Looking for fun, entertaining science and technology events to check out in Los Angeles this week? Here are top picks with dates, times, locations and ticket links.

A former anesthesiologist was sentenced to 18 months in prison for illegally prescribing and distributing oxycodone for cash at his Victorville clinic, leaving the lives of his patients at risk.

A new app called SafeStop allows drivers to video chat with deputies during traffic stops in West Hollywood, aiming to reduce tension and increase transparency in law enforcement encounters.

Waymo's fully autonomous taxi service has made its way to Santa Monica, promising free rides for users that allow them to experience the cutting-edge technology first-hand.

As sky gazers anticipate the upcoming October solar eclipse in Los Angeles, the unique event offers an opportunity to experience an astronomical phenomenon. While a "ring of fire" may be visible in some areas during this annular solar eclipse, Los Angeles and its surrounding counties are expected to see only a partial eclipse.

California introduces ebtEDGE app, a secure platform for EBT card users offering features like biometric login and account balance checks.

LA named 1 Digital City in the US in 2023 for utilizing technology in citizen services, emphasizing digital equity and innovation.

Join Huntington Beach citys National GIS Day event on Nov 15, to learn more about the robust GIS systems role in enhancing community services.

Long Beach, California, ranks as the nations top digital city for the third year running, reinforcing its commitment to a tech-advanced society.

San Bernardino County won a NACo award for its innovative use of Starlink to bring broadband to regional parks, improving connectivity for visitors and park operations.

Riverside County received the 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer award from NDIA for its efforts in improving access to high-speed internet and digital literacy.

UCLA is transforming the former Westside Pavilion into a $700 million research park to advance immunology and quantum science, with support from California state funds and Governor Newsom's endorsement.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is set to be displayed vertically at the California Science Center, a process involving a crane lift into a launch position alongside rocket boosters and an external fuel tank.

A parolee in Victorville was arrested with firearms and ammo after attempting to flee from a reported theft, facing multiple charges, including parole violation.

Rivian Automotive announces three new electric vehicle models, including the R2 with a starting price around $45,000, and cost savings from halting a Georgia plant, leading to a 13% stock rise.

Long Beach has launched an Electric Bicycle Lending Library, offering residents a chance to borrow an E-bike for three months for free to promote sustainable transport.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch carrying 22 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base was visible across Southern California, leaving a vivid trail in the sky.

Apple is sued by the U.S. Justice Department and 16 states for alleged antitrust violations in the smartphone market, based on monopolization accusations.

The city of Lancaster, CA has implemented ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system, which in two weeks has led to arrests and the seizure of critical evidence in crime fighting.

The Irvine Police Department humorously claimed to add a Tesla Model Y to their fleet, hinting at a quieter, more discreet presence in the community, but the #aprilfools hashtag revealed it as a playful prank.

Bright lights were seen across Southern California's sky, prompting speculation about their origin, possibly related to space debris, a recent SpaceX launch, or natural celestial events.

Waymo initiates its paid robotaxi service in Los Angeles, venturing into driverless urban transport with plans to expand passenger outreach over time.

Irvine prepares for its second annual Tech Week featuring events to unite entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders for networking and innovation discussions.

Long Beach is seeking public input on TID 26, its IT plan, through a survey and workshops to enhance tech access and services in alignment with its 2030 Vision.

California plans to buy CalRx-branded naloxone nasal spray for $24, half its market price, making the drug more accessible to combat opioid overdoses.

Glendale is issuing an RFP for operators to lead startup initiatives in their tech development strategy, building on existing programs to enhance the local tech scene.

California offers free and discounted CalRx branded naloxone nasal spray to combat the opioid crisis, allowing organizations to receive or purchase the overdose-reversal medication at a reduced cost.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from California, carrying 20 Starlink satellites and offering a striking light show visible across Southern California.

AT&T has confirmed a substantial data breach affecting nearly all customers, comprising call and text records, but not personal identifiers. An arrest has been made, with implications for personal privacy and national security under scrutiny.

Elon Musk has announced plans to move SpaceX and X headquarters from California to Texas, citing a new California law and other local challenges as reasons.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court system will remain closed Monday due to a severe ransomware attack that prompted the shutdown of its network systems.

California introduces mobile driver's licenses and IDs, compatible with Apple and Google Wallets, in partnership with tech companies to enhance identity verification.

California introduces digital driver's licenses via Google Wallet, joining four other states. The pilot program integrates IDs into smartphones but still requires physical cards for driving.

Elon Musk supports California's proposed AI safety bill SB 1047, amid industry concerns it could stifle innovation and drive AI work out of the state.

LAFD extinguished a one-acre grass fire near Chelsea St in Boyle Heights. No structural damage or injuries occurred. LAPD investigates a potential suspect.

The Brand Library & Art Center in Glendale is hosting "Blended Worlds," an art and science exhibit featuring collaborations between artists and JPL scientists, starting September 21.

California introduces driver's licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet, available to 1.5 million participants, emphasizing convenient and secure digital identification.

TACTUN won Glendale Tech Week's Demo Day pitch competition during the city's tech event, which featured panels, discussions, and a commendation for Evite's CEO.

Elon Musk introduced Tesla's "Cybercab" and "Robovan" aimed at advancing full autonomous driving. The investor response was tepid with a stock price drop despite Musk's optimistic timelines for their roll out.

The Santa Monica Innovation Hub Technology Street Fair kicked off LA Tech Week, showcasing startups and tech activities with city sponsorship and free student entry.

The space shuttle mock-up "Inspiration" is being moved from a Downey city yard to a renovation center for display at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

Griffith Park Observatory plans to livestream a total lunar eclipse, visible without specialized equipment, with the next similar event not until 2026.

California boosts wildfire recovery efforts in LA, partnering with NASA's JPL to monitor air and water quality post-fire, with new tech and data analysis.

Long Beach updated on a Nov 14, 2023 network breach, notifying affected residents and offering credit monitoring. No fraud detected; the city is investing in cybersecurity enhancements.

Spectrum customers experienced outages in LA and Ventura due to vandalism on fiber optic lines, with efforts ongoing to restore service and a $25,000 reward for information.

Charter Communications labels the severance of 13 fiber-optic cables in Van Nuys an act of domestic terrorism, affecting over 50,000 people and critical services.

Glendale is gearing up for its 9th Annual Tech Week, calling for event submissions and highlighting the city's commitment to tech innovation and support for entrepreneurs.

Long Beach offers free AI and digital skills workshops during Digital Inclusion Week, with a focus on generative AI, data privacy, and cybersecurity tips.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket created a 'jellyfish' effect visible across Southern California, deploying 28 Starlink satellites. The launch occurred from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The first supermoon of the year will appear in October, looking up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter. Additional supermoons will occur in November and December, alongside several meteor showers.

Twenty-five percent of UC San Diego's remedial math students couldn't solve "7 + 2 = _ + 6" on a placement test. Most had taken calculus in high school and earned A's, revealing a collapse in academic standards that has university faculty sounding the alarm.

A small asteroid with a non-zero percent chance of hitting the Moon in 2032 has scientists from the Bay Area to Houston and New York scrambling to refine its orbit. As teams weigh everything from reconnaissance missions to nuclear disruption, the question is whether the odds will shrink before time runs out.

NIH announced it will no longer fund research using fetal tissue from elective abortions, citing alternatives; scientists warn it could slow vital studies on disease and development.

UCLA researchers developed an AI that flags likely undiagnosed early Alzheimer’s in medical records, showing roughly 80% sensitivity and built‑in fairness measures. The team plans broader testing before clinical use.

A new venture called Emberpoint pairs Lockheed Martin aerospace tech, PG&E data and Salesforce AI to speed wildfire detection and response.

Culver City‑based ImmunityBio jumped after recent regulatory nods abroad and a productive FDA meeting, boosting sales figures and analyst interest. The company is now pushing to turn approvals into global distribution.

Hyundai-backed Supernal cut about 296 jobs and shrank to roughly 70–80 staff as it consolidates operations at its Irvine engineering hub.

Netflix has acquired Ben Affleck’s InterPositive and will fold the startup’s team into the streamer as Affleck joins as a senior advisor. The move signals a creator-first push into production-stage AI tools.

Anduril agreed to buy ExoAnalytic Solutions, folding a 400‑telescope network into its space stack and expanding its Southern California footprint.

Antares, a Los Angeles microreactor startup, has raised major capital and won DOE safety clearance as it prepares to test a demonstration reactor at Idaho National Lab.

A new alliance report finds Israeli‑founded firms support about 22,650 California jobs and add billions in output. The data arrives as state political debate over Israel intensifies.

Ryan Clarkson says class actions accuse major insurers of using algorithms to cut rehab stays and deny claims, leaving patients with surprise bills.

A San Antonio firm demonstrated a prototype lunar excavator and partnered with Astrolab to outfit FLEX rovers with interchangeable tools for landing pads, roads and reactor sites on the Moon.

True Anomaly’s new Long Beach plant has landed Space Force prototype work and raised $260 million, promising hundreds of local engineering and manufacturing jobs. The company’s Jackal vehicles and Mosaic software will be built at a 90,000‑sq‑ft facility in Douglas Park.

Harvard climate‑health leader Kari Nadeau will become dean of UCLA Fielding on July 1, 2026, bringing wildfire and exposure research experience to campus. The appointment links UCLA more directly to a major LA wildfire research consortium.

MiniMed has spun out of Medtronic, raised roughly $560 million in an IPO and won FDA clearance for the smaller MiniMed Flex pump while re‑establishing its Northridge headquarters.

L3Harris's Canoga Park plant is assembling RS‑25 core‑stage engines that will power NASA's Artemis II, linking Valley manufacturing to a crewed Moon mission.

A webinar-indexing site called WebinarTV has reposted recorded Zoom sessions — including local nonprofit trainings — and cybersecurity researchers warn the scraping is widespread.

An activist investor’s public letter to CEO Evan Spiegel rattled investors and sent Snap shares higher, urging layoffs, a Specs review and buybacks. The outreach sets up a test of whether outside pressure can force faster change at the Santa Monica company.

A San Diego State survey finds wide AI use across CSU but deep disagreement over its effects; students and faculty want training, data protections and clearer governance.

San Jose-based Trinamix landed a "well-into-nine-figures" growth investment from AEA Elevate arranged by Lloyd Greif, keeping founders in place while funding Oracle‑cloud AI expansion.

Construction is complete on the Samuel Oschin Air & Space Center in Exposition Park. The new 20-story wing will display the shuttle Endeavour vertically and nearly double exhibit space.

A major gift from the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation established CHLA’s new Pediatric Health Education Institute, which aims to train thousands of caregivers and grow local pipelines into health careers.

UCLA researchers argue multimodal AI lack "internal embodiment" — a bodily sense that helps regulate confidence — and warn the gap creates safety risks.

A new White House budget proposal would slash NASA science funding and could force program cancellations and more layoffs at Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Expedia has hired former Snap CFO Derek Andersen to run finance, effective May 11. The SEC filing details a multimillion‑dollar equity grant, signing bonus and relocation support as Andersen moves to Seattle.

Disneyland has begun using optional facial recognition at most park entrance lanes; Disney says biometric templates are deleted after 30 days, but privacy experts have raised alarms.

Long Beach is piloting GovWorx's CommsCoach to score every 9‑1‑1 call for quality assurance, promising broader oversight while raising privacy and labor concerns.

Marina Del Rey’s Doodle Labs says Pentagon drone purchases and market growth could push some manufacturing to the U.S., with California and Texas under consideration.

Mark and Mary Stevens are giving USC $200 million to seed a campus-wide AI initiative and rename the university's computing school.

Knightwerx relocated its headquarters from Camarillo to Scottsdale as it ramps up drone production. The move puts the startup in the Phoenix metro’s growing manufacturing corridor.

Rocket Lab will acquire Motiv Space Systems, bringing the Pasadena team that built Perseverance’s robotic arm into Rocket Lab Robotics.

A PLOS ONE study traced a 2020 apartment outbreak to shared bathroom ducts and urges retrofits — exhaust fans and non‑return flaps — to reduce airborne spread.

Atara and partner Pierre Fabre won narrow FDA guidance that could allow a resubmission for tabelecleucel; the stock spiked and the companies plan more data and follow‑up.

Arizona will lead NNME Southwest, coordinating training and employer partners across five states to tackle a projected shortfall in chip industry workers.

A UCLA‑led phase 3 trial found adjuvant selpercatinib dramatically lowers recurrence risk in a rare lung‑cancer subtype. The results could reshape testing and care.

A new multi‑university preprint finds just 10–15 minutes of AI help can reduce persistence and independent problem‑solving. The finding complicates how schools and workplaces should use chatbots.

Justice Department files show Jeffrey Epstein deposited sperm with California Cryobank and signed a 2016 contract leaving the samples to his estate; the material’s whereabouts remain unclear.

A Parkfield study using machine learning found short slow‑slip events that boost low‑frequency quakes, prompting scientists to rethink how California's hazard models account for transient stress.

SpaceX has agreed to provide Reflection AI with GB300-class compute at its Colossus campus near Memphis in a deal that could reach $6.3 billion.