Did you know that birds have a unique way of storing bone marrow? Unlike mammals and other reptiles, birds have mostly hollow bones called pneumatic bones. These bones are filled with air sacs, which help them fly. However, birds still store bone marrow in some special bones, especially in their legs and arms.
Museums often trade with each other to diversify their collections. For example, in the 1960s, the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum exchanged specimens with museums in China and Russia. This allowed them to share species that were unique to their regions, benefiting everyone involved.
A museum curator selects objects for display that best illustrate the theme of an exhibit. Interestingly, only about 1% of a museum’s collection is on display at any given time. Museums are not just storage spaces; they are active research centers where scientists use artifacts daily. Exhibits change frequently and can include anything from historical documents to newly discovered species.
Natural history museums are vital for scientific research. Scientists work behind the scenes to solve problems, discover new species, and communicate the importance of biodiversity. They help preserve rainforests and cultures and make discoveries that can impact modern medicine. It’s important to spread the word about the valuable work these institutions do.
Science can seem complicated, but it can also be fascinating. For example, pigeons are actually living, breathing dinosaurs! Everything in nature has its own unique story, making it all interesting if you look closely.
Aside from donating money or becoming a member, you can support museums by spreading the word. Share information on social media, put up flyers, or encourage friends to learn more about museum exhibits and research.
Working with animals can sometimes lead to smelly situations, like accidentally puncturing a skunk’s glands. But don’t worry! A quick shower and some understanding friends and family can help you overcome any lingering odors.
If you’re curious about frogs, Wikipedia is a great starting point. You can learn about their origins, how they move, and even how they taste! For more detailed information, check out the Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan. You might discover interesting species like the barking frog, which sounds like a barking dog!
Use materials like straws, clay, and paper to create a model of a bird’s pneumatic bone. Compare it to a mammal bone by making a second model. Discuss with your classmates how the structure of bird bones helps them fly.
Imagine you are a museum curator. Choose a unique animal or artifact from your region and create a digital presentation to “trade” with a classmate. Learn about their chosen specimen and discuss how such exchanges benefit museums worldwide.
Select a theme, such as “Dinosaurs Among Us,” and choose items from around your home or school that fit this theme. Create a mini-exhibit and present it to your class, explaining why each item was chosen and its significance.
Pick a natural history museum anywhere in the world and research its collections and contributions to science. Create a poster or slide presentation to share with your class, highlighting the museum’s role in preserving biodiversity.
Choose a species of frog and research its habitat, behavior, and unique characteristics. Present your findings in a creative format, such as a video or a comic strip, and share interesting facts with your classmates.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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No, you’re a dodo!
Question time with Emily! Where I answer your questions.
Jill Grace asked: All vertebrates have bone marrow; birds just happen to store it differently than mammals and other reptiles. The majority of bones in a bird’s body are called pneumatic bones, and these are hollow and full of air sacs that aid in their ability to fly. However, they do still store a lot of marrow in some special bones, namely those in the legs and arms.
Daniel, @pontelon, asked: Yes, it is common for museums to trade with other natural history museums in order to help diversify their collections. It’s something that the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum did back in the 1960s. Some researchers went to China and others to Russia to trade with small natural history museums there because they have a lot of species that we don’t have, and we had a lot of northern Rocky Mountain wildlife that they didn’t have. So it was a win-win for everybody.
Kylie Ann, @Punkaroono, asked: A curator will select objects for display that best help to illustrate the theme of that exhibit. At any one time, though, a large museum will only have about 1% of their entire collection on display, and that’s because museums aren’t just storage houses. They’re active laboratories, and the artifacts in the collections get used every single day by researchers and scientists all over the globe. The artifacts that eventually do go on display might be anything from historical documents to items of power and wealth, or a zoologist might put a newly discovered species on display. It really depends. Museums are changing their exhibits all the time.
Christian, @thirdatarian, asked: I personally believe that one of the biggest challenges facing us today is that the general public just has no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. Natural history museums are hubs for some of the greatest scientific minds of our time. Scientists and researchers are working behind the scenes every day to solve ongoing problems. They’re discovering new species and communicating with governments and communities all over the world to convey the importance of biodiversity in their rainforests, so rainforests can be preserved. They’re working to save dying cultures from extinction. They’re discovering new things about biology that can change the face of modern medicine. We need to spread the word that these are institutions of active, ongoing research, and if we can do that, then we can help them to continue to thrive.
Metaphorshaveimplications asked: You know, I really didn’t like science in high school. I thought it was overly complicated, and I couldn’t relate it to things that I liked at the time, like Harry Potter.
Ben, @ben_0_, asked: Obviously, a one-eyed horse or a six-legged cat is going to be a lot more attention-grabbing than your average pigeon, but, you guys, pigeons are living, breathing dinosaurs. You can’t tell me that that isn’t some kind of weird quirk of evolutionary wonder! Basically, everything is fascinating.
Jim Kline, @xalith, asked: Well, aside from the obvious monetary donations and annual memberships, if you aren’t able to do that, then just helping to spread the word is really beneficial. Tweet about it, put up a flyer at your work or school. But really, the best thing you can do is to get all your friends to watch The Brain Scoop.
Haley D. Jones, @crackrboxpalace asked: It can definitely get into your clothes, and if you do something on accident, like puncture the anal glands of a skunk, the smell can permeate your fat and skin cells, and stick with you. But really, it’s not something that a quick shower and some understanding friends and family can’t overcome.
Iwillseetheocean asked: To be quite honest, if you really don’t know where to start, Wikipedia is a pretty good place. It’ll tell you anything from the origin of frogs to how they move, what their organs look like, how they function, how you can cook them and eat them, and if you want a little more in-depth, you can go to Animal Diversity Web from the University of Michigan. They have a really broad database, and a quick search of frogs will come up with literally dozens of different species. For instance, I just found out about the barking frog, which apparently is a frog that sounds like a barking dog.
Salikat asked:
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Birds – Warm-blooded vertebrates with feathers, wings, and beaks, most of which are capable of flight. – Many birds migrate long distances to find food and suitable breeding grounds.
Bones – Rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates, providing structure and protection. – The human skeleton is made up of 206 bones that support and shape the body.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Science helps us understand how ecosystems function and how different species interact.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The giant panda is an endangered species that relies on bamboo forests for survival.
Museums – Institutions that collect, preserve, and display objects of scientific, artistic, or historical importance. – Natural history museums often have exhibits on dinosaurs and ancient fossils.
Curator – A person responsible for managing and overseeing collections in a museum or similar institution. – The curator organized a new exhibit showcasing rare minerals and gemstones.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Scientists conduct research to discover new medicines and treatments for diseases.
Biodiversity – The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. – The Amazon rainforest is known for its incredible biodiversity, hosting thousands of plant and animal species.
Frogs – Amphibians with smooth skin, long legs for jumping, and a life cycle that includes a metamorphosis from tadpole to adult. – Frogs are important indicators of environmental health because they are sensitive to changes in their habitat.
Animals – Multicellular organisms that form the biological kingdom Animalia, characterized by their ability to move and consume organic material. – Animals play crucial roles in ecosystems, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and maintaining food chains.
