Beyond Bones

Written by Scott Stevenson Through the generosity of the Cockrell Foundation, The Houston Museum of Natural Science is proud to offer the Evelyn Frensley Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Science or Mathematics and the Wilhelmina C. Robertson Excellence in Science or Mathematics Teaching Award. Four annual awards of $2,000 go to two high school juniors, […]

While the Museum is closed I thought I’d share some photographs of objects in the Hall of Ancient Egypt that might not get as much attention as they deserve. These four little pieces, all under an inch tall, are today’s subjects for some time in the limelight. Concern for one’s place in an uncertain and […]

Like many of you, our day to day schedule has adapted to a new normal. For those of us who are working from home, it may mean a shorter commute, but it also may mean taking on a new role as a teacher, chef, or entertainer for yourself, your children or partner. Since we can’t […]

Venus remains high in the evening sky this month. Look in the west at dusk for the brightest thing there. Venus was at greatest elongation on March 24, meaning that Venus is as far from the Sun as it can possible get in our sky. What’s more, at this time of year the ecliptic—the apparent path […]

HMNS staff working from home.  On what?  Science.  Naturally. As you may have seen on our social media pages, in the interest of the safety of both visitors and staff, the Houston Museum of Natural science has had to temporarily close its doors. So what is a Museum Collections Department to do during a time […]

In celebration of World Autism Day and Autism Awareness Month, we’re highlighting how super our visitors with Autism Spectrum Disorders are and sharing a few educational resources for you to explore! As a person who does not have Asperger’s or a related Autism Spectrum Disorder, it can be hard for me to imagine what it […]

The exhibition halls are quiet. The parking garage is empty. Our butterflies continue to flutter around the Cockrell Butterfly Center. A few scattered staff members tend to our wildlife collection, our dinosaurs, and all of those precious gems and minerals.  You could say the museum is resting while the rest of the world fights this […]

Spring in Texas is an amazing time. The heat isn’t turned up to 11, the precipitation is questionably predictable and, for those few fortunate amongst us, the pollen coats everything you own. It is also a time when the wildflowers bloom, the critters start reemerging and the mosquitoes haven’t found us…yet. Because it IS getting […]

Chances are if you have found yourself outside after dark in the past few weeks you have encountered a handful of June bugs on the ground. If you have children, they are no doubt collecting them for some sort of strange insect rodeo.  The good news is that they are harmless, that is unless they […]

By Charro  Hey y’all what’s up, it’s Charro here, your resident green iguana here at the museum. You might have seen me on walks around the grand hall with my caretaker. I am the orange and green guy latched onto someone’s shoulder.  I miss seeing everyone, quite honestly, even the teenagers who try and get […]