Artistic rendering of a protoplanetary disk around a forming star, in combination with future planets and disk “leftovers”: the asteroids and comets.

Museum astrophysicist publishes new paper on interstellar ice

December 10, 2021

Artistic rendering of a protoplanetary disk around a forming star, in combination with future planets and disk “leftovers”: the asteroids and comets. Disks can take at least one million years to form a planetary system. Credit: NASA/FUSE/Lynette Cook. How unusual is the Earth compared to other planets in the Galaxy? What are the chemical pathways… Read More >


Stink bug still image

Extraordinary Portraits of Insects in Flight

November 10, 2021

Dr. Adrian Smith, Head of the Museum’s Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Research Lab, has produced a new video of insects in flight inspired by a pioneering book from the mid-70s. The video also celebrates Smith reaching 100,000 subscribers to his Ant Lab YouTube channel! A viewer sent Smith a copy of “Borne on the Wind:… Read More >


NCDNCR Secretary Reid Wilson presents Museum educator Jan Weems with the Governor's Award for Excellence

Museum educator wins 2021 Governor’s Award for Excellence

October 28, 2021

Jan Weems, the Museum’s Head of Early Childhood & Elementary Education, has received a 2021 Governor’s Award for Excellence for her work to facilitate the establishment of the Gold Classroom Virtual Studio. Weems worked with a team from the Education, Exhibits & Digital Media, Facilities and Living Collections sections under challenging and constantly changing conditions… Read More >


Kunzite gem

Rocktober: Earth Science Week – Minerals

October 15, 2021

These are gemstones from the William Wallace Stephens Collection. They belonged to a temporary exhibit that was built for the opening of our new location in Greenville. Photo: Sean Moran. We’re celebrating Earth Week! Curator of Geology Chris Tacker weighs in on the three themes for Minerals Day from the Mineralogical Society of America’s site:… Read More >


Field of goldenrod at Prairie Ridge.

The Goldenrods of Prairie Ridge

October 7, 2021

By Chris Goforth, Head of Citizen Science Most of the flowers at Prairie Ridge have already bloomed and wilted this year, but as summer has shifted to fall, visitors to Prairie Ridge will see one last flush of blooms before winter sets in. The goldenrods are currently putting on a magnificent display of bright yellow… Read More >