Exhibition

Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos

13 February 2026 - 3 January 2027

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£10 £5 Standard entry price

An out-of-this-world premiere exhibition, now open at the Science and Industry Museum.

An out-of-this-world premiere exhibition, now open at the Science and Industry Museum.

Blast off into the Solar System and embark on a cosmic adventure guided by familiar characters from the brand-new BBC Horrible Science TV series.

Walk in the shoes of astronauts and discover far-off worlds, dance on an alien disco planet and journey through the depths of space to uncover the secrets of our universe:

  • What does a star smell like?

  • How do astronauts eat, sleep, work and train their bodies?

  • What really happens if you need the loo in space?

From smelly space socks to a real space toilet, prepare for surprising science, interactive experiments and playful challenges on this high-energy voyage through space.

But, beware of Dr Big Brain, the galaxy's greatest evil genius, who will be on the hunt for help with his diabolical plans to conquer the Solar System. Will you use your new science skills to make sense of the Solar System, or cause cosmic chaos by joining forces with a supervillain?

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

  • See a space toilet used by astronauts on the Soyuz-Mir spacecraft and touch a real piece of the Moon that fell to Earth as a meteorite

  • Programme an interplanetary rover, test your balance on a moonquake and see if you can survive a black hole

  • See astronaut Tim Peake's headset from his 2015 space mission on public display for the first time

  • Get sucked through a wormhole and rummage through a giant space rubbish dump

  • Experience the extreme temperature swings on Mercury and see how strong you are on different planets

  • Test your knowledge with Dr Big Brain's impossible quiz

  • Take a break under a twinkling starscape in the Cosy Crater and shake off the space dust by joining the party on Disco Planet.

This listing is supplied by one of our museum partners and is not moderated by Art Fund.

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Science and Industry Museum

Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M3 4FP
03300 580058

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Open daily, 10.00 - 17.00

Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

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