News & Blogs

Research posts Whales and Hippos Evolved Water-Ready Skin Independently Hippos and cetaceans are close relatives, but their shared “aquatic” skin traits did not come from a common ancestor. April 1, 2021 Research posts Sizzling Planet Might Orbit Star Vega Based on decade of ground observations, astronomers see “jiggle” indicating an alien world in orbit of neighboring star. March 24, 2021 Research posts First Biofluorescent Fish Found in the Arctic In icy waters off Greenland, Museum researchers found a species of snailfish that glows in shades of red and green. March 18, 2021 Research posts Hungry Green Algae Will Eat Live Bacteria, New Study Shows New experimental approach that uses non-toxic fluorescent dye shows that green algae consume bacteria. March 2, 2021 Research posts Ancient Octopuses Hunted by Piercing Shells Much Earlier Than Thought New research unveils the earliest evidence of octopus predation in the fossil record. February 22, 2021 Education posts Museum Partners with MIT to Introduce Students to AI in Scientific Research With a grant from the National Science Foundation, Museum program for high school students adds a machine learning track. January 28, 2021 Research posts Scientists Find New Bat in West African Sky Islands The new species, described by Museum and Bat Conservation International researchers, lives in old mining tunnels. January 13, 2021 Research posts Researchers Find a New Hidden Gene in COVID-19 Virus Hard-to-spot overlapping genes can advance efforts to find new ways of controlling the SARS-CoV-2 virus. November 10, 2020 Research posts New Fossil of Extinct Human Relative Suggests Climate Change Led to Rapid Evolution Paranthropus robustus fossil shows species changed as its environment cooled 2 million years ago. November 9, 2020 Research posts “Sea Pickles” May Glow Because of Newly Discovered Gene Finding may indicate first bioluminescent gene from a chordate, the group that includes all vertebrates. October 20, 2020 News Posts Museum Astronomer Jackie Faherty Receives Vera Rubin Prize Prestigious award recognizes Faherty’s broad-reaching research efforts and effective public outreach about space science. October 16, 2020 Research posts Ancient Rainforest Indicator Should be Reconsidered, Museum Scientists Find Researchers look back at ancient ecosystems by studying diets in the fossil record, and one standard is being reassessed. October 8, 2020