Stories

Welcome to Stories, a place to explore—and be inspired by—the wonder of our natural and cultural worlds.

L.A. Sunday Times cover depicting Chinese father and son from 1907 cropped for close up
Research and Collections
An Object of Contempt and Curiosity to a Testament of Hope
At quick glance, the picture looked unremarkable and vaguely familiar like something I might have on my iPhone. After introspection, it reveals stories about community, immigration, tradition, and a historic earthquake.
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Gnatalie bones ready to ship
Wonder Is in Our Bones
How giant fossils expand the dimensions of our imagination
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Chalcides ocellatus, image flipped
Research and Collections
A New Skink in Town
How an iNaturalist observation of a non-native lizard could help protect Southern California’s native species—and its economy
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Life recreations American Mammoth Colombian Mastodon
Mammoths vs Mastodons: A La Brea Tar Pits Trunk Show
Discover the differences between Columbian mammoths and American mastodons
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Cacao Plant Huntington Gardens
Chocolate's Natural History
Learn about cacao’s journey from seedling to confection in this fascinating video.
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Preparator works on large bone in the Dino Lab
Naturalist
Earth's Green Giant
Fossil bones of Gnatalie, the long-necked dinosaur soon to be on display in NHM's new wing, were prepared in the Dinosaur Lab.
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Launch pad for the Ariane 6 for Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana
Research and Collections
Spaceport Fossils from French Guiana
How one small step for a spaceport in French Guiana led to a giant leap for Pleistocene fossils
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