Nur Alem (the Light of the World) is the dramatic glass sphere left behind by Expo 2017, when Astana hosted a world's fair on the theme of future energy. The structure — 100 metres in diameter, 80 metres tall — is the largest spherical building in the world and now functions as a permanent science museum, with eight floors of interactive exhibits on renewable energy.
The galleries are genuinely good for families and reasonably interesting for adults, with wind tunnels, mock solar arrays, and a kinetic energy floor. The top deck gives panoramic views over the Expo site and the south of the city. The wider Expo district around the sphere is now home to the AIFC financial centre and a cluster of restaurants and bars, making it a pleasant evening destination.