BTS – Mummies of the World: The Exhibition
Mummies of the World: The Exhibition presents a collection of mummies from Europe, South America and ancient Egypt-some 4,500 years old.
Go behind-the-scenes and learn about mummies and mummification through state-of-the-art multimedia, interactive stations and 3D animation, highlighting advances in the scientific methods used to study mummies, including computed tomography (CT), ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, all of which allows us to know who these mummified individuals were, where they came from and where they lived.
Among the mummies on display are the Vac Mummies, an entire mummified family from Hungary believed to have died from tuberculosis; the Burns Collection, a group of medical mummies used to teach anatomy in the early 19th century; an Egyptian priest named Nes-Hor who suffered from arthritis and a broken left hip; Egyptian animal mummies including a falcon, fish, dog and baby crocodile, many of which were deliberately preserved to accompany royals for eternity; and MUMAB, the first replication of Egyptian mummification done on a body in 2,800 years.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 – 6:00 PM
Members $22, Tickets $39
BTS – Cabinet of Curiosities
Cabinets of curiosities were collections of extraordinary objects which attempted to categorise and tell stories about the wonders and oddities of the natural world. These collections of extraordinary natural and manmade objects were displayed in cabinets with many compartments, each filled with “treasures” reflecting man’s desire to find his place within the larger context of nature and the divine. Many of these collections eventually became the first public museums. In this special after-hours event, master docents with colorful commentary and extraordinary stories will guide you through this exhibit, which contains thousands of extraordinary natural and manmade objects nestled in countless nooks and crannies, just waiting to be discovered. Ignite your curiosity with a tour of the wonder-filled Cabinets of Curiosities exhibit, and discover the treasures that await.
Tuesday, February 21, 2017 – 6:00 PM
Tickets $25, Members $1
Lecture – Mapping the Heavens – Black Holes and Dark Matter by Priyamvada Natarajan
Radical ideas–dark matter and black holes–which were just until recently contested within the scientific community, have transformed our cosmic view. Our Universe is expanding at an accelerating pace, propelled by dark energy and structured by dark matter. Dr. Priya Natarajan will discuss how she is now able to map these invisible entities by observing how light bends around them while en route to Earth from distant galaxies. This advancement has led to the discovery of gravitational waves from colliding black holes.
Theoretical astrophysicist Dr. Priya Natarajan is professor of astronomy and physics at Yale University and has been elected into the Explorers Club. Book signing of “Mapping the Heavens, The Radical Scientific Ideas That Reveal the Cosmos” with River Oaks Bookstore will follow the lecture.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – 6:30 PM
Members $12, Tickets $18
A Butterfly Flutter
A Butterfly Flutter is a children’s event scattered throughout the Cockrell Butterfly Center and courtyard. Your “caterpillars” will enjoy papilio arts and crafts, metamorphic face painting, creative cookie decorating, a bug-centric treasure hunt and so much more. Of course, there will be “nectar” to drink and “munchies” to keep the whole family’s wings fluttering! Funds from A Butterfly Flutter support the operating budget of the Cockrell Butterfly Center and enrich educational programs at HMNS.
- Chaired by: Katie Forney and Heidi O’Donnell
- Saturday, February 25, 2017
Cockrell Butterfly Center, Houston Museum of Natural Science- 10:00am – 12:00pm
Individual tickets are $50 and underwriting support opportunities begin at $500. To purchase, please complete and send in a reply form.
For more information or to provide underwriting support, please contact Margaret Schuster at 713-639-4618 or mschuster@hmns.org.
