Museums

New Aegyptopithecus zeuxis Find

Via a press release from Duke University: Elwyn Simons with 1966 male skull (left) and much smaller and better preserved new female specimen | Megen Morr Brain, Size and Gender Surprises in Latest Fossil Tying Humans Humans, Apes and Monkeys Advanced X-ray technique was a key to findings in Duke-led study Durham, NC — A surprisingly complete fossil skull of an ancient relative of humans, apes and monkeys bears striking evidence that our remote ancestor was less mentally advanced than expected by about 29 million years ago. The second and most intact cranium found of Aegyptopithecus zeuxis was identified by [...]

Mythic Beasts

Mythic Creatures opens at The American Museum of Natural History on Saturday, May 26, 2007. I have been invited to deliver a presentation, “Introduction to Cryptozoology,” in conjuntion with this exhibition, late next fall at the AMNH. Fun for the whole family, the new exhibition Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns, and Mermaids explores the anthropological origins and cultural significance of some of the world’s most enchanting mythological characters, such as dragons, griffins, mermaids, sea serpents, and unicorns. The exhibition features art and cultural objects, fossils, and eye-popping models from a 17-foot-long dragon to the legendary sea monster, the kraken, with massive [...]

New Rash of Mothman-Linked Deaths

I am sorry to report that details are just beginning to trickle in of a new wave of deaths and near-misses tied to the Mothman researchers, museum staff and festival people in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. (Click here for a historical overview of other similar deaths. For more on the logic behind making an openminded focus of this kind of data, see my extended comment below in response to some early critics of this specific blog.) Many of these people impacted have become friends in the last five years, so these incidents are becoming more difficult to note. However, it [...]

Olaf the Giant Display

This is the card that was over Olaf the Giant display. The same card was used at the Jones Museum / Seattle Center, when the Museum was on Highway 99 – north of Lynnwood, Washington, before it moved to Seattle Food Circus. Thanks to Rich for sharing this from his growing collection of Seattle area historical attractions.