Find answers to your big nature questions. Delve into stories about the Museum's collections, scientists and research. Uncover the history of life on Earth, from the smallest insects to the largest mammals.
Highlights
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Taking Ethical Photos
In this article we look at how to take photos ethically, including tips from Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
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British wildlifeSeven scary-looking minibeasts
With their pincers, horns and armour, these minibeasts might look terrifying, but luckily for us they are tiny and harmless.
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British wildlifeHow to spot a starling murmuration this winter
Flocks of starlings form ever-changing, mesmerising aerial displays in autumn and winter.
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AnthropoceneRenewable energy and its importance for tackling climate change
Get the facts about sustainable energy.
News
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Science newsEarliest insect ears reveal the soundscape of the dinosaur age
Katydids are the earliest known animals to evolve complex communication using sound.
13 January 2023 -
Science newsNew species of large tortoise discovered after a century of mistaken identity
Though it may have gone extinct over 600 years ago, understanding more about Astrochelys rogerbouri could help to save its living relatives.
11 January 2023 -
NewsOrigin of fireball spotted falling across UK last night discovered
An orange-sized space rock blazed across the skies on Monday 9 January.
10 January 2023 -
NewsFirst rocket to attempt orbit from UK set to blast off in Cornwall
Virgin Orbit is hoping to launch a rocket carrying a payload of satellites into space from Spaceport Cornwall at Newquay Airport.
10 January 2023
Dinosaurs
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NewsMummified dinosaur could show evidence of scavenging by ancient crocodiles
Scavengers could help to preserve the soft tissue of the ancient reptiles by removing flesh and fluid from the body shortly after death.
13 October 2022 -
NewsNew dinosaur species reveals short arms evolved repeatedly in theropods
The tiny arms of Tyrannosaurus rex may bring ridicule, but a new dinosaur reveals they were part of a much larger trend.
7 July 2022 -
DinosaursHow are dinosaur fossils formed?
Even though dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, we know about them thanks to fossils. Watch our animation to find out how dinosaur fossils formed.
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DinosaursThe world's first dinosaur park: what the Victorians got right and wrong
They aren't scientifically accurate, but the Crystal Palace dinosaurs have a special place in the history of palaeontology.
Dippy the Diplodocus 3D skull
Rotate, zoom in and explore the features of this popular dinosaur.
Anthropocene
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Taking Ethical Photos
In this article we look at how to take photos ethically, including tips from Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
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NewsInvasive rats are affecting the behaviour of algae-farming fish
Invasive rats are devastating tropical islands, with effects reaching far beyond the land.
5 January 2023 -
NewsThe conservation success stories of 2022
Here are just 20 of the ways humanity's efforts to help nature paid dividends in 2022.
4 January 2023 -
Anthropocene
Renewable energy and its importance for tackling climate change
Get the facts about sustainable energy.
Wild Crimes podcast
Uncover some of the most shocking, sensational and sinister crimes committed against the natural world, and hear from the people working to end them.
British wildlife
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British wildlifeWhere do animals go during the long, cold, dark winter?
Winter is a time where many animals conserve their energy, fly south or grow a thicker coat.
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British wildlifeSquirrels in the UK: what they are up to, when and why
Discover what these rodents get up to - what they eat, where they sleep and why they keep digging holes in your garden.
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British wildlifeHow well do you know your winter wildlife?
Take our quiz to find out how familiar you are with the UK's plants and animals and their strategies for surviving winter.
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British wildlife
How to make fat balls for birds
Help your local wild birds to survive winter by putting out these nutritious fat balls.
What on Earth?
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What on Earth?Supervolcanoes and their enormous eruptions
Discover what a supervolcano is, what their eruptions are like and how they impact our planet.
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What on Earth?Whale sharks: Meet the world’s biggest shark
Whale sharks can be huge. But even experts aren’t entirely sure just how big they can get.
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AnthropoceneTumbleweeds: the fastest plant invasion in the USA's history
Tumbleweeds have starred in many movies, but their representation in popular media may be somewhat misleading.
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What on Earth?Giant and colossal squid: revealing the secrets of the largest invertebrates
Scientists have only just begun to reveal what the lives of giant and colossal squid are like in the past two decades.
Space
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SpaceWhat is space junk and why is it a problem?
Millions of pieces of human-caused debris are orbiting Earth. But are they an issue, and what can we do about them?
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Science newsRyugu asteroid samples offer insight into early years of the solar system
Researchers have caught a glimpse of the cosmos just two million years after the formation of the solar system.
22 September 2022 -
Science newsAncient crater lakes on Mars could have hosted life
Investigating Mars' dry lakes could help scientists to discover how life began on Earth.
16 September 2022 -
SpaceShooting stars: How to photograph the night sky
Anyone can capture the majesty of the galaxy with a simple camera. All you need is a dark, clear night and the willingness to have a go.
Human evolution
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Human evolutionHow we became human
What features make us human? And where, when and why did they evolve?
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Science newsEarly English Anglo-Saxons descended from mass European migration
The people after which England is named made up more than three quarters of the nation's genetic ancestry during the early Middle Ages.
21 September 2022 -
Science newsOldest evidence of modern humans in western Europe discovered
Modern humans arrived in western Europe about 10,000 years earlier than previously thought.
9 February 2022 -
Human evolutionHomo erectus, our ancient ancestor
Learn about the longest-surviving human species, which was also the first known to leave Africa.
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.
Oceans
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NewsHMS Challenger: How a 150-year-old expedition still influences scientific discoveries today
Over a century ago, one of the most important scientific expeditions in history departed from the UK to explore the oceans of the world.
6 September 2022 -
OceansWhat is an ammonite?
The often tightly wound shells of ammonites may be a familiar sight, but how much do you know about the animals that once lived inside?
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Science newsPacific expedition may have discovered over 30 new deep sea species
Over 30 potential new species, from starfish to sea cucumbers, have been discovered living at the bottom of the sea.
27 July 2022 -
OceansOctopuses keep surprising us - here are eight examples how
They have blue blood, three hearts and a doughnut-shaped brain. But these aren't even the most unusual discoveries made about octopuses!
Collections
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CollectionsAlexandra Daisy Ginsberg on the Lost Rhino
Discover the inspiration and concept behind the installation and gain a deeper understanding of what's on display.
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CollectionsThe Irish elk: when and why did this giant deer go extinct and what did it look like?
Fossil bones and antlers in the Museum's collection hold clues about the life and disappearance of Europe's biggest ever deer.
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CollectionsInteresting shells: from bizarre biology to cunning counterfeits
Think you know shells? The ones you see at the beach are just the tip of the iceberg.
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Science newsRare moth collected by Museum founder Sir Richard Owen rediscovered
Digitising Museum collection leads to rediscovering a moth collected by Richard Owen
20 July 2022
Wildlife photography
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Taking Ethical Photos
In this article we look at how to take photos ethically, including tips from Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
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NewsWildlife Photographer of the Year: People's Choice 2023
Discover the stories behind the stunning images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year's 2023 People's Choice Award.
1 December 2022 -
Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: Meet Kathy Moran the new Chair of the Jury
As the Competition moves into its fifty-ninth year, we welcome Kathy Moran as the new Chair of the Jury.
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Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: The small world of bees wins big
Karine Aigner's dynamic photo of a bee mating ball stole the show at the fifty-eighth Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards.
Latest videos
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CollectionsHidden Treasures: the behind-the-scenes tours where you tell us what to explore
Catch up on season one of our interactive behind-the-scenes live stream.
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Finding common sense with Ananse, the West African spider-god
Every culture in the world has at least one mythical character who, in some way, represents wisdom, knowledge or just plain common sense.
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British wildlife
How to pond dip
Pond dipping is a wonderful way to look at the creatures that live in and around pond water.
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British wildlifeHow to make a log pile to provide shelter for garden wildlife
A log pile can give home and shelter to some of the smaller inhabitants of your garden.
All articles
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Taking Ethical Photos
In this article we look at how to take photos ethically, including tips from Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
-
Science news
Earliest insect ears reveal the soundscape of the dinosaur age
Katydids are the earliest known animals to evolve complex communication using sound.
13 January 2023 -
Science news
New species of large tortoise discovered after a century of mistaken identity
Though it may have gone extinct over 600 years ago, understanding more about Astrochelys rogerbouri could help to save its living relatives.
11 January 2023 -
British wildlife
Seven scary-looking minibeasts
With their pincers, horns and armour, these minibeasts might look terrifying, but luckily for us they are tiny and harmless.
-
News
Origin of fireball spotted falling across UK last night discovered
An orange-sized space rock blazed across the skies on Monday 9 January.
10 January 2023 -
News
First rocket to attempt orbit from UK set to blast off in Cornwall
Virgin Orbit is hoping to launch a rocket carrying a payload of satellites into space from Spaceport Cornwall at Newquay Airport.
10 January 2023 -
News
Invasive rats are affecting the behaviour of algae-farming fish
Invasive rats are devastating tropical islands, with effects reaching far beyond the land.
5 January 2023 -
News
The conservation success stories of 2022
Here are just 20 of the ways humanity's efforts to help nature paid dividends in 2022.
4 January 2023 -
Science newsEarly dinosaur skulls show how meat-eaters became vegetarian
The skulls of early herbivores are helping scientists to understand how a diverse group of dinosaurs evolved different ways of eating plants.
4 January 2023 -
NewsThree Museum scientists awarded on the New Year Honours list
Professor Chris Stringer has been awarded a CBE and Dr Sandra Knapp and Dr Richard Fortey an OBE.
31 December 2022 -
Science newsMuseum scientists described 351 new species in 2022
It has never been more important to describe as much of the natural world as possible.
30 December 2022 -
Science newsFossils give clues as to how turtles might respond to a warming planet
Current turtle habitats are likely to become unsuitable, but new areas could become available.
21 December 2022 -
CollectionsChristmas plants: The traditions and science of festive flora
Two Museum experts highlight the stories and science behind some of our most festive flora.
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British wildlife
Where do animals go during the long, cold, dark winter?
Winter is a time where many animals conserve their energy, fly south or grow a thicker coat.
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What on Earth?The wonderfully weird world of tenrecs
From looking like Pokémon to having more nipples than any other mammal, tenrecs are an unusual bunch.
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British wildlife
How to spot a starling murmuration this winter
Flocks of starlings form ever-changing, mesmerising aerial displays in autumn and winter.
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NewsMale wasps can use their genitals to fight off predatory frogs
One of the most unusual self-defence techniques in the animal kingdom has been uncovered.
19 December 2022 -
Who is Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg?
We interviewed Daisy about her work as an artist, curating an exhibition, and her feelings on museums and archives.
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Science newsStromboli's 'rejuvenation' heralds era of more variable volcanic eruptions
An unexpected series of eruptions at Stromboli may be due to changes in the volcano's internal 'plumbing'.
16 December 2022 -
Anthropocene
Renewable energy and its importance for tackling climate change
Get the facts about sustainable energy.
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Collections
Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg on the Lost Rhino
Discover the inspiration and concept behind the installation and gain a deeper understanding of what's on display.
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Science newsUnderground wildlife is slow to recover from soil damage
Intensively used land isn't just harmful to biodiversity we can see – it's also harming the wildlife living under the ground.
13 December 2022 -
NewsWalrus spotted on beach in southern UK
A walrus has been seen hauled out on a beach in Hampshire, UK.
12 December 2022 -
BiodiversityIndigenous Peoples call for co-operation to conserve the world's biodiversity
Recognising the rights of the world's Indigenous Peoples could be crucial to protecting nature.
9 December 2022
