Death by Natural Causes Exhibit

Visit: The Houston Museum of Natural Science, 5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030-1718

Death by Natural Causes, features a wide variety of live animals, real poisonous vegetation and a collection of minerals that the world has never seen (and lived to tell the tale).This special exhibition provides visitors with an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover what drove Van Gogh mad, why tomatoes were deemed inedible 500 years ago and many things that are far more likely to kill you than sharks. Encounter live deadly animals up close and personal, such as the Mojave rattlesnake, the snake with the most potent rattlesnake venom. Come face to face with the giant Japanese hornet and its ability to kill more than one honey bee every two seconds. Learn about the Radium Girls: women who were employed to paint glow-in-the-dark ink on wristwatches, only to die from radiation poisoning due to the radium in the ink. Resist the temptation to eat the Amanita mushroom, the very plant responsible for approximately 95% of all mushroom-related fatalities. It turns blood acidic. It causes jaundice. It causes widespread cellular death. It isn’t very pleasant, and requires quick, clever and intense medical care to treat effectively. Come see Death by Natural Causes, and explore so many more of the deadliest aspects of this world we share—you’ll be truly surprised at the danger that lies waiting behind every corner. This exhibition offers a free audio guide which can be operated via one's cellular phone. The exhibit is open everyday Monday - Sunday 9:00A.M. - 5:00 P.M. and is located on the 3rd floor adjacent to the Hall of Ancient Egypt.