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.
News
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News
Fossil hunter Mary Anning commemorated with new 50p coin collection
New 50p coin collection honours fossil hunter Mary Anning.
25 February 2021 -
News
Mars 2020: Perseverance rover has landed
The Mars 2020 rover landed near the Jezero Crater on 18 February 2021.
18 February 2021 -
Science news
Oldest-ever DNA extracted from a million-year-old mammoth tooth
It is shedding light on how the Columbian mammoth came to be.
17 February 2021 -
Science news
Most southerly evidence of Neanderthals revealed in cave in Palestine
The fossilised tooth of a nine-year-old child found in Shuqba Cave is the most southerly evidence of Neanderthals ever discovered.
15 February 2021
Dippy the Diplodocus 3D skull
Rotate, zoom in and explore the features of this popular dinosaur.
Anthropocene
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Anthropocene
Aspirin, morphine and chemotherapy: essential medicines powered by plants
Plants' many health benefits are helping fight some of humankind's biggest killers, such as heart disease and cancer.
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Science news
Plastic microfibres found in the stomach of deep-sea fish
Tiny plastic fibres have been found in the stomachs of deep-sea fish living in a remote part of the South Atlantic Ocean.
12 February 2021 -
Science news
We need to act now to save nature
It will cost us double to preserve nature unless we act now, Museum scientists have found.
11 February 2021 -
Anthropocene
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a bird's eye view of habitat loss
Bushfires are becoming increasingly common across Australia. Discover how the warming climate is restricting the ecosystem's ability to regenerate.
What is the Anthropocene?
We are living in the age of humans, a time referred to by many as the Anthropocene.
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.
See a blue whale skeleton in high definition
Explore a 3D model of the Museum's blue whale skeleton and learn more about how these animals behave.
Wildlife photography
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News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 56: People's Choice Award winner announced
Irwin's capture of a bushfire wins the WPY People's Choice Award 2020.
10 February 2021 -
Anthropocene
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a bird's eye view of habitat loss
Bushfires are becoming increasingly common across Australia. Discover how the warming climate is restricting the ecosystem's ability to regenerate.
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: separating entertainment from exploitation
Photojournalist Kirsten Luce reveals the distressing lives of the animals held captive around the world for tourist entertainment.
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: People's Choice 2020
Lazing lizards, sleeping squirrels, underwater portraits, urban wildlife - explore the stories from this year's competition.
Latest videos
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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.
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What on Earth?
Why do goats faint and scream?
Discover the reality behind the ever-popular videos of screaming and fainting goats.
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How to make animal paper snowflakes
Follow our instructions to make animal and other natural history inspired paper snowflakes.
With 10 free templates for you to download and print.
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British wildlife
Bringing back the carnivorous great sundew and other rare plants
How people power is saving plants from local extinction in North West England.
All articles
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News
Fossil hunter Mary Anning commemorated with new 50p coin collection
New 50p coin collection honours fossil hunter Mary Anning.
25 February 2021 -
Oceans
What 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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Anthropocene
Aspirin, morphine and chemotherapy: essential medicines powered by plants
Plants' many health benefits are helping fight some of humankind's biggest killers, such as heart disease and cancer.
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News
Mars 2020: Perseverance rover has landed
The Mars 2020 rover landed near the Jezero Crater on 18 February 2021.
18 February 2021 -
Science news
Oldest-ever DNA extracted from a million-year-old mammoth tooth
It is shedding light on how the Columbian mammoth came to be.
17 February 2021 -
Science news
Most southerly evidence of Neanderthals revealed in cave in Palestine
The fossilised tooth of a nine-year-old child found in Shuqba Cave is the most southerly evidence of Neanderthals ever discovered.
15 February 2021 -
What on Earth?
Best foot forward: eight animals that dance to impress
Meet some of the animals that bust out their best moves to attract a mate.
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Science news
Plastic microfibres found in the stomach of deep-sea fish
Tiny plastic fibres have been found in the stomachs of deep-sea fish living in a remote part of the South Atlantic Ocean.
12 February 2021 -
Science news
Ancient burials near Stonehenge reveal how cultures merged in the Bronze Age
Rather than a violent turnover of populations, there was a merging of communities.
11 February 2021 -
Science news
We need to act now to save nature
It will cost us double to preserve nature unless we act now, Museum scientists have found.
11 February 2021 -
Science news
Modern human origins cannot be traced back to a single point in time
Genetic and fossil records do not reveal a single point where modern humans originated, researchers have found.
10 February 2021 -
News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 56: People's Choice Award winner announced
Irwin's capture of a bushfire wins the WPY People's Choice Award 2020.
10 February 2021 -
Anthropocene
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a bird's eye view of habitat loss
Bushfires are becoming increasingly common across Australia. Discover how the warming climate is restricting the ecosystem's ability to regenerate.
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Anthropocene
New Zealand's quirky kākāpō are pulled back from the edge of extinction
Specialised conservation work saves kākāpō from the brink of extinction.
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Science news
Centipedes have borrowed proteins in their venom from bacteria and fungi
Toxic proteins from bacteria have helped centipedes with their own arsenel.
5 February 2021 -
British wildlife
How to find frogspawn, tadpoles and froglets
Spring is a great time to hop over to a local pond or stream to witness the wonderful life cycle of frogs.
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Science news
Dinosaur frills were likely the result of sexual selection
It is notoriously difficult to sex a dinosaur.
3 February 2021 -
News
The world's obsession with economic growth is killing nature, report finds
Changing our economic system would create a fairer, healthier, more sustainable world for everyone.
2 February 2021 -
Science news
Human teeth found in Jersey hint at Neanderthal and Homo sapiens interbreeding
Ancient teeth could be evidence of a hybrid population of Neanderthals and modern humans.
1 February 2021 -
Anthropocene
Nature and wellbeing: the healing power of a walk
We spoke to Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path, who reflected on the restorative power of a walk.
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News
Perfectly preserved 4,000-year-old beetles uncovered
A pristine pair of ancient beetles were discovered in the Museum collection. They date back nearly 4,000 years.
28 January 2021 -
What on Earth?
Manatees: what is a sea cow?
How much do you know about slow-moving, seagrass-munching manatees?
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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.
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News
Work to begin on Mary Anning statue for Lyme Regis
A milestone has been reached in the campaign for a statue of fossil hunter Mary Anning in Lyme Regis.
21 January 2021