A New St. Louis Science Center Exhibit is Entirely About the Ways Nature Can Kill You
The Saint Louis Science Center is getting a new exhibit about all the different ways nature can kill you. Death by Natural Causes opens March 20, 2027.
According to the Science Center, visitors will see everything from poisonous plants and dangerous minerals to snakes, spiders, mushrooms, and common foods.
The exhibit was created by the Houston Museum of Natural Science with Stage 9 Exhibits. St. Louis will be the first stop on its new U.S. tour.
Death by Natural Causes first opened in Houston back in 2018. The museum brought it back for another short run in May 2026 before sending it on the road.
Some of the dangerous things look pretty harmless
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One part of the exhibit is devoted to poisonous plants, including hemlock, belladonna, digitalis and strychnine.
The exhibit also includes a section called Malevolent Minerals. Visitors can learn about lead and other naturally occurring elements that can be useful in one situation and dangerous in another.
Of course, the exhibit takes a look at animals that could kill too. The Science Center says the exhibit looks at venom, poison, and other defenses used by animals large and small.
It even goes back to prehistoric encounters. Fossilized human bones show signs of attacks by animals including bears, hyenas and jaguars.
The exhibit also gets into some everyday dangers
When the exhibit first opened, the Houston Museum of Natural Science used mushrooms, snakes, spiders and common foods as examples.
Visitors will learn the difference between something that is poisonous, venomous or toxic. The exhibit also includes old wives’ tales and other myths.
The original Houston version had specimens, interactive displays, poisonous plants and live animals.
It ended up sticking around longer than first planned. HMNS extended the exhibit into 2019 before bringing it back again in 2026.
Tickets go on sale in January
Death by Natural Causes will be inside Boeing Hall at the Saint Louis Science Center. Tickets go on sale January 8, 2027. The Science Center has not announced prices yet.
After the St. Louis run, the exhibit will travel to other museums and science centers around North America over the next several years.
