Stories

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

Nature in L.A.

Los Angeles is Being Invaded by Frogs!

Sunday, September 6, 7:54 pm, my phone vibrates with an incoming text message.

Naturalist

Your Climate Change Talking Points

We asked museum scientists, volunteers, and Angelenos to tell us how they wrap their heads around the topic of climate change, how they explain it, and how it informs their everyday lives.

These little anemones were collected and photographed live, but have not yet been identified. Anemones are related to corals and jellies (also known as jellyfish, from back when anything in the ocean was a “fish”). Anemones look so peaceful with their saying tentacles, but they use those to sting animals that pass by so they can paralyze them and eat them.

Research and Collections

Tiny Marine Marvels

DISCO collects specimens down by the docks

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Naturalist

Minerals on Mars

Scientists have long wondered if Mars could support life. But what exactly should we look for?

Naturalist

Nature Gardens Rain Catchers

Angelenos have been switching out lawns for alternative turf, and visiting NHM to soak up conservation tips for their gardens and neighborhoods.

dr allison shultz ornithology curator birds NHM

Naturalist

Our Bird Curator's New Perch

Meet Dr. Allison Shultz, the museum’s new Assistant Curator of Ornithology.

A Gamer at Hart

An evening pastime at the house of William S. Hart

fossils of saber-toothed cat vertebrae on trays in the La Brea Tar Pits Museum’s collections room;

Naturalist

Paleo Prep School

Students dig up the bones of real prehistoric beasts for college credit in the first-ever La Brea Tar Pits Field School.

Be a Bat Detector

We are inviting residents in neighborhoods around L.A. County to track bat activities for the first large-scale study of how these creatures use urban and suburban habitats.