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State Museum Partnered with Albany Medical Center to Advance Its Research and Understanding of Two Important Artifacts

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New York State Museum paleontologists have traveled 70-80 million years into the past in collaboration with radiological experts at Albany Medical Center. The strategic partnership between the two research institutions allowed scientists to take a look inside two of the Museum’s rarest artifacts, including a dinosaur egg believed to be from a Hadrosaur—a duck-billed dinosaur from the late Cretaceous Period, and the skull of a Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis)—an extinct Ice Age mammal that was as large as a modern black bear.  

The New York State Museum’s collection holds the first described skull of a Giant Beaver, and while the dinosaur egg likely originates from Asia, this group of dinosaurs was known to have also lived in the Northeastern United States. CT scan technology allowed researchers to digitally examine the internal structure of both artifacts for the first time, providing a detailed look inside without causing any damage to the items.  

The CT scan on June 11, 2025, provided Museum paleontologists with a crucial view of the Giant Beaver skull, enhancing their understanding of the extinct mammal in ways previously impossible.

Although the scan of the dinosaur egg did not reveal density differences to confirm an embryo, it suggests the egg is intact. A small internal cavity will be further examined for identification.

Michael Mastroianni, Interim Deputy Commissioner of Cultural Education, said “We are deeply grateful to Albany Med for their partnership and expertise. With their support, we were able to uncover new scientific insights into two of the Museum’s most intriguing specimens. The information gained from these scans will be an invaluable resource for our researchers and educators for years to come. At the New York State Museum, we strive every day to inspire curiosity and connect the public with the wonder of discovery—and collaborations like this help us do so in even more meaningful and powerful ways.”

Dr. Robert Feranec, Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Pleistocene Vertebrate Paleontology, said, “Wednesday’s scan has provided us with valuable insight to better our understanding of the reproduction and embryonic development of these extinct creatures. Our scientists are recognized as some of the best in their fields, but we can only see so much with the naked eye. There is much more we can learn from both the beaver skull and dinosaur egg, with these results acting as momentum pushing us closer to our answers. Collaborations like this are crucial to unlocking and preserving New York State’s past.”

Dominic Zanello, Manager of CT Scan and MRI at Albany Medical Center, said,  

“As a research institution, we are happy to partner with our community to lend our expertise in scientific discovery. This was a fascinating project that allowed our team not only to participate in something they don’t see every day, but also to learn more about the advanced capabilities of our leading-edge technology.”  

Museum researchers will continue to analyze the scans over the coming weeks and months.  

About the New York State Museum

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.  

About Albany Medical Center

Albany Medical Center, northeastern New York’s only academic medical center, is one of the largest private employers in the Capital Region. It incorporates the 766-bed Albany Medical Center Hospital, which offers the widest range of medical and surgical services in the region, and Albany Medical College, which trains the next generation of doctors, scientists, and other healthcare professionals. It also includes the region’s largest physicians’ practice with 500 doctors. Albany Medical Center works with dozens of community partners to improve the region’s health and quality of life. Albany Medical Center is a member of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, Saratoga Hospital, and the Visiting Nurses. The region’s largest locally governed health system, it has 1,520 beds, more than 800 physicians, and 125 outpatient locations throughout the Capital Region.

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