NEWS

The French call painted buntings — a bird the size of a house finch flitting through the shrubs on our southernmost shores — “nonpareil,” or “without equal.” They’re right. Each adult male painted bunting carries a rainbow splattered across his body: red underneath with a lime-green back, bluish-purple head, red eye ring. They seem too… Read More >

Globally, there are approximately 350 species of turtles with a wide variety of anatomic and physiologic differences, ranging from sea turtles with large and slender flippers adapted for propulsion during swimming, to snapping turtles that have extremely flexible necks for quickly catching prey. In a recent study, Museum Chief Veterinarian Dr. Dan Dombrowski, North Carolina… Read More >

Scientists and chefs have collaborated on a new study that demonstrates how fermented foods can be used to drive participatory science projects that both engage the public and advance our understanding of microbial ecology. The study focused on working with food experts and the public to examine the microbial communities associated with kombucha, kimchi and… Read More >

In a recent slow-motion video from Dr. Adrian Smith, Head of the Museum’s Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Research Lab and producer of the Ant Lab channel on YouTube, you’ll get a closer look at the wings and flight of rove beetles and earwigs. According to Smith, “rove beetles and earwigs, between them, have the most… Read More >

A recent exploration in eastern North Carolina had a team of scientists spending months either combing sandy beaches or armpit-deep in creek mud, each effort leading to some great finds — including fossils from the age of dinosaurs — destined for inclusion in the Museum’s collection. Museum paleontologist and team leader Dr. Christian Kammerer says… Read More >