Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Minerals and Gems
The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History mineral and gem collection is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Smithsonian scientists and researchers work to understand the natural history of Earth. They explore how the Earth and its inhabitants have changed and adapted over time. They explore questions about plants, animals, and other organisms—including humans—in their natural environments. Aiding researchers across the globe, the National Museum of Natural History maintains and preserves the world’s most extensive collection of natural history specimens.
Earth History and Geology
Geologists and other scientists at the Smithsonian work to understand the processes that have shaped the Earth and other planets. Scientists at the National Museum of Natural History study environments and mineral samples from the Earth's interior to the asteroid belt. Additionally, geologists at the National Air and Space Museum’s Center for Earth and Planetary Studies conduct research on planetary geology and geophysics.
Unearthing the Fossil Record
Paleobiologists at the Smithsonian study fossil animals, plants, and single-celled organisms to understand the biological and environmental history of Earth. The National Fossil Collection at the National Museum of Natural history holds more than 40 million fossil specimens from around the world. These fossils record the history of life on Earth over the last 3.5 billion years. The collection continues to grow in scope and serves as a primary resource for researchers worldwide.
Understanding Life on Earth
Biology is the scientific study of living organisms, including plants and animals. Scientists at the National Museum of Natural History are active in the fields of botany, entomology, invertebrate zoology, and vertebrate zoology. Scientists in Panama at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute focus on tropical ecosystems and biology, while researchers at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, zoom in on coastal biology.
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humans and their societies in the past and present. Research at the National Museum of Natural history spans from the emergence of our earliest ancestors to the ways communities sustain their cultures today. The Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage's curators and scholars draw from anthropology, folklore, ethnomusicology, and a broad range of cultural studies to promote greater understanding and sustainability of cultural heritage across the United States and around the world.
