Information Age: six networks that changed our world
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Objects and stories
The Science Museum's collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical change that spans centuries.
With the largest number of science and technology objects in the world, our collection covers an impressive breadth of subjects including natural sciences, engineering, technology and medicine, both past and contemporary.
In addition, the Museum owns a number of iconic objects, ‘firsts’ and prototypes of advances in science and technology that have had global impact on society, from Stephenson's Rocket and a Newcomen engine to Crick and Watson's DNA model and an EMI brain scanner.
Explore... Medicine and genetics
Wax anatomical figure of reclining woman, Florence, Italy, 1771–1800
The figure is made from beeswax and hair, and the front can be removed to reveal the internal organs.
Lancet owned by Edward Jenner, England, 1720–1800
At least four cuts would be made in the flesh of the arm using this sharp blade or lancet.
X-ray plates
These German examples in a sealed cardboard box were part of a German First World War X-ray kit.
Votive male torso
Dissected to show viscera, reputedly from Isola Farnese, Roman, 200BCE–200CE.
Molecular model of penicillin by Dorothy M Crowfoot Hodgkin, England, 1945
Chemist and crystallographer Dorothy M Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910–1994) used large punch-card operated tabulators to help analyse the patterns cast by reflected X-rays.
'Smokey Sue Smokes for Two', health education doll, England, 1995
Used to educate pregnant women and young people about the dangers of smoking.
'Jedi' helmet, used with Cryogenic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine
Used to take MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans of the brain.
Templates from Crick and Watson's DNA molecular model
20 metal plates representing the pyrimidines cytosine and thymine, and 18 metal plates representing the purines, adenine and guanine.
One gramme radium teletherapy apparatus, wheeled
The fourth Westminster Hospital "bomb", probably made by E. Rock Carling at the Hospital, London, c.1930.
Genoese medicine chest, 1562–1566
Medicine chest, large, leather covered, contains 71 bottles, some with labels, 78 pewter boxes, and 17 other pieces.
Iron mortsafe lid, British, 1801-1822
In the early 1800s, those that could afford them might have chosen to use heavy iron mortsafes such as this one to protect coffins and their occupants.
Wooden acupuncture model, Asia, 1601–1700
The wooden male figure shows the points where needles should be applied to the skin and the meridians through which qi flows in the body.
Drinker-type iron lung respirator, London, England, 1930–1939
Named after its inventor, Philip Drinker (1894-1972), this is an example of one of the first iron lungs or cabinet respirators.
Forest of Rods model of myoglobin
Constructed in 1960 during work on the structure of the molecule to a resolution of 2 Angstroms.
Lower limb prostheses, Roehampton, England, 1966
A pair of lower limb prostheses for a Thalidomide affected child who was born with complete absence of upper limbs and phocomelic lower limbs.
Explore... Atomic Science
J.J. Thomson’s Cathode-Ray Tube used in the identification of the electron, 1897
Model of helium atom, c.1911, according to the Bohr-Rutherford theory
Cockroft and Walton's Accelerator
Portion of the original apparatus used by Drs. Cockcroft and Walton for the artificial disintegration of the elements by swift protons.
Chadwick's Cigarette Box containing Metal Foils and Paraffin Wax, 1932
Cigarette box containing absorbers and two discs of paraffin wax, used by James Chadwick.
Bowl from Hiroshima, Japan
Porcelain bowl, retrieved from Hiroshima after the atomic bomb explosion, unsigned, Japan, August 1945.
Explore... The Archive Collection
The Science Museum archives hold original records of some of the most famous and influential individuals and companies in the fields of science, medicine, engineering and industry.
Find out how to explore the archive catalogue or view the archives in person.
Digital copy of manuscript of the engineer John Urpeth Rastrick, entitled: Common Place Book, produced in Shropshire.
Collection of John Herschel's notebooks
The notebooks are entitled: 'Experiments in various subjects viz optical, chemical and nonsensical and queer things miscellaneously arranged for the benefit of posterity'.
Drawings of the Great Eastern steam ship
Probably commissioned by the Eastern Steam Navigation Co. for promotional purposes.
Letters patent granted to Stephen Geary for 'Improvements in the preparation of fuel'
Patent no. 7654 issued by Queen Victoria, dated 26 May 1838.
Letters patent granted to Thomas Farmer for 'Improvements in treating Pyrites to obtain Sulphur, Sulphurous Acid and other products'
Certificate admitting Samuel Argall to the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Padua
Manuscript on parchment in a booklet style, with two attached wax seals.
Letters patent (no. 2871) granted to Henry Woodcroft Hammond for 'An Improved Compound Blower'
Letters patent (no.522) granted to William Millard for 'Improvements in Jacquard looms'
Explore... The Babbage Papers
This historic and important archive contains three main types of material: 1) Babbage’s notebooks, 2) engineering drawings and 3) notations which describe the way parts are intended to act and can be thought of as 'walk throughs' or 'traces' of micro-programs for various models or plans of the engines.
Drawings of the Analytical Engine
These drawings show the calculating mechanisms of the Analytical Engine during Babbage's first phase of work on it between 1833 - 1848.
Drawings and tracings of Difference Engine No. 2
This series comprises 17 tracings of the original design drawings in Series A for Difference Engine No. 2.
Miscellaneous tracings relating to the Analytical Engine
Tracings relating to the first phase of Babbage's work on the Analytical Engine, especially Plans 28 and 28a.
Drawings of the Analytical Engine
These drawings originate from the beginning of Babbage's second phase of work on the Analytical Engine from 1857–1871.
Drawings of tools
This set of 19 drawings concern a 'Universal Machine Tool' developed by Babbage in 1857–1858.
Notations of the Analytical Engine
These 388 notations describe how the Analytical Engine functions. They are meant to accompany the mechanical details of the engine given in the Series A drawings.
Cardboard drawings of the Analytical Engine
These 15 cardboard drawings relate to the model of the Analytical Engine under construction at the time of Babbage's death.
Draft notation of the Difference Engine No. 2
This series comprises 39 sheets of draft notations. They include notations for the printing apparatus, the final form of which are in Series H.
Drawings of the Difference Engine No. 1
These are the working drawings for Difference Engine No. 1. The condition of many of the drawings suggest they were used in the workshops to construct the engine.
Notations of calculations for the Analytical Engine
These 27 sets of notations are 'walk throughs' or 'traces' of programs for the Analytical Engine.
Stereotype drawings
These 13 drawings are impressions from stereotype plates prepared for Babbage.
History Sheets of the Analytical Engine
Each history sheet summarises Babbage's major developments and ideas for the Analytical Engine over a single year.
Formulas relating to programs
The series comprises five sheets that contain algebraic developments relating to various calculations the Analytical Engine may have been intended to perform.
Drawings of the Analytical Engine, Second Phase
This series of 49 drawings relates to the second phase of Babbage's work on the Analytical Engine from 1857 until his death in 1871.
Miscellaneous mechanical notations
There are seven notations in this series. Some of the notations relate to the Difference Engine No. 2. Other sheets show how the mechanical notation developed in order to show the movement of parts.
Catalogues and indexes of Babbage's papers relating to his calculating engines
This series comprises 14 sets of bound manuscript notes in which Babbage describes the arrangement, indexes and cataloguing of his drawings, notations, note books, designs and tools.
Sketch books and scribbling books
This series of manuscript notebooks contain Babbage’s rough sketches, notes and ideas relating to the Difference and Analytical Engines.
Universal Machine Tool
This series comprises two drawings and an accompanying loose leaf manuscript notebook.
Difference Engine No. 1: Drawings, notations, manuscripts and printed extracts
This series comprises several plans and drawings, notations, manuscript notes, a printed extract and a printed broadsheet of mathematical tables.
Difference Engine No. 2: Notations and indexes
The notations show the movements of the calculating mechanisms. The indexes list the different parts in the engine.
Draft notes and drawings relating to the first phase of work on the Analytical Engine from 1833–1848
This series comprises a mix of rough notes, lists and drafts.
Draft sketches relating to the second phase of work on the Analytical Engine from 1857–1872
This series comprises of rough drawings for a variety of parts including the locking motions for carriage column.
Miscellaneous papers relating to H.P. Babbage's 'Mill' of the Analytical Engine
This series comprises plans and patterns for the 'Mill' or processing unit of the Analytical Engine built by H.P. Babbage from his father's plans.
