Scientists can be found everywhere in the museum. Alex Ruff may seem like a mild-mannered Building Manger here at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, but he is actually an expert in minerals and geology...with the credentials to boot. Enjoy this deeply fascinating conversation about our exquisite minerals, geology in general, and even a bit more about our illustrious Alma Queen! I guess you could say this conversation...rocks.

Show notes:

Yes, Manganese Carbonate is the mineral of which Rhodochrosite is made and its purity dictates how "red" it appears.

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

They march once more, this time to Houston 📍

Explore World of the Terracotta Warriors, opening November 14.

See ancient China’s unification under Qin Shi Huang brought to life through rare artifacts and stunning craftsmanship.

World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century is jointly organized by the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Museum of the People's Republic of China, and Bowers Museum in the United States.

Local support is provided by Regent Seven Seas Cruises®.

#TerracottaWarriors #HMNS #HistoryUnearthed #WarriorsAtHMNS

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For centuries, China’s Terracotta Warriors have stirred the soul and ignited the imagination. Here at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, we are thrilled, privileged, and honored to host these marvels within our own walls for all to witness. https://www.hmns.org/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Even if you do not drink it, the science and history behind bourbon is infused with notes of wonder, curiosity, and fascination. Bourbon expert Randy Bruner helps us to get acquainted with its enchanting history, as well as tips for those interested in developing their own taste for this historical spirit.

More info and upcoming tasting events: https://sugarland.hmns.org/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Have you ever noticed asteroid names and wondered how they came to be? Let's go to the HMNS George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park and talk to astronomer Tracy Knauss to learn all about it...and much more!

George Observatory
https://george.hmns.org/

More about our 36 inch scope
https://youtu.be/hz2-GgX9omg?si=Y5-Xbp6qORNLA8Tk

George VLOG
https://youtu.be/e9pXhaA0q8A?si=elZTB-o9GgLIQBM1

Tracy's Asteroid
https://fbac.org/2025/08/21/tracy-knauss-asteroid/

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
0:54 Tracy's Asteroid
4:09 What do the label numbers mean?
8:05 Who can find asteroids? 
13:47 More about Tracy's asteroid 
18:58 Has the George Observatory found asteroids?
20:34 Addressing light pollution
25:29 Venus is cool
27:28 Do you need expensive equipment for viewing/astrophotography?
35:14 Sometimes you don't need anything at all
36:57 History of 36-inch scope & George Observatory
41:23 Importance of optics
44:50 More 36-inch scope facts

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

There's a lot of hype around the "de-extinction" of the Dire Wolf that has been extinct for thousands of years. So, have we really brought extinct animals back to life? What is really going on?

Email: [email protected]

Colossals's website: https://colossal.com/

Kat Havens joins the podcast in our beautiful Hall of Ancient Egypt to discuss the, well, gutwrenching process of mummification!

Website: https://www.hmns.org/

eMail: [email protected]

The smell of a mummy: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mummies-from-ancient-egypt-smell-surprisingly-nice-scientists-say/

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

(00:00:00) Fennec Foxes & How We Care for Our Animals

(00:22:08) In with the Foxes

Our new exhibit "Extreme Animals Alive" showcases the superhero-like adaptations of some awesome animals. In this episode, we talk about Fennec Foxes specifically, and the blood, sweat, tears, and dedication that goes into caring for the animals in our museum.

Website: https://www.hmns.org/

Email: [email protected]

YouTube Version: https://youtu.be/Blm8WukRZHI

0:00 Outside Exhibit
22:10 Inside with the Foxes

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Giant Ground Sloths and Giant Armadillos (Eremotherium and Glyptodon) were seemingly too big to fail...yet time comes for us all. So, how did these Ice Age (Pleistocene) get SO big, and why did they go extinct?

Previous episode mentioned:

Fossil Preperation
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5762aSEEWuQeUVqJGIo6NK?si=2f6420a3c6ab4d19

Email: [email protected]

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

While Ai is the current hype, even thinking about Quantum Computing can seem daunting, if not ominous...honestly. So here is a crash course in qubits to hopefully help ease us into an initial pursuit of understanding.

Deeper dive into Quantum Computers: https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/quantum-computing

Email us! [email protected]

Ai Episode: https://youtu.be/uWWFlbDl6BE?si=mfnSB580vY7HzDZu

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/

Who is allowed to dig for fossils? What do you do with fossils that are found? Why don't I find fossils in my yard? Are fossils a hoax? Are fossils radioactive?

James Washington and "Mental Curator" Johnny Hemberger discuss some interesting dinosaur conspiracies and clear up some common misconceptions about fossils, dinosaurs, and more in this latest episode of the "HMNS Beyond Bones Podcast."

[email protected]

For more information about the Houston Museum of Natural Science, visit https://www.hmns.org/