Akram Serubiri Nov 22, 2025 NYC
Ahhh, the life of an SGC commuter. My day started before the sun even thought about rising, jolting awake at 4:30 a.m. in the quiet darkness. Half-asleep but determined, I got ready, flipped pancakes on the stove, drenched them in syrup, and bundled up for the rainy morning ahead. By 5:20, I was out the door with a 30-minute drive in front of me. The roads were still nearly empty when I reached the UMD campus, where a group of deer suddenly darted across the backroads, giving me a jolt of energy stronger than any coffee. By 5:50 a.m., I arrived in Centerville, and not long after, we boarded the bus; finally setting off on our journey to NYC with the sky still dark and the day just beginning.
Walking through the American Museum of Natural History felt less like visiting a collection of separate exhibits and more like moving through a continuous story of life on Earth: its origins, transformations, destruction, and survival. Each floor built on the one before it, connecting past times to the present in ways that made science feel active rather than distant. From fossils and asteroid impacts to preserved fish and turtle shells, the museum revealed how scientists piece together Earth’s history using both ancient remains and modern techniques.
The experience became especially powerful in Impact: The End of the Age of Dinosaurs, an exhibit that focused on the asteroid strike that occurred 55 millions years ago. Instead of simply stating that dinosaurs went extinct, the exhibit carefully illustrated how the event unfolded and why it was so devastating. One of the strongest ideas presented was that “light equals life”. Visual graphics showed how the asteroid impact sent massive clouds of debris into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight. Without light, plants could no longer grow, and when plants died, food chains across the planet collapsed. This clear connection between sunlight and survival helped make the extinction feel logical rather than mysterious.
The exhibit used two main display styles that worked especially well. One was large graphic panels filled with diagrams of Earth, the Sun, asteroid paths, and atmospheric debris. These panels used bold visuals and short explanations to break down complex processes such as near-Earth asteroids, comet behavior, and planetary orbits. The second was the “What if?” section, which explored how slight changes in the asteroid’s size, speed, angle, or composition could have changed Earth’s entire history. Through layered text, images, and lighting effects, the exhibit showed that extinction was not inevitable in every scenario. This made the event feel less like fate and more like a fragile moment shaped by precise conditions. What made the exhibit especially relevant was how it connected that ancient disaster to today. A section asked whether such an impact could happen again and explained how scientists now monitor near-Earth objects and develop possible deflection strategies. This connection turned a prehistoric extinction into a modern responsibility.
The Fossil Halls on the fourth floor expanded this timeline even further. With guidance from Dr. Holtz and Dr. Merck, it became clear that the organizing principle of these halls is evolutionary and chronological. Visitors are not just looking at fossils randomly placed in rooms; they are physically walking through time. When we were shown how sharks diverged early from the lineage that led to bony fish, I was able to understand that sharks are not just primitive fish but part of a completely separate evolutionary branch (so i think). Seeing this represented visually through skeletal difference rather than a textbook explanation made this idea easier to accept. Another highlight was the display of fin rays in bony fish, which revealed how the structure of fins later became the foundation for limbs in land animals. One of the most impactful highlights was learning about the amniotic egg, an adaptation that allowed animals to reproduce on land without returning to water. I feel like this evolutionary shift opened the door for reptiles, birds, and mammals. Seeing early reptile fossils made it clear how one biological innovation reshaped life on earth.
At the same time, the tours emphasized how museum science is always evolving. Some older dinosaur reconstructions still show outdated postures that newer research has corrected. Other early vertebrate classifications no longer reflect what scientists now understand from genetic and imaging studies. Newer information could be introduced through digital skeletal animations that update more easily than permanent physical models, though doing so presents challenges of cost, space, and keeping information current.
The focus then shifted from fossils to modern preservation in the Collections Core and Insectarium. This space revealed how scientists protect biological evidence long after an organism dies. One of the most striking specimen types was the preserved fish, including cleared and stained fish and seahorses displayed in jars. These fish were collected during field research and preserved using chemical solutions that prevent decay. Some were treated with dyes that stain cartilage and bone different colors, allowing scientists to study internal structures without cutting the body open. This technique helps researchers examine movement, evolution, and body mechanics in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
Another powerful collection was the reptiles and amphibians preserved in jars, including frogs and lizards. These animals were carefully collected, documented, and preserved with detailed labels that include location, species, and date. This information allows scientists to study population shifts, environmental changes, and even disease spread over long periods of time.
The box turtle shell collection added another layer of meaning to preservation. Dozens of shells were arranged together, showing extreme variation even within one species. These shells came from turtles that died naturally on Gardiners Island in New York. Scientists study shell structure, sex differences, and environmental staining. It showed me how specimens hold not just biological information, but environmental history as well. What stood out most in the Collections Core was how preserved specimens continue to serve science long after collection. Fish, reptiles, insects, and shells help scientists track climate change, evolution, biodiversity loss, and species movement across decades. At the same time, the exhibit made me think about the ethical responsibilities of collecting. While many specimens come from natural death or regulated research, there is still the need to balance scientific benefit with respect for living populations. Ethical collecting requires clear purpose, legal oversight, and awareness of conservation impact.
After the tours had ended, we went to the space show to watch encounters in the Milky Way. The whole show was so immersive, whether it was the asteroids flying across the sky or the solar system in orbit. It really allowed me to visualize how observations made by scientists really play out in the real world. I was shocked when I saw how stars made up constellations like the little dipper.
Throughout the entire museum, what impressed me most was how intentionally AMNH designs its spaces to serve an incredibly diverse audience. Children can engage with hands-on displays and bold visuals, while college students and researchers can dive into deeper scientific explanations. Visitors from different countries benefit from the museum’s heavy use of diagrams, models, and visual storytelling, along with multilingual guides and audio tours. People with mobility challenges are supported through wide walkways, ramps, elevators, and seated viewing angles. Visitors with different sensory needs can engage through audio, visual, and interactive learning tools, while quieter areas and controlled lighting help reduce sensory overload.
By the time I finished the tour, it became clear that the museum is not simply preserving objects; it is preserving knowledge. The fossil halls show how life evolved, the impact exhibit shows how fragile that life can be, and the collections core shows how evidence is protected so that future scientists can continue to learn. Together, these spaces transform ancient extinction events, evolutionary breakthroughs, and modern preservation into one connected story that feels both scientific and human. The museum succeeds not just in teaching facts, but in making the scale of Earth’s history feel understandable and relevant to the world we live in today.