Scientists have successfully analyzed Charles Darwin’s original specimens from his HMS Beagle voyage (1831 to 1836) to the Galapagos Islands.
Remarkably, the specimens have been analyzed without opening their 200-year-old preservation jars.
Examining 46 historic specimens
The study examined 46 historic specimens at the Natural History Museum, London, including mammals, reptiles, fish, jellyfish, and shrimps collected by Darwin and other naturalists. The work is published in the journal ACS Omega.
It was found that traditional preservation methods differed by species and era.
Mammals and reptiles were typically fixed in formalin and stored in ethanol, while invertebrates might be kept in formalin, buffered solutions, or mixtures containing additives like glycerol.
80% of samples correctly identified
The technique correctly identified fluids in approximately 80% of cases tested, with partial identification in another 15%.
It also determined the types of glass or plastic containers used, providing insights into how storage methods have evolved over time.
The research was conducted by a collaboration between the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Natural History Museum and Agilent Technologies.
Portable laser techniques
Researchers used a portable laser spectroscopy method called Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) to peer through glass and identify the chemical composition of preservation fluids.
SORS performs chemical analysis by shining a laser light into a container and inspecting the changes in wavelength that occur when the light is reflected.
These changes indicate the presence of different chemical components within it.
SORS, originally developed at STFC’s Central Laser Facility, is the same technique which is used in airport scanners all over the world through Agilent Technologies.
Dr. Sara Mosca, STFC Central Laser Facility said, “Until now, understanding what preservation fluid is in each jar meant opening them, which risks evaporation, contamination, and exposing specimens to environmental damage. This technique allows us to monitor and care for these invaluable specimens without compromising their integrity.”
Impact for museums worldwide
There are over 100 million fluid-preserved specimens housed in museums worldwide.
For collection curators, knowing the exact composition of preservation fluids is essential for monitoring specimen condition.
The ability to analyze preservation fluids non-invasively offers conservators and curators a new tool for monitoring collection health and intervening before problems arise.
Transforming the study of natural history
Wren Montgomery, research technician at the Natural History Museum, says, “As part of NHM Unlocked, here at the Museum we can analyze jars containing specimens without opening and disturbing their integrity. This work is the next step in demonstrating the Museum’s commitment to transforming the study of natural history.
“Analyzing the storage conditions of precious specimens, and understanding the fluid in which they are kept, could have huge implications for how we care for collections and preserve them for future research for years to come.”
Publication details
Ana Blanco et al, In Situ Analysis of Historical Preservation Fluids in Sealed Containers with Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy, ACS Omega (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c09045
Journal information: ACS Omega
Provided by UK Research and Innovation
News
Nanobody repairs misfolded CFTR inside cells, boosting function in cystic fibrosis
A tiny antibody component could fundamentally transform the treatment of cystic fibrosis: For the first time, researchers have succeeded in developing a so-called nanobody that penetrates directly into human cells and can repair the [...]
20-Year Study Finds Daily Multivitamins Don’t Extend Lifespan
A large, decades-long study of over 390,000 U.S. adults challenges a widespread assumption about daily multivitamins. Multivitamins are a daily habit for millions of Americans, often taken with the expectation that they will extend [...]
Novel Investment Paradigms for Regenerative Healthcare Ecosystems
Introduction The transition toward regenerative healthcare ecosystems—anchored in wellness optimization, disease prevention, eradication strategies, and healthy longevity—necessitates a structural reconfiguration of capital architectures, governance models, and incentive design. Regenerative healthcare, by definition, transcends episodic [...]
What If Consciousness Exists Beyond Your Brain
Scientists still don’t know how consciousness emerges from the brain. New ideas suggest it may not emerge at all, but instead be a basic feature of reality. Is consciousness produced by the brain, or [...]
Scientists Discover Way To Treat Lung Cancer and Its Deadly Side Effect Together
A new approach using lipid nanoparticles to deliver genetic material is showing promise in tackling two major challenges in lung cancer at once.Researchers at Oregon State University have designed a new way to tackle two of [...]
Saunas Activate Your Immune System
A brief sauna session may quietly mobilize the immune system. A sauna session may do more than raise your heart rate and body temperature. A new study from Finland found that it also briefly [...]
Why music from your youth still has such an intense effect years later: A psychological perspective
You're driving, and suddenly a familiar song fills the air. Before you even know it, a wave of emotions comes over you – not just memories, but a deep, almost physical feeling. This powerful [...]
AI to antibody in days: breaking the wet lab bottleneck via high-throughput integration
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in drug design has fundamentally shifted from a speculative tool to a central pillar of pharmaceutical research and development (R&D). Sino Biological plays a critical role in this [...]
Regenerative Healthcare by Design: Engineering Health-Centric Buildings and Urban Ecosystems
Introduction The next evolution of healthcare will not be confined to hospitals, clinics, or episodic interventions—it will be embedded into the infrastructure of everyday life. Regenerative health ecosystems require a systemic re-architecture of how [...]
Scientists Warn: Humanity Has Pushed the Planet Past Its Limits
Human population and consumption have surpassed Earth’s limits, increasing risks to climate and global stability. The Earth is already operating beyond its capacity to sustainably support the global population, according to new research highlighting [...]
Breakthrough Study Reveals Why Damaged Nerves Struggle To Heal
A newly identified molecular mechanism reveals how neurons weigh survival against repair after injury. Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a molecular switch in neurons that limits the regrowth of [...]
Popular Vitamin B3 Supplements May Help Cancer Cells Survive, Scientists Warn
A new study raises important questions about widely used NAD+ supplements, suggesting that compounds often taken to boost energy and support healthy aging may have unintended consequences in cancer treatment. Millions of Americans take [...]
Scientists Discover Cancer Tumors Are “Addicted” to This Common Antioxidant
Cancer cells may be exploiting a common antioxidant as fuel, revealing a potential weakness that future therapies could target. Cancer cells may be tapping into an unexpected energy source: an antioxidant long associated with [...]
Nanotube injector transfers cytoplasmic contents and organelles between living cells safely
Cells are not isolated units; they continuously exchange proteins, genetic material, and even entire organelles with their neighbors. Intercellular transfer influences how tissues develop, respond to stress, and repair damage. In certain cancers, for [...]
CEO of America’s largest public hospital system is ready to replace radiologists with AI
The chief executive of America’s largest public hospital system says he is prepared to start replacing radiologists with artificial intelligence in some circumstances, once the regulatory landscape catches up. Mitchell H. Katz, MD, president [...]
Our books now available worldwide!
Online Sellers other than Amazon, Routledge, and IOPP Indigo Global Health Care Equivalency in the Age of Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine and Artifcial Intelligence Global Health Care Equivalency In The Age Of Nanotechnology, Nanomedicine And Artificial [...]
