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Find answers to your big nature questions. Delve into stories about our research, scientists and the collections we care for. Uncover the history of life on Earth, from the smallest insects to the largest mammals.
News
- Science news Penguins and albatrosses have a ‘touch sensor’ in their beak Some seabirds might have a ‘sixth sense’ at the end of their beak, new research reveals. 18 September 2024
- News New species of ancient thylacines are the oldest ever found Fossils discovered in northern Australia mark the beginning of a 25-million-year-old family. 12 September 2024
- Science news Scientists propose changing bird’s problematic name Researchers have proposed changing the common name of the flesh-footed shearwater. 5 September 2024
- News Almost 70% of all plastic waste is produced by just 20 countries Each year, 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the environment. 4 September 2024
Dippy the Diplodocus 3D skull
Rotate, zoom in and explore the features of this popular dinosaur.
Our Broken Planet: The Podcast
Hear from scientists, activists and people at the forefront of the climate and biodiversity crises.
Who were the Neanderthals?
Explore Neanderthal facts, from looks to lifestyle and abilities. These early humans are far more similar to us than once believed.
Wildlife photography
- News First Look at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 Celebrate the wonder of the natural world with some of the most extraordinary images of our planet. 29 August 2024
- Wildlife photography Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Bobcat Bounty Killing predators comes with big prize money in the USA. Photographer Karine Aigner goes behind the scenes of contests where hunters win and nature loses.
- News Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 People’s Choice winner announced Nima Sarikhani’s stunning picture of a sleeping polar bear was crowned 2023's People's Choice. 7 February 2024
- Wildlife photography Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59: People’s Choice shortlist Discover this year's shortlisted images and don't forget to vote for your favourite.
All articles
- What on Earth? Snakes: Super senses, stretchy jaws and deadly venom Get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about these fascinating, slithering reptiles.
- Anthropocene California condor: Saving North America’s biggest bird It took a controversial conservation tactic to prevent these giant vultures from going extinct.
- Science news Penguins and albatrosses have a ‘touch sensor’ in their beak Some seabirds might have a ‘sixth sense’ at the end of their beak, new research reveals. 18 September 2024
- Biodiversity What is a species, and how many species are there? Find out the different ways scientists have of describing what species are, how they form and how many there are on Earth.
- News New species of ancient thylacines are the oldest ever found Fossils discovered in northern Australia mark the beginning of a 25-million-year-old family. 12 September 2024
- Science news Scientists propose changing bird’s problematic name Researchers have proposed changing the common name of the flesh-footed shearwater. 5 September 2024
- News Almost 70% of all plastic waste is produced by just 20 countries Each year, 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the environment. 4 September 2024
- Science news Pollution revealed as the greatest threat to healthy soils Food security and biodiversity are threatened by the chemicals contaminating our soils. 3 September 2024
- Dinosaurs What were the first birds like? The earliest ancestors of birds looked noticeably different from the creatures familiar to us today, reflecting their dinosaur origins.
- News Artificial intelligence could help to predict how endangered species are The power of machine learning could be used to protect threatened fishes. 30 August 2024
- News First Look at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 Celebrate the wonder of the natural world with some of the most extraordinary images of our planet. 29 August 2024
- Science news Plant-eating dinosaurs evolved backup teeth to eat tough food Some of Earth’s most successful herbivores may have had hundreds of thousands of teeth in their lifetime. 27 August 2024
- Anthropocene Climate hope, grief and resilience Activists and scientists share what brings them climate joy and how they stay motivated in the face of the climate and nature crisis.
- Anthropocene Guano mining: Our deadly obsession with bird poo We’ve been using guano for more than 1,500 years, but our demand for it has had a devastating impact on the birds that produce it.
- News Human population boom will increase contact with wild animals More and more land will be shared between people and wildlife by 2070. 21 August 2024
- Science news Tropical beetles unknown to science at higher risk of extinction Humans are having a devastating effect on biodiversity, but the impacts might be worse than we thought. 20 August 2024
- Science news Dodos were fast, active birds that roamed their forested island home Despite their fame, astonishingly little is known about these large, flightless birds. 16 August 2024
- News Rewilding Scottish Highlands could help UK hit 30x30 conservation goal Northern Scotland is among the quarter of Europe that could be suitable for rewilding. 15 August 2024
- News Dinosaur-killing Chicxulub asteroid came from the edge of the solar system The prime suspect in the extinction of the dinosaurs was no ordinary asteroid. 15 August 2024
- News New species of extinct walrus discovered from UK fossils The jawbone of Ontocetus posti helps to reveal how the animals became specialised suction feeders. 13 August 2024
- Science news Things just got weird: skinks provide a window onto how evolution works The social skinks are helping scientists answer fundamental questions about evolution. 12 August 2024
- Anthropocene Palm oil: The controversial ingredient that’s in nearly everything Find out the facts about palm oil and its impact on the health of rainforests.
- Science news Early mammals lived for longer than their modern relatives Tiny teeth are revealing the roots of the modern mammal lifestyle. 7 August 2024
- Science news Fossil hunter discovers new species of 210-million-year-old lungfish Ferganoceratodus edwardsi suggests that many ancient lungfish are more closely related than first thought. 6 August 2024