Uncovering Earth's Hidden Biodiversity

This chapter emphasizes the critical need to discover and classify millions of unidentified species in light of rising extinction rates driven by human activity. It showcases the role of museums, specifically the Berlin Museum of Natural History, in preserving biodiversity and highlights the historical and cultural significance of taxonomy. Through the lens of early naturalists and modern science, the chapter explores how classification not only aids scientific understanding but also reflects our intrinsic human desire to categorize the natural world.