The Nation's T. rex Was Discovered on Public Land

#DYK that many of our specimens, including some of the most recognizable, are found on public lands? One of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever discovered, the specimen seen in this video, is known as the Nation's T. rex. Learn more from Curator of Dinosauria Matthew Carrano. Smithsonian's Hall of Fossils – Deep Time: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/exhibits/david-h-koch-hall-fossils-deep-time

Paleobiology Collection Walkthrough

If you tried to count up all the specimens in our paleobiology collection, you'd wind up bone tired — there's more than 42 million of them! This #FossilFriday, take a deep dive into the world's largest collection of fossils — ours! Specimens seen in this video are being handled by a Paleobiology staff member. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History website: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/

Sweet Potatoes vs. Yams

Sweet potatoes and yams are staples on many menus this time of year, but #DYK that they are so unrelated botanically that they're stored on different floors of the museum? Hear from some of our Botany scientists to learn more about the differences and some of their favorite ways to enjoy yams and sweet potatoes. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History website: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/

HOT Topic – Uncovering Our Past: Using Genomes to Understand Human Evolutionary History

DNA holds the story of our ancestors. The historical signatures of our past such as population mixtures, contractions, and expansions, as well as diseases and natural selection, have left traces in our genomes. Advances in sequencing present-day and ancient DNA have opened up unprecedented opportunities to use genetic data to better understand human biology and disease. One of the most striking find...

Stinkbugs: Stink, stank, stunk

These bugs emit a foul odor to defend against their enemies. Learn about the Brown-Marmorated Stink Bug, the Southern Green Stink Bug, and the Harlequin Bug. All of these are agricultural pests that feed on crops.