Stories

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

Science of SpongeBob: Plankton!
Bikini Bottom’s Bad Guy, the Ocean’s Tiny Hero
Science of SpongeBob: Super Slugs and Snails
Discover the slimy secrets of undersea snails and slugs!
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A Deep Dive on Microplastics
Museum scientists are examining fish guts to understand the pervasiveness and types of plastics invading California waters over time, which may help us understand how that pollution affects sea creatures and even land-loving pescatarians.
Mountain Lions In L.A.
On May 20, 2024, a mountain lion was sighted in Griffith Park. NHM's Miguel Ordeñana, the Senior Manager of Community Science and big cat expert, answers our questions about the pumas in our midst.
Big Dreams, Petite Sweets
Albert Daniel | Albert's Petite Sweets
Planting the Ice Age
Here are 5 reasons to plant your own Ice Age Garden, and preserve 60,000 years of biodiversity!
Dispatches from the D-ARK
Follow Curator of Malacology Jann Vendetti with updates from an expedition into the deep sea caves around Japan's Minami-Daitō Island
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.
Wonder Is in Our Bones
How giant fossils expand the dimensions of our imagination
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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