(a species of owlet moth (Noctuid)) Some caterpillars, after they emerge from their egg, can increase their weight by 25,000 times.

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Are we in crisis?

By Lord May

For the majority of humanity, the quality of life is better now than it ever has been in history. But that will change as we use up the planet's natural riches, as species go extinct, as populations continue to grow and as resources become scarce. In this feature, based on the prestigious 2001 Annual Science Lecture that he gave at The Natural History Museum, Lord Robert May draws on his wealth of knowledge and experience to present a highly personal and compelling analysis of our current situation and possibilities for the future.

Are we in crisis? PDF (78.0 KB)

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Cartoon image of a snake disappearing through closing door

There are 27 km of specimen shelves in the Darwin Centre - the same distance as between the Museum and Junction 6 of the M1.