7 Science Museums Around the World

From the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to the National Science Museum in South Korea

By Google Arts & Culture

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center space shuttle Endeavour creeps beginning its move to the Vehicle Assembly Building.NASA

From dirigibles to dinosaurs and spacesuits to stethoscopes, science museums around the world hold thousands of years worth of human discovery and innovation. Click and drag to walk around some of their top exhibitions using Street View...

1. Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

This is the world's largest collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight from its very beginning, to the Mars missions, and beyond. Click to move forward to take a tour of this gallery...

Space Shuttle Discovery on DisplaySmithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Ever wanted to experience the Space Shuttle from an astronaut's-eye view? Scroll on for an immersive, 360-degree tour...

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

Here's the star attraction. Click and drag as the video plays to look around you and discover Discovery...

How do you go to the toilet in Space? | National Air and Space MuseumSmithsonian's National Air and Space Museum

Even in space, there are some home truths to attend to. How to answer nature's call among the stars? Click and drag to look around as the Smithsonian brings you an astronaut's answer to this "number one" question...

2. Cité de l'espace, Toulouse

The City of Space is a science museum and discovery center focused on the exploration of space - the final frontier. It was opened in June 1997 and is located on the eastern outskirts of Toulouse, France. 

Inside, are interactive exhibits, including a replica rocket control room, two planetariums, and an IMAX cinema. Outside are full-size replicas of the European Ariane rocket, the Soviet spacestation Mir, and Hubble Telescope.

3. Museum of Natural Sciences, Brussels

The Belgian Museum of Natural Sciences takes visitors all the way back in time, to the death of the dinosaurs and the beginnings of human life. The highlight of the collection is its 30 fossilised Iguanodon skeletons, which were discovered in 1878.

The hall which houses these rare and remarkably intact fossils is the largest dinosaur exhibit in the world. But don't forget to take a look at the modern mammals in the collection: the mammoth, blue whale, and Tasmanian wolf.

4. The Science Museum, London

London's Exhibition Road is a nerve-centre of knowledge, home to more than 10 internationally-renowned institutions and museums. One of its most exciting attractions is the Science Museum, celebrating human ingenuity from flight to mobile phones, medical tech to TV.

Among its many weird and wonderful exhibits is a trip deep into the uncanny valley with a robotics room, charting the history of humanoid androids from Harry the Trumpet-Player robot to the Japanese "Kodomoroid" robo news anchor. 

5. Nagoya City Science Museum, Nagoya

Japanese excellence in science and technology is celebrated at the Naogya City Science Museum in three main sections on modern technology, life sciences, and general science with a variety of hands-on exhibits.

Most importantly, it's also home to the largest planetarium in the world. Click, drag, and use the arrows to explore it here.

6. Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University,

This Philadelphia Academy is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1812, by many of the leading naturalists of the early American republic with the expressed aim of, "the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences".

The Academy first opened its collections to the public in 1828. The popularity of its exhibits soared in 1868 with the debut of the world's first mounted dinosaur skeleton, Hadrosaurus. Today, the museum even offers sleepovers for promising young palaeontologists.

7. Gwacheon National Science Museum, Gwacheon

The National Science Museum in the South Korean city of Gwacheon is dedicated to honouring the achievements of scientists across Korean history, and those of more recent, international Nobel prize winners.

Divided between medicines, physics, chemistry, and 'world saving' inventions, the museum seeks to inspire the next generation of inventors and technicians.

In 2012 much of the museum was renovated to coincide with the opening of the Planetarium, and many interactive installations were added. The upper floors of the museum are now dedicated to space and future technology.

Trapezium Stars in the Orion Nebula by Hubble Space TelescopeNASA

Once Upon A Try

Have you worked up a thirst for knowledge? Take a journey of invention and discovery with Once Upon a Try.

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.
Google apps