London's Natural History Museum has opened a new permanent gallery, "Fixing Our Broken Planet," highlighting the decline of ocean predators and various conservation efforts.
The exhibit features a black marlin skeleton, symbolizing the 90% decline in top ocean predators since the late 19th century.
The gallery showcases around 200 objects, aiming to educate visitors on humanity's impact on the natural world and promote nature-positive choices. One exhibit includes a fin whale earwax replica, used to study lifetime exposure to oceanic pollutants and stress levels.
Researchers found that whale stress levels increased during intensified whaling and periods of high sea surface temperatures. The museum also addresses the potential devastating effects of deep-sea mining on marine ecosystems, displaying organisms like the 'Barbie-pig' sea cucumber.
The exhibition also presents chilling facts about plastic waste and the environmental impact of food production. However, it offers solutions, such as using fungi for crop fertilization and reintroducing bison to help forests store more carbon.
Visitors can also learn about personal changes, like buying refurbished phones and choosing pet food made from chicken or fish to reduce their carbon footprint. The gallery encourages visitors to engage deeply with the exhibits to understand the science behind the specimens and their implications for Earth's future.