From expansive cities to agricultural fields, it may come as a surprise that Illinois was once covered in millions of acres of prairies and forests. In 1820, about 22 million […]
Completing unfinished work with Anna Pedersen Kummer
As Women’s History Month comes to an end, we’re taking a closer look at Anna Pedersen Kummer, former honorary curator of botany and a lover of all plants! She was a […]
Celebrating 165 Years of Nature & Science
Happy birthday to us! We’re celebrating 165 years of nature and science in this week’s episode of Curious By Nature! Join assistant collections manager Jessica for a look back at our history, how […]
“Why do birds migrate?”
There are so many different kinds of birds that you can spot in Lincoln Park and in Chicago. In this episode of Curious By Nature, Marjorie is learning about a […]
“Do snakes have bones?”
What types of body parts does a snake have? What do snake skeletons do? Airen’s bringing out some of our snake friends and preserved snake specimens to give us a […]
Dressing for the weather
Fall brings lots of seasonal changes. Leaves turn yellow, orange, red, and then fall; temperatures drop; the amount of daylight grows shorter. Animals prepare for winter or migrate. Some animals […]
What do snakes do in the winter?
How do cold-blooded animals deal with cold weather? We had lots of questions about snakes in the winter and Dr. Allison had lots of answers! Keep reading to learn about […]
National Bison Day
Every year, on the first Saturday of November, we recognize National Bison Day and celebrate the ecological, cultural, and economic contributions of the United States’ national mammal. Although they were […]
Bats are SUPERHEROES!
They are small, they are cute, and sometimes they can be a little scary, too. Bats are fascinating mammals and they have some amazing adaptations that are a lot like […]
Weaving like a weaverbird
Did You Know That Some Birds Can Weave? In the family of Ploceidae, there are multiple species of weaverbirds. As their name suggests, these birds can weave their nests on […]