RSPB at 120: the forgotten South American pioneer who helped change Victorian attitudes to birds

A group of determined women founded the RSPB, but they had great support behind the scenes by a little-known Argentinean naturalist.

S. James Reynolds, Assistant Professor in Ornithology and Animal Conservation, University of Birmingham • conversation
Feb. 27, 2024 ~7 min

Why dozens of North American bird species are getting new names: Every name tells a story

What’s in a name? A lot, if you’re an Audubon’s Oriole or a Townsend’s Solitaire.

Jared Del Rosso, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology, University of Denver • conversation
Dec. 7, 2023 ~9 min


How colonial violence in Tasmania helped build scientists' reputations and prestigious museum collections

New research shows the uncomfortable and shocking truth behind a revered scientist’s reputation.

Jack Ashby, Assistant Director of the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge, University of Cambridge • conversation
Nov. 29, 2023 ~6 min

By fact-checking Thoreau's observations at Walden Pond, we showed how old diaries and specimens can inform modern research

Journals, museum collections and other historical sources can provide valuable data for modern ecological studies. But just because a source is old doesn’t make it useful.

Richard B. Primack, Professor of Biology, Boston University • conversation
Oct. 26, 2022 ~10 min

How a new GCSE in natural history can help us towards a greener future

Children often aren’t aware of how much has been lost in recent generations.

Jo Anna Reed Johnson, Lecturer in Science Education, University of Reading • conversation
April 21, 2022 ~6 min

Art illuminates the beauty of science – and could inspire the next generation of scientists young and old

Scientists have been using art to illuminate and share their research with the public for centuries. And art could be one way to bolster K-12 science education and scientific literacy in the public.

Chris Curran, Professor and Director Neuroscience Program, Northern Kentucky University • conversation
Nov. 23, 2021 ~10 min

The lynx may have survived in Scotland centuries later than previously thought, new study suggests

A new study suggests lynxes were in Britain as recently as the 18th century.

Lee Raye, Associate Lecturer in Arts and Humanities, The Open University • conversation
Oct. 11, 2021 ~7 min

Why David Attenborough cannot be replaced

Wildlife television as we know it was constructed around Attenborough. Take him away and the whole thing needs to be reinvented.

Jean-Baptiste Gouyon, Associate professor in Science Communication, UCL • conversation
Jan. 5, 2021 ~7 min


Museum specimens could help fight the next pandemic – why preserving collections is crucial to future scientific discoveries

Specimen preservation means researchers don't need to reinvent the wheel each time they ask a new question, making it critical for the advancement of science. But many specimens are discarded or lost.

Bryan McLean, Assistant Professor of Biology, University of North Carolina – Greensboro • conversation
Dec. 16, 2020 ~11 min

Giant 'toothed' birds flew over Antarctica 40 million to 50 million years ago

Paleontologists have discovered fossil remains belonging to an enormous 'toothed' bird that lived for a period of about 60 million years after dinosaurs.

Peter A. Kloess, Doctoral Candidate, Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley • conversation
Oct. 27, 2020 ~7 min

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