Naturalis and the Indonesian Repatriasi Commission will collaborate closely
The Indonesian Repatriasi Commission and Naturalis will work together to explore how the importance of the Homo erectus fossils from the Dubois collection can best be safeguarded for Indonesia, the Netherlands and the rest of the world. This is the result…
Rebellious birds make nests out of anti-bird pins
Biologists present the latest innovation in nest building: bird nests made from anti-nesting spikes. Researchers from Naturalis Biodiversity Center and the Natural History Museum Rotterdam collected these special nests for the first time and described this…
Geology of the Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes: Earth science meets cycling
The Grand Départ is scheduled for 1 July, but the preparations for this year’s Tour de France started more than 400 million years ago, when the rocks of the Central Massif and the Vosges Mountains were formed. Behind every climb, descent, or flat stage is…
Fish survival in the extreme cold aided by genomic adaptations
An international team of biologists has sequenced the genomes of 24 Antarctic fish species to investigate how they survive the extreme cold. This work enables our study of how these organisms survive in the subzero Southern ocean and sheds light on the…
Colossal crystal for Naturalis
A gigantic rock crystal of approximately 1750 kilos can be seen in Naturalis from Saturday. The giant crystallized quartz cluster is on display in the “Earth” room. A cluster of rock crystal measuring 2 by 1 by 1.5 meters and weighing approximately 1750…
Tree frogs exposed
Biology students from Leiden University have discovered two tree frog species in the Dutch coastal dunes that do not occur there naturally. A special DNA technique revealed these potentially harmful tree frogs. Remarkable, but these are not the only exotic…
Every European species a barcode Project Biodiversity Genomics Europe has started
Yesterday, the international project Biodiversity Genomics Europe started. This is an ambitious initiative to bring European DNA-research to new heights. The cutting-edge project is led by Naturalis Biodiversity Center and carried by partners from over 20…
Why plants worldwide became woody Unravelling the evolutionary puzzle
Why do some plants grow into large woody shrubs or colossal trees, while others remain small and never produce wood in their stems? It’s an evolutionary puzzle that already baffled Charles Darwin more than 160 year ago. Now, scientists from the Netherlands…
The genes behind the scenes: New technique revolutionizes venom research and the study of venom variability
An international team of scientists has found an innovative, animal-friendly way of studying venom genes. The technique makes it possible to determine the unique venom production of a wide range of venomous animals.
A future-proof Bulb region Working together on a resilient cultivation system
The world-famous Bulb region is a national pride and of great value to the Dutch economy. But what about the future of the region? Facilitated by Naturalis Biodiversity Center, entrepreneurs, researchers and policymakers are committed to the project:…
Is there a future for artificial reefs?
Manmade structures such as seawalls, breakwaters, and jetties are increasing in frequency in marine coastal environments. Overtime, these structures are unintentionally recruiting marine life such as corals, resulting in the formation of artificial reefs…
Naturalis and Picturae will digitize thousands of insects
This summer visitors to Naturalis can see something unique in the museum: a giant installation that will photograph tiny insects in detail. The system has been developed by the Dutch company Picturae, which provides solutions to solutions to digitize…