“More than 300 years ago, Sir Francis Bacon spoke of amber as ‘a more than royal tomb’ for tiny insects. Twentieth century scientists may quite agree.”

But how do insects end up as amber fossils?  What else is found in amber?  How are these amber fossils prepared for study?

The answers to these questions can be found in one of the hidden collections of UCMP’s archives — the 1561st broadcast of “The University Explorer.” This show was narrated by Hale Sparks, former head of broadcasting for the University of California, during which time he ran two educational radio shows — “Science Editor” and “The University Explorer.”

The October 6, 1957 broadcast of the program, entitled “Forever in Amber,” featured Berkeley entomologist Paul D. Hurd, Jr. It follows the path of an ancient insect as it becomes entombed in amber, uncovered, prepared, and studied. The narration moves from the famous Baltic amber deposits to Berkeley’s own amber research efforts in Chiapas, Mexico, and from the struggles of a small fungus gnat caught in sap to the thrill of a scientist’s discovery.

“These insects, which were so remarkably preserved in the fossilized tree gums of the prehistoric forests, are now clearly visible to us in amber. They often appear to be virtually alive.”

A complete transcript of “Forever in Amber” can be found online here or as a pdf.