BBC News

From black holes boiling themselves out of existence to equations describing the entire history of the Universe.

Tributes highlight his breakthrough research as well as his personality and inspiration to millions.

Visionary physicist Stephen Hawking has died, aged 76.

A think tank warns of the risk of unintended consequences from the current concern over plastics.

The famous winged dinosaur Archaeopteryx, once thought of as the first bird, could fly, research shows.

Early humans may have flourished after the largest volcanic eruption in history, according to new research.

The nation's favourite yellow submarine returns safely after a dangerous dive in the Antarctic.

Scientists have calculated the water temperature at which tiger sharks are most active and abundant.

The BBC's Victoria Gill looks under the microscope to discover the microplastics lurking in our waters.

A nerve agent was used to poison a Russian former spy and his daughter. What are they and what do they do?

Microplastic particles contaminate the riverbeds throughout the UK, research suggests.

A snowy owl, one of which stars in the Harry Potter films, brings in visitors to bird reserves.

Wild birds may catch and spread diseases as they gather to feed in gardens, say scientists.

Researchers in Texas aim to create robots that can cope with our messy world.

Rare footage of a baby, critically endangered western lowland gorilla was taken in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Congo.

Research shows that planets orbiting distant stars may be surprisingly colourful.

Sir John Sulston, a key figure in the race to decode the human genome, has died at the age of 75.

The government says it is better for coffee shops to offer discounts to those who bring their own cups.

Researchers are using powerful X-rays to look inside cannonballs found on the famous Tudor ship, the Mary Rose.

From boar hair toothbrushes to beeswax food wrap, here's how you can dump the disposable plastics.

A new study claims the remains discovered on a Pacific island are a 99% match with the explorer.

Two Emperor penguins stumbled across a camera that was left by an Australian Antarctic explorer.

Nasa's Juno mission begins to unravel the mysteries of the gas giant's interior structure.

Women are disproportionately affected by the impacts of changing weather patterns, studies show.

Red squirrel numbers in Scotland are being boosted by the activity of pine martens.

Nine teams, including one from the UK, will demonstrate new technology to map the sea floor.

Why red squirrel numbers are boosted by the activity of their natural predator, the pine marten.

Britain's carbon emissions have sunk to the level last seen in 1890, helped by reduced coal use.

The next phase of the Iris project to streamline European air traffic management is initiated.

Four dementia scientists share this year's 1m euro prize for their pivotal work.

Sudan, whose future was "not looking bright", rallies slightly as his carers treat his wounds.

A family found the message, dropped in 1886 by a German ship, on a remote beach in West Australia.

The aircraft carrier USS Lexington went down in the 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea, with 216 lives lost.

Waste consultancy Eunomia claims English packaging firms need to step up on recycling rates.

A British designer wants used gum recycled into useful objects - also leading to cleaner streets.

A report has said the south Indian city is likely to run out of water - but is this really the case?

A breakthrough in materials technology could see fast-charging supercapacitors rival lithium-ion batteries.

Since the beginning of the year, Nigeria has been gripped by an outbreak of the deadly Lassa fever.

The Bloodhound supersonic car will produce a huge amount of noise when it starts running later this year.

Fossil gives a peek into the lives of primitive birds that shared the Earth with the dinosaurs.

Nearly a fifth of European beetles that live in old and hollowed wood are at risk of extinction.

Consumers don't have to pay an additional price for getting their food in environment friendly packaging.

The body-hackers who believe chips under the skin could replace keys and wallets in future.

Police in Honduras arrest the suspected mastermind in the murder of Berta Caceres.

Two genetic studies shed light on the epic journeys that led to the settlement of the vast Pacific region by humans.

Storm Emma combined with snow has been causing havoc across the UK.

Over 1.5m penguins, the largest population on the Antarctic Peninsula, has been found on the Danger Islands.

The UK-led expedition to the waters around the world's biggest iceberg is forced to turn around.

Scientists stumble across a huge group of previously unknown Adélie penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula.