Stories

Welcome to Stories, a place to explore—and be inspired by—the wonder of our natural and cultural worlds.

A bear appears to wave from the comfort of a backyard pool. Photo courtesy of Maria Jose Govea.
Naturalist
Sun’s Out, Bears Out!
We’re diving into the curious phenomenon of bears in pools with our bear experts and local observers to learn what to do when encountering a vibey bear in your backyard. 
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California Ground Squirrel splooting
Naturalist
Shade, Then and Now
Discover the changing tree line of L.A. through the lens of La Brea Tar Pits fossils—and the evolving presence of shade in our warming climate
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Man in black pants, blue short and baseball hat riding a bike and giving a thumbs up
Joyful Traffic
Romel Pascual | CicLAvia
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A paradise tanager looks directly into a camera with its green head cocked, visible red spot on its back, and stunningly bright blue breast.
Research and Collections
Hidden black and white feathers are the secret behind songbirds' dazzling colors
Colorful songbirds like tanagers use a painterly technique to make their colors pop
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Vintage illustration of various feathers and specimen skins of birds
Research and Collections
How Bird Feathers Work
A brief look at the structure of feathers—and what they mean to birds
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An illustration of an American lion and saber-toothed cat
Meet Biggest Big Cat at the Tar Pits: The American Lion
Get up close and personal with the fiercest Ice Age Angeleno
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Salman skating on a ramp
Celebrating Muslim American Communities
Recognizing the heritage and history of the Muslim American community in L.A., past and present.
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Circular frames around Dr. Susan Rogers and Dr. Yewande Pearse next to an illustration of a brain in blue, aqua, and yellow, against a blue and sea-green background
Music and the Mind
What does listening to music do to your mind and well-being?
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Head and shoulders portrait of Lauren Schoth with a diorama in the background
New Exhibit | The Ever-Changing Flow with Lauren Schoth
Watch Lauren Schoth discuss her installation, The Ever-Changing Flow, a multimedia diorama of the ecological evolution of the Los Angeles River.
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