Marine scientists here at the museum have been studying the sea bed around the UK (and in other parts of the world as well!) and you can now see why and how it is done and what we have found. If you would like to ask a question to a marine scientist why not post a message on the blog and we will try our best to answer them.
Have you ever wondered what a marine scientist does?
Have a go at the activities on the Explore the Sea Floor web pages or request a free copy of the CD-ROM to become a virtual marine scientist.
Here are a few photos of museum scientists at sea and working in the laboratory.
The Explore the Sea Floor exhibition has moved to Kettering Museum following a successful time at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum. There is plenty of display space at Kettering which has allowed extra specimens to travel with the exhibition this time. The exhibition will be on display from 7th March to 12th April. Click here for more information about Kettering museums.
It is mid February and the wet and windy weather that persisted throughout January has given way to clearer skies. The days have been sunny and bright but quite cold at the same time, and the clear nights are leaving ponds and puddles iced over long into the morning.
Many of the early signs that spring is on the way have been on show for a few weeks now. Snowdrops have been up since late January and hazel catkins have been swinging in the breeze since the beginning of the month. Primrose and lesser celandines have also been growing about the site since mid February. The hawthorn bushes are growing fresh green leaves and the daffodils are flowering too. I’ve also seen quite a few bumblebees since the start of the month and I found a lone ladybird perching on a twig.
Amphibians such as frogs and newts filling up small ponds are a good indicator that spring is truly here, because it means the water is warming up. I found a few newts in the tannery pits last week but it’s still a bit too cold for them with the water prone to freezing in the night. Keep your eyes peeled for frogs spawning around the beginning of March when it’s a bit warmer. Listen out too for chiffchaffs singing later in March. They are usually one of the first of our migrant bird species to arrive from Africa.
Last week was the school half term holidays and I ran workshops based on spotting the signs of spring. Over 1200 visitors took part in a leaf quiz, and went out spotting spring flowers and birds with my spring trails. You can download spring trails and record what you’ve seen on the Nature Detectives website. You can also visit the brand new Exploring Our Woodlands website which will be taking shape over the next few weeks.
Today you can see that lots of my flowers have opened. They really brighten up this cloudy spring day in Cardiff.
28th Feb 2008.
My flower is now fully open. It is bright yellow and has six large petals. It is 37cms tall. If you look inside you can see the stigma and anthers.
28th Feb 2008.
If you look at the flower from the side you can see it is shaped a bit like a trumpet.
26th Feb 2008.
Finally my 1st Daffodil flower has opened! It will take a day or two to open fully. Before it opened, the head tilted downwards.
22nd Feb 2008.
Here is a close-up of the bud. You can see it's still wrapped up in its casing and not yet open. It should tilt downwards just before it opens.
22nd Feb 2008. The leaves are 25cm tall. They have begun to open out - so they can catch more sunlight to start storing energy. The bud is slightly taller at 32cms.
8th Feb 2008. Leaves and bud are a 11cms tall.
31st Jan 2008. First Daffodil leaves and bud appear. 4cm tall.
5th Feb 2008. My flowers have opened! I think they are really beautiful. The petals are light purple - some have deep lilac lines. Can you see the stigma it is the dark orange part inside the petals. The light orange parts are the anthers.
27th Jan 2008. The Flowers are a few cm's high. As you can see the petals are still closed. They are ready to open any day now!
23rd Jan 2008. The Crocus flower 1st appears! It is closed and stands just a few cm's off the ground.
21st Jan 2008. Leaves grow a little taller.
18th Jan 2008. First few Crocus leaves appear.
29th Feb 2008.
Today you can see that lots of my flowers have opened. They really brighten up this cloudy spring day in Cardiff.
28th Feb 2008.
My flower is now fully open. It is bright yellow and has six large petals. It is 37cms tall. If you look inside you can see the stigma and anthers.
28th Feb 2008.
If you look at the flower from the side you can see it is shaped a bit like a trumpet.
26th Feb 2008.
Finally my 1st Daffodil flower has opened! It will take a day or two to open fully. Before it opened, the head tilted downwards.
22nd Feb 2008.
Here is a close-up of the bud. You can see it's still wrapped up in its casing and not yet open. It should tilt downwards just before it opens.
22nd Feb 2008. The leaves are 25cm tall. They have begun to open out - so they can catch more sunlight to start storing energy. The bud is slightly taller at 32cms.
8th Feb 2008. Leaves and bud are a 11cms tall.
31st Jan 2008. First Daffodil leaves and bud appear. 4cm tall.
5th Feb 2008. My flowers have opened! I think they are really beautiful. The petals are light purple - some have deep lilac lines. Can you see the stigma it is the dark orange part inside the petals. The light orange parts are the anthers.
27th Jan 2008. The Flowers are a few cm's high. As you can see the petals are still closed. They are ready to open any day now!
23rd Jan 2008. The Crocus flower 1st appears! It is closed and stands just a few cm's off the ground.
