iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

111

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 :)

What's been our favourite specimen? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep29

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

041

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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! 🐀🐟🦅🦖🐢🧩

Was Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28

Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

266

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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

074

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! 🐀🐟🦅🦖🐢🧩

Was Darwin perfect? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep28

Ash @queerash.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

266

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

this reads like he is some child-emperor disposing of his ill-suited and scheming viziers

5652132

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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!

Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27

Dr Alex Bond @thelabandfield.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

174

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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!

003

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

012

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

056

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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)

1202

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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.

3495

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Are homosexual black swans more successful at raising chicks? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep27

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

174

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 🐋 🦎 🐢.

The whale that inspired a BTS song | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep26

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

144

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.

010

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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.

062

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...

Our David Attenborough specimens: Nature, knowledge and a lasting legacy

Dr. Sven N. Nielsen @snnielsen.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

1126

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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 🧪

075

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! 🦇 🪰 🦟🐚

Finding this alive is like finding a plesiosaur in your bathtub | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep25

Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

159

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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

1114

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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

163

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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

154

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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

11214

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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!

067

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 🦄

Are unicorns real and can trees walk? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep24

Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 06/04/2026

153

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

🚨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 🪲🧪🥰

046

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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.

13311

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

Katy Evans @katyfevans.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

This entire @nhm-london.bsky.social podcast is delightful 🧪

032

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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... 🦘🐝 🦀🧟‍♀️

Natalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep22

Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

144

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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

024

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... 🦘🐝 🦀🧟‍♀️

Natalie tells us why kangaroos are actually terrible mothers | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep22

Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

144

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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?"

311726

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... 🧽 📕 🐸 🪸

Josh quizzes us on the colours of nature | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep21

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

121

Should have said the word was SEDUCTIVE! 🥰

111

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

Josh Luke Davis 🏳️‍🌈 @joshlukedavis.com · 09/02/2026

I *love* the chubby little grease fish 🥺

271

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… 🤺

Did witches ride broomsticks? Our guest explains why we might think so | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep20

Jack Smith @jackmacgabhann.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

033

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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!

011

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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.

112

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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...🕯️

Why can no-one remember the time they used fish as candles? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep19

Natalie Cooper @nhcooper123.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

115

Reposted by The Perfect Specimen

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!

073

The Perfect Specimen @perfect-specimen.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Why can no-one remember the time they used fish as candles? | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep19