OSTP & NOAA Ship to Shore Program Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-05 | Join the President’s Science Advisor and ocean explorers as they investigate 10,000 feet deep in an area of the seafloor that’s never been explored before. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) invite you to join a virtual event highlighting the importance and value of the ocean during a live conversation with explorers onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, America’s ship for ocean exploration. Presidential Science Advisor and OSTP Director Dr. Eric Lander will co-host the livestreamed event with NOAA National Ocean Service Exhibits Manager and Education Specialist Symone Barkley. The live interaction will bring the excitement of discovery directly to the public as ocean explorers image areas of the seafloor that people have never explored before and share their real-time discoveries through a live-streamed video feed. The event will stoke curiosity about the diverse and largely unknown ecosystems and organisms of the deep sea and highlight the importance of the ocean for addressing the climate crisis, rebuilding the economy, and advancing environmental justice. The event will feature commentary live from: The Smithsonian Museum of Natural HistoryDr. Eric S. Lander, President’s Science Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology PolicySymone Barkley, NOAA National Ocean Service Exhibits Manager and Education SpecialistDr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryDr. Rick Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerCommander Nicole Manning, Commanding Officer of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation OperationsDr. Derek Sowers, Mapping Lead, NOAA Ocean ExplorationDr. Allen Collins, Biology Science Lead, NOAA Fisheries National Systematics Laboratory Director (co-housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) Ask a question:Do you have a question you’d like to ask an ocean explorer? Please submit your questions ahead of the event via Twitter at #AskAnExplorer. To learn more:People can visit NOAA Ocean Exploration (oceanexplorer.noaa.gov), the Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal (https://ocean.si.edu/), and other marine-focused websites or visit your local museums and parks.
HOT Topic – A Colorful Path: What the Ancient Pigment Ochre Tells Us About the Modern Human Mind Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2024-01-05 | Ochre and mineral pigments have been used for well over 100,000 years by our species, Homo sapiens. These iron-rich, brightly colored rocks are still widely used around the world today in many ways — from skin protection and medicine to paint — but how do we know how and why it was used in past? Tammy Hodgskiss is an archaeologist and curator at Origins Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, who researches how humans used ochre in the past in southern Africa. In this presentation she discusses new research and interpretations on early human interactions with ochre. Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This Zoom webinar aired December 14, 2023, as part of the HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series.Smithsonian's Human Origins Program Website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT Topic – Your Inner Neanderthal: Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA in Modern Human Genomes Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-12-07 | When early modern humans encountered Neanderthals and Denisovans, these archaic humans contributed DNA to our genomes. But how many archaic human groups did we encounter and what role does archaic human DNA play in the lives of present-day people? Laurits Skov is a geneticist at UC Berkeley studying the role of archaic DNA in modern humans. In this presentation, he discusses evolutionary history of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA found in the genomes of more than 30,000 people living today. Moderated by Briana Pobiner, a paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This Zoom webinar aired November 16, 2023, as part of the HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series.Human Origins Website from NMNH: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic – Less Is More: The Inclusion of Small Game in Ancient Human Diets Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-10-26 | In modern complex societies, small animals are often considered too difficult for people to hunt without utilizing techniques involving traps. But what do we know about the role of smaller animals in the diets of ancient humans? Grace Veatch is a zooarchaeologist at the Smithsonian Institution and an expert in uncovering ancient human diets involving smaller animals. In this video, she discusses active research from Liang Bua in Indonesia, an archaeological site with incredible preservation that is challenging what we know about the inclusion of small game in ancient human diets. This Zoom webinar aired October 12, 2023, as part of the HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series.Visit the Human Origins Website from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
Human Origins Today – From Ancient Teosinte to Modern Corn: The Domestication of Plants and People Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-10-25 | Modern corn is a food staple, animal feed, biofuel, industrial sweetener, alcohol base, and even a source for bio-plastics. But what do we really know about how corn came to be so ubiquitous in ancient and modern societies? Heather Thakar is an archaeobotanist at Texas A&M University and an expert in the early domestication history of tropical plants in the Americas. In this video, she discusses active research coming from the El Gigante Rockshelter in Honduras, a site of incredible ancient plant preservation that is challenging what we know about maize domestication. This Zoom webinar aired September 21, 2023, as part of the HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series.Visit the Human Origins Website from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
Gyotaku Fish Printing with Dwight Hwang Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-09-29 | Artist Dwight Hwang and research zoologist Kate Bemis discuss the Japanese art of Gyotaku fish printing and Dwight demonstrates how to make a fish print.Conversation highlights:Dwight’s story: 0:35History of Gyotaku: 03:18Materials and Process: 06:10Criteria for a good fish for printing: 08:14Examples of Dwight’s gyotaku prints: 09:14Sourcing and collaborations: 13:02NOAA surveys: 13:40Accessibility of Gyotaku: 15:00Dwight’s favorite print: 15:58Demonstration: 19:07
Cellphone: Unseen Connections | A Smithsonian Exhibition Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-07-26 | What’s inside your cellphone? Explore its materials, meet some of the people who make it possible, and consider how your phone influences your life—and connects you to the natural world. The exhibition "Cellphone: Unseen Connection," will be on view at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. from June 23, 2023 through 2026.Through more than 300 objects from around the world, multimedia installations, an interactive group chat, and a graphic novel spanning three gallery walls, explore the unseen personal, cultural, and technological connections your cellphone makes easier. Head to the museum's website to plan your visit: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/cellphone-unseen-connections
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic – Chasing Tales: Humans, Dogs, and Evolution Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-05-30 | Dogs were the first domesticated animals and have been an ever-present part of humanity since that time. Yet, we know very little about how this relationship began. When were dogs domesticated and how? Where were they domesticated and how many times? In this video, Angela Perri, a zooarchaeologist at Chronicle Heritage and Texas A&M University, discusses recent research into dog domestication and the earliest human-dog relationships and explores why the beginnings of this enduring relationship remain such a mystery. Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural HistoryThis Zoom webinar aired May 18, 2023.The Smithsonian's Human Origins Program: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic: Tools, Hippos, and Early Humans at the Dawn of Technology Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-05-09 | While some species of non-human primates produce technologies that assist in foraging, humans are uniquely dependent on technology for survival. How far back in time does this technological dependency go? The oldest geographically widespread and long-lasting technology is the Oldowan stone tool industry, first appearing more than 2.6 million years ago in eastern Africa. In this video, Tom Plummer, a biological anthropologist at Queens College, CUNY, presents recent research from 3.0 – 2.6 million-year-old archaeological sites at Nyayanga, Kenya, showing that early stone tool users processed a variety of plant and animal foods there, including animals as large as hippos. The simple pounding and cutting technology enhanced these tool users’ adaptability by allowing them to extract foods that would have otherwise been inaccessible.Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural HistoryThis Zoom webinar aired April 13, 2023, as part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series.The Smithsonian's Human Origins Program: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic – What Is a Species: Clues From the Hominin Fossil Record Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-04-04 | Paleoanthropologists classify ancient human fossil remains into different species — but what are fossil species, and how can we recognize, define, and delimitate them?Ryan McRae is a biological anthropologist in the Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology at the George Washington University and an expert in understanding the patterns of evolution in our lineage. In this presentation he discusses how early species are defined and what we know about the completeness of the early human fossil record.Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural HistoryThis program was offered as part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series.Smithsonian's Human Origins Website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/Upcoming Events from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/events
Narrated Virtual Tour: Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals – Pegmatites Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-02-22 | Did you know that many of the largest and most beautiful crystals on display in the museum come from a unique type of rock known as pegmatites? What are pegmatites and what makes them special? At first sight, pegmatites resemble granites, but they have a very diverse range of mineralogy and textures, and unusual chemical compositions. One of the most obvious features that set them apart from granites is their larger grain size. Minerals from granites are 1 inch or less in size, while pegmatites typically contain crystals ranging in size from a few inches across up to 50 feet long! In this tour you'll see examples of pegmatites, learn how they form, and find out how we use some minerals found in pegmatites.Virtual Tour: Minerals and Gems Galleryhttps://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-129.htmlMore About the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Mineralshttps://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/janet-annenberg-hooker-hall-geology-gems-and-minerals
Narrated Virtual Tour: Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals – Moon, Meteorites, and Solar System Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-02-22 | Where do we come from? How did our planet form? How do we know about the history of our solar system? You can explore these universal questions in the Moon, Meteorite and Solar System Gallery. Earth’s story begins with the birth of the Solar System more than 4.6 billion years ago. Our planet is a byproduct of the Sun’s formation from a vast cloud of dust and gas. There aren't a lot of clues left on Earth about its early life because plate tectonics and erosion have erased them. But meteorites — extraterrestrial rocks that land on Earth — provide an extraordinary opportunity to piece together the story of our planet. Meteorites are leftovers from the Solar System’s formation and they record the history of that process. In this tour, you will see part of the museum’s meteorite collection, which contains more than 17, 000 specimens of more than 9,000 distinct meteorites. Learn where meteorites come from, where they are found, and what the different types are.Virtual Tour of the Moon, Meteorite, and Solar System Galleryhttps://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-142.htmlMeteorites: Messengers from Outer Spacehttps://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/teaching-resources/earth-science/meteorites-messengers-outer-space
Narrated Virtual Tour: Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals – Harry Winston Gallery and Hope Diamond Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-02-22 | Each year, millions of visitors come here to see one of the most iconic specimens exhibited in any museum, the Hope Diamond. Renowned jeweler Harry Winston donated this historic diamond to the Smithsonian in 1958. Today, it is prominently displayed at the center of the Winston Gallery, in its elegant diamond necklace that rotates slowly inside a glass vault. The amazing and sometimes mysterious past of this stone has also contributed to its fame. The Hope is one of the largest blue diamonds in the world. It weighs 45.52 carats and is about the size of a walnut. While many diamonds are found in shades of brown or yellow, blue is one of the rarest colors. The Hope Diamond is surrounded by six masterpieces of nature that speak of the Earth’s treasures you can discover in the other galleries of the Geology, Gems and Minerals Hall.Learn More about the Hope Diamondhttps://naturalhistory2.si.edu/mineralsciences/hope/Virtual Tour of the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Mineralshttps://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-117.html
Narrated Virtual Tour: Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals – Introduction Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-02-22 | The Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals opened in 1997. Nearly 3,500 gems, minerals, rocks, and meteorites from the Museum’s collections are displayed in a total of seven Galleries. Walking through the Hall takes you on a journey from the center of the Earth to the vast reaches of the solar system.Virtual Tour of the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Mineralshttps://naturalhistory2.si.edu/vt3/NMNH/z_tour-117.htmlMore About the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Mineralshttps://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/janet-annenberg-hooker-hall-geology-gems-and-mineralsSee the Collection: Smithsonian GeoGalleryhttps://naturalhistory.si.edu/explore/collections/geogallery
HOT Topic: The Latest Genetic and Archaeological Evidence for the Peopling of the Americas Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2023-01-03 | How and when did people first come to the American continents? In this video, Jennifer Raff, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Kansas University, joins our HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic program to examine the latest genetic and archaeological evidence that provides a clearer picture of America’s first peoples. She pieces together a story told by fragments of DNA recovered from a tooth in Siberia, by a small broken knife found deep below the surface of a muddy pond in Florida, and the footprints of children left thousands of years ago on the banks of an ancient lake in New Mexico. She explores why the same pieces of evidence tell different stories to different groups of scholars, and the ethical directions that genetics and archaeological research need to move toward. This Zoom webinar aired December 15, 2022.Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.Human Origins Website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic: A New Age of Exploration in Paleoanthropology Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-12-01 | Archaeologist and biological anthropologist Keneiloe Molopyane has explored some of the most challenging and dangerous excavation sites. She joins our HOT Topic series to share her experience as an "underground astronaut" at the Cradle of Humankind in South Africa — where the largest concentration of hominin fossils ever has been found, and to talk about discoveries that have advanced our understanding of our evolutionary history. This Zoom webinar aired November 17, 2022.Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonian's Human Origins Website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic: How Do Paleoanthropologists Identify New Species? Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-10-26 | The identification of new species is of major importance in studies of human evolution. But how do paleoanthropologists actually identify new fossil human species? In this video, Sheela Athreya, a biological anthropologist at Texas A&M University, shares how she is combining her research on Middle Pleistocene human fossils, Asian paleoanthropology, and decolonization of science to disrupt the conventional species concept. Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, moderates the program, which is part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series. This Zoom webinar aired October 13, 2022.Human Origins website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic – Beyond Neanderthals: Ancient DNA and the Denisovans Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-10-13 | In a cave in southern Siberia, DNA reveals that Neanderthals once spent time there, along with another group of early humans: Denisovans. Previously a mystery, with only fragments of fossils found in the Denisova Cave, ancient DNA has allowed scientists to genetically identify the Denisovans and uncover surprising new information that many modern humans have both Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA. Tom Higham, Professor of Scientific Archaeology at the University of Vienna, is at the forefront of this discovery. He has been working at Denisova Cave for the last decade with a team of researchers using new molecular methods to learn about the Denisovans, find out where and when they lived, how they interacted with Neanderthals and modern humans, and why they disappeared. In this video, Higham shares his research.Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, moderates the program, which aired September 15, 2022, as a webinar in the HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series. The Smithsonian's Human Origins Program: https://humanorigins.si.edu/
What Is a Mineral? Smithsonian Video Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-09-19 | Did you know that minerals are all around us? Minerals are the building blocks that make up rocks! They are the ores that we extract metals from to make electronics. They’re in the soils we need to grow the plants we eat for food. They’re even in our jewelry and makeup! But, what is a mineral? In this video, Mineralogist Dr. Gabriela Farfan from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History describes the five characteristics that all minerals have in common while sharing mineral specimens like the Berns Quartz from the museum's collection.This video is designed for students in Grades 3-5. After watching this video, students will be able to identify the shared features of all minerals, recall mineral uses, and know that minerals are all around us.This video complements the museum’s free school programs for students in grades 3-5:- Identifying Minerals: An in-person school program where students classify a variety of minerals by testing their luster, streak, hardness, color, and magnetism. - Rocks & Minerals: An online program where students virtually visit the Museum's Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals and, with a museum educator and their classmates, use problem-solving skills to unlock the mystery of different rocks, minerals, and their uses. Learn more about these and other free school programs and resources for students: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/school-programs/grades-3-5
Sant Ocean Hall Virtual Tour for Students | National Museum of Natural History Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-06-06 | Explore some of the Smithsonian's Sant Ocean Hall giants with ocean educator Lara Noren, museum educator Maggy Benson, and research zoologist Allen Collins. In this video, students will virtually visit five of the Sant Ocean Hall giants, including life-sized models of giant kelp, a megalodon shark, and a North Atlantic right whale, in addition to a real giant squid. At each of these stops, Ocean & Climate Educator Lara Noren discusses the natural history of these giant specimens and their connections to ocean, climate, and human health with Museum Educator Maggy Benson. For the tour's final stop, Maggy visits Zoologist Allen Collins in the Museum's Aquaroom, a space where Allen and his team keep and study about a dozen different types of jellies. During this special behind-the-scenes look at the museum, Allen discusses jellyfish, their unique life cycle, and their giant populations and importance to our world's ocean.--The Sant Ocean Hall is an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, providing visitors with a unique and breathtaking introduction to the majesty of the ocean. The hall's combination of 674 marine specimens and models, high-definition video, and technology allows visitors to explore the ocean's past, present, and future.https://ocean.si.edu/ Learn more about the Sant Ocean Hall on The Ocean Portal, a website from the National Museum of Natural History that is dedicated to everything ocean – unusual and everyday organisms, ocean-inspired art, researchers devoting their lives to exploring the still mostly mysterious ecosystem. --This video was produced by Smithsonian Enterprises 2021 with support from Quaker STEAM and in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History.
Hall of Fossils-Deep Time Virtual Tour for Students | National Museum of Natural History Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-06-06 | Explore some of the specimens in the National Museum of Natural History's 31,000-square-foot fossil hall, which explores the epic story of how Earth's distant past is connected to the present and informs our future. This virtual tour of the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History will teach students how to think like a paleontologist. Museum Educator Maggy Benson hosts our tour as we take a close look at some of the most incredible fossil animals in the hall, like dimetrodon, Camptosaurus, and the incredible battling T. rex and Triceratops. Throughout the tour, Deep Time Educator Amy Peterson will use these animals to show viewers how to make close observations, form a hypothesis, and use information from fossils to understand more about extinct creatures. Next, Maggy visits Fossil Preparator Michelle Pinsdorf in the Fossil Prep Lab to see and learn about how fossils are prepared for research and display. Continue exploring the Deep Time Hall with this collection of narrated virtual tours: youtu.be/xYOsttfX3SA?list=PLEeEhvh0_llPiT_-m0UJLbj4u-VlxfkwD --This video was produced by Smithsonian Enterprises 2021 with support from Quaker STEAM and in collaboration with the National Museum of Natural History.
Virtual Science Café: Coral Resilience, Colonial Legacies, and Cultural Heritage Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-05-26 | In this video, you will meet Smithsonian scientists studying the health of coral reefs below the surface, ancient human bones, and how indigenous communities are transforming Smithsonian collections. The short talks are: "What We Can, Or Shouldn’t, Extract from Human Bones," by Chris Stantis: Chris Stantis is a bioarchaeologist who combines advanced chemistry techniques with analyses of small pieces of bone and teeth to answer questions about ancient humans. When she set out to analyze a collection of Peruvian mummies acquired in the 19th and 20th centuries, a surprising history shifted her focus to the ethics, culture, and legacy of collecting human remains. In this talk, she’ll flesh in the story of these mummies, how they were brought to the museum and what their story tells us about the history of colonization and racism."How Indigenous Knowledge Transforms Collections," by Laura Sharp: Museum collections are transformed when they are informed by the communities from which they originate. Hear from Laura Sharp, manager of the Smithsonian’s Recovering Voices Program, about how indigenous communities are conducting collections-based research to revitalize language, knowledge, and traditions and advance and challenge our understanding of ecology, history, and culture. "Coral Microbiomes and the Key to Resilience," by Michael Connelly. Just as the human microbiome in our gut and on our skin keeps us healthy, there’s a community of microbes living within the cells of corals which affect coral health, ecology, and evolution. Marine biologist and ecologist Mike Connelly shares what scientists know about these symbiotic relationships and their importance to coral reef ecosystems that support our food, economy, and culture.This Zoom webinar aired May 17, 2022.See the museum's schedule of After Hours programs here: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/after-hoursSmithsonian's Recovering Voices Program: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/anthropology/programs/recovering-voices
HOT Topic – The Evolution of Skin Tones: A Reflection of Human Adaptation and Health Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-05-26 | How has human skin color evolved and why does it matter? Nina Jablonski, a biological anthropologist at Penn State University who studies the adaptations of humans and their primate relatives to the environment, explains how pigmentation evolved in relation to ultraviolet radiation and the role this adaptation plays in our health and well-being. Moderated by Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This Zoom webinar aired May 19, 2022, as part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic Series.Human Origins website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/Human Origins events: https://humanorigins.si.edu/about/events
HOT Topic: What Do Molecules in Mud Tell Us About the Environments of Our Early Hominin Ancestors? Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-05-25 | Humans have old, deep roots in Africa, where our earliest ancestors evolved some 7 million years ago. What role, if any, did climate and environment play in shaping human evolution, or how we got here?In this HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic session, Kevin Uno, an Associate Research Professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, explains how we know what past climate and environments were like in Africa using geochemical fingerprints left in the rock and fossil record. Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This Zoom webinar aired April 21, 2022, as part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic Series.Human Origins website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/Human Origins events: https://humanorigins.si.edu/about/events
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic – Ancient Pyrotechnology: The Role of Fire in Human Evolution Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-05-23 | Only humans have been able to control and make fire. But how far back in our prehistory does this unique ability go, and how do we know? In this video, Ellery Frahm, research scientist in the Department of Anthropology at Yale University, talks about how the control of fire shaped our evolutionary history and presents some of his own research on this topic. Moderator: Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This program aired March 17, 2022, as part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic Series.Human Origins website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/Human Origins events: https://humanorigins.si.edu/about/events
Virtual Science Café: Ancient Hobbits, Fungus-Farming Ants, and Tracking Volcanoes Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-05-12 | Get a taste for some of the unique Smithsonian research and discoveries related to wonders big and small. Unwind at this virtual science café as you learn about the lives of "Hobbit" hominin, ants who farm, and the epicenter for volcano 411. This Zoom webinar aired April 19, 2022.The short talks in this video are:"Tracking and Fact Checking Eruptions with Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program," by Kadie BennisWhen a volcanic eruption makes the news, the headlines can be equally as explosive. But the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program (GVP), an internationally recognized online database and nexus for volcanic activity and reporting of the last 10,000 years, gets to information beyond the surface to provide accurate real time and archived information. Kadie Bennis, Volcano Data Researcher, shares how GVP tracks and investigates the often messy trail of volcanic activity around the world.“Rats for Elevenses: What a ‘Hobbit’ Hominin Can Tell Us About Early Human Diets and Environments” by Elizabeth Grace VeatchEver wonder why humans are the only surviving hominin species today? It’s true! There once were dozens of human species, some even living at the same time as modern humans. One small-bodied hominin even made it to the island of Flores in Indonesia and survived until around 50,000 years ago at a site called Liang Bua. So, what was life like on this isolated island in Southeast Asia? Zooarchaeologist Elizabeth Grace Veatch analyzed thousands of murine (rat) and other faunal remains to better understand the paleoecology of the area and what kinds of animals’ humans were consuming.“Fungus-Farming Ants: One of Earth’s First Farmers and Why They Matter” by Emilia Zoppas de Albuquerque Turns out ants, not humans, could be The Original Farmer. Agriculture, once thought of as a hallmark of human evolution, can now be traced to various species of ants, each collectively cultivating a food source. When and where did this behavior occur and what climatic conditions prevailed to influence this adaptation? Emilia Zoppas de Albuquerque, researcher at the National Museum of Natural History’s AntLab, shares how what she calls ‘evolutionary novelties’ open significant niches to a species in a given habitat, making the way for these Neotropical ants to farm fungus and achieve their greatest diversity in Amazonian rainforests. See the museum's event schedule, including upcoming Virtual Science Cafés, at https://naturalhistory.si.edu/eventsExplore more about the topics in this talk:Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, https://volcano.si.edu/AntLab, https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/entomology/collections-overview/hymenoptera/antlab
Forests & Climate Change | How ForestGEO Answers Big Ecological Questions Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-04-26 | Climate change raises big ecological questions, and researchers from all around the world are studying them. In this short video, we explore how a global network of forest researchers approach their questions with standardized methods and large-scale, long-term forest research sites.ForestGEO: https://forestgeo.si.edu/Join us on Twitter and Facebook: @ForestGEOThe Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) is a global network of scientists and forest research sites dedicated to advancing the long-term study of the world's forests. The network recognizes the importance of collaborating with local institutions to strengthen science capacity in an era of rapidly changing landscapes and climate to understand and predict forest dynamics.---This video complements the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Digital School Program for grades 6-12, Hot Potato: Climate Change, Food Systems, and You, a school program about climate change and its impacts on food systems and consumers. Learn more about this and other free school programs and resources for students: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/school-programs/hot-potato-climate-change-food-systems-and-you
What Is an Insect? Smithsonian Video for Kids Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-03-17 | Did you know that most animals on earth are insects? Insects have different adaptations to move, eat, mate, and live in different environments, but they all have some features in common that make them insects. In this video, you’ll examine those features and compare and contrast how these features might look different and will be able to identify insects on your own like a scientist. This video is designed for students in grades 3-5. After watching this video, you will be able to: - Identify the shared features of all insects - Identify an insect from other arthropods by making observations and comparisons - Know that insects are arthropods - Recall that insects are the most diverse and abundant group of animals on earth This video complements the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History’s Digital School Program for grades 3-5, Insect Survival. Learn more about this and other free school programs and resources for students: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/school-programs/insect-survival---This video supports the following Next Generation Science Standard (NGSS): KindergartenInterdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment - K-LS1-1. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive) - Crosscutting Concept, Patterns: Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed and used as evidence (K-LS1-1) First GradeStructure, Function, and Information Processing -Crosscutting Concept, Patterns: Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed, used to described phenomena, and used as evidence. (1-LS1-2) (1-LS3-1) Second GradeInterdependent Relationships in Ecosystems - 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats -Crosscutting Concept, Structure and Function- The shape and stability of structures of natural and designed objects are related to their function(s). (2-LS2-2) Third Grade Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Environmental Impacts on Organisms - Disciplinary Core Idea, LS4.C: Adaptation- For any particular environment, some kinds of organisms survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. (3-LS4-3) Fourth GradeStructure, Function, and Information Processing - Disciplinary Core Idea, LS1.A: Structure and Function- Plants and animals have both internal and external structures that serve various functions in growth, survival, behavior, and reproduction. (4-LS1-1)
Explore Animal Adaptations | Smithsonian Video for Kids Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-03-17 | In this video, you will be guided to make observations of three different animals and their adaptations for survival. Even the youngest learners will gain confidence in their ability to identify the adaptations of the three featured animals, a right whale, clouded leopard, and barred owl, and to predict what habitat each animal lives in based on those adaptations. This video is designed for students in grades K-2. After watching this video you will be able to: - Identify physical adaptations of the right whale, clouded leopard, and barred owl - Infer an animals’ habitat based on its adaptations - Recall how the featured animals’ adaptations help them survive in their environment This video complements the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History’s Digital School Program for grades K-2, Animal Adaptations. Learn more about this and other free school programs and resources for students: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/school-programs/animal-adaptations--This video supports the following Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): KindergartenInterdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: Animals, Plants, and Their Environment - K-LS1-1. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive- Crosscutting Concept, Patterns: Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed and used as evidence (K-LS1-1) First GradeStructure, Function, and Information Processing -Crosscutting Concept, Patterns: Patterns in the natural and human designed world can be observed, used to described phenomena, and used as evidence (1-LS1-2)(1-LS3-1) Second GradeInterdependent Relationships in Ecosystems 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats -Crosscutting Concept, Structure and Function- The shape and stability of structures of natural and designed objects are related to their function(s). (2-LS2-2)
HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic: The Earliest Human Ancestors Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-03-10 | Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, so it might seem like they are good models for the kind of ape that human ancestors evolved from. But what do we really know about the earliest human ancestors? Were they chimpanzee-like? In this video, Ashley Hammond, Associate Curator of Biological Anthropology at the American Museum of Natural History, synthesizes research she and other colleagues have conducted to better understand the origins of our lineage. This Zoom webinar aired February 17, 2022, as part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topic series. Human Origins website: https://humanorigins.si.edu/Human Origins events: https://humanorigins.si.edu/about/events
Frozen in Time: Climate Clues Hidden in Ice Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-02-17 | This video demonstrates how scientists have unearthed over 800,000 years of past climate and atmospheric data trapped in ice cores. The video shows how atmospheric carbon, oxygen, and other gases become trapped in polar ice. Over the last few decades, scientists have learned how to extract miles-long ice cores for study. By reading the clues trapped in these ice cores, scientists can reconstruct the Earth’s past climates and better predict future climate. The data from these ice cores indicates that when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase, global temperatures increase over 800,000 years of the earth’s history. This video was produced in 2018 for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's David H. Koch Hall of Fossils: Deep Time. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/david-h-koch-hall-fossils-deep-time
Earth’s Ancient Fever Indicates Earth’s Future Fever Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2022-02-17 | This video brings together lines of scientific evidence about a sudden, global warming event 56 million years ago. Scientists take viewers to field locations around the world to explore the clues they used to solve this climate change science mystery.Through data found in deep ocean sediments and the shells of tiny marine animals, in plant and insect fossils in the American west, and through ancient mammal fossils, scientists discovered that ancient warming was caused by a sudden release of greenhouse gases that warmed the planet impacting life both in the ocean and on land. These same heat-trapping greenhouse gases are released by humans today with the potential to replicate this past warming event on an even greater scale. This video was produced in 2018 for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's David H. Koch Hall of Fossils: Deep Time. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/david-h-koch-hall-fossils-deep-time
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time – Fossils from Dig to Display Case Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-23 | See the Fossil Lab, an innovative space in the exhibit where visitors can watch fossil preparators remove rock from around fossil specimens. Learn about one special specimen, a complete fossilized skeleton of Stegosaurus stenops discovered in 1886 in Colorado. Learn about its journey from a digsite in the field to the museum. Find out how fossil specimens are stored and how the museum shares them with researchers around the world.
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time Exhibit – Mass Extinction Events Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-23 | The exhibit explores two mass extinction events. The first happened 252 million years ago and is called the End-Permian Extinction. It was the largest mass extinction event in Earth's history. The second is more famous: It occurred 66 million years ago and was caused by a massive asteroid impacting the Earth. This is called the End-Cretaceous mass extinction event and it ended the age of dinosaurs.
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time Exhibit – Dinosaurs in Detail Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-23 | Since the first scientific recognition of dinosaur fossils in the early 19th century, these animals have captivated our attention. How could the same planet that we call home have produced such amazing creatures? What was the world like when they were alive? And how can we know these things about species that lived so long ago?The "Deep Time" exhibit explores all these questions using the Museum's amazing fossil collections. In this video, Matthew Carrano, the Curator of Dinosauria at the museum, shows some dinosaur skeletons in the exhibit and explains how scientists can figure out how fast dinosaurs grew, what they ate, and more.
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time Exhibit – Introduction Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-23 | The story of life on Earth is too big to be grasped in terms of human lifespans. To understand geologic events and evolution, we have to think in millions and billions of years. That's what we call "Deep Time." Learn how the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time Exhibit is arranged, what the sections are, and what you can see and learn there.
Narrated Virtual Tour: Objects of Wonder Exhibit – Dazzling Diversity Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-12 | No group of animals is more diverse than the insects, which make up over two-thirds of all described species of animals. This part of the exhibit features a case with 500 insect specimens, representing the world's over a million known insect species. Explore some of the diversity of our insect collection.
Narrated Virtual Tour: Objects of Wonder Exhibit – Celebrating Creativity Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-12 | This section of the exhibit contains human-made items all related to the larger idea of celebrating human creativity across time and cultures. Objects such as masks, figurines, books and photographs help us understand our place in the natural world.
Narrated Virtual Tour: Objects of Wonder Exhibit – Building Collections Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-12 | There are various ways specimens and artifacts arrive at the museum, including from scientific expeditions, private collectors as diplomatic gifts, and even from law enforcement agencies.
Narrated Virtual Tour: Objects of Wonder Exhibit – Introduction Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-11-12 | Where do we get the over 145 million specimens and artifacts in our collections? What do we do with them and what do they tell us about our world? To find out, join us on a virtual tour inside "Objects of Wonder: From the Collections of the National Museum of Natural History." Objects of Wonder web page: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/objects-wonder
Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History Live Stream Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-10-27 | ...
Windows to the Deep- live conversations on the Blake Plateau Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-10-27 | Please View the live Interaction at the following link. youtube.com/watch?v=-5jMrimca8UJoin the President’s Science Advisor and ocean explorers as they investigate 10,000 feet deep in an area of the seafloor that’s never been explored before. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) invite you to join a virtual event highlighting the importance and value of the ocean during a live conversation with explorers onboard NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, America’s ship for ocean exploration. Presidential Science Advisor and OSTP Director Dr. Eric Lander will co-host the livestreamed event with NOAA National Ocean Service Exhibits Manager and Education Specialist Symone Barkley. The live interaction will bring the excitement of discovery directly to the public as ocean explorers image areas of the seafloor that people have never explored before and share their real-time discoveries through a live-streamed video feed. The event will stoke curiosity about the diverse and largely unknown ecosystems and organisms of the deep sea and highlight the importance of the ocean for addressing the climate crisis, rebuilding the economy, and advancing environmental justice. The event will feature commentary live from: The Smithsonian Museum of Natural HistoryDr. Eric S. Lander, President’s Science Advisor and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology PolicySymone Barkley, NOAA National Ocean Service Exhibits Manager and Education SpecialistDr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryDr. Rick Spinrad, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerCommander Nicole Manning, Commanding Officer of NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation OperationsDr. Derek Sowers, Mapping Lead, NOAA Ocean ExplorationDr. Allen Collins, Biology Science Lead, NOAA Fisheries National Systematics Laboratory Director (co-housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) Ask a question:Do you have a question you’d like to ask an ocean explorer? Please submit your questions ahead of the event via Twitter at #AskAnExplorer. To learn more:People can visit NOAA Ocean Exploration (oceanexplorer.noaa.gov), the Smithsonian’s Ocean Portal (https://ocean.si.edu/), and other marine-focused websites or visit your local museums and parks.
Constructing a Coral Reef: How Plants and Animals Create Coral Reef Ecosystems Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-09-15 | Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. They teem with life, with about one-quarter of all ocean species depending on reefs for food and shelter at some point in their lifecycle. Stony coral skeletons are the foundation of these reef systems. They create a three-dimensional structure that provides habitat, food, and protection for other organisms. In this video, we’ll describe some of the other major plant and animal groups and their roles in contributing to a balanced coral reef ecosystem. Knowing what organisms live and depend on reef systems and how they interact with each other is important for understanding what will happen to species and reefs when they are threatened or out of balance. Currently, they are threatened by changes in temperature and water chemistry from climate change, destructive and overfishing practices, nutrient run-off and pollution, invasive species, and disease. Scientists from around the world are cataloging the biodiversity of reef systems so that we are better equipped to predict how they may change when facing these threats, and ultimately, so - we can learn how to conserve and protect them. Some of these scientists are part of the Smithsonian MarineGEO & Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network. Smithsonian MarineGEO is a team of scientists from the Smithsonian and our partners all around the world, working together to solve an important mystery of science. The mystery is how the amazing variety of sea life works together to keep the ocean healthy for animals and people, with clean water, lots of fish for us to eat, and safe places for animals to live where they're protected from climate change and other threats. We look for answers by diving into the ocean and identifying the kinds of animals living in different habitats, how many there are, what they're doing, and how all those things are changing. The ocean is massive, so it takes a team of all kinds of people to get the job done. The MarineGEO teams knows that the best way to discover more about the ocean is to do it together. ---Learn more about MarineGEO & Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network: https://marinegeo.si.edu/ Get more coral reef digital resources from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/education/school-programs/reefs-unleashedLearn more about corals and coral reefs from the Smithsonian Ocean Portal: https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/corals-and-coral-reefs
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins – Reconstruction Gallery Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-19 | Take a closer look at the lifelike faces of eight early human species that look out from the central part of the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Dr. Briana Pobiner shares the stories of these reconstructions made by the artist John Gurche using the latest forensic techniques, fossil discoveries, and his knowledge of ape and human anatomy to build up muscles, fat, and glands.Take a closer look at the specimens and features of the Hall of Human Origins with these additional tour stops:Introduction to the Hall of Human OriginsPast SpeciesTo learn more about this exhibition and see photos of many of the objects on display, and much more, visit humanorigins.si.edu. This video features stops from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's virtual tours, which allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room journeys through select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins – Past Species Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-19 | An astonishing array of fossil skull replicas illustrates human evolution in a central display at the crossroads of the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. At this tour stop, Dr. Briana Pobiner shares how scientists use these skulls to reveal the unique stories of the lives of early humans. Take a closer look at the specimens and features of the Hall of Human Origins with these additional tour stops:Introduction to the Hall of Human OriginsReconstructionsTo learn more about this exhibition and see photos of many of the objects on display, and much more, visit humanorigins.si.edu. This video features stops from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's virtual tours, which allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room journeys through select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Narrated Virtual Tour: David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins Exhibit Introduction Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-19 | Welcome to the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Join research scientist and educator Dr. Briana Pobiner as she provides an overview of this immersive, interactive journey through 6 million years of scientific evidence for human origins, the stories of survival and extinction in our family tree, and how the characteristics that make us human evolved against a backdrop of dramatic climate instability. Take a closer look at the specimens and features of the Hall of Human Origins with these additional tour stops:Past SpeciesReconstructionsTo learn more about this exhibition and see photos of many of the objects on display, and much more, visit humanorigins.si.edu. This video features stops from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's virtual tours, which allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room journeys through select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Narrated Virtual Tour: North Atlantic Right Whale in the Sant Ocean Hall Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-09 | Hanging from the center ceiling overseeing the visitors of the museum is a life-sized model of "Phoenix" the North Atlantic Right Whale, the ambassador of the Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. On this tour stop, museum educator Meaghan Cuddy shows off what makes Phoenix so exceptional and how she represents the stories of hundreds of North Atlantic right whales and other marine creatures threatened by human impacts on the ocean. Dive deeper into the Sant Ocean Hall with these additional tour stops: Sant Ocean Hall IntroductionCarcharocles Megalodon JawCoral ReefYou can learn more about right whales and other ocean topics by checking out the Smithsonian Ocean Portal at ocean.si.edu.This video features stops from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's virtual tours, which allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room journeys through select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Narrated Virtual Tour: Carcharocles Megalodon in the Sant Ocean Hall Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-09 | A narrated virtual tour of the Megalodon section of the Sant Ocean Hall in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Narrated Virtual Tour: Sant Ocean Hall Exhibit Introduction Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-09 | Welcome to the Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Join museum educator Meaghan Cuddy as she uses the museum’s virtual tour to provide an overview of this exhibit, encouraging visitors to explore the ocean as a dynamic global system that is essential to all life — past, present, and future. Dive deeper into the Sant Ocean Hall with these additional tour stops: Carcharocles Megalodon JawRight Whale ModelCoral ReefThis video features stops from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's virtual tours, which allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room journeys through select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
Narrated Virtual Tour: Indo-Pacific Coral Reef in the Sant Ocean Hall Smithsonians National Museum of Natural History 2021-07-09 | The Indo-Pacific Coral Reef is one of only two “living” exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. It features a wide variety of marine species representing the diverse and complex community on a coral reef, including about 60 species of coral! How many can you count? Museum educator Meaghan Cuddy gives an overview of some of the inhabitants of this exhibit and highlights some of the hard work scientists around the world are doing to understand and protect our world’s corals. Dive deeper into the Sant Ocean Hall with these additional tour stops: Sant Ocean Hall IntroductionCarcharocles Megalodon JawRight Whale ModelYou can learn more about coral reefs and other ocean topics by checking out the Smithsonian Ocean Portal at ocean.si.edu.This video features stops from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's virtual tours, which allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room journeys through select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour
