News | Institute of Natural Sciences

Science

30 years of Belgian North Sea aerial surveillance

22/05/2023

Although the Belgian part of the North Sea only represents 0.5 % of the North Sea surface, it is situated in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and combines a large number of human activities on a limited space.

Science

A fossil provides oldest evidence of plant self-defence in wood

17/05/2023

Paleobotanists have found fossils in Ireland showing that plants had adapted to drought very early on.

Science

Marine mammals in Belgium in 2022

11/05/2023

In its new report 'Marine mammals in Belgium in 2022' (available in Dutch and French), the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences compiles the results of monitoring and scientific research on marine mammals in Belgium in 2022.

Science

Effect of bottom trawling on carbon emissions from seabed overestimated

10/05/2023

In 2021, an article in Nature made world headlines because it equated the carbon released from seabed disturbance due to bottom trawling to the amount of CO2 generated by the global aviation industry.

Science

Two victims of Bois du Cazier mine fire identified

25/04/2023

August 8 1956, 262 miners lost their lives in the Bois du Cazier mine fire in Marcinelle (Charleroi).

Science

HOME research project recommends repatriation of historical human remains from former Belgian colonies

28/03/2023

A multidisciplinary research team coordinated by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) is calling to change the law to facilitate the repatriation of human remains where requested and to put human remains out of commerce.

Science

Worldwide collections database maps 1 billion objects

24/03/2023

A new database maps the total collections from 73 of the world’s largest natural history museums and herbaria in 28 countries, revealing a total collection of more than 1.1 billion objects.

Science

Monograph provides overview of fossil cartilaginous fishes in our collection

23/03/2023

Two experts have published a richly illustrated reference work of fossil chondrichthyans, cartilaginous fishes including sharks, in the collections of the Institute of Natural Sciences.

Science

Environmental impact of offshore wind farms: getting ready for expansion in the Belgian North Sea

22/03/2023

In their latest annual report, the scientists that monitor the environmental impact of offshore wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea focus on the continued development of the programme and on the upgrade in anticipation of the wind energy capacity expansion in our waters.

Science

New treaty protects biodiversity on high seas

08/03/2023

From 20 February to 4 March, the very last BBNJ negotiations, aimed at adopting an international treaty for the protection of biodiversity on the high seas, took place in New York. The agreement was reached after 17 years of intense discussions and negotiations at the United Nations.