Archived news articles
2007
December
Endurance of the beetles - 21/12/2007
Museum scientists have discovered that most modern-day beetle groups first appeared during the Jurassic period when dinosaurs were living.
New Colombian butterfly found - 19/12/2007
A new butterfly species, found only in the high Andes of South America, has been discovered by a scientist at the Museum.
Evacuate art installation opens at Tring - 14/12/2007
The evacuation of important Museum specimens during the Second World War is explored.
Huge dinosaur gets new identity - 12/12/2007
Fossil remains from one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs ever found have been identified as belonging to a new species.
Jawbone from ancient polar bear discovered - 11/12/2007
A fossilised polar bear jawbone could be the oldest polar bear remains ever found.
Photo exhibition tour begins at Tring - 08/12/2007
Nature's top moments from this year's Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, begin their international tour at Tring.
Dinosaur 'mummy' found - 05/12/2007
Early studies of a 67-million-year old dinosaur with preserved soft tissues are promising.
Icefish lose their genes - 04/12/2007
Antarctic icefish have lost two vital genes in their bid to survive the icy waters.
November
Dame Helen Mirren launches the Vault - 29/11/2007
Some of nature's most unique, rare and valuable treasures are displayed in the Museum's new permanent gallery, the Vault.
Museum is one of seven wonders of London - 28/11/2007
The Natural History Museum is voted one of the seven wonders of London by Time Out magazine.
Giant sea scorpions are largest arthropods ever to have lived - 22/11/2007
A recent discovery has established that sea scorpions, or eurypterids, could have been up to 2.5m long.
Set the record straight with Natural History Museum Animal Records - 22/11/2007
More than 250 pages filled with stunning photographs, fascinating facts and all the latest animal discoveries.
Flood Warning Annual Science Lecture to be held 27 November - 19/11/2007
What is the global impact of the melting ice sheets? Prof David Vaughan speaks at the Museum's Annual Science Lecture.
New dinosaur in Museum collection - 14/11/2007
University of Portsmouth researcher finds new dinosaur in Museum collections.
Museums help students' view of science - 09/11/2007
A conference today looks at how museum workshops help improve secondary students' view of science.
Ice Rink opens with Fearne ice sculpture - 08/11/2007
TV presenter Fearne Cotton helped celebrate the opening of the Museum's Ice Rink today.
October
Dinosaur Sticker Book updated - 31/10/2007
The Natural History Museum's Dinosaur Sticker Book has been updated.
Elephant skull in Henry Moore display - 30/10/2007
Museum elephant skull goes on display in a Henry Moore exhibition at Penny School Gallery, Kingston College.
The Human Story, a simple tale? - 27/10/2007
The Human Story, a new Natural History Museum book by Charles Lockwood, unravels the mysteries of human evolution.
2007 nature photo winner announced - 25/10/2007
British photographer crowned overall winner in world's most prestigious wildlife photography competition.
Prehistoric fish fingers revealed - 22/10/2007
Our hands and feet developed from prehistoric fish fingers, according to new research by a scientist at the Natural History Museum.
International natural history museums meet - 17/10/2007
Natural history institutions come together this week for the first international conference.
T.rex footprint discovered - 10/10/2007
A dinosaur hunter from Manchester has found a footprint of what may be a Tyrannosaurus rex.
Little Savages and White Horse Museum open - 05/10/2007
Two new art installations open at the Natural History Museum today. Little Savages and the White Horse Museum.
The return of Weird Creatures - 04/10/2007
Museum scientists help Nick Baker with new series of Weird Creatures.
September
British wildlife photos highly commended - 29/09/2007
British photographers are highly commended in this year's Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
Oldest diamonds give clues to Earth evolution - 28/09/2007
Diamonds more than four billion years old, nearly as old as the Earth, have been found in Australia.
Baby dinosaur herd discovered in China - 20/09/2007
A fossilised herd of baby dinosaurs is discovered, giving clues to how their social behaviour evolved.
DNA barcoding on track to revolutionise malaria control - 16/09/2007
Scientists wishing to tackle the deadly disease malaria are using DNA barcoding to help.
Sunlight and new team arrive in Antarctica - 14/09/2007
A new team arrives in Antarctica, just as the first sunlight returns, ready for a summer of conservation work.
Museum expertise helps conserve Thailand's biodiversity - 06/09/2007
Museum scientists help put together Thailand's first national collection and identification facility for insects.
August
Museum's meteoric move - 31/08/2007
The largest meteorite at the Natural History Museum is safely moved to its new home.
Natural History Museum at Tring receives grant - 30/08/2007
The Natural History Museum at Tring receives a grant for the refurbishment of one of its galleries.
Ancient ape fossil found - 23/08/2007
Fossils belonging to an ape that lived 10 million years ago have been discovered in Ethiopia.
OPAL funding begins - 21/08/2007
Lottery funding is awarded to environmental project Open Air Laboratories (OPAL).
Roots and Herbs of Jamaica - 17/08/2007
The Caribbean community and the historical collections of the Museum have come together to explore Jamaica's plant heritage.
Facial attraction and evolution - 13/08/2007
Studies on our fossil ancestors have shown our choice of sexual partner has shaped the human face.
Hopes for dodo DNA rise - 10/08/2007
A recent find of a dodo skeleton raises hopes of getting genetic material from the extinct flightless bird.
Kenyan fossils reveal early human evolution - 09/08/2007
Two fossils give clues to side-by-side living of two early human species.
12-foot sperm whale skull arrives at Museum - 05/08/2007
The Museum receives a complete sperm whale skull. See the arrival of the 12-foot specimen.
July
Cockroach catalogue launches - 27/07/2007
The first online database catalogue of the world’s cockroaches is launched this month.
UK's most important plant areas identified - 24/07/2007
A list of more than 150 important plant areas in the UK is published today to help boost conservation.
Climate change project gets cash boost - 20/07/2007
A project to investigate how our ancestors responded to rapid environmental change is awarded three million pounds.
Manifesto to save our gardens launched - 18/07/2007
UK's leading wildlife and horticultural organisations sign up to highlight importance of wildlife gardens.
Buffon symposium 2007 - 13/07/2007
An international symposium dedicated to the roles of natural history museums in the understanding of biodiversity will take place this autumn.
Greening cities student summit - 09/07/2007
Decision makers, scientists and students attend this year's international student summit at the Museum.
Behind the scenes at the Museum - 04/07/2007
Ever wondered what it is like to spend a day working behind the scenes at the Museum? Two students find out.
Museum reveals new beecam - 02/07/2007
A new beecam is launched at the Natural History Museum. See honeybees close-up as they busily build their hive and make honey.
June
Meteorites reveal Earth's core - 29/06/2007
Scientists have used meteorites from Mars and other planetary bodies to help find out how the Earth's core formed.
Nature's engineers reveal nano skills - 26/06/2007
Museum scientists discover a way to replicate tiny structures, such as the anti-reflective eyes in moths, using nature itself.
Beetle battle of the sexes - 25/06/2007
Scientists discover an evolutionary battle of the sexes in diving beetles.
Focus to save monarch butterflies - 22/06/2007
Threats to the survival of the extraordinary monarch butterfly migration is highlighted next week at the Natural History Museum.
Minister announces commitment to science - 19/06/2007
Culture Minister David Lammy announces the government's commitment to promoting science in the UK.
Spectacular Aurora captured in Antarctica - 15/06/2007
Conservators working in Antarctica see a spectacular light show.
Stegosaurus' little cousin is found - 13/06/2007
A newly discovered species of dinosaur sheds light on the origins of the plant-eating dinosaurs.
Will climate change bring more disease? - 06/06/2007
Scientists meet to discuss whether milder temperatures bring infectious diseases?
Beads confirm ancient jewellery making - 05/06/2007
Ancient beads dating to 82,000 years ago are uncovered in a limestone cave in Morocco.
Did walking upright begin in the trees? - 01/06/2007
New orangutan research suggests walking on two legs began high up in the trees.
May
Surviving Antarctica, new Museum book - 30/05/2007
Take a journey to the end of the Earth and discover how life survives some of the most extreme conditions on the planet.
The truth about false widow spiders - 27/05/2007
Find out about the false widow spiders and one particular species that is becoming more common in the UK.
Ice Station Antarctica opens - 25/05/2007
Are you up for the challenge? Ice Station Antarctica family exhibition opens at the Natural History Museum today.
Atlas of bird migration - 20/05/2007
Can you tell a wagtail from a warbler? Do you know where the birds in your garden go each winter? Find out more.
Encyclopedia of Life underway at the Museum - 17/05/2007
Work on creating an online encyclopedia of all 1.8 million living species on Earth has begun.
Agreement on Aboriginal remains reached - 11/05/2007
The TAC and the Natural History Museum have reached agreement after a three-day mediation.
Australian evidence for Out of Africa theory - 09/05/2007
DNA evidence confirming that Australia and New Guinea’s earliest settlers came from one small group of people is found.
Hornet sightings create a buzz - 04/05/2007
Stuart Hine manager of the Museum's Insect Identification Service is receiving unprecedented enquires about sightings of hornets.
Rising Seas at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival - 03/05/2007
The third annual fossil festival takes place this weekend with the theme rising seas.
April
Homo Britannicus nominated for Aventis Prize - 29/04/2007
Chris Stringer's book Homo Britannicus is shortlisted for the Royal Society's Aventis Prize for Science Books.
Bill Oddie unveils Museum beehive - 25/04/2007
The Natural History Museum Wildlife Garden's first natural beehive is unveiled.
Superman beware, kryptonite is real - 24/04/2007
A new mineral matching kryptonite's unique chemistry is identified by scientists at the Natural History Museum.
Miniature relations of world's smallest fish revealed - 18/04/2007
Scientists have worked out where the world's smallest fish fits in to the fish family tree.
Wallace's treasures go online - 13/04/2007
Lost treasures of Alfred Russel Wallace, the co-discoverer of the process of evolution by natural selection, go online for the first time.
Termites are cockroaches after all - 11/04/2007
Insect experts at the Natural History Museum reveal that termites are in fact cockroaches.
Scientists call for bluebell detectives - 06/04/2007
Become a bluebell detective this spring and help discover if Britain’s favourite wildflower is under threat.
Last chance to see nature's top moments - 05/04/2007
Time is running out to experience the best wildlife photography from the furthest corners of our world.
March
New identity for Museum at Tring - 30/03/2007
The Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum is re-named the Natural History Museum at Tring.
Museum news delivered straight to your virtual door - 29/03/2007
RSS news feed is launched to keep you up to date with the latest from the Natural History Museum.
Ancient mammal gives clues to ear evolution - 21/03/2007
Scientist have discovered an ancient mammal that gives clues to how mammal ears evolved from reptile jaw bones.
Get in a flap over butterflies - 20/03/2007
A new exhibition, Bright Wings of Summer, at the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum.
Extinctions after the cause - 16/03/2007
Species extinctions may occur millions of years after the apparent environmental cause, new research suggests.
Childhood clues to modern human evolution - 14/03/2007
Studies on fossil specimens from a 160,000-year-old child reveal more clues to the evolution of modern humans.
Weird creatures in the Museum - 12/03/2007
Bizarre animals in Weird Creatures are revealed behind the scenes at the Museum.
Did gorillas give us lice? - 10/03/2007
New research suggests humans got pubic lice by close contact with gorillas.
Indian warbler re-found after 139 years - 09/03/2007
A species of warbler thought to be extinct is re-found in Thailand and in Museum collections.
Anglers check their flies for cleaner waters - 08/03/2007
The Anglers Monitoring Initiative is launched today at the Natural History Museum.
February
Colossal squid rivals giant squid - 23/02/2007
A colossal squid is caught by New Zealand fishermen.
Museum offers alternative human remains resolution to TAC - 20/02/2007
Museum offers alternative human remains resolution to the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC).
New poo in Dino Jaws - 19/02/2007
A new installation of fossilised dinosaur poo has arrived in the Dino Jaws exhibition.
Rare sharks surface in Japan - 15/02/2007
Two species of rare sharks, a frilled shark and a goblin shark, surface in Japan.
Fascinating fossil folklore - 12/02/2007
Fossil Folklore, the family-friendly exhibition exploring the myths around fossils, opens.
Museum scientist uses new 'super microscope' - 07/02/2007
Mineral expert Paul Schofield is one of the first scientists to use the new 'super microscope'.
Museum reveals its Conjurer's Bird - 02/02/2007
A painting of the mysterious bird of Ulieta, or the conjurer's bird, is looked after at the Museum.
January
Call for best wildlife photos - 30/01/2007
The search for the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2007 has begun.
Scientists start search for planetary origins - 25/01/2007
A project to study the formation of the solar system, called Origins, begins this month.
Focus to save most extraordinary species - 17/01/2007
EDGE project to help save the world's most extraordinary and threatened species is launched.
First ever display of Thames whale skeleton - 12/01/2007
The northern bottlenose whale that swam up the River Thames a year ago is displayed at the Guardian.
Antarctic camping and artful biodiversity, new exhibitions for 2007 - 10/01/2007
Experience camping in Antarctica and the artful biodiversity of London in two new exhibitions.
Attenborough is Britain's Greatest Living Icon - 05/01/2007
The UK's foremost and best-loved natural history presenter, Sir David Attenborough, is voted Britain's Greatest Living Icon.
Photo exhibition tour's first stop at Tring - 02/01/2007
Nature's top moments, captured in this year's Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, go on tour.