News
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
A quarter of all freshwater species are at risk of extinction
New research reveals that damage to these environments is pushing freshwater animals to the edge of extinction.
13 January 2025 -
News
Footprints from a vast dinosaur highway discovered in the UK
The UK’s biggest-ever site of dinosaur footprints has been discovered in Oxfordshire.
6 January 2025 -
Science news
DiCaprio’s snake and Sauron’s piranha: Natural History Museum describes 190 new species in 2024
Over the last 12 months our scientists have been describing a dizzying array of new species.
20 December 2024 -
News
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred within the past 50,000 years
Our species mated with the Neanderthals much later than thought, tearing up the timeline of human evolution.
12 December 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
Big-eyed conch snails use vision to jump away from predators
Conch snails make death-defying leaps to evade deadly predators.
16 January 2025 -
Science news
DiCaprio’s snake and Sauron’s piranha: Natural History Museum describes 190 new species in 2024
Over the last 12 months our scientists have been describing a dizzying array of new species.
20 December 2024 -
Science news
Debris from ancient explosive volcanoes found at Mars rover landing site
A previously unknown rock type at the new Mars rover landing site is revealing more about the red planet.
13 December 2024 -
Science news
Tyrannosaur teeth discovered in southern England reveal Cretaceous dinosaur ecosystem
Spinosaurs, tyrannosaurs and relatives of Velociraptor once stalked England’s south coast.
10 December 2024 -
Science news
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of a once-widespread group of lizard-like animals.
6 December 2024 -
Science news
Largest marine reptiles may have been wiped out by hidden Triassic extinction
The whale-sized shastasaurids went extinct over 200 million years ago.
4 December 2024
Environment news
Nature needs our help. Get updates on the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and more.
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News
A quarter of all freshwater species are at risk of extinction
New research reveals that damage to these environments is pushing freshwater animals to the edge of extinction.
13 January 2025 -
Science news
Climate change linked to mass poisoning of hundreds of elephants
The 350 elephants died because of a toxic algal bloom exacerbated by climate change.
29 November 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.
Top stories
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News
Footprints from a vast dinosaur highway discovered in the UK
The UK’s biggest-ever site of dinosaur footprints has been discovered in Oxfordshire.
6 January 2025 -
Science news
Tyrannosaur teeth discovered in southern England reveal Cretaceous dinosaur ecosystem
Spinosaurs, tyrannosaurs and relatives of Velociraptor once stalked England’s south coast.
10 December 2024
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
DiCaprio’s snake and Sauron’s piranha: Natural History Museum describes 190 new species in 2024
Over the last 12 months our scientists have been describing a dizzying array of new species.
20 December 2024 -
Science news
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of a once-widespread group of lizard-like animals.
6 December 2024 -
Science news
New species of tropical moth from Guyana discovered in Port Talbot living room
A new species of moth has been discovered 7,000 kilometres from home.
2 October 2024 -
News
New species of ancient thylacines are the oldest ever found
Fossils discovered in northern Australia mark the beginning of a 25-million-year-old family.
12 September 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.
Top stories
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News
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred within the past 50,000 years
Our species mated with the Neanderthals much later than thought, tearing up the timeline of human evolution.
12 December 2024 -
Science news
Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were becoming reproductively isolated
Researchers are probing what it means to be a separate species.
4 December 2024
Space news
Our scientists are working at the forefront of space research, collaborating on missions to Mars and beyond.
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Science news
Debris from ancient explosive volcanoes found at Mars rover landing site
A previously unknown rock type at the new Mars rover landing site is revealing more about the red planet.
13 December 2024 -
News
Dinosaur-killing Chicxulub asteroid came from the edge of the solar system
The prime suspect in the extinction of the dinosaurs was no ordinary asteroid.
15 August 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 -
Science news
Potential signs of life on Mars might be easier to find than first thought
A school science experiment is answering questions that are out of this world.
12 December 2023
All news
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Science news
Big-eyed conch snails use vision to jump away from predators
Conch snails make death-defying leaps to evade deadly predators.
16 January 2025 -
News
A quarter of all freshwater species are at risk of extinction
New research reveals that damage to these environments is pushing freshwater animals to the edge of extinction.
13 January 2025 -
News
Footprints from a vast dinosaur highway discovered in the UK
The UK’s biggest-ever site of dinosaur footprints has been discovered in Oxfordshire.
6 January 2025 -
Science news
DiCaprio’s snake and Sauron’s piranha: Natural History Museum describes 190 new species in 2024
Over the last 12 months our scientists have been describing a dizzying array of new species.
20 December 2024 -
Science news
Debris from ancient explosive volcanoes found at Mars rover landing site
A previously unknown rock type at the new Mars rover landing site is revealing more about the red planet.
13 December 2024 -
News
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbred within the past 50,000 years
Our species mated with the Neanderthals much later than thought, tearing up the timeline of human evolution.
12 December 2024 -
Science news
Tyrannosaur teeth discovered in southern England reveal Cretaceous dinosaur ecosystem
Spinosaurs, tyrannosaurs and relatives of Velociraptor once stalked England’s south coast.
10 December 2024 -
Science news
Triassic reptile with unusual jaws named as a new species
Threordatoth chasmatos was one of the last survivors of a once-widespread group of lizard-like animals.
6 December 2024 -
Science news
Largest marine reptiles may have been wiped out by hidden Triassic extinction
The whale-sized shastasaurids went extinct over 200 million years ago.
4 December 2024 -
Science news
Homo sapiens and Neanderthals were becoming reproductively isolated
Researchers are probing what it means to be a separate species.
4 December 2024 -
Science news
15,000-year-old human burial shows evidence of medicinal plant use
Buried alongside this individual were a range of symbolic objects.
2 December 2024 -
Science news
Climate change linked to mass poisoning of hundreds of elephants
The 350 elephants died because of a toxic algal bloom exacerbated by climate change.
29 November 2024 -
News
Fossil footprints of different ancient humans found together for the first time
The fossils show Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei lived alongside each other.
28 November 2024 -
News
Vote for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60 People’s Choice
This year the People’s Choice category features a curious chimp, a dancing crab and a snuffling sengi.
27 November 2024 -
News
Whales in ship strike hotspots could be saved by protecting just 3% more ocean
Protecting a little bit more of the ocean could lead to big changes for whales.
21 November 2024 -
News
Dinosaur fossils reveal how birds got their distinctive walks
New research has revealed how birds changed from rigid raptors to flexible fowl.
20 November 2024 -
Science news
The slender-billed curlew is declared extinct
This is the first mainland European bird declared extinct in 500 years.
18 November 2024 -
Science news
Ancient humans feasted on a giant elephant in India over 300,000 years ago
A breakthrough fossil discovery is changing what we know about some of the largest mammals to ever walk the Earth.
15 November 2024 -
Science news
Climate change threatens nearly half of all corals with extinction
Rising temperatures are pushing many species to the brink, alongside disease, pollution and unsustainable fishing.
13 November 2024 -
Science news
‘One of a kind’ fossil from the age of dinosaurs reveals roots of bird intelligence
A remarkable fossil could transform our understanding of how the intelligence of modern birds evolved.
13 November 2024 -
News
London commuter rediscovers tiny, invasive bug not seen for 18 years
Even the most blurry photo can be consequential.
12 November 2024 -
News
COP29: All you need to know about the upcoming climate change conference
Nations are meeting in Azerbaijan to discuss the future of our changing Earth.
11 November 2024 -
Science news
Molluscs could have been the first animals to venture on land
The story of how animals first set foot out of the water and onto land just became more complex.
7 November 2024 -
Science news
Whales in Wembley: Origins of mysterious blue whale bones uncovered
A mystery beginning in the South Atlantic, and ending in South Kensington, has finally been solved.
6 November 2024 -
News
COP16 roundup: The key decisions from the biodiversity summit
While some progress was made, crucial decisions on protecting nature will be left until next year after the meeting ran out of time.
5 November 2024 -
Science news
Antarctic krill genes could reveal how they’re responding to climate change
Even the world’s most successful wild animal isn’t safe from rising temperatures.
1 November 2024 -
News
‘Golden’ fossil of ancient arthropod named after Natural History Museum scientist
Lomankus edgecombei has been preserved in fool's gold.
31 October 2024 -
Science news
The evolution of birds made giant cicadas better flyers
An evolutionary ‘air race’ may have been taking place in forests during the age of dinosaurs.
28 October 2024 -
News
Date of first coral and algae symbiosis pushed back by 170 million years
Algae and coral have lived together for over 380 million years.
23 October 2024 -
News
Almost 80% of nature critical for human wellbeing is outside of protected areas, analysis finds
New research is now mapping where these vital regions are.
21 October 2024 -
News
Deaths from climate change-linked wildfires are on the rise globally
The risk of wildfires is rising, and it’s only likely to get worse.
21 October 2024 -
News
Dolphins are exhaling microplastics through their blowhole
Tests on 11 dolphins in the USA revealed every one had tiny pieces of plastic in their breath.
16 October 2024 -
News
Hidden ecosystems discovered in seafloor beneath hydrothermal vents
Worms and snails are living in cavities under the bottom of the sea.
15 October 2024 -
News
Wildlife populations have plummeted by 73% in half a century
The WWF’s Living Planet Report comes with a stark warning that we are reaching a point of no return for nature.
11 October 2024 -
Science news
Largest ever millipede’s head revealed by 300-million-year-old fossils
Arthropleura's head reveals that millipedes and centipedes are closely related.
9 October 2024 -
News
Carbon dioxide removal won’t reverse climate change
Passing 1.5⁰C of warming is a step that cannot easily be undone.
9 October 2024 -
News
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024 winning images
Shane Gross awarded the Grand Title for Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60.
8 October 2024 -
News
Whale sharks 15,000 times more likely to be hit by ships in warming oceans
Climate change is putting the future of the biggest fish in the world at risk.
7 October 2024 -
News
Over two million square metres of school lands mapped to boost biodiversity
School grounds are one of the most under-recorded urban environments in the UK.
4 October 2024 -
Science news
Bird extinctions have a greater impact than we think
Every species extinction is bad, but the impacts are worse when we consider the ecosystem functions that are also lost.
3 October 2024 -
Science news
New species of tropical moth from Guyana discovered in Port Talbot living room
A new species of moth has been discovered 7,000 kilometres from home.
2 October 2024 -
Science news
Penguins and albatrosses have a ‘touch sensor’ in their beak
Some seabirds might have a ‘sixth sense’ at the end of their beak, new research reveals.
18 September 2024 -
News
New species of ancient thylacines are the oldest ever found
Fossils discovered in northern Australia mark the beginning of a 25-million-year-old family.
12 September 2024 -
Science news
Scientists propose changing bird’s problematic name
Researchers have proposed changing the common name of the flesh-footed shearwater.
5 September 2024 -
News
Almost 70% of all plastic waste is produced by just 20 countries
Each year, 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the environment.
4 September 2024 -
Science news
Pollution revealed as the greatest threat to healthy soils
Food security and biodiversity are threatened by the chemicals contaminating our soils.
3 September 2024 -
News
Artificial intelligence could help to predict how endangered species are
The power of machine learning could be used to protect threatened fishes.
30 August 2024 -
News
First Look at Wildlife Photographer of the Year 60
Celebrate the wonder of the natural world with some of the most extraordinary images of our planet.
29 August 2024 -
Science news
Plant-eating dinosaurs evolved backup teeth to eat tough food
Some of Earth’s most successful herbivores may have had hundreds of thousands of teeth in their lifetime.
27 August 2024 -
News
Human population boom will increase contact with wild animals
More and more land will be shared between people and wildlife by 2070.
21 August 2024 -
Science news
Tropical beetles unknown to science at higher risk of extinction
Humans are having a devastating effect on biodiversity, but the impacts might be worse than we thought.
20 August 2024 -
Science news
Dodos were fast, active birds that roamed their forested island home
Despite their fame, astonishingly little is known about these large, flightless birds.
16 August 2024 -
News
Dinosaur-killing Chicxulub asteroid came from the edge of the solar system
The prime suspect in the extinction of the dinosaurs was no ordinary asteroid.
15 August 2024 -
News
Rewilding Scottish Highlands could help UK hit 30 by 30 conservation goal
Northern Scotland is among the quarter of Europe that could be suitable for rewilding.
15 August 2024 -
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 -
Science news
New technology protects crops by testing the air for the DNA of plant diseases
Plant infections can now be detected in our crops before they’re even visible.
2 August 2024 -
Science news
Conservationists need to pay more attention to ‘degraded’ tropical forests
We’ve been underestimating the importance of partially logged forests.
1 August 2024 -
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
North Sea oil rig pollution linked to seafloor biodiversity decline
The North Sea’s oil and gas rigs impact more than the atmosphere.
29 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 -
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.
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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 -
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