The Art of Microblasting
March 23, 2026
In a small room at the left edge of the third-floor Paleontology Research Lab (NRC), you may notice someone working inside a clear, enclosed box. Peering through a microscope, fossil preparators guide a small compressed-air pen that directs a fine stream of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) onto the surface of a dinosaur bone. This is… Read More >
Invasive House Sparrows Are Helping Scientists Detect Dangerous Contaminants
March 16, 2026
The house sparrow is a highly invasive pest in North Carolina, and bluebird enthusiasts frequently throw their eggs out and remove their nests to keep them from overtaking the nest boxes that bluebirds call home. A new study puts those discarded eggs to use in detecting heavy metal contaminants in bluebird habitats, which often border… Read More >
Museum Malacologist Named Natural Resources Scientist of the Year
March 9, 2026
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation has announced the winners of its 61st Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards and Dr. Arthur E. Bogan — research curator of mollusks for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences — was named Natural Resources Scientist of the Year. Honorees for 2026 include agency professionals, elected officials, volunteers and organizations… Read More >
New Fossil Discoveries from Brazil
March 4, 2026
Newly published fossil specimens discovered by an international team of scientists, including the Museum’s Research Curator of Paleontology Dr. Christian Kammerer, are greatly expanding our knowledge of life at the ancient equator. The early Permian Period, roughly 285 million years ago, was a time of change for life on Earth: increased glaciation at the South… Read More >
Teen Program Applications Now Open
February 23, 2026
Don’t miss your chance to explore your interests, build valuable skills, and be part of a community that turns curiosity into action. The Museum offers opportunities for middle- and high-school students to dive deeper into a variety of science topics. Through hands-on program experiences, volunteers can connect what they’re learning in school to careers, current… Read More >