James Ashway
@jamesashway.bsky.social
📤 98
📥 122
📝 91
Science news
@nhm-london.bsky.social
✍️ | CT editor for
@dwasonline.bsky.social
📝 | All views my own
This was a cool one to find out about - who knew we could reconstruct the sense of smell in extinct animals? And, surprisingly, Smilodon and a mouse were probably on a par when it came to smell!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Sabre-toothed tiger’s sense of smell reconstructed using skull scans | Natural History Museum
We now know how good the sense of smell was in giant sloths, sabre-toothed tigers and other long-lost species.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/december/sabre-toothed-tiger-sense-smell-reconstructed-skull-scans.html
1 day ago
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One of my articles from last week - we need to do more to look after seaweeds!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Vital seaweed habitats aren’t being protected by ocean reserves | Natural History Museum
Some of the ocean’s most important habitats aren’t included in protected areas.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/december/vital-seaweed-habitats-arent-protected-ocean-reserves.html
2 days ago
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One I forgot to post from last week - new research has revealed what happened to Australia's apex predator after 1788
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Lifestyle of Australian dingo transformed after arrival of Europeans | Natural History Museum
The lifestyle of the dingo was dramatically altered after European colonists reached Australia in 1788.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/november/lifestyle-australian-dingo-transformed-after-arrival-europeans.html
8 days ago
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The species of the famed skeleton Lucy might not be the ancestor of every hominin that followed, new fossils have suggested
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Early hominin Australopithecus afarensis may not be our human ancestor after all | Natural History Museum
New Australopithecus fossils found in Ethiopia are changing the human family tree.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/november/early-hominin-australopithecus-afarensis-may-not-be-our-human-ancestor.html?utm_source=bls-link-post-20251126-ja&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news
15 days ago
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I scratched a taxonomic itch by trying to explain as many of the different type specimens as possible in this article!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/wha...
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What is a type specimen? | Natural History Museum
Find out how scientists come up with a species name and what a type specimen is used for.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-a-type-specimen.html
20 days ago
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It's estimated over 95% of life in the ocean went extinct during the end-Permian mass extinction - but it might have roared back again surprisingly quickly!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Fossils of ancient marine predators have been discovered on an Arctic mountain | Natural History Museum
Life may have bounced back more quickly than expected after the worst mass extinction in history.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/november/fossils-ancient-marine-predators-discovered-arctic-mountain.html
27 days ago
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Deep inside a 400-million-year-old fossil plant was an even smaller fossil - the remains of a tiny fungus that was sharing nutrients with it!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Ancient fossil reveals how plants and fungi first developed on land | Natural History Museum
A new fossil fungus discovered in Scotland shows evidence of plants and fungi sharing nutrients to survive on land.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/november/ancient-fossil-reveals-how-plants-fungi-first-developed-land.html
29 days ago
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New species alert! 🚨 Paradoxophidion richardoweni is a 37-million-year-old snake found near Christchurch - and it might reveal more about how the majority of living snakes evolved. Discover what it reveals 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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“Weird” new species of ancient fossil snake discovered in southern England | Natural History Museum
An extinct snake named Paradoxophidion richardoweni has slithered its way out of obscurity.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/november/weird-new-species-ancient-fossil-snake-discovered-southern-england.html
about 1 month ago
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Various articles on the go at the moment, but here's a couple that have come out recently! First up, it was a pleasure to sit down with Hamza Yassin for a chat ahead of his recent TV series:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/ham...
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Hamza Yassin discusses filming wildlife and inspiring the next generation | Natural History Museum
The wildlife cameraman and presenter discusses how understanding nature is crucial to his work.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/hamza-yassin-discusses-filming-wildlife-inspiring-next-generation.html
about 1 month ago
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This was fun to find out about - stinkbugs stop wasps getting to their eggs by carrying fungus around!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Stinkbugs have evolved fungus-filled leg organs to protect their eggs | Natural History Museum
The unique organ was initially thought to be used for hearing, but actually carries a fungal ally around.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/october/stinkbugs-evolved-fungus-filled-leg-organs-protect-eggs.html
about 2 months ago
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Bit of a worrying topic to write about this week - but there are at least some signs of hope:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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We’re reaching Earth’s climate tipping points, and more are on the way | Natural History Museum
Shifts in Earth’s climate and ecosystems will have untold consequences for billions of people across the world.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/october/we-are-reaching-earths-climate-tipping-points-and-more-are-on-the-way.html
about 2 months ago
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Have gotten a bit behind on posting my articles, but here's what I've been working on recently! First up, Mesozoic South American insects stuck in amber have been found for the first time ever!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Ancient insects trapped in amber discovered in South America for the first time | Natural History Museum
Insects that lived alongside the dinosaurs have been discovered in Ecuador.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/september/ancient-insects-trapped-amber-discovered-south-america-first-time.html
2 months ago
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Forgot to post about this last week, but an amazing new pachycephalosaur has been found!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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New dome-headed dinosaur species is the most complete pachycephalosaur ever found | Natural History Museum
Zavacephale rinpoche is the oldest and most complete pachycephalosaur ever found.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/september/new-dome-headed-dinosaur-most-complete-ever-found.html
3 months ago
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They're everywhere when you go to the beach, but there's a lot we don't know about seaweeds! A new review suggests that their structure, which results in their sometimes colourful patterns, could be useful for all kinds of things:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Seaweed cells could give solar panels a boost | Natural History Museum
Seaweed growing along the world’s coastlines could help to inspire new materials.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/september/seaweed-cells-could-give-solar-panels-boost.html
3 months ago
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Its name may be a bit of a mouthful, but this new species is a landmark in our understanding of how lizards, snakes and rhyncocephalians evolved!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Newly found fossils of lizard-like animal are the oldest ever discovered | Natural History Museum
An extinct species known as Agriodontosaurus helsbypetrae has revealed new twists in the tale of lizards and their relatives.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/september/newly-found-fossils-lizard-like-animal-oldest-ever-discovered.html?utm_source=bls-link-post-20250911-ja&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news
3 months ago
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Prochlorococcus is a fundamental part of life in the ocean - but it's not as heat-resistant as first thought...
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Climate change threatens major oxygen-producing bacteria | Natural History Museum
One of the world's most common microbes isn’t immune to the effect of climate change.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/september/climate-change-threatens-major-oxygen-producing-bacteria.html
3 months ago
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Thumbnails might seem common to us, but they're not that common in mammals as a whole! New research delved into what rodents are using theirs for 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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How thumbnails helped rodents to spread all over the world | Natural History Museum
The overlooked thumbs of rodents are key to understanding the lives of mice, rats and more.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/september/how-thumbnails-helped-rodents-spread-all-over-world.html
3 months ago
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Last but not least from the NHM field trip to Morocco - we visited a lake which had dried up after its water dwindled away. It's a sight that could become more common around the world as a result of climate change, but there are ways to turn things around 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/mor...
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The Moroccan lake on the front line of the climate crisis | Natural History Museum
Lake Aoua dried up after the source of its water dwindled, but there are plans to restore the lake to its former glory.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/moroccan-lake-front-line-climate-crisis.html
3 months ago
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Is the commercial fossil trade a help or hindrance for palaeontologists? It's a tricky issue, and every scientist has a different answer. I spoke to some of them about their views, which you can delve into here 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/din...
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Dinosaur auctions: Is it right to have fossils for sale? | Natural History Museum
Discover why the commercial fossil trade isn’t simply black and white.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dinosaur-auctions-is-it-right-to-have-fossils-for-sale.html
3 months ago
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Want to find out how everyone's new favourite dinosaur
#Spicomellus
went from fossil to famous? My new article focuses on how
@tweetisaurus.bsky.social
tracked its bones down from a fossil dealer in Cambridge to Morocco's Middle Atlas mountains... 🧵(1/4)
3 months ago
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Not quite as cheery as yesterday's fossil news, but a good story for anyone fond of an ancient mystery:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Ancient human skeleton reveals 12,000-year-old conflict in southeast Asia | Natural History Museum
Some of the world’s oldest evidence of human violence has been discovered in Vietnam.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/august/ancient-skeleton-reveals-conflict-southeast-asia.html
4 months ago
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It's finally here! Meet Spicomellus - one of the world's strangest dinosaurs! After being named in 2021, many questions remained about what this ankylosaur looked like. So, in 2023, I was part of an NHM content contingent who followed
@tweetisaurus.bsky.social
up into the Atlas Mountains...
4 months ago
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What's inside Bennu? Not exactly what we expected!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Near-Earth asteroid Bennu contains a unique array of materials from the early solar system | Natural History Museum
Some of the most basic building blocks of the solar system are missing from one of its most dangerous asteroids.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/august/near-earth-asteroid-bennu-contains-unique-materials-early-solar-system.html
4 months ago
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New dinosaur day! Everyone welcome Istiorachis macarthurae!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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New sail-backed dinosaur species unearthed on the Isle of Wight | Natural History Museum
The name of Istiorachis macarthurae honours the sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/august/new-sail-backed-dinosaur-species-unearthed-isle-of-wight.html
4 months ago
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It turns out samples from Apollo are still being opened - and they're changing what we know about the Moon!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Apollo Moon sample opened after 50 years contains evidence of extraterrestrial landslide | Natural History Museum
Moon rock collected on the last Apollo mission is revealing more about one of the Moon’s most unusual structures, the Light Mantle.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/august/apollo-moon-sample-reveals-extraterrestrial-landslide.html
4 months ago
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Is the lynx due a comeback in the UK? I took a deep dive into the possibility of a reintroduction
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/lyn...
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Lynx UK reintroduction: The benefits and challenges of returning carnivores to the British Isles | Natural History Museum
The return of the lynx could help to restore the UK’s countryside, but not everyone is convinced.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/lynx-reintroduction-benefits-challenges-returning-carnivores-british-isles.html
4 months ago
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Historic journeys, cutting-edge science and fish-kissing ceremonies - my latest article has it all!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Sailing in the wake of Scott and Shackleton to protect the warming Antarctic | Natural History Museum
Scientists are retracing the journeys of century-old Antarctic expeditions to discover how the Earth has changed.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/august/sailing-in-the-wake-of-scott-and-shackleton.html
4 months ago
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There's a glimmer of hope for these threatened starfish
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Starfish-killing bacteria revealed as cause of biggest undersea disease outbreak | Natural History Museum
The cause of sea star wasting disease has been identified, offering hope that the epidemic might be overcome.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/august/starfish-killing-bacteria-revealed-cause-biggest-undersea-disease-outbreak.html
4 months ago
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If you're looking for a new fossil favourite, Mirasaura is a strong contender!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Bizarre new fossil reptile had crest unlike anything seen before | Natural History Museum
Mirasaura grauvogeli is changing our understanding of reptile evolution.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/bizarre-new-fossil-reptile-had-crest-unlike-anything-seen-before.html
5 months ago
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Preserved sign of the brain inside a 500-million-year-old fossil could be signs of the oldest known arachnid
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Half-a-billion-year-old fossil could be earliest known arachnid | Natural History Museum
The oldest signs of a spider-like brain have been found in an ancient marine fossil called Mollisonia.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/half-a-billion-year-old-fossil-could-be-earliest-known-arachnid.html
5 months ago
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One from last week - the dawn of a solar system captured for the first time
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Earliest moments of planet formation seen for the first time | Natural History Museum
Among the hot clouds of gas are signs of the first stage of planets coming into being.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/earliest-moments-planet-formation-seen-for-first-time.html
5 months ago
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The structure of these enormous animals' flippers was similar to an owl's wing, helping ichthyosaurs to soar silently beneath the waves
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Giant ichthyosaurs evolved stealthy flippers to sneak up on prey | Natural History Museum
One of the first known ichthyosaurs, Temnodontosaurus, was a covert ocean predator.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/giant-ichthyosaurs-evolved-stealthy-flippers-sneak-up-prey.html
5 months ago
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Early dinosaurs might actually have shrunk as they evolved, rather than getting bigger
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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The first dinosaurs might have been bigger than expected | Natural History Museum
A fossil of an extinct reptile known as a silesaur suggests that the size of early dinosaurs might have been underestimated.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/first-dinosaurs-might-have-been-bigger-than-expected.html
5 months ago
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This was really cool to write about - by studying tracks, we can work out a lot about how animals behaved and what they look like even if their bodies don't survive!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Complex animals living millions of years before the Cambrian Explosion revealed by seabed tracks | Natural History Museum
The Cambrian Explosion may have been less of a burst of evolution, and more of a final flourish.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/complex-animals-living-before-cambrian-explosion.html
5 months ago
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What did bone worms eat before whales? Marine reptiles!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Ancient bone-eating worms ate mosasaur, ichthyosaur and plesiosaur skeletons | Natural History Museum
Bone-eating worms have been cleaning up the ocean floor for over 100 million years.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/ancient-bone-eating-worms-ate-mosasaur-ichthyosaur-plesiosaur-skeletons.html
5 months ago
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Signal boosting the auction for a print of Alister Pearson's artwork that he kindly agreed to be on the back of the last CT - all proceeds going to a good cause!
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15714495...
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The Fifth Doctor painted by Alister Pearson - print signed by Peter Davison | eBay UK
Alister then asked the editor of the DWAS magazine CELESTIAL TOYROOM if the event and award would be featured in the next issue.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157144951793
5 months ago
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What happens when you split a fossil apart for almost a century? Eventually, you get a new species!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Fossil halves separated for 90 years are a new species of reptile | Natural History Museum
Sphenodraco scandentis is a relative of lizards that would have climbed among the trees in ancient Jurassic forests.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/july/fossil-halves-separated-for-years-new-species-reptile.html
5 months ago
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reposted by
James Ashway
Prof Susie Maidment
6 months ago
Here's
@jamesashway.bsky.social
's story on the specimen. It's beautifully mounted. Come see it if you are in London.
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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reposted by
James Ashway
Doctor Who Appreciation Society
6 months ago
We’re delighted to announce that CT 553 is now available for download free of charge. Please visit
www.dwasonline.co.uk/latest_issue
We’ll be taking orders for the printed version from Wednesday onwards. CT is edited by James Ashway.
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50 years ago today, Jaws was first unleashed on cinemas! But while it's a great piece of film, it perpetuated a variety of myths and misconceptions about sharks. With the help of one of our shark experts, I took a deep dive into the film 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/wha...
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What Jaws gets wrong about great white sharks | Natural History Museum
Jaws’ depiction of sharks hasn’t aged as well as the film itself.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-jaws-gets-wrong-about-great-white-sharks.html
6 months ago
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It's been a busy month - and there's lots of exciting stuff on the way! However, I'm slowly getting back into the regular news groove - and here are a couple which are out today. Firstly - how did our species adapt before spreading around the world?
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Sharing ideas might have helped Homo sapiens adapt for life outside Africa | Natural History Museum
As humans adapted to new environments, they might have better able to share ideas with other groups.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/june/sharing-ideas-might-have-helped-homo-sapiens-adapt-for-life-outside-africa.html
6 months ago
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A few pieces from me in the past week - firstly, meet Mothra's 500-million-year-old cousin!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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New species of ancient Cambrian predator named after Mothra | Natural History Museum
Discovered in Canada, Mosura fentoni is more than half a billion years old.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/may/new-species-ancient-cambrian-predator-named-after-mothra.html
7 months ago
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Join Emma and me for a first look at our new exhibition!
add a skeleton here at some point
7 months ago
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#ICYMI
- some dino news from me from last week:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Tyrannosaurus rex’s ancestors were predatory Asian dinosaurs | Natural History Museum
The ‘king’ of the dinosaurs might not be the all-American predator it appears to be.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/may/tyrannosaurus-rexs-ancestors-were-predatory-asian-dinosaurs.html
7 months ago
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Been busy with holidaying and a few other bits and pieces recently - but here's what I've been writing recently. First up - DNA in the Sahara is shedding light on a lost ecosystem:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Ancient human DNA from north Africa reveals hidden history of the Sahara | Natural History Museum
New research is shedding light on the lives ancient humans who lived in a lush and green Sahara Desert.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/april/ancient-human-dna-from-north-africa-reveals-hidden-history-sahara.html
7 months ago
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Busy week, but still found the time to get a couple of articles done! First up - an ancient galaxy is doing something surprising over 13 billion years ago:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Ancient galaxy shines through the clouds of the early universe | Natural History Museum
New observations have revealed early signs of UV light illuminating the cosmos more than 13 billion years ago.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/march/ancient-galaxy-shines-through-clouds-early-universe.html
8 months ago
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A pair of fossil stories from me this week - first up, the oldest known relative of Iguanodon, Pachycephalosaurus and Triceratops has been described:
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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World’s oldest known cerapodan dinosaur discovered in Morocco | Natural History Museum
The earliest example of an important group of plant-eating dinosaurs has been found in North Africa.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/march/worlds-oldest-known-cerapodan-dinosaur-discovered-morocco.html
9 months ago
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My next explainer tackling some of the biggest questions in biology is out now!
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/wha...
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What is taxonomy? | Natural History Museum
Find out what taxonomy means and why it’s important to classify life on Earth.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-taxonomy.html
9 months ago
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reposted by
James Ashway
Neil Adams
9 months ago
An exciting new study for
#fossilfriday
! Fur colour of not one but six Mesozoic mammals revealed for the first time!🐀 All of them seem uniformly dark—all the better to blend into the night and avoid becoming a dino snack!🦖 My take with words by
@jamesashway.bsky.social
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Fur colour of ancient mammal relatives revealed for the first time | Natural History Museum
Dark brown was in fashion for mammals and their relatives over 150 million years ago.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/march/fur-colour-ancient-mammal-relatives-revealed-first-time.html
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Once again, we really need to do something about plastics
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...
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Plastic pollution causing dementia-like signs in seabird chicks | Natural History Museum
Looking fit is no guarantee of health for one of the world’s most plastic polluted birds.
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2025/march/plastic-pollution-causing-dementia-like-signs-seabird-chicks.html
9 months ago
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