“Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril” opens August 9 in WildWoods

Starting August 9, Fernbank guests will encounter incredible photographs of some of the animal kingdom’s tiniest members in “Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril.”

Featuring the macrophotography work of Levon Biss, this exhibit highlights 19 endangered or extinct insect species using a close-angled format.

Insects are the largest group of animals on Earth. But the evidence is clear: many insect species are in decline due to changes to land and climate. Through this exhibit, guests will discover how a variety of beetles, moths, bees, katydids and “true” bugs help pollinate plants, recycle matter back into the soil, provide food for other species and keep ecosystems healthy.

While “Extinct and Endangered” brings attention to the urgent extinction crisis threatening insect populations, it also showcases the beauty of these overlooked animals through massive 6-foot-wide x 4-foot-tall photographs displayed along the nature trails of WildWoods.

Specialized photography

Biss specializes in a form of macrophotography that can take three weeks and up to 10,000 individual images just to produce a single final photograph. Through this format and specialized lenses, he reveals each insect’s minute details on a never-before-seen scale, allowing guests to make keen observations — like spotting a tiny yellow patch of pollen often carried on the abdomen of the blue calamintha bee.

The insects featured in this exhibit are from the American Museum of Natural History’s world-class scientific collection.

“There are two sides to this exhibition,” said Biss. “There’s the beauty and the celebration of these creatures. But there’s also a somberness when you marvel at these insects and start to understand that they are already extinct, or close to being gone, and the reason for that is us, primarily.”

Protecting insect populations

“Extinct and Endangered” calls attention to the ongoing work to protect insect populations around the globe, featuring stories such as the rediscovery of the Lord Howe Island stick insect of Australia, thought to be extinct until 2003.

By exploring this unique exhibit, museum guests can discover the importance that insects have in the ecosystem and marvel at their beauty, which can go unseen to the naked eye.

“Insects make up 75-80% of the entire animal kingdom,” said Fernbank’s Director of Education, Sarah Arnold. “They are true heavyweights when it comes to keeping ecosystems functioning.”

The details

“Extinct and Endangered: Insects in Peril” is on view at Fernbank Museum from August 9 through November 2 and is included with general admission tickets.

The exhibit is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org) with photography by Levon Biss and made possible locally by the generous support of Orkin and The Gary W. Rollins Foundation.

General admission tickets vary by date and program (starting at $23.95 for children, $24.95 for seniors and $25.95 for adults) and include three floors of exhibits in the museum, choice of one giant screen film and 75 acres of nature explorations in Fernbank Forest and WildWoods.

Tickets purchased online in advance are discounted. General admission is free for museum members.

For more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Photo credit: The blue calamintha bee, Osmia calaminthae, relies on the pollen from two rare species of mint plants that live in Florida’s dwindling scrub regions. Researchers estimate the numbers of these blue bees may have dropped by as much as 90 percent. © Levon Biss 

This family-friendly favorite makes its return on June 28.

Back by popular demand, audiences can once again experience the thrilling life-saving superpowers of some of the world’s most amazing canines in the giant-screen film, “Superpower Dogs.”

In this inspiring true story opening June 28 in Fernbank’s Giant Screen Theater, narrator Chris Evans introduces six remarkable dogs from around the globe who show extraordinary bravery and dedication as they save lives alongside their human partners.

Watch as they brave earthquakes and avalanches, protect endangered species such as rhinos and elephants and transform the lives of people with special needs.

Audiences will also learn more about the amazing abilities of different breeds and discover the astonishing science behind their “super powers.”

The stars of “Superpower Dogs” include:

• Halo, a rookie puppy training to join one of the most elite disaster response teams in America
• Henry, an avalanche rescue expert saving lives in the mountains of British Columbia
• Reef, a Newfoundland lifeguard with the Italian Coast Guard
• Ricochet, a surf and therapy legend in California who heals people with special needs
• Tipper and Tony, Bloodhound brothers leading the fight to save endangered species in Africa

From powerful noses and quick reflexes to their deep emotional bonds with humans, “Superpower Dogs” offers guests a unique look into the most diverse kind of mammal on the planet that will leave them with a deeper appreciation for man’s best friend.

“I am really happy to be part of ‘Superpower Dogs,’” said Evans. “I am a proud dog owner and completely understand the connection that humans have with these remarkable animals. I love the way this film highlights incredible working dogs who utilize their real-life superpowers to help and protect people.”

The details

“Superpower Dogs” is an IMAX® film produced by Cosmic Picture and distributed by Cosmic Picture Film Distribution and IMAX® in IMAX®/Giant Screen theaters located in science centers, museums and other cultural destinations and attractions worldwide.

The film is free with Fernbank memberships and is included with daytime general admission and CityPASS tickets. With general admission tickets, guests also have access to three floors of exhibits in the natural history museum and 75-acres of nature explorations in Fernbank Forest and WildWoods.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Annual multi-genre convention celebrating Japanese anime, American animation, comics and gaming sets new record with 59,222 attendees

— Article updated May 29, 2025

Atlanta welcomed nearly 60,000 fans of cosplay, comics, gaming, anime and music over the four-day Memorial Day weekend — all meeting up at the Georgia World Congress Center to celebrate MomoCon 2025 and its 20th year in the city.

One of the fastest growing, all-ages conventions in the country, this year’s numbers topped the 56,000 guests that attended in 2024, and was estimated by the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau to have a $42.2 million impact on the metro area.

Equally important, the buzzing enthusiasm and pure joy of the weekend, from both attendees and featured guests, was unmatched. Everyone seemed to be having an incredible time. And plans are already in the works for an even more impressive — and expanded — MomoCon experience in 2026.

Organizers say they are expanding into both Hall A and Hall B next year, increasing the total space to a massive 1,045,178 square feet for exhibits and gaming. The team is already hard at work planning amazing new guests and activities for MomoCon’s 21st year.

Registration for next year’s event is already open, with early-bird discounts for fans who want to lock their passes in early.

Giving back to the community

In addition to the money brought into the city and to the convention itself, MomoCon chooses a charity each year in which to support with donations. Funds are raised through sales of specialty merchandise and custom events that have donation elements built in.

The 2025 official charity was the Johnson STEM Activity Center. MomoCon raised more than $5,000 for the center and contributed an additional $7,500 in matching funds, bringing the total donation to $12,500. MomoCon organizers also worked with 11 Atlanta-area, youth-serving nonprofits to give back by bringing more than 900 kids in need to the convention.

Nonprofits receiving tickets this year included Scouting America, Horizons Atlanta, ReImagine ATL, the New Media Education Foundation of Georgia, Purpose Possible, Lekotek, Focus, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta, Wellroot Family Services and the YMCA.

Fan-favorite comic book artists

Comic book artists (and original members of the former Atlanta-based Gaijin Studios), Cully Hamner and Brian Stelfreeze made their first appearances at MomoCon this year, invited to attend and show off their work in the Artist Alley.

Fans lined up to meet them, along with fellow award-winning artist and longtime friend, Wade von Grawbadger, to get photos, autographs and artwork and spend a few minutes chatting with the guys.

Hamner talked briefly about an upcoming project, “Ruby Actual” that he’s doing with Greg Rucka. “Not sure when it will come out,” he said, “But we’re hoping first quarter 2026.”

In the meantime, comic fans can continue to enjoy his previous work — the acclaimed, creator-owned RED (which was adapted into two films), the current Blue Beetle (also adapted to film) and all of the other work he’s done for DC, Marvel and other publishers over the last 30 years.

They can also look forward to his return to MomoCon in the future if schedules work out.

“This has been a lot of fun,” Hamner said on Sunday, the last day of the convention. “I’d love to come back if they invite me again.”

Stelfreeze agreed. “I enjoyed [MomoCon],” he said. “I really liked seeing the younger audience.”

That definitely seemed true on Sunday, as the crowds had thinned out some and Stelfreeze had more time to hang out and talk with people who stopped by the Essential Sequential booth. With some fans, he spent ten minutes or more discussing art, comics and other topics, and even came out from behind the table at times to meet people and say hi to old friends.

Featured guests

Other featured guests also drew long lines of fans who were eager to meet their favorite creators.

Darryl McDaniels (from RunDMC and now a comic book and children’s book author), Greg Burnham (Norcross-based comic book writer known for his indie comic hits), Reed Shannon and Mick Wingert (voice actors and stars of Netflix’s “Arcane”), Ryō Horikawa (Japanese voice of Vegeta in “Dragon Ball Z”), veteran voice actor and producer, Chris Sabat, and online personalities such as Damien Haas were just a few of the standouts.

In fact, as the convention was winding down on Sunday afternoon, Haas’ fan line was still so long, the crowd filled multiple rows of the cordoned-off autograph area, both inside and outside of his designated line.

A full list of 2025 celebrity guests can be found here.

New for 2025

While most of the fun features of MomoCon 2025 were returning favorites — Artist Alley, Exhibitor’s Hall, panels, movie screenings and the cosplay showcase —convention organizers kept things fresh with a new theme (‘90s Retro) and a few new highlights, including a skating rink, an expanded online gaming area and the return of the“Bring Your Own Computer” space.

Workshops on everything from miniature painting and D&D to Gunpla modeling, as well as live performances and a massive vendor area and fan car showcase rounded out the exciting weekend.

Though tired from a whirlwind weekend of geek culture camaraderie and large (but super friendly) crowds, we can’t wait to see what MomoCon has in store for 2026.

For more about MomoCon, visit momocon.com.

More moments from 2025; photos courtesy of MomoCon