WE’VE GONE VIRTUAL! We can’t meet in person right now for cafes, but we still want to connect you with scientists, researchers and guest speakers! Join us for the next Carolina Science Cafe on April 8 via Zoom. Carolina Science Cafe: National Biomechanics Day and the Science of Skipping will feature East Carolina University’s Leroy T. Walker Distinguished Professor Read more...
E-cigarettes and Vaping – Misconceptions, Health Effects, and Why I Care Our Teen Science Cafe has gone virtual! This week's topic is E-cigarettes and Vaping – Misconceptions, Health Effects, and Why I Care. The popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping devices has risen sharply over the past 10 years and the potential toxicology and health effects are Read more...
A Journey To & Through Med School Speaker: Steve Mow About Steve: Steve is an aspiring doctor studying at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. While working towards being a physician, Steve’s passion is teaching and has taught science both formally and informally for years for institutions committed to science education. Outside of Read more...
Life in the times of Covid-19 (coronavirus) Speaker: Joanna Ramirez About Joanna: Joanna Ramirez is the Community Outreach Coordinator for UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her role is to create and foster meaningful communication with communities to improve cancer outcomes across NC. When she’s not answering work emails, she loves to read and watch her Read more...
Tackling Climate Change: Where are we now and how do we move forward? Join us for a conversation with Lauren McRae who will discuss climate change and the ways scientists are looking to combat it within the next decade. About Laren: Lauren is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry, Materials Division at the Read more...
Insights from the UNC Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory How do positive emotions accumulate and compound to transform people’s lives for the better? What do experts think about the impacts of physical distancing on our well-being and the new normal? Join us online this Wednesday, May 6 at 6pm as Dr. Barbara Fredrickson and members Read more...
During this Virtual Teen Science Cafe, Alexandria Niebergall will be talking generally about the role that the ocean plays in moderating the Earth's climate, the big research fields in oceanography today, and what a "day in the life" looks like for an early career oceanographer. About Alexandria: Alex grew up in California and graduated with Read more...
So You Think It’s Your Chance – Are You Prepared for Success in High School, in College, in Life? Getting ready for college involves developing a mindset that includes an awareness, preparedness, and readiness for success. Join us in this workshop with Linwood Webster to talk about the value of high-impact opportunities and practices both during Read more...
Join us for this Virtual Teen Science Cafe edition with Engineering Manager, Kendra Settles. We'll talk about women in engineering leadership, and discuss how simple circuits play a role in our lives. Kendra will also show a fun and simple circuit activity that you can try at home! About Kendra: Kendra works as an Engineering Read more...
Biomedical engineering has a long history that spans more than 3,000 years. Simple crutches and splints are some of the earliest and most basic forms, but humans have made significant progress since then. Prosthesis, artificial organs, and even your favorite wearable tech (smart watch anyone?!) all rely on biomedical engineering research to be successful. Join Read more...
CBD, an extract from the cannabis or marijuana plant, is gaining attention. Once known as a “hippie’s disappointment,” CBD has now been labeled as a therapeutic cure-all, but its popularity has outpaced the science. How much do we know? Join us for a fascinating discussion of research findings by a team at UNC who are Read more...
Join us for a conversation with Jessica Amsbary, who will talk about STEM learning opportunity gaps and why starting STEM learning early is important. She will explain how STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center (STEMIE) are planning to teach foundational computational thinking concepts to very young children with differing abilities by sharing a Read more...
Is there another world out there suitable for humans? How are humans exploring space to find these worlds and how do they determine their viability? Chat more about these questions and more during a very special Teen Science Cafe with Charlotte Minsky. About Charlotte: Charlotte is a recent graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Read more...
This week we'll be joined by Megan Damico for a discussion about BUGS! More specifically, Megan will talk about how different factors - like diet and age - can influence the composition of insect gut microbiomes. Do you know what's even cooler? She studies all of these things using honey bees! About Megan: Megan Damico Read more...
Speaker: Dr. Checo Rorie, Associate Professor of Genetics | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University About Dr. Rorie: Dr. Rorie is an Associate Professor and the Interim Chair of the Department of Biology at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He has a Cancer Genetics and Cell Biology laboratory where he studies breast Read more...
Join us for a scientific look at humanity's most famous mythological beast! We'll look into the taxonomy of dragons, and watch Draco slither across the sky. To cap it off, we will have fire demonstrations! Speakers include Morehead Educators: Amy Sayle, Nick Eakes, Daniel Wheeler, Wayne Capps Please Note: Participants need to register for this Virtual Read more...
Join us for this Teen Science Cafe with Jeromy Rech; we will discuss creating new types of plastics including those that can conduct electricity and be used in solar panels. We will also have a virtual lab tour to see where some of this chemistry is done. Finally, we'll look at some applications of these Read more...
The heart is a complex organ powered by electricity to move blood throughout an entire organism. In this Teen Science Cafe, we will explore the cells responsible for electrical activity in the heart, cardiac pacemaking cells, and what characteristics these cells need to function. About the speaker: Kandace Thomas is a 5th year Genetic and Molecular Read more...
Have you ever wondered how common conjunctions like the "great conjunction" on December 21, 2020 happen? How often is there a full moon on Halloween? Using clues in the book "The Martian" and what we know about launch opportunities to Mars, when would Mark Whatney's mission take place? We'll chat with Tony Rice for this Teen Read more...
Did you know that there is agriculture in the Galapagos? For this special Teen Science Cafe, we'll speak with Francisco Laso whose work in the Galapagos uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore how agriculture and conservation can be allies in supporting farmer livelihoods, controlling invasive species, and protecting endemic species. About Francisco Laso | Francisco Read more...
STEM in College: A Panel Discussion with the Chancellor's Science Scholars Graduation season is in the air! Join us for a timely Teen Science Cafe - a panel discussion with the Chancellor's Scholars (CSS) about why they chose to pursue STEM in college; what it’s like to be a student at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Read more...
What do fruit flies teach us about neurobiology, biomechanics, and behavior?
Safely view our star, the Sun, with NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors and Raleigh Astronomy Club members Mike Keefe and Doug Lively, along with Morehead staff. Drop by the Morehead Sundial anytime between 2 and 4 pm on Sunday, April 3. This event is weather permitting. Free and open to all - no registration required. This program is part of Read more...
When people hear “geology” they usually think “rocks.” This talk will explain that the study of geology extends beyond just rocks- into rivers, soils, and even teeth!
Are you stoked about stars? Mystified by the moon? Would you like to get better acquainted with a telescope? If your answer is "yes", then join us for the tenth annual Statewide Star Party! Chapel Hill Public Library will once again host an in-person Star Party on Friday, April 8, 2022, from 4-7 p.m. We will Read more...
OUR VANISHING NIGHT For generations, everyone experienced the breathtaking beauty of an unspoiled night sky, with views into our universe of thousands of stars and the Milky Way. In this program, you’ll discover how light pollution affects our view of the night sky, find out how to participate in a worldwide citizen-science campaign to document Read more...
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours, educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. This event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Mark your calendars for future dates: July 11August 8September 12
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours, educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. This event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Mark your calendars for future dates: August 8September 12
See the stunning first scientific images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope! Join Morehead Planetarium and Science Center educators Nick Eakes and Amy Sayle in learning about the most powerful and complex telescope ever launched into space and how it will help us answer some of humanity’s biggest questions.
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours, educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. This event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. Mark your calendars for future dates: September 12
Join staff and volunteers from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and Raleigh Astronomy Club to view the Perseid Meteor Shower at Dix Park. To set the stargazing mood, the Triangle Sax Ensemble will be playing some tunes! Look through telescopes, facilitated by Morehead staff and dedicated volunteers, at the eclipse and other objects in Read more...
Investigating the Role of Stem Cells in Spaceflight Telomere Elongation Up in space, astronauts experience physiological changes reminiscent of aging such as muscle atrophy, loss of bone density, and stiffened arteries. However, they have been found to develop "longer" cellular telomeres at the same time. Because longer telomeres are linked to youth, this suggests that spaceflight Read more...
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours, educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. This event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Join us for a discussion about the importance of data science not just as a concentration, but as a skill every scientist and engineer needs to develop. Participants will explore couple of questions using real data downloaded directly from NASA and other sources live on the planetarium dome. About our speaker: By day Tony Rice is a Read more...
Due to expected rainy weather conditions, this event has been postponed. Please join us for December's Skywatching: Geminid Meteor Showers. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center invites you to a free skywatching event at Little River Regional Park (weather permitting). Morehead educators and CHAOS members (from Chapel Hill Astronomical & Observational Society) will bring telescopes and Read more...
Geological carbon sequestration involves capturing atmospheric CO2, condensing it into liquid form, and pumping it into deep underground aquifers. Scientists have been exploring the environmental impacts of carbon sequestration, including changes to groundwater geochemistry, subsurface microbial community composition, and the potential for fracturing and escape of CO2 back into the atmosphere. I’ll give an overview Read more...
NASA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography Satellite: A New Eye in the Sky for Earth’s Water Water is perhaps the single most important resource for humans and naturals systems. In the form of floods, it also drives the most destructive category of natural disasters worldwide. Despite its clear importance, there is a huge amount we Read more...
Professor Angel Hsu found herself in the lowland jungles of Costa Rica while studying abroad the summer after her freshman year at Wake Forest University, experiencing the beauty of glass tree frogs and sound of howler monkeys, but wondering, “What good is the science I'm discovering, if global warming and deforestation eventually lead to the demise of Read more...
One of the best meteor showers of the year – the Geminid meteor shower — will next peak on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and Little River Regional park will host a free skywatching event. Learn about meteors and more! For example, did you know meteors, sometimes misleadingly called “shooting stars,” Read more...
Did you know that you could host a beehive in your backyard or at your favorite local business? Meet Jackson Brinkley, your friendly neighborhood beekeeper at Teen Science Cafe.
Learn about how digital media is impacting teens' development as well as how teens are impacting the development of digital media.
Do you like scavenger hunts? How can you tell if creek water is clean and healthy. Join environmental educators and researchers Heather Holley and Sammy Bauer for a walk through the science of looking for certain kinds of stream bugs (aquatic macroinvertebrates) that need clean, unpolluted water to survive. What will you find as you dig through real-world data Read more...
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center invites you to a free skywatching event at Little River Regional Park (weather permitting).
Join us for one of the biggest celebrations of science in the state. Check out more than 100 hands-on activities and science demonstrations lead by STEM students, researchers, and practitioners from across UNC.
Finally returning after a 3-year hiatus, the Carolina Science Café returns to Franklin Street on a new day and a new location as Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program.
Teen Science Cafe is for you! This program is just for young adults, ages 13-18, and it’s free! Birdsong is a unique form of animal communication, as it faces evolutionary pressures from mate selection and social learning, and it possesses a vast amount of diversity. There is still much left to understand about how this Read more...
How do we rethink our landscape usage? Let's start with three positive outcomes: benefits to mental health, alleviation of food insecurity, and conservation for pollinators by planting habitats
Join us for our May Teen Science Cafe where we will talk about FIRST Robotics as an organization, our guest's most recent robot, and how they function as a team and meet their goals each year.
This event has been canceled due to weather. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center invites you to a free skywatching event at Dix Park in downtown Raleigh (weather permitting). Come see Venus, Mars, and other celestial delights! Morehead educators and Raleigh Astronomy Club will bring telescopes and guide you through fun observations of stars, planets, moons, Read more...
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 pm and stargazing begins at 9:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Adam Rosenthal, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, shows that genetically identical cells within a bacterial community have different functions, with some members behaving more docile and others producing the very toxins that make us feel ill.
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 pm and stargazing begins at 9:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Join Nick Eakes, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador and Astronomy Educator from Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, to discuss Artemis– NASA’s new lunar exploration program.
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 pm and stargazing begins at 9:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program.
This event has been canceled due to weather. Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 pm and stargazing begins at 9:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the Read more...
You might have noticed the recent news that there have been several locally acquired cases of malaria in the United States in both Texas and Florida. What does that mean for us here in North Carolina and the rest of the country more broadly? What is malaria and how is it transmitted? Learn more at our September Carolina Science Cafe to find out!
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, September 15th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe!
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 8:00 pm and stargazing begins at 9:00 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
For this month, we will be joined by Dr. Timothy Sheahan to explore cutting edge antiviral drug development at UNC.
Join us on the roof of The Durham Hotel for a series of telescopic stargazing nights. Stop by for guided constellation tours and educational activities, all while enjoying music from DJ Mic Check. Music begins at 6:30 pm and stargazing begins at 7:30 pm. This skywatching event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
We will be exploring astronomy and future of future of space travel to and from the moon.
For this month, we will be joined by Dr. Marc Rogers to explore the stigma of men's health during Movember to raise awareness for men's health - specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, November 17th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe!
We will be joined by Dr. Tamlin Pavelsky to discuss how his team is verifying data from a new NASA satellite called SWOT.
El viernes 8 de diciembre te invitamos a explorar el cielo nocturno con Noche de Estrellas, en colaboración con el Consulado de México en Raleigh, Morehead Planetarium Science Center, Red Global MX, Sigma XI, el Ayuntamiento de Raleigh, el Club de Astronomía de Raleigh y el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Carolina del Norte. Esta Read more...
Join us from 8 to 10 p.m. at Little River Regional Park on December 13! With the guidance of a Morehead educator and members of Chapel Hill Astronomy and Observing Society (CHAOS), you’ll have the chance to view the sky via telescope, engage in hands-on astronomy activities, and take a laser-guided “star tour” of the Read more...
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, December 15th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe!
For this month, we will be joined by Dr. Dan Stancil from NC State to discuss the future of quantum computing.
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, January 19th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe! For this month we are diving into the topic of water quality.
For February, we will be joined by Dr. Detlef Knappe from NC State to discuss Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in North Carolina drinking water.
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium on Friday, January 19th for a very exciting Teen Science Cafe!
For the March cafe, we will be joined by professional science communicator Marley Parker to learn what life is like during a deep-sea ocean expedition.
For this month we will be joined by a delegation of high school students from Japan as a part of Nagoya University MIRAI Global Science Campus program.
We will be joined by Dr. Lisa Paciulli and Dr. Adam Hartstone-Rose from NC State University to discuss wildlife under a solar eclipse.
Join us for one of the largest celebrations of science in North Carolina!
Dr. Christine Drea explores species where females display morphological and behavioral traits that are typically associated with males.
Big Things Have Small Beginnings: How understanding atmospheric aerosols can save lives and help our climate.
Just us for an out-of-this-world night at The Durham Hotel!
For this month we will be joined by FIRST Robotics team Carrborobotics who has just returned from the national competition.
For the June Cafe, we will welcome Dr. Ryan Emmanuel, a tenured faculty member at Duke University's Nicolas School for the Environment.
Just us for an out-of-this-world night at The Durham Hotel!
For the July cafe, we will welcome Shelby Baez, Ph.D., ATC, Director of the Psychology of Sport Injury Laboratory in UNC's Department of Exercise and Sport Science.
Just us for an out-of-this-world night at The Durham Hotel!
Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program.
Join us for our next installment of the Carolina Science Cafe, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s free, current science awareness program.
Just us for an out-of-this-world night at The Durham Hotel!
Join us at Morehead to watch the partial lunar eclipse!
Join us for our September Teen Science Cafe! 📚
For the October cafe, we will welcome Sasha de Vogel, a Post-Doctoral Fellow and Associate Director with the Authoritarian Politics Lab in the UNC Department of Political Science. This cafe is done in partnership with the University of North Carolina Postdoctoral Association.
Just us for an out-of-this-world night at The Durham Hotel!
With Halloween right around the corner, we want to have some fun and share some spooky space stories.
