CLEVELAND—October 27, 2025—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is delighted to present The Science of Superman with Shane Campbell-Staton and Arien Darby on Thursday, December 4, 2025. As the latest installment in the Museum’s popular The Science Of...series, this event offers a fascinating blend of science, storytelling, and pop culture, examining how the extraordinary powers of superheroes connect to real-world biology and evolution.
Shane Campbell-Staton, Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, studies how human actions drive rapid evolutionary change in species—from lizards adapting to cities to wolves enduring radiation in Chernobyl. A two-time Emmy-nominated science communicator and host of the PBS series Human Footprint, Campbell-Staton co-hosts The Biology of Superheroes podcast with Arien Darby, who brings over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry and a lifelong passion for superhero lore. Darby’s background also spans major franchises such as Marvel, DC, Harry Potter, and The Lord of the Rings, bridging the worlds of science and storytelling.
Together, Campbell-Staton and Darby will explore the real-world science behind superhuman abilities and what these ideas reveal about human evolution and the future of science. As part of the Linda and Les Vinney Know Your World Lecture Series, this event invites audiences to consider how modern biology intersects with imagination, offering an evening that is enlightening for science enthusiasts, comic book fans, and curious minds alike.
Event Information
Museum doors open at 6:30pm; the discussion will begin at 7pm. Beverages and grab-and-go items will be available for purchase in Origins Café before the program. Parking is available in the Museum’s attached garage. Standard rates apply.
For ticket prices and registration, visit the Museum’s website.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
Media Contact
Samantha Guenther
External Communications Manager, Marketing & Communications
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Office: 216.231.4600 x3432
Mobile: 440.429.2902
sguenther@cmnh.org
