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Earth News
The latest stories from the News section of the BBC Nature web site.
Updated: 4 min 38 sec ago
Ancient whales surprise scientists
Ancient bowhead whales bucked the trend to survive the last Ice Age, scientists say.
Cash shortage stretches to sea bed
The government admits going slowly on protecting wildlife in the seas because of the costs involved.
Eco-change triggers rapid evolution
Changes to their surroundings can trigger "rapid evolution" in species as they adopt traits to help them survive in the new conditions, a study shows.
Rhino horn DNA database introduced
A new DNA database is being set up to hold genetic information on all the rhinoceros horn in the UK in an attempt to stop its theft and trade.
Primate 'wobble' gives speech clues
The call of the gelada monkey shares surprising similarities with some features found in human speech, scientists find.
Day to night camouflage for crabs
Young horned ghost crabs change their appearance from day to night for camouflage from predators, a study reveals.
Ban pesticides to save bees, say MPs
The UK government should introduce a moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides linked to the deaths of bees, a report by MPs says.
Wildfire fears for golden eagle eggs
Dozens of golden eagle and other rare bird nests may have been destroyed in Highland wildfires, experts warn.
VIDEO: Fossils reveal racehorse weakness
Scientists at the University of Liverpool are comparing ancient 15-million-year-old horse fossils with the bones of modern racehorses to out why horses legs can be prone to fracture.
Artefacts clues of sharks' absence
Nineteenth Century tools made from sharks' teeth suggest that two species of shark used to populate the Central Pacific Ocean but are no longer present.
Female octopuses stretch further
Female octopuses go to extra lengths when stretching arms to reach food.
Why do 'single' birds dance?
Lone cranes are 'playing around' when they put on a show.
Sea hares' sticky defence uncovered
Sea hares fool hungry predators with a sticky secretion that deactivates their sense of smell, scientists say.
Polar bears: An uncertain future
How a lack of Arctic summer sea ice may put the future of polar bears at risk.
Pesticides 'damage brains of bees'
Commonly used pesticides are damaging the brains of honey bees and affecting their ability to learn, two studies suggest.
Loch's new beaver given DNA test
The first wild beaver in more than 400 years is trapped at a Perthshire nature reserve in order to perform health checks and a DNA test.
Pratchett's orangutans revisited
Author Sir Terry Pratchett revisits Borneo to consider the fate of his beloved, endangered orangutans.
VIDEO: Up close and cuddly with Colorado's black bears
As bears and humans increasingly cross paths, wildlife researchers in Colorado are tagging the beasts to track their unpredictable behaviour.
Falcons 'rapidly evolved hunter skill'
Falcons rapidly evolved their renowned hunting skills in an evolutionary race to survive, a study finds.
Prehistoric beast named after girl
A nine-year-old girl from the Isle of Wight has a prehistoric flying beast whose fossilised bones she found named after her.
