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News
Plants grown in lunar soil for the first time
While the plants flowered, lunar soils negatively affected their growth, meaning there is still some way to go until farming on the Moon becomes a viable prospect.
12 May 2022 -
News
'Extinct' flower rediscovered in Ecuador after forest destruction
Though Gasteranthus extinctus may be Critically Endangered, there is hope it can be brought back from the brink.
15 April 2022 -
Anthropocene
Tumbleweeds: 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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News
Cities are influencing plant evolution globally
White clovers are adapting to face the dryness of cities globally by reducing production of anti-herbivore compounds.
17 March 2022 -
Science news
New group of plants was one of the first to colonise the land
Ancient plants measuring just two centimetres long could show what the ancestor of vascular plants looked like.
16 February 2022 -
Science news
Nanofoam discovered in pollen could power cars and save lives
Structures inspired by pollen could make electric car batteries cheaper and more efficient.
9 February 2022 -
News
Global warming is causing UK plants to flower earlier
Plants in the UK now flower around a month earlier than they were hundreds of years ago.
2 February 2022 -
News
Giant pandas' supercharged gut takes advantage of changing seasons
Pandas develop a supercharged gut for part of the year, allowing them to gain weight when they chow down on the most nutritious parts of bamboo.
19 January 2022 -
News
Without animals, plants' ability to move with climate change halves
The historic loss of large mammals such as wolves and aurochs means that plants are much less able to spread their seeds to suitable climates.
17 January 2022 -
News
Tree named after Leonardo DiCaprio is one of 2022's first new species
A newly described species of tree has received international attention after being named in honour of actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
11 January 2022 -
News
Christmas species: The festive flora and fauna which need our help
Over 30 species globally are named for Christmas Day, recognising their bright colours, place of origin or reproductive cycle.
24 December 2021 -
What on Earth?
Unwanted guests: the weird world of parasitic plants
Most plants get the energy they need through photosynthesis, but some get their nutrition by stealing it from another plant instead. About 1% of flowering plants (around 4,000 species) are parasitic.
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News
The deadly effects of sewage pollution on nature
Sewage in Britain's waterways has been hitting the headlines recently. But what effect does raw waste have on our rivers, streams and oceans?
4 November 2021 -
News
Microbes that form clouds threatened by climate change
Microbes in the air could be among the victims of climate change, with 15% of airborne species of bacteria predicted to go extinct.
21 October 2021 -
News
Mexican mangrove forests offer glimpse into 110,000-year-old 'lost world'
The 'lost world' gives a glimpse of the planet before the last Ice Age.
9 October 2021 -
What on Earth?
16 weird plants that seem more supernatural than natural
Discover this creepy collection of nature's strangest plants.
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News
Plants and pollinators use electric fields to find each other
Pollinators and flowers can attract each other with electric fields to maximise the benefits for both, researchers have found.
27 September 2021 -
What on Earth?
Mutualism: eight examples of species that work together to get ahead
In nature, species will sometimes form unexpectedly close bonds and work to their mutual benefit.
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British wildlife
Pond life: facts about pond habitats, plants and animals
Ponds are crucial habitat for a great diversity of wildlife.
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British wildlife
How to make a small wildlife pond
A garden pond is one of the best ways you can help Britain's wildlife. You can create one in even the tiniest of gardens.
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British wildlife
FAQ about creating and maintaining a garden wildlife pond
Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about garden pond set-up, maintenance and care.
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30 nature activities for summer
30 fun activities to get you out exploring and reconnecting with nature.
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What on Earth?
Carnivorous plants: the meat-eaters of the plant world
These real-life triffids aren't picky eaters.
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Anthropocene
How to make a worm composter
Turn your kitchen food scraps into fantastic fertiliser by making a wormery.
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British wildlife
How to grow a wildflower pot for pollinators
Growing native wildflowers helps provide the right food for pollinating insects, making life better for your local wildlife.
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Anthropocene
How to grow a loofah
For a summer gardening project and a sustainable swap, luffa fruits can be grown to be used in place of synthetic sponges.
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Anthropocene
Aspirin, morphine and chemotherapy: essential medicines powered by plants
Plants' many health benefits are helping fight some of humankind's biggest killers, such as heart disease and cancer.
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British wildlife
Bringing back the carnivorous great sundew and other rare plants
How people power is saving plants from local extinction in North West England.
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News
What 5,000-year-old penguin poo can teach us about climate change
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.
23 October 2020 -
Collections
Meet the Tanzanian building a herbarium to inspire the next generation
Canisius Kayombo is a remarkable researcher who is enriching our understanding of plants and science.
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Science news
40% of plants are threatened with extinction
The extinction risk to plants could be worse than previously thought, according to a landmark report.
30 September 2020 -
British wildlife
Why road verges are important habitats for wildflowers and animals
They cover an enormous area of the UK and are home to many rare and declining wild plants, insects, amphibians and more.
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How to make an easy Sun print
Making Sun prints is a fun activity that can turn leaves and flowers into simple but distinctive artworks.
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Science news
New Guinea is home to more plant species than any other island
The first taxonomically verified checklist of the plants of New Guinea is complete.
5 August 2020 -
Collections
London calling: nine specimens from the big city
These exhibits all have a story rooted in London, from the banks of the River Thames to Trafalgar Square and all the way to the Tower of London.
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British wildlife
Twelve things to see in nature this summer
Can you find these usual summer suspects on your walk?
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Anthropocene
What are invasive species?
Invasive species are a much bigger threat to nature than many people realise.
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Anthropocene
Nature and pollution: what lichens tell us about toxic air
Like small signposts, lichens can tell us a lot about the air we are breathing.
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What on Earth?
Crown shyness: are trees social distancing too?
Some trees keep their distance from one another, but why do they do it?
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British wildlife
How to grow a lawn that's better for wildlife
Attract bees to your lawn with clover, grow a mini wildflower meadow, add areas of aromatic thyme and more ideas.
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Science news
Why you should care about scientists sequencing the wheat genome
Sequencing the wheat genome could help to protect food supplies in the future.
22 April 2020 -
Biodiversity
Nature and breast cancer: the plants that saved a botanist's life
The great diversity of life on Earth can become a literal support system.
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Biodiversity
Why we need green spaces in cities
Our cities are damaging our health. Here's how plants can help us.
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British wildlife
Seven simple ways to create a wildlife-friendly garden
Find out how to help urban nature and attract more wildlife to your garden.
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Dinosaurs
Go on a Jurassic scavenger hunt
This scavenger hunt will take you and your family back to the time of the dinosaurs.
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News
Brilliant Butterflies project launched to restore rare grasslands
The two-year project will help conserve rare plants and invertebrates.
25 September 2019 -
Collections
The 330-million-year-old fossil tree that's stood the test of time
Discover the story of the 11-tonne fossil that's been welcoming visitors to the Museum since 1887.
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Anthropocene
Experts explain the effect of the Amazon wildfires on people, animals and plants
Wildfires are ripping through the Amazon rainforest at an unprecedented rate.
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British wildlife
UK tree identification: five common urban trees
Discover the most common trees in Britain's towns and cities and what helps them to thrive in an urban environment.
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Science news
How did potatoes adapt to Europe?
How did potatoes come to Europe and how did they adapt to a new environment?
2 August 2019 -
Collections
Joseph Banks: scientist, explorer and botanist
Meet eighteenth-century naturalist and collector Sir Joseph Banks.
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British wildlife
How to press flowers
Follow our simple instructions to prepare pressed flowers for craft projects or create your own plant herbarium.
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British wildlife
Signs of spring
Museum wildlife experts share their favourite signs spring is here or on its way.
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Science news
A tiny fossil amoeba is helping us to understand how plants first bloomed
The new amoeba species is the earliest of its kind ever discovered.
24 January 2019 -
Science news
Termites help protect rainforests from climate change
The small but mighty insects buffer the forests against drought.
11 January 2019 -
Collections
Hans Sloane: physician, collector and botanist
Hans Sloane's collection formed the basis of the Natural History Museum.
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News
Over 270 new species discovered in 2018
They include new dinosaurs, an ancient wombat and a giant shark.
27 December 2018 -
British wildlife
How well do you know your winter wildlife?
Take our quiz to find out how familiar you are with the UK's plants and animals and their strategies for surviving winter.
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Collections
Who was Graman Kwasi?
Though visitors can spot his namesake on the iconic gilded ceiling of the Museum's Hintze Hall, few will have heard of Graman Kwasimukambe.
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Science news
Tracing the evolution of the aubergine
Researchers are delving into the origin of the aubergine by sequencing its DNA.
30 August 2018 -
What on Earth?
Flies are saving your chocolate cravings
Bees' pollinating prowess often overshadows many of the insects working just as hard as them.
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Anthropocene
Just one spore could kill Europe's last ash trees
Scientists believe that the arrival of just one more ash dieback spore could kill off Europe's remaining ash trees.
23 April 2018 -
Collections
Anna Atkins's cyanotypes: the first book of photographs
Meet the first person to illustrate a book with photographic images.
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Science news
Plant life on Earth is much older than we thought
Plants appeared on Earth 100 million years earlier than scientists previously thought.
26 February 2018 -
Biodiversity
Life in the ice wilderness
Hear from researcher Dr Anne Jungblut as she explores the abundance of life in the glaciers of South Georgia.
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Collections
Thousands of Indian plants to be digitised for the first time
More than 20,000 plant specimens held at the Museum will be digitally copied.
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News
How to count every plant in the Amazon rainforest
Scientists have for the first time a clear baseline figure for the number of plant species that grow in the vast lowland rainforests of the Amazon.
19 September 2017 -
News
Join the Big Seaweed Search
Beachgoers are being asked to become scientists to help gather important data about British seaweeds.
6 June 2016 -
British wildlife
Sneaky orchids manipulate bees for pollination
Discover the flowers that go to extraordinary lengths to attract insect pollinators.
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News
Shining seaweeds reveal the secret to their iridescence
The common British seaweed Irish moss displays a blue shine using unique structures that bend light, according to a new study.
3 July 2015 -
News
Spot UK orchids and help research climate change impact
Look out for orchids and help scientists see how climate change is affecting flowering times.
23 April 2015 -
British wildlife
Little green men spotted in Britain?
You don’t have to go to exotic locations to see weird and wonderful wildlife.
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News
Scientific garden to show at Malvern Spring Festival
Britain’s crop wild relatives will feature in the first scientific garden to show at the Royal Horticultural Society event.
19 February 2015 -
Biodiversity
Plants under pressure
One fifth of the world's plant species are threatened with extinction. Museum scientists and collaborators discuss this shocking statistic.
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News
Flowering plants revolutionised life on Earth
New evidence from primitive plants and beetles shows how the evolution of flowering plants caused a boom in land-based life.
8 August 2014 -
News
Clever enemy could control invasive plant pest
A tiny rust fungus could save the UK millions by halting the spread of the Himalayan balsam.
4 June 2014 -
News
Museum launches tree identification app
Created by Museum botanists, Leafsnap UK helps users match leaves to their trees.
22 May 2014