We are excited to be holding another family event during the May half term, starting off with a fantastic short talk about a prehistoric ancestor of modern day bugs, followed by some fun fossil and bug related activities in our visitor centre.

Date: Friday 30 May 2025

Time: 13:30 – 16:00

Join Dr Emma Long on a fantastic voyage to the depths of the ocean half a billion years ago during the Cambrian Explosion, when the first major animal groups emerged on Earth.

Using cutting-edge X-ray scanning, we have studied an incredibly rare fossil of a tiny ancestor to today’s bugs, spiders, and crabs. No larger than a grain of rice, this ancient creature’s internal organs are preserved as ghostly voids in fossilised tissue, revealing a complex brain and a long tubular heart.

Discover how early animals developed sophisticated nervous and circulatory systems, paving the way for their rise as the most diverse and successful group of animals on Earth today.

This event is suitable for ages 6 and up. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Tickets for in-person events close the night before the event. If you would like to book an in-person last-minute place, please email the team at visitral@stfc.ac.uk