With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Help Name The Natural History Museum’s New Green Dinosaur

Topline:
The Natural History Museum needs your help naming their newest 75-foot-long resident — a sauropod skeleton with green bones.
Why it matters: It's the only one of its kind in the world, according to the museum, and will be housed in the NHM Commons, a new wing and community hub opening in Exposition Park this fall.
Name options: You can choose from five names:
- Verdi, which is a derivative of the Latin word for green with many variations
- Olive, the small fruits are also green and the olive tree symbolizes peace, joy, and strength in many cultures
- Esme, short for Esmerelda, which is Spanish for Emerald and means esteemed and loved in French and Persian cultures
- Gnatalie, a nod to the pesky bugs that nipped at scientists and students when the bones were uncovered
- Sage, a green and iconic L.A. plant that’s also grown in the Natural History Museum’s Nature Gardens
The backstory: The sauropod, which was discovered in Utah in 2007, gets its unique green coloring from the mineral celadonite, according to the museum.
What's next: The poll closes at 12 a.m. next Thursday, June 20, and the museum will announce the winning name at the end of the month.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.

-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
-
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain.
-
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care.
-
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings.
-
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past.
-
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.