New Exhibition Presents Fresh Look at Hidden Hazards and Nature’s Dangers through Hands-on, Immersive Experiences
- Opening in March 2027, the Saint Louis Science Center will host a new exhibition entitled Death by Natural Causes.
- The Death by Natural Causes exhibition explores the science behind nature’s unexpected dangers.
- The opening at the Saint Louis Science Center marks the U.S. tour premiere for this traveling exhibition that was created by the Houston Museum of Natural Science in collaboration with Stage 9 Exhibits.
ST. LOUIS, MO – October 7, 2026 – Colorful creatures, sweet-smelling plants and innocent encounters can be beautiful and memorable, but they can also be deadly. A new special exhibition coming to the Saint Louis Science Center — making its U.S. tour premiere — explores the surprising science behind nature’s unexpected dangers.
Death by Natural Causes opens in the Science Center’s Boeing Hall on March 20, 2027, and examines how the natural world can be both fascinating and dangerous. From menacing creatures and poisonous plants to everyday foods, materials and interactions, guests will discover the science behind nature’s unexpected threats through scientific explanation, hands-on interactives and immersive experiences. The exhibition challenges common myths, confronts assumptions and reveals that sometimes the scariest things we encounter are hiding in plain sight.
“The science behind what we fear is a fascinating exploration,” Science Center President and CEO Dr. Ray Vandiver notes. “Many of our fears are irrational, and it’s often the things we don’t look at closely that warrant the most concern. We’re honored that the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Stage 9 Exhibits has chosen the Saint Louis Science Center to kick off the traveling display of this world-class exhibition that is both intriguing and educational. And, while the topic of death can spark unease, the way this exhibition presents the subject leaves audiences feeling captivated and informed, rather than scared.”
Death by Natural Causes presents a closer look at hazards across three overarching themes and why they often go unnoticed:
- Malevolent Minerals – Discover how naturally occurring minerals and elements can be essential to life, yet harmful or deadly under the wrong conditions.
- Poisonous Plants – Explore the surprising defenses that plants use to survive and the toxins they hold that can make seemingly harmless plants dangerous.
- Fearsome Fauna – Encounter the remarkable defenses — from venom and poison to other adaptations that help them survive — that can make animals of all sizes dangerous.
Created by the Houston Museum of Natural Science in collaboration with Stage 9 Exhibits, Death by Natural Causes introduces the range of animal, vegetable and mineral dangers that lurk in our everyday lives. Through a collection of specimens, text and interactives, the exhibition clarifies the terms poisonous, venomous, and toxic to debunk myths and old wives’ tales while revealing how elements of the natural world can contribute to death, directly or indirectly. Following its opening run at the Science Center, this exhibition will begin a tour of museums and science centers around North America over the next several years. Support for this exhibition is provided by the John P. McGovern Foundation and the Harriet and Truett Latimer Endowment Fund.
Tickets on Sale January 8, 2027
Tickets to Death by Natural Causes at the Saint Louis Science Center will go on sale January 8, 2027. More information on the exhibition is available at slsc.org/death.
Local sponsorship opportunities are available with the Science Center for this exhibition. Please contact nate.pedigo@slsc.org for more information.
One of the nation’s only free, nonprofit science centers, the Saint Louis Science Center features hundreds of interactive, hands-on experiences. The iconic St. Louis institution offers free admission to all guests and is open to the public Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information on programs and events at the Science Center, please visit slsc.org or call 314-289-4400.
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Contact:
Doug Bolnick, Public Relations Manager
314.289.4461
About the Saint Louis Science Center
The mission of the Saint Louis Science Center is to inspire everyone to be curious and engaged in science. Named a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate in 2016, the award-winning Science Center engages guests through on-site experiences, including hundreds of hands-on exhibits, the OMNIMAX® Theater (which is one of the only IMAX® Dome with Laser theaters in the world) and the recently updated James S. McDonnell Planetarium, the largest and most advanced hybrid planetarium in the United States. For more information about the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org.
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