MEMBERS’ NEWSLETTERMEMBERS’ NEWSLETTERVOL. 35 NO. 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

General InformationHOURSMuseum: Daily, 10 am–5:45 pm The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving andChristmas.Space Show: Every half hour, 10:30 am–4:30 pm Research Library: Tuesday–Thursday, 2–5:30 pmHours are subject to change.

ENTRANCESDuring Museum hours, visitors may enter throughthe subway (lower level), Central Park West at 79thStreet (second floor), and the Rose Center/81stStreet entrances. The Columbus Avenue entranceis open on weekends and holidays. The 77th Streetentrance is now open for events and programs.

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKINGSubway: B (weekdays) or C to 81st Street;1 to 79th StreetBus: M7, M10, M11, or M104 to 79th Street;M79 to Central Park WestParking Garage: Open daily, 8 am– 11 pm; enter from West 81st Street. Members receive a discounted rate of $10 if entering after 4 pm. Toreceive this rate, you must show your MembershipCard or event ticket when exiting the garage.For more information, call 212-313-7275.

FOOD SERVICEMuseum Food Court: Daily, 11 am–4:45 pm (lower level)Café on 1: Daily, 11 am–4:45 pm (first floor)Starlight Café: Saturday and Sunday,11 am–4:45 pm (first floor)Café on 4: Daily, 11 am–4:45 pm (fourth floor)Hours are subject to change.

MUSEUM SHOPSThe following Museum Shops are open during regular Museum hours:The Museum Shop (first and second floors)DinoStore (fourth floor)The Shop for Earth & Space (Rose Center,lower level)Cosmic Shop (Rose Center, second floor)Silk Road Shop (third floor)Online Shop (amnhshop.com)

PHONE NUMBERSMuseum Information 212-769-5100Membership Office 212-769-5606Central Reservations 212-769-5200AMNH Expeditions 800-462-8687Communications 212-769-5800Development 212-769-5151Education 212-769-5304Event & Conference Services 212-769-5350Library Services 212-769-5400Member Birthday Parties 212-769-5606Museum Shop 800-671-7035Patrons Circle 212-769-5153Planetarium Information 212-769-5900Planned Giving Office 212-769-5119Volunteer Office 212-769-5566Website amnh.org

Membership DepartmentCentral Park West at 79th StreetNew York, New York 10024-5192amnh.org

© AMNH/D. Finnin

The ButterflyConservatory:

Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter

is back for its 12th season

at AMNH.

in an enclosed habitat that replicatesa lush, tropical environment.

Highway of An Empire:The Great Inca RoadIMAX CorridorFree with Museum admission

The Inca Empire owed its reach andpower to an extensive network ofroads, the subject of this compellingphoto exhibition. Highway of AnEmpire showcases the diversity of this network through more than 35 images of cliff-side passages,suspension bridges, and other roadsegments set against stunningAndean landscapes.Courtesy of the Consulate General of Peru in New York.

The presentation of Highway of An Empire at theAmerican Museum of Natural History is made possibleby the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation.

Spider Silk TextileGrand Gallery, first floorFree with Museum admission

This spectacular and extremely raretextile—the only one of its kind ondisplay anywhere in the world—was woven from golden-colored silk thread produced by one million spiders in Madagascar.The contemporary textile took fouryears to make using a painstakingtechnique developed more than 100 years ago. See story, page 8.

Road Project will take place in theexhibition every Sunday afternoon.Visit amnh.org/silkroad for moreinformation.Traveling the Silk Road is organized by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org),in collaboration with Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, Roma,Italy and Codice. Idée per la cultura srl, Torino, Italy;the National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australiaand Art Exhibitions Australia; the Museum of Science,Taichung, Taiwan and United Daily News, Taipei, Taiwan.

The Presenting Sponsor of Traveling the Silk Road:Ancient Pathway to the Modern World is MetLife Foundation.

Additional support has been provided by Mary and David Solomon.

The Silk Road Project residency is generously supportedby Rosalind P. Walter.

The Butterfly Conservatory:Tropical Butterflies Alive in WinterHall of Oceanic BirdsMembers’ tickets are $12 for adults,$7.50 for children

A perennial favorite, the ButterflyConservatory lets visitors mingle withup to 500 live, free-flying butterflies

Made possible through the generous sponsorship ofLockheed Martin Corporation.

And proudly sponsored by Accenture.

Super-computing resources provided by The TexasAdvanced Computing Center (TACC) at the University of Texas at Austin through the TeraGrid, a project of the National Science Foundation.

AND DON’T MISS...Sleepover Program A Night at the MuseumPlease visit amnh.org/sleepovers formore details.

This after-hours extravaganza thrillsMuseum fans ages 7 to 13. Theevening includes a flashlight tour andwraps up with a campout amongMuseum icons.

CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY AT AMNHLinda Kaye’s Partymakers will throwan unforgettable bash for kids ages 4 and up. Choose from one of fourfun-filled themes: Dinosaur Discoveries;Safari Adventure; UnderwaterTreasures; and Cosmic Blast-Off, whichincludes an option to see the newSpace Show, Journey to the Stars.Parties are an exclusive benefit forContributor and higher-level Members.For more information and to requesta date, visit partymakers.com or call 212-288-7112.

CURRENTLY ON VIEWTraveling the Silk Road:Ancient Pathway to the Modern WorldGallery 3Free for Members

This intriguing exhibition transportsvisitors to one of the greatest tradingroutes of all time, showcasing thegoods, technologies, and culturesfrom four representative cities: Xi’an,China’s Tang Dynasty capital; Turfan,a verdant oasis; Samarkand, home ofprosperous merchants; and ancientBaghdad, a hub of commerce andscholarship. Visitors will embark on an unparalleled journey exploringtrade, communication, and culturalexchange from AD 600 to 1200. Liveperformances organized by the Silk

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On Feathered WingsAkeley Gallery, second floorFree with Museum admission

The majesty of birds in flight is thefocus of this striking photographyexhibition, which captures thecontrolled chaos, acrobatic wizardry,and the mysterious aerodynamics ofbirds including the Bald Eagle, RoseateSpoonbill, and the Great Horned Owl.The presentation of On Feathered Wings at theAmerican Museum of Natural History is made possibleby the generosity of the Arthur Ross Foundation.

HAYDEN PLANETARIUM SHOWJourney to the StarsMembers’ tickets are $12 adults,$7.50 children.

This spectacular Space Show sendsvisitors through time and space toexperience the life cycle of the stars.Travel 13 billion years into the past towitness brilliant supernovas that sentnew kinds of matter coursing throughthe universe.Journey to the Stars was developed by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org),in collaboration with the California Academy ofSciences, San Francisco; GOTO INC, Tokyo, Japan;Papalote • Museo del Niño, Mexico City, Mexico; andSmithsonian National Air and Space Museum,Washington, D.C.

Journey to the Stars was created by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, with the major supportand partnership of NASA, Science Mission Directorate,Heliophysics Division.

Museum Notes

SAVE A TREEThe current issue of Rotunda is now available

online! Download it at amnh.org. If you’d like to stop receiving paper copies, please

email members@amnh.org.

The silk for this textile was derived from the spiderNephila madagascariensis. | Courtesy of Simon Peersand Nicholas Godley The Museum sleepover includes a flashlight tour of the dinosaur halls. | © AMNH/R. Mickens

Highway of An Empire showcases the Inca Road as well as the landscape it crosses. | Heinz Plenge

COVER: Clown anemonefish are part of a coralreef display in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. | © AMNH/R. Mickens

ISSN 0194-6110 USPS Permit #472-650Vol. 35, No. 1, January/February 2010

Lewis W. Bernard, ChairmanEllen V. Futter, PresidentLisa J. Gugenheim, Senior Vice President ofInstitutional Advancement, Strategic Planning,and EducationSean Lally, Acting Director of Membership

Rotunda is published bimonthly,except for a combinedissue in July/August/September and a single issue inDecember,by the Membership Office of the AmericanMuseum of Natural History,Central Park West at79th Street,New York,NY 10024-5192.Phone:212-769-5606.Web address:amnh.org.Museum Membership of $70 per year and higherincludes a subscription to Rotunda. © 2010 AmericanMuseum of Natural History. Periodical postage paid at New York,NY,and at additional mailing offices.Postmaster:please send address changes to Rotunda,Membership Office,AMNH, at the above address.

Tap into the world’s largestcollection of dinosaur fossils witha touch of the screen! AMNHCollections: Dinosaurs, the firstofficial app for iPhone and iPodTouch from the Museum,includes hundreds of images andfascinating stories about thescience and personalities behindthe fossils. Use the app as aguide when visiting the Museumor explore from home, and don’tforget to share favorite photoswith friends so they can join yourvirtual dinosaur dig.

NewAMNHApp Takes You on a Dino Dig

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ast fall, 150 middle-schoolchildren gathered on the SouthLawn of the White House andwatched their president peer

through a telescope under the directionof his science advisor, physicistJohn Holdren.

“If you look in there, you will see adouble-double-star in the constellationLyra, 160 light-years away,” Holdrenexplained.“That means it takes thelight from those stars 160 years toget here. So what you are seeing,Mr. President, happened 160 years ago.”

1849. Zachary Taylor was president.The California Gold Rush had justbegun. Charles Darwin was still 10years away from publishing On the Origin of Species. Abraham Lincolnwas practicing law in Springfield,Illinois. And a Maryland slave namedHarriet Tubman escaped to freedomin Philadelphia.

“Let’s take a look,”said President BarackObama.“That’s pretty far away…pretty cool.”

Who wouldn’t be excited? To studythe stars is to truly travel throughtime. To look at the day or night sky isto see various points of light senttoward Earth a discernible amount oftime in the past. The light from ourMoon, for example, was sent out one-and-a-half seconds ago; the Sun, eightminutes. At the other extreme, theAndromeda Galaxy, the farthest objectthat can be seen with the naked eye,is 2.5 million light-years away, the lightwe see now having left that galaxy at a time when our relative Homoerectus was migrating out of Africa.

Perhaps nothing conveys this mind-bending experience more vividly thana program developed by the AmericanMuseum of Natural History that wasdemonstrated in a portable dome atlast fall’s White House event: a three-

dimensional, scientifically accurate,free atlas of the known universe calledThe Digital Universe. (MuseumPresident Ellen V. Futter; Mike Shara,AMNH Curator of Astrophysics; CarterEmmart, Director of Astrovisualization;Suzanne Morris, Associate Manager,Rose Center Public Programs; and DanSlippen, Senior Director of GovernmentRelations, attended the White Houseevent on behalf of the Museum.)

This extraordinary computer softwareprogram—which is downloaded from the Museum’s website by some30,000 people a year—was developedmore than a decade ago under theguidance of Hayden PlanetariumDirector Neil deGrasse Tyson, withmajor support from NASA. It iscurrently curated by Ben Oppenheimerand managed by Brian Abbott, and itseducational use is directed by Emmartwith curatorial support fromOppenheimer, Shara, and Mordecai-Mark Mac Low, Curator and Chair,Department of Astrophysics, Divisionof Physical Sciences.

Drawing from the work of astronomersaround the world, the data that informsthis journey through the universe is updated at least twice a year. (Soon,visitors to the Museum’s website will find a newer, more user-friendlyversion, too.) This atlas is also thebasis for Hayden Planetarium’s SpaceShows, including Journey to the Stars,which is showing now, and for theVirtual Universe programs that use a supercomputer to project the Digital Universe onto the HaydenPlanetarium dome on the firstTuesday of every month.

With a simple download to a personalcomputer, teachers, students, andamateur astronomers everywhere can navigate through a three-dimensional celestial atlas, from thesolar neighborhood to the galaxiessurrounding the Milky Way, and to the very edge of the known universe.

L

amnh.org | rotunda | 5

With a cursor and mouse as theirspaceship, users can “fly” to almostany object in the universe—the eightplanets in our solar system, starnebulas, galaxies, asteroids—at anygiven time in the past and to whereverthey are projected to be many millionsof years in the future.

Users can orbit in real time with theInternational Space Station. They cansee the outer limit of our radio signals,a 70-light-year “bubble” radiatingfrom Earth that includes the nearbystars and extra-solar planets that mayjust now be hearing The Lone Ranger,Jack Benny, or one of FDR’s firesidechats. People can even pull out so faras to see the cosmic web and hazyremnants of the Big Bang.

Pretty cool, indeed.

The Universe at Your Fingertips

This grid, with the Sun at its center, is 5,000 light-years in diameter and is plotted along lines that connect the starsof the constellations as seen from Earth. Multi-colored dots represent clusters of stars. The center of the Milky Waygalaxy, 26,000 light-years away, is marked by the yellow orb in the background. | © AMNH/C. Emmart

Looking toward Earth from a vantage point billions of light-years away, this image shows a sprinkling of galaxies.Seen here as points, each of these galaxies likely contains hundreds of billions of stars and trillions of planets. Thebow-tie shape formed by the galaxies is merely a function of available data: the “empty” space represents areasthat have not yet been observed with telescopes. | © AMNH/C. Emmart

To learn more about the Museum’s Digital Universe Atlas and to download the software, visit haydenplanetarium.org/universe.

ike a giant Rorschach inkblot, the Great Lakes spreadout across the northernmidwest and eastern U.S.

and its border with Canada. Deepblue and beautiful from the air,these five freshwater lakes holdthe key to untold stories—and

strange phenomena—explored inan exquisite giant-screen filmMysteries of the Great Lakes, nowshowing in the Museum’s LeFrakImax Theater.

A Science North production,narrated by Canadian actor GordonPinsent with a soundtrack by

Canadian singer-songwriterGordon Lightfoot, Mysteries of theGreat Lakes takes viewers on adramatic journey through some ofthe most spectacular scenery onEarth, from the headwaters of LakeSuperior to the edge of LakeOntario. Here, in amazing close-upsonly the IMAX experience canprovide, you will see towering cliffswith shaman-painted images ofspirits believed by early NativeAmericans to have special powers.Travel beneath the surface wherethousands of shipwrecks—the lastmajor one from close to a centuryago—draw the interest of divers to this day. Explore the habitats ofsturgeon, caribou, moose, and baldeagles—as well as the importanceof the lakes for the 40 millionpeople who live along their morethan 10,000 miles of coastline.

Now Showing: Mysteries of the Great Lakes

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© Gary and Joanie McGuffin

floor Fossil Halls underwent thelargest renovation in the Museum’shistory as fossils were reorganizedaccording to shared characteristics totell the story of vertebrate evolution.Join Paleontology Collection ManagerCarl Mehling for a unique tour thatfocuses on the hidden stories of theselarge, heavy, and sometimes fragilespecimens as they were reorganizedand remounted.

The Museum, TheodoreRoosevelt, and National ParksThursday, February 25 MH0225106:30–8 pm $35

Many national parks are representedamong the Museum’s famousdioramas. Sidney Horenstein willdiscuss the history behind thesenational treasures on this after-hours tour.

Saturday morning. Then, enjoy twoprivate whale watching cruises—oneon Saturday afternoon and one onSunday morning—with Dolphin Fleet,which has helped to identify morethan 1,300 humpback whales since1975. Also on the schedule: a visit tothe Mystic Aquarium and a guidedbird walk through the MassachusettsAudubon Society’s Wellfleet BayWildlife Sanctuary. Cost includestransportation by private coach,meals at the hotel, two boatexcursions, admission, and lodging for two nights at the ProvincetownInn Seaside Resort.

Please register before May 1.

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bed bugs. Collections Manager ChristineJohnson will show how brilliantlydiverse the 16 million-plus specimencollection is and explain the importanceof historical collections.

AFTER-HOURS HALL TOURSGeology and Paleontology of Metro New YorkThursday, January 14 MH0114106:30–8 pm $35

Geologist Sidney Horenstein leads awinter hike to discover the dioramasand other exhibits that displayaspects of local geology.

Once Upon a FossilThursday, February 4 MH020410Tuesday, March 23 MH0323106:30–8 pm$35

How do you move a 20-ton fossil?From 1994 to 1996, AMNH’s fourth

BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURSBehind the Scenes in MammalogyTuesday, January 126:30 pm MB011210A7 pm MB011210B7:30 pm MB011210C$35

The AMNH mammal collection is amongthe oldest at the Museum. Today theDepartment of Mammalogy housesover 275,000 specimens, the third-largest collection of recent mammalsin the world. Scientific AssistantEileen Westwig leads the way to theWhale Room, and Scientific AssistantAriel Fleming offers a tour of thecarnivore collection.

Behind the Scenes in EntomologyThursday, February 186:30 pm MB021810A7 pm MB021810B7:30 pm MB021810C$35

Visit the Department of Entomologyto see some of the Museum’s world-class insect collections.Paleoentomologist Paul Nascimbenewill discuss the latest discoveries inancient amber, explain how amber is prepared, and show specimens from the Museum’s Cretaceous ambercollection. Entomological sleuth Lou Sorkin will talk about the bed bugepidemic and introduce his colony of

Programs are available to Members only,unless a non-Member price is given.Members’ Programs

FREE HALL TOURSCivilization of Ancient EgyptSunday, January 17 MH0117103–4:30 pm Free (Registration Required)

Docent Eileen Flood will lead a tourfocusing on ancient Egyptiancivilization. An optional discussion willtake place after the tour.

Silk Road JourneySunday, February 7 MH0207103–4:30 pmFree (Registration Required)

Join docent Eileen Flood on a tourfocused on Silk Road cultures and thelegendary trade route in the StoutHall of Asian Peoples. The tour will befollowed by a walk-through of themajor exhibition Traveling the SilkRoad: Ancient Pathway to the ModernWorld for interested Members.

FAMILY PROGRAMField Trip to the MoonThursday, January 7 MP0107106 pm $12 adults, $7.50 children

Don't miss this special Members-onlyevening performance in the HaydenPlanetarium. You’ll feel the ground

shake as your rocket launches, see asunrise in space, and orbit and land on the Moon. Guided by a livepresenter, you’ll admire the view from where humans last walked onthe Moon and see what awaits us on future missions.

EXPEDITIONSMontauk Birding TripSaturday, February 27–Sunday, February 28 MO022710$350 per person, double occupancy$400 single occupancy

Join ornithologist Paul Sweet on this two-day birding and wildlifeexpedition to Montauk Point, locatedat the tip of Long Island's South Forkand renown for winter birding. Flocksof sea ducks gather to forage on theserocky shores; Gannets plunge for fishoff the point; and other winter visitorsinclude Bonaparte's Gulls, Loons, andGrebes. Over the last 12 years, thenumber of seals in Long Island watershas also greatly increased, and HarpSeals have been spotted there inaddition to common Harbor and Greyseals. Price includes transportation by private coach, one night at theBorn Free Motel (rooms includeprivate bath and kitchenette), anddinner at the Shawong Restauranton Saturday night.

Whale Watch WeekendFriday, May 21, 9 am–Sunday, May 23, 9 pm MD052110$750 per person, double occupancy$850 single occupancy

Museum educator Jay Holms leads an excursion to historic Provincetown,Mass., to discover the ecological riches of Cape Cod Bay. Relax with a New England lobster bake Fridayevening and explore charmingProvincetown during free time on

For tickets, call 212-769-5200, Monday–Friday, 9 am–5 pm, or visit amnh.org.Please have your credit card, your Membership number, and the program name and number ready.

All Members’ programs require advance registration.

Find out what it takes to move an Apatosaurus. | © �AMNH/B. Blackwell

Admire the view on a Field Trip to the Moon. | NASA

Travel the Silk Road with docent Eileen Flood. | © �AMNH/D. Finnin

Get a glimpse of the Museum’s vast insect collection. |R. Larimer

Please be aware that ticket sales are final. All Members’ programs go ahead, rain or shine; no refunds are issued unless the event is cancelled by AMNH.

S. Sobel

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See Spain’s Prehistoric Caves and Atapuerca

lmost everyone has heardabout the Ice Age cave art ofsouthern and southwesternFrance that provides the

spectacular evidence for early humancreativity. Fewer people know thatthe artistic tradition of the Europeanhunters of about 35- and 10,000 yearsago also flourished widely in northernSpain, furnishing us with some of themost delicate and expressive of theimages bequeathed us by those long-vanished ancestors.

The extraordinary cave of Altamira,which introduced Ice Age art to theworld in 1879, is the best known of thedecorated Spanish Stone Age sites.But my personal favorite is Covalanas,a small cave in the Cantabria regionthat is perched high on the side of a deep valley in the foothills of the picture-perfect Picos d’Europamountains. Twenty thousand yearsago, as the last Ice Age neared itscoldest point, the valley it overlooks

enjoyed an ideal microclimate forPaleolithic hunters. The ancientpeople who decorated Covalanascould watch from their living quarters,in the nearby entrance of the largecave of El Miron, to spot themovement of reindeer in the valleyhundreds of feet below. And theymade animal images in red ochre onthe walls of Covalanas that are amongthe most graceful made not only inthe Ice Age, but ever.

I have worked together with AMNHExpeditions to design a uniqueitinerary to visit the “other Spain,”focused around Covalanas and manyother decorated Stone Age sites. Wewill travel (June 2–13) from the farwest of Asturias to the Basquecountry, admiring the landscapes andsampling superb local foods as well as visiting Ice Age sites that rank highamong the world’s most wonderfulhidden treasures. We will also see the fabled Guggenheim Museum in

Bilbao and the new Altamira Museumwith its fabulous re-creation of thelegendary Ice Age cave. We will finishwith a specially-guided visit to theincredible sites of the Atapuerca Hills,which have yielded the earliest fossilevidence of human relatives on theEuropean peninsula. Join us! —Ian Tattersall, Curator, Division ofAnthropology

Visit amnhexpeditions.org or call 1-800-462-8687 for more details.

Atraveling to the Galápagos Islands thissummer. Biologists Carol Simon andHoward Topoff return to lead theirsixth family expedition, Family Journeyto Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands(June 30 – July 11), to the archipelagothat inspired Charles Darwin.

“The Galápagos combine a wonderfulfamily vacation with a ‘classroom’for first-hand appreciation for thefascinating process of evolution,” saySimon and Topoff.“After our firstouting, you’ll agree that visiting theGalápagos is like stepping back in time.”

This active expedition combines visitsto Ecuador’s Andean sierras with aseven-night cruise through theGalápagos Islands, with the option toadd a visit to Machu Picchu.

To learn more about these familyexpeditions, visit amnhexpeditions.orgor call 1-800-462-8687.Space is limited; $500 reduction infare for children ages 7 to 17.

any scientists will tellyou their passion fortheir field of interestbegan in their youth.

Take Carl Mehling, the Museum’sCollections Manager for FossilAmphibians, Reptiles, and Birds, whooversees the largest collection ofdinosaur fossils in the world. He traceshis interest in paleontology back tohis early childhood.

“Something primal is triggered, oftenin our youth, when we’re introducedto concepts that amaze us,” saysMehling.“I’m convinced thathappened to me around age five.”

This July and August, Mehling will leadtwo week-long family expeditions toGrand Junction, Colorado, where 13youth will experience fossil huntingfor themselves.

On Digging for Dinosaurs: A ColoradoFamily Adventure (July 24–30 or July31–August 6), travelers will dig for

dinosaur remains in the Mygatt-Moorequarry where Apatosaurusand Allosaurus have been found.

Kids and adults alike can make rubbingsof actual dinosaur tracks and createtheir own dinosaur bone cast to takehome. Travelers will also spend amorning horseback riding, an eveningat a lively local rodeo, and a relaxingday floating on the Colorado River.

If your child is more interested insnorkeling and hiking, consider

Altamira is the best known of the decorated SpanishStone Age sites. | © Mattias Kabel

Dig for dinosaur remains in the Mygatt-Moore quarry this summer. | © ATA

AMNH Expeditions Spark Lifelong Interest

Spider Silk: Sensation On and Off the Web

he New York Times articleabout it quickly became one ofthe top five stories emailedaround the country. As word

spread, hundreds of people “tweeted”about it online, and within a month ofits unveiling, nearly 16,000 people hadviewed a YouTube video starring thecurator and creators. The cause of allthis excitement? A rare and unusualartifact currently on display in theMuseum’s Grand Gallery: a dazzlingtextile woven from the silk of not silkworms but spiders—1,063,000 goldenorb spiders of Madagascar, to be exact.

The painstaking process of gatheringthe silk almost defies description. Localresidents literally beat the bushes—ormore likely, telephone and electrical

wires—with bamboo poles to collectlive female spiders of the speciesNephila madagascariensis during therainy season, when the spiders areactively spinning their luminouslygolden webs. Because they arecannibals, the spiders must be keptapart while the light yet incrediblystrong silk is extracted by hand. (Thespiders bite humans too but the bitesare not deemed dangerous.) Eachspider produces about 150 feet of silkfilament, and for this textile, it took a minimum of 96 filaments, twistedtogether, to make a single usablethread. After being “silked,” the spidersare released back into the wild.

On loan from creators Simon Peers, aBritish art historian and textile expert,and Nicholas Godley, an American

fashion designer, the 4- by 11-foottextile can be viewed in the GrandGallery. According to Ian Tattersall,Curator, Division of Anthropology, theonly other known spider-silk textile ofnote was exhibited at the ExpositionUniverselle in Paris in 1900 but wassubsequently lost.“So,” says Tattersall,“this is unique in the world.”

The landmark 77th Street façade

recently underwentextensive restoration. |

© AMNH/D. Finnin

Golden orb spiders' webs can span single-lane roads. |Courtesy of Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley

M

TThe American Museum of Natural History needs your support.

Your gift will help support the scientific and educational mission of the Museum and will bring joy to millions of Museum visitors for generations to come.

To make a gift to our Annual Fund,call (212) 769-5330 or donate online at amnh.org/donate.

Public programs are made possible, in part, by the Rita and Frits Markus Fund for Public Understanding of Science.

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GLOBAL WEEKENDSLiving in America:Voices of the Silk RoadSaturday and Sunday, January 16 and 1712-5 pmKaufmann and Linder TheatersFree with Museum admission

In conjunction with the exhibitionTraveling the Silk Road, this weekendprogram will explore Silk Road culturesthrough performances, workshops,and conversations.Living in America: Voices of the Silk Road is supported,in part, by public funds from the New York State Councilon the Arts, a state agency.

Support for Global Weekends is made possible, in part,by the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc.,the Tolan Family, and the family of Frederick H. Leonhardt.

SILK ROAD TALKSCurry Economics:Food as a Driving Force ofEconomic DevelopmentThursday, January 146:30 pmLinder Theater, first floorEnter at 77th Street$15 ($13.50 Members, students, seniors)

Tom Standage, author of An EdibleHistory of Humanity, Cornell Universityhistory professor Eric Tagliacozzo,and culinary expert Julie Sahni willdiscuss food and economics;Sasha Issenberg, author of The SushiEconomy, will moderate.

The Looting of the Iraq Museum:An Evening with Dr. DonnyGeorge YoukhannaWednesday, February 246:30 pmLinder Theater, first floorEnter at 77th Street$15 ($13.50 Members, students, seniors)

Dr. Youkhanna, former director of theIraq National Museum in Baghdad,will discuss current archeological andmuseum conditions in Iraq.

SILK ROAD TASTINGSAromatics Along the Silk RoadWednesday, January 206:30 pmLinder Theater, first floorEnter at 77th Street$20

Perfumer Mandy Aftel will awakenyour senses to the amazing world of aromatics and discuss theirfascinating history.

Wines with Ancient LineageWednesday, February 176:30 pmLinder Theater, first floorEnter at 77th Street$20

Mollie Battenhouse, wine director ofMaslow 6, and grape geneticist PeterCousins of Cornell University will discussearly viticulture. Tasting included.Wine is graciously supplied by Maslow 6 of New York City.

DR. NEBULA’S LABORATORYDr. Nebula’s Planetary VacationSunday, February 72 pmKaufmann Theater$10 adults, $8 children

Dr. Nebula is lost in space! Help Scooterfind Dr. Nebula by creating a three-dimensional model of the solar system.Dr. Nebula’s Laboratory is supported, in part,by Ruth A. Unterberg.

WILD, WILD WORLDWolvesSaturday, January 2311 am-12 pm; 1-2 pm$10 adults, $8 childrenMeet Atka, an Arctic gray wolf from theWolf Conservation Center, and learnabout this highly endangered species.

Awake at NightSaturday, February 2011 am-12 pm; 1-2 pm$10 adults, $8 childrenGet a close look at nocturnal animalswith Rob Mies of the Organization forBat Conservation.

TUESDAYS IN THE DOME6:30 pmHayden Planetarium Space Theater$13.50 Members, students, seniors

VIRTUAL UNIVERSEThe Farthest Reaches of the Cosmic Ocean with Jason KendallTuesday, February 2

CELESTIAL HIGHLIGHTSFamily Fun-damentals IITuesday, February 23

LECTUREJames Webb Space Telescope with Jon ArenbergMonday, February 87:30 pmLinder Theater, first floorEnter at 77th Street

SPECIAL EVENTRomance Under the StarsSunday, February 146-8 pm$75 per person (includes one hour of open bar and appetizers)What could be more romantic thanchampagne under the stars? Enjoycocktail hour, then join an astronomerin the Hayden Planetarium for aunique view of the night sky.

These programs are available to the general public.Call 212-769-5200 for information and tickets.Public Programs

Frankincense, myrrh, patchouli and more await atAromatics Along the Silk Road. | © Alexis Birkmeyer

Save the Date: The Museum Dance on April 15

or more than four decades,the Museum Dance hascaptured the imagination of 800stylish New Yorkers in their

20s and 30s who enjoy a spectacularevening of dinner, dancing, fun, andphilanthropy at the Museum.

The Museum Dance raises essentialfunds for the Museum’s outstandingscientific and educational programs,which enable thousands of under-served New York City school childrento visit the Museum annually.

Guests will have the opportunity to buy tickets to an exclusive andintimate dinner or to join hundreds of friends later in the evening fordessert, dancing, and a silent auction.For more information, please call Whitney Cary at 212-496-3495.

The Museum Dance is the highlight of the season. | © AMNH/D. Finnin

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