Royal Ontario Museum Blog

Monthly Archive: December

REX Is Coming to Town

Posted: December 23, 2015 - 10:37 , by ROM
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Photo of Rex Rover, a Martian rover prototype

The ROM is a hotbed of Martian activity – along with our expansive collection of meteorites from Mars (out of only ~100 samples known on earth, we have pieces of 22 of them!), over the holidays we will play host to REX, a Mars rover prototype. REX (short for Robot EXplorer) is one of nine rovers developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), in collaboration with over 40 Canadian companies and universities, for testing lunar and planetary vehicular tools.

Blue Whale Update: From Trenton with Love

Posted: December 22, 2015 - 11:25 , by ROM
It took a team of seven people to lift the blue whale heart enough to finish wrapping it. Photo by Stacey Lee Kerr

It’s that time of year where many of us are pretty focused on the holidays. Spending time with family and friends, baking and eating loads of treats, and - let’s be honest - the gifts. Finding them, buying them, wrapping them, and getting them to where they need to go, whether the destination is under the Christmas tree, or to be mailed to relatives somewhere else around the world.

So, given that everybody’s in this present-logistics state of mind, we have a gift-wrapping question for you… how do you ship a blue whale heart?

Burgess Shale fossil site reveals oldest evidence of brood care

Posted: December 17, 2015 - 12:00 , by David McKay
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Illustration of Waptia carrying eggs or juveniles.

Waptia fieldensis research shows parenting has a long history (508 million years)

Brood care, where the adult carries its eggs or juveniles to help increase their survival, was an important evolutionary step. However, little is known about how and when this strategy began.

Mapping Canada from Space

Posted: December 15, 2015 - 09:00 , by ROM
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In this photo, taken in 2014, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut David Saint-Jacques unveiled the Canada from Space Giant Floor Map to a group of students in Ottawa. © Canadian Space Agency.

A giant floor map of Canada from space is coming to the ROM. Over the holidays, we invite you to explore the topography of Canada through the lens of a satellite.

Incredible Wildlife Photos... Taken by 10-Year-Olds

Posted: December 14, 2015 - 15:16 , by ROM
Ten-year-old wildlife photographer Josiah Launstein sits bundled up and ready to take the shot.

Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Cassidy McAuliffe

If you think you need years of experience to be a good photographer… think again! After viewing photos taken by youth in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibit at the ROM, you may find yourself itching to start snapping photos.

Padded Hangers 2.0: Revamping Storage for Fitted Jackets

Posted: December 14, 2015 - 12:33 , by royal
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The ROM recently acquired 6 fitted jackets by the designer Martin Margiela. We created additional support by adding creating padded forms for the body and arms that would fit over the polyethylene wire hangers.

Ten Tips to Get Started in Wildlife Photography

Posted: December 8, 2015 - 11:11 , by ROM
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A garter snake sticks its tongue out to sense the air - the photo that got Rob interested in wildlife photography

Guest Blog written by Environmental Visual Communication student Robert Elliot

After visiting the incredible Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibit, did you get the urge to try your hand at becoming a wildlife photographer yourself? Need some help honing your skills to enter our photo contest? Here are ten tips from Environmental Visual Communications student Robert Elliot.

Holiday Space Arcade! Get Your Game On

Posted: December 7, 2015 - 14:40 , by ROM
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Two kids testing a ROM Game Jam video game

Have you ever dreamed of navigating the cosmos or searching for alien life on Mars? Join us over the holidays for your turn at playing an array of space inspired video games!

The 99%: Paul Roberts on Pompeii and Herculaneum

Posted: December 4, 2015 - 12:22 , by ROM
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Paul Roberts going down the drain in Herculaneum.
Paul Roberts will be giving a (sold out) lecture titled “What happens in Pompeii, stays in Pompeii: Sexuality in the Roman World” at the ROM on December 8. Here, Sascha Priewe speaks to Paul about curating the exhibition Life and Death in Pompeii and Herculaneum at the British Museum in 2013.  
 

The Japanese Art Collection of the ROM: A Look at Edo Period Tsuba

Posted: December 3, 2015 - 15:52 , by Diana Lu
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