One of the most colorful of all the toucans, the keel-billed toucan is best known for its oversized bill and vibrant feathers. Even though it looks heavy, its banana-shaped, brightly colored beak is actually very light. It is hollow and made of protein supported by thin rod-like bones. When they sleep, toucans turn their head… Continue reading
Held by 20 inch leather thongs to a wooden handle, this granite stone ax is a wonderful example of craftsmanship and function. Early indigenous groups in North America worked extensively with wood to build houses, temples, fences, and other structures. They developed handled tools which allowed them to work with large pieces of timber for… Continue reading
After traveling seven months to reach Mars, the Perseverance rover still has to land successfully on the surface of the Red Planet on February 18th. Learn more from NASA Solar System Ambassador John Mackin about what it will take for the rover to make it all the way to Mars, including the “seven minutes of… Continue reading
An animal that needs no introduction! Instantly recognizable for their signature coloration as well as their foul smelling defense system, the striped skunk is found throughout the United States and southern Canada. The fluid that skunks spray when upset or threatened can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential… Continue reading
During the American Civil War, surgeons became all too familiar with using this particular set of tools. Of the wounds recorded during the war, more than 70% were to the extremities, with amputation the most common operation of the Civil War surgeon. This surgical set contains most of the instruments needed for battlefield surgery: long,… Continue reading
Crab legs, anyone? The Alaskan king crab, or red king crab, is a species of king crab native to the far northern reaches of the Pacific Ocean around Alaska and the Bering Sea. It is the largest of the king crab species, as well as the tastiest, highly prized worldwide for its succulent meat. Although… Continue reading
On December 17, 1903, in a field outside Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers launched humans into the aerial age. For the first time in history, a pilot successfully flew a heavier-than-air powered airplane in a controlled and sustained flight. This 1/12 scale model is a replica of the biplane which was constructed of… Continue reading
Fall is a nerve-wracking time for honeybee keepers, who often fret about whether their bees have enough honey reserves to survive the winter or whether mites have decimated their bee populations. Bees will typically only leave their hive when the weather is pleasant (at least in the 50Fs and sunny), so it’s hard to walk… Continue reading
The kangaroo is a marsupial native to Australia. All marsupials are diprotodonts, meaning they have two front teeth, or incisors. But kangaroos are unusual because they have three pairs of incisors in their upper jaw and one pair in their lower jaw. Another unique characteristic of kangaroo skulls is that they are relatively long and… Continue reading
