Environmental Science

Event
Saturday, August 23 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Pedal Power 2025: Celebrating Community Through Biking

In partnership with HUBLUV, the Museum of Science is excited to celebrate the bicycling community around Greater Boston!
Video
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time
under 1 minute

Volcanic Lava Bombs Travel Over 4 Miles

New research reveals that superheated chunks of molten rock don't just fly in smooth arcs. High-speed video reveals they morph into wild shapes mid-air making their flight paths unpredictable.
Video
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time
under 1 minute

New Breakthrough: Scientists Turn Food Waste Into Plastic Alternative

By feeding fermented food scraps to a bacterium called Cupriavidus necator, researchers at Binghamton University were able to produce a biodegradable material that works like plastic, but breaks down naturally.
Video
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time
45:47

Tracking Monkeys in the World’s Harshest Place with Dr. Christopher Schmitt

What can monkey feces tell us about human evolution, climate change, and our health? Dr. Christopher Schmitt, who leads the Primate Ecology and Molecular Anthropology Lab at Boston University, studies “extreme monkeys”—including yellow-tailed woolly...
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time
under 1 minute

New Discovery: Sea Spider that Eats Methane Deep Under the Ocean!

In the deep ocean off the coast of California, scientists made an astonishing discovery: sea spiders that survive thanks to a unique partnership with bacteria living on their bodies. These bacteria can convert methane—normally a potent greenhouse gas—into...
Video
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time
under 1 minute

DIY Terrarium: Make a Mini Ecosystem

Learn how to build your own self-sustaining terrarium! This short "how to" guide Maynard Okereke demonstrates the water cycle and photosynthesis within a sealed container, ideal for beginners.
Video
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time
under 1 minute

Glowing Oceans? Bioluminescent Plankton Are Back!

From June through the summer, coastal waters will shimmer with the otherworldly glow of bioluminescent plankton—a natural phenomenon caused by microscopic organisms known as dinoflagellates.
Event
Monday, June 2 | 7:00 pm

Space to Sea: Discovering The Gulf of Maine’s Ocean Wilderness

Join us for the premiere of Space to Sea in the Mugar Omni Theater. This short film by conservation photographer Keith Ellenbogen showcases New England's vibrant marine life and reveals the beauty of this vital ecosystem.
Video
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time
under 1 minute

Can Eating Insects Benefit The Planet? Entomophagy explained!

Would you eat a bug? It might sound strange at first, but eating insects — known as entomophagy — is gaining serious traction as a sustainable and nutritious solution to the world’s growing food challenges.
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time
under 1 minute

Can Corn Husks Fuel Your Car? New Process Discovered!

What if the parts of a corn plant we usually throw away—like stalks and husks—could help fuel the future? A team at Washington State University has discovered a new process to turn agricultural waste into usable biofuel.
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time
under 1 minute

Can Birds Have Road Rage?

Tiny yellow warblers are changing their songs in response to nearby roads and growing tourism. Researchers have discovered that these birds sing louder, faster, and more repetitively near traffic — a behavior scientists call vocal plasticity.
TinyTap
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time
15 minutes

Sami the Sea Turtle

Meet Sami the Sea Turtle. Sami lives in the ocean and loves finding his favorite snack. Uh-oh! There’s something wrong with this snack. Think like a scientist and help Sami to clean up his home. Based on real life stories about sea turtles, Sami the Sea...
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time
under 1 minute

How Boston Is Building a Green Workforce

Joe Rowell, Senior Manager for Recruitment and Policy for PowerCorps Boston (a City of Boston program), explains how young people can get paid to train for green jobs. This 10-month workforce development program gives Boston residents the tools to launch...
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time
under 1 minute

From Software to Saving the Planet — Drew Rollert’s Climate Journey

Drew Rollert, founder of Wada Hoppah, shares his personal journey from the software industry to launching a climate tech startup in marine transportation. His message: everyone can play a role in solving climate change by finding purpose in their work and...
Video
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time
under 1 minute

Saving Salamanders on the Big Night

Why did the salamander cross the road? In this video Keeper Jason introduces Stevie, a spotted salamander on a special journey during the "Big Night" — the first warm, rainy night in early spring.