Wednesday, 24. February 2021
Asteroid dust found within the dinosaur-killing crater
An international team of researchers,
including four scientists from the Natural History Museum Vienna and the University of Vienna, report on the discovery of
meteorite dust in drill core samples from the Chicxulub impact crater (Mexico). This finding is the final piece of the puzzle
following the discovery of a meteoritic component in rocks from the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary about 40 years ago, which
led to the conclusion that the mass extinction was caused by an asteroid impact.
Monday, 22. February
2021
Natural History Museum Vienna and Evolution: Exactly 150 years ago, on 24 February 1871, Charles Darwin published his work The Descent of Man.
To mark this anniversary the Natural History Museum Vienna aims to draw
attention to the close links which exist between its first Superintendent, Ferdinand von Hochstetter (1829-1884), and the
revolutionary theory of Charles Darwin (1809-1882). In this context, the museum wishes to raise the profile of the various
evolutionary and co-evolutionary processes when redesigning its exhibition halls in the future. The goal is to enable visitors
to the museum to better understand and experience the mechanisms of evolution, focusing on (genetic) variability as a prerequisite
for diversity and evolution as well as on the selection factors that affect today's distribution of species and will continue
to do so in the future. Such factors include not only the climate and tectonics but also, for example, competitive and cooperative
behavior as well as the co-evolution of humans alongside diseases and parasites.
Tuesday, 16. February 2021
Desert fish "under cover" - newly discovered diversity on the Arabian Peninsula
The landscape of Oman is characterized by vast desert landscapes and barren, dry high mountain ranges. When one hears of newly
discovered freshwater fish, few people think of the desert state in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Studies by the
Natural History Museum in Vienna now show that the fish diversity in this arid region was previously underestimated.
Tuesday, 19. January 2021
New area on species conservation at the Natural History Museum Vienna
A newly designed
display case on the first floor of the NHM Vienna addresses the urgent issue of species conservation, with a particular focus
on reptiles. Snakes and many other reptiles are used to make leather. The animals are often caught in the wild – despite the
fact that most snake species are strictly protected. This new exhibition area aims to help raise awareness about the importance
of protecting these species.
Tuesday, 12. January 2021
The science of citizen science
On 12.1.2021 the book "The Science of Citizen Science"
was published open access with Springer, to which over 100 authors contributed, including over 10 from Austria. "This book
is a wonderful conclusion of four years of intensive exchange within a European research network on citizen science. At the
same time it signals a beginning, as its curriculum-like structure gives universities and others the opportunity to reflect
on both the substantive contributions to research and the societal added value of Citizen Science," Dr. Katrin Vohland, Director
General of the Natural History Museum Vienna and first editor of the book, is pleased to say. "In addition, the book offers
practical support for implementing projects and also addresses emerging topics such as Citizen Science and Artificial Intelligence."
