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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Science news
Recreating the song of a 150-year-old insect could help rediscover its species
An insect last seen in 1869 has sung again, which could help give researchers clues about where the insect might still be living.
10 August 2022 -
News
New group of spiders named after David Bowie and his back catalogue
The tropical arachnids have been named after the musician to draw attention to the threats they face.
8 August 2022 -
News
Concerns grow for beluga whale swimming in France's River Seine
A beluga whale has been spotted heading towards Paris, thousands of miles from its natural habitat.
10 August 2022 -
News
How beavers stay wet during UK drought
As parts of the UK experience one of the worst droughts in a century, a little patch in the southeast of England is babbling with life.
5 August 2022

Dippy the Diplodocus 3D skull
Rotate, zoom in and explore the features of this popular dinosaur.
Anthropocene
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Science news
Pandemic face masks could harm wildlife for years to come
The protective equipment that kept us safe during from COVID-19 could pose a lethal threat to nature.
4 August 2022 -
Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year The rise and fall of the humble herring
The herring narrowly escaped extinction in the twentieth century. But while some populations have recovered to healthy levels, others are still threatened by illegal fishing.
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News
First report of deadly disease raises concerns for Europe's starfish
A disease that causes starfish to disintegrate has been reported in the UK and Europe, raising fears for marine ecosystems.
27 July 2022 -
News
40⁰C heatwaves could happen every few years because of climate change
Records for the highest UK temperature have been set three times already in the twenty-first century and could continue to do so as global warming takes its toll.
25 July 2022

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.

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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Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year The rise and fall of the humble herring
The herring narrowly escaped extinction in the twentieth century. But while some populations have recovered to healthy levels, others are still threatened by illegal fishing.
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Wildlife photography
WPY Horizons: five photographers to watch
Go beyond the camera and discover five wildlife photographers who are using their work to celebrate the natural world and those protecting it.
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Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: When the Wetland Caught Fire
Edson Vandeira's image of the burnt corpse of a yacare caiman exposes the devastating impact of the Brazilian Pantanal wetland fires.
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Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: A beautifully poisonous landscape
Aerial photo of poisoned Romanian village Highly Commended in the fifty-seventh Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Latest videos
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Collections
Hidden Treasures: the behind-the-scenes tours where you tell us what to explore
Catch up on the latest episodes of our interactive behind-the-scenes live stream.
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British wildlife
How 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.
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British wildlife
How to make a small wildlife pond
A garden pond is one of the best ways you can help Britain's wildlife. You can create one in even the tiniest of gardens.
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British wildlife
How to make a bird bath
Birds need access to water year-round. Help them out by building a simple garden bird bath.
All articles
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Science news
Recreating the song of a 150-year-old insect could help rediscover its species
An insect last seen in 1869 has sung again, which could help give researchers clues about where the insect might still be living.
10 August 2022 -
News
New group of spiders named after David Bowie and his back catalogue
The tropical arachnids have been named after the musician to draw attention to the threats they face.
8 August 2022 -
Collections
Hidden Treasures: the behind-the-scenes tours where you tell us what to explore
Catch up on the latest episodes of our interactive behind-the-scenes live stream.
-
News
Concerns grow for beluga whale swimming in France's River Seine
A beluga whale has been spotted heading towards Paris, thousands of miles from its natural habitat.
10 August 2022 -
News
How beavers stay wet during UK drought
As parts of the UK experience one of the worst droughts in a century, a little patch in the southeast of England is babbling with life.
5 August 2022 -
Science news
Pandemic face masks could harm wildlife for years to come
The protective equipment that kept us safe during from COVID-19 could pose a lethal threat to nature.
4 August 2022 -
Science news
Whales have altered their development to be able to echolocate
The ability of dolphins and toothed whales to echolocate is shaped before they're even born.
3 August 2022 -
News
Fossil teeth could represent Europe's last panda species
While the evolutionary history of the bears remains uncertain, it contributes evidence to suggestions that panda bears could have evolved in Europe.
1 August 2022 -
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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News
The oldest known animal predator has been uncovered in Leicestershire
The 560-million-year-old specimen of Auroralumina attenboroughii reveals that the origins of complex life may date back further than was previously known.
28 July 2022 -
Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year The rise and fall of the humble herring
The herring narrowly escaped extinction in the twentieth century. But while some populations have recovered to healthy levels, others are still threatened by illegal fishing.
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News
First report of deadly disease raises concerns for Europe's starfish
A disease that causes starfish to disintegrate has been reported in the UK and Europe, raising fears for marine ecosystems.
27 July 2022 -
Science news
Pacific 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 -
News
40⁰C heatwaves could happen every few years because of climate change
Records for the highest UK temperature have been set three times already in the twenty-first century and could continue to do so as global warming takes its toll.
25 July 2022 -
Science news
The biodiversity crisis is making birds more similar
The days of the most distinctive bird species could be numbered as the most unusual forms bear the brunt of global extinctions.
21 July 2022 -
Science news
Mammal ancestors became warm-blooded in burst of Late Triassic evolution
As mammaliamorphs switched from being cold to warm blooded, new behaviours, habitats and ways of living became available to them.
20 July 2022 -
Science news
Rare moth collected by Museum founder Sir Richard Owen rediscovered
Digitising Museum collection leads to rediscovering a moth collected by Richard Owen
20 July 2022 -
News
Penguins are some of the slowest-evolving birds in the world
The evolution of penguins has been laid out in unparalleled detail, revealing how they came into being.
19 July 2022 -
News
Amphibian microbiome could be key to fighting deadly fungal disease
Frogs with less diverse microbiomes are more severely affected by chytridiomycosis than those with a greater range of microbes, suggesting possible new treatments.
18 July 2022 -
News
Risks to human health are increasing because of climate change
The effect of rising global temperatures on human health may require changes in our behaviour, mindset and the spaces we live in.
15 July 2022 -
News
Underwater noise pollution is risking the lives of whales and dolphins
Loud sound bursts throwing cetaceans out of balance and risk their health, amid growing concern over the impacts of anthropogenic noise pollution.
14 July 2022 -
News
Prehistoric giant stork competed with 'hobbit' human relative for food
Measuring almost two metres tall, Leptoptilos robustus would have lived in a unique ecosystem which included the mysterious miniature human relative Homo floresiensis.
13 July 2022 -
News
James Webb Space Telescope reveals its first spectacular images of the universe
With targets spanning the birth and death of stars, the James Webb Space Telescope is set to give us our clearest view of the universe so far.
12 July 2022 -
News
Tree-climbing UK toads spark investigation of unusual behaviour
Some individuals have been found as much as 2.8 metres above the ground, but no one is quite sure why.
11 July 2022