National Museum of Natural History Blog

Smithsonian Voices

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How Smithsonian Fossil Preparators Are Re-Excavating a Tyrannosaur From Its Past on Display

This National Fossil Day, take an inside look at the effort to free the skeleton for research after more than a century in museum fossil halls

Jack Tamisiea | October 11, 2023

The ceiling of the NMNH rotunda creates a circular pattern above the underside of the grey trunk of the elephant.

Behind the Lens: Meet the Photographers Capturing the Museum’s Most Stunning Moments.

From tiny bat jaws to colossal geodes, the photography team at the National Museum of Natural History has spent decades documenting the Smithsonian’s hidden wonders.

Emma Saaty | July 25, 2023

New Museum Display Showcases the Mineral Building Blocks of Cellphones

The story behind the specimens at the center of the museum’s new exhibition “Cellphone: Unseen Connections”

Jack Tamisiea | June 28, 2023

“Endlessly Fascinating Devices”: Why the National Museum of Natural History is Exploring the Cultural Nature of Cellphones

A behind the scenes glimpse of the museum’s new exhibition, “Cellphone: Unseen Connections”

Jack Tamisiea | June 9, 2023

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The Story Behind the Smithsonian’s Newest Gem: the Exquisite Lion of Merelani

The stunning tsavorite gemstone arrives at the museum with a well-documented history

Jack Tamisiea | April 20, 2023

Turning Off Your Lights Could Save Millions of Birds Each Year from Deadly Building Collisions

Artificial lights wash out the stars that guide bird migrations, luring them into a maze of treacherous obstacles and highlighting the need to preserve the dark night sky

Emma Saaty | April 19, 2023

Peer Through the Glare to Glimpse the Night Sky in New Smithsonian Exhibition

‘Lights Out’ explores how ecology and culture revolve around the night and how light pollution is threatening this essential darkness

Jack Tamisiea | March 23, 2023

Lucy’s Legacy: Celebrating the 48th Anniversary of Her Discovery with a Selfie

The iconic ancient hominin gets her hands on a smartphone in anticipation of the museum’s upcoming exhibition exploring the global impact of cellphones.

Lyric Aquino | November 24, 2022

A flower with bright pink petals and a yellow interior blooms on the surface of a water near several green and brown lily pads.

New Smithsonian Exhibition Explores the Intersection of People and Nature

See the historic giant hornet ‘nest zero’ and explore how communities near and far interact with nature in ‘Our Places’

Jack Tamisiea | June 28, 2022

Five orange, 3D-printed statues of female scientists in a garden in front of the Smithsonian Castle on a sunny day.

120 3-D-Printed Statues of Women Redefine What Scientists Look Like

“IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit” takes over Smithsonian March 5-27

Jack Tamisiea | March 8, 2022

A Japanese macaque holds a stolen cellphone while shoulder deep in hot spring.

See Past Winning Photographs From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Smithsonian hosts specially curated exhibition of evocative images featuring unforgettable animal behavior.

Abigail Eisenstadt | November 4, 2021

Museum display of the Berns Quartz from the front. The specimen is behind counter-height glass with a backdrop of Arkansas' Ouachita Mountains.

The Story Behind the New 8,000-Pound Quartz at the Smithsonian

A one-of-a-kind natural quartz now welcomes visitors to the natural history museum

Abigail Eisenstadt | October 27, 2021

A wide shot of a museum exhibit, featuring a dark, faceless, naked female mannequin covered in orange genetic code in the background with a monitor in the foreground showing an orange and white graphic of two people with "What do you think?" between them.

Your Genomic Story Awaits at Smithsonian

Exhibit returns to unravel the complexities of humans' shared genetics

Tess Joosse | October 21, 2021

Two people an augmented-reality experience wear headsets while reaching out to "touch" a holographic killer whale.

Smithsonian's New Holographic Experience Dives Into Marine Conservation

“Critical Distance" explores why southern resident orca whales are endangered and how marine conservation can help.

Abigail Eisenstadt | September 29, 2021

“Unsettled Nature” features artworks by Bethany Taylor and six other contemporary artists that show how humans have changed nature. (James Di Loreto, Smithsonian)

Artists Show Human Impact on the Planet in New Exhibit

The exhibition raises the question of what is “natural” in a world dominated by humans.

Margaret Osborne | July 1, 2021

A giant replica of the Aedes mosquito, a known vector for the disease yellow fever, has been waiting for visitors to return the National Museum of Natural History’s “Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World” exhibit. (James Di Loreto, Smithsonian)

Don’t Miss These Objects When the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum Reopens

Whether you're a seasoned visitor or a newbie to the natural history museum, there are plenty of things for you to explore.

Abigail Eisenstadt | June 15, 2021

An illustration of the new coronavirus. Coronaviruses are named for the spikes on their outer surface, which look like points on a crown. (CDC)

‘One Health’ Could Prevent the Next Coronavirus Outbreak

An exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History puts the new coronavirus outbreak into context, showing how and why new viruses emerge and what we can do to stop them from spreading.

Margaret Osborne | February 14, 2020