Articles tagged with Museums
Scientists are increasingly involved in preserving cultural heritage objects, using non-destructive analysis and innovative techniques. Conservation science research is funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, aiming to maximize the preservation of building materials and artworks.
Researchers have discovered a new giant golden orb weaver spider species, Nephila komaci, in South Africa and Madagascar, which is the largest web-spinning spider known to science. The female spiders of this species can reach up to 1.5 inches in body length, while males are significantly smaller.
A new research institute dedicated to the Bronze Age will be established at La Bastida archaeological site in Murcia, Spain. The project aims to shed light on European prehistory and cultural heritage through systematic research and scientific analysis.
A new species of mammal, Maotherium asiaticus, has been discovered in China, providing insight into the evolution of the mammalian middle ear. The fossil's ear structure shows a unique connection to the lower jaw, similar to embryonic mammals and pre-mammalian ancestors.
A new species of horned tyrannosaur, Alioramus altai, has been discovered in Asia, exhibiting a unique set of adaptations for meat-eating. The fossil, found in the Gobi Desert, shows a gracile cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex with slender teeth and small muscle attachments.
Researchers discovered that Tyrannosaurus rex and its relatives had a potentially deadly infectious disease similar to trichomonosis, which causes swollen jaws and holes. The study found evidence of face-biting marks on many specimens and suggests that cannibalism or head-biting may have spread the disease.
The Field Museum has received a three-year grant to establish new conservation landscapes in Amazonian Peru. The project aims to secure legal protection for high-priority forests and indigenous territories, while also promoting sustainable management and financing through the REDD voluntary carbon market.
A study led by biologists at UC Berkeley found that 48 out of 53 bird species in California's Sierra Nevada mountains have adjusted their ranges in response to climate change, with some moving towards warmer temperatures and others preferring wetter conditions. The researchers used data from a survey of 82 sites and compared past and p...
The Beach Museum of Art at K-State is receiving $20,000 in grants to support its programming for children, including arts-in-education tours and early childhood classes. These grants will enable the museum to provide arts integrated tours for school children and Growing up ARTSmart programs.
A new study published in Current Biology found that a parasite killing male butterflies caused a rapid shift in the sex ratio of a tropical butterfly species, from 2:1 to 10:1. The researchers used museum specimens and modern tools to analyze the changes, providing insight into evolutionary processes.
Researchers found ancient flax fibers in a Georgia cave dated to around 34,000 years ago, providing evidence of an early human invention. The discovery suggests that early humans used these fibers for clothing, ropes, and baskets to aid survival and mobility in harsh conditions.
A new revision of the Dioptinae subfamily sheds light on the diversity of tropical moth species, revealing a unique story of parallel evolution. The study found that around 500 species evolved from a common ancestor into diverse butterfly mimics, with some feeding on toxic plants to gain protection.
A study published in PNAS reveals that a period of global warming from 53-47 million years ago led to a biodiversity boom in western North America, with many new species of mammals appearing. However, as temperatures declined, diversity decreased and many mammalian groups went extinct.
The discovery of Suminia getmanovi, a small plant-eating synapsid, provides evidence that vertebrates took to trees early in Earth's evolution. The tree-climbing lifestyle offers access to new food resources and protection from ground-dwelling predators.
The Academy of Natural Sciences' Ewell Sale Stewart Library has been accepted into the Biodiversity Heritage Library, a global initiative to preserve scientific literature on biodiversity. Over 35,500 volumes have been scanned and digitized, with over 14 million pages now available online.
Male seahorses choose partners based on body size to increase reproductive output and bigger offspring, challenging conventional sex roles. A study found choosy males and indiscriminate females, with striking differences in courtship behavior.
Researchers at Uppsala University analyzed DNA from shed hairs in a book owned by Nicolaus Copernicus, finding two hairs with matching profiles to the putative remains. The results were confirmed by analysis of tooth and bone tissue from the same location.
A new fossil primate from Myanmar has redefined the origin of anthropoid primates, challenging the long-held belief that they evolved in Africa. The discovery of Ganlea megacanina supports the idea that amphipithecids are closely related to living anthropoids.
A new study by the University of Leicester has found evidence that duck-billed dinosaurs, such as Hadrosaurs, had a unique way of eating. The researchers used microscopic analysis of scratches on dinosaur teeth to understand their feeding mechanisms and place them in ancient ecosystems.
Scientists have uncovered fossil evidence for reproduction using giant sperm in ostracods dating back to 100 million years ago. The discovery reveals an evolutionarily successful reproduction strategy that comes at a high price, investing energy in producing and carrying enormous sperm.
A set of fossil teeth belonging to an ancient three-toed browsing horse, Anchitherium clarencei, has been discovered in the Panama Canal earthworks. The find supports earlier proposals that the habitat was a mosaic of dense forest and open woodlands, extending the southern range of this horse species.
A UBC paleontologist has solved the enigma of a massive bonebed in southern California by proposing that it formed over a 700,000 year time-span approximately 15 million years ago. The team found only five shark bite specimens out of over 3,000 bones and teeth analyzed, supporting the deposit-over-time theory.
A 700,000-year-old fossil bone bed in California has been found to be a record of normal life and death, rather than a catastrophic event. The bone bed, which features shark teeth and seal bones, was formed under unusual climatic conditions that kept sediment at bay.
The International Institute for Species Exploration announced the top 10 new species discovered in 2008, including a pea-sized seahorse, caffeine-free coffee, and bacteria that live in hairspray. The list also includes the world's longest insect, the world's smallest snake, and a ghost slug from Wales.
A new study reveals that Michigan mammal species are rapidly expanding their ranges northward in response to climate change. This shift is replacing historically northern species with southern equivalents, which could have significant ecological implications.
Researchers from Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Canadian Museum of Nature discovered a carnivorous animal fossil, Puijila darwini, which is believed to be the 'missing link' between seals, sea lions, and walruses. The fossil provides evidence that pinnipeds went through a freshwater phase in their evolution.
A new species of early T.rex relative, Xiongguanlong, and a giant ornithomimosaur, Beishanlong grandis, are described as part of a study on theropod dinosaurs from China. These discoveries provide insight into the evolution of tyrannosaurs, revealing that massive skulls evolved from animals with long, slender snouts.
Research using museum specimens found support for alternative hypotheses on the evolution of locally distributed endemism, suggesting multiple processes develop local endemism. This knowledge can help identify priorities in conservation planning.
Researchers successfully retrieve DNA from ancient macrofossils up to 26,000 years old and dried museum beetle specimens up to 188 years old using a non-destructive DNA extraction method. This breakthrough has significant implications for population genetic studies and reconstruction of ancient biodiversity.
The Field Museum has received a gift of over $10 million and more than 1,700 meteorite specimens from the Planetary Studies Foundation, establishing the world's largest nongovernment meteorite collection. The collection will be housed in the new Robert A. Pritzker Center for Meteoritics and Polar Studies.
A new fossil discovery at the Homer Site in Montana has revealed that Triceratops, a three-horned dinosaur, were likely social animals that congregated in small herds. The find indicates that juvenile Triceratops lived and traveled together, suggesting a unique behavior among ceratopsid relatives.
The new short film 'Return to the Moon' showcases NASA's legacy of lunar exploration using data from the Apollo and LRO missions. The film features a six-foot sphere displaying stunning imagery, allowing viewers to witness the moon's surface and understand the rationale for returning to it.
Researchers used laser scanning to reconstruct five dinosaurs' bodies, including T. rex and Acrocanthosaurus. The study found that smaller T. rex specimens weighed between 5.5-7 tonnes, while larger ones could have reached 8 tonnes.
The Women in Natural Sciences (WINS) program at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Eileen Fisher to promote science education among low-income girls. The program has shown remarkable success rates, with 100% of advanced students graduating and 97% continuing to college.
Researchers have discovered a 42- to 45-foot-long snake species called Titanoboa, which lived during the Paleocene Epoch and was larger than previously estimated. The discovery provides insights into the climate and ecosystems of tropical South America 60 million years ago.
The discovery of a 47.5 million-year-old fossil whale in Pakistan provides evidence that early whales gave birth on land, contrary to the long-held assumption that they gave birth at sea. The fossils reveal that these ancient whales had well-developed teeth and could fend for themselves from an early age.
Archaeologists have found significant evidence of an ancient altar and cult activity on Mt. Lykaion, dating back to the Late Helladic period around 3,300 years ago. This supports the theory that Zeus was born in Arcadia, as suggested by ancient Greek poet Callimachus.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that Triceratops used their three horns for battle scars, contradicting the notion that they only displayed them. The researchers found that the squamosal bone was injured 10 times more frequently in Triceratops than its closely-related dinosaur Centrosaurus.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that anatomists and others incorrectly depict quadruped walking in half of their depictions. The correct gait involves alternating legs, with animals differing only in timing. This mistake is often due to carelessness or reliance on incorrect models.
A new species of fish from tropical South America has been discovered, confirming suspected roots to the loricariid catfish family tree. The species, Lithogenes wahari, shares traits with both the Loricariidae and Astroblepidae families, including bony armor and a grasping pelvic fin.
Researchers used CT imaging to accurately reconstruct inner ear anatomy in extinct birds and reptiles, shedding light on their hearing abilities and behavior. The study found that Archaeopteryx had a similar hearing range to modern emus, suggesting it was more bird-like than reptilian.
A team of scientists has successfully sequenced the genes of the Tasmanian Tiger from its hair, revealing insights into mammal extinction and potential ways to prevent it. The study also opens up new possibilities for analyzing museum specimens and could potentially lead to the revival of extinct species.
Researchers sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from museum specimens of the thylacine, a marsupial that was declared extinct in 1936. The study found little genetic variation between the two specimens, indicating the species was on the brink of extinction when it became extinct.
Researchers establish that trophy heads came from people living in the same place and culture as those who collected them. The study suggests that fertility rites, warfare, or ancestor veneration may be linked to the collection of human heads.
A Montana State University study found that males from three types of dinosaurs were sole care givers for their mate's eggs, possibly having multiple mates. The researchers examined fossil evidence and compared clutch sizes to adult sizes in the dinosaurs and their closest living relatives, birds and crocodiles.
Hawaiian songbird species were previously mistakenly grouped with Australian honeyeaters, but Smithsonian scientists have found they represent a new family—Mohoidae—using ancient DNA analysis. The study reveals these birds diverged from their closest living ancestor 14-17 million years ago and are specialized nectar-feeders.
The five-year, $4 million grant will support biodiversity field surveys, screen microbes and plants for applications to human health and energy needs. The research aims to conserve endangered species and develop local conservation efforts in Indonesia's tropical forests.
Researchers at University of Calgary and Royal Tyrrell Museum uncover a one-of-a-kind fossil nest with eggs, shedding light on dinosaur nesting behavior and evolution. The discovery provides valuable insights into the characteristics of modern birds and the ancient behaviors of small theropod dinosaurs.
A new report published in Current Biology reveals that the Sunda colugo has at least three separate species, with each geographic region harboring its own unique species. The findings have important conservation implications for these enigmatic mammals.
Researchers discovered patterns of brain activity that underlie our ability to see and understand three-dimensional object structure. Higher-level visual regions represent objects as spatial configurations of surface fragments, which are encoded by individual neurons tuned to respond to specific surface fragment substructures.
Researchers uncover clay bundle filled with metal objects, believed to be one of the earliest examples of African spirit practices in North America. The bundle, dated to around 1700, shows unique design and construction unlike other African-American spiritual practices.
A recent study by American Museum of Natural History scientists clarifies the evolutionary relationships among seven sea turtle species. The researchers found that specialized diets arose independently in three distinct groups of sea turtles, with flatback and green turtles being closely related despite their differing diets.
Researchers will catalog and preserve diverse mollusk species in the Philippines, aiming to discover new products for central nervous system disorders, cancer, and antimicrobial drugs. The project also seeks to develop cellulosic biofuels production using enzymes from shipworms.
A study by University of California, Berkeley biologists found that small mammal populations in Yosemite National Park have shifted to higher elevations in response to warmer temperatures. The study, which compared data from 1914 and 2014, also revealed changes in community composition due to climate change.
The James Webb Space Telescope model is on display at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany until October 28, 2008. The model showcases the telescope's size and complexity, measuring 80 feet long, 40 feet wide, and 40 feet tall.
A comprehensive assessment of the world's 5,487 wild mammal species reveals that one in four is threatened with extinction. The study, led by the IUCN, utilizes the Field Museum's extensive collection to track population trends and habitat destruction.
A new study finds that birds have a 'thumb' due to gene expression similar to alligators, not mice. The research rekindles the hypothesis of a developmental frameshift in the evolution of bird wings.
The new Center for Environmental Policy will evaluate key environmental issues, build public awareness, and recommend science-based policies. The center aims to engage disparate parties in the environmental debate and provide practical solutions for managing natural resources.
The Dig It! exhibit showcases soil samples from each US state, including Texas's Houston Black soil, which is featured in the exhibition. The exhibit has attracted over 300,000 visitors since its opening and will travel to multiple locations across North America.
Yale scientists have found genetic traces of extinct Galapagos tortoise species in living populations, paving the way for potential breeding programs. The study reveals that some islands, including Volcano Wolf, are home to tortoises with DNA from both known and extinct species.