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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News
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred within the past 50,000 years
Our species mated with the Neanderthals much later than thought, tearing up the timeline of human evolution.
12 December 2024 -
Science news
Tyrannosaur teeth discovered in southern England reveal Cretaceous dinosaur ecosystem
Spinosaurs, tyrannosaurs and relatives of Velociraptor once stalked England’s south coast.
10 December 2024 -
Science news
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of a once-widespread group of lizard-like animals.
6 December 2024 -
Science news
Largest marine reptiles may have been wiped out by hidden Triassic extinction
The whale-sized shastasaurids went extinct over 200 million years ago.
4 December 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
Vote for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 People’s Choice
This year the People’s Choice category features a curious chimp, a dancing crab and a snuffling sengi.
27 November 2024 -
News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 winning images
Shane Gross awarded the Grand Title for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60.
8 October 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 -
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.
Latest videos
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What on Earth?
Snakes: Super senses, stretchy jaws and deadly venom
Get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about these fascinating, slithering reptiles.
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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.
All articles
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News
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred within the past 50,000 years
Our species mated with the Neanderthals much later than thought, tearing up the timeline of human evolution.
12 December 2024 -
Science news
Tyrannosaur teeth discovered in southern England reveal Cretaceous dinosaur ecosystem
Spinosaurs, tyrannosaurs and relatives of Velociraptor once stalked England’s south coast.
10 December 2024 -
Collections
The plants in your Christmas pudding
We take a look at the plants used to create the festive figgy pudding and the stories behind them.
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Science news
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of a once-widespread group of lizard-like animals.
6 December 2024 -
Science news
Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were becoming reproductively isolated
Researchers are probing what it means to be a separate species.
4 December 2024 -
Science news
Largest marine reptiles may have been wiped out by hidden Triassic extinction
The whale-sized shastasaurids went extinct over 200 million years ago.
4 December 2024 -
Science news
15,000-year-old human burial shows evidence of medicinal plant use
Buried alongside this individual were a range of symbolic objects.
2 December 2024 -
Science news
Climate change linked to mass poisoning of hundreds of elephants
The 350 elephants died because of a toxic algal bloom exacerbated by climate change.
29 November 2024 -
News
Fossil footprints of different ancient humans found together for the first time
The fossils show Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei lived alongside each other.
28 November 2024 -
News
Vote for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 People’s Choice
This year the People’s Choice category features a curious chimp, a dancing crab and a snuffling sengi.
27 November 2024 -
What on Earth?
Were all mammoths woolly?
The woolly mammoth is an ice age icon. But it was only the very last chapter in a six-million-year-long story.
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News
Whales in ship strike hotspots could be saved by protecting just 3% more ocean
Protecting a little bit more of the ocean could lead to big changes for whales.
21 November 2024 -
News
Dinosaur fossils reveal how birds got their distinctive walks
New research has revealed how birds changed from rigid raptors to flexible fowl.
20 November 2024 -
Science news
The slender-billed curlew is declared extinct
This is the first mainland European bird declared extinct in 500 years.
18 November 2024 -
Science news
Ancient humans feasted on a giant elephant in India over 300,000 years ago
A breakthrough fossil discovery is changing what we know about some of the largest mammals to ever walk the Earth.
15 November 2024 -
Science news
Climate change threatens nearly half of all corals with extinction
Rising temperatures are pushing many species to the brink, alongside disease, pollution and unsustainable fishing.
13 November 2024 -
Science news
‘One of a kind’ fossil from the age of dinosaurs reveals roots of bird intelligence
A remarkable fossil could transform our understanding of how the intelligence of modern birds evolved.
13 November 2024 -
News
London commuter rediscovers tiny, invasive bug not seen for 18 years
Even the most blurry photo can be consequential.
12 November 2024 -
News
COP29: All you need to know about the upcoming climate change conference
Nations are meeting in Azerbaijan to discuss the future of our changing Earth.
11 November 2024 -
Science news
Molluscs could have been the first animals to venture on land
The story of how animals first set foot out of the water and onto land just became more complex.
7 November 2024 -
Science news
Whales in Wembley: Origins of mysterious blue whale bones uncovered
A mystery beginning in the South Atlantic, and ending in South Kensington, has finally been solved.
6 November 2024 -
News
COP16 roundup: The key decisions from the biodiversity summit
While some progress was made, crucial decisions on protecting nature will be left until next year after the meeting ran out of time.
5 November 2024 -
Science news
Antarctic krill genes could reveal how they’re responding to climate change
Even the world’s most successful wild animal isn’t safe from rising temperatures.
1 November 2024 -
News
‘Golden’ fossil of ancient arthropod named after Natural History Museum scientist
Lomankus edgecombei has been preserved in fool's gold.
31 October 2024