Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 1d

Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by nature that are important for all life on Earth.

However, all around the world, just 22% of the land delivering the most critical ecosystem services is protected.

Find out why it's time for that to change 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

Road to COP30: Brazil shows how protecting nature can protect ourselves | Natural History Museum

New analysis shows that the vast majority of the areas we depend on for our survival aren’t being well looked after.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 2d

A reminder that our South Kensington Museum will be closing at 5pm this Thursday 9 October for a private event.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and hope that you can still enjoy the Museum during the rest of the day. 🦕

A large, white blue whale skeleton hung from the ceiling. Above it, there are very high ornate arches and arch windows on either side.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 5d

The Arctic’s fragile landscape is rapidly changing.

In February 2025, scientists arrived in Svalbard expecting to see a landscape covered in snow and ice. Instead, they saw bare rock, meltwater pools and flowers blooming. 🌼

Read more about what they witnessed. 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/arc...

Scientists race to study the Arctic before it melts | Natural History Museum

As Arctic winter warming events become more common, researchers are witnessing the melting landscape first-hand.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 5d

A new season can be a great opportunity to appreciate the nature around you.

Are you planning to get out more this autumn? 🍂🧣

The reflection of the Natural History Museum building in the water. On the water surface, there are multiple yellowing leaves.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 5d

Going on a walk through the woods soon? Look out for fallen tree seeds! Expect plump acorns, shiny conkers and papery sycamore wings. 🌳

A sycamore tree with wings and green leaves.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 5d

Keep an eye out for berries! The late summer fruits make way for elderberries, rosehips and wild raspberries.

These make the perfect tasty snacks for badgers, foxes and small birds as the temperatures keep dropping. 🐦

A branch with a few bright pink wild raspberries with green leaves.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 5d

If leaves are starting to turn, that’s a tell-tale sign that autumn has begun! 🍂

As sunlight decreases, trees stop producing chlorophyll. That's the pigment that gives leaves their green colour – that's why they become brown in the autumn!

A woodland-like path, with concrete on the ground, surrounded by trees. There are dead leaves on the ground.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 5d

There's a chill in the air and the days are getting shorter: autumn has arrived in the UK! 🌧️🍂

As we continue to transition into a new season, we're taking the opportunity to slow down and notice the nature around us. Here are three natural changes to look out for this season! ⬇️

A close-up of a squirrel sitting on the ground, surrounded by yellowing leaves.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

If you were on the priority list but weren't able to book tickets, you’ll be among the first to hear when November’s tickets are available to book - just keep an eye on your email inbox or our channels for more information nearer the time!

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

Today’s tickets for the Pokémon x Natural History Museum pop-up shop are now sold out, but more tickets will be released in November 2025.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

That’s all for this month’s roundup!

Let us know down below what topics you’d like to hear about next time 👇 (5/5)

A blue whale skeleton suspended from the roof of the main hall of the Natural History Museum.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

Last but not least, seaweeds might one day help power our homes!

Biomimetics is where designs are inspired by nature, and the way seaweeds control light could inspire future solar panels. But it's not all they can do!

Find out just how helpful seaweed could be 👇 (4/5)
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

Seaweed cells could give solar panels a boost | Natural History Museum

Seaweed growing along the world’s coastlines could help to inspire new materials.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

Other fossil evidence has shaken up our own history this month!

Two ancient skulls suggests that our species, Homo sapiens, might be as much as a million years old, much older than expected!

Find out what else it reveals about our past 👇 (3/5)
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

Origin of our own species' lineage pushed back by half a million years | Natural History Museum

The reanalysis of an ancient human skulls might upend how we thought humans evolved.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

First up, a new dinosaur fossil was uncovered that was the oldest of its kind!

Zavacephale rinpoche comes from Mongolia, and is revealing more about where the poorly understood pachycephalosaurs come from.

Discover more about these distinctive dinosaurs 👇 (2/5)
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

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.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

Time for a Good News Roundup from the Natural History Museum!

Join us as we delve into secrets from the past and present revealed in the past month! (1/5) 🧵

A photograph of the central entrance to the Natural History Museum, consisting of two large towers flanking a large archway, in the sunshine.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

Any leftover tickets will be released later today, so check back for further announcements! 👀

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 7d

Tickets for the Pokémon x Natural History Museum pop-up shop are released today! ⚡

Patrons and members who joined the priority list can book from 9am, and priority list sign-ups will receive an email with booking instructions from 11am.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 11d

Do you know where baby snakes come from? 🤔

Contrary to popular belief, only about 70% of snakes lay eggs - many species, like the anaconda, give birth to live young! 🐍

Discover why they do this and how it works in this week’s #SurprisingScience 🥚

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 12d

New research is pushing back the origin of our species.

Analysis of ancient skulls unearthed in China reveals that our species is actually most closely related to Denisovans, and they split over a million years ago.

Read more about this amazing discovery 👇🏻
brnw.ch/21wW736

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 14d

Did you know there's not just one species of mammoth?

There were two living in North America - the woolly and the Columbian - and it turns out they were breeding together!

Find out about these hybrid mammoths 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

Hybrid mammoths roamed North America following interspecies breeding | Natural History Museum

Columbian and woolly mammoths were breeding together for thousands of years.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 15d

For more information, or to book tickets for another time, visit: brnw.ch/21wW0y2

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 15d

If you’re visiting our South Kensington Museum on Thursday 9 October 2025, please note that we’ll be closing at 5pm for a private event.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and hope that you can still enjoy the Museum during the rest of the day. 🦕

A large blue whale hanging from the ceiling, with ornate arches above it.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 16d

Have you ever seen some amber?

You might know it from the start of Jurassic Park, where an ancient mosquito is discovered trapped in it. Now, for the first time, amber containing insects has now been found in South America!

Find out what it reveals 👇
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

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.

www.nhm.ac.uk

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 16d

If you're keen to see the pop-up shop, you’ll need to book a free ticket, available from 1 October! Find out more and join the priority list to be among the first to access tickets: brnw.ch/21wVUx5

For those who can’t visit, the product range will also be available in our online shop. 🛍️

Two Pokémon, Pikachu and Eevee, shown from behind looking up at a giant blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling of the Natural History Museum.

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 16d

Calling all Pokémon Trainers - get ready to catch the Pokémon x Natural History Museum pop-up shop! 🦖🔥

From 26 January - 22 March 2026, our Cranbourne Boutique will transform into a Pokémon pop-up shop experience, with exclusive products designed specially for the collaboration. 🙌

Pikachu and Eevee looking happy and excited standing at the front of the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall. A blue whale skeleton and Charles Darwin statue can be seen behind them.

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