Articles tagged with Museums
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.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers discovered rapid evolution in the white-footed mouse population, with significant changes in gene sequence frequencies over three 50-year intervals. The findings suggest that humans may be a cause of this rapid evolution, and challenge current phylogenetic and phylogeographic methodology.
Archaeologists have found a 4,000-year-old gourd fragment bearing an archaic image of the Staff God, the principal deity in South America. The discovery pushes back the origin of organized religion in the Americas by over 1,000 years, indicating that the Andean civilization began practicing religion more than previously thought.
A study of Native American artifacts found high levels of mercury, naphthalene, and DDT, posing a risk to human health. Museums are advised to handle these objects with proper precautions until further research is conducted.
A UCSD biologists' study links human impacts along the coast to size declines of marine snails, particularly among owl limpets and Gilded turban snails. The researchers found that human activity, not environmental change, has led to diminished size in gastropods on the southern California coast.
Research analyzed DNA differences among 50 squirrel genera to deduce their interrelationships and evolutionary history. The study found that climate change and geological events played a significant role in shaping the squirrel family tree, with major branches diverging around 5 million years ago.
A new study published in Nature reveals that all of Madagascar's living Carnivora descended from a single species that dispersed from Africa to the island. The findings refute two previously accepted models for mammal colonization and provide further evidence that lemurs also colonized the island in a single event.
The Field Museum's Center for Cultural Understanding and Change has launched an Institute to develop museum-based public interest anthropology. The program aims to facilitate interaction between communities and universities on critical social issues.
Researchers found convincing evidence of sexual dimorphism in fossils from 252-260 million years ago, with male Diictodon having large tusks used as weapons for combat. The study suggests complex social behavior among ancient animals.
The Field Museum researchers found that Tsavo lions were not 'aberrant' and did not kill humans due to damaged teeth. Instead, they engaged in a social tradition of man-eating, which was learned through generations and passed on to offspring.
Scholars Netz and Saito discovered Archimedes' treatise on The Method of Mechanical Theorems, which includes a proof dealing with infinitely large sets. This finding challenges conventional wisdom that Greeks disliked handling infinity.
The Field Museum is part of a 15-20 year program to fill in the Tree of Life, using genetic studies, fieldwork and existing information. The project aims to determine evolutionary relationships among bird species and other groups, with applications in disease research, conservation and ecosystem restoration.
A new study by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute uses a large sample of live caterpillars to analyze tropical insect community composition. The research finds that there is indeed a predictable structure in caterpillar communities, allowing for more accurate measurements and applications in various studies.
A Cincinnati ossuary has been discovered to feature a unique image of a massive Jerusalem tomb from the first century, associated with early Rabbi Hillel and Jesus of Nazareth. The ossuary's distinctive three pyramids have garnered attention from scholars, providing new insights into ancient Jerusalem's architecture.
The University of Minnesota and the Science Museum will collaborate on a $19.3 million NSF grant to study earth-surface dynamics and develop predictive models for landscape changes. The center will explore four themes, including landscapes and seascapes, basins, and human impact on landscapes.
The LSU Museum of Natural Science is part of a $4 million grant to compare DNA sequences of 500 bird species. The goal is to understand the history of avian diversity and reconstruct the evolution of bird behavior, morphology, and ecology.
A team of scientists from Smithsonian and other institutions sequenced bird genetic material found in the 1917 collection, comparing it with the 1918 pandemic virus HA gene sequence. The comparison suggests that the pandemic viral HA gene was not derived directly from an avian source.
A collaborative research programme is examining the works of Dutch painters from the 15th to 20th century, focusing on artist techniques and studio practices. The projects aim to understand paint degradation and restoration procedures, providing valuable insights into the lives and methods of Old Masters.
A recent study published in Science finds that the genetic variation of the nene bird species decreased significantly between 160-850 years ago, likely due to human expansion on the island of Hawaii. The researchers used DNA analysis from ancient specimens and modern captive birds to draw this conclusion.
A team of archaeologists, led by Professor C. Brian Rose, has successfully restored the most colorful surviving example of Classical Greek antiquity - a 400-375 B.C. marble coffin with vibrant pigments. The Can sarcophagus, discovered in Turkey, boasts more preserved paint than other ancient Greek artifacts.
Geologists have made several significant discoveries in Utah and Wyoming, including a one-ton plant-eating carnivore with bizarre claws and skin impressions of a duck-billed dinosaur. The finds include new species of dinosaurs, such as horned ceratopsians and giant crocodiles, which provide valuable insights into the paleoecological st...
Researchers found salamanders with unusual, asymmetrical spots in a pond on an Ithaca golf course, suggesting environmental stress. The study compared 60-year-old samples with contemporary ones, showing a significant change in spot symmetry.
A new statistical approach reveals primates originated 85 million years ago, rather than 65 million, due to gaps in the fossil record. This challenges traditional methods of interpreting fossils and constructing evolutionary trees, including the human lineage.
A Max-Planck doctoral student has discovered a new insect order, Mantophasmatodea, which is composed of insects that appear to be a mixture between a stick insect and a praying mantis. The discovery was made in Namibia and consists of several animals that could not be allocated to any known insect order.
The discovery of a new insect order, Mantophasmatodea, brings the total number of orders to 31. The species, resembling a mix between a stick insect and a preying mantis, was found in Namibia's Brandberg Mountain, which may have preserved its unique habitat for millions of years.
Researchers predict that global climate change will cause substantial changes in the distribution of Mexican bird, mammal, and butterfly species. The study found that changing climate is predicted to bring about great instability, with some local communities losing up to 40% of their species.
Researchers found that Tsavo lions live in large groups of females ruled by a single male, with an average of 7.4 adult females per group. The study suggests that the lions' manelessness may be an adaptation to their hot and dry environment.
A newly discovered dinosaur, Liaoceratops yanzigouensis, has provided valuable insights into the evolution of horned dinosaurs. Weighing only about seven pounds, it had rudimentary horns and a frill, unlike its larger cousin Triceratops.
Researchers used x-ray absorption spectroscopy to analyze the chemistry of wood decay in the Vasa, finding evidence of sulfur accumulation and oxidation. They recommend regulating environmental conditions and replacing iron bolts with inert materials to slow damage.
Researchers are studying the aerodynamics of bird-wrasse fish, fruit flies, and hawkmoths to develop more efficient unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and underwater vessels. By mimicking nature's designs, they aim to reduce drag, improve stability, and enhance control.
The Ecuadorian government has signed a decree to create a globally outstanding protected area in the Andean foothills, led by The Field Museum and the Cofán Survival Fund. This marks the first time federally protected lands have been placed in official custody of indigenous people, with the Cofán residents set to manage the 195-square-...
An ivory statuette of a lion-tamer may be part of the throne given to Apollo by King Midas, according to Dr. Keith DeVries. The statuette's style and date match Phrygian art from Turkey, supporting a strong case for its association with the king's throne.
Natural history museums are critical forces for understanding and conserving the world's biological diversity. They must focus on conservation, make collections accessible, collect and disseminate information faster, engage local communities, and promote science-based advocacy to advance conservation goals.
A new climate model proposes that geographic range changes and body size played a primary role in the extinction of large mammals during the Pleistocene era. The study suggests that as animals' geographic ranges decreased over time, their probability of extinction increased, especially in harsh environments.
The 2002 OlympiYeda science competition brings together students from the US, Canada, England, and Australia to explore advanced police investigative techniques. Students will analyze forensics, DNA, and other disciplines to solve real-world cases.
The Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS) aims to prepare leaders in informal science education, conduct research, and provide professional development opportunities. Researchers will examine innovative methods of science teaching and design creative learning environments.
Dr. Peter Makovicky's discovery sheds new light on the feeding behavior of ornithomimid dinosaurs, revealing a possible adaptation to filter-feed tiny invertebrates and particles from water and sediment. The find is significant as it provides evidence for the unique beak structure found in two well-preserved specimens.
Researchers studied Naples Yellow samples from historical paintings and identified differences in physical structures using X-ray and synchrotron diffraction studies. This technique can help narrow down the origins of unidentified artworks and potentially verify their pedigrees.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has awarded $12 million in grants to informal science education centers across the US. The funding will support collaborations between nature centers, schools, and community institutions to strengthen science literacy among children and families.
A new web-based taxonomic key enables researchers to identify mammals by answering a series of questions with accompanying images. The key, developed in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam, uses over 170 identified species as a starting point.
A group of Puebloans from the Mesa Verde region is believed to have settled in three ruins on the west side of the Rio Grande River, exhibiting characteristics of the Mesa Verde culture. The site, Pinnacle Ruin, was inhabited by a large group who made a 250-mile journey south after Four Corners collapsed.
The National Inventors Hall of Fame honors seven innovators, including Walt Disney and Steve Wozniak, for their contributions to the personal computer, animation, and medical breakthroughs. The inductees' inventions have improved quality-of-life materials and technologies.
Researchers highlight pressing issues with museum plastics and space suit polymers, discussing efforts to halt deterioration. Experts also explore collaborations between chemists and curators to preserve historical artifacts for future generations.
The American Chemical Society will present research on weight-loss supplements, museum treasures, and fuel additives. The meeting will feature symposia on conjugated linoleic acids, endocrine disruptors, and pollution reduction.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.1 million research grant to the University of Alaska Museum to create the Arctic Archival Observatory, the first NSF-funded observatory of its kind in the U.S. The grant will enhance hands-on opportunities for graduate students and improve access to museum holdings.
Scientists have discovered a new species of camel, dated two million years ago, with mountain goat-like features. Additionally, researchers have found dinosaur nesting grounds in Patagonia, providing insights into sauropod reproductive biology and behavior.
New research in Conservation Biology found that fragmented rainforests can lose biodiversity for a century. The study, led by Thomas Brooks, suggests that conserving the most-recently isolated fragments will save the greatest number of species from extinction.
The 'Demystifying Cancer' program brings together medical professionals, researchers, and experts to provide accurate information about cancer. Participants will learn about current therapies, clinical trials, and how to navigate the Internet for reliable information.
A new federal grant supports the creation of an electronic database of historical material, making it accessible to Illinois elementary school students. The project aims to enhance student learning through interactive experiences with primary source materials.
Young scientists across the country will display their projects examining the theme 'Our Changing Earth' at science centers nationwide. The students, aged 10-12, have worked months on hands-on projects to learn about topics such as water quality, landslides, satellite images, and El Niño weather patterns.
Paleontologists have unearthed the first complete fossil of a gorgonopsid, a fearsome reptilian-mammalian creature that roamed Earth 250 million years ago. The discovery provides valuable insights into the gorgon's torso and limbs, resolving a long-standing debate about its anatomy.
Scientists uncover new fossils of Deltatheridium, an early relative of marsupials, providing unprecedented insight into the evolutionary split between marsupials and placental mammals. The discovery sheds light on the origins of modern marsupials in Asia.