How the Smithsonian uses an army of flesh-eating insects to preserve its fossils
What if we told you that a small army of flesh-eating insects plays a crucial role in helping the Smithsonian prep and preserve its fossils?
In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” we’re going behind the scenes at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum’s Osteology Prep Lab in Suitland, Maryland.
You can find the OPL on the campus of the Smithsonian Museum Support Center — that’s where the NMHN keeps its reserve collections. OPL is housed in a separate building, secluded from the other collections, mainly because of the carpet beetles you can find inside.
These beetles are what scientists there call “the unsung heroes” of fossil preparation.
When dead specimens that the Smithsonian is interested in preserving come into the facility, humans are only able to remove so much of the oil/grease, fats, skin, tissue, and other gunk from these carcasses on their own.
That’s where the beetles come in.
Join us on a wild adventure for an up-close look at the real-time decomposition process, which can take anywhere from days to months (depending on the size of what they’re dealing with).
At the end of the process, these beetles have played a major role in the pristine, well-preserved bones that NMNH either stores in collections or proudly displays in its museum.
To learn more about the Osteo Lab at MSC, head to their website.
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