TheAmerican Museum of Natural Historyis two years into a three - yr labor to make “ in - depth descriptions ” for its expedition archive . And they ’re documenting it online . It ’s called the “ Hidden appeal . ”
Top paradigm : “ Hall of Ocean Life , showing assemble hulk skeletal frame “ , December 1925 . AMNH neg.311245
According to the internet site , the goal of the task is :
The aim of the unexampled three year projection is to make it easy for researchers to find material relate to Museum expeditions , include the objects and specimens in the collections alongside the supporting archival corroboration . We go for to fulfill this by integrating and unite name authorities for personal and expedition name across the institution . This consolidation will form the basis of a cyberinfrastructure to deal the ongoing datum and their digital surrogates as the info grows and changes over fourth dimension .
Which is enceinte for research worker , but for the the casually curious , the web log ’s short synopses and biographies of the expedition members are a hoarded wealth trove of interesting information . Themost recent entryon Henry Cushier Raven , an Associate Curator of Comparative and Human Anatomy at the Museum , explicate the dissection of a child sperm whale found in New York :
In 1928 , a two - ton baby sperm cell giant ( Physeter catodon ) find its means into the Gowanus area of Brooklyn , NY . Although unusual beast guests like this have enter the Gowanus epithelial duct several time since then , this initial consequence caused a bit of ardour with both the locals and the reporting media . Even the New York Times had a snatch of fun : “ Two - Ton Whale Seized In Gowanus Canal ; put Up Terrific Fight ; Museum Will Get It ( March 14 , 1928 ) . ”
Raven knew forthwith that the heavyweight would make a perfect specimen for muscle anatomy field . George G. Goodwin , Associate Curator of Mammalogy jumped into action mechanism quickly , securing a desirable flavorless - seam transport , some subject hands , and fifty dollars to pay for the catch . Once the whale was safe within the museum walls , Raven sacrificed all of his embalm fluid reserves for a few cherished days of dissection in one of the only home in the museum big ( and empty ) enough , the Hall of Ocean Life .
And so Raven began , inspecting , let out , and record all that he see . He was so ravish by the wildcat ’s anatomical anatomical structure that his dissection hire several , more pungent days than expected . So many sour - smelling Spring days , in fact , that it created some very languid coworkers and one angry Museum Director George H. Sherwood .
Raven and museum companion William K. Gregory were dissatisfied with preceding research on spermaceti organ and nasal passages : “ [ These other scientists ] have left us with a bewildering mass of point with but pass clues as to the single-valued function , origin or evolution of the several parts ” and used the Gowanus whale to right preceding wrongs . Together they wrote “ The spermaceti organ and pinched passages of the sperm cell whale ( Physeter catodon ) and other odontocetes . ”
There are entry onRoy Chapman Andrewsand his search for theblue Panthera tigris , new information on the participants of theWhitney South Sea Expedition , and drawings of anexhibition that never was .
https://gizmodo.com/could-the-mythical-blue-tiger-actually-exist-1331164937
It ’s a dandy place to get lost for hours in information about science , scientists , and the account of a museum . Plus , you be intimate , news report of bad flavour and angry museum directors . insure it outhere .
h / t Becky Hersch
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