Museum of Natural Sciences

How Does Money Affect An Election?

Shawn Wen and Frank Stasio — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:22:16 +0000

The previous State Elections Board's term expired just as they were beginning to investigate $235,000 of allegedly illegal political donations. The donations implicate Gov. Pat McCrory and legislators from both parties. Governor McCrory made the unusual decision of replacing all of the board members.

Statewide Science Festival Kicks Off Friday

Catherine Brand and Laura Candler — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:59:27 +0000

The N.C Science Festival – a series of more than 300 science-related events at locations across the state – kicks off this Friday. It’s the third year for the festival, and it's expected to draw more than 200,000 participants. The first event is a stargazing party for all ages at 45 different sites across the state. Triangle-area venues include the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, Marbles Kids Museum and Imax Theater in Raleigh, the Morehead Observatory in Chapel Hill and Jordan Lake in Apex.

Museum Of Natural Sciences Is New State Tourism Champ

Gurnal Scott — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:18:13 +0000

A research firm says the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences was the most visited of the state’s museums and historic attractions last year. It’s the first time in nine years that Biltmore Estate has not topped the list. Mathews-based Carolina Publishing Associates compiled the numbers. The firm says 1,220,814 people visited the museum in 2012. Biltmore attracted 1,123,144 visitors.

How Former Museum Director's Struggle For Access to Education Led Her to the Triangle

Nicole Campbell and Frank Stasio — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:29:13 +0000

Meet Betsy Bennett: Betsy Bennett recently retired from two decades as the director for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. It's was part of her longer history as an educator and politician in the South. Betsy got her start training teachers in Charlottesville, Virginia on how to integrate their classrooms. She also helped desegregate Charlotte schools before heading to the Natural Sciences Museum and growing it to one of the most successful in the country. Betsy joins our host Frank Stasio to talk about her life history in education.

Real-life "Lorax" Speaks About Her Work In The Treetops

Alex Granados and Christina Blyde — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:43:37 +0000

Meg Lowman has spent her life exploring the treetops. She was dubbed the real-life “Lorax” by National Geographic for her work exploring forest canopies and identifying the species that live there.

Carolina Parakeet

Frank Stasio and Alex Granados — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Today, parakeets are creatures of the tropics, but one breed in particular was native to the forests of the Eastern United States, including North Carolina. The Carolina Parakeet went extinct in the early 20th century, but continues to fascinate the public.

Arthropods in our Homes

Frank Stasio and Lindsay Foster Thomas — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:59:00 +0000

Creepy crawling creatures co-exist among us in our homes, but before you whip out the bug spray, consider this offer from scientist Michelle Trautwein. She and a team of researchers would like to inspect, collect samples from and analyze the insect species found in and around your home.

Bugs Hiding In Our Homes

Asma Khalid — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 10:35:00 +0000

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the Museum of Natural Science are trying to uncover the unknown bug species in our homes.

Asma Khalid: Sure, you may see the occasional centipede crawl across the living room floor, or worse, a cockroach scuttle across the kitchen. But, Michelle Trautwein says there are dozens more bug species right under our noses.

Meet Brian Malow

Alex Granados and Frank Stasio — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:23:00 +0000

Science is serious business, but Brian Malow has been making people laugh about it for years. Malow calls himself the world's “premier science comedian.”

Nature Research Center Opening Draws 70,000

Dave DeWitt — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:10:00 +0000

The Nature Research Center is now officially open. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences held a grand opening for the new wing over the weekend.

Dave DeWitt: About 70,000 people attended the 24-hour grand opening of the Nature Research Center. Those who made it inside the 80,000 square foot facility touched animal skeletons, conducted robotic surgeries, and interacted with scientists.