Museum news

Scientific discoveries, ground-breaking expeditions, jaw-dropping exhibitions and Australia's biggest museum collection.

Cirrhilabrus solorensis is presently misapplied to several fishes, its true taxonomic identity shrouded in confusion.

One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish

Examination of historical museum specimens, in both Australian and Indonesian collections, resolve a 170-year taxonomic conundrum.

18 August 2021

Fire shooting ‘butterfly bobtail’ named in honour of Professor Merlin Crossley!

Two new species of ‘butterfly bobtail’ squid have been discovered among museum collections. One species has been named Iridoteuthis merlini in honour of longstanding Australian Museum affiliate and UNSW professor, Merlin Crossley.

4 August 2021

The Beam Trawl emerges from the deep – what will it bring up?

The quest for deep sea critters

Although the recent Indian Ocean Territories expedition has been suspended, we found many fascinating deep sea animals during our 19 days at sea. Dr Ingo Burghardt, AMRI scientist on board the CSIRO research vessel Investigator, shares the latest findings.

28 July 2021

See all news

Latest

Small fish find shelter among the branches of live coral.

News from LIRS: The rise and fall of turf-algae empires

Each month, a selected blog from Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation is featured at the AM. For biodiversity month, we feature the rise and fall of turf-algae empires.

17 September 2021

Dr Jackson Ryan - Finalist, 2021 Finkel Foundation Eureka Prize for Long-Form Science Journalism

Meet the science journalist demystifying COVID-19 vaccines and variants

In conversation with Dr Jackson Ryan, finalist in the 2021 Finkel Foundation Eureka Prize for Long-Form Science Journalism and the 2021 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Science Journalism.

15 September 2021

Coloured plate showing the diversity of annelids

The diverse world of Annelida: an international consideration

Annelida, a common and diverse group of marine invertebrates, populate habitats all over the world. However, many questions around their evolutionary relationships remain unanswered - AM scientists invited international colleagues to help!

14 September 2021

Lunchtime Conversation 2021: Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts AO

Arts leaders Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts AO reflect on the legacy of writer Oodgeroo Noonuccal and activism in the arts.

Live at the AM
8 June 2021

Storyboat Installation from Unsettled exhibition

Unsettled: Uncovering our nation's hidden history

An exploration of one of the Australian Museum’s most significant shows in its almost 200-year history.

By Laura McBride and Dr Mariko Smith

Lunchtime Conversation 2021: Professor Larissa Behrendt AO and Dr Jason DeSantolo

Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO and Dr Jason DeSantolo explore the legacy of David Unaipon and how traditional systems and knowledge are helping solve contemporary issues.

Live at the AM
22 June 2021

The Climate Cure: The inaugural Talbot Oration

Professor Tim Flannery outlines his manifesto for humanity’s survival of the “climate emergency” in the Australian Museum’s (AM) inaugural Talbot Oration.

Live at the AM
3 June 2021

Find out more

Some of the new solar panels on the roof of the Kalkhoven Wing and the aquarium

News from LIRS: Solar power upgrade - towards zero

Each month, a selected blog from Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation is featured at the AM. For this month, we feature the solar power upgrade at LIRS.

19 July 2021

The Upside-down jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) swimming in seagrass in Lake Macquarie, NSW in 2019.

Putting things the right way around: Identification and distribution of upside-down jellyfish

An AMF/AMRI Postgraduate award helped PhD student, Claire Rowe, provide answers on why upside-down jellyfish have recently appeared in Lake Macquarie, NSW. The search for answers led her to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts in Queensland.

8 July 2021

The Great Australian Trilobite

A newly discovered trilobite species, found in the collections of the Australian Museum and Geoscience Australia, is the largest species ever unearthed in Australia. At almost double the size of the previous record holder, it is potentially the third largest trilobite species in the world.

2 July 2021

CSIRO research vessel Investigator at Fort Hill Wharf, Darwin, 27 June 2021.

All hands-on deck to discover the secrets of the Indian Ocean Territories

Five personnel from the Australian Museum Research Institute have embarked with a team of research scientists from around Australia on an expedition to explore deep-sea marine life around the Indian Ocean Territories.

1 July 2021

Sea snake Emydocephalus annulatus (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae).

The sex life aquatic: How sea snakes have overcome the tricks of sex at sea

When you think of “sensitive” lovers, snakes are probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But our new research reveals how important tactile communication is in the sex lives of snakes.

29 June 2021