Natural History Museum

We’re the museum looking deeper into the Earth’s past to shape a new future where both people and planet thrive.
Protecting the planet, it’s in our nature. 🌍

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

You might be surprised to hear that seaweed is much older than dinosaurs!

Discover more about the seaweed display in Hintze Hall in our series, Natural History Museum Showstoppers.

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

What do you think is older, seaweed or dinosaurs? 🤔

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

A reminder that the Museum will be closed on 9 October as we're hosting a charity gala. 🦖

We rarely close to the public, however, hosting events like this helps us to continue our vital work, including scientist research and finding solutions to the planetary emergency.

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Chimpanzees and bonobos are our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom, sharing approximately 98.7% of our DNA. Gorillas come in close second, as we share about 98% of our DNA with them! 😲

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Do you know of much of our DNA we share with gorillas? 🦍🧬

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Rhino horns aren't made of bone like antlers, they're largely made of keratin, a protein also found in human fingernails, and hair! Did you know that their horns don't stop growing during their lifetime? 😲

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Rhinos are known for their iconic horns, but what they’re made up for might surprise you…

Rhino horns are made up of the same stuff as which of our body part? 🦏

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Today is the start the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean! Join thousands of volunteers taking part in beach cleans across the UK.

The litter data collected is used to make a positive impact on our ocean. 🐚

Find out more: https://t.co/cjqLXJk6ym

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

But some have already been lost. 💔

Seven migratory bird species are thought to have gone extinct in the past 150 years, including the slender-billed curlew.

Stronger protection along migration routes, particularly major flyways, could help migratory birds recover.

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

🌍Migratory birds can travel huge distances every year!

Many follow major routes across the globe.

But what are these routes called?

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

🐦They’re called flyways!

The latest State of the World’s Birds report is out, and it contains some worrying news.

About 45% of migratory bird species are declining, including cuckoos, turtle doves and Arctic terns.

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Our new temporary exhibition, Nature and Us, is open! 🌿

Housed in a gallery closed to the public for over 80 years, this exhibition explores our changing relationship with nature. There's over 50 specimens to discover – would you like to learn more about them? 👇

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

As talks on a Global Plastic Treaty continue, researchers say stronger recycling laws, including for items like bottle lids, will be vital to tackling plastic waste.

Would you support a global treaty on plastics? Let us know in the comments 👇

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Do you think the amount of plastic in our oceans is increasing?

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

A 16-year study of sable shearwaters on Australia’s Lord Howe Island has found a worrying trend.

More and more plastic is ending up in the birds’ stomachs.

Last year, one bird was found with a record-breaking 900 pieces in its stomach.

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Don't worry, we love the Minerals gallery and aren't changing it!

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Can you spot the difference? 👀

Although these photos were taken over 100 years apart, our Minerals Gallery is much the same - right down to the original oak display cabinets from 1881.

Do you like the original Victorian gallery feel, or do you prefer something more modern?

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Did you know that some of the treasures in our collection were donated as gifts in wills? 🔬

This #RememberACharityWeek, why not help support scientific research and inspire the next generation by leaving a gift in your will? 🎓

Find out more: https://t.co/QsAUHciJlE

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Despite their bad reputation, nettles can be beneficial to our health! When prepared properly, they can be turned into tea, pesto and even baked into cakes. 🍰

They’re also crucial for biodiversity, providing food for a variety of pollinators, including butterflies. 🦋

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

If you've been on walks this summer, you might've suffered the pain of a nettle's sting!

Can you guess why nettles sting? 🤔🌿

[Natural History Museum @NHM_London]

Their stings are a defence mechanism to protect themselves from being eaten by herbivores.

The plants are covered in needle-like hairs called trichomes. When something touches them, the tips break off, releasing chemicals that cause an allergic reaction. 😖