natural history museum

Leonard A. Lauder's monumental gift of his Cubist art collection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2013 transformed private treasures into public assets. This significant donation, featuring masterpieces by Picasso and Braque, democratized access to art history and bolstered the Met's modern art offerings. The accompanying research center further cemented its lasting impact.

Discover the colossal meteorites that dwarf typical museum displays, with some weighing up to 60 tons. These massive iron and nickel fragments, like the immovable Hoba in Namibia and Argentina's El Chaco, offer insights into the early solar system. Their survival is attributed to the durability of iron meteorites during atmospheric entry.

Miners in Bernissart, Belgium, found a massive clay deposit in 1878. This deposit contained numerous Iguanodon skeletons. The discovery provided complete skeletons for the first time. Scientists learned about dinosaur posture and anatomy. This find reshaped museum displays and our understanding of prehistoric life. The Bernissart Iguanodons remain a key exhibit.

Miners in Zambia unearthed the Broken Hill skull in 1921, a fossil initially baffling scientists with its mix of modern and primitive features. New dating reveals this early human coexisted with the first Homo sapiens in Africa, challenging linear evolution theories. This discovery highlights the complex, branching nature of human ancestry.

Miners in Germany's Neander Valley unearthed peculiar bones in 1856, revealing evidence of a distinct human type. This discovery challenged prevailing beliefs about human uniqueness, proving Neanderthals were advanced beings who interbred with modern humans. Their legacy lives on in our DNA, enriching our understanding of human diversity and shared ancestry.

In 1831, a sand-clearing resident on the Isle of Lewis unearthed 93 elaborately carved figures, the Lewis Chessmen, made of walrus ivory and whale teeth. These 12th-century Norwegian-crafted pieces, resembling humans with distinct emotions, revealed a sophisticated medieval trade network. Now housed in London and Edinburgh, their expressive nature continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Archaeologists excavating for the Sizewell C nuclear facility in Suffolk unearthed a lead-encased parcel containing 321 silver coins minted between 1036 and 1044. This hoard, likely belonging to a locally significant, affluent individual during a period of English political turmoil, was discovered due to modern infrastructure development, highlighting how such projects act as crucial engines for uncovering historical finds.

Archaeological excavations at Hisarlik in Turkey reveal that Troy was not a single city but a series of nine distinct settlements built over millennia. This layered history, stretching from the Bronze Age to the Roman period, demonstrates Troy's enduring significance as a strategic trade hub and a testament to human resilience, far beyond the mythological war.

Two ancient crocodile cousins, unearthed in New Mexico, offer a rare glimpse into early reptilian evolution. Discovered side-by-side, these 210-million-year-old fossils reveal distinct adaptations for hunting, with one possessing a long snout and the other a powerful bite. This find highlights the diversification of crocodile relatives long before modern species emerged, showcasing a pivotal moment in prehistoric life.

Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet were spotted hand-in-hand in New York City, attending a play with Kris and Kim Kardashian. This public appearance ahead of the Met Gala has fueled speculation about a potential couple's debut at the prestigious event. Fans are eager to see if the duo will grace the red carpet together this year.

In 1979, a young Steve Jobs visited Xerox PARC, witnessing groundbreaking technologies like the mouse, graphical windows, and icons. This exposure profoundly influenced the development of the Macintosh and the modern graphical user interface. The visit marked a pivotal moment, bridging Xerox's research with Apple's consumer product vision, ultimately shaping the personal computer revolution.

In 1974, farmers digging for water near Xi'an unearthed the Terracotta Army, a vast collection of life-sized clay warriors guarding Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb. This accidental discovery revealed thousands of unique soldiers, chariots, and horses, showcasing ancient Chinese artistry and imperial ambition. The site, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, continues to fascinate millions.

Miners in Myanmar have unearthed an astonishing 11,000-carat ruby, a find of immense significance in the nation renowned for its high-quality gemstones. Discovered in the famed Mogok district, the gem's potential value is amplified by its exceptional quality, even surpassing larger, less refined stones. This discovery highlights Myanmar's dominant role in the global ruby market.

Octopuses are surprisingly intelligent, with two-thirds of their neurons in their arms, allowing them to solve puzzles, escape enclosures, and even recognize human faces. These mollusks demonstrate advanced problem-solving skills, as evidenced by a lab octopus that raided fish tanks at night. Their intelligence evolved independently from humans, making them unique among invertebrates.

The Met Gala 2026 ditched its iconic red carpet for a lush, moss-green landscape, transforming the entrance into an art installation. This shift, led by Raúl Àvila, Baz Luhrmann, and Derek McLane, immerses guests in a Renaissance garden theme, emphasizing fashion's connection to environment and history.

A prehistoric monument, Seahenge, was discovered at Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, dating back 4,000 years. This carefully constructed circle of oak timbers, featuring an upside-down tree stump at its center, was likely erected in a marshland and may have served as an 'excarnation' platform. Its excavation sparked a significant debate about heritage, balancing scientific preservation with spiritual reverence.

A remarkable discovery in Alberta's Dinosaur Provincial Park has unearthed a near-complete juvenile hadrosaur, complete with mummified skin. This rare find, believed to be 75 million years old, offers unprecedented insights into dinosaur growth. Scientists are undertaking a meticulous, multi-year excavation to preserve this significant paleontological treasure, highlighting the badlands' unique preservation capabilities.

Beneath Greenland's melting ice lies a detailed climate journal spanning millennia. This frozen archive preserves atmospheric snapshots, offering crucial insights into past thermal states and the ice sheet's resilience during warmer periods. Understanding this record is vital for projecting future sea levels and informing climate policy.

Scorpions' stingers are remarkably engineered with metals like zinc, manganese, and iron strategically placed for optimal function. Zinc at the tip aids piercing, while manganese provides structural support. This metal enrichment, an evolutionary adaptation, enhances the durability and effectiveness of their hunting weapons without unnecessary reinforcement.

A new dinosaur species, Dasosaurus tocantinensis, was unearthed in Brazil, boasting a 65-foot neck and challenging previous understandings of prehistoric travel. Its closest relative found in Spain highlights ancient land bridges connecting continents during the Gondwana supercontinent era. This discovery also sheds light on the biological mechanisms behind the immense growth of sauropods.

Jurassic giants, sauropods, consumed up to 100,000 calories daily, fueling their massive bodies. These colossal herbivores evolved remarkable adaptations, including long necks for efficient foraging and rapidly replaced simple teeth, to process vast amounts of nutrient-rich horsetails. Their immense digestive systems, acting as fermentation tanks, were key to survival, showcasing nature's ingenious solutions for immense life.

A routine day at an Alberta oil sands mine led to an extraordinary discovery: Borealopelta markmitchelli, an armored dinosaur preserved with its skin, scales, and armor intact. This exceptionally complete fossil, found in marine sandstone, offers an unprecedented glimpse into the animal's appearance, diet, and the ancient Cretaceous environment.