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
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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 -
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
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
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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.
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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.
Latest videos
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What on Earth?
Do birds pee?
What are those milky white splatters – are they pee or poo?
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Collections
Our LGBTQ+ video tour
Take a virtual tour of the Natural History Museum and explore the astonishing diversity of the natural world.
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Dinosaurs
What happens when you find a dinosaur?
If you know what you’re looking at, little bits of bone can add up to something big.
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Dinosaurs
The Isle of Wight: Welcome to Dinosaur Island
Discover a treasure trove of fossils just off Britain’s south coast.
All articles
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 -
Science news
Scientists genetically remove prickles from flowering plants
Genetically removing the prickles from crops could have huge benefits for agriculture.
2 August 2024 -
Science news
New technology protects crops by testing the air for the DNA of plant diseases
Plant infections can now be detected in our crops before they’re even visible.
2 August 2024 -
What on Earth?
Griffinflies: The earliest flying insects
With wingspans that stretched a whopping 71 centimetres, these epic insects would have blocked out the Sun as they flew past.
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Meet the artist unveiling the mysteries under the water’s surface
Sound artist Jana Winderen talks about her experiences recording underwater noises and exploring sound pollution in our waters.
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Science news
Conservationists need to pay more attention to ‘degraded’ tropical forests
We’ve been underestimating the importance of partially logged forests.
1 August 2024