Experimental Musings

Last summer, the Museum received a grant to work on a unique project to measure the city’s temperature in various places all at once during a heat wave. Our goal was to identify the strength of Richmond’s “urban heat island effect.”

The intersection of science, technology, and urban planning is responsible for many things we take for granted, like highways, power grids, sanitation services, and beyond. As our population grows, so will our needs.

Trees are strong and beautiful living things that don’t move, right? An individual tree can’t up and travel, but tree migration is a real thing and scientists just made a huge discovery about how some of Earth’s trees are on the move.

For those trying to maintain a nice yard, you know pests can totally be an issue, right? Well, the same thing applies for big scale projects, like grassland restoration. Looking for a natural alternative to pest control led scientists to a hot new idea: peppers!

Many Virginians enjoy the outdoors by breathing in mountain air, hiking our many trails, or hanging out near a favorite water spot. It’s great for our bodies, and it’s even good for our mental health.