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The Perfect Specimen

@perfect-specimen.bsky.social
235 followers 15 following 164 posts

A lighthearted look at natural history via objects in the NHM London collections, hung loosely on a different adjective every episode. Podcast available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube: m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6w4ih…

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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
We promised you @nhcooper123.bsky.social 's donut plots showing how the specimens in the podcast were split taxonomically. Here they are! With raw numbers in the alt text.
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Jack Smith @jackmacgabhann.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Sad to see the last episode of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social! I loved the lost media tidbits, I was lucky to see 007 loggerhead shrike in person. As a fan of comparatively very small and very big taxa (ISLANDS!), I hope the podcast continues and Josh and Natalie get to use 'COMPARE' as a word soon!
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What's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
And here it is, our final episode 😭😭😭 m.youtube.com/watch?is=v0D... We filmed this on the hottest day of the year (so far) so apologies for the sweatiness! Thanks everyone for listening! We had fun and learned loads :)
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What's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Time for AWKWARD! Our last proper episode (there will be a Q and A/round up episode in a few weeks). m.youtube.com/watch?v=T41c... with the wonderful Emma Bernard! 🐀🐟🦅🦖🐢🧩
m.youtube.com
Was Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Please enjoy my terrible taxidermy as mentioned in this episode… with apologies to Darwin for laughing at his attempts…
A very badly taxidermied hamster. Grey with big bulging eyes and a weirdly zombie like pose
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Time for AWKWARD! Our last proper episode (there will be a Q and A/round up episode in a few weeks). m.youtube.com/watch?v=T41c... with the wonderful Emma Bernard! 🐀🐟🦅🦖🐢🧩
m.youtube.com
Was Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Ash @queerash.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
this reads like he is some child-emperor disposing of his ill-suited and scheming viziers
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Happy PRIDE! We've been so excited about this one www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwk1... with the always delightful @thelabandfield.bsky.social. It's a bird special as we recorded it at NHM Tring 🦢 🐦‍⬛ 🦉🦜🦚🦆. And a topic very close to our hearts 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️. With added poetry!
youtube.com
Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
have questions about natural history museums, specimens, or more? Get them in now for the @perfect-specimen.bsky.social podcast Q&A special recording on Wednesday!
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Due to scheduling we will be recording our final Q & A/retrospective episode on Weds, so please send over any Qs by then and we’ll do our best to answer them :)
static.klipy.com
Cat Bops Answers to Questions on Box
Alt: Cat Bops Answers to Questions on Box
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
This was so fun, with Winston the swan looming over @joshlukedavis.com in a menacing way. And features two of my absolute favourite stories debunking the "biological sex is simple" myth - trans pheasants and gynandromorphs ❤️. And poetry by @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social! The perfect PRIDE episode. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
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Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
If you want to know why I'm giving a black swan named Winston a bit of side-eye, tune into the Pride Month edition of @perfect-specimen.bsky.social! Also ft some other very rainbow characters indeed. (and maybe a cheeky @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social poem)
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Richard McElreath 🐈‍⬛ @rmcelreath.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
I learned from this: The tuatara is the only extant member of its ORDER (Rhynchocephalia), which diverged from other reptiles (Squamata) ~240 Mya. They have slower life histories than chimps, and their mortal enemy is the Polynesian rat. In Zealandia sanctuary, they wear beads for identification.
pic from wikipedia article about Tuataras: Tuatara at Zealandia are given coloured beads on their heads for identification.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Happy PRIDE! We've been so excited about this one www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwk1... with the always delightful @thelabandfield.bsky.social. It's a bird special as we recorded it at NHM Tring 🦢 🐦‍⬛ 🦉🦜🦚🦆. And a topic very close to our hearts 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️. With added poetry!
youtube.com
Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Slightly delayed publication of this episode for various reasons means we will have two episodes in back to back weeks! Exciting! This week please enjoy LONELY m.youtube.com/watch?v=uYIe... with the lovely @marcehjones.bsky.social 🐋 🦎 🐢.
m.youtube.com
The whale that inspired a BTS song | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep26
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Some sad podcast news :(. The final episodes are already recorded except the Q&A but sadly these will be the last episodes in the current format 😭. We’re all very upset to lose Josh from the NHM.
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Yes please do ask us any questions or @joshlukedavis.com will have to suffer through one of my statistics based digressions. Or poetry. You have been warned.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Happy Birthday to Sir David Attenborough! I think it’s fair to say everyone here at the NHM has a story about how he inspired them. He’s also a lovely guy! And we have some specimens named after him. m.youtube.com/watch?v=ToGZ...
m.youtube.com
Our David Attenborough specimens: Nature, knowledge and a lasting legacy
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
We hope you’ve been enjoying our latest episodes! Previous episodes are available here: m.youtube.com/playlist?lis... and also on Spotify, Apple etc. 1/2
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The 'Perfect' Specimen - YouTube
Does the perfect museum specimen exist? What’s the squishiest? The most exuberant? Or even the most noxious? We’re taking a look through 80 million specimens...
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Dr. Sven N. Nielsen @snnielsen.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Want to know amazing fun facts about clams, bats and other critters? Check out this episode with @spissatella.bsky.social They surely know their clams 🧪
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
What specimens could possibly be MISUNDERSTOOD? Let’s find out! With the amazing @spissatella.bsky.social! m.youtube.com/watch?v=lO1h... Please enjoy the real Megalodon! 🦇 🪰 🦟🐚
m.youtube.com
Finding this alive is like finding a plesiosaur in your bathtub | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep25
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
We’d really love it if you came! It’s an incredible program but we struggle to advertise for reasons. So if you’re interested in saving the planet please join us! www.nhm.ac.uk/events/gener...
Illustration of a small bird (goldcrest) facing the viewer with the words “appealing look” highlighted next to it
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
And then Sunday you can enjoy a double dose of me (plus other more exciting people like @flygirlnhm.bsky.social) talking about their UK’s amazing wildlife (11am), and how we’re using collections to investigate global change (2pm free tickets: www.nhm.ac.uk/events/pinne...). Plus more! 3/3
Bat in a jar of fluid
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Saturday more events! Including a fascinating session on climate and business. Book tickets here. www.nhm.ac.uk/events/reima.... All FREE. Also some of our amazing PhD students will be in the galleries with specimens talking about their work and how they’re researching the climate crisis. 2/3
Red bodied frog with blue legs sat on a green leaf
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Live in/near London with no plans this weekend? I have great news! It’s Generation Hope at @nhm-london.bsky.social and we’ve got loads of free events about the planetary crisis! Friday from 6.30pm…Tours! Storytelling! Art! Science! Amazing activists! www.nhm.ac.uk/events/a-nig... 1/3
Some pretty yellow flowers
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Sadly we might not be able to make any more of these due to budget issues, so if you’re enjoying them please share widely!
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
New episode today is MYTHICAL! m.youtube.com/watch?v=KYux... Featuring Jeff (who just moved to Cardiff Museum 😭). Available on Spotify and Apple too. 🐸 🦎 📕 🌴 No unicorns were harmed in the making of this podcast 🦄
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Are unicorns real and can trees walk? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep24
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 06/04/2026
🚨New podcast episode🚨 Go check out the latest episode of our podcast! We've got the delightful Talay with us talking all things beetles, while I got my mitts on some rather incredible snails 🪲🧪🥰
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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in the Museum? Dive into the fish collection with us to see just some of the marine marvels we look after ⬇️
A photo showing Dr Diego Vaz looking at a specimen jar held in his hands. Around him there are stand shelving units containing many other jars of preserved fish.
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Katy Evans @katyfevans.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
This entire @nhm-london.bsky.social podcast is delightful 🧪
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Time for TOUGH! With our delightful guest Talay! m.youtube.com/watch?v=t1iE... 🪲 🐌 🐞🪱
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This beetle can survive being run over by a car! | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep23
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Time for FRIENDLY with special guest @gavinbroad.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt_k.... Come for the wasps, stay for the zombie-castrating parasites... 🦘🐝 🦀🧟‍♀️
youtube.com
Natalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep22
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
The Generation Hope program for this year is now online! Events are free but you need to reserve tickets: www.nhm.ac.uk/events/gener... Lots of weekend events this year due to popular demand! Come and learn more about the planetary crisis and how to fight it. Aimed at young people but all welcome!
nhm.ac.uk
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Time for FRIENDLY with special guest @gavinbroad.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt_k.... Come for the wasps, stay for the zombie-castrating parasites... 🦘🐝 🦀🧟‍♀️
youtube.com
Natalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep22
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Think you know the Jurassic period? Think again. 🌊 Announcing our new exhibition, Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep, opening 22 May 2026. Find out more info and book your early bird tickets here: brnw.ch/21x0MBt
A marketing poster showing illustrations of Jurassic monsters with text that says "Jurassic Oceans, monsters of the deep. How do you measure up against these life-size ferocious predators?"
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
New episode today is COLOURFUL! With apologies from @nhcooper123.bsky.social that since recording this one of the papers she talked about has been retracted! Sponge wars continues m.youtube.com/watch?v=O_DN... 🧽 📕 🐸 🪸
m.youtube.com
Josh quizzes us on the colours of nature | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep21
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Should have said the word was SEDUCTIVE! 🥰
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Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 09/02/2026
I *love* the chubby little grease fish 🥺
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Happy belated Valentine’s Day! Please enjoy the delightful @beetlequeen.bsky.social telling us about witchy plants and lovable bums! m.youtube.com/watch?v=2qNL... 🌱 🐛 Plus some penis fencing flatworms… 🤺
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Did witches ride broomsticks? Our guest explains why we might think so | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep20
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Jack Smith @jackmacgabhann.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
I was so lucky to be part of @nhcooper123.bsky.social lab group when the 'greasefish' was an amazing topic of conversation. What a bizarre and unfortunately likely extinct creature! The folds instantly reminded me of the breadbugs in Pikmin... Really fun episode as always!
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James Ashway @jamesashway.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
And last but not least, an explainer on some very enigmatic marine reptiles - the mosasaurs! www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/wha...
nhm.ac.uk
What is a mosasaur? Facts about Mosasaurus and its relatives | Natural History Museum
What is Mosasaurus? Is a mosasaur a dinosaur? Find out all about these ancient ocean predators.
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James Ashway @jamesashway.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
What's happening in the Fossil Mammal Collection at the NHM? I found out! www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/beh...
nhm.ac.uk
Fossil mammals behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum | Natural History Museum
In the first of a new series, curator Dr Neil Adams shares the stories and science of the fossil mammal collection.
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James Ashway @jamesashway.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Got a bit of a backlog of articles again, but here's what I've been working on recently! First up, why open a jar when you can find out what's inside using lasers? www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
nhm.ac.uk
Contents of jars collected by Charles Darwin revealed in new scans | Natural History Museum
Almost two centuries after Charles Darwin’s pioneering voyage, his specimens are still inspiring groundbreaking new science.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Christmas Island shrew. Small stuffed brown shrew with a label attached to it. Next to it a test tube containing a tiny skull from the shrew.
Close up of the head of a Christmas Island shrewGrease fish specimen in a jar. Looks like a fish version of the Michelin man with tires of fatClose up of the head of the grease fish. It has a very small eye and the typical “whiskers” of a catfish.
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
New episode today is ELUSIVE! @nhcooper123.bsky.social and @joshlukedavis.com share stories of strange fishes, noisy shrews, and mysterious trees www.youtube.com/watch?v=eORr... 🐟🌲🐀. In case there is any doubt, we do not recommend using any animals as candles...🕯️
youtube.com
Why can no-one remember the time they used fish as candles? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep19
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
I got to use some really special specimens for this one. Only 10 specimens of greasefish exist! And the poor Christmas Island shrew is now extinct but this one was collected when there were so many, and they were so noisy, they kept people awake at night!
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The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
New episode today is ELUSIVE! @nhcooper123.bsky.social and @joshlukedavis.com share stories of strange fishes, noisy shrews, and mysterious trees www.youtube.com/watch?v=eORr... 🐟🌲🐀. In case there is any doubt, we do not recommend using any animals as candles...🕯️
youtube.com
Why can no-one remember the time they used fish as candles? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep19
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Scientists have recently discovered a Jurassic amphibian that had a projectile tongue! The new species has been named Nabia civiscientrix after the local community of citizen scientists that helped to discover the fossil. Find out more 👇 www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
nhm.ac.uk
Jurassic amphibian with a projectile tongue named as a new species | Natural History Museum
A new species of amphibian that lived 150 million years ago has been discovered in Portugal.
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