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National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian Voices

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Dusting Dinosaurs and Elephants: How Specialists Keep the Museum’s Largest Treasures Spotless

To celebrate International Museum Day, learn how experts protect the museum’s most dramatic displays from dust bunnies and cobwebs

Naomi Greenberg | May 16, 2024

nmnh2018_allosaurus_fragilis_usnm4734_002.jpg

Just Our Type: Museum's Dinosaur Skeleton Becomes the Scientific Standard for Its Species

In this month’s Specimen Spotlight, find out what makes the Smithsonian's Allosaurus specimen so special

Jack Tamisiea | April 17, 2024

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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

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2022 in Review: The Year’s Top Discoveries by Museum Researchers

An Ichthyosaur graveyard, oyster middens and other headline-grabbing findings by scientists at the National Museum of Natural History

Jack Tamisiea | January 13, 2023
Tyrannosaurus rex was first discovered in 1900, and named in 1905. But not much was known about how it lived or died. (USNM 555000 and USNM 500000, Smithsonian)

What We've Discovered About the 'Tyrant Lizard King' Since the Nation's T. rex Was Unearthed

Paleontologists continue to use the species to find out more about tyrannosaurs and dinosaurs in general

Abigail Eisenstadt | September 7, 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
This fossilized dinosaur head and vertebrae were discovered in 1883 but only recently gained its name, Smitanosaurus agilis. (Smithsonian)

Scientists Give Old Dinosaur a New Name

A new study has reclassified a fossil discovered in 1883 as a dicraeosaurid — a family of long-necked dinosaurs rarely found in North America.

Abigail Eisenstadt | February 18, 2021
The broad-tailed hummingbird uses its fiery throat feathers, called a gorget, to attract a mate. (Kati Fleming, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Eight of Nature’s Wildest Mating Rituals

From aerial acrobatics to sexual deception and physical battles, some species have developed more unusual rituals to show off their prowess as a potential mate.

Emily Leclerc | February 11, 2021
Many artists work hard to bring dinosaurs to life with accurate details, but often products can be out dated or be careless with details like how Diplodocus held their necks. (© N. Tamura CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

A Shopper’s Guide to Dinosaur Gifts

Tips to help you buy scientifically accurate dinosaur gifts for your loved one.

Bailey Bedford | December 16, 2019
Free post cards were given to service members when they visited the US National Museum (now the National Museum of Natural History) in the 1940s. (Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image # SIA2013-07711)

How WWII Service Members Helped Shape the Smithsonian’s New Fossil Hall

World War II service members played an important role in the shift toward audience-centric storytelling in the new "David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time."

Diana Marsh | November 8, 2019
The Smithsonian’s new fossil hall includes myriad stories and details – big and small – about Earth’s 4.6-billion-year history. (Smithsonian Institution)

Five Things You Shouldn’t Miss in the New Fossil Hall

Here's what the experts behind "Deep Time" don't want you to miss.

Erin I. Garcia de Jesus | July 18, 2019
Visitors enter the Smithsonian’s new fossil hall for the first on June 8 when it reopened after being closed for a five-year renovation. (Smithsonian Institution)

How Exhibit Writers Tackled Earth’s 4.6 Billion Year History in ‘Deep Time’

Exhibition writer, Angela Roberts Reeder, shares what it took to write the script for the new "David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time," now open at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.

Angela Roberts Reeder | July 10, 2019
Miniature dinosaurs are staged in a scene from 150 million years ago while guests peruse another display showing the same species at full-size. (Smithsonian Institution)

The Experts Behind the New Fossil Hall Wrap Their Minds Around ‘Deep Time’

The team behind the Smithsonian's new dinosaur and fossil hall reflect on what "deep time" means to them.

Erin I. Garcia de Jesus | July 5, 2019
Smithsonian paleontologist, Hans Sues, answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History’s Deep Time YouTube series, “The Doctor Is In.” (Smithsonian Institution)

The Dr. Is In: Who Would Win in a Duel - T. rex or Stegosaurus - and Other Questions From Our Readers

Cat-loving paleontologist answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, "The Doctor Is In."

Anna Torres | June 28, 2019
Smithsonian paleontologist, Hans Sues, answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History’s Deep Time YouTube series, “The Doctor Is In.” (Smithsonian Institution)

The Dr. Is In: Is Dimetrodon a Dinosaur and Other Questions from Our Readers

Cat-loving paleontologist answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, "The Doctor Is In."

Anna Torres | June 19, 2019
Smithsonian paleontologist, Hans Sues, answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History’s Deep Time YouTube series, “The Doctor Is In.” (Smithsonian Institution)

The Dr. Is In: What Is the Smallest Known Dinosaur and Other Questions from Our Readers

Cat-loving paleontologist answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, "The Doctor Is In."

Anna Torres | June 7, 2019
Smithsonian paleontologist, Hans Sues, answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History’s Deep Time YouTube series, “The Doctor Is In.” (Smithsonian Institution)

The Dr. Is In: What Did Stegosaurus Eat and Other Questions from Our Readers

Cat-loving paleontologist answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, "The Doctor Is In."

Anna Torres | May 24, 2019
Smithsonian paleontologist, Hans Sues, answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History’s Deep Time YouTube series, “The Doctor Is In.” (Smithsonian Institution)

The Dr. Is In: Are Birds Dinosaurs and Other Questions from Our Readers

Cat-loving paleontologist answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, "The Doctor Is In."

Anna Torres | May 10, 2019
Was the Loch Ness Monster a Plesiosaur? Smithsonian paleontologist, Hans Sues, answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History’s YouTube series, “The Doctor Is In.” (Smithsonian Institution)

Was the Loch Ness Monster a Plesiosaur and Other Questions from Our Readers, Including Slash (Yes, THE Slash).

Cat-loving paleontologist answers your questions in the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, "The Doctor Is In."

Anna Torres | April 26, 2019
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