Have you ever wondered how snakes hear? They don’t have ears like we do, but they do have a a special jawbone!
Why Are Box Turtles Called Box Turtles?
Have you ever wondered why box turtles are called box turtles? There’s a very good reason, and it has to do with their shells!
The Nature Museum Comes to You!
We hope you and your family are safe and healthy at home, but we know how difficult it is to be away from school, friends, and activities. That’s why we’re happy to provide you with this new email series, dedicated to a day’s worth of nature and science facts, activities, guiding questions to ask your kids, and more!
How Can I Help Butterflies and Bees?
By Allen Lawrance, Associate Curator of Entomology There are a few simple things that anyone can do if they have garden or even a porch at home. Provide nectar resources […]
Why are Tropical Birds so Colorful?
Parrots, macaws, parakeets… these rainbowed tropical birds put to shame the brown and gray birds that are so common in Illinois and Chicago. Even Chicago’s brightest birds—cardinals, blue jays, gold finches—are vibrant, but single-colored. Why are bright and multi-colored birds so common in tropical rain forests, and nowhere to be found in temperate climates like Chicago?
How Do Clouds Float?
Clouds are created from water vapor that condenses into water droplets, and warm air and water vapor will rise above the cold air around it.
How do Cicadas Make Sound?
Cicadas are the song of summer across the United States, Chicago included. Even just two miles from downtown the droning of cicadas in trees can be downright overwhelming in July and August afternoons. But cicadas are so small: how do they make such a powerful sound?
What’s the Fastest Turtle?
Turtles: they’re not renowned for their speed. Sure, the turtle** wins in The Tortoise and the Hare, but just to serve as a humiliating example of arrogance.
How Many Legs Does a Caterpillar Have?
Like all insects, this caterpillar has only 6 legs.
Why do Birds Fly in Formation?
If you’ve spent a year in the United States, then you’ve heard the honks and seen the distinctive v-shaped flying pattern of Canada geese. But geese aren’t the only birds to fly in an orderly pattern: pelicans and ibises adopt the same v-shape when flying in flocks. What do these birds have in common, and what benefit do they gain from flying in a “v” shape?
Do you ever wonder how a butterfly gets its colors? Or how turtles hibernate? Do you wonder how birds know where to migrate each year? For over 160 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has served a unique role in the city of Chicago connecting children of all ages to nature and science through immersive exhibits, fun family events, important conservation research and in-depth education programs, inspiring the wonder in all of us.