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Get breaking news from world-leading scientists.
Discover new species and explore pioneering research into life on Earth. Hear our experts' take on science news from around the world.
The headlines
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News
Komodo dragons bite prey with iron-tipped teeth
Iron-rich enamel helps the world’s largest living lizard to keep its teeth sharp.
24 July 2024 -
Collections
The making of Fern the Diplodocus: Engineering meets natural history
Our latest attraction stands tall over the new gardens.
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News
Woolly mammoth genome rebuilt in 3D from freeze-dried skin
Ancient DNA has been reconstructed in three dimensions for the first time ever using a 52,000-year-old mammoth.
11 July 2024 -
News
For the first time, global temperatures above 1.5⁰C limit for an entire year
The past year has been more than 1.5⁰C hotter than it was over than a century ago.
9 July 2024
Research from our scientists
Behind the scenes, hundreds of Museum scientists study every aspect of life in our galaxy - from far-flung planets to the insects in our gardens. Explore their discoveries.
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Science news
Rare tooth from 55-million-year-old predator uncovered by seven-year-old boy
A molar found in sand from south London could shed light on the last days of an ancient mammal.
25 July 2024 -
Science news
Microbial structures in Antarctic lake could reveal more about how life evolved
Scientists are studying microbial structures in extreme environments to learn more about early life.
16 July 2024 -
Science news
The most complete UK dinosaur in a century found on the Isle of Wight
Comptonatus chasei is the newest member of the Iguanodon family.
10 July 2024 -
Science news
Trilobite ‘Pompeii’ reveals 500-million-year-old animals preserved in exquisite detail
Some of the best three-dimensionally preserved fossil trilobites have been revealed from Morocco.
28 June 2024 -
Science news
World’s smallest living elephants listed as Endangered on Red List
Only 1,000 Bornean elephants are thought to be left in the wild.
27 June 2024 -
Science news
Ammonite extinction at the end of the dinosaur era was not inevitable
The iconic marine molluscs might be alive today had Earth not been struck by a meteorite.
27 June 2024
Environment news
Nature needs our help. Get updates on the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and more.
Rewild the soil: The largest urban rewilding project is going underground
The largest urban rewilding project in the UK is happening on an old golf course.
18 April 2024
Rising water levels threaten the survival of the lesser flamingo
The lesser flamingo is in danger of losing its feeding and breeding grounds.
12 April 2024
Dinosaur news
The Museum houses one of the world's most important dinosaur collections. Discover more about how it is supporting research into these prehistoric animals.
In our blog series, Dinosaur diaries, hear from the palaeontology team as they give their take on breaking dinosaur news from around the world.
New species
Thousands of new animals and plants are discovered every year. Hundreds of them are found by scientists at the Museum.
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Science news
The most complete UK dinosaur in a century found on the Isle of Wight
Comptonatus chasei is the newest member of the Iguanodon family.
10 July 2024 -
News
Fossils of ancient predatory reptile named as new relative of crocodiles
A new species of 237-million-year-old reptile has been uncovered in Brazil.
21 June 2024 -
News
Tiny flower that survived deforestation named as new species
Amalophyllon miraculum reveals that the region’s biodiversity may not have suffered as badly as first feared.
11 June 2024 -
Science news
New species of vegetarian piranha named after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron
The newly described Myloplus sauron highlights how little we know about South America’s biodiversity.
11 June 2024
Human evolution news
New discoveries about how we became human are being made all the time. Innovative technologies are allowing us to understand the history of humanity in more detail than ever before.
Explore findings from the Museum's Centre for Human Evolution Research.
Space news
Our scientists are working at the forefront of space research, collaborating on missions to Mars and beyond.
From field to Vault, how the largest Winchcombe meteorite was found
The fireball that fell from the sky in February 2021 has been formally classified as the Winchcombe meteorite. The largest piece, which was discovered in a field of sheep poo, is now on display in The Vault gallery.
All news
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Science news
Rare tooth from 55-million-year-old predator uncovered by seven-year-old boy
A molar found in sand from south London could shed light on the last days of an ancient mammal.
25 July 2024 -
News
Komodo dragons bite prey with iron-tipped teeth
Iron-rich enamel helps the world’s largest living lizard to keep its teeth sharp.
24 July 2024 -
Science news
Microbial structures in Antarctic lake could reveal more about how life evolved
Scientists are studying microbial structures in extreme environments to learn more about early life.
16 July 2024 -
Collections
The making of Fern the Diplodocus: Engineering meets natural history
Our latest attraction stands tall over the new gardens.
-
News
Woolly mammoth genome rebuilt in 3D from freeze-dried skin
Ancient DNA has been reconstructed in three dimensions for the first time ever using a 52,000-year-old mammoth.
11 July 2024 -
Science news
The most complete UK dinosaur in a century found on the Isle of Wight
Comptonatus chasei is the newest member of the Iguanodon family.
10 July 2024 -
News
For the first time, global temperatures above 1.5⁰C limit for an entire year
The past year has been more than 1.5⁰C hotter than it was over than a century ago.
9 July 2024 -
News
First known Denisovan rib could reveal more about our ancient human relatives
The rib bone suggests that the Denisovans may have been living in eastern Asia as recently as 32,000 years ago.
3 July 2024 -
Science news
Trilobite ‘Pompeii’ reveals 500-million-year-old animals preserved in exquisite detail
Some of the best three-dimensionally preserved fossil trilobites have been revealed from Morocco.
28 June 2024 -
Science news
World’s smallest living elephants listed as Endangered on Red List
Only 1,000 Bornean elephants are thought to be left in the wild.
27 June 2024 -
Science news
Ammonite extinction at the end of the dinosaur era was not inevitable
The iconic marine molluscs might be alive today had Earth not been struck by a meteorite.
27 June 2024 -
News
Frog ‘saunas’ could help species to battle deadly disease
Artificial hotspots might be able to help frogs fight off chytridiomycosis.
26 June 2024 -
News
Fossils of ancient predatory reptile named as new relative of crocodiles
A new species of 237-million-year-old reptile has been uncovered in Brazil.
21 June 2024 -
News
Jumping leeches caught on camera for the first time by scientists
Some leeches aren’t just passive parasites but might actively hunt for food.
20 June 2024 -
Science news
Dinosaurs were thriving in the Western USA before end Jurassic extinction
Scientists are trying to unravel the mysteries of an extinction event that occured in North America at the end of the Jurassic.
13 June 2024 -
News
Flies cross mountains and continents in one of the largest migrations on Earth
One of the world’s largest migrations is made by some of its smallest inhabitants.
12 June 2024 -
Science news
New species of vegetarian piranha named after Lord of the Rings villain Sauron
The newly described Myloplus sauron highlights how little we know about South America’s biodiversity.
11 June 2024 -
News
Tiny flower that survived deforestation named as new species
Amalophyllon miraculum reveals that the region’s biodiversity may not have suffered as badly as first feared.
11 June 2024 -
Science news
UK’s hidden biodiversity could be revealed by technology that samples the air for DNA
By sequencing airborne eDNA, a new project hopes to find out more about the UK’s wildlife.
10 June 2024 -
News
World’s smallest great ape may have lived in Europe, researchers claim
While the researchers describing Buronius manfredschmidi claim it is a new species, not all scientists are convinced.
7 June 2024 -
Science news
Largest cyclone to hit Australia killed off 90 percent of Bedout Island’s masked boobies
A vast colony of breeding seabirds experienced “unprecedented” mortality.
6 June 2024 -
News
Face of ancient Australian ‘giga-goose’ revealed after fossil skull found
After more than a century of searching, the head of one of the largest ever birds has been found.
3 June 2024 -
Science news
New species of sauropodomorph dinosaur from Zimbabwe reveals Africa’s hidden heritage
Musankwa sanyatiensis is just the fourth dinosaur species ever found from Zimbabwe.
30 May 2024 -
Science news
A handful of big flower groups represent a quarter of all species
Dandelions, buttercups and brambles might help to answer some of the biggest questions in botany.
29 May 2024 -
Science news
Most comprehensive seal family tree reveals the hidden history of walruses
Seal diversity is just a snapshot of the species that used to exist.
24 May 2024 -
Science news
New species of ‘Dune-like’ carnivorous worm described from UK fossils
An ancient worm may have dragged itself along the sea floor, consuming whatever prey it could find.
23 May 2024 -
News
Origin of the Sun’s magnetic field discovered under the star’s surface
New research into the Sun's magnetism could make solar storms easier to predict.
22 May 2024 -
News
A third of surveyed UK bird species have declined since the 1990s
Some of the UK’s most recognisable birds are vanishing before our eyes.
21 May 2024 -
Science news
Earliest animal ecosystems may have played a role in the evolution of complex life
The first animal communities could have impacted on how complex life evolved over 550 million years ago.
17 May 2024 -
News
Blueprint launched to save 1,000 of the world’s most threatened fishes
A new project to kickstart conservation for some of the world’s rarest fishes is making a splash.
15 May 2024 -
News
2023 was the northern hemisphere’s hottest summer in 2,000 years
New research suggests that Europe hasn’t had as warm a summer since the time of the Romans.
14 May 2024 -
News
Governments falling short of protecting the world’s oceans
Protections for the world’s oceans need strengthening, a new report suggests.
9 May 2024 -
News
Orangutan spotted treating head wound with medicinal plant
It is the first time a wild animal has been seen applying a medicinal plant to an injury.
2 May 2024 -
Science news
Organic compost and diverse gardens are best for the UK’s earthworms
Making our gardens earthworm friendly could help urban spaces become more resilient.
30 April 2024 -
Science news
Laser technology could help curb the illegal trade in ivory
Every year thousands of elephants are still killed for their ivory.
24 April 2024 -
News
The world’s largest ever salmon had tusk-like teeth
Scientists now know more about how the three-metre-long Oncorhynchus rastrosus might have looked.
24 April 2024 -
News
Giant marine reptile found in the UK could be the largest ever discovered
A fossil jawbone, which may belong to the largest marine reptile ever discovered, has been found in Somerset.
19 April 2024 -
News
Rewild the soil: The largest urban rewilding project is going underground
The largest urban rewilding project in the UK is happening on an old golf course.
18 April 2024 -
Science news
Rising water levels threaten the survival of the lesser flamingo
The lesser flamingo is in danger of losing its feeding and breeding grounds.
12 April 2024 -
News
River restoration is encouraging Atlantic salmon to return to heart of UK
For the first time in 100 years, Atlantic salmon are once again spawning in the upper waters of the River Derwent.
8 April 2024 -
Science news
Australia remains bird flu free as outbreak continues elsewhere
Since 2020, millions of birds have been struck down by avian influenza, but Oceania remains virus free.
4 April 2024 -
Science news
Most detailed bird evolutionary tree reveals new and surprising relationships
It proposes an entirely new group of birds that connects the smallest flying birds to the largest.
2 April 2024 -
News
Counting butterflies can reduce anxiety
Taking part in the UK’s Big Butterfly Count has been found to reduce anxiety by almost 10%.
28 March 2024 -
News
Climate change is causing days to get longer by slowing down the Earth
The melting of the polar ice caps is affecting how fast our planet spins.
27 March 2024 -
Science news
Expedition to the Pacific deep sea reveals extraordinary creatures never seen before
An international team of scientists have spent the last few weeks finding out what is living 4,000 metres beneath the surface.
25 March 2024 -
News
Ancient amphibian species named after Kermit the Frog
Kermitops gratus highlights the number of specimens waiting to be described in the world’s museums.
21 March 2024 -
Science news
Rediscovering the world’s largest cormorant
The spectacled cormorant went extinct almost 200 years ago – but almost nothing is known about its life.
19 March 2024 -
News
Earliest fossilised forest discovered in Somerset
This rare find gives scientists an insight into how trees shaped life on land 390 million years ago.
15 March 2024 -
News
Number of threatened bird species falls in latest conservation update
We now know more about the threats affecting birds than ever before.
14 March 2024 -
News
Going through the menopause helps whales to become long-lived grandparents
A select group of toothed whales may have doubled their lifespan to become better grandparents.
13 March 2024 -
News
Most male mammals aren’t bigger than females
New research is cutting male mammals down to size.
12 March 2024 -
Science news
Giant fishes in the Mekong River at risk of extinction
Some of the world’s largest and most unusual fishes could be wiped out.
8 March 2024 -
News
New Royal Mail stamps will feature dinosaurs and celebrate Mary Anning
Royal Mail is releasing a trove of new palaeontological-themed stamps.
5 March 2024 -
News
Solo south African orcas learn how to hunt great white sharks
The orcas have learnt to catch and eat young great white sharks in less than two minutes.
1 March 2024 -
News
Newly discovered deep-sea species could help to protect fragile ocean habitats
As many as 100 new species of deep-sea animals may have been discovered living on undersea mountains.
27 February 2024 -
Science news
Lack of renewable energy metals could hold up net zero goals
Giving communities a greater say over mining could help to speed up the transition to net zero.
22 February 2024 -
Science news
Snakes’ rapid evolution might be the secret of their success
They might not have legs, but snakes are outpacing their relatives in the race to evolve.
22 February 2024 -
News
Whales are being drowned out by the sound of shipping
The cacophony in the oceans is preventing whales from making themselves heard.
21 February 2024 -
News
‘Skin’ of ancient reptile was painted on, new research claims
A new study of Tridentinosaurus suggests that preserved skin is just black paint.
16 February 2024 -
Science news
New species of pirate spiders discovered on South Atlantic island
Named in honour of two dedicated conservationists, the discovery of the spiders could help to protect at-risk forests on St Helena.
15 February 2024 -
News
Coral reefs cover more of Earth’s surface than realised, new estimates reveal
Satellite images have revealed a missing 64,000 square kilometres of coral cover, an area similar to the size of Ireland.
13 February 2024 -
News
Migratory fish, mammals and birds at risk of extinction
The first State of the World’s Migratory Species report found that countries aren’t doing enough to save threatened species.
12 February 2024 -
Science news
New technique detects distinct fish populations in a single lake through their environmental DNA
A new study has allowed scientists to see how populations of fish differ through their DNA.
7 February 2024 -
News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 59 People’s Choice winner announced
Nima Sarikhani’s stunning picture of a sleeping polar bear was crowned 2023's People's Choice.
7 February 2024 -
Science news
New pterosaur from Skye reveals the hidden diversity of the Middle Jurassic
Discovered in Scotland, Ceoptera evansae has been named as a new species of pterosaur.
6 February 2024 -
News
Earth has already passed 1.5⁰C of warming, controversial study claims
Has the world already passed a critical level of global warming? A new paper claims so.
5 February 2024 -
Science news
Scientists plan ‘seaweed breakthrough’ to restore threatened species
Seaweeds play a vital role in the modern world, but their existence is under threat.
2 February 2024 -
News
Ban on sandeel fishing to support UK’s struggling seabirds
The fishing of sandeels in the UK’s portion of the North Sea will be banned from April.
1 February 2024 -
News
Oldest evidence of Homo sapiens in northern Europe discovered
The first modern humans to live in northern Europe arrived more than 45,000 years ago.
31 January 2024 -
News
Tiny ants are changing the diet of Kenya’s lions
Invasive ants are reducing tree cover on the savannah, causing lions to hunt buffalo over zebra.
25 January 2024 -
News
Underground freshwater levels are declining rapidly around the world
Wells, streams and springs are in danger of going dry as we take water out of the ground faster than it can be replaced.
24 January 2024 -
News
World’s first rhino IVF could help save the northern white rhino
Scientists have successfully managed to perform IVF on a rhino for the first time.
24 January 2024