BBC News

As England prepares to introduce a charge for plastic bags, Science Editor David Shukman reports on the possible threat to the food chain, by the plastics broken down into tiny fragments in our oceans.

Pluto's major moon, Charon, takes centre stage in this week's release of new pictures from the New Horizons mission.

A massive sinkhole opens up on a street in St Albans, forcing the evacuation of several families during the night.

Zimbabwe is to ban electric water heaters and require all new properties to use solar power, in an attempt to tackle big power shortages.

Modernising Africa's agriculture sector to attract young people will help tackle youth unemployment and food insecurity, a report suggests.

Former Labour science minister Lord Drayson says his government made a mistake in promoting diesel cars as they are "killing people".

Can people be persuaded not to use so many bags?

A satellite designed to provide high-speed internet services to 200,000 Australians living in rural areas is launched from South America.

The UK has 34 universities in the Times Higher Education ranking of the world's top 200 institutions, with Oxford climbing to second best globally.

The discovery of plastic in the guts of Thames fish highlights the need for everyone to take greater care with how they dispose of rubbish, say campaigners.

A "grumpy" 31-stone (200kg) tiger with an infected canine tooth, is treated by a Mayfair dentist.

The team behind Nasa's Dawn mission to Ceres releases striking new images, but remains unable to explain the dwarf planet's most intriguing mystery.

Free energy from the air. It sounds like a fantasy but that is what entrepreneur Lord Drayson has just unveiled at London's Royal Institution.

Scientists record the first video footage of tiny killer flies catching prey in mid-air, in a study of how the creatures pick their targets.

Leading figures in the scientific community argue for a lift in public research spending to boost the British economy.

Neuroscientists have recorded the first video footage of a tiny killer fly catching its prey in mid-air.

Can we visit Mars if it's wet?

Conservationists have identified six areas in the Western Highlands as places where the wildcat has the best chance of surviving, as Graham Satchell reports.

UK scientists germinate seeds from the endangered Japanese Birch, a species with only 21 known survivors in the wild.

New Zealand reveals plans to turn an area of the South Pacific ocean about the size of France into a marine reserve.

The US space agency says it believes dark stripes on Mars are caused by trickling water.

Researchers working on the wreck of the HMS Erebus have shared new photos of what they have found below the icy waters.

Scientists think they can now tie dark streaks seen on the surface of Mars to periodic flows of liquid water.

Scientists think they can now tie dark streaks seen on the surface of Mars to periodic flows of liquid water.

The rubber duck-shaped comet being followed by Europe's Rosetta probe used to be two separate objects, scientists say.

The first drilling results were not positive – and Shell’s political problems in America also weighed heavily.

Royal Dutch Shell abandons Arctic exploration off the coast of Alaska after "disappointing" results from a key oil well.

Lunar eclipse images from around the world

People around the world observe a rare celestial event, as a lunar eclipse coincides with a so-called "supermoon".

Keith Cowing, editor of nasawatch.com in Washington, explains the reasons for the unusual phenomenon of a ''supermoon'' eclipse.

There is much talk about the dangers of AI but are the concerns overblown and will it be the machines that really need rights?

Oceanographers gather evidence of a 'vicious circle' of wind-driven turbulence in the Arctic Ocean, stirring up heat from the depths.

Oceanographers have been gathering evidence of a 'vicious circle' of wind-driven turbulence in the Arctic Ocean, stirring up heat from the depths.

As India launches its first space telescope, BBC News looks at some of the innovations getting astronomers excited.

The moon is going to turn a rusty shade of red and appear larger than usual in the early hours of the morning of 28 September.

The UK's premier science book prize is won by Gaia Vince - the first time in its near 30-year history that it has been awarded outright to a female writer.

Rio park gets noisy new inhabitants

Leaders from around 200 nations have gathered in New York to approve a new set of ambitious goals aimed at tackling poverty, hunger, climate change and other global problems.

Pope Francis calls on countries to respect the "right of the environment", in a speech to the UN General Assembly.

China has signalled its desire to tackle climate change - but it seems to want to keep a foot in both camps, says Matt McGrath.

China's President Xi Jinping calls for "win-win co-operation" with the US on his first state visit to Washington.

The Moon will turn a rusty hue on Monday and may seem larger in the sky, say astronomers.

Energy company Drax has abandoned plans to introduce new technology to cut carbon dioxide emissions at the biggest coal-fired power station in the UK.

North Sea cod is taken off the Marine Conservation Society's list of fish to avoid eating, although it should be only an "occasional treat", it says.

A great swathe of Pluto that features a strange rippling terrain is perhaps the highlight of the latest image release from the New Horizons mission.

Energy company Drax has pulled out of a £1bn carbon capture project because of the government's decision to reduce subsidies for renewable energy.

Visitors to London's Natural History Museum are being given the opportunity to see 3D prints of the sensational new Homo naledi fossils.