{
  "id": 15305529,
  "title": "Discover ancient secrets hidden in Malaysia’s limestone landscapes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/discover-ancient-secrets-hidden-in-malaysias-limestone-landscapes-15305529",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/10/18/discover-ancient-secrets-hidden-in-malaysias-limestone-landscapes"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Malaysia's limestone hills, with their towering stone walls, conceal a wealth of natural archives within their depths. A new exhibition at the National Museum (Muzium Negara) is unveiling this hidden world, running until December 31. The exhibition, titled \"Malaysia Karst Khazanah,\" showcases 87 collections that include fossils, archaeological artifacts, animal specimens, and herbarium material.\n\nKarst landscapes, formed by the gradual dissolution of soluble rock like limestone, create unique geological features such as caves, sinkholes, and cliffs across Malaysia. These formations house ancient secrets, with layers of rock and cave deposits potentially revealing clues about past environments, extinct species, and the lives of ancient inhabitants.\n\nThe exhibition explores three main themes: the formation of karst landscapes, fossil and archaeological discoveries, and the plant and animal life that inhabit these environments. It also emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems from damage caused by quarrying, development, and tourism.\n\nVisitors can learn about the rich biodiversity of Malaysia's limestone landscapes, such as the Gua Bama cave in Kuala Lipis, which dates back over 240 million years. The exhibition aims to make the complex subject of karst landscapes accessible, emphasizing the connection between geology, history, and local culture.",
  "summary": "A new Muzium Negara exhibition explores the caves, fossils, wildlife and archaeology found in some of the country’s most remarkable karst environments.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Discover ancient secrets hidden in Malaysia’s limestone landscapes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/discover-ancient-secrets-hidden-in-malaysias-limestone-landscapes",
        "published": "2026-10-17T23:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Underwater mountains, canyons hold secrets of Malaysia's seas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/underwater-mountains-canyons-hold-secrets-of-malaysias-seas",
        "published": "2026-10-17T23:40:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}