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Science
North Sea aerial surveillance in 2022
16/06/2023
In 2022, the aerial surveillance team of the RBINS realised 244 flight hours over the North Sea. 19 cases of operational marine pollution from ships were observed, two involving oil and 17 other harmful substances.
Science
Bones from 31,000 years ago indicate ancient exploitation of duck wings
05/06/2023
A study conducted on 31,000-year-old bird remains suggests that hunter-gatherers of the time had a particular interest for duck wings.
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.