Why 99% of Smithsonian's Specimens Are Hidden in High-Security (2022)

The Smithsonian Natural History Museum houses 147 million specimens - everything from pickled animals to priceless gems to dinosaur bones - but less than 1% is on display. The rest is hidden behind the scenes in what's called collections, but they're not just sitting in storage rooms collecting dust. The specimens are actively used for scientific research with real-world benefits, from preventing bird strikes to documenting invasive species. Business Insider went inside the collections to see how they acquire, maintain, and protect our Earth's treasures.