Topic: Biology

Researchers used a special laser technique to study Charles Darwin's original specimens without opening the jars. They analyzed 46 historic specimens and found that preservation practices varied depending on the type of organism and time period.

Scientists have found a way to study Charles Darwin's original specimens from his famous HMS Beagle voyage (1831-1836) to the Galapagos Islands without opening the nearly 200-year-old jars that preserve them. This is a big deal because these specimens are extremely valuable and fragile. The research focused on 46 historic specimens housed at the Natural History Museum in London, including mammals, reptiles, fish, jellyfish, and shrimp collected by Darwin and other naturalists during early scientific expeditions.

The analysis revealed that preservation practices varied depending on both the type of organism and the time period in which the specimen was stored. For example, mammals and reptiles were often treated with formalin before being stored in ethanol. Invertebrates, however, were preserved using a wider range of liquids, including formalin, buffered solutions, or mixtures that contained additives such as glycerol.

The researchers used a portable laser spectroscopy method called Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) to perform the analysis. This technology allows scientists to examine the chemical composition of preservation fluids through the walls of sealed containers. SORS works by directing laser light into a jar and measuring how the light changes when it scatters and reflects back. These subtle wavelength shifts reveal the chemical signatures of substances inside the container.

The project was a collaboration between researchers from the Natural History Museum, STFC's Central Laser Facility, and Portable Laser Technology Scans Specimen Jars. The study was published in ACS Omega on January 13, 2026.

Why It Matters

This breakthrough technique can help museum professionals around the world track the condition of their collections and preserve them for future research. It also has implications for how we care for and conserve our natural history specimens.

Key Facts

• Researchers used a special laser technique to study Charles Darwin's original specimens without opening the jars.
• The analysis revealed that preservation practices varied depending on both the type of organism and the time period in which the specimen was stored.
• The researchers analyzed 46 historic specimens housed at the Natural History Museum in London.
• The project was a collaboration between researchers from the Natural History Museum, STFC's Central Laser Facility, and Portable Laser Technology Scans Specimen Jars.
• The study was published in ACS Omega on January 13, 2026.

Key Terms

Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy

A technique that uses laser light to analyze the chemical composition of substances inside sealed containers without opening them.

Implications

This breakthrough technique can help museum professionals around the world track the condition of their collections and preserve them for future research. It also has implications for how we care for and conserve our natural history specimens.