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Science

Long-snouted crocodilians may have crossed the Atlantic Ocean 80 million years ago, CT scans reveal

30/09/2026

Don't underestimate ancient crocodiles! Researchers used CT scanners to look inside the skulls of fossil crocodilians that lived roughly 80 to 60 million years ago. Inside those skulls, they discovered clues about how these long-extinct animals lived. They may even have been able to cross the Atlantic Ocean of that time.

Science

Summer 2026 breaks Belgian sea temperature records

24/09/2026

This summer, sea surface temperatures off the Belgian coast reached their highest levels in the past 46 years. The prolonged marine heatwave is raising serious concerns among researchers about its potential impacts on ecosystems in the Belgian part of the North Sea.

Science

Climate change leads to hidden biodiversity loss in Flemish forests

09/09/2026

A 25-year study of ground beetles in Flemish forests shows that climate change has a much greater impact on biodiversity than previously assumed. "We expected species communities to reorganize as a result of warming, but what we actually observe is a net loss of biodiversity," says lead author San Yin Leemans of the Institute of Natural Sciences and the Forest & Nature Lab at Ghent University.

Museum

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 19 September in our museum halls.

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

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.

Science

New fossil sheds light on the evolution of teeth in early whales

18/06/2026

A newly discovered fossil from northern India reveals an important step in the evolution of the teeth of early cetaceans, the group of mammals that includes whales and dolphins. The fossil, named Kalakocetus aurorae, is around 48 million years old and was found in the Kalakot region of Kashmir.

Science

Come aboard the RV Belgica during the Navy Days in Zeebrugge on 4 and 5 July

12/06/2026

The RV Belgica will exceptionally be open to the public during the Navy Days in Zeebrugge on 4 and 5 July. Come aboard and discover the world behind marine scientific research!

Science

Pet and ornamental horticulture sectors take action against invasive species

12/06/2026

The pet and ornamental horticulture sectors signed new codes of conduct in Brussels this week to help limit the spread of invasive alien species in Belgium.