News

A placoderm species from Canada that lived some 400 million years ago offers us a glimpse into the very earliest beginnings of tooth evolution: dental plates attached to the palate with small teeth that grew in all directions.

Daniel Cahen, former director of the institute, passed away on September 11, 2025, at the age of 82. He left a lasting mark on the archaeology and museology of our country.

On Sunday 21 September, from 10.00 to 15.00, enjoy guided tours backstage at the emblematic building of the Institute of Natural Sciences!

A minke whale, approximately 6 meters long, ran into trouble in the shallows of Heist Bay on August 31st. After an initial "rescue," the animal returned to shallow water two more times. Each time, the team succeeded in guiding the animal back to deeper water. However, doubts remained about the chance of survival.

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?

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.

Join us on Friday 26 (at the Brussels Planetarium) and Saturday 27 September (at the Institute of Natural Sciences) to marvel at the universe, explore the depths of water and oceans research, unearth the wonders of our lands and forests, and discover what being a scientist is all about.

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.

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.