Sharks are a vital component of a healthy marine habitat. As apex predators, their presence shows there are enough prey species in the ecosystem, whereas conversely their absence would suggest a problem with the food web. Sharks maintain the health of marine ecosystems by targeting weaker prey, leaving the stronger…
Read MorePAST EXHIBIT With Flag Day this month and Independence Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to unveil the new temporary exhibit, Unfurled: Flags from the Collections of The Charleston Museum. Flags have long been used both symbolically and practically to convey messages. Unfurled showcases some of the flags in…
Read MorePetrified wood forms from dead trees that have been fossilized. When a tree dies, it is usually broken down by bacteria or eaten by insects. Rarely, a tree may become rapidly buried such as in a landslide or after a volcanic eruption. If this happens, bacteria and insects may not…
Read MoreWhen giving a tour of the Heyward-Washington house the other day, I mentioned that the information I was sharing was based on new research. The visitor was amazed that we have new information on such an old home. We are constantly digging through archives, and even in the ground, to…
Read MoreYears ago, while visiting with a Smithsonian colleague of mine in Washington, D.C., I was fortunate enough to spend some time perusing several of their museums around the Mall. It was when I stopped by the case holding the world famous Hope Diamond, however, that I noticed the first symptoms…
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