Greenockite contains cadmium, used to make mobile phone batteries.

Cinnabar contains the element mercury, which can be found in mobile phone circuitboards.

Book linked to the Hugh Miller Collection in National Museums Scotland wins this prestigious award

On 3 December 1917, a little after 13:00, a large fireball was seen to cross southern Scotland. A short time later, an explosion was heard and four objects were seen or heard to crash to the ground around the towns of Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie in the Strathmore area of central Scotland.

This unique water basin, shaped like a citadel, was made by Moroccan potters, probably as a diplomatic gift, in the 19th century.

This exhibition revealed an insight into the lives of children in the 18th and 19th centuries through a unique collection of Scottish samplers on loan from American collector Leslie B. Durst.

This targe, or shield, was presented to Prince Charles Edward Stuart before Culloden, but abandoned when the Prince fled the field.

After its invention in the 1620s, the microscope had its first high point in the second half of the 17th century.

Sir James Black was one of the greatest Scottish scientists of the modern era. His work in medicine and pharmacology has improved the quality of life for millions of people around the world.

Our ancient Southern European collections offer a window onto the diverse cultures that flourished along the Mediterranean coast in antiquity.

This Persian leopard is a male that was born at Bristol Zoo in 1994. He eventually found a home at Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart, Germany where he died at the advanced age of 17 years old.

Early microscopes were sold by scientists and craftsmen, but by 1660 their production shifted to more commercial workshops.

This evening dress of bright leaf green and red shot silk is by the Maison Lucile Ltd, founded by Lady Duff Gordon, and is on display in our new galleries.

Two pieces of tusk in our collection show that some woolly mammoths made their home in Scotland, while another provides early evidence of mammoths in North America.

Portable steam engines were in common use in industrialised countries from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century as power sources for machinery on farms and in rural factories.

Discover how brass and copper once featured as mediums of exchange, status and power in Africa through highlights of the museum’s 19th and early 20th century collections from west and central Africa.

During and directly after the Second World War, the Reid family at Wester Kittochside, East Kilbride employed both Italian and German prisoners of war.

Investigate different aspects of life on Earth, through fascinating fossils, tools for turning the soil and pieces of art reflecting the devastating effects of pollution on our planet.

Investigate the 'fifth element' through the wonders of digital technology, from early computers to the development of mobile telephones and robot repairs.

Discover and investigate the history of the cash register, an object that has become a part of our everyday lives.

Our online database contains a selection of the 12 million objects and specimens in our collections.

Novelist, poet, playwright and historian, Scott was one of the most celebrated writers of his time and his works brought Scotland’s evocative landscapes to public attention across Britain and Europe. Discover his story through objects in the National Collection.

A rare opportunity to see one of the most important documents in Scottish history.

Created in 1954, this glass sculpture marked a new collaboration between Picasso, glassmaker Egidio Costantini and the famed Fucina degli Angeli in Murano, Italy.

Celebrate Insect Week 2024 with family friendly activities at the National Museum of Scotland.

These medieval chess pieces from the Scottish island of Lewis are among our most popular collections. They give us fascinating insights into the international connections of western Scotland and the growing popularity of chess in medieval Europe.

Drop-in for some holiday fun and games at the museum this summer.

The Roman army was drawn from many corners of the vast Roman Empire

Forts were not just military bases, they became the heart of communities

This small display showcased an outstanding collection of works in ceramics, glass and jewellery.

Discover the facts about a large ocean sunfish that stranded off Scotland’s coast in 2020 and hear what we can learn from studying this strange fish.

The Museum’s East and Central Asian collections, comprised of over 36,000 objects, are of national and international importance. The collection includes ceramics, lacquer, prints and paintings, clothing and textiles, ivory, metalwork, jade, furniture, contemporary art, and coins.

Scottish-born Alexander Dalrymple was a significant figure in Britain’s maritime history.

John Dickson was a Paisley weaver who joined the army in 1807 and rode in the famous charge of the Union Brigade at Waterloo.

Water, water everywhere with worms, whales ​and sharks ​- and simple solutions for boiling water and solar energy.

Discover amazing science from inside your own home as we explore the elemental themes of the Edinburgh Science Festival 2020.

Curator Dr Martin Goldberg joins Vikings writer and producer Michael Hirst to delve into the mysteries of the incredible Galloway Hoard.

This exhibition explored design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, Beyond the Little Black Dress deconstructs this iconic garment and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.

Get hands-on with craft ideas inspired by our collections.

Members receive free access to the National Museum of Rural Life and special events throughout the year, and generous discounts in our shop and café.

This woven bamboo flower basket titled ‘Crane Dance’ was created by Japanese artist Buseki Suikō in 2009.

Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? It could be the innovative, Scottish-made Bond Electraglide guitar.

Unearth a fascinating Pictish treasure trove.

Explore our collection of wonderful miniature Japanese sculptures that served functional and aesthetic purposes.

Cotton cloths are a popular everyday item of clothing in Malawi and are produced in a wide variety of patterns and designs. They are also designed to mark social and political events.

This is the oldest surviving colour television in the world. It uses a colour system invented in 1937 by Scottish engineer John Logie Baird.