Anthropocene

Biodiversity is the name we give to the variety of all life on Earth.

We are living in the age of humans.

What does this term mean and how could it affect you?

Invasive species are a much bigger threat to nature than many people realise.

Humanity is eroding its own life-support system.

Help local wildlife, see more stars and get better rest - just a few compelling reasons to join the dark side.

Humans are the only species responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to leading scientists.

Plastic is everywhere - even the deepest parts of the ocean are now awash with it.

Nature plays a huge part in the medicines we rely on every day. 

Listening to some bird song can help improve our mental health.

The great diversity of life on Earth can become a literal support system.

Our cities are damaging our health. Here's how plants can help us.

Like small signposts, lichens can tell us a lot about the air we are breathing. 

The decline in native birds is threatening the existence of island biodiversity.

Centuries of farming, building and industry have made the UK one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe.

We are gambling with the only world we have, say researchers.

Deforestation has slashed species diversity in ecosystems on land. But how can we stop further losses?

The dramatic onset of the novel coronavirus has shone a spotlight on one of the world's most distressing systems: the global trade in wild animals. 

Experts argue that changing the way we use land could help bees even more.

A deadly fungus has been devastating populations of amphibians all over the world - but no one knew where it began until now.

Rats and pigeons are thriving, but unique species are disappearing.

Making these reusable food wraps will help you reduce your single-use plastic waste.

Follow our instructions to make a simple hedgehog home. 

Follow our simple guide to building a bird feeder for your garden from a reused plastic bottle.

Attract bees to your lawn with clover, grow a mini wildflower meadow, add areas of aromatic thyme and more ideas.

This simple DIY insect hotel is perfect for ladybirds looking for somewhere to hibernate in winter.

Putting up a nesting box could be a big help to your local birds. Our simple design is ideal for small songbirds and sparrows.

One of Britain's most threatened mammals is being given a boost.

Will 2020 become the year we stop taking nature for granted?

The first taxonomically verified checklist of the plants of New Guinea is complete.

A new report found that 395 million new jobs could be created by 2030 if world leaders focus on protecting nature.

Pangolin scales are no longer approved for use in traditional Chinese medicine.

It's the longest period since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

It is possible to bring animals and plants back from the brink.

Black bears in Yosemite National Park are coexisting with humans after years of conflict.

Northern elephant seals once teetered on the brink of extinction. Now they are bouncing back.

It is illegal to harm beavers or destroy their lodges and dams.

It has been 230 years since they were declared extinct in England.

The small but mighty insects buffer the forests against drought.

Discover how we're fighting to keep nature healthy.

Discover how we're helping some of the most threatened animals on Earth.

Andean bear populations are dwindling - but there is hope for the species.

Samples collected on the HMS Challenger are teaching us about climate change. 

The Arctic is one of the most fragile and precious places on Earth.

Insects from Merseyside were some of the first animals studied in a new project.

It could help us to monitor mining impacts in the ocean.

Researchers hope they will also be resilient in the face of man-made climate change and the threats it will bring.

Looking at the record of bird poo preserved for thousands of years could give us clue as to what might happen as climate change gathers pace.

Climate change is having a bigger impact on animals and plants in the ocean than those on land.

Tracking the diversity of turtles could also give us clues as to how they might respond to increasing pressures in the future.

Microplastics: the what, where and how.

Ongoing research into plastic pollution is essential.

Discover the dangers of flushing your wet wipes.

Sewage surfer is a stark reminder of the wide-reaching impact humans have on the planet, and particularly its small inhabitants.

Human waste was found 2,000 metres below the ocean surface.

As the crabs die, they release a signal attracting other crabs causing a gruesome chain reaction.  

Microplastics are having an enormous impact.

What this means for their future is still not known. 

The extinction risk to plants could be worse than previously thought, according to a landmark report.

Dugongs help fight climate change by protecting seagrass meadows.

The first official red list for British mammals has been produced.

There are precious few elephants left in Borneo - forests where they live are being slashed to make way for palm oil plantations.

Some species have fewer than 30 individuals left alive.

The last male rhino in Malaysia has died - here's how it happened.

Unusually for a modern mammal, we know little of it from a true natural history perspective.

Hunting for meat is now a serious threat to the species' survival.

The illegal trade of European eels is worth up to £3.5 billion a year.

Refuges in the Arctic may help save the species.

What can antique corals reveal about the impact of climate change on the ocean?

Climate change could bring an end to algae and seaweed.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalists document the desperate story of the pangolin.

Scientists believe that the arrival of just one more ash dieback spore could kill off Europe's remaining ash trees.

The world's rarest mineral resources are in your hands.

The UK is one of the largest producers of household e-waste in the world.

To meet UK electric car targets for 2050, we would need just under twice the current annual world cobalt production. 

A Museum-led consortium is helping to predict where to find valuable metal ore deposits.

It could help us to monitor mining impacts in the ocean.

Mining the deep ocean for minerals could cause wide-ranging, decades-long disturbances to the seafloor's ecosystems.

The sponges live on the ocean floor on metal-rich nodules, which are targeted by deep-sea mining companies.

By improving our knowledge of what is living in the area, it will be easier to monitor the effects of future mining.

A surprising amount of air pollution is emitted from our homes. Watch and find out what you can do to help.

Like small signposts, lichens can tell us a lot about the air we are breathing.