Discover
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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Meet the Tanzanian building his own herbarium
Canisius Kayombo is a remarkable researcher who is enriching our understanding of plants and science.
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CollectionsJohn Edmonstone: the man who taught Darwin taxidermy
John Edmonstone was a former enslaved man who taught the young Charles Darwin the skill of taxidermy.
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AnthropoceneHow listening to bird song can transform our mental health
Listening to some bird song can help improve our mental health.
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AnthropoceneWhat is e-waste and what can we do about it?
The UK is one of the largest producers of household e-waste in the world.
News
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NewsNASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft to make history in asteroid Bennu touch down
The spacecraft will attempt a Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection on Tuesday 20 October.
19 October 2020 -
NewsWildlife Photographer of the Year 2020 winning images
An image of a Siberian tiger scent marking won this year's grand title.
13 October 2020 -
Science newsHow rodents the size of bears arrived in the Caribbean
Rodents of unusual size once lived across the Caribbean.
12 October 2020 -
NewsThe Earthshot Prize: Prince William launches strategy to repair our planet
His Royal Highness Prince William has created The Earthshot Prize to generate a global movement to repair our planet.
8 October 2020
Dinosaurs
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DinosaursA shepherd stumbles across sleeping giants in a dinosaur graveyard
This is thought to be one of the most significant dinosaur sites ever found in South Africa.
23 June 2020 -
NewsDinosaur diaries: new 'Captain Hook' dinosaur with clawed hands discovered
A new cat-sized dinosaur with hooks for hands has been described.
3 August 2020 -
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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Anthropocene
How listening to bird song can transform our mental health
Listening to some bird song can help improve our mental health.
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News
The Earthshot Prize: Prince William launches strategy to repair our planet
His Royal Highness Prince William has created The Earthshot Prize to generate a global movement to repair our planet.
8 October 2020 -
Anthropocene
What is e-waste and what can we do about it?
The UK is one of the largest producers of household e-waste in the world.
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AnthropoceneYour mobile phone is powered by precious metals and minerals
The world's rarest mineral resources are in your hands.
What is the Anthropocene?
We are living in the age of humans, a time referred to by many as the Anthropocene.
British wildlife
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British wildlifeHow to make a bug hotel: a ladybird lodge
This simple DIY insect hotel is perfect for ladybirds looking for somewhere to hibernate in winter.
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British wildlifeMeet the neighbours: eight surprising animals living in UK towns and cities
It's not just foxes, rats and pigeons in the concrete jungle.
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British wildlifeFinding love on the web
Spiders may seem scary, but most of them are just looking for love. Read some dating profiles of spiders searching for the perfect mate.
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British wildlifeSlow worms: Britain's most unusual lizards
If you see a snake blink at you, it's not a snake.
What on Earth?
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What on Earth?
How seals' whiskers help them hunt underwater
Seals have specially shaped whiskers whiskers that enable them to hunt effectively even in poor visual conditions.
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What on Earth?Fantastic flyers: 10 animals that fly in surprising ways
The air isn't just for insects, bats ora birds - there are a few other animals that can take to the skies.
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What on Earth?Fantastic felines: a world of wild cats
Meet some of the small and elusive felines roaming wild around the world
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What on Earth?Coconut crabs: the bird-eating behemoths thriving on isolated tropical islands
Get to know the world's largest land-dwelling crustacean.
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Space
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SpaceOrionid meteor shower 2020: when and how to watch
Planetary science researcher and meteorite expert Dr Ashley King shares his tips on how to get the best view.
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SpaceMars 2020: an essential guide to the mission
Where will the rover land, and will it find life on Mars?
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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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SpaceHow does the Moon affect life on Earth?
Weeping trees, teeth stronger than Kevlar and one of Earth's most spectacular natural events are all shaped by the Moon.
Human evolution
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Science newsThe earliest art in Britain was created in the Ice Age
Prehistoric societies in the Britain were creating artistic designs on rock as long ago as the late Ice Age.
19 August 2020 -
Human evolutionHow we became human
What features make us human? And where, when and why did they evolve?
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Human evolutionHomo erectus, our ancient ancestor
Learn about the longest-surviving human species, which was also the first known to leave Africa.
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Human evolution
The cannibals of Gough's Cave
Dr Silvia Bello tells us about the gruesome yet fascinating behaviour of people living in a Somerset cave 14,700 years ago.
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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OceansExploring animal life on a hydrothermal vent
As well as intriguing vent animals, the team got to see humpback whales breaching in the bay.
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OceansAre seahorses the ocean's quirkiest fish?
With armoured bodies, curly tails and limited swimming ability, seahorses are a group of fish quite unlike any other.
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OceansDo sharks lay eggs?
Although most sharks give birth to live young, a few lay oddly shaped eggs that occasionally wash up on beaches.
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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!
See a blue whale skeleton in high definition
Explore a 3D model of the Museum's blue whale skeleton and learn more about how these animals behave.
Collections
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Gilbert White: the modern naturalist
Gilbert White's talent and passion for observing and recording nature inspired many future naturalists, including Charles Darwin.
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CollectionsMaria Sibylla Merian: metamorphosis unmasked by art and science
Adventuring unchaperoned in seventeenth century Suriname, Maria Sibylla Merian blazed a trail for women and science.
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Biodiversity
The compelling case for why flies are actually fabulous
Did you know that there are more species of fly in the UK than there are mammals on the planet? And they perform some pretty important jobs.
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CollectionsArchitect Alfred Waterhouse and his iconic Natural History Museum building
Explore a menagerie of designs fit for a 'cathedral to nature'.
Wildlife photography
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a tiger's territory
Discover what makes a winner with this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
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News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020 winning images
An image of a Siberian tiger scent marking won this year's grand title.
13 October 2020 -
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a call for action
Competition Manager Gemma Ward talks us through the new categories for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 57 and what she hopes they will bring to the competition.
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NewsFirst Look: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 56
Explore a selection of the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition images.
1 September 2020
Latest videos
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What on Earth?
How seals' whiskers help them hunt underwater
Seals have specially shaped whiskers whiskers that enable them to hunt effectively even in poor visual conditions.
-
British wildlife
How to make a bug hotel: a ladybird lodge
This simple DIY insect hotel is perfect for ladybirds looking for somewhere to hibernate in winter.
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British wildlife
Lugworm poos and the secrets they hold
Have you ever noticed the small mounds of sand on a beach at low tide? These are lugworm poos, and they hold a secret.
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How to make an easy Sun print
Making Sun prints is a fun activity that can turn leaves and flowers into simple but distinctive artworks.
All articles
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News
NASA's OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft to make history in asteroid Bennu touch down
The spacecraft will attempt a Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection on Tuesday 20 October.
19 October 2020 -
Meet the Tanzanian building his own herbarium
Canisius Kayombo is a remarkable researcher who is enriching our understanding of plants and science.
-
Collections
John Edmonstone: the man who taught Darwin taxidermy
John Edmonstone was a former enslaved man who taught the young Charles Darwin the skill of taxidermy.
-
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a tiger's territory
Discover what makes a winner with this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
-
News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020 winning images
An image of a Siberian tiger scent marking won this year's grand title.
13 October 2020 -
Science news
How rodents the size of bears arrived in the Caribbean
Rodents of unusual size once lived across the Caribbean.
12 October 2020 -
News
The Earthshot Prize: Prince William launches strategy to repair our planet
His Royal Highness Prince William has created The Earthshot Prize to generate a global movement to repair our planet.
8 October 2020 -
Anthropocene
How listening to bird song can transform our mental health
Listening to some bird song can help improve our mental health.
-
Anthropocene
Your mobile phone is powered by precious metals and minerals
The world's rarest mineral resources are in your hands.
-
Anthropocene
What is e-waste and what can we do about it?
The UK is one of the largest producers of household e-waste in the world.
-
What on Earth?
How seals' whiskers help them hunt underwater
Seals have specially shaped whiskers whiskers that enable them to hunt effectively even in poor visual conditions.
-
NewsWinners of Nature in lockdown photo competition announced
See the winning images in our photo competition, Nature in lockdown: a breath of fresh air.
1 October 2020 -
Science newsWhale poo is powering the world's rainforests
The world's biggest animals are nature's engineers.
1 October 2020 -
Science news40% of plants are threatened with extinction
The extinction risk to plants could be worse than previously thought, according to a landmark report.
30 September 2020 -
NewsBeekeeping in cities is harming other wildlife, study finds
Enthusiasm for beekeeping in the UK's major cities is threatening other local wildlife, according to a new report.
30 September 2020 -
British wildlife
Meet the neighbours: eight surprising animals living in UK towns and cities
It's not just foxes, rats and pigeons in the concrete jungle.
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Wildlife Photographer of the Year: a call for action
Competition Manager Gemma Ward talks us through the new categories for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 57 and what she hopes they will bring to the competition.
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NewsUK has 'led the world' in destroying the natural environment
Centuries of farming, building and industry have made the UK one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe.
26 September 2020 -
British wildlife
How to make a bug hotel: a ladybird lodge
This simple DIY insect hotel is perfect for ladybirds looking for somewhere to hibernate in winter.
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Science newsFrogs have some of the biggest eyes of all vertebrates
This is the first time the relative eye size of frogs has been compared across all vertebrates.
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NewsDinosaur diaries: were ankylosaurs socially distancing?
Were dinosaurs adhering to social distancing rules, or were they living in tight-knit herds?
22 September 2020 -
AnthropoceneNature: liberated by lockdown?
What really happened to nature in 2020?
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TringDiscover Antarctica at Tring
A free exhibition which explores the heroic age of Antarctic exploration is on display at the Museum at Tring.
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What on Earth?Marine iguanas: the incredible shrinking lizards of the Galápagos
Growth is usually thought of as from small to large, but marine iguanas occasionally do the opposite.
