Explore
Our interest in the world leads us to collect knowledge. The origins of museums date back to the cabinets of curiosities of the 16th and 17th centuries, only available for the elite. In the 18th century, with the creation of scientific museums, collections became accessible to the public.
General view of the mineral display at the exhibition "O Museu à minha procura" (2023)Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Explore the Earth
Our mineralogy collection allows us to explore our planet through the five continents and their geological features.
Mineral samples of apatite and wolframite
Apatite is the main natural source of phosphorus, an essential element for plant growth and the body's health.
Wolframite, meanwhile, is important for the armaments and electrical industries.
The specimens we see here were harvested in Portugal, on the European continent.
General view of the mineral display at the exhibition "O Museu à minha procura" (2023)Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Mineral sample of pyrite
Known as ‘fool's gold’ because of its lustre, pyrite is the most common sulphide.
This specimen was collected in Peru, on the American continent.
Mineral sample of gypsum
The gypsum specimen we see here was harvested in Brazil, on the American continent.
General view of the mineral display at the exhibition "O Museu à minha procura" (2023)Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Mineral sample of pyromorphite
Pyromorphite is a lead mineral.
This specimen was collected in China, on the Asian continent.
Mineral sample of azurite
A very important mineral in the Middle Ages and Renaissance due to its deep blue pigmentation.It was used in the production of pigments for paintings and contributed to the artistic expression of the time.
This specimen was found in Morocco, on the African continent.
Sample of crocoite from the mineral collectionNatural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Mineral sample of crocoite
Used in painting for its pigment, this mineral has stopped being used due to its toxicity. This specimen was collected in Australia, Oceania.
Exploring life and death
The belief in the afterlife and the resulting opulence of the tombs that characterised Ancient Egypt inspired countless archaeological campaigns in the tombs of this civilisation.This funerary mask materialises the fascination of the act of exploring in the MHNC-UP collection.
Egyptian mask
Made to resemble the deceased, it was placed over the mummified body so that it could be recognised after death. The symbolism and colours used depended on the status of the deceased and included representations of gods who would help them pass into the afterlife.
These votive tablets were made of shale, a very abundant material in the region where they originated (in this case, the Alentejo). Today, archaeologists interpret these plaques, which accompanied the dead deposited in megalithic monuments, as identifying elements of individuals or families/clans.
Carpotheque from the Herbarium (MHNC-UP)Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Exploring Nature
The Carpotheque is a scientific collection of fruits, linked to a herbarium, in which different specimens are kept, along with relevant information about each specimen.
Botanical specimens displayed at the exhibition "Museu à minha procura"Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Fruit Library
A collection of valuable data on plant variability, life cycles and processes contributes to the understanding of biodiversity. By using the collection, this knowledge can be applied in fields such as botany, ecology and conservation.
Fundamental pieces for the field sessions:
The vasculum is a metal box (tinplate) used to transport the plants during field trips and to keep them in good condition and preserve their three-dimensional shape until they are pressed.
A portable herbarium press is used to dry and flatten plants collected in the field, allowing them to be stored and preserved in suitable conditions for transport and subsequent scientific study and botanical documentation.
PO Herbarium specimen and Field Photography of "Welwitschia mirabilis Hook f."Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto
Exploring living fossils
Welwitschia mirabilis, popularly known as the 'desert octopus', is an endemic plant found only in the Namib Desert in Angola.
This species existed in the Jurassic period and is now considered a living fossil.
Desert octopus
Its scientific name, Welwitschia mirabilis, comes from the botanist Friedrich Martin Josef Welwitsch, who identified it in 1859 during an expedition in the Angolan desert.
Tools for scientific exploration
Scientific instruments play a fundamental role in humans ability to explore the unknown and understand the world. They help researchers in their studies, whether in collecting data or conducting controlled experiments.
They allow us to study samples, phenomena and conditions that would otherwise be inaccessible or difficult to grasp.
Built by Pierre Curie, Marie Curie's husband, it enabled the scientist to identify two radioactive elements - polonium and radium - during her doctoral studies in 1898.
A curved crystal X-ray spectrograph mock-up is used to demonstrate the operation and principles of X-ray scattering by curved crystals, an essential component in crystal structure studies and materials analysis by X-ray diffraction.
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