Science and nature facts, news and stories

Space isn’t a totally empty void, but only 5% of the entire universe is normal, visible matter.

There’s an abundance of wildlife that can be spotted along the coasts of the British Isles.

Martian meteorites can tell us a lot about our neighbour.

Jaws’ depiction of sharks hasn’t aged as well as the film itself.

A gap in a distant cloud has allowed astronomers to peek inside a developing solar system.

One of the first known ichthyosaurs, Temnodontosaurus, was a covert ocean predator.

A fossil of an extinct reptile known as a silesaur suggests that the size of early dinosaurs might have been underestimated.

The Cambrian Explosion may have been less of a burst of evolution, and more of a final flourish.

Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae is going on display in our Earth Hall.

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

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.

Scientists have tracked over 100 species of marine animals and found that plans to protect almost a third of our seas may be insufficient.

Explore the biggest challenges facing our planet and the nature-based solutions that can help us to create a more sustainable world.

The impact of melting glaciers will be felt for centuries – even if global warming is reversed.

The passenger pigeon was once the most numerous bird in the world, but in just half a century, it had gone extinct.

Wasps and humans may have a rocky relationship. But should these insects be revered rather than feared?

Name that tune! Learn how to recognise the songs and calls of the UK's most common park and garden birds.

Get the facts on when and why ants grow wings and swarm.

Birds need access to water year-round. Help them out by building a simple garden bird bath. 

Life has found very clever ways to survive in the most extreme places.

Explore impressive adaptations animals have evolved for coping with sub-zero temperatures.

The woolly mammoth is an ice age icon. But it was only the very last chapter in a six-million-year-long story. 

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

Are we alone or could there be life in space?

Prepare for launch by taking a sneak peek at our favourite stories and specimens from the Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? exhibition.

Samples from the asteroid Bennu contain some of the ingredients needed for life to develop.

Discover what causes the colourful lights of the aurora borealis.

Scientists have taken a step forward in understanding how our species survived outside Africa.

Find out how Homo sapiens left Africa and migrated to other regions of the world, including Europe, Asia and America.

The fossil expands the Denisovan's known range by thousands of kilometres and provides new insights into how this species looked.

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

Dive into the modern megalodon myth and weigh up the evidence.

Bone-eating worms have been cleaning up the ocean floor for over 100 million years.

Not all sharks look like great whites.

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

Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae is going on display in our Earth Hall.

Discover the extraordinary world of these winged reptiles – from mysterious origins to breathtaking diversity. 

The insect not only marks a major milestone, but also highlights the power of digitising our collection.

Our butterfly expert talks about her life, passions and the power of perspectives.

Photographer Greg Basco talks us through capturing this otherworldly vista, high up in the Colombian Andes.

Manatees return to Florida’s Crystal River as locals restore seagrass lost to pollution. 

Photographer Jaime Rojo brings to life the perilous journey of these iconic butterflies and the efforts to save them.

Ian Wood’s photo No Access fought off competition from 24 other images to emerge victorious.

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

What are those milky white splatters – are they pee or poo?

Take a virtual tour of the Natural History Museum and explore the astonishing diversity of the natural world.

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

A gap in a distant cloud has allowed astronomers to peek inside a developing solar system.

One of the first known ichthyosaurs, Temnodontosaurus, was a covert ocean predator.

Colugos are sometimes called flying lemurs however, they aren't lemurs, and they technically can't fly.   

A fossil of an extinct reptile known as a silesaur suggests that the size of early dinosaurs might have been underestimated.

Space isn’t a totally empty void, but only 5% of the entire universe is normal, visible matter.

The Cambrian Explosion may have been less of a burst of evolution, and more of a final flourish.

Bone-eating worms have been cleaning up the ocean floor for over 100 million years.

There’s an abundance of wildlife that can be spotted along the coasts of the British Isles.

Sphenodraco scandentis would have climbed among the trees of ancient Jurassic forests.

Antarctic meltwater ponds are helping scientists understand how early organisms survived a frozen Earth.

How echinoderms evolved such an unusual shape has long troubled biologists. 

Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae is going on display in our Earth Hall.

Martian meteorites can tell us a lot about our neighbour.

Garden snails and aphids are venomous animals.

Jaws’ depiction of sharks hasn’t aged as well as the film itself.

Two new species of ancient fungi are shedding light on the origins of these deadly parasites.

Scientists have taken a step forward in understanding how our species survived outside Africa.

The early evolution of pterosaurs is a mystery – and the ancient climate might explain why.

Mineral with a chemical composition very similar to that of the fictional Kryptonite could help Europe transition to a greener future. 

Dive into the modern megalodon myth and weigh up the evidence.

Scientists have tracked over 100 species of marine animals and found that plans to protect almost a third of our seas may be insufficient.

Nettles tend to have a bad reputation but they’re very important!

Studying an ancient extinction could help at-risk mussels, scallops and clams today.

Are we alone or could there be life in space?