Aktuelles
Summer 2026 breaks Belgian sea temperature records
24/09/2026
This summer, sea surface temperatures off the Belgian coast have been the highest recorded since at least 1980. The threshold for a marine heatwave was exceeded for no fewer than 87 consecutive days. Researchers are concerned about the consequences for marine ecosystems on the Belgian Part of the North Sea.
News - Climate change leads to hidden biodiversity loss in Flemish forests
09/09/2026
International Microorganism Day
06/09/2026
Discover the invisible life that surrounds us through fun, hands-on activities for all ages — from painting with bacteria to building virus origami and playing interactive microbiology games. Saturday 20 September in our museum halls.
North Sea aerial surveillance in 2025
01/09/2026
In 2025, the Institute of Natural Sciences documented 96 cases of marine and atmospheric pollution with the Coast Guard aircraft. The remaining activities included, among others, flights carried out for broader maritime surveillance tasks in support of Coast Guard partners, fisheries inspections, and marine mammal surveys.
Air pollution by Russian shadow fleet in the North Sea
02/07/2026
New research by the Institute of Natural Sciences identifies a significant increase in non-compliance with international ship emission regulations among shadow fleet vessels operating in the North Sea region.
No signs of genetic poverty among the last Neandertals of North-Western Europe
01/07/2026
The last Neandertals in our region, just over 40,000 years ago, turn out to have been quite genetically diverse, a finding that challenges the idea that inbreeding and genetic deterioration were a major cause of their extinction.
New fossil sheds light on the evolution of teeth in early whales
18/06/2026
Warning about the risks of sea foam
21/05/2026
On 10 May 2026, the Foam Alert Service that was developed by the Institute of Natural Sciences in 2020 indicated a high risk of dangerous foam formation along the Belgian and Dutch coasts. Alerts were subsequently issued to municipalities and surf clubs, and no incidents occurred.
Oldest baboons in Egypt reveal early trade routes to the south
15/04/2026
Europe’s Late Neanderthals descended from a single population
24/03/2026
The last Neanderthals, including the individuals found in Belgian caves, descended from a single group that had survived a bitterly cold period by retreating to southwestern France.