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EXHIBITIONS

First-Class Flora: A Stamp Collection of Medicinal Plants

This outdoor exhibition presents a unique historical intersection between professional science and a personal hobby.

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DISTILLATIONS MAGAZINE

The Soapy Origins of a Sandalwood Smuggler

A war between police and a notorious outlaw riveted South India for more than a decade. At the conflict’s roots was a centuries-old saga of scarcity and control.

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NEWS

‘Flash! Bang! Boom!’ Exhibition Opening Lights Up the Night

Launch party attendees explore the history and science of fireworks with rare books, stunning artworks, set pieces, pyrotechnic-themed objects, a curator’s talk, and alfresco dining.

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A folder containing correspondence between Max Delbrück and Leo Szilard, from the History of Molecular Biology CollectionA folder containing correspondence between Max Delbrück and Leo Szilard, from the History of Molecular Biology Collection
COLLECTIONS BLOG

Trespassers in the Archives

How a new collection at the Institute reveals the friction of interdisciplinary science.

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Flash! Bang! Boom!
A History of Fireworks

Part of America’s 250th birthday celebration, this sparkling new exhibition explores the origins of and the science behind fireworks. 

On view through July 31, 2027

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Featured

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SCIENTIFIC BIOGRAPHIES

Mikhail Vasil’evich Lomonosov
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EVENTS

First Friday: May Flowers
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Collections

History of Molecular Biology Collection
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CONFERENCE CENTER

Host an Event
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DISTILLATIONS PODCAST

Agnes Pockels and the Kitchen Sink Myth
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Group & School Tours

Collect. Preserve. Interpret. Share.

Through research, storytelling, public programming, and educational outreach, we reveal how science is embedded in our daily lives.

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Museum
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Library
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Stories
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Education
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Collections
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Research

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