What causes the northern lights? The northern lights are caused by the interaction between the magnetic fields of the Sun and Earth. Dr Geoff Vasil, who studies the Sun’s workings at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Mathematics, explains how this creates an aurora. “The Sun is a nuclear furnace, squeezing atoms together at its heart to release energy,” Geoff explains.

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Dr Buck Ruxton was a GP in Lancaster who in September 1935 murdered his wife Isabella and their housemaid Mary Rogerson. To dispose of their bodies, Buck drove some 100 miles from his home, depositing them in a small ravine in a sparsely populated area in the Scottish Borders.

Why is biodiversity important to people? Biodiversity is essential to the survival of all life on Earth, including humans. Our Senior Researcher Dr Adriana De Palma uses data to monitor and predict global biodiversity changes. She explains, 'Biodiversity is incredibly important because it provides us not only with a beautiful place to live, but with clean air and water, food and fuel, and even ...

Jul 31, 2023 · To maintain the safety and comfort of visitors, we will only admit visitors who have not booked in advance if capacity allows. We recommend you book a free ticket to guarantee entry to the Museum. If you would prefer to book by phone, please contact us.

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The word Anthropocene comes from the Greek terms for human ('anthropo') and new ('cene'), but its definition is controversial. It was coined in the 1980s, then popularised in 2000 by atmospheric chemist Paul J Crutzen and diatom researcher Eugene F Stoermer.

The UK is home to two squirrel species: the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis).The species you are more likely to see scampering through the trees or ransacking your bird feeders will depend on your location, though grey squirrels, which are not native to the UK, are now far more common in most areas.

What is an axolotl? The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is a type of salamander that doesn't go through metamorphosis. Salamanders are amphibians that, like frogs and newts, start off living in the water. Salamanders usually go through a process called metamorphosis to become adults - like a tadpole transforming into a frog.

This section contains information on a number of common insect pest species that can be found in UK homes and cause damage to food, furniture, clothes and plants. Each page offers information on how to identify the pest, its life cycle and suggestions as to how to control it ...