Published on: 2026-09-29
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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Autumn is the time when you want to visit museums: outside it is gloomy and dull, but entire worlds unfold in the exhibition halls. “Mosbilet” has selected exhibitions of institutions under the Moscow Department of Culture that go beyond the usual format. Here, science meets art, anniversaries of outstanding scientists turn into exciting stories, and exhibits can—and should—be touched, examined, and discussed. We tell you what to see at the State Darwin Museum, the Museum of Cosmonautics, the K.A. Timiryazev State Biological Museum, and the “Biocluster” at VDNH.
Tickets can be purchased in the service “Mosbilet”.
The Darwin Museum: keratin, altruism, and Darwin in pastels
State Darwin Museum — one of the most visited natural science museums in Moscow. We have selected three temporary exhibitions that break the stereotype that science is complicated.
“From claws to hair tips” (until November 15)
What do woolen socks, antelope horns, horse hooves, velociraptor claws, and baleen whale plates have in common? At first glance — nothing. But the exhibition “From claws to the tips of the hair” proves: all this keratin is one of the main building materials of living nature. More than 150 exhibits from the collections of the Darwin Museum and the State Museum of Animal Husbandry named after E.F. Liskun of the Russian State Agrarian University — Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev tell how one protein creates both the ultra-soft fur of the chinchilla and the turtle shell, whose hardness rivals that of metal.
Among the rarities are mammoth and bison wool, the skull of a woolly rhinoceros, depictions of feathered dinosaurs including a Yutyrannus and a Microraptor with feathers on all four limbs, and a Phoenix breed rooster with tail feathers up to 10 meters long. There is a tactile area where you can compare by touch horsehair, cashmere, mohair, felt, and bristle. The exhibition is designed for a wide audience — from children discovering the world of biology for the first time to designers and artists seeking inspiration in natural textures.
“Escape from Loneliness” (until November 29)
Why is an ant willing to die for the queen, a wolf to feed others’ pups, and a person to sacrifice their life for an idea? Exhibition On the 90th anniversary of the birth of the leading Russian ethologist Yevgeny Panov, he answers the question that everyone who has pondered the meaning of cooperation asks themselves: why has altruism turned out to be more advantageous than egoism?
The exhibition traces the path of cooperation from the symbiosis of bacteria that gave rise to complex cells to human culture. Visitors will see insect nests, stuffed birds and mammals, learn how American vampire bats share blood with hungry kin and punish selfish individuals, and discover who is more social — the wolf or the purple gallinule. The exhibition “Escape from Loneliness” is based on the eponymous book by Evgeny Panov, which became a bestseller. The exhibition features drawings and photographs by the scientist from expeditions.
“Rereading Darwin” (until November 25)
This exhibition transports into the atmosphere of scientific discoveries of the 19th century. It introduces the work of the artist Viktor Evstafyev (1916–1989), who worked within the museum walls in the 1940s-1960s. His pastel drawings from the series “The Life Story of Charles Darwin” illustrate the childhood, youth, and famous journeys of the great naturalist.
The chamber space is styled as a mid-19th-century researcher’s study: graphics coexist with Darwin’s quotes, entomological collections, mollusk shells, an antique barometer, and a microscope. A special section is dedicated to the correspondence of the museum’s founder Alexander Kots with Darwin’s granddaughter Nora Barlow, who published the complete version of her grandfather’s memoirs in 1958. The project combines science and 20th-century museum graphics, offering a view of Darwin’s personality through the work of an artist from another era.
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Timiryazev Museum: Rodents, Great Crested Grebe, and Science Art
State Biological Museum named after K.A. Timiryazev on Malaya Gruzinskaya — a place where biology speaks a living language. Exhibitions are also presented at the “Biocluster” at VDNH.
“Rodents: The Invincible Squad” (until December 31)
Rodents make up about 42 percent of all described mammal species, which is an absolute record. The exhibition invites viewers to see them not as pets or pests, but as a unique result of evolution spanning over 50 million years. The tour is structured as an engaging exploration: step by step, visitors become acquainted with the anatomy, lifestyle, and history of rodents — from the earliest species of the Paleocene epoch, appearing soon after the extinction of the dinosaurs, to the modern diversity.
A significant part of the exhibition is dedicated to the relationship between humans and rodents — from scientific observations to everyday coexistence. The display features items from the museum’s collections, including skulls of muskrats, squirrels, beavers, and other members of the order, allowing for a detailed examination of their anatomy.
Entrance to the exhibition is by ticket to the museum.
“Queen of the Calm Lake” (until December 13)
Every year the museum dedicates an exhibition to the bird of the year according to the Russian Bird Conservation Union. In 2026, it is the great crested grebe — a bird with extraordinarily beautiful courtship dances, a nest right on the water, and the talent of an underwater swimmer. A special feature of the exhibition is a first-person narrative: the great crested grebe itself introduces visitors to its life, names, and habits.
Visitors will learn that the bird’s Latin name — podiceps cristatus — means “crested,” and that the word “chomga” in many Turkic languages is associated with diving. They will also become familiar with the legend of how the chomga helped create the world. The bird’s mating traditions — astonishing bridal plumage, dances, and touching care for the offspring, which literally cling to their parents — will be revealed in full detail.
Entrance to the exhibition is by ticket to the museum.
“12 Signs of Life”
Exhibition It takes place in Pavilion No. 31 “Geology” at VDNH. It combines traditional museum exhibits — minerals, taxidermy, and skeletons — with contemporary art objects. Twelve sections answer one of the main questions of biology: what distinguishes the living from the non-living? This exhibition is an example of how science and art can complement and explain each other.
Cosmonautics Museum: spacesuits, engines, and crystal
Museum of Cosmonautics — one of the largest technical museums in Russia. Its collection comprises more than 110,000 storage units. In the autumn, temporary exhibitions are held here, each of which is a separate chapter in the history of space exploration.
“The ‘Star’ of Guy Severin” (until February 7, 2027)
Exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the chief designer of the scientific and production enterprise “Zvezda”, Gay Severin — the man under whose leadership life support systems for cosmonauts and pilots were created. He was responsible for Yuri Gagarin’s ejection seat, the “Berkut” spacesuit in which Alexei Leonov first conducted a spacewalk, the legendary “Sokol” and “Orlan” suits, and the lunar spacesuit “Krechet.” The exhibition features authentic spacesuits — from Yuri Gagarin’s SK-1 to modern “Orlan” modifications.
Visitors will learn about the history of the development of space rescue systems, as well as about the sporting achievements of Guy Severin. The exhibition creates a portrait not only of the designer but also of a person whose life was connected with the brightest pages of domestic astronautics.
You can get to the exhibition by tickets to the museum.
“From the Energy of Dreams to the Energy of Space” (until October 13)
The exhibition is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of rocket engine designer Vladimir Rachuk and the 85th anniversary of the Chemical Automation Design Bureau. Vladimir Rachuk is the founder of innovative directions in rocket technology, such as nuclear rocket engines and engines using cryogenic fuel components. He headed the enterprise in the 1990s and served as chief designer for 22 years.
The exhibition features engine models — from the first oxygen-kerosene engines to hydrogen and methane ones, including the RD-0120 for the Energia launch vehicle of the Energia-Buran system and the RD-0124 for Soyuz-2 and Angara. Visitors will appreciate the exceptional complexity of rocket engines and learn how the design bureau not only managed to preserve production but also significantly increased output during challenging times.
Login via tickets to the museum.
“Planet SiO₂. Space in the works of domestic glass artists” (until November 22)
This exhibition brought together 54 works from the collections of the Dyatkovo Crystal Museum and the Yelagin Island Palace Museum. The launch of the first satellite in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin’s flight in 1961 were met with enthusiasm by glass artists — space forever became one of the important themes of artistic creation.
Among the exhibits is a duplicate of the crystal key to the city of Dyatkovo, presented to Yuri Gagarin in 1966. The display is placed in a dimmed space with accent lighting, which allows viewers to see the play of light in the glass as the artists intended. The exhibition shows how art responded to scientific achievements, transforming engineering triumphs into plastic images.
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