Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) announced today that it received a grant for $25,000 from Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S. This grant supports innovative standards-aligned learning experiences for at least 2,000 learners during the 2024–25 school year, both at the museum and in the classroom with museum educators. 

“We are thrilled to have financial support from Bayer Fund to help increase access to new museum programs that integrate environmental literacy and sustainability with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education,” said Laurie Giarratani, Director of Learning and Community. “The timing of this initiative will help us support students and teachers as they prepare to implement new STEELS (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy & Sustainability) academic standards.” 

Bayer Fund and CMNH share a mutual goal to see the communities we serve flourish. This grant from Bayer Fund will support schools by reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs for students participating in museum field trips and outreach programs in low-income communities. Museum field trips and outreach programs engage students in hands-on learning that complements their school curriculum and strengthens students’ understanding of STEELS and nature concepts. CMNH’s Equity Scholarship Fund creates more equal and open access to museum experiences. 

“Bayer Fund is proud to support Carnegie Museum of Natural History and their work to make real, sustainable impacts in their community,” said Al Mitchell, President of Bayer Fund. “Programs like this inspire future generations for careers in the high-demand STEM field, and we’re proud to provide our support.”  

In 2023, Bayer Fund awarded more than $12.1 million to over 2,300 charitable and nonprofit organizations to help address essential needs in Food and Nutrition, STEM Education, and Health & Wellness. Since 2017, nonprofit organizations across the U.S. have received nearly $90 million from Bayer Fund.  

To learn more about Carnegie Museum of Natural History visit CarnegieMNH.org.  

About Bayer Fund  
Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education, and health and wellness projects. For more Information visit https://www.fund.bayer.us. 

Carnegie Museum of Natural History Media Contact:  
Name: Erin Southerland
Email: SoutherlandE@CarnegieMNH.org
Phone: 412-353-4818 

Bayer Fund Media Contact:  
Name: Nicole Hayes
Email: Nicole.hayes@bayer.com
Phone: 201-421-4268 

Celebrate the 125th anniversary of the discovery of Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s beloved Diplodocus carnegii (Dippy) this July at the museum. The public is invited to enjoy events all month long for all ages, including a special Super Science Saturday for families, a 21+ night, a day filled with talks by paleontologists and other Dippy experts,  and much more. 

Named Diplodocus carnegii  to honor Andrew Carnegie’s support for the expedition that found it, Dippy proved too massive to be housed in the original exhibition halls, necessitating the expansion of Carnegie’s museum — sometimes referred to as “the house that Dippy built” by people of the day. Arguably the most seen dinosaur fossil in the world, Dippy’s many plaster replicas have thrilled museumgoers in London, Berlin, Madrid, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Paris, Bologna, La Plata, and Mexico City, while the genuine article has delighted millions here in Pittsburgh.   

“We’re so excited to celebrate the 125th anniversary of discovery of our iconic ‘mascot’ Diplodocus carnegii in this way,” says the museum’s senior dinosaur paleontologist and co-chair of research Dr. Matt Lamanna. “Dippy is a dinosaurian celebrity, not only for its incalculable scientific significance but also for its extraordinary cultural impact.” 

Events Celebrating Dippy’s 125th Anniversary

Discovering Dippy: The Dinosaur That Changed the World 
July 12, 2024 
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 
Pay what you wish 

Become an expert on the past, present, and future of research about Pittsburgh’s favorite dinosaur – the one and only Dippy! Talks by leading scientists, historians, and museum professionals will get you acquainted with a whole new side of Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s beloved mascot.  

Dippy’s Birthday Party for Members 
July 12, 2024 
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. 
Free for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members 

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh members are invited to a birthday celebration for everyone’s favorite dinosaur, Diplodocus carnegii (Dippy). Enjoy birthday treats, face painting, and other family-friendly activities in honor of a Pittsburgh icon with an international impact. Dinosaur-themed clothing and costumes are encouraged! 

Super Science Saturday: Dippy’s Jurassic World 
July 13, 2024 
12:00 – 4:00 p.m. 
Free with museum admission 

Join us for a Jurassic celebration in honor of the 125th anniversary of the discovery of Dippy! Hear about the most recent dino discoveries and ask museum staff your most pressing questions about the plants and animals that inhabited one of the most fascinating—and popular—geological periods in our Earth’s history. 

Teen Night: Dippy 125 
July 18, 2024 
5:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Free to everyone ages 13–18 

Teens (ages 13–18) are invited to Carnegie Museum of Natural History for a fun night in honor of the 125th anniversary of the discovery of our most famous dinosaur, Diplodocus carnegii! Join us for Jurassic-themed activities, learn what made the discovery of Dippy such an important event, and enjoy a snack in the teens-only lounge. 

Dippy & Friends (Virtual Event) 
July 23, 2024 
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. 
Pay what you wish 

We’re throwing a ‘gotcha day’ party for Dippy! Join Dr. Matt Lamanna, Mary R. Dawson Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, to learn about Apatosaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and other amazing animals that shared Dippy’s world some 150 million years ago in what’s now the Rocky Mountain region of North America. 

Dippy’s Rockstar Bash After Dark (21+) 
July 26, 2024 
6:00 – 10:00 p.m. 
$24 ($19 for members) 

From our beloved Dippy to dazzling gems and magnificent architecture – Carnegie Museum of Natural History is full of rockstars! Celebrate the 125th anniversary of Dippy’s discovery at a 21+ bash in the “house that Dippy built.” Meet the museum’s outstanding scientists as they share rarely viewed specimens. Enjoy pop-up musical performances throughout the evening.  

For more information, visit https://carnegiemnh.org/explore/dippy-125/.  

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Following an international search, Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) welcomes Kathy Hollis as its inaugural Director of Collections Care and Access. The new leadership position exemplifies the museum’s strategic commitment to future-proofing its historic collections of approximately 22 million specimens and objects and making them more accessible to scientists and students around the world, as well as to visitors in Pittsburgh. Hollis officially joined CMNH on March 4, 2024.  

Since 2011, Hollis served as the Collection Manager for Paleobiology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. In this role, she developed and implemented the collections management strategy for the National Fossil Collection, which includes some 40 million specimens. In addition to overseeing large collections acquisitions, moves, and facility upgrades, she managed numerous digitization projects. Prior to her time at the Smithsonian, Kathy served in several collections roles at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, where she received her M.S. in Museum and Field Studies. She also holds an M.S. in Geology from the Ohio State University and a B.A. in Geology from the College of Wooster.  

Hollis will report directly to Gretchen Baker, Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Vice President of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. She will manage staff across all the museum’s collecting areas: Anthropology, Botany, Mineralogy, Herpetology, Malacology, Mammalogy, Ornithology, Invertebrate Zoology, Invertebrate Paleontology, Paleobotany, and Vertebrate Paleontology. Hollis will lead initiatives to make the collections more accessible for research and public engagement and will also oversee conservation, archives, database systems, and registration. 

“The diversity of collections held in natural history museums can be dizzying—from pinned insects to dinosaur bones to human remains. And the issues in managing them are equally complex.” said Baker “This position emerged as a priority during our recent strategic planning process. We were looking for a leader to help us realize a future-forward vision for this historic collection and to knit together a novel cross-disciplinary team. We are thrilled to have found Kathy and can’t wait to welcome her to CMNH.”  

“I am honored to join CMNH’s incredible team dedicated to the values of scientific inquiry, shared experience, and sense of wonder and curiosity about our world,” said Hollis. “I am eager to help support the museum’s commitment to strong collections stewardship so that the collections in the museum’s care are accessible to the communities we serve. Having grown up along the Ohio River, I’m also excited to return to the Ohio River valley and call Pittsburgh home!” 

Ancient Egyptian Objects Return to View, Museum Invites Visitors to Step Behind the Scenes and Follow the Conservation of More than 80 Ancient Objects

Carnegie Museum of Natural History presents The Stories We Keep: Conserving Objects from Ancient Egypt. The new exhibition, produced in house, opens the curtain on behind-the-scenes work and puts the art and science of artifact conservation centerstage. It also marks the return to public view of ancient Egyptian objects after the museum closed Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt in 2023 for necessary conservation. Opening March 9th and on view for one year, The Stories We Keep invites visitors to see these objects—cared for by the museum for more than a century—in a new light and to witness the work that will preserve them for future generations. 

Every object in the museum’s care has stories to tell, about its creation and original use, its journey to Pittsburgh, and about the lives of those in ancient Egypt. The Stories We Keep features more than 80 items from ancient Egypt—including the 4,000-year-old Dahshur boat, one of only four in the world. CMNH invites visitors to engage with these objects like never before, have conversations with museum conservators, observe the care and restoration of objects in real time, and attempt the work themselves by reassembling replicas of ancient objects created with the assistance of 3D scanners.

Museum conservators will hold daily demonstrations and answer visitor questions about the objects and conservation tactics. Visitors can also submit questions by using a QR code, and the conservation team will address select entries in a video series accessible on the museum’s website and social media channels.

“We know how interested visitors are in ancient Egypt,” said Sarah Crawford, Director of Exhibitions and Design. “This exhibition allows visitors to satisfy their curiosity and watch as our Conservation team carries out their vital work caring for these ancient Egyptian items. We hope our fans gain new insights into these beloved objects and an appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and talent of our colleagues who safeguard them.”

The exhibition will prominently feature the Dahshur boat, one of four funerary boats still in existence from Egypt’s 12^th Dynasty. In 2023, CMNH recruited Egyptian conservator Dr. Mostafa Sherif, an expert on ancient wood restoration, to treat the boat. He joins senior conservator Gretchen Anderson, who oversees the museum’s conservation operations, and project conservator Annick Vuissoz, who arrived at the museum last month to manage the ongoing conservation of 650 ancient Egyptian objects in CMNH’s care.

“This is an entirely new experience for visitors,” said Dr. Lisa Haney, Assistant Curator and Egyptologist. “It connects us to ancient people in a new way, encouraging us to think differently about our own everyday objects and the stories they tell. We hope to create new connections between the past and the present and highlight the science that helps preserve those connecting threads.”

 
The Stories We Keep is free with museum admission and runs until March 9, 2025. General museum admission costs $25 for adults, $20 for adults 65 and older, $15 for children aged 3-18 or students with valid student IDs, and $12 after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Admission is free for members and children aged 2 and younger. More information is available at CarnegieMNH.org.  

Researchers from Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) and international colleagues describe seven species of skinks from the African nation of Angola that are new to science. In a study recently published in Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, the research team review all the occurring species of the genus Trachylepis in Angola and conclude there are seven new species.  

Two of the new species names, Trachylepis attenboroughi (“Attenborough’s Skink”) and Trachylepis wilsoni (“Wilson’s Wedge-snouted Skink”) honor iconic naturalists David Attenborough and Edward O. Wilson, respectively. The other names honor the late French herpetologist Roger Henri Bour, Angolan herpetologists Suzana A. Bandeira and Hilária Valério, the Angolan chieftain Mwene Vunongue (1800–1886), and the Ovahelelo ethnolinguistic group in gratitude for supporting and welcoming the research team and permitting them to study fauna of their lands.  

“It is an honor to name two new species after Sir Attenborough and E.O. Wilson,” said Mariana Marques, CMNH Collection Manager for the Section of Amphibians and Reptiles. “Both naturalists played a crucial role in my academic and professional paths, and their legacy definitely sparked my passion for African wildlife. We hope that naming two species in recognition of such inspirational naturalists can raise awareness worldwide that there are still new species to be discovered and described while many others are becoming extinct before they are even discovered. We are in a race against time to save our biodiversity, we cannot preserve what we do not know.” 

“It’s equally important to acknowledge the people of Angola,” said CMNH Research Associate and CIBIO/BIOPOLIS Researcher Luis Ceríaco. “We owe so much to them, including scientists who have contributed vital knowledge of the country’s beautiful biodiversity and the people who live on this land and who welcomed us and supported these endeavors. Both Suzana and Hilária started participating in this project as students, and now they are both leaders in their respective fields in Angola. They are training a new generation of Angolan biologists and conservationists. Honoring them with these two new species is a way to celebrate the new generation of African naturalists!”  

The description and naming of new species provides critical insights for biologists, contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary processes that shaped today’s biodiversity, and updates the catalogue of life on Earth. As biodiversity grows ever more vulnerable on a worldwide scale, a clear understanding of the real number of species and their distribution is fundamental to developing effective conservation plans.  

Angola, a country in southwestern Africa, is one of the most biodiverse countries on the continent, with high levels of endemism, or species that occur nowhere else in the world. This diversity is due to the county’s geographic position and wide diversity of biomes—including tropical rainforests, savannahs, and deserts, providing the specific habitats for species to adapt and speciate. Angolan biodiversity serves as a trove of new scientific knowledge, due in part to the armed conflicts that have engulfed the country for more than four decades, impeding research. 

In addition to Marques and Ceríaco, the research team includes Diogo Parrinha, CIBIO/BIOPOLIS PhD Candidate; Arthur Tiutenko, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen/Nuremberg Assistant Professor; Jeffrey Weinel, American Museum of Natural History Postdoctoral Fellow; Brett Butler, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico PhD Candidate; and Aaron Bauer, Villanova University, Professor.  

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) is pleased to announce Robert T. Downs as winner of the 2023 Carnegie Mineralogical Award. The award honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation, and education. 

Robert T. Downs is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geosciences at The University of Arizona. Over the course of his career, he has taught thousands of students, published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, and co-authored three books.  

“In his long career, Bob has influenced countless students and people from all walks of life through his lectures and publications, and as one of his supporters best put it, his influence on the mineralogy community is unique, lasting and profound. Congratulations, Bob,“ said Travis Olds, Assistant Curator of Minerals at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 

Among his many achievements, Downs developed and continues to curate the RRUFF mineralogical database, one of the most widely used open-access mineral databases in the world, which has fundamentally changed how mineralogical data is kept and shared. The Raman spectra, X-ray diffraction, and chemistry data within RRUFF help mineral researchers identify specimens on Earth and beyond. Downs was a principal investigator on the Mars rover Curiosity, part of the Mars Science Laboratory mission. In 2023, he was second author on a paper in JGR Planets that summarizes a survey of 161 probable or confirmed Martian minerals and suggests that mineral diversity on Mars is an order of magnitude less than on Earth.  

Downs also prioritized making mineral education accessible to the public. He led the development of the popular, new University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum in Tucson. 

“I found that the beauty of minerals was rivaled by the beauty of the math that described their crystal structures and the bonding of their atoms,” said Downs. “I am so thankful for a life in mineralogy that provided me the excitement of discovery and feel honored to receive the award.” 

Olds presented the award to Downs on February 10, 2024, at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. 
 
Carnegie Museum of Natural History established the Carnegie Mineralogical Award, funded by the Hillman Foundation, in 1987. 
 
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 Carnegie Mineralogical Award, and the deadline is November 15, 2024. Eligible candidates include educators, private mineral enthusiasts and collectors, curators, museums, mineral clubs and societies, mineral symposiums, universities, and publications. For information, contact Travis Olds, Assistant Curator, Section of Minerals & Earth Sciences, at 412-622-6568 or oldst@carnegiemnh.org.  
 
Past recipients include: 

2022 Willliam B. “Skip” Simmons, Jr. 
2021 Barbara Lee Dutrow, PhD. 
2020 John C. Medici, PhD. 
2019 John F. Rakovan, PhD. 
2018 Dudley P. Blauwet 
2017 W. Lesley Presmyk 
2016 Anthony R. Kampf, PhD. 
2015 George Harlow, PhD. 
2014 Bryon N. Brookmyer 
2013 Gloria A. Staebler 
2012 George W. Robinson, PhD. 
2011 Jeffrey E. Post, PhD. 
2010 The Rochester Mineralogical Symposium 
2009 Peter K.M. Megaw, PhD. 
2008 Frank C. Hawthorne, PhD. 
2007 Jeffrey A. Scovil 
2006 Richard C. Whiteman 
2005 June Culp Zeitner 
2004 Joel A. Bartsch, PhD. 
2003 Eugene S. Meieran, Sc.D. 
2002 Terry C. Wallace, Jr., PhD. 
2001 Wendell E. Wilson, PhD. 
2000 F. John Barlow, Sc.D. (honorary)  
1999 Sterling Hill Mining Museum  
1998 Robert W. Jones 
1997 Bryan K. Lees 
1996 Cornelis (Kase) Klein, PhD. 
1995 Marie E. Huizing 
1994 The Mineralogical Record 
1993 Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., PhD. 
1992 Carl A. Francis, PhD. 
1991 Miguel A. Romero Sanchez, PhD. 
1990 Paul E. Desautels 
1989 Frederick H. Pough, PhD. 
1988 John Sinkankas, DHL. (honorary) 
1987 The Tucson Gem & Mineral Society 

Researchers in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s (CMNH) Section of Amphibians and Reptiles celebrate five new species described in 2023. Associate Curator Dr. Jennifer Sheridan and an international research team describe four new species of Southeast Asian frogs in the genus Amolops in the journal Vertebrate Zoology. Collection Manager Mariana Marques and international colleagues describe a new species of legless skink (small lizard) from Angola in the African Journal of Herpetology. Both museum researchers are lead authors of their respective studies. 
 
Marques and Sheridan’s discoveries took place 6,000 miles apart on different continents, yet both provide new scientific insights about their respective regions. In the face of a worldwide decline in biodiversity due to human impact, the documentation of new-to-science species fills vital knowledge gaps for a better understanding of ecosystem health. The better scientists can document biodiversity, the better they understand the effects of biodiversity loss and how to identify future conservation goals. 
 
“Publishing five new species within less than three weeks is exciting for us and the museum,” said Sheridan. “Both discoveries required a combination of field work and research back at the museum. Mariana knew in the field that she had likely encountered an undescribed species, while in my case, these frogs were labeled as Amolops cremnobatus in the field because that’s what they looked like. Years later, once we started looking closely at numerous individuals collected by many researchers, we began to fully realize the diversity hidden in the Amolops genus.”

Sheridan and researchers from Laos and North Carolina hypothesized that the Lao torrent frog Amolops cremnobatus, first described in 1998, is actually five species in the genus Amolops based on mitochondrial DNA analysis of specimens from Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. Their paper in Vertebrate Zoology describes the four new species Amolops tanfuilianae, Amolops kottelati, Amolops sengae, and Amolops attiguus. 

“These are extremely cryptic species,” said Sheridan. “So, determining the differences is not as simple as ‘specimen A has different coloration than cremnobatus’ or anything like that.” The visual differences between adult specimens were small and included varied finger lengths and the number of vomerine teeth (used to capture and hold prey). Tadpole morphology (size, shape, and structure) was key; even though adults are collected more often than tadpoles for scientific study, tadpole information is important. Body length, presence or absence of glands, and other physical features in tadpoles provided crucial data to differentiate the new Amolops species. Molecular data including mtDNA and nuDNA analysis also revealed differences the research team needed to describe the four new species. The team recognizes that continued research in Thailand may reveal additional species. 

Meanwhile, Marques and an international team of researchers discovered the skink Acontias mukwando on Serra da Neve, an inselberg, or isolated, rocky outcrop, in Angola, one of the most ecologically diverse countries in Africa. Moveable eyelids and distinct coloration distinguish the new species, Acontias mukwando, from other species in the genus Acontias. The research team chose the species name in honor of the local Mukwando tribe to recognize their support and friendship during field work.

Both Sheridan and Marques used specimens from the collections of multiple other museums to fully determine how these newly described species are unique, and how they relate to their closest relatives. They relied on collections made by numerous researchers from multiple countries, highlighting the value of collaborative museum networks for understanding global biodiversity.

“Finding a specimen like Acontias is always exciting,” said Marques. “These animals spend most of their time under rocks and foliage, and they are not usually seen by people. There is so much we don’t know about them. Discovering that a member of a little-known group occurs on top of an equally obscure mountain was such an exciting mystery to solve. It was one of those rare ‘wow’ moments in your career as a scientist! My goal is to provide a solid and scientific overview of the fauna occurring in Serra da Neve, in order to support its conservation and contribute to the understanding of its rare biodiversity.”

CMNH’s Section of Amphibians and Reptiles maintains a collection of more than 230,000 specimens and ranks as the ninth largest amphibian and reptile collection in the United States. It includes 156 holotypes, the single type specimens upon which the descriptions and names of their respective species are based. 

A biocube—the tool at the heart of the exhibition—is a one-by-one-by-one-foot framed cube that organisms from the surrounding environment can enter and pass through. Biocubes featured in the exhibition were placed in environments across the globe to learn what forms of life, both known and unknown, could be found during a 24-hour period. In addition to exploring life through the exhibition, visitors are also invited to participate in citizen science and uncover the biodiversity in their own backyards by creating and monitoring their own biocubes. 

Life in One Cubic Foot explores life from exotic environments, like the coral reefs of French Polynesia and the alien mid-water ocean off the coast of California, to more familiar locales, like New York City’s Central Park. The exhibition features hundreds of different organisms—ranging in size from the head of a pin to the full one-cubic-foot biocubes—in collages of photographs, models, interactive elements, and exhibition videos. CMNH will include a special section of the exhibition that focuses on the biodiversity of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania. 

Biocubes in the exhibition were not only used by scientists to explore what is already known about life on Earth but also to spotlight how much biodiversity remains for aspiring scientists to discover. Scientists estimate that there are more than one million species still unknown or unnamed by scientists. Environmental changes—like climate change and other human-made forces—affect life around the world, both discovered and yet unidentified. Global efforts to understand the impact of these changes and answer questions about how to manage the complex dynamics of wildlife and natural resources will improve as scientists fill knowledge gaps in the tree of life. 

“We hope visitors will experience wonder and curiosity about the diversity of life around the world and especially in their favorite parks and along their daily commutes,” said Gretchen Baker, the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. “We encourage them to investigate life outside the walls of our museum, in their own familiar and cherished places. The better we understand life on Earth, the better we recognize its vulnerabilities and the pressing challenges it faces.” 

The exhibition is free with museum admission and runs until January 7, 2024. General museum admission costs $25 for adults, $20 for adults 65 and older, $15 for children aged 3-18 or students with valid student IDs, and $12 after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Admission is free for members and children aged 2 and younger. More information is available at CarnegieMNH.org. 

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 70 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu. 

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is connecting people everywhere with Earth’s unfolding story. The museum is one of the most visited natural history museums in the world. Opened in 1910, the museum is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the world’s most extensive collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. For more information, visit naturalhistory.si.edu.

CMNH cares for a collection of more than 550,000 plants specimens, the largest collection of Western Pennsylvanian plants in the world. The museum will leverage this collection and the scientific expertise of its own researchers and partner organizations to create and distribute a robust toolkit of resources designed to generate public awareness of invasive plants’ impact on local ecosystems and what people can do to slow their spread and prevent future introductions. Resources are anticipated to include museum exhibition content, digital assets, videos, maps, infographics, printed materials, and shared messaging that can be customized to the unique needs of each participating organization’s audience. The campaign will be distributed across a variety of outlets, including social media, printed handouts, and interpretive displays. 

“We’re grateful to the Richard King Mellon Foundation for this opportunity to convene the expertise of amazing colleagues in sister institutions to develop best practices for communicating about invasive species,” said Mason Heberling, CMNH’s Associate Curator of Botany. “We hope to cultivate an already growing audience and to empower the people of Western Pennsylvania to make a difference in the prevention and management of invasive species.”

The campaign will launch later in 2023 and continue through December of 2024, but the outcomes will continue well beyond that timeline. CMNH content will include a new interactive exhibit in the museum’s Hall of Botany and an exhibit at Powdermill Nature Reserve, the museum’s environmental research center located in the Laurel Highlands. CMNH will also create a free online repository for educational materials and curate a social media campaign linking the institutional partners to generate awareness and community participation across their respective networks of followers. “From weeds in your garden to invasive species in natural areas, the topic of introduced plants is not only a scientifically complex problem, but also a societally complex one,” added Heberling. “Many invasive plants were intentionally planted at first—and some continue to be planted—with environmental consequences often realized only decades later. Species invasions are one of the top drivers of biodiversity change, here in Pennsylvania and around the world.” 

About the Richard King Mellon Foundation
Founded in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is the largest foundation in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and one of the 50 largest in the world. The Foundation’s 2021 year-end net assets were $3.4 billion, and its Trustees in 2022 disbursed more than $152 million in grants and program-related investments. The Foundation focuses its funding on six primary program areas, delineated in its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.

Visitors can relax in a listening lounge, mimic unusual bird calls, and stroll down Bird Hall to hear sonic snapshots created by Hoff and Harnett. Featured sounds include the low rumble of the Southern Cassowary, the mimicry of the Superb Lyrebird, and the rhythmic knocks of the Pileated Woodpecker. The experience tunes audiences into the world of birdsong to discover the beauty and complexity of avian communication that surrounds us.

“We were so excited when Chris and Sam approached us about bringing this experience to Pittsburgh,” said Sarah Crawford, the museum’s Director of Exhibitions and Design. “Our audiences love Bird Hall and are always eager for bird programming, whether they’re exploring our displays, following the research and bird banding at our Powdermill Avian Research Center in the Laurel Highlands, or demonstrating their familiarity and passion for the region’s birds on social media. I can’t wait for them to experience the incredible artistry of Chris and Sam. The museum’s birds will never look—or sound—the same.”

The exhibition is free with museum admission and runs until September 4, 2023. General museum admission costs $25 for adults, $20 for adults 65 and older, $15 for children aged 3-18 or students with valid student IDs, and $12 after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Admission is free for members and children aged 2 and younger. More information is available at CarnegieMNH.org.

Melanedaphodon hovaneci Named in Honor of Pittsburgh-Area Native A. George Hovanec

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pittsburgh, PA, April 5, 2023 — In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology announce the discovery of Melanedaphodon hovaneci, the earliest known edaphosaurid synapsid, ancient precursors of mammals recognized in popular culture and science textbooks for the spine-supported sails along their backs. The study also provides clues about how and when herbivores first appeared on the evolutionary scene. 
 
The study analyzed two fossils recovered from cannel coal in eastern Ohio dating to the Moscovian Age (315.2 to 307 million years ago) of the Carboniferous Period. Using micro CT scanning, the team described the new species, highlighting similarities between it and later edaphosaurids that occurred roughly 300–272 million years ago. 
 
Anatomical data provided by the new fossils yields insights about how herbivorous behavior first arose among land animals. With its large, bulbous, and cusped marginal teeth, together with numerous teeth on its palate (i.e., the roof of the mouth), Melanedaphodon differs from all other known species of Edaphosauridae. The presence of such teeth suggests that adaptations for processing tough plant material first appeared among the earliest mammal precursors. The researchers propose that durophagy—feeding on organisms with hard shells or exoskeletons—eventually enabled the eating of plants. 
 
“This is such an exciting find,” said Amy Henrici, one of the authors and Collection Manager of Vertebrate Paleontology at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. “We now have a much better understanding of how terrestrial animals first adapted as plant eaters, which had a profound impact on global ecosystems.” 
 
The team named Melanedaphodon hovaneci in honor of the late A. George Hovanec, a native of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania whose financial contributions made the study possible. Mr. Hovanec passed away in January of 2023. “We’re so honored to celebrate George with the naming of Melanedaphodon hovaneci,” said Henrici. “His generous support throughout the years was vital to so much of our work. I think he would be thrilled.”
 
In addition to Henrici, the research team includes lead author Arjan Mann and colleague Hans-Dieter Sues of the Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History and Stephanie Pierce of the Museum of Comparative Zoology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University. 
 

WHAT: Carnegie Museum of Natural History presents Jane’s Endangered Animal Experience, created by Apple TV+ and Sinking Ship Entertainment and based on the upcoming 10-episode mission-driven series for kids and families focusing on a young girl named Jane Garcia and inspired by the work of Dr. Jane Goodall, premiering on Apple TV+ on April 14, 2023.  Photos and additional information on “Jane” available on Apple TV+’s press site here.

Jane’s Endangered Animal Experience invites kids and families into an immersive world inspired by the series “Jane” with a special focus on one episode of the series that deals with the plight of the North American honey bee. Visitors will learn about the honey bee, both its contributions to the environment and the challenges it faces. Attendees can fly in a replica of Jane’s high-tech pod vehicle, collecting pollen and evading predators just as she and her friends do in the series, as well as climb onto a custom-built, kid-sized model of a bee to get up close and personal with what makes these tiny creatures so incredible. The experience also includes a 30-minute media presentation in the museum’s Earth Theater. 

“Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.” — Dr. Jane Goodall

The experience is free with museum admission. More information is available at CarnegieMNH.org. 

WHEN: Jane’s Endangered Animal Experience opens Sunday, April 16, 2023 (10:00 am – 5:00 pm), and runs until January 2, 2024, in the museum’s Discovery Basecamp on the first floor. Media presentations will play twice a day at 11:30 am and 3:00 pm in Earth Theater. 

WHERE: Carnegie Museum of Natural History:  4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. 412-622-3131

WHO: Please direct press inquiries to Sloan MacRae, 412-353-4678, macraes@carnegiemnh.org. For admission information and museum hours, please visit CarnegieMNH.org or call 412-622-3131. 

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) is pleased to announce William B. “Skip” Simmons, Jr. as winner of the 2022 Carnegie Mineralogical Award. The award honors outstanding contributions in mineralogical preservation, conservation, and education. 

Simmons taught mineralogy at the University of New Orleans for more than 42 years, where he formed the Mineralogy, Petrology, Pegmatology (MP²) research group. Following his retirement from the University of New Orleans, Simmons relocated the MP² research group and laboratory to the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, where he currently serves as the research director.

Simmons’ research primarily focuses on pegmatite mineralogy and petrogenesis. A pegmatite is a type of igneous rock that contains technologically and economically important minerals mined for rare-earth elements such as lithium, beryllium, and tantalum. His lifelong passion for pegmatite mineralogy began in middle school when his mother took him to collect at the McKinney pegmatite in Spruce Pine, NC, and he shared that passion with others throughout his career. 

“I prioritized visiting and collecting at pegmatites worldwide and involved students and colleagues whenever possible,” says Simmons of his teaching career. “I have taken students to study pegmatites in Brazil, Namibia, and Madagascar, as well as in the US, and have involved students in research projects whenever possible. Many of the students presented this research at the Rochester Mineralogical Symposium.”

“Dr. Simmons is an extraordinarily accomplished mineralogist, who for decades has been a leading authority on pegmatology, a specialized field of study focused on the mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry of pegmatites,” says Travis Olds, Assistant Curator of Minerals, Section of Minerals and Earth Sciences at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. “His research regarding pegmatite formation has revealed some groundbreaking results, including the modeling of near-surface pegmatites that indicates that some of the world’s largest crystals have a much shorter growing time than previously thought – just a few months or years, rather than millions of years. During his more than 45-year career, Skip has influenced thousands, engaging professionals, students, mineral enthusiasts, and people from all walks of life through seminars, distinguished lectures, and publications that explore and expand our understanding of pegmatites.”

Simmons has more than 500 research publications to his name, including 21 new mineral descriptions and five mineral discreditations, and he recently co-authored the paper, “A Proposed New Mineralogical Classification System for Granitic Pegmatites.”

Simmons’ research includes extensive geochemical analyses of pegmatitic tourmaline and other associated gem minerals. He co-edited the “Tourmaline” issue of Lithographie and served as lead editor and author of the “Rubellite” issue. Additionally, he developed a week-long Pegmatite Workshop in Maine that has run for 21 years; the second edition of the textbook he co-authored for the workshop, Pegmatology, was published in 2022.

“Skip shares his love of minerals and pegmatites with anyone who shows interest,” says Carl Francis, Curator of the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum and the 1992 Carnegie Mineralogical Award winner. 

Olds presented the award to Simmons on February 11, 2023, at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History established the Carnegie Mineralogical Award, funded by the Hillman Foundation, in 1987.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Carnegie Mineralogical Award, and the deadline is November 15, 2023. Eligible candidates include educators, private mineral enthusiasts and collectors, curators, museums, mineral clubs and societies, mineral symposiums, universities, and publications. For information, contact Travis Olds, Assistant Curator, Section of Minerals & Earth Sciences, at 412-622-6568 or oldst@carnegiemnh.org. 

Past recipients include:
2021 Barbara Lee Dutrow, PhD.
2020 John C. Medici, PhD.
2019 John F. Rakovan, PhD.
2018 Dudley P. Blauwet
2017 W. Lesley Presmyk
2016 Anthony R. Kampf, PhD.
2015 George Harlow, PhD.
2014 Bryon N. Brookmyer
2013 Gloria A. Staebler
2012 George W. Robinson, PhD.
2011 Jeffrey E. Post, PhD.
2010 The Rochester Mineralogical Symposium
2009 Peter K.M. Megaw, PhD.
2008 Frank C. Hawthorne, PhD.
2007 Jeffrey A. Scovil
2006 Richard C. Whiteman
2005 June Culp Zeitner
2004 Joel A. Bartsch, PhD.
2003 Eugene S. Meieran, Sc.D.
2002 Terry C. Wallace, Jr., PhD.
2001 Wendell E. Wilson, PhD.
2000 F. John Barlow, Sc.D. (honorary) 
1999 Sterling Hill Mining Museum
1998 Robert W. Jones
1997 Bryan K. Lees
1996 Cornelis (Kase) Klein, PhD.
1995 Marie E. Huizing
1994 The Mineralogical Record
1993 Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., PhD.
1992 Carl A. Francis, PhD.
1991 Miguel A. Romero Sanchez, PhD.
1990 Paul E. Desautels
1989 Frederick H. Pough, PhD.
1988 John Sinkankas, DHL. (honorary)
1987 The Tucson Gem & Mineral Society

Carnegie Museum of Natural History invites visitors of all ages to experience the bravery, artistry, and extravagance of the Apsáalooke [ap-SAH-loo-gah] people of the Northern Plains—also known as the Crow. Opening February 4, 2023, Apsáalooke Women and Warriors is created and curated by The Field Museum and celebrates the Apsáalooke people’s daring feats in battle, unparalleled horsemanship, and innovative beadwork—all centered around and protected by women. Alongside historical war shields and regalia, contemporary Native American art highlights how this bravery and artistry is alive today. 

Apsáalooke Women and Warriors explores the history, values, and beliefs of this Native American community known for their matriarchal society and honors the tradition of “counting coup,” or performing acts of bravery. Visitors will learn about Apsáalooke origins, cultural worldviews, and the powerful roles that both women and warriors hold in the community through a unique mix of traditional objects and contemporary Native American pieces from the perspective of Field Museum guest curator Nina Sanders. 

“We are honored to share this compelling and vital exhibition with Pittsburgh,” said Gretchen Baker, the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. “Curator Nina Sanders and numerous collaborators have woven together rich historical accounts with contemporary stories through stunning objects and visuals. This is a profound exhibition that highlights and invites connection to often hidden narratives—those of women and Indigenous Native American cultures.” 

The exhibition features war shields that play important roles in Apsáalooke culture. Warriors make the war shields, while women are keepers of the shields. Visitors will have the opportunity to draw connections with the shield owners’ stories and their craftsmanship and imagery. 
 
“The shields inspire us, they remind us that people have the ability to defy the laws of physics and change the course of nature and history. The shields represent superhuman potential and divine intervention” says Sanders, who is a descendant of one of the shields, meaning one of her ancestors made the shield. “The shields were used in and out of battle—every part of the shield manifests the needed supernatural aid required for the warrior to succeed and survive in battle. For example, you will see one with a hawk squirrel because the man might have needed the strength to move quickly through the forest, depending on their role in battle.” 
  
Along with the shields, the exhibition also displays horse regalia, a nine-foot-tall modern tipi, and over 20 works of contemporary art, including paintings, photography, unique beadwork, and high-end fashion.  
 
Apsáalooke Women and Warriors also highlights Apsáalooke gender roles and offers visitors a glimpse into an egalitarian society. The three genders include bía (woman), bachee(í) (man), and batee (two-spirited). Apsáalooke women are the keepers and influencers of the Apsáalooke way of life. Women, as well as men, were allowed to choose their partners. Men are responsible for protecting the women so that they carry on as life-givers, culture keepers, and foundations of the family and community. Sanders further explains, “In the community, people who identify as LGBTQ are considered two-spirited, imbued with the qualities and characteristics of all genders. We have many stories about exceptional batee people who counted coup or made beautiful works of art.” 
 
Apsáalooke Women and Warriors is jointly organized by the Field Museum and the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society at the University of Chicago.
 
The exhibition is free with museum admission and runs until May 29, 2023. General museum admission costs $25 for adults, $20 for adults 65 and older, $15 for children aged 3-18 or students with valid student IDs, and $12 after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Admission is free for members and children aged 2 and younger. More information is available at CarnegieMNH.org. 

Research Underscores Increased Importance of Digitized Museum Collections and Herbaria 

Botanists from Carnegie Museum of Natural History and an international team of researchers warn of risks posed to North American ephemeral wildflowers caused by warmer spring temperatures in a recent study published in Nature Communications.  Researchers surveyed data from 5,522 individual herbarium specimens collected from 1901 to 2020, representing 40 species from Asia, Europe, and North America, to analyze the phenological mismatch—or discrepancies in timing—between the leaf-out periods for understory ephemerals and deciduous canopy trees. The specimens show that sensitivity to spring temperature for wildflowers occurs across the three continents, but that canopy trees in North America are significantly more sensitive to spring temperatures and experience longer springs when compared to trees in Asia and Europe. This dynamic results in shorter spring light windows for North American wildflowers.  

The threat compounds the documented human-caused risks facing North American wildflowers, which include increased deer herbivory, habitat loss, pollinator declines, and nutrient pollution. The phenological dynamic is important because wildflowers in deciduous forests often rely on leafing out before the canopy to create 50-100% of their annual carbon budget, which lead author and Carnegie Museum of Natural History postdoctoral research associate Dr. Benjamin Lee describes “as if a person were to eat all the calories they needed for a year in the first three weeks.” This strategy directly corresponds with wildflowers’ growth, survival, flowering, and reproductive output. The understory layer accounts for about 80% of plant species diversity in temperate forests worldwide and provides a critical role in the functioning of these ecosystems. 

“Part of the novelty of this study is that it is one of the first to use herbarium specimens for intercontinental comparisons,” said Dr. Lee. “Our unexpected results, with North American wildflowers being substantially more at risk to climate change effects than wildflowers in Europe and Asia, highlight how important it is that this intercontinental research is conducted and how valuable herbarium collections are in this endeavor.”  

The researchers call for additional study that will include specimens from international herbaria and research collaborations to assist conservation efforts.  

The study’s authors include Dr. Lee, Dr. Tara K. Miller of Boston University, Dr. Christoph Rosche of Germany’s Martin Luther University, Dr. Yong Yang of China’s Nanjing Forestry University, Dr. Mason Heberling of Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Dr. Sara E. Kuebbing of Yale University, and Dr. Richard B. Primack of Yale University.

Featuring Interviews with Radiolab’s Jad Abumrad and US House Candidate Summer Lee

Hosted and Produced by Pittsburgh-Based Artist and Filmmaker Michael Pisano

Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) announces the launch of its new podcast series, We Are Nature, with the first episodes available now. The new series, comprised of 11 regular episodes and several bonus episodes, features 30 interviews with museum researchers, organizers, policy makers, farmers, and science communicators about climate action in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The goal of the series is to share how humans can create–and are already working towards–a livable, just, and joyous future. 

The series is created, produced, and hosted by Pittsburgh-based filmmaker and environmental educator Michael Pisano. Science communicator and former CMNH program manager Taiji Nelson joins as co-host and co-producer. Field reporters Di-ay Battad, David Kelley, and Jamen Thurmond round out the production crew. 

The first episode, entitled “This Is an Emergency, Not an Apocalypse,” featuring interviews with Radiolab creator Jad Abumrad and CMNH Curator of Anthropocene Studies Dr. Nicole Heller, is available now along with a bonus episode, “We Can Fix This,” delving into effective climate change communication strategies. The second episode, “Steel City,” featuring an interview with US House of Representatives Candidate Summer Lee, will be available on November 4.  

“These stories show many diverse ways people are working together on the frontlines of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and justice,” said Pisano. “You’ll hear from people who grow our food, protect our greenspaces, and fight polluting industries. For me, their stories are a vital reminder that we aren’t doomed, and that getting involved with local issues like air quality is connected to making a difference globally.”
 
All episodes will be available at https://carnegiemnh.org/learn/we-are-nature-podcast/ and on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Stitcher. The podcast We Are Nature follows CMNH’s successful A Is for Anthropocene podcast series and builds upon the museum’s We Are Nature exhibition series. 
 
About the Hosts and Contributors
 
Host Michael Pisano’s first career aspiration was to be a dinosaur. Thirty-five-ish years later, he makes films about sustainability and solidarity. He also makes fantasy games about collaboration in the face of doom. Michael fell in love with Pennsylvania’s forests as an undergrad at Carnegie Mellon and has called Pittsburgh home for nearly 20 years since. In We Are Nature, his experiences as a teacher, documentary filmmaker, and climate justice organizer meet his passions for ecology and natural history; as a host, Michael works to draw connections between science, history, ethics, and a livable future.
www.pisanofilms.com
 
Producer and Co-host Taiji Nelson studies Learning Sciences and Human Development at the University of Washington (Seattle), but lived in Pittsburgh from 2006-2022 and grew up in the Allegheny National Forest. He is passionate about developing ways to promote solidarity between the environmental movement and other justice movements, and facilitating learning environments that help people answer big questions about taking action toward climate justice.

Researchers from Carnegie Museum of Natural History have described impacts of climate change and land use on the size of organisms. Dr. Jennifer Sheridan, Assistant Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Dr. Amanda Martin, post-doctoral researcher, review the causes that lead to changes in size as well as ecological interactions, while making the case for more research studying the combined effects of climate change and urbanization. The paper, entitled “Body size responses to the combined effects of climate and land use changes within an urban framework,” was published in in the journal Global Change Biology on June 27. 

Body size is considered one of the most important traits of an organism, affecting thermal regulation, mobility, reproductive output, and capacity to acquire resources. Over many generations, body sizes usually increase within lineages. Recent observations, however, show a decrease in size over relatively short time periods. This could have profound ramifications for individual organisms and ecosystems alike. For example, size-related reproductive success means that interacting populations in the same location will be dominated by smaller species, leading to long-term changes in predator-prey dynamics. Most research suggests climate change as the primary driver of changes in size, but emerging research indicates that land use—especially urbanization—may also contribute.  

Human-induced climate change has significantly altered temperatures since the 1950s, and temperature affects the size of organisms. At roughly the same time, the Earth has experienced rapid urbanization and a tripling of the human population. Unlike climate change, urbanization has been shown to cause an increase in size of some organisms due to the advantage size has on mobility, and the greater availability of food and other resources. Urbanization does not affect all organisms equally; however, and some species—including some birds—are unable to take advantage of food abundance in urban settings and have become smaller.

“There is a gap in the literature,” says Dr. Sheridan. “Given that climate change and urbanization are projected to continue their rapid growth, there is an urgency to understanding how their respective effects may be working in concert. Specimens from museum collections are a unique data source that can shed light on changes in size with respect to climate and land use changes over time.”  

Sheridan and Martin recommend several steps researchers can take to better understand biodiversity loss and ultimately work toward species conservation. These include expanding the taxonomic and geographic scope of research–including the use of museum collections; increasing the use of quantitative data—such as impervious surface area–over categorical data such as urban versus rural zones; and increasing the testing of climate change and land use interactions. Better understanding of the combined effects of climate change and urbanization is imperative for responding to rapid environmental change. 

[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] — An Egyptian-American team of researchers has announced the discovery of a new kind of large-bodied meat-eating dinosaur, or theropod, from a celebrated fossil site in Egypt’s Sahara Desert. The fossil of a still-unnamed species provides the first known record of the abelisaurid group of theropods from the Bahariya Formation, a rock unit in the Bahariya Oasis that dates to the middle Cretaceous Era (approximately 98 million years ago). In the early 20^th century, this locality famously yielded the original specimens of a host of remarkable dinosaurs—including the colossal sail-backed fish-eater Spinosaurus—which were then destroyed in World War II. Abelisaurid fossils had previously been found in Europe and in many of today’s Southern Hemisphere continents, but never before from the Bahariya Formation. The team describes the Bahariya abelisaurid discovery in a paper published today in Royal Society Open Science. 
 
The study was led by Belal Salem of the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP) in Mansoura, Egypt, who is also a graduate student at Ohio University and a faculty member at Benha University. The research team also included Dr. Matt Lamanna, Mary R. Dawson Associate Curator and Head of Vertebrate Paleontology and lead dinosaur specialist at Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH); Dr. Patrick O’Connor, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Ohio University; Sanaa El-Sayed, a doctoral student at the University of Michigan and the MUVP’s former vice director; Dr. Hesham Sallam, a professor at the American University in Cairo (AUC) and Mansoura University and the founding director of the MUVP; and additional colleagues from Benha University and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency. CMNH Vertebrate Paleontology Scientific Illustrator Andrew McAfee produced or assisted with most of the illustrations in the paper.

The fossil in question, a well-preserved vertebra from the base of the neck of a theropod, was recovered by a 2016 MUVP expedition to the Bahariya Oasis. The vertebra belongs to an abelisaurid, a kind of bulldog-faced, small-toothed, tiny-armed theropod that is estimated to have been roughly six meters (20 feet) in body length. Abelisaurids—most notably represented by the horned, demonic-looking Patagonian form Carnotaurus of Jurassic World and Prehistoric Planet fame—were among the most diverse and geographically widespread large predatory dinosaurs in the southern landmasses during the Cretaceous Period, the final time period of the Age of Dinosaurs. Along with Spinosaurus and two other giant theropods (Carcharodontosaurus and Bahariasaurus), the new abelisaurid fossil adds yet another species to the cadre of large predatory dinosaurs that roamed what is now the Egyptian Sahara roughly 98 million years ago. 
 
“During the mid-Cretaceous, the Bahariya Oasis would’ve been one of the most terrifying places on the planet,” says Salem. “How all these huge predators managed to coexist remains a mystery, though it’s probably related to their having eaten different things, their having adapted to hunt different prey.”

The new vertebra holds implications for the biodiversity of Cretaceous dinosaurs in Egypt and the entire northern region of Africa. It is the oldest known fossil of Abelisauridae from northeastern Africa, and shows that, during the mid-Cretaceous, these carnivorous dinosaurs ranged across much of the northern part of the continent, east to west from present day Egypt to Morocco, to as far south as Niger and potentially beyond. Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus are also known from Niger and Morocco, and a close relative of Bahariasaurus has been found in the latter nation as well, suggesting that this fauna of large to gigantic theropods coexisted throughout much of northern Africa at this time.
 
The Site
 
The Bahariya Oasis is renowned within paleontological circles for having yielded the type specimens (the original, first-discovered, name-bearing fossils) of several extraordinary dinosaurs during the early 20^th century, including, most famously, Spinosaurus. Unfortunately, all Bahariya dinosaur fossils collected prior to World War II were destroyed during an Allied bombing of Munich in 1944.
 
As a graduate student in the early 2000s, study co-author Matt Lamanna helped make the first dinosaur discoveries from the oasis since that infamous air raid, including the gargantuan sauropod (long-necked plant-eating dinosaur) Paralititan. “The Bahariya Oasis has taken on near-legendary status among paleontologists for having produced the first-known fossils of some of the world’s most amazing dinosaurs,” says Lamanna, “but for more than three quarters of a century, those fossils have existed only as pictures in old books.”

Thankfully, discoveries made during recent expeditions led by researchers from AUC and MUVP—such as the new abelisaurid vertebra—are helping to restore the paleontological legacy of this classic site. These expeditions have recovered a wealth of additional fossils that the researchers plan to unveil in the near future.
 
As team member Sanaa El-Sayed, who co-led the 2016 expedition that collected the abelisaurid vertebra, explains, “this bone is just the first of many important new dinosaur fossils from the Bahariya Oasis.” 
 
The Bahariya Formation holds promise to shed further light on mid-Cretaceous African dinosaurs and the vanished ecosystems in which they once lived. Unlike more thoroughly explored rocks of the same age in Morocco that tend to yield isolated bones, the Bahariya Formation appears to preserve partial skeletons of dinosaurs and other land-living animals with a relatively high degree of frequency. The more bones that are preserved within the skeleton of a given fossil vertebrate species, the more paleontologists can generally learn about it. The propensity of the Bahariya Oasis for producing associated partial skeletons suggests that much remains to be learned from this historic locality.
 
“In terms of Egyptian dinosaurs, we’ve really just scratched the surface,” notes Hesham Sallam. “Who knows what else might be out there?”

One Fossil
 
How can the discovery of a single neck vertebra lead researchers to conclude that the fossil belongs to a member of Abelisauridae, a kind of carnivorous dinosaur that has never been found in the Bahariya Formation before? The answer is remarkably simple: it is virtually identical to the same bone in other, better-known abelisaurids such as Carnotaurus and Viavenator from Argentina and Majungasaurus from Madagascar. Additionally, Belal Salem and his collaborators conducted a computer-based evolutionary study—known as a cladistic analysis—that confirmed the placement of the species represented by the new vertebra within Abelisauridae. As co-author Patrick O’Connor, who in 2007 published an exhaustive study of the vertebral anatomy of the abelisaurid Majungasaurus, explains, “I’ve examined abelisaurid skeletons from Patagonia to Madagascar. My first glimpse of this specimen from field photos left no doubt about its identity. Abelisaurid neck bones are just so distinctive.”
 
Research on the new abelisaurid vertebra was supported by a grant to Matt Lamanna from the National Geographic Society’s Committee for Research and Exploration, grants to Hesham Sallam from Mansoura University and the American University in Cairo intramural grant program, and a grant to Patrick O’Connor from the National Science Foundation.

[May 10, 2022 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania] — Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) invites visitors to investigate the mechanics and innovation of the natural world with the traveling exhibition Nature’s Amazing Machines. Opening May 28, 2022, this immersive exhibition features scientific specimens, interactives, and stunning videos that encourage visitors of all ages to experience nature’s amazing engineering. The exhibition is presented in both English and Spanish. 

Every living thing on Earth, from microbes to humans, is a machine built to survive. In Nature’s Amazing Machines visitors will discover how cheetahs run so fast; how the bite force of an extinct fish made it a top predator; how a Venus flytrap detects its next meal; and other evolutionary innovations that help organisms survive, move, and discover. The exhibition investigates how plants and animals endure the crushing forces of gravity and evolve in numerous other ways. Visitors also get to explore how natural engineering inspired human technological advances like Velcro and chainsaws. 

“I’m thrilled to bring this internationally-touring exhibition to Pittsburgh,” said Gretchen Baker, the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Director of CMNH. “One of the most rewarding parts of our work is creating opportunities for visitors to make new and surprising connections with nature. This exhibition is incredibly versatile, spanning plants to robots to insect eyes. Whether you’re a designer interested in biomimicry or a seasoned naturalist, there is something in this show that will forever change the way you perceive the natural world.” 

“There are so many ‘wow’ moments,” said Sarah Crawford, CMNH’s Director of Exhibitions. “The interactives are particularly innovative and kinetic. Visitors can feel the effort required to pump blood to the top of a giraffe’s head or compare their grip to that of a chimpanzee. They flap wings to experience the impact different wingspans have on flight. We think this exhibition will live on in visitors’ memories long after they leave the museum.” 

Nature’s Amazing Machines was developed by The Field Museum, Chicago, in partnership with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, with generous support provided by The Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust and ITW Foundation. 

Major support for CMNH’s presentation of Nature’s Amazing Machines is provided by PPG and PPG Foundation. The exhibition is sponsored by Cook Myosite, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Dollar Bank.

Tickets to Nature’s Amazing Machines may be purchased in addition to regular museum admission and cost $6 for adults and $4 for members, children, students, and adults over the age of 65.