Magical merlins

A rare chance to spot the UK’s tiniest bird of prey

Conservationists welcome peat compost ban

Sales of peat to amateur gardeners will be banned in England from 2024

Rhythm of love

Male hyraxes that sing in the strictest tempo get females’ pulses racing

Bunch of keys

This month, rodents collect the dangly wings of ash

Rising racket has meaning

New research shows how jackdaws use group vocalisation

Origin of pieces

A remora’s sucker

Opinion: Gillian Burke

“Seeds come in a breathtaking diversity of size, form and function”

Sweet dreams are made of this

Anyone planning a bonfire this autumn should check it first for hedgehogs and toads that may have snuck inside, ready for hibernation. Better still, put the matches away – both garden and wildlife will benefit if you leave piles of leaves and other clippings to decay. Surveys show Britain’s urban hedgehogs are at last recovering: […]

10 species linked to Star Wars

Some biologists have named species after characters in the famous film series.

Meet the scientist: Sarah Kienle

Assistant professor of biology at Baylor University, Texas, on the latest leopard seal research