BBC Science and Environment Bot

High Court decision expected on UK coal mine plan Legal challenges against the project were submitted by environmental campaigners.

High Court decision expected on UK coal mine plan

Butterfly thieves handed $200,000 fine Two Italian men were arrested at a Sri Lankan wildlife park after they were found with hundreds of protected insects.

Butterfly thieves handed $200,000 fine

First private spacewalk a success A billionaire and an engineer have become the first non-professional crew to perform a spacewalk.

First private spacewalk a success

Mystery tremors were from massive nine-day tsunami Scientists launched an investigation after being baffled by seismic signals picked up across the world

Mystery tremors were from massive nine-day tsunami

National parkland in public hands 'would help nature' Campaigners call for national parks to be given new powers to buy private land and protect habitats.

National parkland in public hands 'would help nature'

Self-medicating gorillas may hold new drugs clues Plants eaten by wild gorillas have medicinal properties that could be harnessed in drug discovery, say scientists.

Self-medicating gorillas may hold new drugs clues

Its supporters dream of heat-resistant cows. But gene editing is making others nervous A UK law allowing gene-edited food has been paused and some British scientists fear being overtaken.

Its supporters dream of heat-resistant cows. But gene editing is making others nervous

Billionaire takes off for first ever private spacewalk The mission is the first of three funded by payments processing business founder Jared Isaacman.

Billionaire takes off for first ever private spacewalk

Which rural area will take the UK’s nuclear waste? The UK's nuclear waste needs a permanent home - but finding a community willing to take it is tricky.

Which rural area will take the UK’s nuclear waste?

Who owns the Moon? A new space race means it could be up for grabs A race for the lunar surface's resources is currently under way. What’s to stop a Wild West opening up?

Who owns the Moon? A new space race means it could be up for grabs

Musk's SpaceX to destroy retired space station The California-based company will build a "tugboat" to execute the end-of-life disposal of the ISS.

Musk's SpaceX to destroy retired space station

Satellite captures first-of-a-kind cloud image A joint European-Japanese mission captures a space view of the internal structure of a cloud.

Satellite captures first-of-a-kind cloud image

Europe's Ariane-6 rocket blasts off on maiden flight After a successful launch, the upper-stage of the rocket goes on to experience an anomaly.

Europe's Ariane-6 rocket blasts off on maiden flight

Reservoir of liquid water found deep in Martian rocks Studies of quakes detected from the planet's surface found it in the planet's rocky outer crust.

Reservoir of liquid water found deep in Martian rocks

Oxygen discovery defies knowledge of the deep ocean The discovery that lumps of metal on the seafloor produce oxygen raises questions over plans to mine the deep ocean.

Oxygen discovery defies knowledge of the deep ocean

UK getting more hot and more wet days – Met Office The increase in the number of 'very hot days' of 30C or more has also been dramatic.

UK getting more hot and more wet days – Met Office

Complex life on Earth may be much older than thought Scientists say they have new evidence that complex life on Earth began much earlier than previously believed.

Complex life on Earth may be much older than thought

Government sets record budget for green energy auction The government says its budget to support a renewable energy auction will rise 50%.

Government sets record budget for green energy auction

X-rays reveal tiny half-billion-year-old creature The creature, the size of a poppy seed, dates back 520 million years and is almost perfectly preserved.

X-rays reveal tiny half-billion-year-old creature

Famous Stonehenge stone came from Scotland not Wales Stonehenge's famous Altar Stone came from Scotland not Wales as previously thought, new analysis shows.

Famous Stonehenge stone came from Scotland not Wales

World's biggest iceberg spins in ocean trap A frozen block of ice far bigger than Greater London is captured in a vast pool of rotating water.

World's biggest iceberg spins in ocean trap

Witness to Titan sub tragedy tells of fear and false hope Rory Golden, who was on the Titan sub's support ship when it went missing, recounts the experience.

Witness to Titan sub tragedy tells of fear and false hope

Water firms to be punished for years of sewage leaks Thames Water, Northumbrian Water and Yorkshire Water face fines for repeated sewage leaks.

Water firms to be punished for years of sewage leaks

400-year record heat threat to Great Barrier Reef The highest sea temperatures in 400 years could threaten the reef's survival, say scientists.

400-year record heat threat to Great Barrier Reef

Watch: The Northern Lights seen from space A timelapse captured from the International Space Station shows the Moon setting into streams of aurora.

Watch: The Northern Lights seen from space

Scottish isles may solve mystery of 'Snowball Earth' The islands could reveal why animal life first emerged on our planet after its biggest ever freeze.

Scottish isles may solve mystery of 'Snowball Earth'

UK military satellite launches to boost space power British forces are about to get their first dedicated surveillance and reconnaissance satellite.

UK military satellite launches to boost space power

Brian May argues for better farm hygiene to protect badgers The Queen guitarist has led a 10-year study to combat bovine TB spread and help end badger culling.

Brian May argues for better farm hygiene to protect badgers

Why the skies turned red over the UK this weekend Smoke from wildfires in north America has brought a "vivid" hue to skies above Britain ahead of a rare lunar phenomenon.

Why the skies turned red over the UK this weekend

Baby boom prompts call to boost wild beaver population A leading conservation group wants the government to give the go-ahead to bringing back beavers in the wild.

Baby boom prompts call to boost wild beaver population