North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

A Neighborhood On A Crayfish

If you're a crayfish, North Carolina is where it's at. In general, the state is among the most biologically-diverse for several reasons. Additionally, there are a couple of thoughts as to why we live in the Mudbug Mecca. In a way, crayfish are islands unto themselves. Most species carry with them Branchiobdellida, a species of worm that live life on the clawed critter.

Preserved Paleo Protein Provides Perspective on Dino Family Tree, and Maybe Life in Space. Wait. What?

You are a paleontologist on expedition hunting dinosaur fossils.  For all your efforts, you've unearthed just a few bone fragments. Back at the lab, you and your team determine that, based on their shape and size, you're looking at a colossal waste of time and resources. But a new tool is emerging which allows us to use dinosaur DNA to better understand prehistoric evolutionary trees. It may also help to find life on Mars, or treat human diseases. 

 

Evolution & The Club Tail . . .

  

SciWorks Radio is a production of 88.5 WFDD and SciWorks, the Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County, located in Winston-Salem. Follow Shawn on Twitter @SCIFitz.

Dinosaurs dominated the earth for more than 130 million years until 65 million years ago. As a kid, not quite so long ago, I made my mom read the same dinosaur book, over and over. The one with a Godzilla-like T. Rex and the now-defunct brontosaurus. And they were all the color of elephants. It's mind-blowing what we've learned since then. I now know that my favorite book showed some of the last of the non-bird dinosaurs. Many of these were found in the North American northwest, which  has changed a bit since.

Are We Alone, In The Universe?

SciWorks Radio is a production of 88.5 WFDD and SciWorks, the Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County, located in Winston-Salem.

Are we alone in the universe? Last week I spoke with Dr. Rachel Smith, Director of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh and Assistant Professor in the Deptartment of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University, about the formation of solar systems. This week we'll learn what it takes for life to evolve in one.

All life that we know of is water-based and that is why the scientific search for life is looking for water. And it has to be liquid water.

Are We Alone In The Universe?

SciWorks Radio is a production of 88.5 WFDD and SciWorks, the Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County, located in Winston-Salem.

Are we alone in the universe? Last week I spoke with Dr. Rachel Smith, Director of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh and Assistant Professor in the Deptartment of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University, about the formation of solar systems. This week we'll learn what it takes for life to evolve in one.

All life that we know of is water-based and that is why the scientific search for life is looking for water. And it has to be liquid water.