Features

It's not just foxes, rats and pigeons in the concrete jungle.

The best places to hang out with bats and how to take them under your wing.

The air isn't just for insects, bats ora birds - there are a few other animals that can take to the skies.

If you see a snake blink at you, it's not a snake.

Discover some standout British beetles, including a particularly vibrant ladybird and a rare rainbow-coloured leaf beetle.

It was once widely believed that ammonites were coiled snakes turned magically to stone.

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

Frogs and toads are often spotted in UK gardens, but some are struggling. Find out how you can help.

Is it even possible in the first place?

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

A far greater variety of dinosaurs lived here than we realised.

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.

Get tips on urban birdwatching and discover what you could see - including birds of prey and parakeets.

Composer Hans Zimmer is speaking up for nature.

Millions of pieces of human-caused debris are orbiting Earth. But are they an issue, and what can we do about them?

This charismatic Polynesian turned Cook's first voyage into his own ceremonial tour.

Museum scientists have dissected a spectacled porpoise specimen to discover more about these little known animals.

Be brave just like Matilda and go on an adventure around the galleries.

Find out what makes Britain's towns and cities so appealing to red foxes and if they deserve the bad rap they receive.

Weeping trees, teeth stronger than Kevlar and one of Earth's most spectacular natural events are all shaped by the Moon.

Explore a menagerie of designs fit for a 'cathedral to nature'.

The Museum cares for the only piece of Apollo 17 Moon rock gifted to the UK, but our connection with NASA's missions goes back to Apollo 11.

Growing up in the Apollo era of the seventies, Prof Sara Russell fantasised about working on space missions.

Get the facts on when and why ants grow wings and swarm.

Meet eighteenth-century naturalist and collector Sir Joseph Banks.

Gibbous moons really don't get the attention they deserve.

Water voles in Glasgow have left the riverbank behind in search of new homes.

Find out about some of the birds you're likely to see and hear in parks and gardens. 

Museum wildlife experts share their favourite signs spring is here or on its way.

Although spinosaurs were named in 1915, little was known about these giants until a 31-centimetre-long claw was discovered in the UK in 1983.

Why have so few dinosaur fossils been found in Ireland? It's all to do with the island's geological history.

Discover the bioluminescent beetles putting on night-time light shows in Britain.

Did dinosaurs have a softer side when it came to caring for their eggs and young?

A Museum expert explains how this invasive species could cause big problems for beekeepers in Britain.

Falling from the sky in a blaze of glory, meteorites certainly know how to make an entrance, and the stories they tell span the history of our solar system.

When an unusual rock fell to Earth in 1795, it prompted the first large-scale investigation into the origin of meteorites.

Would a pigeon in London sound the same as a pigeon in Birmingham?

Meet the Swedish botanist who ventured around the world on Captain Cook's pivotal first voyage.

Movie star, established brawler and owner of a killer claw, Velociraptor has quite a reputation.

What's the next best thing to studying prehistoric dinosaurs in the flesh?

Dinosaur researcher Dr David Button reviews Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Sixty-six million years ago dinosaurs had the ultimate bad day.

Is a mosquito trapped in amber really the way to bring dinosaurs back from the dead? 

Not everything you've been led to believe about dinosaurs is true.

Bees' pollinating prowess often overshadows many of the insects working just as hard as them. 

Find out which plants will encourage colourful visitors to your garden.

No bigger than a smartphone, this remarkable rock has layers that tell the story of the working lives and hardships of miners in the 1800s.

What is a hydrothermal vent and did life on Earth begin at these underwater locations?

View a selection of 10 unforgettable photographs of big cats spanning nearly 20 years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Meet the trailblazer who was one of the first women employed as a scientist by the Museum.

Female researchers are helping to answer some of the biggest questions about life on Earth. 

Earth may be the blue planet, but beneath the ocean waves lies a vast forest of green. 

Discover the science and art involved in making the Museum's Neanderthal and early modern human models.

Meet the artist behind the whale-form sculptures in the exhibition Whales: Beneath the surface.

Meet the pesky parasites with some surprising benefits.

What did humans in Britain look like 10,000 years ago?

A supermoon appears larger and brighter in the night sky. How often does this happen and why? Find out all about this phenomenon.

Appearing to flash a toothy grin, this hammerhead seems eager to show that sharks aren't as fearsome as they're often made out to be.

Find out what it takes to get the most challenging underwater shots for Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Dr Silvia Bello tells us about the gruesome yet fascinating behaviour of people living in a Somerset cave 14,700 years ago.

Unearth the one-million-year story of humans in Britain and their struggle to survive in a changing land.

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

What were the largest dinosaurs in Britain 200-145 million years ago? And why were they so big?

The demise of the great auk is a lesson in what can happen when human greed runs rampant.

Find out more about the fascinating behaviour of the Australian brush turkey.

Meet the brightly coloured sea slugs committing serial stinging-cell crimes.

Sponges are unsung heroes for thousands living with chronic illnesses.

Find out how the Gila monster's venom has the ability to save lives.

Discover how in death, whales can sustain life for decades.

What was the ocean like when dinosaurs roamed the Earth?

Learn about the challenges wildlife photographers like David Lloyd face when capturing animal portraits.

Professor Richard Twitchett explains what a more acidic ocean could mean for the future of marine life.

Explore the conservation issues behind this winning image.

The spectacled porpoise is one of the least understood cetaceans of all, so there is a lot to learn from the Museum's new specimen.

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

Armed with one of the most painful stings on the planet, tarantula hawks are a spider's worst nightmare.

As judging begins to crown the next Wildlife Photographer of the Year, we look back at the shots that made competition history.

A series of perfectly-preserved humpback whale foetuses reveal how whales grow before they're born.

This dinosaur has a strange combination of body parts. Museum expert Prof Paul Barrett explains why.

See award-winning shots capturing life in the ocean.

Early ancestors of the ocean's biggest animals once walked on land. Follow their extraordinary journey from shore to sea. 

Find out how Museum scientists used a new technique to preserve this enormous blue marlin forever.

Research on communities of killer whales reveals there might be more to menopause than simply old age. 

The touchable, wavy folds of this rock tell a story as old as life on Earth.

Our oceans are changing fast. Find out how Museum collections are helping scientists to understand the future of marine life.

What happens to stranded whales? And how can they be useful for research?

A special collection of butterfly specimens at the Museum helps tell a tale of extraordinary adventure and scientific insight. 

From touring spectacle to Museum star: hear the hidden history behind this ancient mammal skeleton.

Discover how Iguanodon's true identity was finally revealed.

Rare drone footage could prove vital for research into the meals of the largest animals on the planet.

See the skeleton of the Thames whale ten years after it caused a stir by swimming up London's river.

Why do whales sing? Scientists have only just begun to decipher the meaning of these underwater melodies.

Minerals may look tough, but getting these crystals from ground to display case needs a very steady hand.

How scrutinising a person's bones and teeth can disclose who they were, how they lived and even how they died.

How has London buried its dead over the past 5,000 years?

Explore the science behind the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds.

Beaked whales can dive 2,000 metres below the ocean's surface. Why and how do they do it?

A bird curator discusses how and why taxidermy is still bringing nature to life.

Dr Caroline Smith sheds light on the secrets this rock holds about the formation of our own planet.

These popular dinosaur reconstructions from the 1960s are no longer scientifically accurate. Can you spot the errors?

Find out how we prepare the tropical butterfly house and keep the hundreds of butterflies soaring.

For more than 300 years, Britain's wildlife has captivated scientists and artists alike.

Getting into wildlife photography? Boost your game with hints from Wildlife Photographer of the Year finalists.

Resin deer lungs, a warthog and a pterosaur fossil are just a few of the curious specimens to be found in the new Hintze Hall. 

Scanning and 3D-modelling the skeleton of a blue whale is an enormous undertaking.

Meet the female photographers documenting wildlife and conservation issues across the globe.

One man forever changed the way curators showcase their largest and most eye-catching specimens – including blue whales.

Dr Ian Kitching explores the 60-million-year evolutionary arms race between moths and bats.

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

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

Mammals expert Richard Sabin explains why giraffe numbers have plummeted in the past 15 years.

Find out how new developments will build on the Museum's history as an index of the natural world.

Mario Cea's image of a diving kingfisher has won this year's People's Choice Award.

How do you conserve an ancient wedge of giant tree? With solvent, buckets of resin and a lot of patience.

Watch a Museum conservator reposition the delicate skeleton of Napoleon's horse, Marengo.

In Japan's freezing forests, snow monkeys crouch together for warmth. Photographer Thomas Kokta went to visit.

Cleaning Dippy the dinosaur takes more than a quick flick with a duster. Exhibition specialist Helen Walker talks us through it.

It took days of patience followed by seconds of magic for Ganesh Shankar to capture this clash between bird and lizard.  

Photographer Imre Potyó had just a few hours to document the extraordinary last flight of the Danube mayfly.

This year's Grand title winner captures the vast yet fragile beauty of the Earth's rainforests.

A new virtual reality experience uses the bones of a sea dragon to recreate life in Jurassic waters.

Join a group of scientists and artists as they reflect on colour and vision in nature and beyond, how our individual experiences differ, and the impact of technology.

Discover one of the more unusual colourful specimens at the Museum: a colour-changing marvel that transformed with the seasons.

Avian palaeontologist Dr Julian Hume explains why we still have much to learn about the lifestyle of the dodo.

Take a look at these photos and see whether millions of years of evolution will outwit you.

Photographer Audun Rikardsen describes his 18-month mission to document orcas feeding in cold Norwegian fjords.

While we humans associate pink with romance, in the natural world it can be a warning or part of an elaborate disguise.

An exotic colour at the far end of our visible spectrum and often associated with royalty, purple is relatively rare in nature.

Colour is a challenge to preserve in Museum collections. What can curators do when it fades?

Discover the stories behind the images in a first look at this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Tiny, delicate and beautiful, the Blaschka models capture the ethereal mystery of the deep sea.

Green is the quintessential colour of nature - of parks, gardens and forests, and a reminder of the life-giving power of plants.

Meet the creatures with the most crafty, strange and sophisticated eyes in the animal kingdom.

The colour of sunlight, gold and daffodils, yellow is often associated with warmth and optimism.  

They could beat a horse in a race and survive a blizzard.  No challenge is too big for these record-breaking butterflies.

The great orange tip fights for survival by borrowing the outfit of a much deadlier creature.

Crimson and scarlet hues in nature often carry an important message.

Drowsy caterpillars are transforming into moths with a cunning skill - producing their own cyanide. 

Museum scientists are investigating Earth's earliest eyes with exceptional fossils.

From ocean to sky, blue is seemingly everywhere - but it's one of the most difficult colours for nature to produce using pigments.

Delve into the dark world of parasitic wasps and discover their grisly takeovers of living caterpillars. 

It looks like bird droppings on a leaf, but don't be fooled: it's a caterpillar in disguise.

Masters of disguise, butterflies can look like animal faces, rolled-up leaves and even snakes. Explore their kaleidoscopic world.

Meet some of the brightest and boldest creatures in the animal kingdom, where colour is a matter of life and death.

Miniscule moths are using the power of wind to soar over oceans and continents.

The gentle tree nymph has a reputation for being slow and sleepy - but an unexpected toxin lies within its wings.

Discover the microscopic dimensions of the smallest moths on the planet.

For most butterflies, finding a mate to share their short lives with is their most important mission.

One of the goliaths of the insect world, the atlas moth is a gentle giant – but behind every oversized moth is a very hungry caterpillar.

Discover how a giant interstellar cloud known as the solar nebula gave birth to our solar system and everything in it. 

Climate change is having a dramatic effect on the lives of British butterflies - researcher Steve Brooks explains what and why.

It is a detail that most Museum visitors miss, but the Hintze Hall ceiling is a work of art in itself.

In 2015, the Museum switched on a CCTV camera with a difference - instead of filming people, this one records the night sky.

Step backstage into the judging room of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition.

The greedy zebra butterfly's protein-rich diet of pollen is fuelling its remarkably long lifespan.

Filling your garden with insects will make your flowerbeds beautiful and support biodiversity. Ecologist Larissa Cooper explains how.

Deep beneath the waves in Antarctica, photographer Jordi Chias had just five minutes to get his perfect shot.

Gleaming in the air, the iridescent blue morpho protects itself from predators using the power of light.

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.

The humble pigeon is a distant relative of the mighty T. rex.

Wildlife photographer Ugo Mellone reveals why the key to capturing a shot to be proud of is closer than you think.

What features make us human? And where, when and why did they evolve?

Dr Adrian Glover tells us how an underwater robot has opened a treasure trove of opportunities for scientific observation.

Join Dr Blanca Huertas, Senior Curator of butterflies, as she travels to remote Colombia to study butterflies and moths.

An image of langurs in Bandipur National Park has won this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award.

Listen to the tale of the first adult Neanderthal skull unearthed and what we've uncovered about our close relative in the past 160 years.

Take a tour through seven million years of human evolution and explore the origin of Homo sapiens.

Peering into our solar system's origins with light brighter than ten billion suns - discover the work of a planetary scientist.

Museum scientist Rebecca Lyal shares her experiences studying whale and dolphin strandings along the British coast.

Insects aren't just an unusual accompaniment to wine - eating them could help sustain Earth's booming population.

This skull was dug up from the Tower of London moat. The lion guarded the entrance 700 years ago as a symbol of strength.

This is the first mastodon fossil from Britain ever described. It belonged to William Smith, creator of Britain’s first geological map.

Unearth 15 facts about William Smith’s pioneering map, which was published in 1815.

Find out why the first known specimen of Queen Alexandra's birdwing has bullet holes in its wings.

What specimens have captivated visitors over the years as they enter the Museum?

Spiders may seem scary, but most of them are just looking for love. Read some dating profiles of spiders searching for the perfect mate.

Some of our scientists go to extreme lengths for their research, diving into deep and dangerous underwater caves.

Find out how Dr Ken Johnson is using 12-million-year-old fossil corals to hunt for clues about the future of our reefs.

Solving the puzzle of penguins’ waterproof coats could help researchers develop advanced fabrics in the future.

Coral reefs attract deadly predators. Find out how their inhabitants survive using everything from camouflage to chemical warfare.

Prof Sara Russell is part of a mission to collect samples from the asteroid Bennu and return them to Earth in 2023.

Dinosaur researcher Prof Paul Barrett gives the lowdown on the most complete Stegosaurus ever found.

A short overview of why dinosaurs (except birds) became extinct.

Find out about dinosaurs and what set them apart from other prehistoric reptiles.

Explore the age of the dinosaurs, from the time they first appeared to the mass extinction 66 million years ago.

Photographer Ryan Miller shares what it's like to get candid shots of Alaska's city-going moose.

Exquisite watercolours from the Museum collections showcase the pioneering work of the talented Bauer brothers.

Discover the explorers responsible for the oldest butterfly collection in existence.

Big cats prowl the centre of India's largest city. Photographer Nayan Khanolkar is documenting their extraordinary lives.

When the city goes to bed, it's playtime for the metropolitan fox. It's also the moment photographer Sam Hobson picks up his camera.

This year’s winning photographs capture the ferocity and spectacle of the natural world.

Discover the stories behind the images in a first look at the fifty-third Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Check out the amazing survival strategies of four parasites from the Museum collections.

TV presenter, author and academic Alice Roberts shares memories of the Museum and how it influenced her fascination with human evolution.

Discover how whales were at the heart of the original proposal for a museum of natural history in Britain.

The ocean offers a range of dining options. 

Wildlife photographer Daisy Gilardini documents the lives of polar bear cubs in some of the most brutal temperatures on Earth.