(FILES) Technicians work on the protection of skeletons before work that must be undertaken at the Natural History Museum in Paris on February 3, 2026. The Museum, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, seems to be thriving - evidenced by the 3.6 million visitors it welcomes each year to its various facilities - but behind the beautiful facade, the walls are crumbling: "And this isn't science fiction." With buildings closed for decades and others soon to follow, the National Museum of Natural History is seeking funding to address the alarming state of its buildings. (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD / AFP via Getty Images)