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BBC News - Science & Environment

Night sky events to watch out for this summer

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:44:00 GMT

The Milky Way, the Summer triangle, eclipses and a meteor shower can all be seen over the next few months.

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.

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.

Water voles brought back to river after 20 years

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:07:52 GMT

About 300 water voles are released in Farnham as part of a bid to restore the species to the river.

Kids collect five bags of litter left on riverbank

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:19:45 GMT

A farmer says he is having to remove litter from his fields on a daily basis.

Exploding rocket casts doubts over Nasa's Moon plans

Fri, 29 May 2026 10:38:46 GMT

Explosion of Blue Origin rocket is a setback for the company and for Nasa's Moon plans.

Costly fuel pushes more Indians to buy electric cars but challenges remain

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:28:31 GMT

High fuel prices are strengthening the case for EV adoption in the world's third largest auto market.

'Killer fungus' could be good news for habitats decimated by invasive moss

Sat, 30 May 2026 23:03:12 GMT

A newly discovered species raises hope that some native British habitats could be restored.

How to keep cool at your summer festivals

Fri, 22 May 2026 23:40:30 GMT

As the summer festival season kicks off, temperatures are set to soar this bank holiday weekend.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 21 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

El Niño is stirring in the Pacific Ocean and may well be one of the strongest yet.

Britain's protected birds of prey still being shot, trapped and poisoned, says RSPB

Mon, 25 May 2026 23:35:26 GMT

The charity says more than half of attacks happened on or near land managed for game shooting.

Portugal breaks hottest May day record as Europe swelters in heatwave

Thu, 28 May 2026 23:36:01 GMT

French students are taking their exams in baking schools, while red alerts are issued in Italy.

UK's rudest chalk figure gets a glow-up to stop it fading in the rain

Wed, 27 May 2026 23:05:48 GMT

National Trust staff and volunteers will apply 17 tonnes of fresh chalk to the outline of the famous figure.

Paralympian could become first astronaut with disability to live and work in space

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:16:51 GMT

John McFall takes one step closer to becoming first disabled astronaut.

Artemis II: Nasa targets early April for Moon mission

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 21:21:11 GMT

Nasa says technical problems that have delayed the rocket are fixed and it is ready for launch.

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.

The Interview

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 23:30:00 GMT

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

Farmers warn food security can't be taken for granted

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:16:12 GMT

Farmers at the Bath and West Show say there are strong parallels between energy and food security.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 28 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

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

Watch: Moment a meteor creates sonic boom over Massachusetts

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:56:37 GMT

According to Nasa, the meteor released the equivalent to about 300 tons of TNT when it broke up.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 07 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

We explore whether Pluto should regain its title as the solar system’s ninth planet

What next for Upton Heath after charity buys land?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:08:29 GMT

Dorset Wildlife Trust starts restoring 110 acres of heath it bought after a fundraising campaign.

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.

What does Blue Origin rocket mishap mean for Nasa's Moon mission?

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:48:24 GMT

Science correspondent Pallab Ghosh explains why the explosion is a setback for space exploration.

Moment Blue Origin rocket explodes during test in Florida

Fri, 29 May 2026 03:02:48 GMT

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night.

Farmers warn food security can't be taken for granted

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:16:12 GMT

Farmers at the Bath and West Show say there are strong parallels between energy and food security.

The space race to create gym equipment for future astronauts

Fri, 22 May 2026 23:42:07 GMT

Scientists are attempting to build exercise equipment to be used on future space flights.

Why temperature records are being not only broken but smashed

Wed, 27 May 2026 14:08:50 GMT

The combined effects of a heat dome and climate change have brought extreme warmth to western Europe.

Bathing warning issued after 'potential water pollution incident'

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:15:45 GMT

The National Trust, which manages Portstewart Strand, has urged visitors to the beach to be vigilant.

'Mornings and nights no longer exist' at 47C: A day in the hottest place in India

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:31:42 GMT

What a day in India's hottest district reveals about life on the frontline of extreme heat.

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

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.

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.

Nearly 30 illegal waste 'super sites' revealed in new government watchlist

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:28:43 GMT

The list, published by the Environment Agency on Friday, includes 28 so-called "super sites" that contain more than 20,000 tonnes of waste.

How do hurricanes and typhoons form and is climate change making them stronger?

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:28:27 GMT

These powerful tropical storms are generally becoming more intense as the world warms.

BBC Inside Science

Thu, 14 May 2026 20:00:00 GMT

What do we know about the disease following its outbreak on a cruise ship this month?

Swifts 'displaced' after demolition - campaigners

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:21:40 GMT

Campaigners say nesting swifts may have been affected after part of a building was demolished.

Next El Niño could be strongest in decades

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:50:54 GMT

A new phase of the natural El Niño weather pattern could begin in a matter of weeks, the UN has warned, boosting temperatures on a planet already under strain from climate change.

Nasa unveils next steps to build permanent Moon base

Tue, 26 May 2026 20:25:50 GMT

Nasa plans to send hopping drones and roving vehicles to the Moon as part of plans for a permanent Moon base.

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

Next El Niño could be strongest in decades

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:50:54 GMT

A new phase of the natural El Niño weather pattern could begin in a matter of weeks, the UN has warned, boosting temperatures on a planet already under strain from climate change.

Rare 'Blue Moon' set to light up UK skies

Fri, 29 May 2026 15:53:26 GMT

Sophia Herod explains what is meant by the phrase "Blue Moon" - and it doesn't mean the Moon is turning blue.