BBC News

BBC News - Science & Environment

First stop, the Moon. Next stop, Mars? Why Nasa's mission matters

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:50:21 GMT

Lunar discoveries and a space race with China is seeing the US invest time and money to get to the Moon - and beyond.

Survey finds 'significantly more' ancient woodland

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:17:44 GMT

A wildlife trust says there are 50% more sites in Hertfordshire than previously recorded.

Spider which uses spring trap to capture prey discovered in Australia

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:05:53 GMT

Researchers say their hunting method - which allows them to prey on dangerous ants - is unprecedented.

'Right to grow' helping wild flowers bloom

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:05:33 GMT

Supporters say growing flowers or food on unused land can improve mental health and local pride.

Hundreds of schools plan closures ahead of red heat alerts

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 02:26:39 GMT

The temperature topped 34.6 C in Wisley, England, on Tuesday while Scotland and Northern Ireland saw their hottest days of the year.

Higgs boson breakthrough was UK triumph, but British physics faces 'catastrophic' cuts

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:40:16 GMT

Britain is preparing to cancel its contribution to one of the Large Hadron Collider's next major upgrades.

From blast off to splashdown: My days following Nasa's historic mission to the Moon

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:17:07 GMT

BBC Science Editor Rebecca Morelle reflects on how it felt to watch history being made.

The UK's summers are getting hotter - but how prepared are we?

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:46:03 GMT

Based on current trends parts of the UK are set to see 40C summers regularly within a couple of decades.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

What role will humans play in the future of scientific research?

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 28 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

From Hay Festival 2026, a dive into a big year for our oceans.

Special buoys mark sensitive seagrass habitats

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:29:27 GMT

Special buoys and voluntary no-anchor zones mark sensitive seagrass habitats.

Space industry giants visit fabrics factory

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:49:48 GMT

Delegates from Nasa and Space X were among those visiting the firm that makes specialist fabrics.

Environmental plan is largely off track, warns watchdog

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:24:47 GMT

A report says many of the measures are "well within the reach" of government and it was a matter of "moving away from planning into delivery".

What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:43:26 GMT

Some UV exposure is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer.

The debate about whether the NHS should use magic mushrooms to treat depression

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:47:15 GMT

Many clinical trials to test the use of psychedelic medicines for conditions such as depression have been underway since 2022 - with surprising results

Why cheap power could matter more than clean power in the push for net zero

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:20:22 GMT

The question of how important making our electricity clean is to going green is coming under increasing scrutiny

Red squirrel sickness reports under investigation

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:52:41 GMT

Tests are being carried out to establish if there is an outbreak of squirrelpox in the Borders.

The 40 minutes when the Artemis crew loses contact with the Earth

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 23:02:53 GMT

As the astronauts pass behind the Moon they will experience a moment of silence and solitude as communication with the Earth is blocked.

Drowning deaths soar in France as Europe buckles in peak of heatwave

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:27:17 GMT

Forty people have drowned in heatwave-related deaths in France since last Thursday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu says.

Elon Musk gets public trading of SpaceX under way from Texas

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 15:56:12 GMT

SpaceX founder Elon Musk said he gave the company "less than a 10% chance of succeeding at all" when it first started, and it is now going public "with the largest IPO ever".

Hottest June day on record for the UK as temperature reaches 36C

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:23:41 GMT

A rare red warning for extreme heat is in effect as soaring temperatures continue

Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire as SpaceX soars in stock market debut

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 22:00:52 GMT

Musk is now worth $1.11tn according to the Bloomberg rich list, while SpaceX listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange with a value of $2.2tn.

Elon Musk's stratospheric rise to trillionaire status - in charts

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 23:05:39 GMT

The BBC breaks down how the tech mogul's fortune has grown.

Simpler, older version of Stonehenge found three miles from famous site

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:11:29 GMT

The structure consisted of two posts that lined up with the solstices 5,000 years ago.

Australia's coal and gas exports violate our human rights, group says in new UN case

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 03:55:00 GMT

The group says that it is unlawful for Australia to continue approving fossil fuel exports without protecting its citizens.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

How do you research the impacts of social media on young people?

COP30: Trump and many leaders are skipping it, so does the summit still have a point?

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:09:19 GMT

The US president is notably absent from these UN climate talks, as are other world leaders, all of which prompts questions about the purpose of COP today.

The UK's summers are getting hotter - but how prepared are we?

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 23:46:03 GMT

Based on current trends parts of the UK are set to see 40C summers regularly within a couple of decades.

The science of soulmates: Is there someone out there exactly right for you?

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:01:47 GMT

For many, the idea of soulmates still shapes how love is understood.

The Interview

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Rebecca Morelle speaks to astronaut Jeremy Hansen ahead of the Artemis II Moon mission.

Environmental plan is largely off track, warns watchdog

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:24:47 GMT

A report says many of the measures are "well within the reach" of government and it was a matter of "moving away from planning into delivery".

Seabed damaged by fishing showing signs of recovery

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:16:47 GMT

Campaigners say improvements to the area trashed by illegal dredging show that marine protection works.

What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:43:26 GMT

Some UV exposure is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer.

Australia's coal and gas exports violate our human rights, group says in new UN case

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 03:55:00 GMT

The group says that it is unlawful for Australia to continue approving fossil fuel exports without protecting its citizens.

Weekly quiz: Where will Prince George be going to school?

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:24:31 GMT

How much attention did you pay to what happened in the world over the past seven days?

Heat pump growth stalls as government support cut, warns climate watchdog

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:32:02 GMT

The growth in sales has slowed significantly after a critical government grant programme was cut.

Drowning deaths soar in France as Europe buckles in peak of heatwave

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:27:17 GMT

Forty people have drowned in heatwave-related deaths in France since last Thursday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu says.

Heat pump growth stalls as government support cut, warns climate watchdog

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:32:02 GMT

The growth in sales has slowed significantly after a critical government grant programme was cut.

Simpler, older version of Stonehenge found three miles from famous site

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 23:11:29 GMT

The structure consisted of two posts that lined up with the solstices 5,000 years ago.

Why this heatwave feels worse than the last one

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:24:39 GMT

A combination of factors is making this heatwave more uncomfortable than some we have had in the past, as Simon King explains

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:00:00 GMT

How engineers fulfilled Gaudi’s once impossible vision for the Sagrada Familia.

From cool-down spots to chalk on windows - how Europe is coping with the heat

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:19:21 GMT

People across the continent are taking measures to cope with the searing temperatures gripping Europe.