My Name Means What?
If your name is this, it literally translates from Hebrew as "gift of God," though most people just associate you with a green block-stacking game or a certain late-night host named O'Brien.
Conan
In 1982, audiences fell in love with a gentle, glowing-fingered alien who just wanted to use a makeshift phone to reach his family.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
A trip to the zoo wouldn't be complete without visiting the habitat of this black-and-white striped African equid, whose unique pattern acts as natural camouflage against biting flies.
Zebra
This incredibly versatile, plant-based fabric is the most widely used natural fiber in the world and is the primary ingredient in your favorite pair of blue jeans.
Cotton
In 1928, Alexander Fleming accidentally left a petri dish open, leading to the discovery of this revolutionary mold-derived substance—the world's first true antibiotic.
Penicillin
Fitting for a monarch, this classic female name comes from the Latin word for "queen."
Regina
This iconic 1985 music video by Dire Straits made history as the first computer-animated video to air on MTV and featured a disgruntled delivery man complaining about "color TVs."
Money for Nothing
You can spot these tall, pink wading birds standing on one leg in their muddy lagoons, a vibrant coloration they get entirely from eating brine shrimp and algae.
Flamingos
This smooth, luxurious fabric is produced by the cocoons of a specific type of caterpillar and was so highly prized in ancient times that it inspired a legendary trade route connecting East Asia to Europe.
Silk
In 1953, Jonas Salk became a global hero by developing the first successful vaccine to eradicate this devastating, paralyzing disease that primarily targeted children.
Polio
Tracing back to the Old High German word Hluodowig, this classic male name translates directly to "famous warrior."
Louis (or Ludwig)
In 1983, a massive 40-million-dollar ad campaign introduced this toy line of rugged, heavily muscled action figures fighting over the fictional realm of Eternia.
Masters of the Universe (or He-Man)
In the nocturnal house, you might spot this slow-moving arboreal mammal from South America, famous for spending its life hanging upside down and moving so slowly that moss can grow on its fur.
Sloth
This heavyweight, patterned textile features intricate woven designs showcasing complex scenes or shapes. Historically, it was hung on cold castle walls to trap heat.
Tapestry
In 1922, a 14-year-old boy dying of diabetes became the first human to receive a life-saving injection of this hormone, fundamentally changing the treatment of endocrine diseases forever.
Insulin
If you are named this, your name stems from a Latin word meaning "blind"—ironic for a historic 3rd-century saint who is the patron of music and musicians.
Cecilia or Cecil
This legendary 1984 sci-fi film featured a terrifying cyborg sent back in time to hunt down a woman named Sarah Connor.
The Terminator
If you visit the marsupial exhibit, you might see this small, furry creature native to Australia that looks like a tiny bear, but is famous for producing cube-shaped droppings.
Wombat
This distinct style of knotted pile rug features a thick, shaggy texture and bold geometric patterns, traditionally hand-woven by indigenous nomadic tribes in North Africa's Atlas Mountains.
Amazigh rug
In December 1967, South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard shocked the medical community by successfully performing the world's first human-to-human transplant of this vital organ.
The Heart
Derived from the Celtic word amghair, this trendy male name means "sorrowful" or "dark"—a moody definition for an otherwise popular name.
Brody
This iconic synth-pop track by the Norwegian band A-ha became an international sensation in 1985, largely thanks to its revolutionary rotoscoped pencil-sketch music video.
Take On Me
In the reptile house, you can marvel at this massive lizard from Indonesia—the largest living species of lizard on Earth, known for its venomous bite and shark-like teeth.
This unique textile technique involves a complex resist-dyeing process where the yarns are tightly bound and dyed before they are woven together, resulting in a signature blurry or feathered pattern.
Ikat
In 1978, Louise Brown made history in England by becoming the world's first "test-tube baby," proving the safety and viability of this medical fertility procedure.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
This elegant female name comes straight from the Greek word for "resurrection," though modern pop fans just think of a certain multi-Grammy-winning British singer.
Adele
This highly stylized crime drama premiered on NBC in 1984, starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as undercover detectives rocking pastels and unbuttoned linen suits.
Miami Vice
Head over to the African plains exhibit to see this large, thick-skinned mammal whose name literally translates from Greek as "river horse."
Hippopotamus (Hippo)
This highly durable, plain-woven fabric made of flax or cotton is favored by sailors for sails, campers for tents, and painters for oil masterpieces.
Canvas
In 1895, German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen accidentally discovered these highly energetic waves that could pass through human flesh, instantly birthing the field of diagnostic radiology.
X-rays
This traditional male name comes from the Hebrew word for "hemp" or "canvas," though historically it became synonymous with a biblical tax collector turned apostle.
Matthew
Released in 1982, this seminal post-punk concept album by The Clash featured hit tracks like "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go."
Combat Rock
Deep in the aviary, you might spot this striking bird from the Amazon rainforest, easily recognized by its massive, colorful bill that makes up nearly half of its total body length.
Toucan
This specific type of flat-woven, pileless rug is hand-woven in the Middle East and Balkans using a slit-weave technique that creates sharp, geometric blocks of color.
Kilim
In 1982, a retired dentist named Barney Clark became the first person to receive the Jarvik-7, a mechanical device engineered to serve as a permanent replacement for this biological organ.
Artificial Heart