Let me just slip into something a little more comfortable…🪳 As they grow, Madagascar hissing cockroaches molt, meaning they shed their exoskeletons to make way for new growth.They are particularly vulnerable to predators during this short period of time, because until their keratin hardens, they turn completely white, making them highly visible. Recently, we happened to catch our Madagascar hissing cockroaches in the midst of their molting process - how cool?! 🪳 . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Madagascar #Hissing #Cockroach #Bugs #Insects #BugFact #Molt #Skin #Exoskeleton

Did you know Galileo discovered the craters and mountains on the Moon? Galileo was known for using observation and experimentation to push the limits of traditional ideas, which was one of the reasons that he got into trouble. For him, it wasn’t enough that people in authority had been saying that something was true for centuries, he wanted to test these ideas and compare them to evidence. It wasn’t always widely known that the Moon’s surface is not as smooth and perfect as perceived. When using his telescope, Galileo discovered mountains and craters on the Moon whose shadows changed with the position of the Sun. By measuring the length of these shadows, he was able to estimate the height of the lunar mountains, showing that they were similar to mountains on Earth. And yes, those are REAL pictures of the Moon’s mountains. 😳 📸: NASA Learn more about Galileo’s fascinating life and discoveries and plan a trip today! Link in bio. . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Galileo #FamilyFun #KidFriendly #FamilyActivities #OaklandCounty #BloomfieldHills #New #Exhibit #Galileo #Astronomy #Physics #Space #Telescope #FatherofScience #NewExhibit #MetroDetroit #STEAM #Educational #WeekendActivites #ThingsToDo

Bundle up and keep your eyes peeled for the full Moon of November, the Beaver Moon! 🌕 The Beaver Moon will reach peak illumination at 4:16 am EST the morning of Monday, November 27. Not an early riser? Don’t sweat it. The Moon will be very close to full the night before, so plan to look for it starting on Sunday, November 26 - just after sunset! This month’s unique name originates from the period in the late November season when North American beavers begin to gather food and take shelter in their dens for the winter. Don’t miss your chance to view the full Moon on Monday morning and stay warm! As beavers begin to take shelter to prepare for the cold - it means winter is just around the corner… 🥶 . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #FullMoon #Moon #Space #Celestial #Beaver #November #Stars #Planets #MoonPhases #Winter

It’s deer season here in Michigan! 🦌 Have you ever caught a deer staring at you like... it's caught in the headlights? The reason for this behavior is that a deer’s vision works best when it is dark out, giving them excellent night vision - but leaving them easily blinded by bright light! Also, did you know that the white-trailed deer is colorblind? 🫣 White-tailed deer are red-green colorblind, which is the same kind of color blindness that occurs in humans. One of the easiest colors for a deer to identify is white, which may be a reason for their white tails that they raise up like flags to let their family and friends easily see each other when running away from predators. . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #FunFact #Deer #DeerSeason #DeerFacts #Michigan #GreatLakes #HuntingSeason #Animals #Bucks #WhiteTailedDeer

Who is a Pink Floyd fan here? The Institute sure is! 🌈 Explore the iconic eighth album, Dark Side of the Moon, by the English rock band in our state-of-the-art planetarium! Immerse yourself in the visual history of the album, which was built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but departs from instrumental thematic by founding member Syd Barrett. During this show, you’ll dive deep into the album’s themes of conflict, greed, the passage of time, mental illness, and the latter, partly inspired by Barrett's deteriorating mental state. This program is typically available every Friday evening at 9:00 pm - perfect for date night! Plan a trip! Link in bio. . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Planetarium #PinkFloyd #Rock #Music #MetroDetroit #OaklandCounty #BloomfieldHills #DateNight #Events #DetroitActivities

Calling all stargazers, the Leonid meteor shower will peak the night of November 17 through 18! ☄️ The Leonids are named for the constellation, Leo the Lion, because the path of the meteors appears to start streaming from within Leo.🦁 You can identify the Leo constellation by finding its brightest star, called Regulus, and following the surrounding stars which form a backwards question mark shape known as “the Sickle.” Under the best conditions on a dark, clear night, you may see up to 10-15 meteors per hour in the Leonids. The most famous Leonid meteor shower in 1966 produced rates as high as thousands of meteors per minute during a 15-minute span! ☄️ It’s projected that the Leonids will not come around again until 2099, so try to spot this dazzling nighttime celestial phenomenon while you can! . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Leo #Lenoids #Meteor #Shower #November #Space #Celestial #MetroDetroit #OaklandCounty #BloomfieldHills #Michigan #Stars #NightSky #Stargazers

Say hello to the northern caiman lizard! 😛 Native to South America, the northern caiman lizard’s long forked tongue allows it to locate its prey and quickly identify which direction to run towards to chase after its next meal. This lizard is mostly aquatic, which means it spends a majority of its time underwater using its long, flat tail to help it swim and dive. It even has a third eyelid that acts like a pair of swimming goggles to help it see while underwater! 🤿 . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Lizard #Reptile #Animal #CoolFacts

Did you know that Galileo was sentenced to life in prison for his work? ⛓️ Galileo was known for using observation and experimentation to push the limits of traditional ideas, which was one of the reasons that he got into trouble. In 1632, he published, “Dialogue of the Two Principal Systems of the World,” which was seen as supporting the Copernican heliocentric theory. This theory put the Sun at the center of the solar system and challenged biblical beliefs of the Catholic Church. As a result, he was ordered to stand trial and ultimately found guilty of heresy where he was forced to publicly repent and sentenced to life in prison.⛓️ Anyway, here’s a cool picture of the Sun at the center of our solar system 😉 📸: NASA . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Galileo #FamilyFun #KidFriendly #FamilyActivities #OaklandCounty #BloomfieldHills #New #Exhibit #Galileo #Astronomy #Physics #Space #Telescope #FatherofScience #NewExhibit #MetroDetroit #STEAM #Educational #WeekendActivites #ThingsToDo

You’re invited to join us for our upcoming Women in Science Speaker Series, Fall of the Titans, featuring Dr. Emily Lindsey, Associate Curator and Excavation Site Director at the @thelabreatarpits! This dynamic presentation will explore the fascinating history and mysterious demise of Earth’s Ice Age giants. Throughout most of the 66-million-year history of the Age of Mammals, large animals dominated the Earth. The questions we ask ourselves are, “What caused the sudden disappearance and extinction of the iconic Ice Age megafauna beasts, and what does it mean for our future?” Additional experiences include: 🦣 An immersive Q&A session with Dr. Emily Lindsey 🦣 An opportunity to explore the entire museum, including our newest traveling exhibit, Galileo! 🦣 Complimentary refreshments 🦣 Exclusive 10% off in the Institute’s science shop Register today! Link in bio. . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #WRS #Speaker #Series #WomenRockScience #IceAge #WomeninScience #OaklandCounty #MetroDetroit #BloomfieldHills #STEAM #STEM

Test the laws of gravity, experience the laws of motion, and gaze through the lens of a historic telescope! 🔭 Get inspired with interactive science at the Institute’s newest traveling exhibit, Galileo: Scientist, Astronomer, Visionary! Plan your next trip today. Link in bio. . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #ReelScience #FamilyFun #KidFriendly #FamilyActivities #OaklandCounty #BloomfieldHills #New #Exhibit #Galileo #Astronomy #Physics #Space #Telescope #FatherofScience #NewExhibit #MetroDetroit #STEAM #Educational

Did you know that a polar bear’s fur is actually transparent, not white? 🐻‍❄️ The hairs on a polar bear's coat are hollow and lack pigment, making them clear. Thanks to the reflection of visible light which allows the bear’s fur to appear white and blend in with its snowy surroundings! ❄️ Polar bears are always ready for the cold. Underneath their fur is a thick layer of fat that helps insulate their body and protect them in the frigid Arctic air and when diving into the freezing water. Also, they have black skin under their fur coat which absorbs the Sun’s rays to keep them warm during the cold months.❄️ . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #Fact #PolarBear #Arctic #Bear #Bears #Wildlife #Winter #Snow #Animals

Skip the Black Friday madness and head over to the museum for a day FULL of STEAM-themed activities! Interactive science experiments will give guests of all ages the opportunity to engage in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics — and could even inspire the next Galileo! Activities are FREE with the purchase of general admission. Learn more and plan your visit today! Link in bio. . . . . #Cranbrook #CranbrookScience #Science #Museum #FullSTEAMAhead #FamilyFun #KidFriendly #FamilyActivities #OaklandCounty #BloomfieldHills #Physics #Space #Technology #Art #OaklandCounty #MetroDetroit #BloomfieldHills #STEAM