#NMNH

[kathleen-cole]

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in 2013, before a major renovation.

[robfrid]

Our #secondday in #dc we were back at the #nationalmall seeing the #sights and #museums and #friends and #family too! ;) #capitol #smithsonian #nmah #nmnh #tourist :) And #littleknownfact I was there when #hilaryrhodamclinton donated her gown to the #firstladies #exhibit I was an #intern at #americanhistory ;) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChChbiVLQKF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[arthistoryanimalia]

#BookRecommendation for NarwhalDay :

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend (2017)

Bonus: I saw the 2019 NMNH exhibition the #narwhal book is based on, and found a few photos of the #Inuit artworks on display:

1. Carved Narwhal Figure

Canada, mid-20th c.

Soapstone, ivory

2. Narwhal Composition sculpture

Kakee Ningeeochiak

Cape Dorset, Canada, n.d.

Soapstone & caribou antler

3. Allangua (Narwhal)

Tim Pitsiulak

Cape Dorset, Canada, 2016

Reproduction of Lithograph

4. A Woman Who Became a Narwhal

Germaine Arnaktauyok

Iqaluit, Canada, 1993

Etching & aquatint

[golgafrincham]

[utheversblog]

nmnh potent nad+ precursor

NMN, or nicotinamide mononucleotide, is a potent precursor to NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). This coenzyme plays a critical role in various biological processes, including energy metabolism, DNA repair, and gene expression regulation. As we age, our NAD+ levels decline, linked to various age-related health issues.

NMN is believed to boost NAD+ levels, which can help to support cellular health and promote longevity. In fact, some studies have suggested that NMN is a more efficient NAD+ precursor than other molecules, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR). This is because NMN is converted directly into NAD+ through a single enzymatic step, while NR must be converted into NMN before it can be used to generate NAD+.

Here are some of the potential benefits of using NMN as an NAD+ precursor:

Improved energy production: NAD+ is a key component of the energy production process, helping to convert nutrients into ATP, the body's primary source of energy. By increasing NAD+ levels, NMN supplementation may improve energy production and reduce fatigue.

Enhanced DNA repair: NAD+ is also involved in DNA repair processes, helping to protect against DNA damage that can lead to mutations and aging. By boosting NAD+ levels, NMN supplementation may help to support DNA repair mechanisms and promote healthy aging.

Reduced inflammation: NAD+ also plays a role in regulating inflammation in the body, which is a key factor in many age-related diseases. By increasing NAD+ levels, NMN supplementation may help to reduce inflammation and improve overall health.

Improved metabolic health: NAD+ is involved in regulating metabolic processes, including glucose and lipid metabolism. By boosting NAD+ levels, NMN supplementation may Help to enhance metabolic health and lower the risk of metabolic illnesses such as diabetes and obesity.

Increased longevity: By supporting cellular health and reducing the risk of age-related diseases, NMN supplementation may help to promote longevity and healthy aging.

It's important to note that research on NMN and its potential benefits is still in its early stages, and more research is needed to fully understand the efficacy of NMN supplementation. It's also important to approach NMN supplementation with caution and to talk to a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NMN is a potent precursor to NAD+ that may offer a range of potential benefits for cellular health, energy production, DNA repair, inflammation reduction, metabolic health, and longevity. While additional research is needed to completely understand the efficacy of NMN supplementation, it appears to be a promising approach for promoting healthy aging.

[lionfloss]

NMNH - Botany Dept.

Dichapetalum ugandense Moss

[petsincollections]

Scottie Dog stuffed animal

Stuffed plush animal toy, Scottie (Scottish Terrier) dog, made with synthetic shaggy "fur". Bron Solyom notes (page 6, see accession file): "These [toys, E434810-434817] were among Ann Dunham's personal possessions. I do not know if either of her children played with them." It is unknown when or where these were made or acquired.

Anthropology Collections

NMNH Research & Collections

[rainydrops]

hhh

being hypnotized is the best feeling jn tbe world

i love bejnf

hypnotized

i love droppin g to asks

i love jjust

dropping

so quiickly

so easy

just

nmnh

[babsvibes]

for the rivals / enemies prompts…and ONLY if you want to….louigan, #3?? 👀 again NO pressure…..🫡

#3: taking care of the other while one is unconscious

How about established relationship domestic fluff for a Neighbors AU piece? Technically, this only works for the prompt because Louise falls asleep at the end, but let’s pretend yeah? I also tried to cover @sailoreuterpe’s suggestion of insults as a love language (because even if it’s not her favorite trope, Nikki knows her audience lmao)

At first, she thought the knocking emanated from a terribly annoying dream, but with every second of blooming consciousness Louise realized it was no figment of her imagination.

She groaned, eyes peeling open slowly then blinking at the new morning. The sheets rustled to the left of her. Glancing at Logan, whose furrowed eyebrows nearly took over his face, she snickered.

“People pretending to sleep don’t usually look that angry.”

“‘S not my fault,” he grumbled. “It’s been going for like… a million minutes.”

“So what time does that make it?” Louise asked, figuring he had been on his phone already.

“Seven.”

Her eyes snapped out of their half-lidded state. “In the morning?! Who the hell is knocking on our door at seven in the morning?”

“It’s the first Saturday in December. Who do you think?” Logan, still refusing to open his eyes, shuffled closer and pulled at her waist. She sunk into him, enjoying being spooned as he kissed her neck in that perfectly lazy way reserved only for weekend mornings.

And another fucking knock rang out.

Louise balled up her fist and punched her pillow.

“Go make it stop,” she demanded.

She felt his “Nmn” rumble from his chest and down her back.

“Mmhmm,” she replied.

“NMnh.”

“MMhmm.”

“Nn” “Mm” “nnNNn” “mMmMm”

When they both hummed the same note over each other to see who would last longer, Louise cracked first, unable to resist snorting at the absurdity. Logan followed suit.

“I think that means you lost, shortstack. Go tell off Annie.” She didn’t move, so he continued. “You’re just so much scarier than I am.”

“Keep talking.”

“And so brave and cutthroat and beautiful-”

“Alright alright, enough of that,” Louise sighed. “I’ll go. Just move back. I can’t get out of bed if you’re wrapped around me like this.”

Logan didn’t budge. Shuffling, scooting, and otherwise wiggling to freedom proved fruitless.

“Seems like… maybe you don’t want me to get out of bed?”

Before he could respond, the knocking resumed. He sighed against her neck, giving in and loosening his grip.

“Every day I am in awe of your strength and sacrifice,” she said, sarcasm dripping from every word.

Logan replied by poking her one ticklish spot. With an involuntary laugh, she moved away and pointed at him menacingly. The warning was wasted as he still hadn’t opened his eyes.

Gathering up all of her courage and the edge of the covers, Louise heaved herself up only to meet Jack Frost’s frozen testicles slapping her in the face. She yelled and buried herself back under the blankets. “Nope, no, absolutely not. Too cold.”

Annie, or at least who they assumed was their apartment manager here to drag them into holiday shenanigans, continued to relentlessly knock.

Logan sniffed. “Is that… is she knocking Carol of the Bells?”

“Carol of the Nine Hells more like,” Louise grumbled, hiding under her pillow.

“She’s just going to keep at it. Remember that time she needed Victor to sign a release form?”

“She camped outside for four days.” With a sigh, she emerged partially from her cocoon. “Okay, tell you what. How about we go together? That way we can suffer as one.”

It was Logan’s turn to sigh, but he finally cracked his eyes open. Morning had a way of making an honest man out of liars, and she watched him melt at the sight of her, genuine and soft. They stared at each other in silence for a moment, then he leaned in. She met him halfway for a quick kiss. When they broke apart, he sighed again.

“Fiiiine. On the count of three?”

“Works for me.”

“One.” “Two.” “Three.”

Logan all but fell out of bed, joints popping as though arthritis would be killing him in the next couple of hours. He stretched to the sound of more popping, blinked the sleep from his eyes, and looked back at her.

Louise had failed to move and, if possible, snuggled even deeper into the mattress.

“You witch,” he accused, grabbing a pillow and hitting at the general area of her butt. “You tricked me.”

“This isn’t the first or last time; you knew what you were getting into, idiot. Now go get rid of Annie.”

“Ugh, fine. But when I get back I want to be the little spoon.”

Louise hummed in acquiesce, shuffling the blankets so there was a spot for him to slip back into. When she finished and settled in, the only visible parts of her were a mess of black hair and the tiniest hint of a pout.

As he left their bedroom, Logan wondered how he was supposed to scare away anyone with the dopey smile he couldn’t drop.

[paleotanks]

Lucy get iPhone

Just unveiled at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for some exhibit about cellphones.

https://twitter.com/NMNH/status/1583154736089296896

[kathleen-cole]

November 16, 2023 — NMNH after hours event with New Orleans, LA musician and composer Cory Diane (at right) and collaborators.

[arthistoryanimalia]

Happy #NarwhalDay!

A Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) tusk is the upper left canine tooth that grows through the lip. Sometimes, the right one does the same, resulting in a 2-tusked individual, as illustrated by English naturalist George Shaw (1751 – 1813):

George Shaw's The British Miscellany (1806)

George Shaw's Zoological Lectures (1809)

Bonus: Found a photo I took of a real double-tusked #narwhal skull that was on display at the Smithsonian NMNH :

[leaf-thief]

preserved snake eating frog, 1963

NMNH, Sofia, Bulgaria

[usgsbiml]

This is a shot of a Tortricid Moth  from the Cosmorrhyncha genus ... the genitalia and perhaps the abdomen, though this is not absolutely clear to me. The slide was given to me by John W. Brown from NMNH as an experiment to see if I could get a good shot of a slide mount

[a-modern-major-general]

The Smithsonian Institution holds human remains from more than 30,000 individuals in its collections. Most of these holdings—including bones, teeth, tissues and about 250 brains—were acquired in the 19th and early 20th centuries under dubious circumstances.

The charge of correcting these historical injustices now falls to 21st-century stewards. This week, the Smithsonian published a report from its Human Remains Task Force, which offered recommendations regarding the future of these holdings.

“We are committed to being a leader in all respects, and that means addressing the wrongs of our past by taking steps to ethically return collections and humanely steward any human remains in our care,” says Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III in a statement. “The work of repatriation began several decades ago, and we recognize that it requires a long-term commitment to complete. In recent months, we have made significant progress in this area.”

The long-anticipated report is the culmination of work conducted by the task force, which includes Smithsonian employees and outside experts, since its formation in April 2023. The group crafted Smithsonian-wide recommendations regarding the ethical return of human remains, which the Institution will ultimately use to create and implement new official policies. These changes will primarily affect the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), where the majority of these holdings reside, and the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), which houses the rest.

The recommendations emphasize that consent is a vital prerequisite for using human remains in any capacity. Going forward, the report advises, the Smithsonian should not collect, display or use remains for research purposes without the informed consent of the deceased or their descendants.

The Smithsonian should also offer to return remains taken without consent to the descendants of those individuals; per the task force, “reasonable efforts” should be made to locate those descendants. If no descendants can be found, the remains should be offered to appropriate community representatives or organizations. In cases where no community can be determined, the Smithsonian should create a process for respectfully burying the remains.

Like many other cultural institutions around the world, the Smithsonian has grappled in recent years with mounting pressure to expedite efforts to repatriate human remains. Last summer, the Washington Post published an investigation into the Smithsonian’s holdings—particularly those collected under the watch of Aleš Hrdlička, the Institution’s first curator of physical anthropology. Hrdlička harbored ambitions of proving now-debunked theories of white superiority known today as scientific racism.

Days later, the Post published an op-ed by Bunch addressing the investigation. It ran under the headline “This is how the Smithsonian will reckon with our dark inheritance.” Bunch described Hrdlička’s legacy as “abhorrent and dehumanizing work [that was] carried out under the Smithsonian’s name.”

“As Secretary of the Smithsonian, I condemn these past actions and apologize for the pain caused by Hrdlička and others at the Institution who acted unethically in the name of science, regardless of the era in which their actions occurred,” Bunch wrote. “I recognize, too, that the Smithsonian is responsible both for the original work of Hrdlička and others who subscribed to his beliefs, and for the failure to return the remains he collected to descendant communities in the decades since.”

Bunch noted that the Smithsonian’s work to repatriate human remains goes back more than 30 years. Early efforts intensified after the 1989 passage of the National Museum of the American Indian Act, which requires the Smithsonian to inventory its Native American human remains and repatriate them upon request.

“To date, we have focused on the repatriation of Native American remains to comply with federal law,” Bunch wrote. “The Smithsonian established its Human Remains Task Force to develop an institutional policy that addresses the future of all human remains still held in our collections.”

The Smithsonian has repatriated the remains of more than 5,000 individuals to date, with many thousands of human remains still to be processed. In a December follow-up to its initial investigation, the Post published a report in which former Smithsonian employees spoke of facing internal resistance on repatriating remains during the 1990s. Other staff from that period acknowledged that the process, by necessity, takes time to ensure the proper descendants receive the remains. The Post also cited a 2011 government report that said “it could take several more decades to complete” repatriating all the human remains in the collections.

In the new report, the task force suggests expediting returns under the NMAI Act, adding that NMAI and NMNH “should proactively engage descendants and tribes rather than waiting for them to initiate requests.” Because nearly half of the human remains still held by the Smithsonian are not covered by the NMAI Act, the report also recommends creating a repatriation team at NMNH that’s not linked to the law.

The changes arrive amid similar repatriation efforts nationwide. In January, new federal regulations requiring museums to “obtain free, prior and informed consent” from tribal officials before putting certain Native American artifacts on view went into effect. (This rule is an update to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which does not apply to the Smithsonian, though the new report notes that the 1990 law “enshrined many of the same principles” as the NMAI Act.)

“Historic inequities facilitated the expropriation, curation and unconsented use of human bodies,” writes the task force. “This is our unfortunate inheritance. … As the Smithsonian moves forward, it should do so thoughtfully and as rapidly as possible without doing further harm to individuals, families or communities.”