Can a single word define the perfect museum specimen from 80 million objects?
In short: Hosts Josh and Natalie explore the Natural History Museum's vast collection to find the perfect specimen based on the word squishy. This episode examines the criteria for museum perfection, from the exuberant to the noxious, while highlighting the sheer scale of the institution's holdings.
The Natural History Museum in London houses over 80 million objects, ranging from dinosaur bones and meteorites to a giant squid. In this series, hosts Josh and Natalie select four specimens each week that embody a specific theme—this time, 'squishy'—to debate what makes a specimen perfect, tacky, or even noxious.
The series provides a window into the museum's behind-the-scenes operations and the surprising science conducted by its staff. By narrowing down such a massive collection through simple prompts, the hosts reveal the diversity of the museum's archives and the subjective nature of what makes an object worthy of display.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Natalie totally thought that was its butt | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep2
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-natalie-totally-thought-that-was-its-butt-the-perfect-specim.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
