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.

Kingfishers: Through Air and Water

The kingfisher family Alcedinidae comprises nearly 120 species of birds from across the globe. Not all kingfishers go fishing for their food, but those that do have evolved incredible characteristics to expertly “plunge-dive” into water in order to catch, remove, and consume a meal.

Guests to the exhibition will explore how these diverse and colorful birds have found success through the evolution of extreme features and unique behaviors. Come observe and compare trait variations of various kingfisher specimens on display, including our local Belted Kingfisher, the vibrant Indigo-banded Kingfisher, and the Shovel-billed Kookaburra. Then learn about the Field Museum scientists who are trying to answer an important question: how do kingfishers protect their brains when plunging headfirst into water at up to 25 mph?