Incredible Oceans at AMNH

We went to the American Museum of Natural History for a special program on "Incredible Oceans", part of the Milstein Science Series. We heard marine biologists Tierny Thys and Christine Huffard talk about their research, met them at their display on deep ocean life (where Mikro asked questions and got to see how octopuses see their world), checked out the exploration stations with microscopic pond life, cool ocean specimens on display, skeletons, fish made transparent via an enzymatic process, etc. Mikro also got to sculpt a tardigrade.

He got to talk to Mark Siddall (parasitologist, genomic researcher and curator of the amazing new "Life at the Limits" exhibit) about pursuing his interest in evolutionary biology.

We heard music inspired by animal oddballs from Michael Hearst and his band. And there was a live animal encounter with zoologist Jarod Miller's cool creatures.

What a great event!

Shark and Fish Dissections at SMLI

First, the shark:

• No swim bladder
  
• Big, oily, fatty liver, 2 lobes
  
• Cartilage, not bone
  
• Gill slits
  
• Advanced brain with grooves and large thick optic nerves
  
• Large eyes
  

Then, the fish:

• Swim bladder
  
• Bones
  
• Operculum: shield for gills
  

Family Sail Aboard the Pioneer

South Street Seaport Museum hosted an educational sail for families the day before my birthday, and it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate a little early (since Mondays do not lend themselves to outings around here...) What could be better than a day out in New York Harbor, with fantastic views of the skyline, and the rolling of the waves underfoot? I am a sailor's daughter, and I love being on the water.









We motored out from the pier to the trawling grounds off Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where the kids helped deploy a net and then pull it in, full of harbor critters.













We saw: a seahorse, fish, crabs, snails and seaweed.

















The critters were returned to the deep, and the kids moved on to the next activity: learning about charts and navigation. They also got to take a turn at the wheel.









Then they helped raise sail for our return to port.





They also got to play lookout with binoculars.









What a terrific day!