ice); and music, dance, and magic performances from over a dozen diverse troupes,” Sampson said. 

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And, of course, there’s the old favorites, including the world-class Steinhart Aquarium starring Claude the albino alligator, who was very active this day.  

The lush, four-story Osher Rainforest dome was full of more than 1,600 butterflies, birds, fish, plants (and tropical humidity – wear layers) and the Morrison Planetarium was mind-boggling, as usual. (Tom Hanks narrating a trip through the universe in “Passport to the Universe” is worth waiting in line for 20-30 minutes).

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The California Academy of Sciences is at 55 Music Concourse Drive in San Francisco. 

Public hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Thursday NightLife is from 6 to 10 p.m. The museum is closed Dec. 4 for a private event. 

For more information, go to www.calacademy.org.

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What California city has the best weather for you? Take our quiz

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What California city has the best weather for you? Take our quiz


California has plenty of options when it comes to finding a place with your preferred weather. If you like cool weather, some cities spend nearly the entire year below 70 degrees. If you hate the rain, there are locations that average just a few inches per year.

The Chronicle gathered data about temperature, precipitation, air quality and extreme weather for 61 places across California, including the 20 most populous cities with data available. In total, 53 of the state’s 58 counties are represented in the analysis.

While there may not be a perfect match with everything you’re looking for, this quiz will help pinpoint a place that gets close.



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California woman dies from Fresno County's first human case of rabies in more than 30 years

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California woman dies from Fresno County's first human case of rabies in more than 30 years


A California woman died of rabies after allegedly being bitten by a bat in her classroom, according to Fresno County health officials.

The woman, later identified as Leah Seneng, 60, marks the first human case of rabies in Fresno County since 1992.

“In general, rabies is a disease that affects the brain, and it is very rare. But when it develops, it can cause very serious consequences,” said Dr. Trnidad Solis, Fresno County Health Department’s deputy health officer. “It’s transmitted through saliva; it is not airborne.”

RABIES PATIENT BECOMES FIRST FATAL CASE IN US AFTER POST-EXPOSURE TREATMENT, REPORT SAYS

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Leah Seneng, 60, was the first human case of rabies in Fresno County since 1992, according to county health officials. (GoFundMe)

Seneng, who was an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, was bitten by the bat when she was attempting to rescue it in her classroom, local outlet ABC30 reported.

She first came into contact with the bat in October, but did not display symptoms until approximately a month later, according to Fresno County health officials.  She was admitted to the hospital and died four days later.

Bryant Middle School

Leah Seneng was an art teacher at Bryant Middle School in Dos Palos, California. (Map Quest)

PEANUT THE SQUIRREL EARMARKED FOR EUTHANASIA BEFORE BEING CONFISCATED AND WAS RABIES-FREE: REPORT

“The most frequent route of transmission is through the bite of an animal that has rabies. With rabies, unfortunately, there is no cure. So, when symptoms develop, there is no treatment, and often when it develops, it is often fatal. So we want the public to know that prevention is key to preventing rabies infection,” Solis said.

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Fresno County officials do not believe there is a threat to public health at this time, but are working with the Merced County Health Department to identify any other possible exposures and administer vaccines.

Rabies vaccination syringe held in gloved hand.

Health experts recommend people and pets get vaccinated for rabies. (iStock)

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Seneng’s coworkers have set up a GoFundMe account to assist her family during this time.



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Another batch of raw milk from a trendy California brand just tested positive for bird flu

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Another batch of raw milk from a trendy California brand just tested positive for bird flu


  • Two batches of raw milk from a trendy California brand have tested positive for bird flu this week.
  • Bird flu has been spreading rapidly among cattle in the US.
  • Experts say drinking raw milk is dangerous, and can cause food poisoning.

Another batch of raw milk just tested positive for bird flu in California.

Last Sunday, Fresno-based Raw Farm voluntarily recalled a first batch of cream top whole raw milk with a “best by” date of November 27. By Wednesday, the California Department of Public Health announced that a second batch of Raw Farm cream top, with a “best by” date of December 7 had also tested positive for bird flu, based on retail sampling.

“We’re not making a big deal about it, because it’s not a big deal,” Kaleigh Stanziani, Raw Farm’s vice president of marketing, said in a short video posted on YouTube after the farm’s first voluntary recall was announced earlier this week.

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She said there had only been an indication that there might be a “trace element of something possible,” emphasizing that there had been no reported illnesses of Raw Farms cows or positive tests from the cattle.

Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee later told the LA Times that the California Department of Food and Agriculture had requested that his company “hold delivery of further products” until Friday, after conducting thorough testing of two Raw Farms and one creamery on Wednesday. (McAfee could not immediately be reached for comment by Business Insider during the Thanksgiving holiday.)

Raw milk may be helping bird flu spread — but not in the way you might think


raw milk

Containers of Raw Farm raw milk on a shelf at Berkeley Bowl on November 25, 2024 in Berkeley, California.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Scientists suspect that cross-contamination of raw milk between animals may be one reason the H5N1 virus is spreading rapidly among cows in the US — and could even contribute to the human spread of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions that dairy workers might be able to contract bird flu by infected raw milk splashed into their eyes.

There is no definitive evidence yet that humans can get bird flu from drinking contaminated raw milk. Instead, health authorities generally recommend avoiding raw milk because of other serious health risks, including food poisoning with bacteria like Salmonella, E.coli, or Listeria.

There are no known health benefits of drinking raw milk. Instead, all evidence suggests that pasteurized milk is just as nutritious, and is safer to consume.

Still, raw milk has become a trendy product among some influencers. Gwenyth Paltrow says she has it in her coffee in the morning.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, says he wants the US Food and Drug Administration to stop its “war” against raw milk.

Over the summer, “Carnivore MD” Paul Saladino released a raw milk smoothie in partnership with the elite Los Angeles health foods store Erewhon featuring unpasteurized (raw) kefir from Raw Farms, and powdered beef organs.

California has some of the loosest rules around raw milk in the country; it’s generally fine for California retailers like health foods stores and grocers to sell it, raw milk products just can’t be transported across state lines, per FDA rules.


raw milk smoothie

Dr. Paul’s Raw Animal-Based Smoothie includes Raw Farm kefir milk, beef organ powder, as well as blueberries, honey, bananas and other ingredients. It’s $19.

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Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images



Michael Payne, a researcher at the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security, told The Guardian that people consuming Dr. Paul’s $19 smoothie were “playing Russian roulette with their health,” and ignoring pasteurization, “the single most important food safety firewall in history.”

California dairy farms have been seeing an uptick in bird flu cases since August. The state has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, and all but one of those was sourced back to cows.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first confirmed case of bird flu in a California child from Alameda County. The child had no known contact with infected farm animals, but may have been exposed to wild birds, the California health department said in a statement.

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The child had mild symptoms and is recovering well after receiving antiviral drugs.





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