Looking for fun, entertaining events and activities to check out in San Diego this weekend? Here are top picks with dates, times, locations and ticket links.

San Diego-based Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) faces a record-breaking $476 million fine from European regulators over its Grail acquisition, yet shares jump as the company plans to appeal.

High school and college students receive financial boost for STEM studies in a bid to promote diversity and inspire future leaders.

A milestone SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch was visible across San Diego as it deployed 15 Starlink satellites, bringing SpaceX closer to achieving its goal of global internet coverage.

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a one-of-a-kind turtle-inspired robot capable of swimming through sand and detecting obstacles, with potential applications in seafloor digging, extraterrestrial exploration, and search and rescue missions.

As violence against healthcare workers spirals out of control, San Diego hospitals have taken matters into their own hands by forming a task force to tackle this critical issue.

The tragic sudden cardiac arrest of LeBron James’ son highlights the need for greater awareness and preventative heart screenings for young athletes and the work of foundations like Eric Paredes Save A Life.

Tri-City Medical Center's unanimous vote to suspend women and newborn services by October 1 has stirred emotions and concerns among the community and healthcare professionals.

NASA recently completed the first recovery test for the returning crewed Artemis II mission, demonstrating the extraction of astronauts from the Orion Spacecraft off San Diego's coast and setting the stage for a new era of lunar exploration.

San Diego's Port leads the way in zero-emission maritime innovations as groundbreaking begins on an all-electric tugboat charging station, setting the stage for a cleaner future.

San Diego State University scientists develop an AI system that uncovers 95K cryptocurrency free giveaway scams on X platform, leading to insights on how scammers operate and resulting in swift actions.

UC San Diego researchers are granted $2 million by NIH for revolutionary brain-mapping technology, providing unique insights into neurodegenerative disorders and brain trauma.

UC San Diego climbs the ranks as a top global research institution, gaining recognition for excellence in multiple fields, according to the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

A $5 million gift from the Nancy and Geoffrey Stack Foundation has enabled UC San Diego to launch the Gene Therapy Initiative, aiming to develop transformative treatments for patients suffering from rare genetic diseases.

A CDC-funded project, led by UC San Diego, aims to develop groundbreaking tools and networks to respond rapidly and effectively to infectious disease threats in the United States.

UC San Diego receives a $9.5 million grant to improve cybersecurity in health care, with emphasis on protecting rural and critical access hospitals.

UC San Diego receives 1M NSF grant for a groundbreaking super-resolution microscope, expected to revolutionize biomedical research and education.

Eli Lilly launches first Gateway Labs in San Diego for biomedical innovation.

UC San Diego study reveals ocean pH drop, signaling climate impact.

UC San Diego ranks 7th globally for top researchers.

Shorter food chains linked to California anchovy booms.

Innovative IBD diagnosis and treatment breakthrough using reverse metabolomics.

UCSD researchers have identified blood biomarkers signaling suicidal thoughts in individuals with depression, potentially impacting mental health treatment.

Airbnb is using AI to prevent disruptive New Year's Eve parties, with the technology screening high-risk bookings in various countries, including the US and UK, to ensure neighborhoods remain peaceful.

Illumina plans to divest its cancer detection spinoff GRAIL by Q2 2024 following antitrust rulings and regulatory pressure, as detailed in its press release.

UC San Diego researchers developed a vaccine targeting an enzyme variant related to acne, potentially offering a more targeted treatment without harming beneficial skin bacteria.

Proteome Sciences has opened a new laboratory in San Diego to serve the biotech hub with advanced mass spectrometry technologies, supporting local pharmaceutical and academic research.

Scientists at UC San Diego have created a noninvasive test to improve IVF, analyzing exRNAs in embryos' culture media to identify quality embryos, potentially increasing success rates.

Limmi has launched an AI-powered Disease Insights Platform to improve early disease detection and management, initially focusing on predicting kidney stone recurrence in collaboration with UC San Diego Health.

UC San Diego scientists developed an AI that predicts tumor responses to chemotherapy, potentially improving cervical cancer treatment by assessing genetic mutations en masse.

Atmospheric chemist Kimberly Prather from UC San Diego wins the 2024 NAS Award in Chemical Sciences for her work on atmospheric aerosols' effects on climate, air quality, and health.

The University of California San Diego developed an AI tool, COMPOSER, that successfully predicts sepsis, leading to a 17% reduction in related mortality rates.

Engineers from San Diego State University and USC design 3D-printed protective gear inspired by cuttlefish bones for athletes, service members, and astronauts.

SDG&E unveils four advanced microgrids in San Diego that enhance grid resilience and utilize remote management to maintain power during outages and peak demand times.

Artemis II astronauts joined the USS San Diego crew and Navy divers for a recovery drill, part of preparations for the first crewed moon mission in over 50 years.

Agilent Technologies and UC San Diego have partnered to establish a Center of Excellence focused on Cellular Intelligence within UC San Diego's School of Medicine to advance research on cellular behavior.

UC San Diego Health integrates AI into its Epic Systems electronic health record to handle patient messages, easing doctors' cognitive load without reducing response times.

i-NETT announces a new IT program to help protect nonprofits in San Diego from cybercrime and doxing. The initiative includes Microsoft products, PR advice, and assistance with donation solicitation, all free of charge.

Takeda Pharmaceutical closes its San Diego research center, impacting 324 workers who face relocation or layoffs amid company restructuring focused on late-stage drug development.

UC San Diego School of Medicine is developing an AI to predict opioid addiction risk, funded by Wellcome Leap's "Untangling and Addiction" program, using EHR and genomic data to prevent addiction.

The FDA approves a clinical trial for UC San Diego's innovative brain activity recording device, PtNRGrid, which may revolutionize neurosurgery with its 1,024 ECoG sensors.

Qualcomm settles a shareholder lawsuit for $75 million over allegations of anti-competitive sales and licensing practices, with the settlement pending court approval.

San Diego debuts My eCISO, an AI tool for enhancing cybersecurity in local businesses, particularly small ones, with resources akin to a digital Chief Information Security Officer.

San Diego Police and LGBTQ leaders support the installation of Smart Streetlights and ALPR tech in Hillcrest for heightened security ahead of the Pride Parade amidst rising hate crimes.

UC San Diego Health is the first in the county to offer a new gene therapy, Adstiladrin, for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer resistant to traditional treatments.

UC San Diego researchers developed a firmware update that masks a device's Bluetooth fingerprint to improve privacy, making tracking by even advanced attackers difficult.

UC San Diego researchers developed a non-invasive device for early detection of sepsis by monitoring nervous system activity, potentially improving survival rates.

Research links illicit fentanyl use with higher hepatitis C risk among drug users in San Diego and Tijuana, with the need for better testing and treatment access emphasized.

Researchers at UC San Diego and Texas A&M University developed EdgeRIC, an AI platform to improve internet performance on cellular networks by adjusting resource distribution in real-time.

Researchers at UC San Diego and the University of Pennsylvania received a $6.9 million grant to advance a potential Alzheimer's treatment, CNDR-51997, towards clinical trials.

Rare deep-sea oarfish discovered by kayakers in La Jolla Cove provided a rare study opportunity for scientists from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim is assigned to the ISS as part of Expedition 72/73 for an eight-month mission starting March 2025.

UC San Diego study shows dogs can understand words via soundboard buttons, responding contextually to words like "outside" and "play," independent of human cues.

UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography received a $10 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group to establish a center studying the neurobiology of marine life amid climate change.

The San Diego Supercomputer Center and CENIC launched CENIC AIR to integrate AI education across California's public education system, from K-12 to universities.

UC San Diego Health's surgical team is first in the U.S. to use Apple Vision Pro in a clinical trial, aiming to improve surgical outcomes through spatial computing technology.

The San Diego Zoo is hosting a Pikmin-themed scavenger hunt in partnership with Nintendo, with activities and rewards for attendees through November 28th.

UC San Diego unveils the Wildfire Science & Technology Commons to combat the rise of devastating megafires, fostering cross-sector collaboration for wildfire solutions.

A study reveals that the FDA-approved breast cancer drug palbociclib may be repurposed to treat rare appendix cancer, showing promise in clinical trials.

Natilus presents Horizon, a new blended-wing-body aircraft design, promising to reduce carbon emissions by 50%. The 200-passenger plane aims to mesh with existing airport infrastructure and contribute to the aviation industry’s sustainability goals.

UC San Diego researchers developed scalable, battery-free passive sensors for IoT, leveraging inexpensive RFID technology to track environmental data like temperature and humidity.

The CDIP, hosted by UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, received $40 million from the USACE to continue coastal data collection and research.

UC San Diego ranks 9th on the Clarivate 2024 Highly Cited Researchers list, with 56 researchers acknowledged, marking it as the top public university in the U.S. for influential research.

San Diego is developing a Broadband Master Plan to enhance internet access and affordability, prioritizing communities with a significant digital divide.

A team of over 40 experts, including UC San Diego and Scripps Research, is working to make whole eye transplants a reality to restore vision, backed by a $56 million ARPA-H award.

Heron Therapeutics is relocating its headquarters from San Diego to Cary, North Carolina by January 1, 2025, to capitalize on the biotech opportunities in the Research Triangle Park area.

The DOD and NASA completed Underway Recovery Test 12 for the Artemis II mission, with training aboard the USS Somerset to safely recover astronauts post-mission.

SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft returned to Southern California with a sonic boom, splashing down off Oceanside after a historic polar orbit trip with four space tourists.

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft with Ax-4 astronauts is expected to splashdown off the San Diego coast, creating a sonic boom, at around 2:31 a.m. PT on Tuesday.

UC San Diego researchers launched a tool forecasting sewage contamination on beaches from Coronado to Tijuana, assisting the public in assessing the risk of illness from swimming.

UC San Diego ranked No. 4 public university in the US and 20th globally in the 2025 ARWU, known for its rigorous evaluation based on academic achievements.

UC San Diego was ranked as the No. 1 best public college for research in the U.S. by Washington Monthly, also placing sixth among all research universities nationwide.

UC San Diego Health conducted the world's first custom-fit anterior cervical spine surgery, utilizing AI, imaging, and 3D printing for personalized implants.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 28 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg, visible across Southern California, marking the rocket's 28th flight.

San Diego Community Power is initiating a $55 million Solar Battery Savings program to offer rebates on solar systems and batteries, aiming to improve affordability, grid resilience, and to support underserved communities.

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 PCORI‑funded, randomized study led by UCLA and UC Davis will test whether AI assistance helps radiologists read screening mammograms more accurately. The trial pairs clinical outcomes with patient surveys.

UC San Diego researchers used experimental evolution to broaden bacteriophage activity against multidrug‑resistant Klebsiella, offering a potential new option where antibiotics fail.

Seven UH Mānoa students topped a global NeurIPS data‑curation challenge, boosting a model’s accuracy by ~7% using just 1,000 curated examples and earning a NeurIPS podium slot.

San Diego startups raised just $590M in Q3 — the smallest quarterly total in eight years — as investors concentrate capital into a few giant AI and biotech deals. Local founders now face a tighter fundraising market and brighter prospects for M&A.

Universities across San Diego are adding AI degrees, clinics and labs to meet growing employer demand while students and workers wrestle with uncertainty.

SDSC simulations link Parkinson’s beta waves to dysfunction in PT5B motor‑cortex neurons, suggesting a precise, cell‑level treatment target. The work was run on UC San Diego’s Expanse system.

Researchers found an F1 hybrid eelgrass in Mission Bay with genes tied to low‑light tolerance — a potential pathway to more successful, genome‑aware restorations.

San Diego's Kura Oncology and partner Kyowa Kirin won FDA approval for Komzifti, an oral therapy for relapsed NPM1‑mutated AML. The companies are preparing a U.S. launch and expanded trials.

Alexander Khalessi will lead UC San Diego Health’s AI and technology strategy while remaining a clinical leader. The appointment aims to scale pilots into systemwide tools.

San Diego County Supervisors voted to explore new options for the storage and removal of nuclear waste from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

A UC San Diego‑led team won Curebound’s $1M Cure Prize to build a multi‑modal AI that could find pancreatic cancer earlier. The award is meant to push promising algorithms toward clinical use.

UC San Diego is expanding access to chip design with OpenROAD, a new NSF-backed Chipshub and DARPA funding that together aim to speed student work to real silicon.

A Deep Origin‑led consortium won up to $31.7M from ARPA‑H; La Jolla’s Sanford Burnham Prebys will help build AI and tissue models to predict toxicity and speed drug development.

Birch Aquarium staff are caring for more than 3,000 red octopus hatchlings behind the scenes, a rare husbandry milestone for the La Jolla facility.

Qualcomm integrates Snapdragon technology in Toyota RAV4, enhancing the SUV's connectivity and safety features.

CIRM awarded $7.4M to a UC San Diego team to complete preclinical safety, off‑target testing and manufacturing scale‑up for a CRISPR‑edited stem‑cell therapy for Friedreich’s ataxia.

Illumina unveiled a Billion Cell Atlas mapping how 1 billion single cells respond to gene edits, aiming to train AI and speed drug discovery.

The SpaceX Crew-11 mission ended with a splashdown after over five months on the ISS due to a medical issue. The crew underwent postflight reconditioning. They celebrated 25 years of continuous human presence on the ISS.

The U.S. and Taiwan struck a $250B trade-and-investment framework that cuts reciprocal tariffs to 15% and ties relief to major Taiwanese investment in U.S. chipmaking. The deal names TSMC as a lead investor and promises new industrial parks and tariff exemptions for certain imports.

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.

Bora Biologics opened a $30M expansion in Sorrento Valley, adding 2,000L bioreactors and upgraded GMP processing to boost local biologics capacity.

Veerabhadran Ramanathan was awarded the 2026 Crafoord Prize for his climate change research, highlighting particulate and gas impacts on the atmosphere.

Illumina has completed its acquisition of SomaLogic, folding the SomaScan proteomics platform and a Boulder lab into its multiomics push.

Salk Institute scientists mapped a rapid immune switch in plants that flips on minutes after rewatering; the discovery could guide new drought‑resilient crops.

San Diego biotech Neomorph has dosed the first patient in a Phase 1/2 trial of NEO‑811, a molecular glue for clear‑cell kidney cancer, after landing multibillion‑dollar pharma deals. Early safety and activity readouts will be the near‑term test.

A San Diego‑led team mapped nine CD8 T‑cell states and identified two transcription factors that revive exhausted T cells without erasing immune memory. The finding points to new cell‑therapy strategies.

Halozyme raised 2026 guidance and acquired two hyperconcentration firms, projecting faster royalty growth and several clinic starts that could reshape local drug‑delivery work.

Federal and UK cyber agencies warn that unsupported routers, firewalls and VPNs are being targeted by nation‑state actors. Local IT teams should inventory, patch or replace at‑risk gear.

Two San Diego startups and Kratos SRE made the Pentagon’s Gauntlet shortlist. The trials begin next week and could lead to sizable prototype orders.

A Scripps diver filmed a rare prickly shark at La Jolla Cove during a night research dive. The footage highlights the shark’s thorny skin and posterior fins.

Seattle’s Highspot will merge with San Diego rival Seismic, combining two major revenue‑enablement platforms under a San Diego‑led brand and an AI‑first roadmap.

San Diego’s Element Biosciences unveiled VITARI, a benchtop sequencer it says can deliver a whole genome for about $100. The launch comes as patent and antitrust fights with Illumina play out in federal court.

DOJ documents show Epstein’s money reached a UCSD lab after an introduction by Deepak Chopra; emails name a ‘telepathic’ autistic savant and a $25K payment.

UC San Diego’s three‑hit model and international analyses link metabolic stress and parental chemical intolerance to autism risk, but experts urge caution. Larger trials are needed.

A six‑planet parade arcs the western sky this Saturday, then a total lunar eclipse peaks around 3 a.m. PST next Tuesday. Times and local viewing tips for San Diego.

Scripps researchers in La Jolla will lead NASA’s EDGE mission, using spaceborne lasers to produce dense 3‑D elevation maps that could sharpen flood and coastal planning.

A La Jolla immunologist helped identify tiny food protein fragments that tell gut immune cells to tolerate corn, wheat and soy — a finding that could inform future allergy therapies.

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.

Salk researchers identified Med14, a Mediator protein that helps explain how GLP‑1 drugs can strengthen pancreatic beta cells and improve insulin release.

Scripps Research chemists reworked fentanyl's core to keep pain relief while cutting respiratory danger in mice, offering a possible blueprint for safer opioids.

San Diego researchers warn federal grant cuts and delivery delays are already squeezing labs and slowing clinical trials, threatening local cancer breakthroughs.

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.

Salk's La Jolla team released a cloud-hosted atlas that charts how brain cells change with age. The open dataset aims to speed Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research.

UC San Diego researchers say the protein TYK2 helps keep early breast tumors from invading. Lab tests found TYK2‑blocking drugs increased tumor spread in mice, prompting clinical caution.

FisherBroyles and FBFK Law have opened San Diego‑area offices, bringing new IP and trusts teams to the region as life‑sciences and tech work fuels demand. The moves signal more choice for local companies and wealthy families.

La Jolla researchers report that adding a FAK blocker to chemo and immunotherapy mobilized immune cells and slowed aggressive ovarian tumors in mice. The results are preclinical but promising.

A Falcon 9 launched 25 Starlink satellites Monday, creating a glowing twilight trail visible across San Diego and captured in photos sent to local stations.

A Salk‑led consortium won an ARPA‑H award of about $41.3M to push sonogenetics — engineered ultrasound‑sensitive proteins plus wearable devices — toward early clinical tests.

An August Starlink outage left unmanned Navy vessels offline for nearly an hour, exposing risks as the Pentagon leans more on SpaceX's satellites.

A UC San Diego analysis of ABCD data finds teen cannabis use tied to smaller gains in memory, attention and processing speed. Researchers say THC exposure, not CBD, may drive the effect.

Google's AI Overviews are surfacing the City of San Diego's Inside San Diego posts above local reporting, prompting concern that official messaging could overshadow independent journalism.

UCSD researchers identify chromogranin A as a molecular 'switch' and report a peptide that preserved memory in mice, a finding that could steer preventive Alzheimer’s work.

San Diego is emerging as the Navy’s hub for small unmanned 'ghost ships.' Trials and local production are reshaping carrier operations and local jobs.

A UCSD‑led read of the 2024 federal drug survey estimates about 8 million Americans used psilocybin last year. Researchers say clinicians should begin screening and offering harm‑reduction counseling.

Qualcomm jumped after analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo said OpenAI is working with Qualcomm and MediaTek on custom phone chips, with Luxshare named as the manufacturer.

Preliminary inspections show Orion’s heat shield held up during Artemis II’s April 10 splashdown off San Diego, with much less char loss than Artemis I. Engineers say detailed lab work is still coming.

J. Craig Venter, the La Jolla genomics pioneer who helped map the human genome and later built synthetic cells, died April 29 at 79.

UC San Diego Health says it performed the West Coast’s first AI‑guided robotic spinal surgery, using a platform that combines AI planning, imaging and robot‑assisted implant delivery. Hospital leaders say the move aims to improve implant accuracy and streamline OR workflow.

A cyberattack that began Saturday disrupted email, websites and registration at SDCCD; officials say classes are mostly continuing and there’s no evidence data was taken.

Salk researchers say certain B cells can find tumors and call in T cells — an early, discovery‑stage finding that could widen immunotherapy options for solid cancers.

UC San Diego researchers built T1GRS, a machine‑learning genetic score that finds more people at risk for type 1 diabetes and reveals four genetic subtypes.

UC San Diego won a $5M renewal for its NIH‑backed FIRST program, preserving cohort hiring, mentorship and grant support for early‑career biomedical researchers.

Dexcom’s investor day laid out product and reimbursement milestones that local analysts say could channel roughly $800M into San Diego through 2030. The plan hinges on G8 performance, Medicare coverage and broader adoption.

General Atomics' DIII‑D tokamak in Sorrento Valley fires plasma hotter than the sun and hosts hundreds of researchers testing fusion technology.

UC San Diego rolled out a B.S. in Artificial Intelligence and welcomed its first cohort, joining a growing group of colleges adding AI undergraduate majors.

Marines at Miramar tested UH‑1Y and AH‑1Z helicopters as airborne motherships to launch and control Neros Archer FPV drones, showing a way to strike from farther away while keeping crews safer.

High Tech High’s Holy Cows were part of the winning alliance at the 2026 FIRST Robotics world championship in Houston after a season of district awards and engineering honors.

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.

UC San Diego researchers found SynCav1 preserved memory and neuron structure in mice with TDP‑43 pathology, suggesting a neuron‑focused path forward for dementia research.

UC San Diego researchers developed a non‑destructive “milking” method to extract therapeutic plant particles under simulated space stressors, pointing to on‑demand medicines for long missions.

La Jolla Institute researchers joined a PNAS study that introduced "superHLA," a computational pipeline that scanned more than 190,000 peptides and validated 24 superbinders. The method could help identify vaccine targets that work across diverse genetic backgrounds.

Avenzo will go public via a reverse merger with Rallybio, backed by a $215M financing and expected to trade as AVZO. The deal funds multiple clinical readouts through 2028.

SDG&E, Qualcomm and UC San Diego’s Scripps launched Edge Alert Sentinel — an on‑site AI pilot on Palomar Mountain to flag wildfire and extreme‑weather risks faster. The first unit will be evaluated during the PSPS season and could scale regionally in 2027.

San Diego’s Autobahn secured FDA Fast Track for elunetirom and reported strong Phase 2 topline results in a small bipolar depression study. The findings are promising but preliminary.

Visa has embedded its payments network into ChatGPT, letting AI agents buy for users while banks and merchants raise fraud and fee questions. The shift moves agentic shopping from experiments toward network rails.

Tempo is setting up its corporate headquarters in San Diego as it pushes to commercialize thermochemical “thermal battery” systems for industrial electrification. The move is meant to speed pilots into commercial deployments.

UC San Diego and Stanford researchers found brief electrical pulses rejuvenated sea squirts and raised questions about stem‑cell aging in people.

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.

UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center won a five‑year NCI core grant renewal — roughly $25M — to speed trials, hire physicians and expand infusion capacity across San Diego.

Biogen agreed to buy San Diego‑based RayThera for up to $1 billion, adding early‑stage immunology candidates and a lead program heading into Phase 1.

San Diego’s cAMPfield closed a $180M Series A to advance prifemilast, a once‑daily oral PDE4B inhibitor, into global trials for IBD.