NEWS

Natural history collections are essential in helping researchers learn about past populations, ecosystems, climates, and how these have changed over time. Through written observations and logs, and collected and preserved specimens, individuals have collectively amassed a vast body of written knowledge that chronicles the recent history of our planet and informs much of our understanding… Read More >

  Dr. Adrian Smith, Head of the Museum’s Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Research Lab, has posted a new video of jumping plant lice. Jumping plant lice, or psyllids, are the fastest front-flipping insects, but not many people know about how amazing they are! Dr. Smith set out to film the high-flying flips of these plant-feeding,… Read More >

NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Director and CEO Eric Dorfman is really fond of manatees. So much so that he often spends part of his lunch break watching a manatee livecam. His latest blog post, “Teleworking with Manatees,” goes into the natural history of the creatures and the threats they face, including the huge tropical… Read More >

One of the many things I love about the start of fall is that it’s also caterpillar time! Though you can find caterpillars through the spring and summer, in my experience, they seem to be most abundant in fall. Fortunately, caterpillar season corresponds with the Museum’s annual BugFest event. For many years my coworkers and… Read More >

(RALEIGH, N.C.) — Take A Child Outside Week, an international initiative spearheaded by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 24 and runs through Wednesday, Sept. 30. Designed to help break down obstacles that keep children from exploring the natural world, the program encourages children and adults to spend time together… Read More >