News
Heritage Days 2025
21/09/2025
On Sunday 21st of September, from 10.00 to 15.00, enjoy guided tours backstage at the emblematic building of the Institute of Natural Sciences!
Surprise visitor on Ostend beach: a young hooded seal
05/09/2025
A young hooded seal photographed on the beach in Ostend on August 21st was the fifth documented case of this northern seal in Belgium. However, the animal was not identified until the next day. By then, it had already returned to the sea, never to be seen again. Or was it?
Geologists assess natural disaster risks for European cities
22/08/2025
A team of geologists has assessed the natural disaster risks for 41 European cities based on geological and climatic factors. Naples ranks highest, with Antwerp and Namur also making the top ten.
Newly described Shri rapax hunted with stronger hands than cousin Velociraptor
11/08/2025
Step aside, Velociraptor — here comes Shri rapax! This newly described predatory dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia had powerful hands and an exceptionally long claw, allowing it to tackle larger prey than other raptors living in the same desert.
Washed ashore. Marine mammals in Belgium in 2024
30/06/2025
The new report ‘Washed ashore. Marine mammals in Belgium in 2024’ summarises the results of the research into stranded marine mammals in Belgium in 2024.
Second-hand shop receives fossil and donates it to our institute
24/06/2025
The second-hand shop Kringwinkel Stroom recently received something unusual: a fossil. It turns out to be part of a mammoth pelvis. The non-profit organization is now donating the fossil to our collections.
New inventory confirms great beetle richness in Belgium
19/06/2025
Belgium is home to no fewer than 4,672 beetle species. That’s the conclusion of a new checklist. “There are newcomers, such as many species of sap beetles, but also species that have become locally extinct—mainly whirligig beetles and dung beetles,” says entomologist Wouter Dekoninck.
Famous Ice Age ‘puppies’ likely wolf pups and not dogs
18/06/2025
Small eaters, big impact: suspension feeders reshape the food web in offshore wind farms
11/06/2025
The fauna that colonizes offshore wind turbines influences the marine food web. In particular, the increase in suspension feeders helps to transfer carbon more quickly and directly into the food web.
Citizen Science Fair - a celebration of Citizen Science!
04/06/2025
On 18 June 2025, we invite you to explore inspiring projects and meet the people behind the science. This free outdoor event celebrates how everyday actions can lead to extraordinary discoveries.