Science and nature facts, news and stories

Get the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about these fascinating, slithering reptiles. 

Find out the different ways scientists have of describing what species are, how they form and how many there are on Earth. 

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. 

With wingspans that stretched a whopping 71 centimetres, these epic insects would have blocked out the Sun as they flew past.  

The earliest ancestors of birds looked noticeably different from the creatures familiar to us today, reflecting their dinosaur origins.

By the end of the Jurassic Period, dinosaurs ruled our planet. But how they became such a diverse group remains a mystery. 

The discoveries that changed our understanding of dinosaurs over the past two centuries.

Dinosaur expert Professor Paul Barrett answers your questions about the prehistoric reptiles that once ruled our world.

Find out the facts about palm oil and its impact on the health of rainforests.

Each year, 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the environment.

Food security and biodiversity are threatened by the chemicals contaminating our soils.

The power of machine learning could be used to protect threatened fishes.

Get the facts on this garden favourite.

This simple DIY insect hotel is perfect for ladybirds looking for somewhere to hibernate in winter.

Explore seven common styles of spider web and discover the arachnids that make them.

Find out what wildlife you can see at our ponds and how they support life in our gardens.

Detachable, autonomous penis arms – need we say more?

Discover the extraordinary diversity of sex and sexual behaviour in nature.

From the tallest and the heaviest to giant nests and extra-long toes, discover the world’s record-breaking birds. 

Electric eels are like living batteries, but how does their amazing electric-shock ability work?

New research into the Sun's magnetism could make solar storms easier to predict.

Welcome to the next era of natural history collections. 

Millions of pieces of human-caused debris are orbiting Earth. But are they an issue, and what can we do about them?

Anyone can capture the majesty of the galaxy with a simple camera. All you need is a dark, clear night and the willingness to have a go.

The first modern humans to live in northern Europe arrived more than 45,000 years ago.

Learn about the longest-surviving human species, which was also the first known to leave Africa.

What features make us human? And where, when and why did they evolve?

Human bones with cutmarks, breaks and human chewing marks are found across northern Europe. 

Discover the fascinating, gelatinous world of jellyfish, from painful stings to brilliant bioluminescence. 

Trilobites survived for more than 250 million years. But what made them some of the most successful early animals?

From the headless chicken monster to anal teeth, discover the curious world of sea cucumbers. 

Sea urchins can be found in every ocean on Earth. They’ve been around for 450 million years - but are they now at risk?

Our latest attraction stands tall over the new gardens.

From hidden highlights to star sights and surprising sounds, explore 12 treasures in our new gardens.

Experience the connection between rocks and life in our new Evolution Garden where rocks, fossils, plants and sculpture tell a story of evolution and geological change.

It takes time, endless patience and skill to transform a fossil into a museum-worthy exhibit.