10 of the World's Most Inspiring Science Museums

By Google Arts & Culture

Words by Eric Esposito

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The Natural History Museum, Berlin

Look up, lean back, and stretch your neck to take in the brachiosaurus, the diplodocus, and other extraordinary dinos at Berlin's beloved museum of Natural History! It's a treasure trove of over 30 million specimens, fossils, and other exhibits. Click and drag and use the arrows to explore...

The Wet Collections by Carola Radke (MfN)Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

The museum is famous for its cool and creepy 'walls of biodiversity', including this, The Wet Collection, made up of over one million natural specimens preserved in a special fluid.

A voyage into the Universe... by Hwa Ja Götz (MfN)Museum für Naturkunde Berlin

From sea creatures to the stars: the musem also houses a mobilde projection screen which tells the history of the entire universe, from the Big Bang to now.

MUSE (2013)MUSE - The Science Museum

2. MUSE – The Science Museum of Trento

Inspired by the surrounding Italian Alps, MUSE’s top attraction is a 32-foot-long “Ice Tunnel” in which guests experience the sights and sounds of the famous mountain range.

The ice tunnel (2013)MUSE - The Science Museum

As viewers fly over the Alps in this multimedia exhibit, they witness both the tranquility of Alpine forests and the destruction of awesome avalanches.

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Click the arrows or drage the viewfinder to discover dinos and more in the museum's packed collection.

Sky Theater with Zeiss projector and a seated audienceAdler Planetarium

4. Adler Planetarium, Chicago

Chicago’s Adler Planetarium is the oldest planetarium in the USA and one of the best places to learn about astronomy.

Adler Building 2017Adler Planetarium

Today, the Adler Planetarium boasts three domed theaters, an observatory, and numerous hands-on exhibits. Adler’s main attraction is the Grainger Sky Theater, which has 20 HD projectors.

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You can orbit the planetarium's dome from home in Street View.

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5. Gwacheon National Science Museum

Many of the exhibits in South Korea’s Gwacheon National Science Museum show how past Korean innovations could be used to create a more sustainable future. For example, the museum’s Korean Traditional House highlights how ancient architects incorporated nature seamlessly into their design, teaching us valuable lessons for today.

Korean Traditional House by Gwacheon National Science MuseumGwacheon National Science Museum

Ancient Koreans put their main floor on the ground level to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature all year-round. Amazingly, the lumber pieces used in this structure were so intricately arranged that builders didn’t need to use nails.

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6. American Museum of Natural History, NYC

Manhattan’s American Museum of Natural History is dedicated to presenting an overview of our world’s natural history. In the museum’s celebrated dinosaur wing, one fossil collection takes center stage: the 122-foot long Titanosaur.

Titanosaur overview by Photo: AMNH/D. FinninAmerican Museum of Natural History

Discovered on a farm in Argentina, this Titanosaur is considered the largest mammal to have ever have walked the earth.

Meet the TitanosaurAmerican Museum of Natural History

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7. Deutsches Museum

As Europe’s largest technology museum, Munich’s Deutsches Museum is at the forefront of researching new modes of communication, transportation, and energy production.

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8. National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC - The Discovery’s Landing Pad

The collection of planes and spaceships at Washington, DC’s National Air and Space Museum shows the evolution of aviation from the Wright Brothers all the way through to the Space Age.

Space Shuttle DiscoverySmithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

A major attraction here is the Space Shuttle Discovery, which made a total of 39 space trips during its years of operation.

Used between 1984 and 2011, the Discovery still holds the title for the longest-serving American orbiter.

The Space Shuttle Discovery in 360Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Grey Wolf DioramaDenver Museum of Nature & Science

9. Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The main goal of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has always been to preserve the unique flora and fauna in the Rocky Mountain region. For this reason, the museum houses many exceptional wilderness scenes.

Colorado Grizzly Bear DioramaDenver Museum of Nature & Science

One of the best-known scenes here is the Colorado Grizzly Bear Diorama. Many wildlife experts believe the female bear in this diorama to be the last that ever roamed the Colorado wilderness.

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10. Science Museum, London

A major focus of London’s Science Museum is preserving the revolutionary inventions from the UK’s Industrial Age. One Industrial Era masterpiece in the Science Museum is the famous Puffing Billy, which holds the title for the world’s earliest steam railway locomotive.

Puffing Billy locomotive (1813/1814) by William HedleyScience Museum

Created in 1814, the Puffing Billy transported coal in northern England for an impressive 50 years.

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All of the museum exhibits listed here highlight the extremes of both the natural and technological worlds. A visit to any of these museums will open your mind to the limitless possibilities of scientific inquiry.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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