For the September edition, we explain how mathematics is an indispensable tool for space exploration, how honeybees are masters of geometry, and about the unbelievable uniqueness of a shuffled deck of cards.

The ear phonautograph was a macabre instrument. It was built by Alexander Graham Bell and Clarence J. Blake in 1874, and used a surgically-removed human ear—a skull fragment, ear canal, ear drum, and ossicle bones—to visually “write” sound waves. It worked like this: the surgically-removed ear was first attached to the top bracket of the instrument by a bolt driven through the skull fragment. It was then tightened in place with a thumbscrew. When a user spoke into the mouthpiece, located behind

Meet Renée-Claude Goulet, Cassandra Marion, and Michelle Campbell Mekarski. They are Ingenium’s science advisors, providing expert scientific advice on key subjects relating to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. In this colourful monthly blog series, Ingenium’s science advisors offer up quirky nuggets related to their areas of expertise. For the August edition, they explain why insects are on their way to

The Avro Lancaster was a large British bomber airplane, manufactured by A.V. Roe and Company (Avro), that entered the Second World War in April 1942 and was best known for nighttime bombings of German cities. It was one of the first British bombers to feature four engines, which allowed it to carry a very large bombing load, more than 6,000 kg, as well as enough fuel to fly more than 2,600 km in a single flight. The Lancaster could reach speeds of 438 km per hour and had a high-altitude ceiling

For the June edition, they explain why in Canada, eggs need to be refrigerated, how a satellite map of the world's coral reefs informs conservation, and how watersheds connect us to the oceans.

Meet Renée-Claude Goulet, Cassandra Marion, and Michelle Campbell Mekarski. They are Ingenium’s science advisors, providing expert scientific advice on key subjects relating to the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. In this colourful monthly blog series, Ingenium’s science advisors offer up quirky nuggets related to their areas of expertise. For the May edition, they explain the key to successful backyard

Few things say ‘doctor’ more than a stethoscope. Even in the modern medical field, which can be regarded as highly vision-based (imaging, scanning, observing), the stethoscope remains a powerful medical tool and an iconic symbol of past traditions. Above all, the stethoscope represents a deep and enduring relationship between medical practice and sound. During my time as a practicum student for Ingenium, I worked on developing a research profile of the museum’s stethoscope collection, focusing

The majority of Ingenium’s locomotives and rolling stock collection are not currently on public display and most likely will never be due to their size, weight, and maneuverability. New technologies and digital tools, however, create opportunities for these rail artifacts to be seen and accessed by a wider audience. With this in mind, I created a virtual tour that brings together 360 images, artifact histories, archival material, sound, and other Ingenium projects to tell the story of rail

We are pleased to share an article by Jesse Edrington, a student in the Applied Museum Studies Program at Algonquin College. Jesse reflects on his final year field placement at the Museum and shares his most memorable moments and lessons learned.

Ingenium’s archives is launching a new series of short articles highlighting selections of historical photos from cities and towns throughout Canada.