THOMAS Pettigrew, a nineteenth-century surgeon and antiquarian, threw parties in London at which he unwrapped ancient Egyptian mummies for his guests’ titillation. Modern scanning technologies mean that the unwrapping can now happen virtually, without the destruction that accompanies the physical act. But the ethical question remains: can we both treat the mummy as an object that informs and entertains, and respect him or her as a person who once walked on Earth? …
This article first appeared in Nature on 30 December 2025. To continue reading, click here (paywall).