Making CT‑scanned mummies and artefacts explorable for global audiences

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago is one of the largest natural history museums in the world and holds one of the most extensive collections of mummies in any U.S. museum. Storyvoxel has worked with the Field Museum over many years to transform advanced CT imaging data into interactive experiences that allow visitors to explore rare artefacts using real scientific data.

The collaboration has resulted in multiple interactive installations based on Inside Explorer, enabling public access to complex research data across exhibitions, travelling shows, and digital platforms.

The challenge

Field Museum researchers use advanced CT imaging to study mummies and other artefacts in the collection, uncovering details about age, health, living conditions, belief systems, and burial practices. While the scans provide deep scientific insight, they typically remain confined to expert tools and specialist workflows.

The museum wanted a way to:

• Open access to real CT data for public audiences

• Preserve scientific accuracy and depth

• Support both permanent and travelling exhibitions

• Scale access beyond the museum’s physical galleries

The solution

Storyvoxel worked closely with Field Museum researchers and curators to turn high‑resolution CT datasets into interactive, touch‑based experiences using Inside Explorer. The platform allows visitors to explore artefacts layer by layer—rotating, zooming, slicing, and revealing internal structures through intuitive interaction.

The solution has been applied across a wide range of content, including:

• Egyptian and Peruvian mummies

• Meteorites from Mars

• Fossilised insects preserved in amber

All experiences are grounded in authentic CT‑scanned data, not illustrations or synthetic models.

Ongoing partnership and content sharing

Beyond on‑site installations, the Field Museum is also a long‑term content partner. Selected artefacts—including mummies, meteorites, and insects in amber—are prepared, packaged, and licensed as part of Storyvoxel’s interactive content library.

This approach allows other museums and institutions to access and present Field Museum artefacts through Inside Explorer, extending the reach of the collection and enabling shared, explorable storytelling across organisations.

The Result

The collaboration demonstrates how Captured Reality can support research, education, and global knowledge sharing. By transforming CT data into intuitive interactive experiences, complex scientific information becomes accessible and engaging—without reducing complexity or scientific integrity.

Key outcomes

• Long‑term partnership supporting multiple exhibitions and institutions

• Real CT‑scanned artefacts made explorable for public audiences

• Successful deployment in both permanent and travelling exhibitions

• Shared, licensable content enabling cross‑museum collaboration

• Scalable model for research‑driven public engagement