Quirks of Nature

December 5, 2014 - June 8, 2015

Quirks of Nature explores the wonderfully strange yet relatable world of wild plants and animals.

Featuring comics by science communicator Rosemary Mosco (birdandmoon.com), this new temporary exhibition pairs her quirky illustrations with fossils, taxidermy, live animals, and more. Mosco herself provides commentary on the topics of her artwork and the inspiration behind them — whether it was working at a bird rehabilitation center as a kid, or suffering through an awkward first date.

Written by experts at a range of organizations, from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History to the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, additional labels explain the hard science behind each comic. Species shifting due to climate change, the strutting behavior of wild turkeys, and the amazing diversity of life on Earth are just a few of the subjects to explore in the exhibition.

Visit the Museum of the Earth to find out the difference between a dolphin and a porpoise, see the skull of a giant prehistoric terror bird, learn about nature’s weirdest mating rituals, and sniff that distinct smell of dirt after a good rain.

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