Science and nature facts, news and stories

Bivalves have been touted as a food of the future – but wild populations might not last that long.

Scientists are warning that we simply know too little about the deep sea. 

Elephants and their relatives evolved in a previously unappreciated way.

Melting polar ice caps may have pushed some of the first ancient humans out of Europe.

Bivalves have been touted as a food of the future – but wild populations might not last that long.

Artificial reefs attract fish, which can improve the ability of seagrass to lock up more carbon dioxide beneath the waves.

A new report offers a path to recover England's woodlands, one that could increase the country's biodiversity from the mid-2040s onwards.

The Victorian grassland earless dragon was last seen in 1969, but recent surveys of its habitat have revealed new populations of the species.

Jose Fragozo’s image The Disappearing Giraffe captures the contrast between the natural world and human infrastructure.

Who gets water when there's not enough for everyone? Morgan Heim's image captures the moment of relief as groundwater gushes from a ditch in the parched Klamath Basin.

Why are elusive spectacled bears roaming Quito's city limits?

Southern right whale numbers have bounced back since the end of whaling, and they got up close and personal with one photojournalist.

Discover a treasure trove of fossils just off Britain’s south coast.

All it takes is a bit of practice and plenty of patience.

Explore our collections and discover some of the many specimens you won't see on a regular visit to the Museum. 

Dinosaurs are the largest land animals to ever live. Titanosaurs were the biggest of them all. Explore how they were able to grow to such a size.

Bivalves have been touted as a food of the future – but wild populations might not last that long.

Scientists are warning that we simply know too little about the deep sea. 

Elephants and their relatives evolved in a previously unappreciated way.

Melting polar ice caps may have pushed some of the first ancient humans out of Europe.

Discover a treasure trove of fossils just off Britain’s south coast.

Nile crocodiles may have a limited ability to understand our emotions.

Discover seven highlights from our exhibition Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur and uncover the secrets of the largest known animal to have ever walked the planet. 

The discovery of a new parasitoid wasp could help to save an Endangered Pacific butterfly.

NASA’s Perseverance rover may have discovered organic molecules on the surface of Mars.

One of the UK’s most famous meteorites is helping scientists learn more about asteroids millions of kilometres away.

Fossils found in Peru are redefining the history of whale evolution.

All it takes is a bit of practice and plenty of patience.

Sea snakes are often feared. But are they dangerous or do we just need to get to know them better?

Artificial reefs attract fish, which can improve the ability of seagrass to lock up more carbon dioxide beneath the waves.

The pattern of diversity in the deep sea is more complex than first thought.

Our scientists are looking for a rock that formed so long ago it was on Earth before complex life lived on land. 

Ticks are becoming increasingly common in the UK and can carry a health risk for people and pets.

A newly described palm species from Borneo has been discovered with the unusual phenomenon of producing its fruit and flowers below ground.

A 500-million-year-old murder mystery has been solved.

How much do you know about these incredible marine reptiles?

A new statue is joining the world’s oldest display of extinct wildlife in south London.

The asteroids 28994 Helenabates and 31551 Ashleyking are part of the main asteroid belt, a collection of rocky debris left over from the solar system’s beginning.

International scientists must overcome many obstacles to obtain research posts in the UK.

The quote will form part of the newly developed gardens at the Museum.