• Egyptian mummy masks: Before and after treatment - part 3

    In Part 3 of this special AM blog series, Melissa Holt outlines the treatment of two Egyptian cartonnage objects - with final before and after shots!

    AMRI
    Consolidating the front of E019001
  • Waters of the deep past: the fossil aquatic insects of New South Wales

    Insects are fragile creatures with little chance to fossilise. Where shells and bones weather the passage of time, insects crumble. But the New South Wales outback holds an amazing, and exceptional, treasure.

    AMRI
    Author finding a cranefly at McGraths Flat in February 2020.
  • The world’s most colourful silverfish!

    Australia has more described silverfish species than any other country, but even our entomologists were amazed when they discovered these species online – and were amazed at just how colourful these two new species are!

    AMRI
    Hemitelsella mutilloides Smith & Mitchell, 2021.
  • Egyptian mummy masks: The conservation treatment begins - part 2

    In Part 2 of this special AM blog series, Melissa Holt tells us about the treatment process for two of the Egyptian cartonnage objects which includes x-ray analysis and tear repairs!

    AMRI
    Melissa Holt in CC&C lab
  • The discovery of an exceptional new fossil site offers a glimpse into Australia’s ancient rainforests

    New fossil site offers unprecedented insight into Australian landscape, approximately 15 million years ago.

    AMRI
    Ancient fossil of Longhorn beetle
  • Earthworms can sometimes surprise us

    Australia is richly endowed with earthworm biodiversity, but of the 750 or so named species of earthworm in Australia, very few have been found in arid environments. The Broken Hill earthworm, a new genus and species, was a serendipitous find in an unexpected location. Find out more at the AM!

    AMRI
    Saltbush dominated habitat of Aridulodrilus molesworthae.
  • Discoveries and disruptions: 2021 in AMRI

    2021 was an unprecedented year for many: despite COVID-19 disruptions and restrictions, AMRI scientists discovered an unprecedented number of species, published at a new record, carried out fieldwork, and engaged with the public in our citizen science programs.

    AMRI
    Stigmatopora harastii The Steps
  • News from LIRS: Marine pollution research

    Each month, a selected blog from Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF) is featured at the AM. LIRRF supports scientific research & education at the AM’s Lizard Island Research Station on the Great Barrier Reef. For this month, we feature: Marine pollution research.

    AMRI
    Manoela at Lizard Island.
  • Digitising the treasures of the sea

    The Australian Museum is digitising its collections, including the historic and diverse Marine Invertebrate collection. We explain how the Museum is opening up its treasure trove of specimens to the world and the discoveries we are making along the way.

    AMRI
    Dr Laetitia Gunton digitising sponge specimens.
  • Celebrating a decade of DigiVol!

    DigiVol, the World’s first citizen science website for digitising museum collections, turns 10! Today we celebrate our volunteers, staff and all the brilliant collections that make this project so unique.

    AMRI
    Digivol Projects
  • More than a snail’s pace: Progress on Norfolk Island’s threatened snails

    There have been moments of excitement and moments of despair along the way, but six months after starting a zoo-based breeding program for two Critically Endangered land snail species from Norfolk Island, the population is stable and progressing well.

    AMRI
    Palm forest on Norfolk Island.
  • How to hijack climate change: Tips from vagrant fish

    Hotter and drier summers in Australia bring with them massive fires, successive bleaching on coral reefs and widespread die-offs of our valuable kelp forests. Although all may seem doom and gloom in our oceans, some species are surprisingly resourceful and can even take advantage of warmer waters.

    AMRI
    This figure shows the diversity of seaweed in the GSR
  • Chew on this! The diet of an extinct "panda-like" marsupial from New Guinea

    What did the “Beast of Huli" eat? The diet of this bizarre extinct marsupial, which had similarities to both giant wombats and pandas, has remained a mystery. PhD student Joshua White, with coauthors, examined the teeth of this species to help answer these questions.

    AMRI
    Artist’s reconstruction of Hulitherium tomasettii. Figure 8 from Flannery and Plane (1986).
  • Naming the nameless

    Correctly naming an organism is fundamental – it is important for all subsequent studies on that species and yet a significant percentage of Australian marine species have not been described. Our scientists explain why we must name the nameless!

    AMRI
    Australian marine waters are larger than the area of Australia’s land mass and most of the biota  these waters remain unexplored.
  • Bleating or screaming? Two new, very loud, frog species described in eastern Australia

    With the help of vital FrogID audio, two new species of frog, each with a call as loud and piercing as each other, are described as new to science.

    AMRI
    Robust Bleating Frog Litoria dentata calling, New England.