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News
New species of extinct walrus discovered from UK fossils
The jawbone of Ontocetus posti helps to reveal how the animals became specialised suction feeders.
13 August 2024 -
Science news
Things just got weird: skinks provide a window onto how evolution works
The social skinks are helping scientists answer fundamental questions about evolution.
12 August 2024 -
Science news
Early mammals lived for longer than their modern relatives
Tiny teeth are revealing the roots of the modern mammal lifestyle.
7 August 2024 -
Science news
Fossil hunter discovers new species of 210-million-year-old lungfish
Ferganoceratodus edwardsi suggests that many ancient lungfish are more closely related than first thought.
6 August 2024 -
Science news
Scientists genetically remove prickles from flowering plants
Genetically removing the prickles from crops could have huge benefits for agriculture.
2 August 2024 -
What on Earth?
Griffinflies: The earliest flying insects
With wingspans that stretched a whopping 71 centimetres, these epic insects would have blocked out the Sun as they flew past.
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Science news
Rare 520-million-year-old larva could reveal more about early animal evolution
A three-dimensional preserved fossil larva has been found to contain traces of internal organs.
31 July 2024 -
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 -
Collections
Twelve treasures of our gardens
From hidden highlights to star sights and surprising sounds, explore 12 treasures in our new gardens.
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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 -
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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
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
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 -
Unfurl the secrets of ferns
With their soft unfurling fronds, ferns are fabulous. In fact, we love them so much, we’ve filled our new Evolution Garden with them.
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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
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 -
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 -
Dinosaurs
Xu Xing: The palaeontologist who's named the most dinosaurs
Within the world of dinosaurs Xu Xing is a globally important figure.
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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 -
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 -
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
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 -
Science news
Early giant whale from Australia changes our understanding of whale evolution
A jawbone fragment overlooked for more than 100 years was once part of a nine-metre-long ancient whale.
20 December 2023 -
Science news
Jawbones reveal how evolution has shaped the face of whales
It’s said that you are what you eat – and that’s certainly true of toothed whales.
19 December 2023 -
Science news
Better fossil dating could help to clear up human evolution
Going back to basics could help to unlock the mysteries of our origins.
18 December 2023 -
News
Young tyrannosaurs may have eaten completely different food to their parents
An extraordinary dinosaur fossil has revealed what young tyrannosaurs were eating over 70 million years ago.
8 December 2023 -
Science news
Fungus named after Beatrix Potter is one of the earliest plant pests
The oldest disease-causing fungus on record has been found in the Natural History Museum’s collection.
5 December 2023 -
Science news
Skull shape can predict how extinct vultures fed on carrion
Variations in the skull shape of vultures have been found to coincide with the preferred method each species uses to feed on a carcass.
21 November 2023 -
News
Serotine bats have sex unlike any other mammal
Their style of mating is more similar to birds than any known mammal.
20 November 2023 -
Science news
Unravelling the surprisingly complex history of crocodiles
Crocodiles have a deep and varied evolutionary past.
17 November 2023 -
News
New species of big-thumbed dinosaur discovered in Mongolia
Jaculinykus yaruui is thought to have dug for food using an enormous thumb on each hand.
16 November 2023