Oceans

Exhibitions

Pressure: James Cameron Into the Abyss

Explore the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER
Dec 12, 2022–Feb 20, 2023

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Scanning Electron Microscope Lab

See how big discoveries can come from the tiniest things in the Gem and Mineral Hall.

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Ichthyosaur

New Discoveries

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August 25 - November 29, 2021 | NHM

Anglerfish

New Discoveries

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Frozen in Time: Images of Antarctica

See the frigid continent of Antarctica in a new light through the mesmerizing work of award-winning photographer Diane Tuft.

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Events

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Mon

08

Jul

a shark jaw is held by a child facing away from teh camera

Adventures in Nature Day Camp: Pacific Voyagers

Day Camps Youth

12 am

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Tue

09

Jul

Adventures in Nature Day Camp: Pacific Voyagers

Day Camps Youth

12 am

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Wed

10

Jul

Adventures in Nature Day Camp: Pacific Voyagers

Day Camps Youth

12 am

Learn more

Thu

11

Jul

Adventures in Nature Day Camp: Pacific Voyagers

Day Camps Youth

12 am

Learn more

Fri

12

Jul

Adventures in Nature Day Camp: Pacific Voyagers

Day Camps Youth

12 am

Learn more

Stories

launch pad for the Ariane 6 for Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana

Spaceport Fossils from French Guiana

How one small step for a spaceport in French Guiana led to a giant leap for Pleistocene fossils

A female Halichoeres sanchezi, Tailspot wrasse, San Benedicto, Revillagigedos

Halichoeres sanchezi: A New Fish Species from Mexico’s Revillagigedos Islands

How a team of marine scientists netted a fish species new to science with three dives off a far-flung island

The Lincoln Heights Whale skull being moved by staff on pallets outside the Museum

The Migration of the Lincoln Heights Whale

As modern whales make their annual journey across the ocean, discover one whale’s 10 million-year journey through time from Flat Top Hill to L.A. Underwater

Rectangular stone with Maya glyph depicting a man holding a cacao plant. Campeche, Mexico. AD 600-900.

A Virtual Chocolate-y Tour of the Collections

Explore the collections of the Natural History Museum through the lens of chocolate!

The Ancient Odyssey of Crabs

An international team of scientists including NHM researchers chart crabs' sideways path from the ocean to dry land—a journey they've made at least 17 times since the Triassic.

How Our Museum Grows

A unique and transformative museum mentorship program about biodiversity begins

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NHMLAC Discovery Talk with Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Join Dr. Jorge Velez-Juarbe as he explores the migration of vertebrate fauna to the Caribbean Islands and the effects of climate change on his field work.

Extended Specimen Lecture Series Videos

Video: Happy Hour with Dr. Todd Clardy

Los Angeles Urban Ocean Expedition

The Natural History Museum is leading a two-week expedition to the urban ocean waters of the Los Angeles region to dramatically improve our knowledge of Southern California marine biodiversity.

Marine Biodiversity Center

Most species on Earth are animals, and most animals are invertebrates, so most of the Earth’s astonishing biodiversity is in the invertebrate animals. The Marine Biodiversity Center is the museum’s core facility for the curation of these remarkable animals. Collections come to the museum from a variety of research projects and government agencies.

News & Press

The Tooth About Dolphins’ Oldest Ancestors: New Species of Early Toothed Whales Unearthed in Washington State Had Unique Teeth

The new species is one of the earliest ancestor of modern dolphins yet discovered

A review of nearly 200 marine pillbugs, or underwater roly-polies, will improve ocean monitoring off the coast of Southern California.

Effort Connects More Than a Billion Objects in Scientific Collections Across 73 Museums in 28 Countries

Findings Shared in New Paper Published in Science Magazine on March 23, 2023

The West Coast premiere pop-up installation of Cameron’s co-designed and co-engineered submersible celebrates the 10th anniversary of his record-breaking dive to the bottom of the ocean and underscores NHM’s world-class marine collection.