20 mind-blowing images from Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025
The winners of this year's competition include breathtaking photos of hunting orcas, venomous octopuses and adorable 'lady bugs of the sea'.
World's 11 deadliest sea creatures: Meet the most dangerous animals in the ocean
Sharks aren’t the only danger in the ocean. Here are our top 10 most deadly sea creatures, from those that sting to those that bite
Scientists sink lights to bottom of Chicago River. What they find is incredible
Researchers say what they discovered highlights the remarkable recovery of this once heavily polluted waterway on the shores of Lake Michigan in Illinois.
Meet the birds visiting the UK for autumn and winter
Migrating birds are arriving in the British Isles this autumn – find out which species and how to see them
Tree ring count reveals true age of iconic, world-famous Sycamore Gap tree
Historic England scientists have confirmed the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, felled in 2023, was more than a century old
It might be slow but don't be fooled as this is one of the world's deadliest snipers, causing paralysis, necrosis, coma, respiratory failure and death in humans – lovely...
Deadly yet potentially lifesaving, the venom of cone snails is powerful enough to kill hundreds of people — but could also hold the key to new treatments for diabetes and other diseases.
Huge North Sea oil rig 130 miles from land unlocks new (and epic) secrets of pollination
Researchers found hundreds of tiny marmalade hoverflies on the remote rig, and most of them were carrying pollen – here's why that's important.
Powerful images show beauty and brutality of birds like you've never seen them before
See 14 extraordinary photos and videos of birds from the Audubon Photography Awards 2025.
Odd animal seen 'flying' over seafloor in Caribbean. But that's not the strangest thing it does
Flying gurnards tap the sand as they skim along the bottom of the ocean. Researchers say the unusual behaviour has a vital purpose.
Snake Island, Anthrax Island and beyond: 9 deadly Islands you'd be a fool to visit...
When an island gets a dangerous-sounding nickname, such as Snake Island, Anthrax Island or Shark Island, you know it’s probably one to strike off the holiday list, says Helen Pilcher.
Birds
Night mission in India leads scientists to one of the rarest songs on Earth
Birdwatchers have rediscovered the big-eyed, long-legged Jerdon’s courser in south-east India, putting it back on the list of critically endangered birds.
How to grow an oak tree in a vase
I went to a remote village in the shadow of the Himalayas to find the world’s tallest flying bird
The tallest flying bird in the world owes its survival to a special relationship with small farmers in the most populated part of India
Watch this adorable baby owl make a dramatic leap for survival
When it’s time to leave the nest, these baby owls take their first steps with sweet – if not wholly successful – results
10 deadliest birds on the planet: From slashing humans with razor sharp talons to kicking prey to death, discover the world's savagest, most brutal avian killers
Are these the world's most dangerous birds?
There's a bird in Africa that kills nestlings and then throws them out of trees – and researchers have no idea why
Sociable weavers have been observed killing unrelated birds before tossing them out of their huge nests. Scientists are trying to figure out what's going on.
How to identify wildlife
LRPs, PG Tips and Jizz: Cracking the secret language of birders
You’re sitting in a hide and overhear other birders talking. The conversation ranges from ‘LRPs’ and ‘roosting Leos’ and you scratch your chin as you try to decipher their code – welcome to the world of birding jargon.
It's the fastest animal in the world and its deadly claws can catch prey mid-air: Meet one of the world's most incredible birds of prey
Peregrines are the ultimate urban predator. Learn all about them, including how to spot them ‘stooping’ to catch prey
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
Save 30% when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife Magazine, plus receive Simon Barnes’ latest release, Spring is the Only Season
How to identify mammal skulls - and work out the creature they once belonged to
Skulls can be found virtually anywhere, but skull identification can be difficult. Learn how to identify common mammal skulls in our expert guide.
Toad vs frog: How to tell the difference between a common frog and a common toad
Two of the UK's most familiar and widespread amphibian species are the common frog and the common toad, but do you know how to tell them apart?
How to identify animal droppings: Our guide to the wildlife poop you might find in your garden or out on a walk
Droppings or scats can tell us a lot about which animals have been visiting our gardens, parks and countryside, including hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. Our expert guide explains how to identify which poos belong to which species. Plus, animal droppings from species from around the world – and fungi and insects you might spot on droppings.
Plants
In the 1970s, scientists noticed that trees in a US mountain range were migrating. Now they know why
Trees are on the move. While they are not exactly uprooting themselves, they are showing remarkable resilience to climate change and shifting their ranges.
Is this ordinary plant a secret, yet deadly, meat eater?
The thistle that has a taste for meat
10 dangerous, criminal weeds that could land you in legal trouble and having to pay a hefty fine if they're on your land
We take a look at some dangerous weeds that could cost your pocket
A tree that grows underneath the ground? Discover the trees that grow trunks, fruit and even flowers below the earth
Whether for wildfire dodging or sucking up moisture, growing underground is a clever tactic for trees in remote savannahs and sandy environments.