Discover fascinating facts from reptile experts, examine cool museum specimens, and even meet real reptiles from our living collection as we bid farewell to Reptiles: LIVE! during its final weekend at the museum. Super Science Saturdays is a program at Carnegie Museum of Natural History that invites visitors of all ages to explore a special […]

A Plastic Handbasket Plastics have revolutionized our way of life but also have a devastating effect on our planet. In honor of World Migratory Bird Day’s 2019 theme, “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution,” we will explore the complexities of plastics and ways that you can help! Learn about inspiring solutions that are […]

Documentary & Discussion: Plastics What happens to plastic that gets tossed out a window? Does it break down? Is it harmful? Many plastic items make their way to the ocean, where they can cause great harm to wildlife. Plastic: The Real Sea Monster explores some of the impacts of plastic while also explaining what makes […]

Cecily Cicada Cecily Cicada has been waiting. She has spent 17 lonely years in the ground beneath a sassafras tree, waiting for her chance to come up and explore the world! Come and listen to this delightful story of one little cicada before we hit the trail in search of these amazing creatures.

Cicadapalooza! After 17 years underground, periodical cicada Brood VIII is resurfacing at Powdermill! Come celebrate this spectacular natural phenomenon at Cicadapalooza! Learn all about cicada biology, morphology, songs, behavior, distribution, and much more. After the lecture, we will venture outside to look at and listen to Brood VIII in action, and then you can pin […]

Salamander Meander From spotted salamanders to red salamanders, and many species in between, Westmoreland County boasts an impressive diversity of salamanders! Come learn about some of the salamanders (and newts) that live at Powdermill Nature Reserve. After a short presentation, we will head outside to carefully lift rocks and logs in search of these delicate […]

Wander through our world-class Dinosaurs in Their Time exhibition hall, dig for fossils in Bone Hunters' Quarry, and take part in hands-on, dinosaur-themed activities. Meet dinosaur relatives from the museum’s living collection and watch Jurassic Park in the Earth Theater! Super Science Saturdays is a program at Carnegie Museum of Natural History that invites visitors […]

Sam and the Firefly The moon is up and Sam the Owl is ready to play, but when he pops out of his tree everyone else is asleep! What’s an owl to do? Come listen to this story of Sam and his friend Gus the Firefly as they light up the night sky. After the […]

Moths, Mayflies, and Molecules: Using DNA to understand the insect-based diets of birds and fish Brandon Hoenig is a biology PhD student at Duquesne University where he uses modern techniques to answer age-old questions in stream ecology. Brandon studies fish and birds at Powdermill Nature Reserve. He will talk to us about a DNA-based method […]

Presented by Ryan Mathur Beyond the scientific functions of defining Earth processes and fingerprinting sources of materials, the value of stable and radiogenic isotope analyses extends to the cultivation of both cultural knowledge and collaborative relationships. This discussion of the investigation of bronze artifacts from central Europe and China, silver artifacts from Spain, stone tools […]

Nocturnal Insects Fireflies, moths, beetles, and more come out at night! Come hear Andrea Kautz, Powdermill’s Research Entomologist, talk about some of the insects we see at night. After a short presentation, we will head outside in search of these evening fliers. Please note the time change of 8:30 – 10 pm so that we […]

STRANGEST THINGS SCAVENGER HUNT Happening now during regular museum hours Time travelers, strange rocks, Demogorgon-like creatures and more await you on our Strangest Things scavenger hunt! The adventure is happening now—just pick up a scavenger hunt sheet at the admission desk to get started. TOY STORY SCAVENGER HUNT Happening now during regular museum hours “To […]

Presented by Kevin Righter The terrestrial planets Earth, Mercury and Mars exhibit very different surface compositions, mineralogy and general properties many of which can be explained by oxygen gradients in the inner solar system. Dr. Righter will use sulfur as an example of the contrasting role of oxygen pressure in controlling the geochemical and mineralogic […]

Presented by Travis Olds Each year, about 100 new minerals are discovered and accepted by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association. Exploration of abandoned mines and reinvestigation of samples from classic localities have allowed mineralogists to discover more new minerals in the past decade than any before. Although […]

Presented by Carla Rosenfeld Selenium (Se) critically influences both ecosystem and human health. In modern times, millions of people are impacted by Se deficiency or toxicity and in geologic history several mass extinctions have been linked to extreme Se deficiency. Additionally, Se chemistry forms the basis for several paleoenvironmental reconstructions of the Earth’s oxygenation history. […]