Grainger Science Hub

Discover specimens that are usually under lock and key. Get up close and personal with the Field Museum’s collection.

With nearly 40 million items in our collections, less than one percent is on display. So we pick some of our favorites and move them to the Grainger Science Hub…for a limited time only.

Take a closer look: get close to select specimens, get a feel for the tools we use in our research, and explore new discoveries with educators. There’s something new to check out every time you visit. If you can't make it to the museum, you can still get hands-on with science with Hub at Home activities below.

Science Hub is open daily from 10am-3pm.

Now in the Hub

Small Specimens, Big Discoveries

Field Museum scientists use a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to study some of the tiniest things in nature up close. Instead of a traditional light microscope, a SEM uses a beam of electrons to magnify objects up to 2,000,000 times! You can take an up close look at fossil plants of the Cretaceous, the tiniest of snail shells, and meteorite fragments older than our sun.

In the Grainger Science Hub you can see live demonstrations using a tabletop version of a scanning electron microscope. Come stop by to catch a glimpse of what the world looks like at the nano-scale! This exhibit is made possible by a loan from the Hitachi Inspire STEM program.

Mazon Creek: Illinois' Fossil Hotspot

Imagine the Earth 300 million years ago. The planet was a vastly different place with both familiar and unfamiliar life. Tropical wetland forests were populated with ferns, amphibians, and giant invertebrates. Nearby coastal and marine habitats were home to fascinating and bizarre creatures whose fossils are currently being studied by Field Museum scientists.

Some of the best fossils of this bygone era can be found in Mazon Creek, a fossil bed located about 60 miles southwest of Chicago. For generations, amateur fossil hunters and professional researchers have traveled there hoping to discover more about ancient life in Illinois. For this temporary exhibition, you'll be able to view selected specimens of flora and fauna from Mazon Creek, including the enigmatic Tully Monster. Come get hands on with some real Mazon Creek fossils and see what fossil nodules from the region reveal about Illinois' distant past.