Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford

@morethanadodo

A stunning Victorian building home to 7 million objects. Free entry, open 10-5 every day.

48 Following7,647 Followers413 Posts

Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and morethanadodo.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· 25d

Echinoderms have pentaradial (5-fold) symmetry but DNA tells us that echinoderms are part of the animal group Bilateria, animals with bilateral symmetry. Associate Doctoral Researcher @lej-palaeo.bsky.social is uncovering the evolutionary steps involved in this transformation body plans

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· 26d

Just in case you haven't seen a sunfish before, they are... different looking

Photo of an adult sunfish, which looks like the front half of a fish forgot its back half at home. It doesn't have noticeable scales, but looks like flat, pale skin stretched over a toddlers imagining of a fish

By U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68775

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· 26d

What do Alice in Wonderland and our sunfish have in common? We only had one image of the specimen in peak condition, and that was taken by the author of Alice In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll. Our conservator worked from this image to get it repaired ready for display again.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· 27d

A new major partnership between this Museum, @CamPlantSci and @ZoologyMuseum will see over 1 million specimens digitised. This project is part of DiSSCo UK, a national programme aimed at digitising and connecting the UK's natural science collections.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· 28d

Vanadium is a lesser known metal, but no less important. It is malleable and corrosion-resistant and used in the manufacturing industry and to create steel alloys used in space vehicles, nuclear reactors and aircraft carriers.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· 29d

Did you know we were the first purpose built natural history museum? This building was created to be a temple to science and nature, and house the University's science departments. Our main court has seen some changes since 1860, but some specimens out on display then can still be seen today.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jul 10

Scuttling into the weekend ✨

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jul 8

A battery has four main components: cathode, anode, separator and electrolyte. The anode side of the battery is where the electrons or ions are stored during charge, and are moved to the cathode side during discharge.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jul 2

Discarded; How Technofossils will be our Ultimate Future A blizzard of new objects has suddenly appeared on Earth: plastic bottles, ballpoint pens, enlarged chicken bones, and teabags, to name but a few. 9 July, 6PM https://go.glam.ox.ac.uk/fySKz8c53

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jul 1

Fertilisers for the agricultural industry require phosphorus. Synthetic phosphorus fertilisers are estimated to help feel about half of the world's population. Russia has some of the largest apatite mines, the ore from which phosphorus is extracted.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 25

We are home to specimens great and small. This is the holotype of Mesodryinus brittanicus, now called Dryinus niger. A holotype is the specimen from which a new species is named. This is a small parasitoid wasp from the Palaearctic region and is native to England.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 24

Cobalt is mined from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is is named after kobolds, mischievous underground spirits blamed by German miners for sabotaging what they thought was silver ore. Nearly 30% of cobalt comes from unregulated artisanal and small scale mining operations.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 17

34: Critical Raw Materials opens today! This temporary exhibition is free! At a time of rising geopolitical tensions and growing competition over the resources needed for clean energy, modern technology and defence, there has never been a more timely moment to shine a spotlight on them.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 15

Behold, the sea potato. This is a polymetallic nodule that forms in sediments in the deep sea, usually 3000-6000 metres down. These nodules contain different types of metals, but often manganese is extracted from them. Learn more at our new exhibition 34: Critical Raw Materials opens this week.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 10

Our new exhibition '34' opens 17 June. 34 raw materials have officially designated as ‘critical’ to UK development by researchers and the Government. Including familiar materials such as iron, aluminium, titanium, and rare earth elements (pictured here), alongside less well-known substances.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 9

Neo-Gothic architecture ✅ Historic taxidermy ✅ Exhibits on contemporary science ✅ Dinosaurs ✅ Café with a view ✅

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 5

Tomorrow you can visit the Museum to learn all about volcanoes! We will have activities on in the main court from 10:30-1:00 with a special talk at 11 from volcanologists Professor Tamsin Mather and Professor David Pyle For ages 7-11 https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/the-power-of-volcanoes-activities

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 3

Our next exhibition 34: Critical Raw Materials opens 17 June. This vicuña is native to South America, where present day lithium extraction in Chile's Atacama Desert is changing landscapes, displacing communities and driving economic booms and busts.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· Jun 2

We are HIRING an Events and Marketing Coordinator for the Museum! You will support the delivery and promotion of more than 160 events each year. Apply now: https://shorturl.at/9k6kO

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 29

34: Critical Raw Materials opens 17 June. If you're looking for free things to do out in Oxford, look no further than our free exhibition, 34, featuring interactive digital installations, and a hands-on section. https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/34-critical-raw-materials-shaping-our-future

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 27

Applications for the Natural Science and Heritage Scheme are now open! This 3 week programme is open to 16-18 year-olds from Oxfordshire state schools and comes with a bursary award of £400. oumnh.web.ox.ac.uk/natural-scie...

Two bursary students presenting a taxidermy pheasant to a young Museum visitor in the main court.

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 27

Our next exhibition 34: Critical Raw Materials opens 17 June. 34 asks how we can meet rising demand for critical raw materials without further endangering the ecosystems and communities that call Earth home. https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/34-critical-raw-materials-shaping-our-future

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 26

If you have an idea for a research project involving our wonderful collections at the Museum and are planning to apply for a @leverhulmetrust.bsky.social Early Career Fellowship in 2027, the deadline is 30 June 2026. https://glam.web.ox.ac.uk/postdoctoral-research-opportunities#widget-id-5750236

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 20

Get your tickets now for the screening of 'The Hunt: Into the Grey' at the Museum this Friday at 7pm. This film follows journalist Sarah Roberts on an unexpected journey into one of conservation’s most divisive debates: trophy hunting https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/the-hunt-into-the-grey

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 18

Today is International Museum Day! If you want to support us to continue our mission for the next 166 years, please consider donating to us. https://www.campaign.ox.ac.uk/mag?id=6fb985c1-882d-41a2-8733-017277e6eeda

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 13

Across varied media, Nkot highlights industrialization’s fractures and prompts reflection on humanity, consumption, and the environment, transforming overlooked laborers into emblematic figures.

a painting of Woman laying together on a pile of cacao

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 13

Focused on the human condition, Nkot explores the scars of history and the logics of globalized capitalism. Since 2020, he examines Africa’s raw materials—cotton, chocolate, and minerals—and their social and environmental impacts.

A painting of several men laying across each other, with superimposed cotton plants across the canvas

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 13

Jean David Nkot lives and works in Douala, Cameroon. A graduate of the Institut de Formation Artistique of Mbalmayo (IFA) and the Institut des Beaux-Arts of Foumban, he established himself through painting, sculpture, and installation.

An installation of statues on plinths above a dirt floor

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 13

Jean David Nkot was chosen as one of our finalists for the Open Art Call for 34 Critical Materials. While we could only choose one artist, there were five amazing artists who are working at the intersection of art and science who we still wanted to highlight.

A black man with a beard leaning against a display featuring a blue statue of a boy and a painting of women in the background. text reads 34 OPEN CALL FINALIST JEAN DAVID NKOT

Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford@morethanadodo· May 13

'Art... translates abstract information into something you can feel, see, and question, shifting your perception. Today, we’ve largely lost connection with the origins of the objects and technologies we use. Yet they come from the ground, from natural materials and extracted minerals.'