Best Science Museum (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Tellus Science Museum No. 10: Tellus Science Museum - Cartersville, Georgia
This 120,000-square-foot museum in Georgia is comprised of four main galleries dedicated to minerals, fossils, science in motion, and backyard science. Visitors to Tellus Science Museum can also explore space in the 120-seat digital planetarium, or gaze at the stars through a 20-inch telescope in the observatory. Other highlights include an 80-foot brontosaurus and a replica Apollo I capsule.
Photo courtesy of Perot Museum of Nature and Science No. 9: Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Dallas, Texas
Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, this stunning 180,000-square-foot science museum on the outer edge of the Dallas Arts District boasts five floors of interactive exhibits focusing on everything from Earth and space to geology, paleontology, and engineering. Highlights include a children's museum with a dinosaur dig, an earthquake simulator, and a gallery of gems and minerals including the largest cut imperial topaz in the world.
Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center No. 8: Great Lakes Science Center - Cleveland, Ohio
The Great Lakes Science Center offers a community where real scientific challenges provide a learning culture to encourage curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Visitors can explore plenty of hands-on exhibits, as well as the NASA Glenn Visitor Center.
Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 7: The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Franklin Institute is a hands-on science museum that seeks to create a passion for science and tech in everyone. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's most visited museum and features many interactive exhibits that explore science — from sports to space — plus top-notch experiences and special exhibitions.
Photo courtesy of Discovery World Milwaukee No. 6: Discovery World - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Discovery World is a science and technology center that the whole family will enjoy. The 120,000-square-foot space houses the Reiman Aquarium, as well as several hands-on exhibits that focus on two main areas: technology and aquatic biology.
Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Science Center No. 5: Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri
At Saint Louis Science Center, visitors can examine full-scale replicas of a Mars rover, observe sea creatures in the Pacific Coral Reef Aquarium, and watch live STEM demonstrations. Between 10 galleries featuring hundreds of interactive experiences, movies about aquatic animals, dinosaurs, and more in the OMNIMAX theater, and an impressive planetarium, there's always something more to discover at this museum.
Photo courtesy of The Wild Center No. 4: The Wild Center - Tupper Lake, New York
The Wild Center is situated on a beautiful 115-acre campus in the Adirondacks that's home to hundreds of animals. A 54,000-square-foot building houses the center's main exhibits, while trails, a private pond, and river frontage form the outdoor experience. From naturalist-led walks to animal encounters, there's always a special event happening here.
Photo courtesy of Michigan Science Center No. 3: Michigan Science Center - Detroit, Michigan
The Michigan Science Center promotes creative and dynamic STEM learning through a series of interactive exhibits. This institution in Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District features live shows, an IMAX Dome, 4D theater, planetarium, and exhibit space with more than 220 hands-on activities and exhibits.
Photo courtesy of Exploratorium No. 2: Exploratorium - San Francisco, California
San Francisco's Exploratorium is a public learning lab that invites visitors of all ages to experience over 700 interactive exhibits spread throughout several indoor and outdoor galleries. Visitors can listen to a 27-foot-tall wind-powered harp, take a selfie in a water droplet, and examine what looks like a giant painting but is actually a living terrarium brimming with colorful bacteria.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
01-03-2025
- USA Today
Best Planetarium (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of College of Southern Idaho No. 10: Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center for Arts & Science - Twin Falls, Idaho Part of the College of Southern Idaho's Herrett Center for Arts & Science, this planetarium has been providing educational and entertaining shows about the universe since 1995. Featuring a 50-foot dome and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, the Faulkner Planetarium is the perfect way to start or end a visit to this free museum, where you can also enjoy various exhibits about fossils, Native American culture, and art. Photo courtesy of Rawpixel / iStock Via Getty Images Plus No. 9: Clark Planetarium - Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City's Clark Planetarium is more than your average place to learn about the stars. This phenomenal facility features three floors of interactive exhibits covering everything from meteors to the moon, as well as space and laser light shows in the Hansen Dome Theatre and nature films in the Northrop Grumman IMAX Theatre. Photo courtesy of RMSC (Rochester Museum and Science Center) No. 8: Strasenburgh Planetarium at Rochester Museum & Science Center - Rochester, New York Since 1968, the Strasenburgh Planetarium has been captivating audiences with stellar shows and films in its 65-foot full-dome Star Theater. Check out the "Planet Spectacular" show for an overview of our solar system, or dive deep into a program about gravity, space, and time in "Black Holes Revealed." Be sure to check the planetarium's other exhibits too. Photo courtesy of Adler Planetarium No. 7: Adler Planetarium - Chicago, Illinois Located right on Lake Michigan, Adler Planetarium is Chicago's go-to place for all things outer space. From exhibits highlighting moon missions and the Chicago night sky, to multiple daily planetarium shows geared towards amateur astronomers of all ages, the Adler is worth the hype and then some. This planetarium also offers access to the Doane Observatory, which houses the largest telescope in the Chicago area. Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 6: Fels Planetarium at The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Fels Planetarium is so impressive, people book the location for their weddings. It's definitely more than just a unique event space — locals and tourists alike love the giant dome's galactic projections, as well as the daily shows included in admission to The Franklin Institute. Photo courtesy of Morehead Planetarium and Science Center No. 5: Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Chapel Hill, North Carolina Morehead Planetarium, which is part of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, offers a large variety of shows in the GSK Fulldome Theater. A few riveting options include films about the Carolina skies or Galileo, child-friendly missions with the Magic Treehouse kids, and explorations of dark matter. Photo courtesy of Nick Letson No. 4: Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium at University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona A visit to Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is sure to impress, thanks to its numerous exhibits focusing on everything from bugs and sharks to the solar system, as well as the state-of-the-art EOS Foundation Planetarium Theatre. With 146 seats and a SCISS Colorspace projection system with 4K resolution, this planetarium is the cherry on top of any visit to Tucson, Arizona. Photo courtesy of Anna Trankina No. 3: COSI Planetarium - Columbus, Ohio The Center of Science and Industry (COSI) is the home of this top-of-the-line planetarium featuring a Digistar 7 projection system and a 60-foot dome. Planetarium shows are free with museum admission, so you can explore all the COSI exhibits in between immersive planetarium demonstrations that take you back in time to the age of the dinosaurs, then whisk you to outer space to experience eclipses and more. Photo courtesy of U.S. Space & Rocket Center No. 2: INTUITIVE Planetarium at U.S. Space & Rocket Center - Huntsville, Alabama The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is home to one of the top planetariums in the country. Indeed, the INTUITIVE Planetarium, which features an 8K dome and 248 seats, hosts multiple shows each day, including state-of-the-art films about asteroids and the James Webb Telescope. Visitors can also attend Cocktails and Cosmos events, in which stellar shows are accompanied by "cosmically created" cocktails.
USA Today
23-02-2025
- USA Today
Best Science Museum (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Tellus Science Museum No. 10: Tellus Science Museum - Cartersville, Georgia This 120,000-square-foot museum in Georgia is comprised of four main galleries dedicated to minerals, fossils, science in motion, and backyard science. Visitors to Tellus Science Museum can also explore space in the 120-seat digital planetarium, or gaze at the stars through a 20-inch telescope in the observatory. Other highlights include an 80-foot brontosaurus and a replica Apollo I capsule. Photo courtesy of Perot Museum of Nature and Science No. 9: Perot Museum of Nature and Science - Dallas, Texas Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne, this stunning 180,000-square-foot science museum on the outer edge of the Dallas Arts District boasts five floors of interactive exhibits focusing on everything from Earth and space to geology, paleontology, and engineering. Highlights include a children's museum with a dinosaur dig, an earthquake simulator, and a gallery of gems and minerals including the largest cut imperial topaz in the world. Photo courtesy of Great Lakes Science Center No. 8: Great Lakes Science Center - Cleveland, Ohio The Great Lakes Science Center offers a community where real scientific challenges provide a learning culture to encourage curiosity, creativity, and innovation. Visitors can explore plenty of hands-on exhibits, as well as the NASA Glenn Visitor Center. Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute No. 7: The Franklin Institute - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Franklin Institute is a hands-on science museum that seeks to create a passion for science and tech in everyone. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's most visited museum and features many interactive exhibits that explore science — from sports to space — plus top-notch experiences and special exhibitions. Photo courtesy of Discovery World Milwaukee No. 6: Discovery World - Milwaukee, Wisconsin Discovery World is a science and technology center that the whole family will enjoy. The 120,000-square-foot space houses the Reiman Aquarium, as well as several hands-on exhibits that focus on two main areas: technology and aquatic biology. Photo courtesy of Saint Louis Science Center No. 5: Saint Louis Science Center - St. Louis, Missouri At Saint Louis Science Center, visitors can examine full-scale replicas of a Mars rover, observe sea creatures in the Pacific Coral Reef Aquarium, and watch live STEM demonstrations. Between 10 galleries featuring hundreds of interactive experiences, movies about aquatic animals, dinosaurs, and more in the OMNIMAX theater, and an impressive planetarium, there's always something more to discover at this museum. Photo courtesy of The Wild Center No. 4: The Wild Center - Tupper Lake, New York The Wild Center is situated on a beautiful 115-acre campus in the Adirondacks that's home to hundreds of animals. A 54,000-square-foot building houses the center's main exhibits, while trails, a private pond, and river frontage form the outdoor experience. From naturalist-led walks to animal encounters, there's always a special event happening here. Photo courtesy of Michigan Science Center No. 3: Michigan Science Center - Detroit, Michigan The Michigan Science Center promotes creative and dynamic STEM learning through a series of interactive exhibits. This institution in Detroit's Cultural Center Historic District features live shows, an IMAX Dome, 4D theater, planetarium, and exhibit space with more than 220 hands-on activities and exhibits. Photo courtesy of Exploratorium No. 2: Exploratorium - San Francisco, California San Francisco's Exploratorium is a public learning lab that invites visitors of all ages to experience over 700 interactive exhibits spread throughout several indoor and outdoor galleries. Visitors can listen to a 27-foot-tall wind-powered harp, take a selfie in a water droplet, and examine what looks like a giant painting but is actually a living terrarium brimming with colorful bacteria.
Yahoo
21-01-2025
- Yahoo
Nelson pens letter to next NASA head as KSC's Petro becomes interim leader
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has left the building, and while President Trump's nominee awaits a confirmation hearing, the head of Kennedy Space Center will keep things afloat. Nelson, who flew to space on board Space Shuttle Columbia while a member of the House of Representatives, later served in the U.S. Senate for Florida. He was nominated by President Biden and confirmed as the agency's 14th administrator. His likely replacement is billionaire Jared Isaacman, who flew twice to space partnering up with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Until Isaacman is confirmed, though, KSC Director Janet Petro was named interim administrator as Trump took office, becoming the first woman to ever lead the agency, even if temporarily. NASA's Associate Administrator Jim Free was notably passed over for the role, even though he is the lead civil employee. Just how NASA's leadership structure may change under Isaacman's potential confirmation remains to be seen, but Nelson in a farewell letter to whoever gets the job highlights the benefits of an agency that crosses party lines for support. 'There is a special power that space has, that NASA has, to bring together the nations of the Earth, whether we come from different parties or from different continents, we find common ground when we look to the stars for we go to space to learn the secrets of the universe, but in the process, we learn about something else, we learn about ourselves,' he wrote. 'That was something I saw when I looked back at our Earth from the window of a spacecraft as I orbited the Earth,' he continued. 'I saw a beautiful, colorful, magnificent creation suspended in nothing. And when I looked back at our home, I did not see borders. I did not see racial division. I did not see religious division, and I did not see political division. I saw that we are all in this together as citizens of planet Earth.' He urged his successor to listen and trust the people who work at NASA. 'They understand to their core how to make the impossible real in our time,' he wrote. He said NASA's role in the government is rare as its mission is nonpartisan and support comes from all sides of the political spectrum. 'Because NASA keeps that truth at the center of its work, I was moved by the camaraderie, respect and support we received from our allies in Congress,' he wrote. 'I hope you revel in your time at NASA, when you walk the halls and the lots, the control rooms and the assembly buildings, the laboratories and the runways of this special space agency.' NASA head Bill Nelson offers advice for successor in farewell interview He paid homage to the history of KSC while pushing NASA's plans for the Artemis missions in the future, including the goal of returning humans to the moon for the first time since the end of the Apollo program in 1972. And referenced the tragedies that led to the deaths of astronauts such as the Apollo I, Challenger and Columbia accidents. 'When you take in that panorama, you get a view that might be one of the rarest sites on Earth,' he wrote. 'You can see with unusual clarity the past and the future at the same time, and the past and the future meet right here, here at NASA and here in this room where this letter now has reached you.' He reminded the reader of the letter that the role leading NASA is just a chapter in the agency's story. 'I say this not to elevate the importance of the office of the administrator, but to reframe it we are merely temporary stewards of this extraordinary space agency,' he wrote. 'Humanity's dream in the stars is bigger than any of us, bigger than any one person, any one nation and any one generation.' His said he believed the work of the agency transcends any one administration. 'We work for the pioneers who came before us and the adventurers who will come after us,' he wrote. 'Our job, I believe, is to leave this space agency even better than we found it, for it is the children, the students of the Artemis generation, that will lead our world into a spectacular new future. And our job is to show them the way.' He signed off noting as a former administrator and proud American he was rooting for his replacement. 'Your success is NASA's success, and NASA's success is the nation's success. I'm at your service to help in any way what that I can,' he wrote. 'Here at NASA, humanity's capacity to discover and America's capacity to lead shines bright. May you and the NASA team lead our world into new dazzling new dreams. May you sail on the cosmic sea to far off cosmic shores.'
