Topic: American Museum of Natural History

Were dinosaurs in decline before the asteroid?

A recent study shows that larger herbivorous dinosaurs were becoming less diverse before the mass extinction.

Some dinosaurs were declining before asteroid struck, say scientists (+video)

By the time that giant meteor collided with our planet at the end of the Cretaceous, some dinosaur species were already heading toward extinction, new research indicates.

Fossil find sheds light on how humans evolved to walk (+video)

A discovery in Ethiopia of 3-million-year old foot bones that once belonged to a human relative suggests that human bipedalism evolved more than once. 

The dinosaur that dressed like Anna Wintour

Gliding through trees in what is now China some 130 million years ago, the microraptor sported shimmering black feathers, a new study reveals.   

World's tiniest chameleon: How did it get so small?

Scientists recently discovered four new species of chameleons in Madagascar. One of them – Brookesia micra – is the smallest chameleon in the world. This species may have evolved through a phenomenon known as island dwarfism.

Do we need spaceflight for the perspective?

An astronaut's life-changing lesson from a moment in orbit.

4 excellent adventure books for young readers

4 excellent adventures for young readers

What are the toughest questions tossed at reference librarians?

Think it's easy being a librarian? Think again!

Australopithecus afarensis bone could change story of human evolution

Australopithecus afarensis, an ancient human ancestor who lived around 3 million years ago, spent most of its time walking, instead of climbing trees like chimps.

Huge carnivorous hunchback dinosaur puzzles scientists

A huge dinosaur unearthed in Spain appears to have sported a hump on its back, a feature never before seen on a dinosaur fossil.

'Unusual' dinosaur offers glimpse of evolutionary quirk

'Balaur bondoc,' a new species of dinosaur discovered in Romania, is a close relative of Velociraptor, but developed several striking evolutionary differences because it lived on an island.

Space rock lovers descend on New York for meteor gathering

The Meteoritical Society meets this week in New York to discuss all things space rock.

The largest rat of all time discovered

Just a couple thousand years ago, the world's largest rat, weighing more than the average house cat, scuttled about what is now East Timor of Southeast Asia.

Amateur astronomers gather at New York Stargazing Event as part of 2010 World Science Festival

Amateur astronomers gathered last Saturday in New York City's Battery Park for an evening of stargazing as part of the 2010 World Science Festival.

South Pole revisited in 'Race to the End of the Earth'

'Race to the End of the Earth,' the new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York, recounts the momentous and deadly race between two explorers to be the first to reach the South Pole.

Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo: movie review

'Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo' documents Japan's fascination with insects.

Still Life

This quirky book posits taxidermy as a window into cultural history.

Sea World tragedy: How common are 'killer whale' attacks?

Tilikum, the killer whale that drowned a trainer at Sea World in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday has been involved in three human fatalities. The orca, who was originally captured in the wild, may have been under high levels of stress.

Cuba's environment – how will a thaw in relations with the U.S. affect it?

The Pluto Files

A lively account of the ‘exile’ of Pluto, everyone’s favorite ex-planet.

USA

Charles Darwin, gardener

An exhibition at The New York Botanical Garden reveals the naturalist’s botanical roots .