30 Minutes with Dinosaurs

I made time during my campus patrols to visit the Science and Natural History Museum at the University of Texas at Austin. The collection is impressive, far surpassing what I grew up with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and also what I have seen over the years at other museums. It is emblematic of Texas that the museum had to be closed because it ran out of state funding. I am happy that it is open again.

Clearly, not my field. Judging by the rocks revealed by excavations at
construction sites here in Austin, I thought that this all was underwater
for the last 500 million years. 

The specimen drawers are arranged to encourage exploring.

For a good picture, you really need to stand far enough back
that it could not get you.

Just saying "Dimetrodon" is half the fun.

Who knew? Xenophora clean and attach to themselves random
bits off the floor. 

We have a rule in the house against more bric-a-brac
but the Selenite was calling to me.
So, I bought two. I also got a coffee cup for myself.

Previously on Necessary Facts

The Unremarkable Origin of Species 

Epigenetics and Evolution 

The Origin of … (What?) 

The Philosophical Breakfast Club

The Map that Changed the World