Life: from Our Guts to the Galaxy at the Natural History Museum, LA

How about a Friday night out with an existential side quest? This spring, the Berggruen Institute's Planetary Program teams up with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to present Life: From Our Guts to the Galaxy, a thought-provoking discussion series exploring the concept of life across various scales. Part of NHM’s 20th-anniversary First Fridays series, each monthly event features expert panels moderated by neuroscientist Dr. Yewande Pearse, delving into topics ranging from the human microbiome to the cosmos.

The series kicked off on February 6 with “Life at the Human Scale,” examining how microbes influence our health and identity. Upcoming sessions include “Life at the City Scale” on March 6, focusing on urban ecosystems;  “Life at the Planetary Scale” on April 3, discussing Earth's biosphere; and “Life at the Cosmic Scale” (my choice) on May 1, contemplating life's existence beyond our planet. Each evening also features live music, DJ sets, food trucks, and after-hours museum access.

*This was featured in this week's Wonderlyst.