Visit an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum—all under one living roof.
Each of our nearly 46 million specimens represents a member of a species or an artifact as it occurred at a specific location and moment in time—data with immense value to scientists today, and for generations to come. Our collections help scientists at the Academy and elsewhere identify new species (like these eight new species of tiny anilline beetles); understand familiar animals in new ways (like these American song sparrows); author comprehensive species guides; and even answer historic questions, like tracing the origin of a destructive non-native fungus wreaking havoc on frog populations.
In 2013 alone, more than 1,200 visiting scientists also studied specimens in the Academy’s research collections. Scientists 50 years from now will surely have different questions on their minds, but with thoughtful management, we aim to preserve and develop our Library of Life so that it can continue to help answer them.