Natural history museums have entered a new era of scientific exploration and accessibility with the completion of the openVertebrate (oVert) project. This unique five-year collaborative effort among 18 institutions aimed to create 3D reconstructions of vertebrate specimens and make them freely available online. The project’s groundbreaking findings were recently summarized in the journal BioScience, showcasing the scanned specimens and the potential for innovative technology and new scientific inquiries.

The oVert project has revolutionized how museum collections are accessed and utilized and had a global impact. It has enabled the creation of high-fidelity digital 3D models of specimens, allowing scientists, students, teachers, and artists from all corners of the world to explore and study these specimens remotely. This initiative marks a significant shift from the traditional practice of keeping museum collections behind closed doors, accessible only to a few scientists.

The project used computed tomography (CT) scans to capture detailed images of over 13,000 vertebrate specimens representing a wide range of species. CT scanners utilize high-energy X-rays to visualize the internal bone structure of organisms, providing unprecedented insights without the need for destructive dissection. A few specimens were also treated with a contrast-enhancing solution to visualize soft tissues such as skin, muscles, and organs.

The oVert project has already yielded remarkable scientific discoveries, including identifying unique features in spiny mice and insights into the evolutionary history of frogs and dinosaurs. Furthermore, the 3D models created through this project have been utilized by educators to enhance science education in high schools, providing authentic and engaging learning experiences for students. For artists, the project has opened up a new world of inspiration and reference material, while for scientists, it has provided a wealth of data for further research.

While the completion of the oVert project represents a significant milestone in the digitization of museum collections, there are still technological and social challenges to overcome in fully realizing the potential impact of digital 3D specimens. The project has laid the groundwork for future advancements in machine learning and supercomputing to maximize the utilization of these valuable resources.

References

• Blackburn, D. C., Boyer, D. M., Gray, J. A., Winchester, J., Bates, J. M., Baumgart, S. L., Braker, E., Coldren, D., Conway, K. W., Rabosky, A. D., De La Sancha, N., Dillman, C. B., Dunnum, J. L., Early, C. M., Frable, B. W., Gage, M. W., Hanken, J., Maisano, J. A., Marks, B. D., … Stanley, E. L. (2024). Increasing the impact of vertebrate scientific collections through 3D imaging: The openVertebrate (oVert) Thematic Collections Network. BioScience, biad120. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biad120
• Pinson, J. & Florida Museum of Natural History. (2024, March 6). Scientists CT scanned thousands of natural history specimens, which you can access for free. Phys.Org; Florida Museum of Natural History. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-scientists-ct-scanned-thousands-natural.html