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The National Academy of Sciences's Public Engagement Testbed The Koshland Science Museum closed on November 27, 2017. Find out more at labx.org

The work of the museum is now carried out through LabX, a public engagement program of the National Academy of Sciences.

10/28/2026

"Why would I lie to you?" 🦑

Well, if you're a giant cuttlefish, you might have a pretty good reason.

In a 1999 study, researchers discovered that some smaller male giant cuttlefish have an unusual strategy for finding a mate: pretending to be female.

Here's how it works.

Larger males typically guard females and aggressively chase away other males. But smaller males can change their skin patterns and body posture to resemble females, allowing them to stay nearby without attracting aggression.

When a larger male gets distracted by another competitor, the disguised male can approach the female and attempt to mate.

And surprisingly, this strategy often succeeds!

Researchers observed more than 20 occasions in which these disguised males switched to male courtship behavior when the larger male was distracted.

The behavior is called *female mimicry*, and it's a fascinating example of how animals use deception to improve their chances of reproducing.

Read the original research: https://ow.ly/8rA95101su6

10/23/2026

The comments, cells, and skeletons had more to say than expected.

This week: AI finds ecological clues in bird-watchers’ field notes, the receptor behind chili-pepper burn reveals multiple settings, and ancient DNA places careful limits on a familiar colonial ancestry story. Three PNAS studies, three reminders that the details matter.

Swipe through, then tell us which finding you’re bringing up at dinner.

10/20/2026

Happy World Statistics Day! 📊

How much do you really know about probability, prediction markets, and the statistics behind the headlines?

We put that question to the test during a special edition of *Wrong Answers Only*, our live science-comedy show that brings three comedians and one expert together to tackle big questions with some hilariously wrong answers.

In partnership with the National Academies' Office of Congressional and Government Affairs, we brought the show to an audience of Congressional staff, where statistician Dr. Lance Waller helped unpack the math behind prediction markets alongside host Chris Duffy and our comedians.

It's a reminder that even complicated topics like statistics can become approachable when we make room for curiosity, laughter, and a few spectacularly wrong guesses.

Learn more about Wrong Answers Only: https://ow.ly/RzaI50ZZmqp

10/17/2026

🍝 Happy National Pasta Day! You know we couldn't let this one go by without a little chemistry.

In one of our favorite Chemists in the Kitchen episodes, Kim, Daniele, and Adrian got together in Philadelphia to tackle a delicious challenge: making gnocchi three different ways!

Potatoes, beans, or cheese? 🧀 Which ingredient makes the best gnocchi?

There's only one way to find out! Join our chemists as they experiment their way through three recipes and put their creations to the test.

Watch the full episode: https://ow.ly/iZv250ZYyGl

10/16/2026

The bee may be gone, but your skin has been left alone with a tiny, self-operating venom pump. 🐝

Researchers publishing in PNAS used high-speed video to reveal the stinger’s bizarre double-piston machinery.

10/16/2026

The strangest machinery is sometimes hiding in plain sight.

This week, plant diversity acts like backup power for grasslands, a detached bee stinger reveals its double-piston pump, and one question about trying hard exposes an international education gap. All three studies were published in PNAS or PNAS Nexus, and each comes with an important reminder: models, laboratory tests, and correlations tell us different kinds of stories.

Swipe through, then tell us which finding you’ll be bringing up at dinner.

10/15/2026

Does science communication always need another video, article, or social media post?

Not necessarily.

Every day, people ask questions about science in comment sections without even realizing they're talking about science. From the chemistry of cooking to the biology behind animal behavior, opportunities for curiosity are everywhere.

For science communicators, joining those conversations can be just as important as creating our own.

Our latest Substack article explores why commenting on other creators' content deserves more attention, how to make those interactions meaningful, and why knowing when NOT to comment matters, too.

Read it here: https://ow.ly/YOkT50ZY9WE

10/09/2026

A 50-million-year-old identity crisis, your gut's relationship with your brain, and a cosmic demolition derby. 🐊🧠🪐

Just another perfectly normal week in science.

This week's Friday Findings takes us from ancient Egypt, where scientists identified a crocodile species hiding in plain sight for over a century, to new PNAS Nexus research exploring the gut-brain connection in mice, and finally into space, where astronomers are finding clues about violent planetary collisions.

Swipe through for three science stories that deserve a little more attention.

Which one surprised you the most? 👀

Want more weird and wonderful science delivered to your inbox every Friday? Sign up for Your Friday Findings through the link in our bio!

10/02/2026

Scientists used differential equations to redesign the urinal — all to solve one very annoying problem: splashback. 🚽💦

Their new shapes keep the stream hitting at a lower angle, which dramatically cuts down on splash.

This week’s Friday Finding is weird, practical, and exactly the kind of science we love.

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