Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Let the magic begin. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” plays at Museum Dec. 27

December 19, 2019

(RALEIGH, N.C.) — Hidden deep within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry lies an object that can make you wealthy … and immortal! Don’t miss “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001, PG) on the big screen at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Friday, Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. This is the tale… Read More >


A massive Christmas tree in front of the NC Capitol building.

12 Festive Facts about the Fraser Fir

Near the peak of Mount Mitchell stands tall the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). At an elevation of 6,684 feet, this is the tree’s highest native habitat. The Fraser fir has a restricted range, growing naturally only at elevations above 4,500 feet in the southern Appalachian Mountains, including throughout western North Carolina. This tree will decorate… Read More >


Black bear captured by the Candid Critters Project.

A New Cloud Platform Unveils the Most Diverse Camera Trap Database in the World

December 17, 2019

Fueled by Artificial Intelligence, Wildlife Insights provides access to over 4.5 million camera trap records Today, conservation organizations released over 4.5 million camera trap records as a part of Wildlife Insights, a groundbreaking cloud platform that provides vital, near real-time information about the wildlife populations across the globe. Camera traps are used worldwide, snapping thousands… Read More >


Female eastern bluebird feeding on poison ivy berries.

What Do NC Native Birds Eat in the Winter?

December 13, 2019

Winter is a tough time for a lot of animals, but especially for birds, who tend to remain exposed to the elements throughout the year. So, what are our resident North Carolina birds finding for food as autumn yields to winter? Wild Raisin (Viburnum nudum) The berries of wild raisins appear in fall, but persist… Read More >


A giant sloth skeleton in our exhibits.

3 NCMNS Paleontologists’ Favorite Exhibits

December 5, 2019

Paleontology Exhibit Feature #1 Willo, the Thescelosaurus in the Prehistoric North Carolina Exhibit (Nature Exploration Center, 3rd Floor) by Lindsay Zanno, Ph.D., Head of Paleontology Why it matters Thescelosaurus was one of the last dinosaurs to live prior to the mass extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous that killed off three of every… Read More >