CURRENT HEADLINES



Gene-edited hens may stop billions of animals suffering


Israeli researchers claim to have developed a flock of gene-edited hens that lay eggs from which only female chicks hatch.

From the BBC News-2022-12-13:8:5:1




Biodiversity: What is a mass extinction and are we causing one?


While scientists agree on the dire state of life on Earth, they don't always agree on how we should describe it.

From the BBC News-2022-12-10:8:5:1




Biodiversity: 'Magical marine species' pushed toward extinction


A new extinction list reveals grave conservation concern for a 'sea cow' that inspired tales of mermaids.

From the BBC News-2022-12-9:14:6:1




Oldest DNA reveals two-million-year-old lost world


Genetic material extracted from soil has revealed the ancient plants and animals of North Greenland.

From the BBC News-2022-12-7:14:6:1




Bristol: Fossil shows lizards millions of years older than thought


A scientist says the fossil is "one of the most important found in the last few decades".

From the BBC News-2022-12-2:20:6:1




Why Kenya is turning to genetically modified crops to help with drought


The government sees them as a way to lessen the impact of a lack of rain but some farmers are wary.

From the BBC News-2022-11-9:8:5:1




Secret communication of sea animals discovered


A scientist says his recordings of 53 marine species changes what we know about the evolution of sounds.

From the BBC News-2022-10-25:14:6:1




Cop 27: Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline sparks climate row


Uganda insists on exploiting its fossil-fuel riches, despite Europe's environmental concerns.

From the BBC News-2022-10-23:20:6:1




Scottish fossil revealed to be pterodactyl ancestor


X-ray scans of a tiny reptile fossil reveal the pterodactyls' ancestors scampered around on two legs.

From the BBC News-2022-10-6:8:5:1




More than half of the world's palm trees in danger


Many useful members of this "iconic" plant family are at risk of extinction, according to a study.

From the BBC News-2022-9-26:20:6:1




Colourful songbirds could be traded to extinction


The wild bird trade is set to make tropical forests "drab", a study shows.

From the BBC News-2022-9-16:20:6:1




World's 'oldest 3D heart' found in prehistoric fish


Scientists say the 'jaw-dropping' discovery gives an insight into the evolution of human hearts.

From the BBC News-2022-9-15:14:6:1




Africa's oldest dinosaur found in Zimbabwe


The skeleton of a long-necked Mbiresaurus raathi is believed to be more than 230 million years old.

From the BBC News-2022-9-1:14:6:1




Efforts to pass global ocean protection treaty fail


Campaigners say it is a missed opportunity to protect species like sharks at risk of extinction.

From the BBC News-2022-8-27:8:5:1




Food crops made 20% more efficient at harnessing sunlight


Researchers say a genetic modification that boosts plant growth could help alleviate global food shortages.

From the BBC News-2022-8-18:20:6:1




Climate change: More studies needed on possibility of human extinction


New research says it could be "fatally foolish" not to think the unthinkable on climate change.

From the BBC News-2022-8-1:20:6:1




Big Butterfly Count: People asked to join in to help address extinction


Conservationists says two-fifths of British species are under threat.

From the BBC News-2022-7-15:8:5:1




Unsustainable logging, fishing and hunting 'driving extinction'


A landmark report calls for action to stop the over-exploitation of wild plants, animals and fungi.

From the BBC News-2022-7-8:8:5:1




Huge plan to map the DNA of all life in British Isles


Scientists are planning to sequence the genomes of all species, including plants, animals, fungi, found in Britain and Ireland.

From the BBC News-2022-6-13:20:6:1




Scotland and UK split over gene-edited food


The food should not be "forced" on Scottish markets by a new UK bill, a government minister says.

From the BBC News-2022-6-11:20:6:1




Europe's 'largest ever' land dinosaur found on Isle of Wight


University of Southampton palaeontologists identify the remains of a dinosaur measuring 32ft.

From the BBC News-2022-6-9:14:6:1




Megalodon shark extinction may have been linked to great white competition


The great white shark could have helped push the megalodon to extinction through a battle for food.

From the BBC News-2022-5-31:14:6:1




Ancient DNA reveals secrets of Pompeii victims


It is an almost complete set of "genetic instructions" from people who died when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

From the BBC News-2022-5-26:14:6:1




Government sends gene-edited food bill to Parliament


The legislation will allow the commercial development of genetically-edited plants and animals in England.

From the BBC News-2022-5-25:8:5:1




Gene-edited tomatoes could soon be sold in England


A bill is to be introduced in Parliament in two days' time to allow the commercial growing of gene-edited crops in England.

From the BBC News-2022-5-23:14:6:1




Mary Anning: Lyme Regis fossil hunter's statue unveiled


The artwork stands in her hometown of Lyme Regis thanks to a teenager's four-year campaign.

From the BBC News-2022-5-22:8:5:1




Extinction: Why scientists are freezing threatened species in 'biobanks'


Conservation scientists hope that preserving genetic material offers future insurance against extinction

From the BBC News-2022-5-19:14:6:1




Vaquita: World's most endangered sea mammal 'not doomed'


Only 10 of the small silver porpoises are left on the planet, but genetic studies offer new hope.

From the BBC News-2022-5-6:8:5:1




One in five reptiles is threatened with extinction


Crocodiles and turtles are in a particularly dire situation, according to a global assessment of risks.

From the BBC News-2022-4-27:14:6:1




Australia's koalas: Freeze sperm to save species, say researchers


Bushfires have killed many thousands of the marsupials, who are threatened with extinction.

From the BBC News-2022-4-13:8:5:1




Biodiversity: What is it and how are we protecting it?


The planet is experiencing its sixth mass extinction event, but it is hoped action can be agreed.

From the BBC News-2022-3-29:8:5:1




Fossil of largest Jurassic pterosaur found on Skye


A student on a field trip finds the world's largest complete fossil of a 170-million-year-old pterosaur.

From the BBC News-2022-2-22:8:5:1




Cambridge University Botanic Garden's 'Newton's apple tree' falls in storm


The tree is one of many cloned from the one that led Isaac Newton to discover the laws of gravity.

From the BBC News-2022-2-21:8:5:1




Neanderthal extinction not caused by brutal wipe out


New fossils challenge ideas that modern humans wiped out Neanderthals after arriving from Africa.

From the BBC News-2022-2-9:20:6:1




Rutland sea dragon: How remarkable ichthyosaur fossil was protected


The inside story on how the UK's largest, most complete ichthyosaur fossil was saved for the nation.

From the BBC News-2022-1-16:20:6:1




Man gets genetically-modified pig heart in world-first transplant


David Bennett, 57, is doing well three days after the experimental surgery, doctors say.

From the BBC News-2022-1-11:8:5:1




Richard Leakey - fossil expert, conservationist and politician


The achievements of Richard Leakey, who has died aged 77, were as remarkable as they were diverse.

From the BBC News-2022-1-3:20:6:1




Biodiversity: The tale of the 'un-extinct' fish


A Mexican fish species has been "brought back from extinction" after a decades-long rescue mission.

From the BBC News-2021-12-29:8:5:1




Leading American naturalist EO Wilson, dubbed 'Darwin's heir', dies at 92


The award-winning naturalist and conservationist earned the Darwin nickname for his life's work.

From the BBC News-2021-12-27:20:6:1




World's oldest family tree created using DNA


Scientists have created the world's oldest family tree from bones interred at a 5,700-year-old tomb.

From the BBC News-2021-12-23:14:6:1




Ancient mass-migration linked to British genes


Scientists uncover evidence for a large-scale, prehistoric migration into Britain in the Bronze Age.

From the BBC News-2021-12-22:14:6:1




Perfectly preserved dinosaur embryo found in China


Researchers say the fossil is at least 66 million years old and was about to hatch just like a chicken.

From the BBC News-2021-12-21:20:6:1




Largest-ever millipede fossil found on Northumberland beach


It is thought to have been more than 2.5m long and lived 326 million years ago in Northumberland.

From the BBC News-2021-12-21:8:5:1