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 >


STEAM CS keynote speaker Brandon Winfield.

STEAM Career Showcase Spotlight: Keynote Speaker Brandon Winfield

The Museum is happy to welcome Brandon Winfield (he/him) as our keynote speaker for the STEAM Career Showcase for Students With Disabilities. Last year, Brandon served as a panelist for the program. In 2008, Brandon was injured in a motocross accident that left him with a thoracic spinal cord injury (paralyzed from the chest down)…. Read More >


Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) by Jeff Beane.

Thirteen helminth species found inside NC’s eastern rat snakes

Eastern rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis). Photo: Jeff Beane. A new paper co-authored by Museum herpetologist Jeff Beane represents the first report of gastrointestinal helminths (parasitic worms) found in the eastern rat snake from North Carolina. In fact, 13 different helminth species were discovered and recorded in 20 of the 28 snakes examined by lead author… Read More >


Students carry fossils from the Crystal Geyser Quarry (Utah).

Expedition Extreme: Museum Paleontology Staff, Students Dig In

September 30, 2021

The team excavates a duckbill dinosaur in the San Juan Basin (New Mexico). By Dr. Lindsay Zanno, Head of Paleontology (Lead author) Micah Beasley, PR & Marketing Coordinator (contributor) This summer, the staff and students of the Zanno Lab at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences geared up for our longest expedition yet, logging 90… Read More >


STEAM Career Showcase for Students With Disabilities

Virtually meet role models with disabilities when Museum hosts STEAM Showcase Oct. 19

September 29, 2021

[RALEIGH, N.C.] — The great jobs of today and tomorrow are in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). Yet people with disabilities remain underrepresented in these fields. To help turn that tide, the 9th annual STEAM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities will be held virtually Tuesday, October 19 from 1 to 3:30 p.m.,… Read More >