From a poison mystery to dispatches from a paleo expedition to Mongolia, here is a look at some favorite blog posts from 2014.
Researchers Reveal Covert World of Fish Biofluorescence
In January, a team of researchers led by Museum scientists released the first report of widespread biofluorescence in the tree of life of fishes, identifying more than 180 species that glow in a wide range of colors and patterns.
Polar Bear Diet Changes as Sea Ice Melts
Studies by Museum scientists suggest that polar bears in the warming Arctic are turning to alternate food sources. As Arctic sea ice melts earlier and freezes later each year, polar bears must spend more time on land and are using flexible foraging strategies.
Was Napoleon Bonaparte poisoned? This mystery—which was featured in the 2013–2014 Museum exhibition The Power of Poison—has intrigued historians since the defeated French emperor’s death on May 5, 1821.
Amazing Ammonites
The extinct mollusks known as ammonites inhabited the planet for more than 300 million years—almost twice as long as dinosaurs. In 2014, the Museum’s collections grew by about 150,000 ammonite specimens with the addition of the Mapes marine fossil collection, donated by Ohio University.
Archival Image Treasure Trove Goes Online
In April, some 7,000 archival photographs, rare book illustrations, drawings, notes, letters, and memorabilia from the Museum's expeditions, exhibitions, and research came online with the launch of Digital Special Collections.
Sea Anemone Tree of Life Reveals Giant Species as Impostor
A deep-water creature once thought to be one of the world’s largest sea anemones, with tentacles reaching more than 6.5 feet long, belongs to a new order of animals, Museum researchers reported in May.
Fieldwork Journal: A Day in the Life of a Paleontologist
Jack Tseng, a postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Paleontology, blogged about a day in the life of a paleontologist during an expedition to Inner Mongolia in August.
Lonesome George and the Galapagos Today
With the opening in September of the exhibition about Lonesome George, the famed Galapagos tortoise that was the last of his species, the Museum hosted an in-depth conversation about biodiversity and conservation.
As the Butterfly Conservatory re-opened in the fall, we highlighted a Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing from the Museum’s collection—the world’s largest butterfly and also one of the most endangered.
Seven Questions for Collections Dean Scott Schaefer
Dr. Schaefer, who oversees the Museum’s 33-million-strong scientific holdings, talked shop in November as we launched Shelf Life, our new original series about the Museum’s collections.
