Science and nature facts, news and stories

Welcome to the next era of natural history collections. 

Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals.

Specimens of the hitchhiking insect have been sitting undescribed in the Museum’s collections since 1886. 

Variations in the skull shape of vultures have been found to coincide with the preferred method each species uses to feed on a carcass.

Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals.

Can creativity carve out more space for nature in our towns and cities?

A new study suggests that levels of ozone have declined by as much as 26% over the south pole.

Microplastics in the atmosphere might encourage the formation of clouds.

The image, titled The Golden Horseshoe, has won Laurent Ballesta his second Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Title award.

Here’s a glimpse at some mesmerising images from this year's upcoming exhibition.

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.

If you know what you’re looking at, little bits of bone can add up to something big. 

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. 

Welcome to the next era of natural history collections. 

Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals.

Specimens of the hitchhiking insect have been sitting undescribed in the Museum’s collections since 1886. 

Can creativity carve out more space for nature in our towns and cities?

A new study suggests that levels of ozone have declined by as much as 26% over the south pole.

Variations in the skull shape of vultures have been found to coincide with the preferred method each species uses to feed on a carcass.

Their style of mating is more similar to birds than any known mammal.

Crocodiles have a deep and varied evolutionary past.

Discover the contribution of Black people to the field of natural history.

Jaculinykus yaruui is thought to have dug for food using an enormous thumb on each hand.

Microplastics in the atmosphere might encourage the formation of clouds.

Discover the unexpected wildlife living the high life in cities and towns and the positive difference green roofs can make to an area.

Katydids have been using ultrasounds for millions of years to try and avoid predators hearing them.

The dramatic decline in biodiversity is the result of agricultural change, pollution and habitat loss.

The species has only been found once on the side of the inactive volcano. 

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

Once a remote and impenetrable region, the Arctic is opening up like never before. Here, in the most northerly region on Earth the effects of climate change are felt at full force. 

A question that has puzzled scientists for over 150 years may finally have been answered.

Our new Women in Science: Women of Colour Tour tells some inspiring stories.

Putting Martian meteorites in a nuclear reactor has confirmed their curiously young age.

The same useful traits appear again and again in nature.

The Natural History Museum’s collections are helping scientists to get a handle on how evolution works.

As part of our Urban Nature Project, we’re planting a dinosaur garden in front of our iconic building.

Earth’s climate is entering “uncharted territory” – and we have no idea what’s coming next.