The Science History Institute Museum is closed for renovations.
The Othmer Library remains open by appointment.
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Museum Hours:Closed until March 8, 2025
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DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

The Comet Panic of 1910, Revisited

A recent discovery in a remote Puerto Rican cave sheds new light on the hysteria that greeted Halley’s Comet a century ago.

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NEWS

Institute’s Museum Temporarily Closed for Renovations

Extensive project includes a lobby redesign, installation of new exhibition space, and addition of a digital production studio and gift shop.

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OUTDOOR EXHIBITION

Sensational Science: A Century of Microbe Hunters

Our new outdoor exhibition explores the nearly 100-year-old book that influenced generations of scientists.

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EVENTS

Plastics Circularity: Past, Present, and Future

Our February JPS virtual talk features a panel discussion on the efforts being made to move from a linear plastics economy to a circular one.

Thursday, February 13 | 1pm–2:15pm

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Help Us Become a Philly Favorites Museum!

The Institute is proud to announce that we have been nominated by the Philadelphia Inquirer for a 2025 Philly Favorites Museum. You can vote once a day now through 5pm on Sunday, January 19. Cast your vote under Things To Do > Museums.

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Featured

EVENTS

Virtual Talk: Women in Chemistry
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EXHIBITIONS

Is the Plastic Bag History?
Portrait of Helia Bravo-Hollis, 2001.
SCIENTIFIC BIOGRAPHIES

Helia Bravo-Hollis
headshots of 5 scientists
Center for Oral History

Voices of Science
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THE DISAPPEARING SPOON PODCAST

The Winter When People Ate Tulips
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Collections Blog

Natural Blues

Collect. Preserve. Interpret. Share.

Through research, storytelling, public programming, and educational outreach, we reveal how science is embedded in our daily lives.

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Museum
rare books

Library
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Stories
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Education
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Collections
A Beckman Center fellow conducts research in the Othmer Library.

Research

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