What on Earth?
Explore the stranger side of the natural world.
Investigate the weird, wonderful and downright peculiar – everything from mind-controlling parasites to the tiny arms of Tyrannosaurus rex.
The strangest stories
The natural world is full of mysterious animals and unusual stories - here are some of the most astonishing.
-
Oceans
Dumbo octopus: The murky world of the deepest octopus species
Named after its prominent ear-like fins, there's much more to this fascinating octopus than its adorable appearance.
-
What on Earth?
Murder, maggots and forensic entomology
Did you know that flies have been helping us solve crimes for hundreds of years?
-
What on Earth?
The wonderfully weird world of tenrecs
From looking like Pokémon to having more nipples than any other mammal, tenrecs are an unusual bunch.
Did you know that aye-ayes pick and eat their snot?
You may know that aye-ayes have a very long and thin finger. They mostly use it to find and extract grubs from inside trees.
Researchers have now recorded an aye-aye lemur picking its own nose. There are only 12 species of primates known to pick their nose (including humans), but scientists still don’t really know why they do it
Record-breaking animals and plants
Meet the wildlife that knows no limits.
-
Dinosaurs
What was the biggest dinosaur?
Get to know some of the largest dinosaurs to have ever walked the planet.
-
Science news
Longest ever necked dinosaur discovered in China
The discovery was made three decades after the species was first uncovered as scientists try to understand more about how sauropods evolved in what is now eastern Asia.
15 March 2023 -
News
The largest ever penguin species has been discovered in New Zealand
Kumimanu fordycei weighed an estimated 150 kilogrammes, demonstrating that penguins became large early in their evolution.
17 February 2023 -
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.
-
What on Earth?
What is the biggest snake in the world?
Which is bigger, an anaconda or a python? Discover some of the world's giant snakes.
-
Oceans
Megalodon: the truth about the largest shark that ever lived
Just how big was megalodon and could this giant predator still be lurking in the dark depths of the ocean?
Bizarre behaviours and extraordinary abilities
Animals and plants have evolved the ability to do some incredible things.
-
What on Earth?
Axolotls: Meet the amphibians that never grow up
These characterful creatures also have amazing regeneration abilities.
-
News
Snake that cartwheels away from predators described for the first time
The dwarf reed snake startles potential threats before using a burst of speed to disappear into the undergrowth.
6 April 2023 -
What on Earth?
How do dung beetles' diets keep the world clean?
Find out why dung beetles eat poo and how some use the Sun and stars when they travel.
-
News
Male wasps can use their genitals to fight off predatory frogs
One of the most unusual self-defence techniques in the animal kingdom has been uncovered.
19 December 2022 -
News
Some 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
Aye-aye recorded picking nose and eating snot for the first time
The aye-aye is one of 12 primates that pick their nose - but we have no good reason why the behaviour evolved.
27 October 2022 -
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.
-
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.
Colours and camouflage
There is more to bright colours than meets the eye.
Whether it's the power of invisibility or vibrant warning displays, colour can be the difference between life and death.
-
What on Earth?
Why do some butterflies and moths have eyespots?
Discover how some species effectively use their colourful wings to deter predators.
-
What on Earth?
Rainbow nature: most colourful creatures
Meet some of the brightest and boldest creatures in the animal kingdom, where colour is a matter of life and death.
-
What on Earth?
Can you spot the hidden animals that use cunning camouflage?
Take a look at these photos and see whether millions of years of evolution will outwit you.
-
What on Earth?
Rainbow nature: life in proud pink
While we humans associate pink with romance, in the natural world it can be a warning or part of an elaborate disguise.
-
What on Earth?
Rainbow nature: life in dazzling yellow
The colour of sunlight, gold and daffodils, yellow is often associated with warmth and optimism.
-
What on Earth?
Rainbow nature: the glory of green
Green is the quintessential colour of nature - of parks, gardens and forests, and a reminder of the life-giving power of plants.
Venom and poison
Venom and poison are natural weapons, and both can be deadly.
Discover the animals that can deliver a toxic surprise and how, in some cases, we have come to rely on them.
-
What on Earth?
What happens when you're bitten by a venomous snake?
Snakebite is one of the world's deadliest neglected health issues. But what does venom actually do to you?
-
What on Earth?
Face-to-face with spitting cobras
Have you ever seen a cobra spit venom in super slow motion?
-
What on Earth?
The sting of love
Meet some of the animals whose search for a mate may actually be physically painful.
-
What on Earth?
Five surprisingly venomous animals
Find out about five animals that you might not expect to be venomous
-
What on Earth?
Nudibranchs: How sea slugs steal venom
Meet the brightly coloured sea slugs committing serial stinging-cell crimes.
-
What on Earth?
Can frogs be venomous?
Meet the amphibians with an unusual defence tactic.
-
What on Earth?
Killer bees: a deadly swarm
Are killer bees really as dangerous as their name suggests?
-
British wildlife
What do wasps do?
Wasps and humans may have a rocky relationship. But should these insects be revered rather than feared?
Diseases and parasites
Discover the world of organisms that take advantage of other animals to survive and thrive, as well as how we are harnessing the natural world for health.
-
News
Oldest evidence of plague in Britain is over 4,000 years old
New research reveals that Yersinia pestis was widespread across Europe during the Bronze Age, thousands of years before the Black Death.
30 May 2023 -
Science news
'Plasticosis': a new disease caused by plastic that is affecting seabirds
A new disease has been described in seabirds, but it might just be the tip of the iceberg.
3 March 2023 -
Anthropocene
Mountain chickens: how we almost lost the Caribbean's largest frogs
The mountain chicken is teetering on the brink of extinction, but we may now have a way to save them.
-
What on Earth?
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: the curious case of parasitic bat flies
Wildlife photographer and entomologist Dr Piotr Naskrecki introduces the peculiar insects that spend their entire lives clinging to bats for dear life.
-
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.
-
What on Earth?
Gila monster: meet the lizard whose venomous bite is saving lives
Find out how the Gila monster's venom has the ability to save lives.
Nature's wonders
There are countless tales of fantastical creatures in legends and folklore, but many are rooted in reality. Explore stories where myth, magic and nature meet.
-
News
Legendary beasts from ancient literature may have been whales gulping down fish
Ancient Norwegian and Greek literature may have described trap feeding as much as 2,000 years before it was first observed in 2011.
28 February 2023 -
What on Earth?
Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more
Discover the real sea creatures behind the lore.
-
What on Earth?
Ten animals named after mythological creatures
From the goblin shark to a tiny wasp named after a creature in Harry Potter, discover the animals that take their names from folklore or fiction.
-
What on Earth?
Fantastic flyers: 10 animals that fly in surprising ways
The air isn't just for insects, bats ora birds - there are a few other animals that can take to the skies.
Puzzling plants and microscopic marvels
It's not just animals that can surprise us - plants do plenty of unexpected things, too.
-
News
New species of palm found to flower and fruit underground
A newly described palm species from Borneo has been discovered with the unusual phenomenon of producing its fruit and flowers below ground.
7 July 2023 -
News
Plants emit ultrasonic popping sounds when stressed
Scientists have recorded plants producing airborne sounds in response to lack of water or having their stems damaged.
27 April 2023 -
The giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum: the biggest tree in the world
Explore the stories of the giant redwoods and the extraordinary Cherokee man Sequoyah, who influenced their name.
-
What on Earth?
16 weird plants that seem more supernatural than natural
Discover this creepy collection of nature's strangest plants.
Our peculiar planet
Not all that is weird about our world is alive.
-
Science news
Unique trilobite trident could be the oldest evidence of male sexual combat
Fighting for mates may be a behaviour that dates back over 400 million years.
16 January 2023 -
What on Earth?
Supervolcanoes and their enormous eruptions
Discover what a supervolcano is, what their eruptions are like and how they impact our planet.
-
Space
Are we made of stardust?
Stars that go supernova are responsible for creating many of the elements of the periodic table, including those that make up the human body.
-
What on Earth?
The 1883 Krakatau eruption: a year of blue Moons
The mystery of blue Moons lies in the ashes of volcanic eruptions.
-
Collections
The Imilac meteorite: a gem as old as the solar system
Dr Caroline Smith sheds light on the secrets this rock holds about the formation of our own planet.
-
Collections
How do coloured diamonds form?
Explore the science behind the Aurora Pyramid of Hope, an unrivalled collection of 296 coloured diamonds.
-
Collections
The heavy metal rock bands charting life on early Earth
The touchable, wavy folds of this rock tell a story as old as life on Earth.
-
Collections
Sunday Stone: recording England's coal mining past
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.

How to make a volcano
Volcanic eruptions are one of the most powerful natural forces on our planet.
Find out how to make your own erupting volcano model from a few household items.
Unusual science
Sometimes scientists look at the world in ways you might not expect, whether it's studying llama poo or scanning an important cetacean at a local hospital.
-
News
Dodo 'de-extinction' announcement causes conservation debate
While some argue de-extinction could help to restore damaged ecosystems, others believe it is an expensive distraction from the threats facing living species.
15 February 2023 -
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
Artificial whale poo could help restore ocean biodiversity
While it could provide a useful stopgap, there is no guarantee the technique, or whales, will ever fully restore what has been lost.
9 March 2022 -
News
DNA floating in the air can be used to identify nearby animals
Animals can be detected from hundreds of metres away, just by the presence of their DNA in the air.
6 January 2022 -
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 -
Dinosaurs
How to sex a dinosaur
Is it even possible in the first place?
Don't miss a thing
Receive email updates about our news, science, exhibitions, events, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice.
Read more stories about the weird and wonderful
-
What on Earth?
Tarantula hawks: The most painful wasp sting in the world explained
Armed with one of the most painful stings on the planet, tarantula hawks are a spider's worst nightmare.
-
What on Earth?
Are lobsters immortal?
Biological immortality is exceptionally rare. But is there any truth to the memes that claim lobsters can live forever?
-
What on Earth?
Immortal jellyfish: the secret to cheating death
Meet the tiny, gelatinous animal that has found a way to live forever.
-
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.
-
What on Earth?
Coelacanths: the fish that 'outdid' the Loch Ness Monster
Meet the remarkable fish that turned up alive in 1938, despite having been presumed extinct for 70 million years.
-
What on Earth?
Crown shyness: are trees social distancing too?
Some trees keep their distance from one another, but why do they do it?
-
What on Earth?
Carnivorous plants: the meat-eaters of the plant world
These real-life triffids aren't picky eaters.
-
What on Earth?
How big can beetles get?
We may often think of beetles as being relatively small, but there are some species that reach extraordinary sizes.
-
What on Earth?
Velvet ants: flamboyant and fuzzy with extreme PPE
Meet the delightfully fuzzy wasps with an arsenal of defences that make them nearly impervious to attacks by hungry predators.
-
Biodiversity
Christmas animals and plants: The festive species named for 25 December
Over 30 species globally are named for Christmas Day, recognising their bright colours, place of origin or reproductive cycle.
-
News
The world's largest arthropod was a car-sized millipede
One of the largest invertebrates to have ever lived once roamed the beaches of ancient England.
21 December 2021 -
What on Earth?
The tiniest moths in the world
Discover the microscopic dimensions of the smallest moths on the planet.
-
Anthropocene
What's so bad about the spotted lanternfly?
The brightly coloured spotted lanternfly is causing problems in parts of Asia and North America.
-
What on Earth?
Marine iguanas: the incredible shrinking lizards of the Galápagos
Growth is usually thought of as from small to large, but marine iguanas occasionally do the opposite.
-
What on Earth?
Are leopard seals dangerous?
Leopard seals are incredible apex predators, but these mysterious mammals are often portrayed as villains.
-
What on Earth?
Best foot forward: eight animals that dance to impress
Meet some of the animals that bust out their best moves to attract a mate.
-
What on Earth?
Drugs, Beetox and the black market: how do we depend on venomous creatures?
We may be relying on venom and the animals that produce it more often than we think.
-
What on Earth?
Hagfishes: how much slime can a slime eel make?
There's more to the snot-like secretions of the internet-famous hagfish than meets the eye.
-
What on Earth?
Bombardier beetles and their caustic chemical cannon
Meet the beetles that fire a boiling chemical brew at predators that get too close for comfort.
-
News
Fabulous new rainbow fly with 'legs for days' named after drag icon RuPaul
Australian scientists are persevering in their quest to 'catch 'em all' as they name new species after pop culture icons.
16 September 2021 -
What on Earth?
How do other animals see the world?
Take a look through the eyes of a dog, a spider and three other creatures.
-
Oceans
Do sharks lay eggs?
Although most sharks give birth to live young, a few lay oddly shaped eggs that occasionally wash up on beaches.
-
British wildlife
What are spider webs made of? And how?
Find out how web-spinning spiders catch their dinner and how other spiders use silk.
-
Oceans
Are seahorses the ocean's quirkiest fish?
With armoured bodies, curly tails and limited swimming ability, seahorses are a group of fish quite unlike any other.
-
Oceans
Can sponges cure cancer?
Sponges are unsung heroes for thousands living with chronic illnesses.
-
What on Earth?
Coconut crabs: the bird-eating behemoths thriving on isolated tropical islands
Get to know the world's largest land-dwelling crustacean.
-
British wildlife
Slow worms: Britain's most unusual lizards
If you see a snake blink at you, it's not a snake.
-
What on Earth?
Giant isopods: curious crustaceans on the ocean floor
A curator unravels the mystery of the woodlouse's gargantuan deep-sea cousin.
-
Anthropocene
New Zealand's quirky kākāpō are pulled back from the edge of extinction
Specialised conservation work saves kākāpō from the brink of extinction.
-
What on Earth?
Manatees: what is a sea cow?
How much do you know about slow-moving, seagrass-munching manatees?
-
News
Perfectly preserved 4,000-year-old beetles uncovered
A pristine pair of ancient beetles were discovered in the Museum collection. They date back nearly 4,000 years.
28 January 2021 -
What on Earth?
Fantastic felines: a world of wild cats
Meet some of the small and elusive felines roaming wild around the world
-
What on Earth?
Are 'murder hornets' really as scary as they sound?
With a dramatic nickname and a taste for honeybees, Asian giant hornets are causing panic in North America.
-
Science news
New fossils reveal the earliest evidence of an animal losing its legs
An ancient invertebrate lost its legs to live in tubes.
27 February 2020 -
Biodiversity
The compelling case for why flies are actually fabulous
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.
-
What on Earth?
How seals' whiskers help them hunt underwater
Seals have specially shaped whiskers that enable them to hunt effectively even in poor visual conditions.
-
Space
How does the Moon affect life on Earth?
Weeping trees, teeth stronger than Kevlar and one of Earth's most spectacular natural events are all shaped by the Moon.
-
British wildlife
How water voles left their riverside homes for Glasgow grasslands
Water voles in Glasgow have left the riverbank behind in search of new homes.
-
Dinosaurs
How did Tyrannosaurus rex use its arms?
T. rex forelimbs were tiny but surprisingly muscular - so how were they used?
-
What on Earth?
How do polar bears stay warm?
Discover how polar bears survive in the Arctic, even when temperatures fall far below -30°C.