What Caused This Megatooth Shark’s Massive Toothache?
May 12, 2022
A hunt gone wrong! Artistic reconstruction Otodus megalodon feeding upon an ancient swordfish ~11 – 3.7 million years ago. A puncture injury to the tooth gum such as this may have caused gemination of the developing tooth buds. Image: Jorge Gonzalez Did the world’s largest prehistoric shark need an orthodontist, or did it just have… Read More >
The Common Snapping Turtle — An Underappreciated Mud Monster
May 10, 2022
Common Snapping Turtle. Photo: Brianna Ondich. By Peter Hortensius, Naturalist Center Intern In January 2022, the largest Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) known from North Carolina passed away after spending the last decade of its life at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. Hearing about its death made me recall a memorable experience I had… Read More >
New Look: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab
April 28, 2022
A visitor’s view of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab. Recently the Lab received new high-resolution displays and a paint job. Photo: K. Swain/NCMNS. By Dr. Rachel Smith, Head of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab and Curator of Meteorites The Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, located at the Museum’s downtown Raleigh location, recently got… Read More >
Comprehensive Study of World’s Reptiles: More Than One in Five Reptile Species are Threatened with Extinction, But Many Likely Benefit from Efforts to Save Other Animals
Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense), IUCN Red List status: Endangered. Photo: Jaclyn Aliperti. Click to enlarge. [RALEIGH, N.C.] — Conservation efforts for other animals have likely helped protect many reptile species, according to a new study led by NatureServe, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Conservation International, in partnership with scientists from… Read More >
The Carolina Ghost Hunt
April 13, 2022
Piedmont Ghost Firefly male. Photo: Matt Bertone. Jerry Reynolds, Head of Outreach Chris Goforth, Head of Citizen Science Want to go on a ghost hunt? Well, now’s your chance! You may recall reading the Nature Now blog on Ghost Hunting from June of last year. To summarize last year’s ghost hunt, we were searching for… Read More >