F.A.Q.
PRODUCTS
Are your fossils real?
Yes, all of our fossils are the authentic remains of prehistoric creatures.We do not carry replicas of any kind.We source our fossils from the most trusted suppliers and scientists in the world, often doing the digging themselves.
Are your artifacts real?
Yes, we carefully verify the provenance of pieces we sell.We minimize any risk of inauthentic items by only working with established collectors. And even then, all items are tediously authenticated with high skepticism, a process which usually takes several months.
Are your meteorites real?
Yes, we only source our meteorites from IMCA-verified members. This is the most trusted organization in meteorite collecting, and it holds member accountable for any fraudulent activity.
Plus, we only sell meteorites which have been professionally analyzed, classified, and registered in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.
Do rare items include a Certificate of Authenticity?
Certificates of authenticity are included with our most valuable artifacts and fossils.We can also provide certificates of authenticity for many of our other collectible items. Feel free to leave a request with your order (you'll find a text box on the cart page).
Do you offer corporate gifting options?
Yes, we're happy to work with you to create the perfect gifts for your hardworking team. These can include single items, custom kits or Matter boxes, or something else.
Simply reach out to get the process started.
PAYMENTS
How do installments work?
Shop Pay offers you the option to pay in full at checkout, or to split purchases over $50 into regular payments.
Rates from 0%-36% APR. Payment options through Shop Pay Installments are subject to an eligibility check and are provided by these lending partners: affirm.com/lenders.
Options depend on your purchase amount, and a down payment may be required. State notices to consumers: https://www.affirm.com/licenses.
Afterpay allows you to pay in 4 installments over 6 weeks, interest-free. Details
Klarna is also an option by activating a payment plan from your Klarna app.
Are payments secure?
Yes. We take security very seriously and employ some of the most advanced security measures available to protect your payment information. By using SSL and a token-based system, our website is configured so that your sensitive data is never stored on our servers and is always protected from potential threats. Not even we have access to your payment information.
Technical Info: Our website is certified Level 1 PCI DSS compliant.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes, we accept purchase orders for wholesale and prepaid subscription orders. Contact us to start the process.
Do you offer educational discounts?
Yes, current students and teachers qualify for 15% off every purchase.
Click here to validate your credentials and get your unique discount code.
Do you offer wholesale pricing?
Yes, many of our products are available for wholesale and can be found in stores and museum gift shops around the world.
Most of our products are available through Faire, or feel free to contact us if you prefer to make a wholesale account directly.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
How do I access my subscription?
Your subscription details are available on your account page.
Here you'll be able to modify your payment methods, shipping addresses, subscription frequency, and more.
When will my subscription box ship?
Subscription boxes ship out in a single batch each month—typically around the end of the month. If you need your first box asap, consider adding a one-time legacy box to your order that will ship out while you wait for your subscription.
Can I manage my subscription?
If you'd like a break, you can pause your subscription at any time from your account. Payments will stop until you choose to resume. Any paid shipments will still ship on schedule.
You can also cancel your subscription from the same page. This will not affect any shipments you've already paid for. Your subscription will not renew and you will not be charged again.
If you subscribed prior to Feb 2021 and you are unable to manage your subscription, please contact us for assistance.
If you subscribed on another site, such as Cratejoy or Uncommon Goods, your subscription will not be available in your Stemcell account. Please visit the site where you signed up to manage your subscription.
Can I turn off auto-renewal on my subscription?
Simply login to your account page to pause or cancel your subscription anytime before the renewal date. You'll still receive any boxes you've paid for, and you won't be charged again until you resume or restart your subscription.
What if my renewal payment fails?
When an automatic renewal payment fails, we'll try again the next day. If the payments fail for 5 days, the subscription will be automatically cancelled.
If this happens and you'd like to continue your subscription, simply start a new subscription. To request any months you missed, contact us and we can arrange for one-time boxes to get you caught up.
SHIPPING
When will my order ship?
Most non-subscription orders from our US facility, typically in 1–2 business days.
Subscription boxes ship out in a single batch each month—typically around the end of the month. If you need your first box asap, consider adding a one-time legacy box to your order that will ship out while you wait for your subscription.
How can I track my order?
You'll receive tracking information via email the moment your order ships. It will also be available in your account.
Please allow a day or two for it to update.
We do not have access to any additional tracking information beyond what you have.
How do I update the shipping address on my order?
You can change your shipping address from your account.
If you need to change the address on an order you've placed, let us know as soon as possible so we can change it before your order ships.
Once the order ships we cannot reroute it, but we'll make sure it gets to you eventually.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship most items to any country served by USPS or UPS. Please check the duties and import taxes for your area so you know what to expect. Any orders returned to us for failure to pay import fees will be refunded except for shipping costs.
These orders may take a bit longer to arrive depending on how long it takes to pass through customs. Be sure to check with USPS or UPS for any potential delays due to conflicts, pandemics, or other issues.
There are some items we are unable to ship to other countries. These items typically include bones, plants, seeds, demonetized cash, etc. We will cancel any items from an order that we know are illegal to ship to your country. Please check your local laws to make sure you are not attempting to import illegal goods in your country. Any fines will be the buyers responsibility.
Why haven't I received my order yet?
If you've waited the expected shipping duration, and the tracking hasn't been updated recently, or maybe it says it was delivered, but you haven't seen it, contact us and we'll see what we can do on our end. We will send a replacement if it appears to be lost or stolen.
Please keep in mind that we have no control over the shipment once it leaves our building. Shipping delays and service interruptions are out of our control and we have the same tracking information as you.
I.A.Q.
INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is dirt, exactly?
Dirt is a surprisingly complex mix of minerals, decomposed organic matter, water, air, and billions of microorganisms. A single teaspoon of healthy soil contains more living organisms than there are people on Earth. So technically, you're never really alone in the garden.
Why is the sky blue and not, say, mauve?
Sunlight contains all colors of the spectrum, but Earth's atmosphere scatters shorter blue wavelengths more than longer ones — a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering. Mauve would require a very different atmosphere, and frankly, we're not ready for that conversation.
How cold is space, really?
About -270.45°C (2.7 Kelvin) — just barely above absolute zero, the theoretical point where all molecular motion stops. For reference, your freezer is roughly 100 times warmer. Space is not cozy.
Do trees talk to each other?
Sort of! Trees communicate and share nutrients through underground fungal networks called mycorrhizae — sometimes called the 'Wood Wide Web.' Parent trees have been observed sending carbon to seedlings through these networks. Forests are more social than they look.
What would happen if you fell into a black hole?
From your perspective, nothing dramatic at first — you'd cross the event horizon without noticing. From an outside observer's view, you'd appear to slow down and freeze at the horizon forever, gradually fading away. Physics is rude like that.