Liberty Science Center Unveils New Touch Tank and Climate VR Experience

Liberty Science Center has opened two new climate-focused installations as part of its renovation of the “Our Hudson Home” exhibit. The Izzo Family Touch Tank and the Climate Time Machine VR experience both debuted on January 17 and are now open daily with general admission.

The 29-foot-long, 1,000-gallon Touch Tank allows visitors to interact with seven native Hudson River species while learning about climate-related threats such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification. The exhibit, funded by a $1.5 million gift from Ralph and Karen Izzo, connects animal interactions with climate education and is supported by research from Montclair State University.

The Climate Time Machine VR viewfinder offers immersive time-lapse visuals showing the Hudson River’s environmental history and potential futures shaped by human decisions. Guests can explore scenes from the Ice Age to projections of climate-driven changes.

Both installations are part of a broader renovation of the exhibit into a 6,600-square-foot gallery called “River Rising,” expected to be completed in approximately two years. The transformation is part of LSC’s Project Supernova, supported by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion Program.

“Climate change impacts every area of the Hudson,” said LSC President and CEO Paul Hoffman. “Our goal is to weave the story into every area of the gallery.”