Museum scientist Anne Jungblut samples biofilms on the McMurdo ice shelf in Antarctica
Our scientists
More than 300 scientists work in Earth and life sciences, our core research labs and library and archives.
Our work
An acclaimed research institution, we publish over 700 scientific papers a year with international collaborators.
The collections
Where 80 million objects span 4.5 billion years, from the formation of the solar system to the present day.
Biodiversity
Developing new molecular and digital tools for discovering biodiversity.
Anthropocene and sustainability
Securing the future of our food, health and natural materials.
Discovery, origins and evolution
Researching life on Earth and environmental change.
Collections
Explore the 80 million specimens that are a globally important resource for scientific reference and research.
Science departments and staff
Find the scientific staff at the heart of our world-class research and collections.
Core research labs and consulting
Specialist staff analyse and interpret samples in our state-of-the-art facilities.
A new science and digitisation centre
We’re moving some of the collections to a new science and digitisation centre.
The life of a Museum scientist
What do our curators and researchers get up to? Find out in our blog.
Data at the Museum
Our data is being used to help tackle some of the most pressing scientific challenges.
Library and Archives
The world's finest collection of natural history literature, artwork, photography and manuscripts.
Digital collections
We are digitising large parts of the collections and giving online access to the data.
Science, society and skills
We are inspiring a new generation of scientists through training, art and community science.
Courses and students
Students at the Museum access the collections, research, engage the public and gain skills.
Science events
We frequently organise events and seminars to discuss the big ideas in science.
News from our scientists
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Science newsDiscovery of Moroccan fossil footprints points to unknown dinosaur diversity
Researchers are hot on the trail of Morocco’s missing dinosaurs.
27 September 2023 -
Science newsNASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission returns to Earth with pristine asteroid samples
OSIRIS-REx returned to Earth with a record-breaking amount of material from an asteroid dating back to the birth of our solar system.
24 September 2023 -
Science newsIdentity of Jurassic plesiosaur fossils from Dorset could finally be revealed
Though the Portland plesiosaur made headlines in the 1960s, it has never been formally described.
21 September 2023 -
Science newsAncient fish reveals how vertebrates put their heads together
New research on the 450-million-year-old Eriptychius suggests it could be a ‘missing link’ in the evolution of the vertebrate skull.
20 September 2023 -
Science newsAncient bacteria species among the first of its kind to colonise land
A species of bacteria that lived 407 million years ago would have flourished among early land plants.
8 September 2023 -
Science newsHorns in the Natural History Museum's collection confirmed to be from extinct bluebuck antelope
Only four confirmed specimens are known to science.
4 September 2023
