Archived news articles
2006
December
Troubled Waters for whales and dolphins - 20/12/2006
Humankind's volatile relationship with whales and dolphins is explored in a new Natural History Museum book, Troubled Waters.
Dust holds secrets from out of this world - 14/12/2006
Our solar system may have been created in a huge mixing process much bigger than previously imagined.
Looking after hobbits - 11/12/2006
Scientists have conserved and made skeleton casts of the one-metre-tall human species.
Could Attenborough be Britain's Greatest Living Icon? - 04/12/2006
The top three contenders for Britain's Greatest Living Icon are announced.
Fifth anniversary of museum free admissions - 04/12/2006
Millions of extra people have visited museums since entry became free five years ago.
Building blocks of solar system detected - 01/12/2006
Scientists have identified material from before the creation of our solar system.
November
Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto launched at Museum - 28/11/2006
The government launches its manifesto for teaching outside the classroom.
True or false, did the false widow spider bite? - 21/11/2006
A man ends up in hospital after being bitten by what was thought to be a false widow spider.
Last chance for Silent Killers - 20/11/2006
Professor Nick White, a leading authority on tropical diseases, separates the facts from the frenzy in tonights Annual Science Lecture.
Human remains to be returned - 17/11/2006
The Natural History Museum's Board of Trustees has decided to return human remains.
Unlocking the genetic code of Neanderthals - 15/11/2006
Scientists have revealed part of the genetic code of Neanderthals.
Glittering Aurora Collection goes on display - 10/11/2006
A world-class collection of 296 naturally coloured diamonds is on display at the Natural History Museum.
How do you attract a bug expert? - 08/11/2006
This week the Invertebrate Link conference looks at ways to recruit new bug experts.
Celebrate Diverse City Season - 03/11/2006
Diverse City Season explores the amazing variety of cultures and ethnic diversity in UK cities.
October
What's the most frustrating animal to film? - 28/10/2006
Sir David Attenborough gives an inspirational interview at the Natural History Museum.
Late nights with the dinosaurs - 27/10/2006
Tonight is the first night of After Hours at the Natural History Museum.
Watching the whales - 24/10/2006
A new book, Whale Watcher, is a global guide to watching whales.
Winning wildlife images announced - 19/10/2006
The winners of the world's largest and most prestigious wildlife photographic competition, have been announced.
Guy the gorilla heads north - 16/10/2006
Guy the gorilla, the famous captive gorilla who lived in London Zoo, settles in to new home in Sheffield.
The story of Homo britannicus - 11/10/2006
A new book by Chris Stringer, Homo britannicus, tells the story of human occupation in Britain.
New brush finch bird discovered - 09/10/2006
A new subspecies of bird has been discovered in a remote mountain range in northern Columbia.
Nature Live launches with Thames whale - 05/10/2006
Nature Live, a free daily programme of talks with scientists, returns to the Natural History Museum.
Ancient human occupation of Britain part two - 02/10/2006
Second phase of the Ancient Human Occupation of Britain project has gained funding.
September
First taste of nature's best images - 29/09/2006
Seven images have been highly commended in this year's Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition.
Dinosaur not guilty of cannibalism - 27/09/2006
Scientists have re-examined fossils of a dinosaur and found that it wasn't a cannibal after all.
Three-million-year-old child unearthed - 20/09/2006
A three-million-year-old skeleton of a three-year-old child is discovered.
Neanderthals lived in more recent times - 13/09/2006
Evidence that Neanderthals lived in southern Europe more recently is found.
Britons settle for good on the eighth attempt - 07/09/2006
Ancient humans have tried to settle in Britain many times over the last 700,000 years.
Thames whale reaches final resting place - 04/09/2006
Whale stranded in the River Thames is added to Museum reference collection.
August
Capital's birds in the frame - 30/08/2006
Stunning photographs of London's birds are on display in Birds of Barnes exhibition.
SMART success of moon mission - 24/08/2006
Europe's first mission to the moon, SMART-1, is nearing the end of its successful 3-year mission.
Museum experts honoured in space - 17/08/2006
Meteorite experts are honoured for their work by having asteroids named after them.
Fossil secrets unlocked by scan - 11/08/2006
A new scanning technique reveals previously unseen structures in fossilised embryos.
New orchid hybrid blooms in UK - 04/08/2006
Two rare species of orchid have interbred and produced a hybrid, the first time this has been recorded in the UK.
Nature's Deadliest exhibition opens - 01/08/2006
Come face to face with some of the deadliest plants, minerals and animals.
July
Darwin survey shows fall in plant species - 31/07/2006
A wildflower survey originally conducted by Charles Darwin shows changing landscape.
Sunfish take a shine to Cornish coast - 26/07/2006
A shoal of ocean sunfish is spotted off the Cornwall coast.
City success for exotic plant - 25/07/2006
The kangaroo apple, more suited to hotter climates, makes its home in London, UK.
Wasps spell sticky end for unwelcome resident - 18/07/2006
A natural predator helps fight an invasion of whiteflies.
Dig those dinosaurs! - 14/07/2006
Unearth parts of an Iguanadon or a Neovenator in the Museum's new Dino Dig.
Is the science of climate change robust? - 11/07/2006
Young people debate the issues at the Student Summit 2006: Climate Change 11-14 July
First ever magnificent frigatebird settles in Museum - 06/07/2006
First official British record of a Magnificent Frigatebird joins the Natural History Museum.
Unusual eggs reveal fishy relatives - 03/07/2006
An unusual surface structure on the eggs of the pike-head fish reveals its closest relation.
June
New world of dinosaurs has arrived - 30/06/2006
Dino Jaws opens its doors into an amazing world of dinosaurs and the food they ate.
Bones will reveal life of dodo - 26/06/2006
Well-preserved bones of the extinct flightless dodo bird are uncovered in Mauritius.
World's oldest piece of jewellery - 23/06/2006
Beads at the Natural History Museum have been dated to 100,000 years ago.
British beetles missing, presumed extinct - 21/06/2006
A report reveals hundreds of British beetles under threat of extinction.
Get a buzz out of insects - 19/06/2006
This week is National Insect Week. Find out about the events and activities happening around the UK.
Blue Peter's big Museum day out - 14/06/2006
Children's programme Blue Peter broadcast an episode from the Natural History Museum.
New gemstone book Agates: Treasures of the Earth published - 09/06/2006
Agates: Treasures of the Earth is the first popular guide to these beautiful gemstones.
World's biggest Darwin collection comes to Museum - 08/06/2006
World's largest collection of works by and about Charles Darwin has been bought.
Whale sparkles at centre of new exhibition - 02/06/2006
A crystal-encrusted whale skeleton is unveiled for The Ship: The Art of Climate Change.
Hobbit used tools - 01/06/2006
A new study suggests Homo floresiensis was clever enough to use tools.
May
Wallace natural history legend monument - 30/05/2006
A monument is unveiled to commemorate Alfred Russel Wallace, the co-discoverer of the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Be Nice to Nettles - 26/05/2006
17-28 May is national Be Nice to Nettles Week and Saturday 27 May is the Museum's Nettle Day.
Barcode of life, plants - 23/05/2006
Barcode of Life - the British Flora project is launched and aims to barcode all British plants.
Arguments about the hobbit - 19/05/2006
A new study supports the idea that Homo floresiensis was a modern human with a brain disease.
Dogs: Man-Made friends? - 17/05/2006
Dos exhibition explores the origins of domestic dogs and their relationship with us.
Natural History Museum is the UK’s favourite - 15/05/2006
Museum wins Independent award for UK's favourite museum, gallery or heritage attraction.
Antarctic goes global with new blog - 11/05/2006
Experience the Antarctic from your desktop with the Natural History Museum’s new Antarctic heritage and conservation website.
Long live the queen! - 09/05/2006
The queen of the Natural History Museum's ant colony is alive and well.
Cockroaches hit the shelves - 04/05/2006
Cockroach Studies, a new journal devoted entirely to the study of cockroaches, has been launched.
Nothing boring about Museum water source - 02/05/2006
Natural History Museum uses borehole to water lawn.
April
Earth moves for fossil festival success - 28/04/2006
Will a landslide in Charmouth reveal fossils at Deep Time in Lyme?
The search is on for Britain’s bluebells - 25/04/2006
Members of the public are asked to record bluebell sightings in an online survey.
The dinosaurs came in two by two - 21/04/2006
Ten lifelike animatronic dinosaurs have arrived at the Natural History Museum ready for Dino Jaws.
Vote for your favourite Attenborough moment - 15/04/2006
UKTV celebrate the eightieth birthday of one of television's most iconic presenters.
Baby amphibians eat mother's skin - 12/04/2006
Young amphibians discovered eating mother's skin.
Exposing Nature: tips on wildlife photography - 11/04/2006
New Museum book has tips for natural history photographers.
Walking fish is missing link - 06/04/2006
A 375-million-year-old crocodile-like fossil is a missing link between fish and land animals.
World’s oldest lake holds world’s newest genus - 05/04/2006
A new genus of diatom that includes 14 species is discovered in Lake Baikal, Russia.
March
Last chance to see nature at its best - 31/03/2006
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2005 closes on 23 April showcasing 84 thrilling wildlife shots.
Museum works to reduce carbon emissions - 28/03/2006
Natural History Museum receives grant to produce carbon reduction masterplan.
Ice Age animal stamps launched - 22/03/2006
Royal Mail launch set of stamps featuring five Ice Age beasts.
Disease takes bite out of Tasmanian devil populations - 17/03/2006
A fatal facial cancer is decimating the Tasmanian devil population.
Colouring in the fossil past - 15/03/2006
Iridescent colours in nature can be detected in fossils of extinct animals.
New rodent’s link to fossil family - 10/03/2006
New species of rodent is surviving member of an extinct family of rodents.
New online entries for Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year - 08/03/2006
World's largest wildlife photography competition now accepts digital submissions.
Rare Linnaean insights found in Museum Library - 03/03/2006
Items found shed light on work practices of eighteenth century scientist Carl Linnaeus.
February
Giant squid goes on display - 28/02/2006
A giant squid, Architeuthis dux, is put on display in the Museum's Darwin Centre. Please note viewing is by arranged tour only.
Darwin's home proposed as World Heritage Site - 24/02/2006
Charles Darwin's Down House and the surrounding areas are nominated.
Strange tail of the sunfish - 20/02/2006
Century-old mystery of peculiar tail of the ocean sunfish is resolved.
Comet samples arrive at Museum - 14/02/2006
Cosmic dust samples from NASA's Stardust spacecraft are brought to the UK for research.
Martian meteorite reveals stuff of life - 13/02/2006
NASA crack open Nakhla meteorite revealing carbon material.
Lost Wallace treasures found in attic - 10/02/2006
Alfred Russel Wallace collection of insects donated to Museum.
Oldest relative of T.rex found - 09/02/2006
The oldest specimen of a tyrannosaur is unearthed in China.
What is the world's smallest fish? - 01/02/2006
Is the 7.9mm Paedocypris fish really the smallest in the world?
January
Ancient fish reveals one step in how ears evolved - 30/01/2006
Fish skull structures, most likely used for breathing, show early stages of ear evolution.
World's smallest fish - 25/01/2006
A fish is discovered living in acidic swamps in Sumatra only 7.9mm long.
Thames whale comes to Museum - 24/01/2006
Whale stranded in the River Thames will be added to Museum collection.
Identification of fur coat - 20/01/2006
Museum identifies the type of fur used to make Celebrity Big Brother Pete Burns coat.
Caviar trade is banned - 19/01/2006
International trade in products of the sturgeon are banned by CITES.
‘Mexican footprints’ take a step back in time - 18/01/2006
A second team of scientists date mexican 'footprints' to a much later period.
Finding the world's best wildlife photos - 12/01/2006
The call for entries to the world's largest wildlife photography competition begins.