How do plants disperse their seeds?
Filipe Covelo, a fellow in science and technology management in the field of botany, explains what happens during the plants reproduction process, from the formation of future seeds to their germination.
Read, Watch, Listen
Maria Gabriel
Over several years, the artist's work has reflected on the migrant experiences of her family and of others close to her.
David de Almeida
David de Almeida transforms written text (Fernão Mendes Pinto's 'Peregrinação') into a visual composition, an attempt at a visual transcription of the journey as a theme.
Jorge Pinheiro
Find various applications of the famous 'Fibonacci Sequence' in the works of Jorge Pinheiro, some of which belong to the CAM Collection.
Ana Hatherly: a few moments
Discover the artist and writer Ana Hatherly through the eyes of Jorge Molder, former director of the Modern Art Centre.
How do migratory birds find their way?
For a long time, bird migration remained a mystery to humans. It is only in the last hundred years that we have begun to understand this regular movement. However, despite technological advances, there is still a lot that we don't know.
Why is it that one rarely sees butterflies in winter?
Patrícia Garcia-Pereira, researcher at cE3c-Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, explains what happens to these very special insects when the colder weather arrives.
Why do some trees have galls?
In this article, Maria João Horta Parreira, from the Associação Plantar uma Arvore (Plant a Tree Association), explains what galls are, where they grow and what purpose they serve.
How do mushrooms reproduce?
Rui Simão, from the Ecofungos – Mycological Association, helps us unravel some of the mysteries of these curious beings from the natural world.
Traditional tales in Paula Rego’s artistic career
Folk and fairy tales played a prominent role at the start of the artistic career of Paula Rego, who linked them to stories heard in her infancy and the expressive values of popular culture.
Why are moths attracted to artificial light?
One of the great little mysteries of the natural world is still moths’ attraction to artificial light. Street and garden lamps and lights on the balconies of houses are hotbeds of attraction and concentration for these insects.
How do bats hunt at night?
As it gets dark and night sets in, we sometimes see small fluttering shadows near street lights. It is bats that come out of their shelters at about this time to hunt insects, catching mosquitoes and butterflies attracted by artificial light.
Why do dragonflies and damselflies have such big eyes?
No summer stroll is complete without spotting colourful dragonflies or damselflies on their fast and somewhat erratic flights.
The explosion of colour
During the 1960s, Alan Davie and Harold Cohen were concerned with the use of colour in a synaesthetic way, with a special interest in the unconscious, improvisation and music.
Why does the green frog croak?
The Iberian green frog is the most common amphibian in Portugal. One of the places where it lives is in the Gulbenkian Garden, in Lisbon.
Why are some birds’ eggs coloured and patterned?
White, blue, yellow, brown, spotted or striped. Birds’ eggs have a huge variety of colours and designs. We went to try to figure out why.
How can you distinguish bird songs from bird calls?
The sound birds make is is one of the natural world’s most impressive soundtracks. To really appreciate it, however, it is important to learn more.
Five songbirds to listen to in the Garden in March and April
When you hear a bird singing, stop for a few minutes and listen carefully. Can you distinguish one species from the other by sound?
Seven autumn leaves to discover in the Garden during October and November
As you walk through this garden, be aware of the colours and shapes of the fallen leaves on the ground. Can you identify which trees they belong to?
Six birds to look out for in the Garden in September and October
Watch the acrobatics and hunting strategies of these tiny birds as they look for seeds and insects. These six species will certainly make a stroll through the Garden even more enjoyable.
Five signs of summer life to discover in the Garden in August and September
In summer, discover juvenile birds learning to be independent, male cicadas attracting females, or bats hunting for insects in the late afternoon.
Six waterbirds to look for in July and August
Take advantage of the warm days to try to find these six species that we propose during a walk through this garden or in other natural areas throughout Portugal.
Dragonflies and damselflies to discover in the Garden in June and July
42 species of dragonflies and 23 species of damselflies are known in Portugal. Here are four species to look out for at this time of year.
Butterflies to discover in the Garden in May and June
Here are five butterfly species to try to discover over the next few weeks. How many of these can you find?