Explore Natur + Medizin – open now!

New permanent exhibit open at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum.

Throughout history, medicine has been a crucial tool for preventing, treating, and alleviating illness. Many of these healing substances originate directly from nature or draw inspiration from it. Remarkably, about half of the drugs approved for clinical use today, including life-saving medications like antibiotics and anticancer agents, are based on natural products. This intricate relationship between nature and human health is now brought to life at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum’s new permanent exhibit: Natur + Medizin.

Modeled after a traditional pharmacy, the Natur + Medizin exhibit beckons visitors to delve into the link between drugs and the natural elements that inspired them. Visitors can slide open drawers to “dig through” the history of some of the most significant medical breakthroughs. They can also listen to ‘virtual’ Senckenberg researchers, like SOSA co-founder and head of the Senckenberg Malacology Section, Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart, share insights into the vital roles various organisms have played in advancing human health. A ‘virtual’ Prof. Dr. Sigwart emphasizes the vast potential of the ocean and its marine life in medical applications, noting that marine organisms, having evolved over a longer period than land-dwelling ones, offer a wealth of unique solutions. In fact, marine substances have shown approximately four times higher success rates in drug discovery compared to those from terrestrial sources.

The exhibit showcases several marine creatures that have served as medical inspirations, many depicted in the large illuminated mural beyond the pharmacy facade. For instance, the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, whose blood is utilized to detect toxins in vaccines and medical devices, and the large sea slug, Dolabella auricularia, whose peptides have contributed to the development of anti-cancer medications. If you are still craving more marine medical muses, this moth, SOSA crafted a Natur + Medizin Instagram series, spotlighting two marine invertebrates each week that have made significant contributions to human health.

However, the ‘natural pharmacy’ that humanity has relied on for generations is deeply threatened by increasing biodiversity loss. Prof. Dr. Sigwart warns that “the loss of marine biodiversity will directly result in the loss of potential remedies that could have a significant effect on the well-being of all humanity.” Recognizing the urgency, efforts to discover, name, and describe new marine species, which form the core work of SOSA, are crucial in acknowledging the value of what could be lost and mobilizing action to protect it.

Explore the gallery below, visit the new exhibit at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, and/or follow SOSA (@OceanSpecies) on Instagram to dive even deeper!

The new Natur + Medizin exhibit opened at the Senckenberg Natural History Museum on April 18.
Designed with clear nods to a traditional pharmacy, the exhibit invites visitors to explore the connection between medicines and the natural substances that inspired them.
Visitors can slide open drawers to “dig through” the history of some significant medical advances.
An illuminated mural just through the pharmacy facade includes 100 organisms who contribute to human health. Can you spot any of the marine invertebrates? There’s quite a few!
One of the marine invertebrates featured is the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, whose blood is used to detect the presence of toxins in vaccines or on medical devices.
Humans aren’t the only ones borrowing from other organisms for health or defense. The exhibit also includes animals – like the Spanish Dancer sea slug, Hexabranchus sanguineus – who use substances from others.
Models of various organisms, like these different species of Tardigrades seen here, allow visitors to explore creatures that would normally be much to small to interact with.
Visitors can also listen to ‘virtual’ Senckenberg researchers, like SOSA co-founder and head of the Senckenberg Malacology Section, Prof. Dr. Julia Sigwart share the roles various organisms have played in contributing to our understanding and advancement of human health.