A model of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosalind Franklin rover in the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall CREDIT Trustees of the Natural History Museum

A once-in-a-lifetime experience; nowhere else in Europe can visitors touch a fragment of the Moon, snap a selfie holding a piece of Mars and lay their hands on a meteorite older than Earth.

Today, there’s more evidence than ever before that life could exist beyond Earth. Join us on the cusp of discovery as we explore one of the biggest questions asked by humanity – are we alone in the universe?

Today the Natural History Museum, London, announces a new blockbuster exhibition Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?.

Filled with showstopping star specimens, interactive games and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, visitors will embark on their very own space quest. Journeying through different extraterrestrial environments following the search for life they will explore early Earth, asteroids, Mars, the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn and planets beyond our solar system.

Snap a selfie with a piece of Mars, touch a fragment of the Moon and lay your hands on the Allende meteorite, which – at 4.567 billion years old – is even older than Earth!

The Museum’s meteorite collection contains some of the most important space rocks in the world, many of which will be displayed in this exhibition. Among those on show will be Ivuna, which is made from the same material as the Sun and is the type specimen of the rarest kind of meteorites.

Rooted in the Museum’s latest scientific research, Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? is a sensory experience that will transport visitors young and old across the galaxy. Guide a rover over the rocky Martian terrain in search of ancient life, decide what equipment to take with you on a space mission, listen to the sounds of the red planet and smell the scents of outer space.

Director of Public Programmes, Dr Alex Burch said, “This is no ordinary day out! Just as our expert scientists are pushing the boundaries in the search for life beyond Earth, we too are pushing the limits to bring you closer than ever to the action. The opportunity to wrap your fingers around the Moon, to hold a piece of Mars and to bear witness to a meteorite older than Earth itself is one not to be missed!”

For the first time in the Museum’s 144-year history, an exhibition dedicated to space exploration and the search for life will combine our world-leading collection of meteorites with our cutting-edge science, which is guiding international space agencies to make sense of life beyond Earth.

Our planetary scientists travel space, time and can even predict the future. Their research into the asteroid Bennu recently made global headlines when, along with their collaborators, they found evidence to support the theory that asteroids like Bennu delivered the building blocks of life to Earth. Bennu was selected because there is a small chance it could collide with Earth in the year 2182. The ability to compare Bennu to the meteorites in the Museum’s collection using our state-of-the-art analytical facilities was invaluable to the study.

Discounted early bird tickets are available to prebook for a limited time. An accompanying programme of events and activities for all ages is also now available to book. More information can be found here.

Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? is supported by Lead Funder the Huo Family Foundation and Lead Corporate Sponsor Jupiter Asset Management.

Notes to editors

Assets

Images and video are available here.

The press preview is provisionally booked to take place on Wednesday 14 May from 0830-1730. Please contact aisling.lewis@nhm.ac.uk to register your interest.

Dates: Friday 16 May 2025 – Sunday 22 February 2026
Times: Monday – Sunday 10.00-17.50 (last entry 16.30)
Price: Peak: Adult £16.50, child £8.25
Off-peak: Adult £14.00, child £7.00
Members, patrons and children under 4 go free
Tickets: Discounted early bird tickets available to pre-book now at www.nhm.ac.uk/could-life-exist-beyond-earth

Press Contact

Natural History Museum Press Office

Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5654 / 07799690151

Email: press@nhm.ac.uk

The Natural History Museum is a world-leading scientific research centre and one of the world’s most visited museums. Our mission is to create advocates for the planet – people who act for nature.

Our 400 scientists are finding solutions to the planetary emergency - from reversing biodiversity loss to resourcing the green economy.

We are seeking an additional £150 million to transform our South Kensington building: placing our groundbreaking research at its heart, revitalising four existing galleries, opening two new magnificent galleries and delighting 1 million more visitors a year with the wonders of the natural world.

The Huo Family Foundation

Since its inception in 2009, the Huo Family Foundation has given over $75 million to support projects in the UK, US and China. The Foundation's mission is to support education, communities, and the pursuit of knowledge. Its current areas of focus are education; the arts; and science. Through its grants, the Foundation hopes to improve the prospects of individuals, and to support the work of organisations seeking to build a safe and successful future for all society. The Foundation previously supported the Natural History Museum’s Science Training Programme and Open Citizen Science Project within the Urban Nature Project with a multi-year gift of £300,000. It has also supported the museum’s exhibition Birds: Brilliant & Bizarre (May 2024 to January 2025) with a grant of £250,000.

Jupiter Asset Management

Curiosity and adaptability are human qualities vital to navigating a world where change is the only constant. At Jupiter, we believe that delivering investment excellence requires a balance of diverse thinking, creativity, and a relentless drive to seek enduring investment opportunities.

Being exclusively asset-management driven, Jupiter focus entirely on delivering for their clients. They make an active difference by looking for opportunities that will be relevant and valued not just today, but in the future.

Jupiter values independence, individuality and diverse thinking, with a culture that puts collaboration and a spirit of challenge at its heart.

Every day, their people direct their efforts towards creating a better future for clients, combining human ingenuity with the right technology to provide a high-quality client experience. This is their enduring edge in a world of constant change. This is the value of active minds.

Jupiter is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Marina Barcenilla

The exhibition’s space smells have been designed by fragrance designer and space scientist Marina Barcenilla.