The hidden worlds within natural history museums - Joshua Drew

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-hidden-worlds-within-natural-history-museums-joshua-drew When you think of natural history museums, you might picture exhibits filled with ancient...

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When you think of natural history museums,you probably picture exhibits filled with ancient lifeless things,like dinosaursmeteroites,and gemstones.But behind that educational exterior,which only includes about 1% of a museum's collection,there are hidden laboratories where scientific breakthroughs are made.Beyond the unmarked doors,and on the floors the elevators won't take you to,you'd find windows into amazing worlds.This maze of halls and laboratories is a scientific sanctuarythat houses a seemingly endless variety of specimens.Here, researchers work to unravel mysteries of evolution,cosmic origins,and the history of our planet.One museum alone may have millions of specimens.The American Museum of Natural History in New York Cityh...