If the first four-legged animals had never emerged from water onto land, our world today would not exist. Yet how did this great step happen? The mystery is finally being solved – and fossils discovered in Scotland lie at the heart of the story.

Models of industry: how a 19th century Scottish woman was inspired by Indian technology

Calling all inquisitive kids aged 7 -11! Our popular Curiosity Clubs are back for more adventure, discovery and fun.

Exciting, hands-on sensory play sessions for children with additional support needs.

Discover more about the Circular Economy through the work of young people across Scotland, led by Ostrero.

This prized set of pistols belonged to Robert Burns, Scotland's national Bard. Find out why.

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.

The Cockcroft-Walton generator was developed at the University of Cambridge in the early 1930s to accomplish the first artificial splitting of the atom.

Head outdoors and see how many brilliant birds you can spot with the help of some bright binoculars! Learn how to make them here!

Bring the Curriculum for Excellence to life with the help of the national collections.

Learn how museums and zoos are helping to conserve endangered species through CryoArks – the UK’s national bank of frozen animal material.

Phosphorus, one of the elements in Apatite, is used to make chips and microprocessors in mobile phones.

Bismuth is used in the wires and connectors of mobile phones.

Barium, found in barite is used to make circuitboards in mobile phones.

Copper is used to make the wires and connectors in mobile phones.

Tungsten, found in the mineral wolframite, is used to make the speakers and microphones in mobile phones.

Gold is used to make connectors and wires in mobile phones.

Arsenic is used to make microprocessor and camera chips in mobile phones.

Manganese, found in manganite, can be used in mobile phone batteries.

Cobalt, found in the mineral cobaltoan spinel, is used in mobile phone batteries.

Silica, an element found in quartz, is used to make chips and microprocessors in mobile phones.

Wulfenite contains the element molybdenum, which can be used to make connectors and wires in mobile phones.

Lithium, one of the elements in spodumene, is used in mobile phone batteries.

Fluorine, found in the mineral fluorite, can be used in mobile phone cases.

Antimony can used to make mobile phone circuitboards.

Sphalerite can contain three elements used in mobile phones: zinc, indium and gallium.

Platinum can be used in mobile phone circuitboards.

Silver is used in mobile phone circuitboards.

Titanium, an element found in the mineral rutile, is used to make mobile phone cases.

Magnesium, an element found in dolomite, is used to make mobile phone cases.

Tin, found in cassiterite, is used in mobile phone circuitboards.

Aluminium, one of the elements in Diaspore, is used in mobile phone circuitboards.

Lead, found in galena, is used to make mobile phone circuitboards.

Diamond is a form of carbon, an element used to make electrodes in mobile phone batteries.

Nickel, found in the mineral nickeline is used in mobile phone batteries.

Boron is used to make microprocessor and camera chips in mobile phones.

Hydrogen, one of the elements in oil shale, is used in mobile phone cases.

Sodium and chlorine, both found in halite, can be used in mobile phone touchscreens and cases.

Sulphur is used to make mobile phone circuitboards.

Chromium, an element found in crocoite, is used to make mobile phone cases.

Iron can be used in the speakers and microphones of mobile phones.

Strontianite contains strontium, which is used in mobile phone circuitboards.

Zirconium, found in zircon, is used to make mobile phone circuitboards.

Greenockite contains cadmium, used to make mobile phone batteries.

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