Science & Technology   

Is there life elsewhere in the universe? It's one of the most compelling scientific questions of our time. Join ASU Regents Professor Phil Christensen as we explore the quest for potentially habitable worlds, beginning with Earth's neighbor Mars, then venturing to the icy "ocean world" moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and finally to primitive asteroids that hold clues to the origins of our solar system. ASU has science instruments aboard many of these missions — including five built right here on the Tempe campus — each playing a critical role in expanding our understanding of the cosmos. The discoveries so far are remarkable. The ones still to come may be even more so.

We live in one of the most remarkable ecosystems on Earth, the Sonoran Desert. Despite extreme heat and scarce rainfall, an extraordinary diversity of plants, animals, and people have called this place home for thousands of years. But human development is changing the landscape faster than ever, making the work of organizations like the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy more important than ever. In this class, we'll explore the processes that shaped this desert, how ecosystems form and sustain themselves, how living things adapt to environmental challenges, and what it means for humans to leave such a deep mark in such a short time. Core principles of ecology from the rocks beneath our feet to the communities above them. Come alive in this local context.

Curious about cannabis science? This OLLI class at Grow Sciences offers an academically grounded, hands-on exploration of how cannabis goes from seed to shelf. The session begins with a seminar covering the wide range of products currently available, including their manufacturing processes, therapeutic applications, consumption methods, and bioavailability. You'll then join a guided tour of the complete cultivation and production lifecycle, from propagation and vegetative growth through harvesting, post-processing, and quality assurance. Designed to be interactive and inquiry-driven, this one-of-a-kind class offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the innovation, precision, and care that define the modern cannabis industry. *Note - the exact address for Grow Sciences is not published for safety reasons. We will meet at a nearby location and the coordinator will lead you to the warehouse. Cross streets are 43rd Ave. & Camelback Rd. Phoenix. Meet up instructions will be in the reminder email.

How can we travel back in time to observe the earliest stages of cancer? Cancer develops over years as cells in our bodies evolve, accumulating changes and competing with one another, yet much of this process unfolds out of sight, limiting our understanding of how cancers arise, progress, and respond to treatment. By reading the record left behind in our cells' genetic material, scientists are building statistical "time machines" that reveal events that could never be observed directly. In this course, we'll explore how present-day biological data can reconstruct the evolutionary history of cells as they progress toward cancer, what these methods are already teaching us, and how ongoing advances may transform our ability to understand and treat cancer in the years ahead. Please note: parking is not included in the cost of class.