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
-
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
News
-
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 -
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 -
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
Dinosaurs
-
DinosaursWhat was the biggest dinosaur?
Get to know some of the largest dinosaurs to have ever walked the planet.
-
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.
-
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
-
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?
-
News
Beavers 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 -
News
Climate 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 -
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
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
British wildlifeWho's tweeting nearby? Take our birdsong quiz
Can you match these songs and calls to nine common British garden birds?
-
British wildlife
How to make a bee hotel
Give solitary bees a home by making this simple, DIY bee hotel.
What on Earth?
-
What on Earth?Murder, maggots and forensic entomology
Did you know that flies have been helping us solve crimes for hundreds of years?
-
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.
-
What on Earth?Supervolcanoes and their enormous eruptions
Discover what a supervolcano is, what their eruptions are like and how they impact our planet.
-
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.
Space
-
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.
-
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?
-
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
-
Human evolutionHow we became human
What features make us human? And where, when and why did they evolve?
-
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
-
NewsHMS Challenger: How a 150-year-old expedition still influences scientific discoveries today
Over a century ago, one of the most important scientific expeditions in history departed from the UK to explore the oceans of the world.
6 September 2022 -
OceansWhat is an ammonite?
The often tightly wound shells of ammonites may be a familiar sight, but how much do you know about the animals that once lived inside?
-
Science newsPacific expedition may have discovered over 30 new deep sea species
Over 30 potential new species, from starfish to sea cucumbers, have been discovered living at the bottom of the sea.
27 July 2022 -
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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?
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
British wildlife
How to pond dip
Pond dipping is a wonderful way to look at the creatures that live in and around pond water.
-
British wildlifeHow to make a log pile to provide shelter for garden wildlife
A log pile can give home and shelter to some of the smaller inhabitants of your garden.
All articles
-
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?
-
Science news
Natural 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 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.
-
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.
-
News
Beavers 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 -
News
Climate 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 -
News
Bumblebees 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 news
Extinctions 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 -
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.
-
NewsOver half of Britain's plant species are now non-native
Of the almost 3,500 British plant species, non-native plants now outnumber native species by 51% to 49%.
10 March 2023 -
NewsBird flu kills thousands of South American sea lions as outbreak continues
An outbreak of bird flu has swept the world over the past year, raising fears that humans could become more vulnerable.
9 March 2023 -
NewsNew fossils challenge the identity of the oldest bryozoan
The oldest colonial animal might actually be one of the oldest types of seaweed.
8 March 2023 -
British wildlife
Birdwatching 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.
-
Wildlife photography
Wildlife 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.
-
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 -
Science news'Plasticosis': a new disease caused by plastic that is affecting seabirds
A new disease has been described in seabirds, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg.
3 March 2023 -
Science newsEuropean woodcocks have the brightest feathers known to exist
The underside of their tails have feathers that are whiter than any others ever measured.
1 March 2023 -
Collections
The 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.
-
The giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum: the biggest tree in the world
Explore the stories of the giant redwoods and the extraordinary Cherokee man Sequoyah, who influenced their name.
-
NewsLegendary beasts from ancient literature may have been whales gulping down fish
Ancient Norwegian and Greek literature may have described trap feeding as much as 2,000 years before it was first observed in 2011.
28 February 2023
