BBC News

Researchers reveal the secret of the success of invasive fire ants - they can excavate any type of soil.

As the WWF releases a report on the economic value of the world's oceans, BBC News looks at their findings, and the value of auditing nature.

A newly discovered microbe could help solve one of the most controversial puzzles in modern biology.

A Russian spacecraft that has been out of control since launching last week will fall back to Earth and burn up on Friday, scientists say.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes visits a vast solar farm in Kagoshima to see how Japan is trying to move on from nuclear power.

British astronaut Tim Peake passes his final Soyuz exam, as he prepares for November's mission to the space station.

Forests can play a vital role in supplementing global food and nutrition security, as well as providing sources of income, suggest leading scientists.

SpaceX puts its Dragon astronaut capsule through a practice abort - a demonstration of how the ship would cope with a pad emergency.

The vote of those living in the countryside is crucial in this election, but what issues are important to them?

Violent storms sweep northern Germany, triggering a tornado that hit a small town and leaving one person dead in Hamburg.

The evolution of thousands of pop songs spanning from 1960 to 2010 is analysed by scientists.

Scientists in China report a new fossil species: the oldest member yet of the evolutionary branch that produced modern birds.

Australian scientists discover that mysterious signals hitting a renowned space telescope are actually from microwaves.

Scientists find 200 year lag time between past climate events at poles, according to a new study in Nature.

For the first time since 2013, the Large Hadron Collider smashes protons together - albeit at fairly low energies for now.

Scientists discover one of the secrets of how the world’s biggest whales engulf their own weight in water and food: the nerves in their big jaws are incredibly stretchy.

Expedition that paved way for understanding the Arctic

David Shukman takes a look around the bridge, sleeping quarters and laboratories for a taste of life on board the Norwegian Arctic research vessel Lance.

The surgeon who cut out his own appendix

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station celebrate Star Wars Day with a movie pick that may surprise some fans.

Changes in the Arctic Ocean are so profound that the region is entering what amounts to "a new era", according to Norwegian scientists.

Monitoring how ice cover is changing in the far north

David Shukman reports from a research vessel deliberately wedged into the arctic ice pack.

Detectives from the West Midlands are using 3D technology to provide juries with microscopic evidence, previously beyond the reach of forensic testing.

About 60% of the world's largest herbivores are at risk of extinction, according to research by an international team.

Why is it that two apparently similar earthquakes can have such different outcomes in terms of the number of people killed and the damage that results?

Environment Analyst, Roger Harrabin has been looking at how the parties say they plan to tackle environmental issues in the countryside.

The Calbuco volcano in southern Chile erupts for the third time in eight days, sending a large plume of dark grey smoke and ash into the air.

Scientists have made progress towards correcting the errors that are expected to arise in quantum computing.

US electric carmaker Tesla Motors unveils batteries that can power homes and businesses in a bid to expand beyond its vehicle business.

Areas of airspace where human use is restricted could help to protect billions of animals, scientists say.

England is set for more record-breaking warm years like 2014, say scientists.

After a decade in space and four years in orbit, Nasa's Messenger spacecraft reaches the end of its mission and crashes into the surface of Mercury.

One in six species on the planet could face extinction due to the effects of climate change if nothing is done to reduce emissions, according to analysis.

There have been stunning scenes at Hawaii's Kilauea volcano which has been overflowing lava.

Blue Origin, the US space company set up by Amazon entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, says it has conducted the first test flight of a new sub-orbital vehicle, reaching an altitude of 93km.

An American vet has claimed to have decoded the language that cats use, believing that cats use more than a dozen sounds, each having its own meaning.

After a decade in space and four years in orbit, Nasa's Messenger spacecraft will end its mission on Thursday by crashing into the surface of Mercury.

How thorn bushes and donkeys could save Africa’s predators

Pluto may have a polar cap of nitrogen ices. This is the tantalising prospect revealed in the latest images to come down from the New Horizons spacecraft.

The US state of California has stepped up its attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting tough new targets for 2030.

Wild beavers living in the Tay and Earn have adapted well to living in Scotland, studies by Scottish Natural Heritage suggest.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the UK government must draw up plans to reduce air pollution by the end of this year.

The permanent headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array - the world's biggest radio telescope - will be based in Britain.

A Russian spacecraft delivering supplies to the International Space Station is out of control and will fall back to Earth, unnamed officials say.

Europe's Sentinel-1a satellite gets its first good look at the aftermath of Saturday's big quake in Nepal.

Calls are being made for snares to be banned after two runners were caught in the traps in the Peak District.

Artificial lighting in harbours is luring in sea creatures that cause damage to ships, a study suggests.