Why 11 Million Embalmed Specimens Are Stored In The Field Museum's Basement | Colossal Collections
Ғылым және технология
The Field Museum in Chicago preserves everything from fish and snakes to frogs and Komodo dragons in their basement.
These 11 million fluid specimens are preserved in jars or tanks. Preparing and storing them is a centuries-long commitment, so why do it? This method effectively keeps their shape and, in some cases, even DNA. Not only that, but it has helped researchers do groundbreaking work, like developing new techniques for getting old DNA and discovering new species right among the shelves.
We went to the Field Museum to see how new specimens are added to the ever-growing collection.
0:00 - Intro
0:53 - Acquisition
1:15 - Water Snake
3:40 - Catfish
4:19 - Komodo dragon
4:56 - Diaphonized Fish
6:40 - Spider-Tailed Horned Viper
7:45 - Frogs
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Why 11 Million Embalmed Specimens Are Stored In The Field Museum's Basement | Colossal Collections
Пікірлер: 2 000
McDonald's tray?? so that's where the meat comes from...
@mateuszcielas3362
Жыл бұрын
which minute?
@Gorrgrim
Жыл бұрын
They stole it...
@ernemller6428
Жыл бұрын
Like fr lol mcds ??? Lol
@Stephan905
Жыл бұрын
@Mateusz Cielas 1:03
@Knownsky
Жыл бұрын
*taco bell bong sound affect*
A Lizard collected in 1838! Wow that's amazing. You guys are what the future generations will depend upon. So all the best from Dallas. Very informative video.
@scoobkwtsou2463
Жыл бұрын
biology bachelor then masters in that field
@bearbones4347
Жыл бұрын
They made presidency
I preserved my sand boa like this. Now he is with me forever. Its been over a year and he still looks like the day I injected the formalin. Amazing
@alainapristine3305
Жыл бұрын
Just like my mother☺️
@PostTraumaticSwagDisorder
Жыл бұрын
wow
@kly8105
Жыл бұрын
Do they move around like Rowdy?
@mr.p1814
2 ай бұрын
@@alainapristine3305make sure to change the jar often for change of air😊
i feel like the mcdonalds tray at 1:20 shows how much gets invested into our museums
Their work is so valuable for science.
@k-noori08
Жыл бұрын
Atta
@fynkozari9271
Жыл бұрын
Why did they steal McD tray? Not enough budget?
@MERIDIAN2251
Жыл бұрын
@@fynkozari9271 someone’s gotta eat
@cant.fall.without.jumping2143
Жыл бұрын
@@fynkozari9271 i mean, a trays a tray, it was probably needed for budget at the time and then just kept , or various places also donate tools and stuff to science research centers so youll see dental tools, old artist brushes and sculpting tools etc a mcdonalds tray isnt too farfetched
@alessiobaley1792
Жыл бұрын
says the one who destroyed the twin towers
I wouldn't be able to walk thru this museum. I would feel creeped out by everything. Feeling like it would jump up and grab me at any point. Props to all of these folks who do this.
@RCDRONE1010
Жыл бұрын
You should really check it out if you have the chance, also don’t forget to check out Sue!
@renderuntocaesarwhatiscaes2300
Жыл бұрын
I’m with you Dan. They could actually make a show out of that 2 guys scared and creepy out in the field Museum lol I wonder is there a market for that.
@antonioramos8804
Жыл бұрын
Maybe but the rest of the "Field" is beautifully laid out with great panoramas. You'll need at least three days. As a kid growing up in Chicago, I loved this place. Go when its cool. Watch out for California's tourists, super rude. You'll be taking a picture of something and they'll step into your "frame". Good luck
@greensky01
9 ай бұрын
HAHA, don't worry, you won't see them. As stated at the beginning of the video, these specimens are kept in the basement. The main museum constantly presents new exhibits and most often does not include these for the public.
As a biologist, I can say that I can smell the formaldehyde from here 😂
@littlecreatureslife7118
5 ай бұрын
😄😄
imagine you died just to become a display and specimen for centuries
@Loafyloop
Жыл бұрын
Just sad as hell
@fooxling
Жыл бұрын
i’d be honoured to be honest. someone looked at me and thought i was good enough to be displayed and used to help science! that’s pretty good if you ask me
@tigris115
Жыл бұрын
Honestly, that'd be pretty cool
@lmfaolol78
Жыл бұрын
@@fooxling if thats an honor to you that sounds horror to me
@ResasRandomStuff
3 ай бұрын
There are people who donate their body for that reason.
Woah, cool to see how the Spidertail viper was identified. Ive seen videos of it, they live up high on cliff faces using the little tail to behave like a spider to attract birds to eat. Its cool! Also, seeing that poor water snake on a mcdonalds tray made me laugh. I love snakes, didnt expect youtube to recommend something like this to me lol!!
@thegaynomad
Жыл бұрын
Just thought I'd let everyone know since I missed everything that was said in this video after having muzzled out by the sound of my hacking and gasping for air throughout the whole video
@danomeral
Жыл бұрын
@@thegaynomad based on this comment i can only assume they were trying to petrify u too
@cagneybillingsley2165
Жыл бұрын
peta dorks: omg i love science. also peta dorks: animals are killed in the process of scientific research?
@OfficiallySnek
Жыл бұрын
Snek
@mfik4196
Жыл бұрын
I'm just thinking if they preserve large animal such as cow
I would definitely like a part 2 to this
@Your_average_filipino
Жыл бұрын
Ikr it’s so interesting
@taskmastersnowyang4315
Жыл бұрын
A whole series going through each and every specimen would be amazing
@IntrepidFraidyCat
Жыл бұрын
Yes! We need some deep dives into this topic. I especially love the clear fish.
@ICEDOUTv9
Жыл бұрын
comment section drained?
@jx995
Жыл бұрын
@@ICEDOUTv9 In the sewer all alone 💎
The Field Museum is so amazing. Went there on my first and only trip to Chicago. Wish there had been a tour for something like this. The dinosaur collection was worth the visit. Hope more people get the chance to go there
Ah! The spider-tailed viper! Such an amazing, incredible species! So unbelievable apparently that the Field Museum had one and couldn't tell its lure was actually an insane appendage and not an anomaly. So, so cool to hear this story and see this species spotlighted in this video. The entire video, of course, is brilliant, but the viper was definitely an unexpected treat. Ugh, museum collections never fail to impress me.
*Takes a pickle out of the jar and eats it* Everyone in The Field Museum's Basement- 😨😨😨😨
@broskiblue726
Жыл бұрын
"Nooooo we didn't examine it, that was the last Cucumberous Vinegarous "
@gliscornumber151
Жыл бұрын
"you fool! That was a sea cucumber not a regular cucumber!"
@bensophin
Жыл бұрын
“MY AUNT!!!!!! NO!!!!!”
@e_is_for_existential_crisis
Жыл бұрын
*multiple diseases joined the chat*
@stevedenis8292
Жыл бұрын
Series finally of Rick and Morty. Roll credits not out bumper.
We were at the field museum in Chicago just a few months ago. That place is huge and so much to see.
They stole mcdonald's tray 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
They use a tray from McDonald's lol.
My college anatomy class did a field trip here. I freaked when the guy pulled out a huge electric eel from the formalin trunk.
I love videos like this where we get to look at animal or rock museums that involve the process of collecting and admiring them all! 😍
@freezaphreeze4298
Жыл бұрын
there's a nature for that
@MrShanester117
Жыл бұрын
Admiring the thing you slaughtered to stick in a jar? Wow, such admiration
@freezaphreeze4298
Жыл бұрын
Would that make institution a people zoo?
@HannahBanana126
Жыл бұрын
@@MrShanester117 Dude, it's for research and to understand evolution in animals for the future to look back on. We are not looking at cruelty and abuse to dead animals. We are seeing their beauty, and to help understand their species and bring it from close extinction.
@GeorgiaGeorgette
Жыл бұрын
@@HannahBanana126 No one mentioned cruelty or abuse to dead animals. It's the fact they were made to be dead in the first place.
I love videos like this bc it's informative on smthn I didn't know much about. That said, it also makes me want to go talk to a scientist for hours
i think that this is so cool. i could never walk down rows and rows of preserved animal shelves though, or rifle through tanks of them, or touch them (with gloves or without). kudos to these researchers and scientists!! what a fascinating career
@robertomandal4135
4 ай бұрын
WHAT you mean?
Preservation of species is very important work! When Sara pulled out that water snake, did anyone notice that she put it on a McDonald's tray?? How Scientific! 😂
@novaenricarter705
Жыл бұрын
@@freezaphreeze4298 Why do you write in haiku
@tlacuache4448
Жыл бұрын
@@novaenricarter705 😂
@bearzdlc2172
Жыл бұрын
whats wrong with that? they probably got it all from donations and theyre solid nice trays.
im surprised they arent coughing from the formalin because of how strong it is. Maybe I'm not used to it because we brought out our preserved frogs the other day and the formalin was really strong it made my nose ache xD
@Crispr_CAS9
Жыл бұрын
You get used to it.
I smiled all throughout the video, how casual all this is touching and operating ... on the other side i will get slight shivers by just looking at any reptile even if its dead.
I hope in future by extracting their DNA we can bring them back to life with the advancement in technology of stem cells.
@Ocean_Man
Жыл бұрын
Sadly thats almost impossible. Even if stem cell tech keeps improving that far, the amount of time and resources needed to even atempt to create fertile animals would (and kinda should tbh) certainly be put in medical advancements
@peggedyourdad9560
Жыл бұрын
@@Ocean_Man Maybe through discovering how to use those techniques we could figure out how to apply the same techniques for humans.
@Ocean_Man
Жыл бұрын
@@peggedyourdad9560 I want to believe that theres an ethical way to do that but a life lived as an artificially created neanderthal living under constant observation isnt one id wish on anyone
@peggedyourdad9560
Жыл бұрын
@@Ocean_Man I mean, there are already people that exist who were developed in a lab. You ever hear of test tube babies? So far those people turned out normal.
@Ocean_Man
Жыл бұрын
@@peggedyourdad9560 thats goofy as hell, your talking about normal people that where created from living humans DNA as theyr children, not about science project babies of another human species created for testing
Forbidden pickles 👀
@Naveenkumar-gz3fj
Жыл бұрын
☠️☠️☠️
Love Sara's enthusiasm about her field. I bet a diner or drinks with her could lead to some fascinating conversations.
@wemakeasiansurveys4U
Жыл бұрын
Simp
@MarijnvdSterre
Жыл бұрын
@@wemakeasiansurveys4U lol, you poor incel boy
@kasieeee
Жыл бұрын
💀
@fanaticalplel1003
Жыл бұрын
Negative rizz
I'v seen a used pickle jar (the wooden handle phax glass barre) and a mc donalds tray. i love the way this lab works
I've never been to chicago before but now I'm adding the field museum to my go-to list whenever I do go!!
@lefty9419
7 ай бұрын
Please do. The place is absolutely incredible. The dinosaur collection is amazing. You should definitely go. So many unbelievable things to see!
@christopherskipp1525
4 ай бұрын
Another reason to stay away from Chicago.
I still can't imagine if there's a human trapped in a jar on that lab
@DeanDangerousTDD7
Жыл бұрын
research dr ulrich george klopfer
@aru-YT
Жыл бұрын
nah im more curious on a diaphonized human
@piddgy.-.4402
Жыл бұрын
what if that place has a pony in a jar
@Earley405
Жыл бұрын
I was wondering if you could "clear" a human, lol.
Very interesting! I'd love a video going into more detail on making the little fish clear with colored bones. 👍🏻😀
@Lewisiaisoutofcontext
Жыл бұрын
Staining small wet specimens is called diaphonization! It's really cool!
@jayemeljay2117
Жыл бұрын
@@Lewisiaisoutofcontext wow .. but could they do something similar with a horse??
@Lewisiaisoutofcontext
Жыл бұрын
@@jayemeljay2117 Unfortunately not. Diaphonization starts with "bleaching" all the tissues with a type of enzyme that begins to break it down, turning it transparent. If the specimen is too large it won't be able to turn all the tissue transparent before it actually starts destroying it instead. So it's mostly used for small and brittle specimens.
@jqv94
Жыл бұрын
I may visit a museum with a human body preserved this way.
there's a channel that goes by the name of Odd Animal Specimen that specifically talks and showcases these speciments, really cool channel!
Looks like a good level design for The last of us. Imagine walking through an abandoned building full of preserved animals.
I love how many people genuinely interested in this topic are in the comments instead of just trolling the content ❤️❤️ this is very wholesome to see
The stolen McDonald’s tray lol. I thought only my friends and I stole those things (in high school), so we could go “tray sliding” in our cars lol. If you’ve never gone tray sliding, you need to. Just need a front wheel drive car. Put two trays under each rear tire, pull the e-break, and get to driving! Lol
@fmar.8311
Жыл бұрын
We actually did this a few times in my first car (mazda mx3) in high school at the mcdonald's parking lot about 20+ years ago. LOL
@lucifer5788
Жыл бұрын
Yall giving me anxiety
@RyanAl92
Жыл бұрын
Do you know how many kids died or got critically injured this way?
@onemaddad3823
Жыл бұрын
@@RyanAl92 I’m sure plenty. Kids are stupid. We never got hurt cuz we only did it in empty parking lots…
@onemaddad3823
Жыл бұрын
@@sal50111 yea, they’re also marinating chicken in NyQuil. So I think tray sliding is pretty tame compared to that lol
This was way more interesting than i thought it'd be.
this is so cool to me, i love things like this
That was so cool!!! This is the part of the Field I'd love to tour!
More of this please
What course do you have to take to get into this field of work
Those fish are SICK. It's like art
0:08 «Live in the basement» Well, that’s one way to put it…
@skykingtheo
Жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣
@Yung_Fettuccine
Жыл бұрын
"More than 11 million fluid specimens are dead in the basement"
Its good they are doing this so the future can see what alot of these things looked like. The way things are going not much will be left in the future
@TylerPerry-qd7us
Жыл бұрын
yeah so better start killing everything so we can talk about what a wonderful world we once had!
@user-vj2oz1jv2u
Жыл бұрын
А не проще ли не уничтожать природы
@logimoe
Жыл бұрын
Yes especially with that woman catching them and putting them in jars instead of letting them live and reproduce
@SetuwoKecik
Жыл бұрын
But it's sadder when you're realized that the future generations probably can only see those creatures from these jars, not on wildlife :(
@SetuwoKecik
Жыл бұрын
@@logimoe you don't understand the point of this preservation, do you?
Watching it in larger size is amazing
Sara is so passionate and knowledgeable :)
The McDonald’s tray😂
Very cool and informative video.. great content
I had three pet water snakes and they love to bite! Seriously the best pets I've ever owned. They had a massive 70gal semi aquatic bioactive tank with lots of warm rocks and vines. They used every inch of their enclosure. Lived over 15 years!
I love how she prepares the snake on the McDonads food tray
That is simply amazing! In the video they showed many fishes, amphibians and reptiles, but what about the other animals, are they stored like these?
@emilyboyce2147
Жыл бұрын
I think with other animals like mammals they are preserved dry more often due to their fur and hair and such.
@Ambuttx
Жыл бұрын
they can be stored like this as well it's just difficult because they're generally larger
@mashi4525
Жыл бұрын
They gutted it n deflesh it and stuffed it with something( in my workplace, they put just cotton). There are other process too but i dont remember
The female Dr. Is like an auto mechanic working on cars. She loves her job so well she dives right into them jars without gloves. Cool!
@Lithic.flakes
Жыл бұрын
She's awesome haha
The Field Museum!! My favorite childhood destination 🥺
Other than me gagging, throwing up in my mouth, and loosing my appetite, this is so cool!
My girlfriend is into wet specimens , fun thing to collect. We collect frogs, salamanders, small snakes and lizards to put into jars Back in the spring found a dead possum along the road that had a pouch of babies. Kept one and sold the rest. My nieces work for a vet and we get some neat things from them Have jar full of deer eyes Actually wet specimens are pretty popular now
@Yung_Fettuccine
Жыл бұрын
That’s gross as hell bro. I wouldn’t want that in my house
@Justin-yc1ig
Жыл бұрын
😐
@deadhorse1391
Жыл бұрын
@@Yung_Fettuccine I collect human bones and oddities Have an articulated Victorian human skeleton hanging in the kitchen, most of another in old nail keg and a mummified head and 5 other skulls Then 6 children coffins and etc So no my girlfriend’s wet specimens don’t bother me
@vidoxi
Жыл бұрын
thats awesome that you have a partner to share that interest with! the other people replying to you are lame af lol
@user-iq7en1lg3i
Жыл бұрын
@@Yung_Fettuccine I know right. That's scary af and bit psychopathic
This is amazing and is science at its best
That snake lady is crazy good at her job!
Wow the diaphonized fish.. So interesting
Very very cool video. I am curious who stole the McDonald's tray though lol
@ChapitZulkefli
Жыл бұрын
HAHA
@starlightanddreams1317
Жыл бұрын
It was my very first thought! 🤣 "Oh this tray would be perfect in the lab!'
I remember learning about this from the brain scoop, it was a channel that was from the field museum and it went more in depth about this stuff
Bro like this is sooo interesting i wanna visit this museum
I love they put snake casually on McD's tray
That lady putting her hand in the jar without gloves gives me anxiety
1:20 she’s using a McDonalds food tray hahahaha
OMG! is that a Mcdonald tray I see when they preparing the snake! haha
This is so interesting, would love to visit.
Ok but why is Mr. Josh lying on the floor at 00:03??😹
3:40 to be precise, that's not a catfish, that fish is called "Cachara", that pattern of lines and dots are very unique to the species
The smell of formalin is one you never forget.
I can imagine a movie where all these creatures come alive
The Field Museum in Chicago is interesting to visit
Those fish are so cool!
Damn! That Mc SR 1291 snakey, should be on the menu
1:16 mcdonalds tray 😂
The most memorable thing about this video that stuck with me is the snake on a McDonald’s tray. I’m sure someone could take a screenshot of that and make into a decent meme or Facebook news story about the new McSsssss…
Makes me think of the head in jar scene from Silence Of The Lambs.
6:27 You need new glasses if those fish look identical. They're nothing alike except for the size.
I'm donating my body to USC for science and I do hope chunks of me will be hanging around in jars in basements for centuries.
The fish bone stain was incredible.. probably what gave somebody the idea of the Bodies exhibition.
This place is gold
Imagine we advance science so much that we use the DNA of these species and go to some other earth like planet but little be different and drop the DNA in the environment, and then seat back and watch the whole different level of show!
@curlyhairdudeify
Жыл бұрын
Aka, panspermia and terra forming.
@SetuwoKecik
Жыл бұрын
Might takes centuries to flourish but still possible.
I knew y’all would be on that Macdonald’s tray!!
Dying the fish bones and making them see through. That is one of the coolest things ive seen.
Please, part 2!
I'm really interested in zoology. What degrees do I need to have an occupation like Sara's?
@PuffOfSmoke
Жыл бұрын
Start wit Biology and then afterwards you can get additional degree in DNA analysis.
@daniell5740
Жыл бұрын
Don’t get a real job
@SanilJadhav711
Жыл бұрын
wishing you a successful future
@applepie8308
Жыл бұрын
Science subjects,for example;integrated science
Using a Mc Donald's tray for specimen preparation is the most American thing I will see in a long long time.
This immediately reminded me of that serial killers head that was well preserved.
0:17 "and why keep them wet?" 💀
How the hell did a McDonald's tray end up there?
@LelouchOfBritannia
Жыл бұрын
where do u think the unusable specimens go to?
this seems like the coolest hobby
I love how the lob use MC D trays
Nice lab tray. Where did you get that?
I have a question for you. How does your hair grow? Before it grows, where is it stored? I would like if you can make a video answering my question, thank you!
@troye.1309
Жыл бұрын
Yeah.... just like toenails and fingernails 🤔
I'm lovin' the McDonalds tray
Wow what a interesting place to work
How does she remembers the species name of the snake and speaks so fluently 😮😮😮
@floofypoofybread
Жыл бұрын
Its a pain tbh, when we study medical plants, we have to remember all of their latin names, and the worst part is we have to remember their old name or other names as well. For example Piper lolot and Piper sarmentosum, same thing
Giant salamander be like 😆 Even in the afterlife he'd be 😆
That fish part looked like doin transparent part in solidworks 🤣
That spider tailed horned viper is the coolest thing ever! Look it up. It waves the end of its tail making it look just like a spider. Then, when a bird swoops down for it, the snake strikes and eats the bird.
5:15 whats the name of this method?
@triniscouting4369
Жыл бұрын
Diaphonization
@mateuszcielas3362
Жыл бұрын
@@triniscouting4369 thanks
Isn't formalin highly toxic? There's evaporation going on as they prepare the specimens.
@wafiqnasna4638
Жыл бұрын
The evaporated formalin isn't as toxic as how you think it is, it hurt your eyes and nose a bit but the pain wouldn't last long. Source: i am a vet met student
@RowOfMushyTiT
Жыл бұрын
It's absolutely toxic, and should only be used in a fumehood. I foresee a courtcase when these worker's health is affected.
Academy of natural science in Philly has a massive stock of all kinds of animals in jars.. 😮