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EXHIBITIONS

Lunchtime: The History of Science on the School Food Tray

Our new exhibition explores the surprising story behind the school lunch. On view now through January 2026.

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THE DISAPPEARING SPOON PODCAST

The Doom Lurking Inside Trees

Japanese physicist Fusa Miyake has sparked a revolution in archaeology by studying radioactive tree rings—work that also terrifies astronomers, who fear it foretells doom for our civilization.

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NEWS

NEH, Open Philanthropy Award Institute More Than $590K in Grants

Funds will support new research projects, including collections archiving and a conference on the history and future of biotechnology.

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COLLECTIONS BLOG

The Ants (and Spiders and Roaches) Go Marching

How the creepy crawlies in our collections turned my “Eww” into “Wow!”

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Beckman Center Now Accepting Applications for 2025–2026 Fellowships

The Institute’s Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry is now accepting applications for our 2025–2026 fellowships. Scholars whose research would benefit from the use of our collections can apply for various long- and short-term programs, including a new $2,500 fellowship at the British Library. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2025.

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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