Articles tagged with Museums
The discovery of Dallasaurus, a three-foot long lizard that lived 92 million years ago, fills a gap in the understanding of mosasaur evolution and reveals that they transitioned from land to sea. The fossil find provides significant insights into the biology and natural history of mosasaurs, which were top predators in their ecosystem.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that nesting preferences are a crucial factor in determining whether an invasive ant species will establish itself. According to researchers, ground-nesting and arboreal ants with specific biological characteristics are more likely to succeed. The stu...
Researchers discovered an ancient brewery with a 1,800-liter capacity at Cerro Baúl, a sacred mountain in southern Peru. The brewery was abandoned and partially burned to the ground 1,000 years ago, along with a final batch of chicha, a fermented alcoholic drink central to the Wari culture.
Archaeologists uncover 1,000-year-old brewery with metal shawl pins suggesting wealthy female brewmasters, challenging historical perceptions of Incan society. The discovery sheds light on a potential antecedent to Incan customs and highlights the growing evidence of women's authority in pre-Incan Andean societies.
Yale's Peabody Museum will design science curricula for middle school students, focusing on Lyme disease and West Nile encephalitis, to increase science literacy and promote research careers. The project aims to demystify science and make it more accessible through hands-on inquiry-based research projects.
The discovery of Buitreraptor gonzalezorum, a 90-million-year-old dinosaur, reveals that dromaeosaurs originated during the Jurassic period, challenging previous estimates. The fossil's bird-like features and unique characteristics provide evidence of a global distribution and evolutionary routes for these carnivorous theropods.
Radiocarbon dating reveals that New Guinean art is significantly older than previously thought, with some pieces dating back to 600-800 years ago. This challenges the assumption that such objects are ephemeral and were only used for a few generations, suggesting a more complex and long-lasting cultural tradition.
A Yale University team has confirmed the existence and location of the long-speculated Maya city Site Q in Guatemala. The discovery was made by Marcello Canuto's team, who found an in-situ panel carved with over 140 hieroglyphs that match the style and historical chronology of the Site Q texts.
A study published by Yale University scientists analyzed the genetics of quagga and plains zebra populations to understand how the quagga evolved its distinctive stripes. The research found that the quagga diverged from Plains zebra around 120,000-290,000 years ago during the Ice Age.
The WorldFish Center has been awarded the Accenture Economic Development Award for its genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) technology. This innovation has increased growth rates and productivity of Nile Tilapia in poor water conditions, helping to reduce poverty and hunger in developing countries.
The RIT study found that museum imaging was output-driven and subjective, with a lack of standardized protocols. Key findings include the need for objective evaluation methods, improved color management, and more efficient workflows to enhance digital preservation.
Researchers Gary Urton and Carrie J. Brezine discovered that khipu, or quipu, were used as bureaucratic ledgers to track accounting data in the Inka Empire. The devices contained cumulative numerical data, suggesting a complex system of record-keeping and labor management.
Anna-Karina Hermkens' research on the Maisin people highlights the crucial role women play in ceremonial exchange systems, challenging traditional anthropological perspectives. The study reveals how barkcloths, made from paper mulberry trees, are intertwined with ideas about gender and sexuality.
A computerized water monitoring system is deployed on the historic schooner The Pioneer, measuring water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen in New York Harbor. Students can access data from home to learn about forecasting and environmental monitoring.
Scientists discovered that massive underground coalfields, burned during the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, triggered a period of intense global warming and mass extinction. The new research sheds light on the consequences of current carbon-based fuel consumption.
A team of paleontologists analyzed stegosaur plates to rule out thermoregulation as a function. Instead, they suggest that the plates may have been used for species recognition, similar to African antelopes. The analysis also found that scutes on other dinosaur ancestors had similar internal structures, supporting this theory.
The Field Museum is preserving the audio descriptions of its prized Pacific collection, recorded on sonobands in the 1950s and 60s. The project involves converting the recordings to a digital format, which has proven challenging due to the deterioration of the sonoband medium over time.
Researchers propose that spinels, rich in magnesium and iron, condensed from the cooling vapor cloud after a massive asteroid impact. The study strengthens the link between the Chicxulub impact and the mass extinction event that ended the Age of Dinosaurs.
A UF paleontologist's research sheds new light on horse evolution, showing that size, diet, and range depended on geography and climate. The study's findings contradict previous notions of a simple evolutionary story.
Elizabeth Kessler's research examines how aesthetics influences the presentation of Hubble Space Telescope images, balancing art and science to evoke awe and wonder. Her study reveals how subjective choices in image processing create complex representations of the cosmos that fit within a Romantic landscape tradition.
Researchers have discovered that ancient Chinese craftsmen used diamond to polish sapphire-rich stones around 2500 BC, creating a mirror-like luster on the axes. The find sheds new light on the origins of Neolithic artifacts in China and challenges current understanding of prehistoric polishing techniques.
Researchers are developing a new prototype for retrieving 3D archaeological structure data from subsurface surveying, enabling the creation of an underground image of pre-Inca city Tiwanaku. This three-year project aims to overcome technological bottlenecks in processing and fusing large amounts of sub-surface data.
Archaeologists have confirmed the existence of a complex society in South America dating back over 5,000 years. The inland culture, based on agriculture, featured monumental architecture and sophisticated social hierarchies.
A newly discovered civilization in Peru's Norte Chico region thrived 5000 years ago, featuring monumental architecture and a complex economy. The finding sheds new light on the development of complex societies, challenging previous assumptions about early civilizations.
A new study by the University of Chicago reveals that Greenland's ancient rocks are sedimentary and not igneous, providing evidence for biological activity 3.85 billion years ago. The findings support the search for early life on Earth and open up new possibilities for research.
A new study on the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan painting reveals that it depicts a campaign of conquest through Guatemala by Spanish conqueror Jorge Alvarado in 1527-1529. The indigenous map provides a unique perspective on the Spanish conquest, challenging the traditional European bias in historical accounts.
Researchers used volumetric CT imaging to analyze the mask's composition, revealing previously unknown aspects of its creation. The study also showed internal and external damage not visible to the naked eye, which was corrected using rapid prototyping software.
A new method of paleoelevation has been developed by Jennifer McElwain at the Field Museum, allowing scientists to estimate land elevation over geological eras. The method uses stomata on leaves to determine past carbon dioxide levels and elevation, providing a more accurate understanding of climate evolution and plant animal migration.
The NIH has awarded a grant of $540,000 to train 1,200 middle school teachers in the use of MedMyst, a web-based science curriculum that uses interactive computer adventures to teach kids about infectious diseases and microbes. The training will allow teachers to enrich the science curriculum for 150,000 students over two years.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded over $8 million to seven science education partnership awards to improve science literacy among minority students. The programs focus on elementary education initiatives, Web-based games, and museum exhibitions to reduce obesity and diabetes, as well as promote biomedical careers.
Norman D. Newell, a renowned geologist and paleontologist, will receive the Legendary Geoscientist Award for his groundbreaking research on fossil bivalve mollusks and modern carbonate sediments. He is also recognized for his advocacy of public understanding of evolution and science education.
Researchers studied Tanytrachelos ahynis fossils from the late Triassic Cow Branch Formation, finding no significant differences in size or morphology between populations of the same species. The team analyzed over 90 specimens and discovered that environmental factors rather than intrinsic differences may be responsible for preservati...
Researchers compared bulk samples from five geological formations with a museum collection, finding that the diversity of mollusks is similar. The study also revealed that shells in museum collections are better preserved due to time, making them an important resource for researchers.
The Field Museum is reuniting scattered Kish collections from ancient Iraq using a $100,000 grant. The project aims to catalog and reconcile over 100,000 artifacts, making it possible for the first time to fully understand the site's historical significance.
The American Medical Association and U.S. Holocaust Museum launch a national series to explore the role of Nazi medical practices in shaping medical ethics. The collaboration aims to bring lessons from history to contemporary issues, including racial health disparities and human experimentation.
A new report by Science Museum of Minnesota identifies three key factors: Engagement (spark), Capacity (skills) and Continuity (pathways) needed for students to succeed in sciences and quantitative disciplines. The authors emphasize the need for a unified effort among parents, mentors, teachers, administrators and resources.
Researchers at Harvard University have found evidence of ancient grain milling and baking 23,000 years ago in present-day Israel. The discovery provides insight into the transition from foraging to food production, revealing that humans first developed technologies to process wild grains around 20,000 years ago.
Researchers used growth line counts on T. rex and other relatives to estimate accelerated growth from age 14-18, gaining insight into how these dinosaurs became gargantuan. The study compares T. rex's growth rate to modern-day elephants.
Scientists charted T. rex life history for the first time, revealing a giant size due to an extraordinary growth spurt from 14 to 18 years of age. This was followed by about 10 years of little or no growth as an adult. The study provides insight into T. rex evolution, biology, biomechanics and population dynamics.
A pilot program pairing medical students with older artists showed a statistically significant improvement in students' attitudes towards aging. The Vital Visionaries program aims to improve care for older people by changing medical students' perspectives on age and creativity.
Research by Barker and colleagues revealed that all songbirds, including robins and crows, share a common origin in Australasia and New Guinea. The Passerida group, comprising 3,477 species, made it out of Australasia onto the Asian mainland before the Corvida group did, about 20 million years ago.
Studies suggest that farming spread rapidly across Europe, with early Neolithic farmers bringing crops from Anatolia. Archaeological evidence suggests a 'revolution' period for agriculture in northwest Europe.
A team of archaeologists has uncovered a cooking hearth and bone fragments at Alder Creek Camp in the Tahoe National Forest, providing new evidence to locate the Donner Party camp and settle debates about cannibalism. The discovery includes broken china, bits of jewelry, musket balls, fragments of a wagon, and a chunk of a writing slate.
The NYU Child Study Center and Oral History Research Office have received a grant to develop an oral history project exploring the effectiveness of oral history as an alternative therapy for children affected by traumatic events like September 11. The project aims to build community resilience among middle-school youth through storytel...
The 'Immersive Earth' project brings together six museums and two universities to create digital planetarium shows nationwide. A new portable system uses an inflatable dome and single-projector display to fully immerse viewers in Earth and space science content.
Cumbria's unique genetic 'unique' red squirrels are dwindling in number due to an American grey squirrel invasion. Conservationists argue that a captive breeding programme should be introduced as additional measure to ensure their survival.
A study by Bruce Patterson found that lion attacks increase during wet seasons when traditional prey disperses, making livestock more vulnerable. Implementing a seasonal stocking plan can reduce losses by quartering livestock only during the dry season and taking them to market before the rains.
A new RIT study aims to improve the quality of art imaging in American museums by documenting current practices and developing new testing procedures. The project will also increase the scientific level of museum imaging professionals.
The PERs will allow museum visitors to search for organo-fluorescent evidence of life in a Martian terrain, mimicking the role of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers. The robots are powered by Intel technology and can move at 1.6 inches per second, providing an interactive experience for visitors.
Researchers at University of Toronto have developed a system that allows robots to navigate using their own unique sounds, generated by pre-recorded phrases played through elevated speakers. The system uses an array of stationary microphones to locate the robot on a virtual map and guide it around obstacles.
A magnificent Maya altar stone carved in 796 AD has been recovered from a looters' hideout, providing crucial clues about the wealthiest Maya kingdoms. The altar's recovery illustrates the importance of working with indigenous peoples to restore ancient ruins.
A study of ancient vole fossils has provided a unique view on the evolution and adaptation of species to climate change. The findings suggest that small mammals can adapt to routine climate change, but significant evolutionary changes are only triggered by extraordinary events.
A 1,500-year-old underground tomb was discovered by Field Museum archaeologists beneath a palace-like residence in El Palmillo, Oaxaca. The tomb, remarkably well-preserved due to its subfloor location, contained three human remains with high-status signs, ceramic vessels, and red paint-covered bones.
The Bechtel Foundation has donated $300,000 to support the development of an atomic testing museum at the Desert Research Institute's Frank H. Rogers Building. The museum will feature exhibits on the Cold War role of the Nevada Test Site and traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution.
Researchers found high concentrations of BMAA in bat skins, which may have contributed to the Chamorro people's increased risk of ALS/PDC. The findings support a hypothesis linking flying foxes to the disease.
The UC Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology is conducting a new wildlife survey in Yosemite National Park, following the same transect as Joseph Grinnell and Tracey Storer's landmark survey between 1914 and 1920. The team aims to gather baseline data for comparison with historic species abundance and distribution.
MaNIS improves access to natural history specimen data, facilitating conservation hotspot identification, ecosystem change monitoring, disease tracking, invasive species management, and biodiversity studies. The distributed database network provides researchers with millions of specimens' information online.
Researchers at University of Illinois used PIMA technology to identify source and meaning of 'spectacular late prehistoric' figurines found in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. The artifacts were likely produced by Cahokia's artisans during an artistic explosion in the 12th century.
Researchers from Field Museum and American Museum of Natural History analyze museum specimens to understand genetic variation of the Northeastern Beach Tiger Beetle. They discover more genetic variation across historical range, suggesting human impacts led to fragmentation of populations.
The Field Museum has received a grant to preserve and conserve its extensive collection of Chinese textiles, featuring 1,200 embroidered folk textiles and 1,000 historical costumes. The museum's unique holdings provide valuable insights into traditional Chinese textile decoration techniques and symbolism.