Collections Blog
Collecting Lives and Live Collections
How does a museum and library negotiate biography, civics, and the history of science?
Here, Kitty, Kitty . . .
Searching for the cats hiding in our collections.
The Results Are In!
The Science History Institute’s Othmer Library announces the winners of its 2025 After Hours comic book caption contest.
A Slice of Scientific Life
Collaboration, connection, and critique over pizza.
Robert Boyle in Signature D
How to read a book when the pages are out of order.
Three Alchemical Miniatures
An Institute fellow sheds light on an enigmatic trio.
A Gray Matter
We’re still scratching our heads over how the brain works.
Migrating Science: Stories of Immigration and Innovation
Highlighting the journeys and contributions of scientists who immigrated to the United States in the 20th century.
The ‘Microbe Hunters’ Go to School
What a 1932 special edition of Paul de Kruif’s bestselling book reveals about U.S. science education.
Natural Blues
In a world dominated by synthetic textile dyes, natural alternatives persist.
A Synthetic History
From the lab to the closet, nylon spins a useful web.
Streaming Science History
One hundred historical videos and films from the Othmer Library are now available online!
The Ants (and Spiders and Roaches) Go Marching
How the creepy crawlies in our collections turned my “Eww” into “Wow!”
Get to Know Phillip Bellizzi, Our New Public Services Librarian
One of Phil’s roles is to answer reference questions. Today’s subject? Himself.
Refrigeration by Evaporation
How heat can make it cooler.
A Colorful Tour
Explore the histories—and legacies—of textile dyes such as indigo, mauve, and Paris green with BOLD curator Lisa Berry Drago.
Greetings from the Nobel Institute!
Postcards of travel and science.
Thinking Outside the (Search) Box
You say “Walchin,” I say “Wallich.” Let’s call the whole thing off.