Australian Museum Uses X-ray Technology to Digitally Preserve and Study Historical Specimens

The Australian Museum is employing X-ray imaging as part of its Collection Enhancement Project, a decade-long initiative to digitize its natural science holdings. This non-invasive technique allows researchers to examine internal skeletal structures of specimens without physical dissection, revealing details like bone counts and stomach contents. A notable discovery involved a Short-tail Torpedo Ray specimen collected in 1916, where X-rays showed a preserved fish in its stomach. The project aims to improve accessibility for global scientific study while preserving the museum's collection of over 19 million items, some nearly 200 years old.