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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AnthropocenePlant expert Ana Claudia Araujo investigates the extinction of our global flora
Museum plant specialist Ana Claudia researches global biodiversity decline.
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AnthropoceneEco-anxiety: how to cope at a time of climate crisis
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the climate crisis or the state of our planet? These techniques can help you improve your mental wellbeing.
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British wildlifeThere's life among the dead: Wildlife in cemeteries
Explore your local cemetery and see what you can find living among the dead.
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Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: The small world of bees wins big
Karine Aigner's dynamic photo of a bee mating ball stole the show at the fifty-eighth Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards.
News
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NewsAnkylosaurs may have used their tail clubs to fight each other, not predators
Competition between ankylosaurs may be responsible for their iconic tail clubs.
7 December 2022 -
NewsThe world's oldest DNA represents a two-million-year-old ecosystem
DNA found in Greenland has broken the record for the oldest yet discovered.
7 December 2022 -
Science newsGloucestershire fossil suggests modern lizards could have Triassic origins
A new species of extinct lizard has been described from the Museum's collections.
2 December 2022 -
NewsWildlife Photographer of the Year: People's Choice 2023
Discover the stories behind the stunning images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year's 2023 People's Choice Award.
1 December 2022
Dinosaurs
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NewsMummified dinosaur could show evidence of scavenging by ancient crocodiles
Scavengers could help to preserve the soft tissue of the ancient reptiles by removing flesh and fluid from the body shortly after death.
13 October 2022 -
NewsNew dinosaur species reveals short arms evolved repeatedly in theropods
The tiny arms of Tyrannosaurus rex may bring ridicule, but a new dinosaur reveals they were part of a much larger trend.
7 July 2022 -
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
Plant expert Ana Claudia Araujo investigates the extinction of our global flora
Museum plant specialist Ana Claudia researches global biodiversity decline.
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NewsExplained: What is the Convention on Biological Diversity, and what does it do?
Nature faces a series of unprecedented threats in the twenty-first century - and the Convention on Biological Diversity sets the stage to help it fight back.
1 December 2022 -
NewsMussels in the Thames have declined by 95% since the 1960s
Native mussels in the River Thames are in decline, with some species having disappeared since a landmark study in 1964.
28 November 2022 -
Science newsDestruction of forests and grasslands is biggest cause of biodiversity loss
A new study has looked at what is driving the biodiversity crisis.
9 November 2022
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 wildlifeSpider webs: not just for Halloween
Explore seven common styles of spider web and discover the arachnids that make them.
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British wildlifeDaddy long legs: the flies that have us ducking and diving
But just when is daddy long legs season and how long does it last?
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British wildlifeSquirrels in the UK: what they are up to, when and why
Discover what these rodents get up to - what they eat, where they sleep and why they keep digging holes in your garden.
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British wildlifeBritish garden birds: autumn and winter highlights
Meet some of the birds you're likely to spot in your garden during the colder months of the year.
What on Earth?
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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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AnthropoceneTumbleweeds: the fastest plant invasion in the USA's history
Tumbleweeds have starred in many movies, but their representation in popular media may be somewhat misleading.
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What on Earth?Giant and colossal squid: revealing the secrets of the largest invertebrates
Scientists have only just begun to reveal what the lives of giant and colossal squid are like in the past two decades.
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What on Earth?How do camels survive in deserts?
From snowshoe-like feet to a nose that works like a dehumidifier, discover the amazing adaptations camels have that help them survive.
Space
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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 -
Science newsAncient crater lakes on Mars could have hosted life
Investigating Mars' dry lakes could help scientists to discover how life began on Earth.
16 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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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?
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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
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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 -
CollectionsHidden figures: forgotten contributions to natural history
Discover more about the people behind the headlines and how they have been overlooked by the history books.
Wildlife photography
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News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: People's Choice 2023
Discover the stories behind the stunning images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year's 2023 People's Choice Award.
1 December 2022 -
Wildlife photographyWildlife Photographer of the Year: Meet Kathy Moran the new Chair of the Jury
As the Competition moves into its fifty-ninth year, we welcome Kathy Moran as the new Chair of the Jury.
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Wildlife photography
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: The small world of bees wins big
Karine Aigner's dynamic photo of a bee mating ball stole the show at the fifty-eighth Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards.
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NewsWildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 winning images
Winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 announced.
11 October 2022
Latest videos
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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.
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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
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News
Ankylosaurs may have used their tail clubs to fight each other, not predators
Competition between ankylosaurs may be responsible for their iconic tail clubs.
7 December 2022 -
Anthropocene
Plant expert Ana Claudia Araujo investigates the extinction of our global flora
Museum plant specialist Ana Claudia researches global biodiversity decline.
-
News
The world's oldest DNA represents a two-million-year-old ecosystem
DNA found in Greenland has broken the record for the oldest yet discovered.
7 December 2022 -
Science news
Gloucestershire fossil suggests modern lizards could have Triassic origins
A new species of extinct lizard has been described from the Museum's collections.
2 December 2022 -
Collections
Hidden 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.
-
News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: People's Choice 2023
Discover the stories behind the stunning images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year's 2023 People's Choice Award.
1 December 2022 -
News
Explained: What is the Convention on Biological Diversity, and what does it do?
Nature faces a series of unprecedented threats in the twenty-first century - and the Convention on Biological Diversity sets the stage to help it fight back.
1 December 2022 -
Science newsSouth African fossils reveal the lost world of ancient invertebrates
Leeches, mites and plants found at the site are revealing the ecosystems ancient animals walked over 260 million years ago.
30 November 2022 -
News
Mussels in the Thames have declined by 95% since the 1960s
Native mussels in the River Thames are in decline, with some species having disappeared since a landmark study in 1964.
28 November 2022 -
NewsGiant glyptodont armadillos may have been hunted by early South Americans
A chink in the armour of giant South American armadillos may have left them vulnerable to human hunting.
25 November 2022 -
Science newsUnderstanding the geology of Mars in the hunt for life
Data being collected from the surface of Mars are already providing a glut of information about Jezero crater.
25 November 2022 -
NewsEvidence of the world's oldest meal may have been discovered
Algae and bacteria were on the menu for the early animal Kimberella shortly before it was buried over 500 million years ago.
24 November 2022 -
Science newsAncient Martian rivers discovered at planned ExoMars rover landing site
The next rover to land on Mars could discover signs of a once mighty river ecosystem.
22 November 2022 -
What on Earth?Supervolcanoes and their enormous eruptions
Discover what a supervolcano is, what their eruptions are like and how they impact our planet.
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NewsEurope's largest ever turtle species has been discovered
Measuring almost four metres in length, Leviathanochelys aenigmatica reveals that giant turtles were more common than previously thought.
17 November 2022 -
Science newsTadpoles have an eye on the future as their vision develops
Frog lenses develop differently depending on what environment they will live in as adults.
16 November 2022 -
Science newsWinchcombe meteorite delivers extraterrestrial water to Earth
The origins of a meteorite which lit up skies above the UK last year have been revealed.
16 November 2022 -
Science newsEarliest human fossils in the UK reveal how ancient Europeans were connected
Fossils discovered in Sussex were compared to human remains found in Spain from a similar time period to see if the populations are linked.
14 November 2022 -
Science newsThe oldest evidence of life on Earth could help us discover ancient life on Mars
Minute structures found in 3.48-billion-year-old Australian rocks are the oldest evidence of life on Earth.
11 November 2022 -
NewsSome mouthbrooding fish eat their children to reduce stress
Fish raised in their mother's mouth can sometimes end up their parent's next meal.
9 November 2022 -
Science news
Destruction of forests and grasslands is biggest cause of biodiversity loss
A new study has looked at what is driving the biodiversity crisis.
9 November 2022 -
Anthropocene
Eco-anxiety: how to cope at a time of climate crisis
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the climate crisis or the state of our planet? These techniques can help you improve your mental wellbeing.
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NewsEarliest gibbon fossil unlocks clues about the history of apes
The discovery of a seven million-year-old gibbon fossil has filled a long-elusive gap in the fossil record.
7 November 2022 -
NewsCOP27: What to expect from 2022's climate change conference
Demands for climate action are stronger than ever as the world comes together once again to discuss the rapidly warming world.
4 November 2022
