Australian Museum

Introducing the next blockbuster at the AM, Machu Picchu & the Golden Empires of Peru, opening this summer! ⛰️ This incredible exhibition will have you marvelling at the wonders of ancient Peru, including the legendary Machu Picchu. Immerse yourself in the opulent history of the Andean people, with a glimpse into their daily lives, spiritual beliefs and extraordinary achievements. Upgrade your ticket and you’ll even have the chance to fly-through Machu Picchu yourself, with a VR experience transporting you to the mysterious city in the sky! Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru will be at the Australian Museum from Saturday 23 November 2024. Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is presented in partnership with Neon Global, Museo Larco and the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Tickets are on sale NOW : https://bit.ly/3TZ2ErK #MachuPicchuAM

Species Of The Week Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) If you spend time around waterways this summer basking in the sun, you might spot the Australian Water Dragon doing the same, that's if it's not scurrying away and leaping into the water after it spots you first! Australian Water dragons spend the warmer months near flowing water with ample tree cover and sunny rocks. During winter they are less active and will also enter a state of brumation by slowing their metabolism until spring arrives. Today's Australian Water dragons are part of a long line of water dragons, with fossils of these reptiles dating back to 20 million years ago found in Queensland. Learn more about these sun-loving reptiles on the AM site: https://lnkd.in/gnB7MjTA 📸: Chris Hosking

Join Australian Museum and UNSW Sydney PhD Candidate and #NatGeoExplorer Tim Cutajar as he searches for the feared-extinct Southern Gastric Brooding Frog (Rheobatrachus silus) in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Using environmental DNA, Tim and the team are trying to detect any trace of this species, which has been missing since the early 1980s. Taking samples from water, air and frog-biting, blood-sucking flies, the team are trying to forensically detect this missing species. You can watch the full short doco here 📺: https://bit.ly/4gjsK1D 🎥: Matt Carson-Drever

Meet our Superstar of STEM, Sally Hurst 🦖 Sally is a palaeontologist, researcher, science communicator, and an education presenter at the AM. As if that’s all not impressive enough, Sally has also just graduated from the Superstars of STEM program run by Science and Technology Australia. This program selects 60 female and non-binary scientists from around Australia to create a cohort of role models to inspire the next generation of scientists. ‘I’m often the first palaeontologist people have ever met, and this may contribute to why so many people who loved dinosaurs as children never pursued palaeontology as a career. Whether your passion was for dinosaurs, space, engineering, or a different field of science, it’s hard to be what you can’t see.’ – Sally Hurst Read more about Sally and the Superstars of STEM program here: https://lnkd.in/gSUu_qP8 #SuperstarsofSTEM

How can our homes, towns and cities be healthier, more affordable and sustainable? Find out in our FUTURE NOW exhibition, returning to Sydney this month after its state-wide tour! Featuring everything from community gardens to flying taxis, this exhibition is jam-packed with exciting ideas on how local communities can create a brighter future and a more sustainable way of living through engaging dioramas and videos 🌏 Come and explore how these solutions can be applied to your home life & community 🏠 Future Now opens at the AM on Saturday 21 December. Entry is free. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3R8l1XV

Coming to see Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru soon? We’ve put together our five things not to miss on your visit to the exhibition! From the opulent gold room to the immersive VR experience, this exhibition will have you marvelling at the beauty and ingenuity of ancient Peru. Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru is presented in partnership with Neon Global, Museo Larco and the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Book your tickets here 🎟️: https://bit.ly/4fNMZo9

Earlier this year renowned Pacific climate champion, Cynthia Houniuhi, spoke at the AM’s Talbot Oration. As President of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) Cynthia spoke about her experience fighting for change in the world’s highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Over the past two weeks, the ICJ have been hearing the world’s largest-ever case on climate justice, thanks to the work of Cynthia and her peers at the PISFCC. The hearing has focused on the legal responsibility of polluting nations to minimise the impacts of the climate crisis on developing countries, including our Pacific neighbours. Born and raised in the Solomon Islands, Cynthia is witnessing first-hand the devastating impacts climate change is having in the region. “Will it take losing all our islands before the world listens to our stories? Still today slowly the once beautiful island that some of my relatives and family call home is being eaten away day by day by the sea.” – Cynthia Houniuhi The outcome of the ICJ hearing is expected in 2025. You can watch Cynthia’s full keynote speech from our Talbot Oration here: https://bit.ly/3ZO2HKf 📷: Mel Koutchavlis

[PODCAST 🎙️] Blazing the Trail is a brand new podcast that takes listeners on an epic journey of our human evolution, from our earliest ancestors in Africa to the global spread of Homo sapiens. Hosted by Australian Museum archaeologist and lecturer at the University of Sydney, Dr Amy Way this podcast looks at what makes us the people we are today. It explores key milestones, such as the development of tools, mastering fire and the creation of language. This five-episode podcast series is a co-production between the Australian Museum, University of Sydney, BreakThru Films, University of Liverpool, and University of Wrocław. Listen now: https://bit.ly/4ffuNCv

OBJECT SPOTLIGHT 🔍 | Shamanic transformation, Cupisnique Culture (1250 BCE – 100 BCE) This ceramic bottle portrays two half faces. On the right is a human face, with deer ears and a snake protruding from the nose. It morphs into a jaguar, on the left, producing a hybrid, supernatural being. The feline face refers to the earthly plane, while the human face with the snake and deer ears refers to the inner world. Priests of this time would have consumed San Pedro cactus juice that had hallucinogenic effects. This juice allowed them to have transcendental experiences such as the transformation into animals with special powers that could mediate between worlds. This practice explains the representations of shamans acquiring jaguar traits in Cupisnique art such as this. At the AM, you can see this object and over 130 other ancient Peruvian artefacts in Machu Picchu & the Golden Empires of Peru. Book here 🎟️: https://bit.ly/3Bu6iUr

Species of The Week - White-spotted Jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata) 🪼 🌊 If you spend time around Sydney Harbour this summer, you might spot this beautiful jellyfish. The White-spotted Jellyfish is easily recognised by the large, semi-transparent, rounded bell covered in regularly spaced, white dots. Unlike many other jellyfish however, the sting of this jellyfish is mild or barely noticeable. These jellyfish are keen travellers, thought to have hitched a ride in ship tanks, travelling from Australia and the Pacific region to the Caribbean. It has found an ideal place to breed there, free of its natural predators (our local snails). Learn more about this decorative jellyfish here: https://bit.ly/45SOnAw 📸: Lana Sweet