California Academy of Sciences

Two penguins wearing illustrated crowns, labeled "Kianga & Dunker" against a red background with hearts. Text describes them as "Foster parent icons," "Superior snugglers," and "Iconic since '07."

YOUR 2026 PENGUIN POWER COUPLE: 👑🐧❤️KIANGA & DUNKER! ❤️🐧👑

Congrats to our foster parent icons, who were crowned this beautiful Valentines Day morning. Thanks to everyone who participated, and stay up-to-date with all our lovebirds (and their drama) every day at our live penguin cam on YouTube.

Who will be crowned the 2026 Penguin Power Couple? Make your final choice at bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples by midnight, and join our Penguin Valentines livestream tomorrow at 10:30 am PT to watch us crown the winners.

🚨🐧 LAST CHANCE TO PICK YOUR PENGUIN POWER COUPLE! 🚨🐧

In the final face-off, we have old guard vs. new kids on the block: It’s ❤️Kianga & Dunker❤️ against 🤍Fyn & Iggie🤍

The inaugural Penguin Power Couple will be (literally) crowned TOMORROW! But first, head to bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples to make your final choice.

Will the coveted crown go to newcomers Fyn & Iggie or veterans Kianga & Dunker? Tune into our livestream on 2/14 at 10:30 am on YouTube to find out.

Illustrated graphic describes Opal & Pete as a couple: Opal is a grand dame (oldest colony elder) who catches fish mid-air and is a homebody. Pete is a simp who needs a bib at the dinner table and prefers older penguins.

Illustrated graphic describes Iggie & Fyn as a couple: Iggie is a penguin who used to wear a boot, is a pursuer, and bites biologists for extra fish. Fyn is a sweetie pie penguin who is always pursued by Iggie, and she thinks she’s half human.

Winners announced in person & online at our Penguin Valentines livestream on Feb. 14 at 10:30am PT. More info at bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples

Lockup graphic shows two penguin pairs facing off in semifinals: Iggie & Fyn (against a white backdrop) and Opal & Pete (against a purple backdrop).

Send your favorite pair to the finals tomorrow by voting at the link in our stories or bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples. Users are allowed one vote and polls stay open til 11:59 pm PT.

Grab some herring, settle into your nest box, and get ready to vote for your next Penguin Power Couples, Semifinal 2: Opal & Pete vs. Iggie and Fyn 🐧🐧✨

Science @ Home Make science exciting for kids with an array of themed activity packs, each featuring a week's-worth of content.

We also have online resources for families looking for at-home activities including science-centric games, livestreams, videos, and DIY projects here: bit.ly/4kwhYbj

A child looks at a fish in its habitat. Text reads: Free Admission for SFUSD Students. Details in caption.

Two students and their caregiver look at butterflies in our Osher Rainforest.

Two students sit and look at fish under the glass in our Philippine Coral Reef.

A student and her family walks past the entrance to the California Academy of Sciences.

In support of our local community and San Francisco’s youth, we’re offering free non-holiday weekday general admission for SFUSD students and discounted admission for caregivers during school closures.

More information on free admission here: bit.ly/4tnhI…

Penguin Valentines Join us for a feeding, valentines ceremony, and crowning the winner of our first Penguin Power Couples Bracket!

Don’t forget to return here tomorrow to continue casting your votes through Feb. 13. Winners announced in person & online at our Penguin Valentines livestream on Feb. 14 at 10:30am PT. More info at bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples

Valentine style card showing Kianga and Dunker, a penguin pair, against a red backdrop with hearts all around them. Text describes Dunker as a gentle sweet cuddly boy with an affinity for fish, while Kianga is a neat and petite eyedrops queen with a great side eye.

Valentine style card with two penguins, Ty and Robben, against a green backdrop with red hearts all around them. Descriptor text says that Robben is a brawny, successful nest box robber type, while Ty is a brainy, picky eater with a great smile.

Will it be our foster parent icons or our honeymooners? YOU decide: Vote at bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples. Users are allowed one vote and polls stay open til 11:59 pm PT.

The love-fest is HEATING UP and two more Penguin Power Couples are facing off in Semifinal 1: Kianga & Dunker versus Ty & Robben 🐧🐧✨

Penguin Valentines Join us for a feeding, valentines ceremony, and crowning the winner of our first Penguin Power Couples Bracket!

Don’t forget to tune into our annual Penguin Valentine’s livestream, Feb. 14 at 10:30 am PT, to watch us crown the winning Power Couple! More info at bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a white backdrop with hearts interspersed. One penguin appears to be coming out of the image on the left side. Title reads Fyn & Iggie, and their tagline is Love at First Sight. Text reads “The newest couple on the block, Iggie and Fyn bonded almost immediately. Congrats are in order: They just secured a down payment on their first nest box.”

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a yellow backdrop with hearts interspersed. They both look like they’re walking to the left side of the screen. Title reads Tule & Grendel, and their tagline is A May-December Duo. Text reads “Grendel’s silver fox energy won over the much-younger Tule. Although Tule enjoys keeping her options open, she always comes back home to her distinguished gentleman.”

Vote today to advance your next favs to the semi-finals:
🤍 Fyn & Iggie 🤍 vs 💛 Tule & Grendel 💛

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a teal backdrop with hearts interspersed. Both penguins stare ahead. Title reads Stanlee & Bernie, and their tagline is Booked & Busy. Text reads “The ‘rise and grind’ couple of the colony: Bernie’s out swimming laps at 6 a.m. while Stanlee constructs the perfect nest tower, one felt piece at a time.”

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a purple backdrop with hearts interspersed. Both stare ahead. Title reads Opal & Pete, and their tagline is No Chicks, No Probs. Text reads “Opal and Pete are living their best life of chick-free luxury, demanding premium fish service while judging your parenting choices from their peaceful (empty) nest box.”

Vote today to advance your next favs to the semi-finals:
🩵 Stanlee & Bernie 🩵 vs 💜 Opal & Pete 💜

Lockup graphic shows rounds 3 and 4 of the penguin power couples voting bracket, this time against a black backdrop: R3 Opal & Pete (purple armbands) versus Stanlee & Bernie (teal armbands); R2 Fyn & Iggie (white armbands) versus Tule & Grendel (yellow armbands).

HEY LOVEBIRDS! It’s time to vote for more iconic Penguin Power Couples 🐧💌

Yesterday, Kianga & Dunker and Ty & Robben waddled away as winners of their face-offs. Head to bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples to vote every day thru Feb. 13. Our polls open daily at 12 am and close at 11:59 pm PT.

Penguin Valentines Join us for a feeding, valentines ceremony, and crowning the winner of our first Penguin Power Couples Bracket!

Our polls open daily at 12 am and close at 11:59 pm PT. Don’t forget to tune into our annual Penguin Valentine’s livestream, Feb. 14 at 10:30 am PT, to watch us crown the winning Power Couple!

More info & voting at bit.ly/PenguinPowerCouples

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a green backdrop with hearts interspersed. One holds a long ribbon of green felt in his mouth. Title reads Ty & Robben, and their tagline is Partners in Crime. Text reads “If the colony had yearbook superlatives, Ty and Robben would win ‘Most Likely to Start Drama and Look Good Doing It.’ these troublemakers are known to steal other penguins’ nest boxes.”

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against an orange backdrop with hearts interspersed. They appear to be holding a photoshopped heart in their flippers. Title reads Poppy & Darcy, and their tagline is The Honeymooners. Text reads “These Lovebirds are enjoying a honeymoon in our back-of-house suites where they’re reinforcing their bond & teaching others about healthy partnership.”

Today’s face-offs:
🧡 Poppy & Darcy 🧡 vs 💚 Ty & Robben 💚

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a blue backdrop with hearts interspersed. One penguin holds a felt heart in its mouth. Title reads Parker & Tux, and their tagline is Manic Pixie Pair. Text reads “Tux: devoted mate, Not as tough as he looks. Parker: manic pixie dream penguin, reluctant recipient of affection. Their relationship status? It's complicated.”

Valentines-style collage shows a portrait of two penguins against a red backdrop with hearts interspersed. Both stare ahead. Title reads Kianga & Dunker, and their tagline is Foster Parent Icons. Text reads “This cuddly couple has raised several adopted baby penguins, proving that family isn’t just about genetics—it’s about who shows up with the herring.”

Today’s face-offs:
❤️ Kianga & Dunker ❤️ vs 💙 Parker & Tux 💙

Collage-style image shows several cut-outs of African penguins atop drawn red and pink hearts. Text reads “PENGUIN POWER COUPLES” in cursive, with subtext asking viewers to vote for their perfect pairs from Feb. 9-13. Winners crowned on V-Day.

Lockup graphic shows rounds 1 and 2 of the penguin power couples voting bracket: R1 Kianga and Dunker (red armbands) versus Parker and Tux (blue armbands); R2 Poppy and Darcy (Orange armbands) versus Ty and Robben (Green armbands).

Attention lovebirds: It’s time to crown your favorite Penguin Power Couple 🐧💌🐟

Our 8 bonded African penguin pairs have enough love to go around, but they’re looking for a different kind of adoration this week: Your votes!

Head to bit.ly/PenguinLove26 every day thru Feb. 13 to vote on iconic pairs.

Meme asking "What Wetland Are You?" Wetlands include: Constructed wetland, callow, interdunal wetland, lagoon, slough, guelta, quagmire, and cienega.

Meme from 2025 asking "What wetland are you?" Wetlands include: fen, turlough, pocosin, billabong, beaver pond, slob, bayou, and muskeg.

Meme from 2024 asking "What wetland are you?" Wetlands include: vernal pools, intertidal marsh, bog, prairie potholes, peatland, playa, mangrove swamp, and wet meadow.

Presenting year 3 of the highly anticipated niche wetlands meme: Which wetland are you? #WorldWetlandsDay

You asked and we delivered: The final new species in this week’s roundup is (another) deep sea fish! Plectranthias raki might be shy, but thanks to the work of Cal Academy researchers, it’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves.

Footage from Maldives © 2022 Rolex SA

A Eurasian beaver skull is highlighted on this slide and it can be found in the mammalogy cabinet. Its teeth are prominently featured as the front incisors are coated in an orange enamel, that protects a beaver’s teeth as it chews trees. Laura, a Public Programs Supervisor says “Beavers are such important ecosystem engineers. There’s so much to talk about because their anatomy is so unique!”

The turtle specimens in the herpetology cabinet are highlighted in this slide. Guanani, a Public Programs Presenter says “Getting to show the guests the specimens in the cabinets is the best part of working in the Nature Lab! Kids are often drawn to the taxidermy turtles.”

An infographic highlighting Academy staff’s favorite specimens in our new Nature Lab. Highlights include a dung beetle, a turtle, beaver skull, 6 legged frog in a jar, and meteorite. Swipe to see more.

Our 6-legged frog specimen in the Nature Lab. This specimen can be found in the herpetology cabinet. Kristen, a Public Programs Manager at the Academy says “Kids and adults alike LOVE this specimen.” It’s been preserved using a process called diaphonization, which turns soft tissues transparent and allows the skeleton of an animal to be seen.

This slide highlights a dung beetle pinned with its own ball of dung. This specimen can be found in an insect case in our entomology cabinet. Katy, an Assistant Manager of Public Programs says “A scientist made the choice to not only preserve this beetle, but also its ball of dung — something that all dung beetle species depend on.”

This slide highlights a meteorite in our Nature Lab, which can be found in the geology cabinet. Los, a Public Programs Presenter, says “The basic components for life on Earth — the birth of the planet itself is because of meteorites.”

With thousands of touchable specimens and objects featured in our new Nature Lab, we have thousands of stories we can tell! Swipe to see some of our Public Programs team’s favorite specimens and where to find them in the Nature Lab.

Claude Forever: A Celebration of Life Save the date for a day of memories, music, and mementos honoring the life and legacy of Claude on Jan. 18.

A joyful and reflective program will include highlights like stories from Claude’s care team, performances from a NOLA-style brass band, community art event, the unveiling of the street sign for “Claude the Albino Alligator Way,” and so much more.

For more details click here: bit.ly/ClaudeForever

The Claude Forever event poster featuring a portrait of Claude. The celebration of life event will take place Sunday January 18 from 11AM-1PM in the Golden Gate Park Bandshell.

Join us on Sunday, 1/18 for a free outdoor community celebration of life honoring the legacy of Claude, San Francisco’s beloved albino alligator. 🤍

Hosted by Bay Area news icon Dion Lim, the memorial will take place in the Golden Gate Park Bandshell from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and will be livestreamed.

Still in need of a New Year’s Resolution? Here’s some advice our new species of 2025 might give you (if they could talk).

Learn more about these species, and all the new species described by Cal Academy researchers in 2025, here: bit.ly/3Z01f66

Title card for a Day in the Life with an Aquarium Biologist. Biologist Tim Wong holds a chrysalis as he does butterfly care. He also dives in our Philippine Coral Reef, waters plants in the Osher Rainforest, and feeds penguins.

New year, new YouTube series! 🥳

In this episode, Animal Care Manager Tim Wong takes us through his busy day as he waters a rainforest, dives in our Philippine Coral Reef, & feeds our African penguins. See more staff in this new series on our YouTube channel! Watch Tim’s episode here: bit.ly/4shwIOT

Glowing pink cuttlefish against a blue background.

Glowing pink jellyfish inside a cylindrical tank at Steinhart Aquarium.

Glowing green zoanthids in the Steinhart Aquarium.

Bright yellow sea polyps.

From glowing anemones to bioluminescent cuttlefish, bright sea polyps to radiant jellyfish — these aren’t your typical holiday lights. They’re the glittering residents of Steinhart Aquarium, and they’re decking the halls all year long. 🪸🪼

Claude was a powerful ambassador for science, connecting millions with nature, with curiosity, and with each other. We’re honored to celebrate his remarkable life with our community. See you there.