Whale earwax and parasitic worms are going on display at the Natural History Museum in a new exhibition about the “broken planet”.
The free new gallery is designed to “explore the biggest challenges facing our planet” and provide visitors with solutions and positive actions they can take.
It is the first new, permanent gallery to open at the famous London museum since 2016.
‘Fixing our Broken Planet’ will feature bacteria that can be used to extract valuable copper from mine waste, show how bison are redesigning British forests for the better and explain how DNA analysis is fighting mosquito-borne diseases like malaria.
Specimens like a Sumatran rhinoceros, parasitic worms and whale’s earwax will be on show, curated to tell the story of the relationship between people and the planet.
It comes amid mounting warnings about humans’ impact on the natural world, including via “dangerous climate breakdown”.
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Visitors will be given “practical, evidence-based choices they can take to combat the planetary emergency” as demand for food, materials and energy soars.
Museum director Dr Doug Gurr said: “Our scientists have been working to find solutions for and from nature. Fixing Our Broken Planet places this research at the heart of the Museum… showing that we all have the power to make change.”
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Opening in April, it is part-funded by the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Arts minister Chris Bryant said: “To create effective lasting change for the planet we must inspire all generations.”
The gallery will “[demonstrate] how we can all make a difference”, he added.
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Last week, the museum crowned a photo of a badger looking at graffiti as the winner of the wildlife photographer people’s choice award.
