Concerns at sharp fall in kingfisher numbers

Conservationists fear the species could be hit even worse than after the big freeze of 1962-63, when numbers fell 85 per cent

Narrow squeak for a dozy dormouse

A hibernating hazel dormouse has been rescued after a gardener accidentally raked its nest out from under a hedge

Flying visit for a rare white puffin

Bird that was once thought to be mythical is captured on film playing with its black cousins off the Isles of Scilly

‘Gribble’ crustacean turns wood into biofuel

A wood-boring marine pest that plagued seafarers for centuries may be key to biofuel breakthrough say scientists

World to continue trading in endangered species

Proposals to protect elephants, polar bears and bluefin tuna have received scant support at a meeting of global states

Telecom engineer snaps Sun halo

Ian Collins took a picture of the rare phenonemon while carrying out maintenance on a 32m aerial in Hereforshire

Anti-matter found by scientists

Detector buried more than one kilometre underground will help determine chemical composition of the Earth’s interior

Plant lice could be Japanese knotweed’s nemesis

The psyllid, Aphalara itadori, is to be introduced at selected sites in Britain in trials to control the invasive plant

When DNA means do not ask

It is predicted that by 2019 DNA mapping will be routine. But knowing you are at risk of certain diseases could be damaging

Blame it on the rain: why Scots favour ginger

A genetics research student has stumbled on an explanation for why a disproportionate number of Scottish people are redheads

Dog show or freak show?

Pedigree dogs have been shown off for 150 years, but is their owners’ pursuit of perfection now putting animals at risk?

Gene test ‘could personalise cancer care’

British advance may help doctors to predict which types of chemotherapy are most likely to benefit breast tumour patients

NICE 'ignoring' guidelines on cancer drugs

Cancers group says the NHS treatment watchdog is denying 16,000 patients access to drugs

Disasters reveal difference in survival instincts

Comparison of Titanic and Lusitania shows self-preservation trumped by social pressure when there is time to think

Grave reveals black aristocrat in Roman York

Grave containing a woman’s skeleton and jewellery belonged to a North African member of 4th-century high society

Older people need less sleep 'a myth'

We lose our ability to sleep in one chunk as we age but the elderly would feel better and more alert if they slept more

NICE 'ignoring' guidelines on cancer drugs

Cancers group says the NHS treatment watchdog is denying 16,000 patients access to drugs

‘Brain flushing’ saves premature babies' lives

A pioneering British medical technique flushes out the brain to remove the toxic products of a deadly haemorrhage

Drink up girls: wine isn’t fattening

Women who like wine after work can relax: they are likely to gain less weight than those who stick to mineral water

Who are you, Robert Winston?

From Macs to moustaches, the fertility expert reveals all about life at the cutting edge

The Eureka Quiz

Three levels of difficulty and - most importantly - the answers

We could do nothing, but that's pretty silly

The director of the SETI centre in California explains whether she thinks we'll ever get to meet ET

'I'm convinced there's life out there'

The founder of SETI has spent 50 years scouring the Universe for aliens. He's as hopeful as ever that we'll find them

The big question: Is there anyone out there?

Four experts in the world of science and astronomy give their view on whether intelligent life exists elsewhere

Pay rise for MPs, pay freeze for doctors

Doctors, NHS managers and civil servants will get no increase but MPs will get a 1.5 per cent rise, Gordon Brown announced

My Week: The National Bullying Helpline*

You’re calling from Buckingham Palace? No, we’ll take your word for it. We’ve had people from al-Qaeda on this morning

Catholic bishops enter pre-election fray

Parties are told to heed religious voters in marginals as the Catholic Church condemns the loss of virtue in public life

Hospitals can keep charity donations

The Treasury has deferred for a year a rule change that would have meant all gifts going into the general NHS budget

Is there anybody out there?

Scientists believe there could be 10,000 civilisations in our galaxy and millions are being spent trying to find them

We could do nothing, but that's pretty silly

The director of the SETI centre in California explains whether she thinks we'll ever get to meet ET

'I'm convinced there's life out there'

The founder of SETI has spent 50 years scouring the Universe for aliens. He's as hopeful as ever that we'll find them

Sorry aliens, we're just not that into you

If we were really serious about finding aliens, wouldn't we have tracked some down by now?