The Natural History Museum in London plunges the public into the depths of the oceans of nearly 200 million years ago through a spectacular exhibition devoted to large marine reptiles and contemporary climate issues.
In the galleries of the Natural History Museum, the new exhibition "Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep" offers an immersion into the Jurassic seas, an era when giant marine reptiles dominated aquatic ecosystems, while dinosaurs and pterosaurs reigned respectively over the land and the skies.
Drawn from the museum's rich paleontological collections, the exhibition features several remarkable fossils, including an ichthyosaur skull and an impressive plesiosaur approximately twelve meters long. According to researchers, this plesiosaur moved through the water with an agility reminiscent of "underwater flight," thanks to its four flippers used in a coordinated manner and a long neck ending in a small head. Although perfectly adapted to aquatic life, the animal still had to surface regularly to breathe.
Beyond its scientific and aesthetic appeal, the exhibition draws a clear parallel with current climate upheavals. The fossil record reminds us that rapid climate variations have already led to mass extinction events throughout Earth's history. Researchers emphasize that in two centuries, more than 2,000 gigatons of carbon dioxide have been released into the atmosphere, altering the planet's energy balance and causing a gradual rise in ocean temperatures, with direct consequences for ecosystems.
Open until January 3, 2027, the exhibition invites the public on a scientific and contemplative journey, between exploring vanished worlds and reflecting on the fragility of contemporary oceans.
