Behind the scenes at the museum, danger lurks in unexpected places. While our public galleries showcase the wonders of the natural and cultural world, our collections and research labs hold objects and specimens that demand extra caution — and maybe, especially in the dark, a bit of courage. Some of these objects were designed as weapons, others are naturally dangerous, and a few even pose hazards through the chemistry of their own decay. Every specimen tells a story.
Shark tooth spear For anyone suffering from galeophobia—a fear of sharks—this object is extra frightful. This wooden spear shaft from the Kiribati people of Micronesia is lined with rows of razor sharp shark teeth. Called a tataumanaria or te mangau, this style of weapon was used in combat prior to the Gilbert Islands (now the Republic of Kiribati) becoming a protectorate of England in 1892.
Quiver of darts From the Chachi people (also known as Cayapa) of Ecuador, this snakeskin quiver is adorned with animal jaw bones, claws, and feathers, and contains several short reed darts. Notice that these objects are stored in an enclosed box, both for the safety of the object and museum employees. The darts are believed to be dipped in curare poison, used for hunting by indigenous people of Central and South America. Made from boiled plant extracts, curare exposure to the bloodstream can result in paralysis and asphyxiation. Handle with caution!
Rhino skull While rhinos may look dangerous with their large horns and impressive body size, as herbivores who only attack when threatened, are more endangered than dangerous. Some people think their horns, which are the same material as our fingernails, can heal certain diseases or neutralize poisons, despite multiple studies proving the contrary. Learn more about rhinos in the exhibit Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, on view through Spring 2026.
Barbasco roots Barbasco roots, which when crushed to a pulp, can be thrown into a dammed section of a river to poison the fish so they can be easily caught. These hail from the Shuara-Jivaro people of Rio Cusuimi, Ecuador.
Green mamba Green mambas, which live in regions of Africa, possess a deadly venom that affects both the nervous and cardiovascular systems of bite victims. They typically kill prey items like small mammals and birds, but their venom can be deadly to humans, too. They avoid humans and only bite when threatened. Although they are green when they are alive to blend in with their leafy habitat, you’ll notice that ours is blue. That isn’t a magic trick, but rather a reaction between the chemical in which this snake is preserved and the yellow pigments in its skin, leaving behind the blue of the original green color.
Gamma detector during a liquid nitrogen fill In the St. Croix Watershed Research Lab, scientists reconstruct a lake’s history by analyzing sediment cores from the lake bottom. In order to figure out how old each layer of sediment is, they use radioactive isotopes – including some that were first put on the planet by atomic bomb testing. These specialized instruments called gamma spectrometers, must be maintained at an extremely cold temperature (about -196°C) using liquid nitrogen. Even compared to Minnesota’s winters – that’s dangerously cold.
This super-cold environment is critical because it eliminates electronic noise, allowing us to clearly measure the samples’ faint signals and improve accuracy. Because liquid nitrogen is a potential hazard, we always follow strict safety protocols, including wearing cryogenic gloves and ensuring proper lab ventilation.
Pyrite diseased snail shells What’s scarier than sulfuric acid? Fossils that contain pyrite (fool’s gold), like these snail shells, can get something called pyrite disease, where they spontaneously begin to “rust,” forming a crust of white, grey, and yellow minerals. A byproduct of this process is sulfuric acid, which can destroy boxes (like this one), tags, and can even be dangerous to people handling the fossils!
Terminator pig lower jaw The Badlands of South Dakota and Nebraska were once home to large, omnivorous, pig-like animals called entelodonts, which are also known as terminator pigs or hell pigs. These animals could range from 4-6 feet tall, and had a similar role in their ecosystem to the boars or bears of today — eating nuts and roots but also able to tear meat and crush bones with their bites.
