News

Science

New and richly illustrated book about the Bernissart Iguanodons

22/04/2024

Paleontologist Pascal Godefroit tells the complete story of the Iguanodons of Bernissart in a hefty and beautifully illustrated book: from the discovery in the mining village to the latest insights into their cause of death. 


Science

Mass Extinction Conference - 30.05.2024

15/04/2024

The Institute of Natural Sciences and the Federal Public Planning Service Science Policy (BELSPO) are organizing a conference dedicated to the current rapid loss of biodiversity.


Science

Taxonomy Recognition Day - 23.05.2024

08/04/2024

The Institute of Natural Sciences and the CETAF are celebrating on 23rd May 2024 the Taxonomy Recognition Day, which covers the diversity in nature, preservation of nature and knowledge sharing on nature !


Science

Falcons for Everyone 2024

05/04/2024

In Brussels, it's not the swallows that herald spring, but the peregrine falcons. We invite you to observe three families of peregrine falcons this spring, from the hatching of the first egg to the fledglings' first flight.


Science

Scheldt Delta officially recognized as UNESCO Geopark

29/03/2024

The region of the Belgian-Dutch Scheldt Delta has been officially recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The world heritage organization thereby acknowledges that the area is exceptional in terms of its geological, cultural-historical, and landscape features.


Science

Amateur paleontologists donate rich collection of fossil shark and ray teeth to our Institute

28/03/2024

Citizen scientists have donated tens of thousands of fossil shark and ray teeth to the Institute. They were excavated at the clay quarry of Egem in West Flanders, and bear witness to the rich diversity in the shallow tropical sea around 50 million years ago in our regions.


Science

A third victim from Bois du Cazier identified thanks to DNA analysis

27/03/2024

On August 8, 1956, 262 miners died in the fire at the Bois du Cazier mine in Marcinelle (Charleroi). In 2023, a multidisciplinary team of researchers formally identified two of the 14 victims who couldn't be identified at the time. In March 2024 the team announced the identity of a third victim.


Science

Belgian geologists test mining robots

21/03/2024

Geologists from the Institute of Natural Sciences tested the sensors of their bio-inspired mining robot, which can detect thin veins of metal in the rock.

Science

Fossilized tooth reveals prehistoric shark attack on seal

05/03/2024

Palaeontologists have uncovered a fossilized tooth from a white shark embedded in the heel bone of a seal, shedding light on a dramatic event that unfolded 4.5 million years ago.


Science

A large-scale paleontological excavation in Lebanon documents terrestrial ecosystem of the Cretaceous

06/02/2024

An international team of paleontologists has uncovered a remarkably rich and diverse array of fossils from the Early Cretaceous, in Jezzine, South Lebanon. “It is rare getting a glimpse on the diversity of such an early terrestrial ecosystem for this continental area”, says paleontologist Ninon Robin,  Institute of Natural Sciences.