All Posts
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Announcing Minnesota’s Second Annual Statewide Star Party
Published07/06/2020
When you look up at the night sky, do you ever wonder how different it would look under really dark skies? What others across the state can see compared to what you see in your town? We invite you to participate in Minnesota’s second annual Statewide Star Party November 9–14,… -
Minnesota Skies: July 2020
Published06/30/2020 , By Deane Morrison, Thaddeus LaCoursiere & Sarah Komperud
This month Jupiter and Saturn dominate the evening sky, while Venus climbs into prominence as a predawn planet. -
Putting Mushrooms on the Map
Published06/29/2020 , By Eve Daniels
After a few minutes chatting with Peter Kennedy, fungi collection curator at the Bell Museum, it’s easy to picture him starring in a survival show called “The Mushroom Hunter.” Given his in-depth expertise about fungi, he’s someone you would like to have along if you’re lost in the forest, trying… -
Connecting to Nature
Published06/25/2020 , By Gretchen Zampogna
Josh Winkler, the Bell Museum’s third resident artist of 2019-20, uses a range of drawing, printmaking, and sculptural processes to build layered landscape narratives that ask viewers to consider the social, political, and environmental contexts of their surroundings. We chatted with Winkler to learn more about his plans. Also check… -
Diorama Spotlight: Snow Geese at Lake Traverse
Published06/24/2020 , By Adam Hartman
In North America, few natural events mark the changing seasons as dramatically as spring waterfowl migration. As flocks of tens, even hundreds of thousands, of snow geese soar overhead to their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic, spring returns in the form of snow melt, new growth, and longer days.… -
National Pollinator Week 2020
Published06/22/2020 , By Heather, Gallery Programs Coordinator & MN Master Naturalist; Adam, Gallery Programs Assistant
Pollinators play a key role in plant reproduction for the majority of flowering plant species. When pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, bats, birds, and many other insects visit flowers, they end up moving pollen from flower to flower, which results in plant fertilization. While some plants are able to self-fertilize,… -
Three Cheers for the Giant Water Bug
Published06/17/2020 , By Holly Menninger, director of public engagement and science learning
As you toast the fathers in your life this coming Father’s Day, let’s also give a nod to the dads across the animal kingdom who are caring for, protecting, and teaching the next generation of offspring. -
Diorama Spotlight: Moose at Gunflint Lake
Published06/13/2020 , By Amber Kastner, Public Science Events Manager
In northern Minnesota, where the southern hardwood trees give way to the boreal forests of Canada, a unique transition area provides habitat for some of our state’s most iconic species. Along the border in particular, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness protects many of these plants and animals from development… -
Meet the Beetles
Published06/09/2020
Did you know we have a colony of dermestid beetles in the collections to prepare skeletons from carcasses? -
City Stardust: Micrometeorites in Our Own Backyards
Published
Micrometeorites are some of the oldest matter that exists. Until recently, scientists searched for them only in remote places, such as the Antarctic, where pristine conditions ensured that these mineral specks really came from space. Experts assumed that it would be impossible to find micrometeorites in inhabited areas, where natural…