11 Highlights from Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?

Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?

Find out in our latest exhibition! Snap a selfie with a piece of Mars, touch a fragment of the Moon and lay your hands on a meteorite older than our planet.

1. Touch a piece of the Moon

We can’t fly you to the Moon, but we can do the next best thing – bring a piece of the Moon to you. Our Moon was formed when a baby planet collided with early Earth, flinging debris into orbit. That debris eventually became the Moon we know today. Touch a genuine lunar rock and feel a fragment of our cosmic past.

2. Plan your own space mission

If you were leading a mission into deep space, what would you take? Plan your own expedition in our fun interactive. Do you have what it takes to achieve a successful launch by balancing the weight limits of a rocket with the need to bring equipment for scientific research? Pick a destination, maybe a moon of Jupiter or Saturn, equip your spacecraft, launch it and see if you succeed!

3. Meet Earth’s most extreme creatures

Some of the toughest life forms on Earth thrive in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where temperatures soar and sunlight never reaches. These extraordinary animals show us that life can exist in the most extreme conditions. Check out what these creatures look like and how their adaptations help them to survive. They can give us an idea of how organisms might adapt to similar conditions on the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

4. Experience what it looks like to step on the surface of Mars

Step into an immersive projection of the Martian surface and watch how the planet has changed over billions of years. Mars is now a dry, dusty world but it was once home to flowing rivers and vast lakes. Could it have supported life long ago? Witness its change and draw your own conclusions.

5. Sniff the moons of Jupiter

Ever wondered what it smells like on celestial bodies? Scientists have studied the chemical compositions of the moons of Jupiter and a perfumer has recreated the possible scents of one of the planet’s moons especially for our exhibition. What do you think it might smell like? Come and take a sniff.

6. Drive a mini Mars rover

NASA’s rovers search for ancient Martian life, and now you can too! Direct a mini model rover across real images of the Martian landscape where the Perseverance rover has been. Your mission is to collect samples that could contain traces of ancient life. But careful! Time’s limited and there are hazards all around.

7. Feel the surface of Mars

Few people can say they’ve touched a piece of extraterrestrial matter with their own hands, but you have the chance to do just that! Fragments of Mars that have fallen to Earth as meteorites, offer us clues about the red planet’s past. These Martian rocks have helped shape our understanding of the planet, revealing evidence of water, ancient volcanoes and the potential for life. Reach out and feel it for yourself!

8. Gaze at the oldest thing you’ll ever see

Inside a small tube sits something truly extraordinary! Take a look at dust that’s older than the Sun and the other planets in our solar system. This stardust, which is found inside meteorites, dates back over 4.5 billion years and contains the same elements that make up everything we know, including us. If there is any life out there, it’s probably made of these elements too.

9. Witness the impact of a meteorite

In 2021 an incredibly rare event happened right here in England. A meteorite landed on a family’s driveway in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. Our scientists were among the first on the scene to study the rock, which contained elements essential for life. Which raises the question – could meteorites like this have delivered the ingredients for life to Earth billions of years ago? Come and look at the exact chunk of driveway where the meteorite hit.

10. Get up close with a Mars rover

The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover is set to explore uncharted Martian territory, drilling deeper into the surface than any mission before it. Its goal? To find signs of ancient water and possible traces of life. See a full-scale model up close before the real thing is launched on its mission!

11. Share your thoughts on life beyond Earth

Do you think we’re alone in the universe? Would you make contact with extraterrestrials if you had the chance? How do you think we should interact with alien life? Join the conversation, answer our interactive questions and see how your opinions compare to those of others.

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