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.
Highlights
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DinosaursThe Cretaceous Period: What was Earth like before dinosaurs went extinct?
The Cretaceous Period is famous for ending with a massive asteroid impact, but what was our planet like in the millions of years before that?
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Behind the Science: Eva Stewart
Museum PhD student Eva researches deep-sea animal biodiversity in the Pacific Ocean.
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DinosaursWhy were dinosaurs so big? The secrets of titanosaurs' super size
Dinosaurs are the largest land animals to ever live. Titanosaurs were the biggest of them all. Explore how they were able to grow to such a size.
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British wildlifeCherry trees and their beautiful blossom: where and when to see it in the UK
Keep an eye out in spring and you may spot the delicate pink and white blooms of a cherry tree.
News
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Science newsFossils of whale ancestors reveal the path to becoming Earth's largest mammals
Whales started becoming big early in their evolution – and kept going for millions of years.
30 March 2023 -
NewsDinosaurs may have had scaly 'lips' to protect their teeth from damage
Rather than keeping them permanently exposed, like crocodiles, a new study suggests the teeth of theropods would have been kept behind lips.
30 March 2023 -
Science newsFossils reveal how giant amphibians swam on shores of ancient sea
Amphibians the size of crocodiles once lurked along the shores of ancient South Africa.
29 March 2023 -
NewsThe first known dinosaur egg? A new discovery from the Museum's collection
A serendipitous discovery revealed that a beautiful mineral has been hiding a secret for over 170 years.
29 March 2023
Dinosaurs
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DinosaursWhat was the biggest dinosaur?
Get to know some of the largest dinosaurs to have ever walked the planet.
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NewsCarnivorous dinosaur footprint is the largest found in Yorkshire
A fossil found in northern Britain is revealing insights into the behaviour of a 166-million-year-old carnivorous dinosaur.
16 February 2023 -
DinosaursHow are dinosaur fossils formed?
Even though dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, we know about them thanks to fossils. Watch our animation to find out how dinosaur fossils formed.
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DinosaursThe world's first dinosaur park: what the Victorians got right and wrong
They aren't scientifically accurate, but the Crystal Palace dinosaurs have a special place in the history of palaeontology.
Dippy the Diplodocus 3D skull
Rotate, zoom in and explore the features of this popular dinosaur.
Anthropocene
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AnthropoceneHuman-elephant conflict: How to live alongside the largest living land animal
Humans have increasingly determined the future of elephants over recent centuries.
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NewsMicroplastics in seabirds linked with increase in illness-causing bacteria
Microplastics aren't just affecting large animals, they're also affecting microscopic species too.
27 March 2023 -
NewsBiodiversity at risk as development encroaches into 80% of vital habitats
Development in Key Biodiversity Areas poses a risk to the stability and survival of unique ecosystems.
24 March 2023 -
Science newsPlastic diet could be causing seabird chicks to shrink
The body mass of young shearwaters has deteriorated in just over a decade, with plastic consumption believed to be the most likely cause.
24 March 2023
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.
British wildlife
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British wildlifeHow to find frogspawn, tadpoles and froglets
Spring is a great time to hop over to a local pond or stream to witness the wonderful life cycle of frogs.
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British wildlifeMeet the bee-fly: the cute bee mimic with a dark side
They look like bees and pollinate flowers, but these fluffy flies have a gruesome teenage stage that makes them one of the most fascinating species in your local park or garden.
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British wildlifeBirdwatching is not only good for you it also expands your world
The simple act of watching birds opens a window onto a whole other world right on your doorstep.
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British wildlifeWho's tweeting nearby? Take our birdsong quiz
Can you match these songs and calls to nine common British garden birds?
What on Earth?
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What on Earth?How do dung beetles' diets keep the world clean?
Find out why dung beetles eat poo and how some use the Sun and stars when they travel.
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What on Earth?Murder, maggots and forensic entomology
Did you know that flies have been helping us solve crimes for hundreds of years?
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What on Earth?The wonderfully weird world of tenrecs
From looking like Pokémon to having more nipples than any other mammal, tenrecs are an unusual bunch.
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What on Earth?Supervolcanoes and their enormous eruptions
Discover what a supervolcano is, what their eruptions are like and how they impact our planet.
Space
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SpaceMeteor showers to watch in 2023
Planetary science researcher and meteorite expert Dr Ashley King shares his tips on how to get the best view.
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SpaceWhat is space junk and why is it a problem?
Millions of pieces of human-caused debris are orbiting Earth. But are they an issue, and what can we do about them?
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Science newsRyugu asteroid samples offer insight into early years of the solar system
Researchers have caught a glimpse of the cosmos just two million years after the formation of the solar system.
22 September 2022 -
SpaceShooting stars: How to photograph the night sky
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.
Human evolution
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Human evolutionHow we became human
What features make us human? And where, when and why did they evolve?
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Science newsEarly English Anglo-Saxons descended from mass European migration
The people after which England is named made up more than three quarters of the nation's genetic ancestry during the early Middle Ages.
21 September 2022 -
Science newsOldest evidence of modern humans in western Europe discovered
Modern humans arrived in western Europe about 10,000 years earlier than previously thought.
9 February 2022 -
Human evolutionHomo erectus, our ancient ancestor
Learn about the longest-surviving human species, which was also the first known to leave Africa.
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.
Oceans
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NewsHistoric treaty to protect the world's oceans finally agreed
Nations have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans from exploitation.
6 March 2023 -
What on Earth?Whale sharks: Meet the world’s biggest shark
Whale sharks can be huge. But even experts aren’t entirely sure just how big they can get.
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Science newsCreatures from the deep: exploring the seas around remote South Atlantic islands
Museum scientists joined a six-week voyage to understand more about the fragile environments surrounding South Atlantic islands.
3 February 2023 -
OceansOctopuses keep surprising us - here are eight examples how
They have blue blood, three hearts and a doughnut-shaped brain. But these aren't even the most unusual discoveries made about octopuses!
Collections
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CollectionsThe Legacy of Dürer's Rhinoceros
Dürer's woodcut print of a rhinoceros is as iconic as it is inaccurate. In this article we explore the legacy of this infamous artwork and how it shaped thinking on its subject for more than 200 years after its creation.
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CollectionsThe Irish elk: when and why did this giant deer go extinct and what did it look like?
Fossil bones and antlers in the Museum's collection hold clues about the life and disappearance of Europe's biggest ever deer.
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CollectionsInteresting shells: from bizarre biology to cunning counterfeits
Think you know shells? The ones you see at the beach are just the tip of the iceberg.
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Science newsRare moth collected by Museum founder Sir Richard Owen rediscovered
Digitising Museum collection leads to rediscovering a moth collected by Richard Owen
20 July 2022
Wildlife photography
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Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: A Slim Outlook for South America's Spectacled Bear
Why are elusive spectacled bears roaming Quito's city limits?
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Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: The southern right whales' song of hope
Southern right whale numbers have bounced back since the end of whaling, and they got up close and personal with one photojournalist.
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NewsWildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 announces People's Choice winning image
The ethereal beauty of the snow leopard and its surroundings resonated with voters.
9 February 2023 -
Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: Top Tips from Young Minds for a Compassionate World India
Wildlife Photographer of the Year worked with British Council India for a masterclass focusing on conservation, wildlife photography and storytelling for young people.
Latest videos
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Dinosaurs
Why were dinosaurs so big? The secrets of titanosaurs' super size
Dinosaurs are the largest land animals to ever live. Titanosaurs were the biggest of them all. Explore how they were able to grow to such a size.
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CollectionsHidden Treasures: the behind-the-scenes tours where you tell us what to explore
Catch up on season one of our interactive behind-the-scenes live stream.
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Finding common sense with Ananse, the West African spider-god
Every culture in the world has at least one mythical character who, in some way, represents wisdom, knowledge or just plain common sense.
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British wildlife
How to pond dip
Pond dipping is a wonderful way to look at the creatures that live in and around pond water.
All articles
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Behind the Science: Eva Stewart
Museum PhD student Eva researches deep-sea animal biodiversity in the Pacific Ocean.
-
Dinosaurs
The Cretaceous Period: What was Earth like before dinosaurs went extinct?
The Cretaceous Period is famous for ending with a massive asteroid impact, but what was our planet like in the millions of years before that?
-
Science news
Fossils of whale ancestors reveal the path to becoming Earth's largest mammals
Whales started becoming big early in their evolution – and kept going for millions of years.
30 March 2023 -
News
Dinosaurs may have had scaly 'lips' to protect their teeth from damage
Rather than keeping them permanently exposed, like crocodiles, a new study suggests the teeth of theropods would have been kept behind lips.
30 March 2023 -
Anthropocene
Human-elephant conflict: How to live alongside the largest living land animal
Humans have increasingly determined the future of elephants over recent centuries.
-
Dinosaurs
Why were dinosaurs so big? The secrets of titanosaurs' super size
Dinosaurs are the largest land animals to ever live. Titanosaurs were the biggest of them all. Explore how they were able to grow to such a size.
-
Science news
Fossils reveal how giant amphibians swam on shores of ancient sea
Amphibians the size of crocodiles once lurked along the shores of ancient South Africa.
29 March 2023 -
News
The first known dinosaur egg? A new discovery from the Museum's collection
A serendipitous discovery revealed that a beautiful mineral has been hiding a secret for over 170 years.
29 March 2023 -
NewsBeaver families thriving in the West Country after unofficial reintroductions
As many as 50 beavers could be living in Somerset and Wiltshire, Natural England has revealed.
28 March 2023 -
News
Microplastics in seabirds linked with increase in illness-causing bacteria
Microplastics aren't just affecting large animals, they're also affecting microscopic species too.
27 March 2023 -
News
Biodiversity at risk as development encroaches into 80% of vital habitats
Development in Key Biodiversity Areas poses a risk to the stability and survival of unique ecosystems.
24 March 2023 -
Science news
Plastic diet could be causing seabird chicks to shrink
The body mass of young shearwaters has deteriorated in just over a decade, with plastic consumption believed to be the most likely cause.
24 March 2023 -
Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: A Slim Outlook for South America's Spectacled Bear
Why are elusive spectacled bears roaming Quito's city limits?
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Science newsNatural history museums around the globe contain over 1.1 billion objects
The specimens and objects held in museums around the world represent an astonishing resource.
23 March 2023 -
British wildlife
Cherry trees and their beautiful blossom: where and when to see it in the UK
Keep an eye out in spring and you may spot the delicate pink and white blooms of a cherry tree.
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Date palm: The cornerstone of civilisation in the Middle East and North Africa
The date palm plays a significant role in evolution, religion and culture.
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NewsBeavers to be reintroduced in Ealing as London rewilding projects funded
22 rewilding schemes will share £850,000 to help bring back nature in the UK's capital city.
21 March 2023 -
NewsClimate change 'survival guide' finds 1.5⁰C is achievable, but needs urgent action
The latest climate report reveals that the world is more than capable of tackling climate change, but current action simply isn't enough.
20 March 2023 -
NewsNatural History Museum was the UK's most visited indoor attraction in 2022
We're the UK's most popular indoor attraction for the second year running.
17 March 2023 -
NewsBumblebees solve puzzles by learning from their peers
Bumblebees develop new 'trends' in their behaviour by watching and learning from other members of the group.
17 March 2023 -
Science newsExtinctions on the island of the dodo are pushing plants towards extinction
Almost a third of Mauritius' native fruits are no longer being dispersed as no animals are big enough to swallow their seeds.
16 March 2023 -
Science newsLongest ever necked dinosaur discovered in China
The discovery was made three decades after the species was first uncovered as scientists try to understand more about how sauropods evolved in what is now eastern Asia.
15 March 2023 -
NewsCalls for a treaty to tackle space pollution in Earth's orbit
With the number of satellites expected to increase by over six times by 2030, there are calls for a new treaty to curb space pollution.
14 March 2023 -
NewsExtreme snowstorms decimate Antarctic petrel nests
Climate change is thought to be responsible for bringing more extreme weather to the continent, which is exacerbating a long term decline in nest numbers.
13 March 2023
