The BBC's online science website. Up-to-date reports on all kinds on science news.
Links
Below is a collection of websites that we think will be of interest. They cover many aspects of science and various branches of biology and evolution. Much of what appears on the internet is out of date or inaccurate, but these all represent solid reliable sites (many of which are run by members of Ask a Biologist).
- News
- Blogs
- Science forums
- Educational sites
- Fossil hunting
- Museums
- Associations & Foundations
- Archives & Resources
News
These links cover all aspects of science, though of course you will find things about biology on the regularly. Sadly, few newspapers even have a 'Science' section, and reporting is often left to non-experts which can lead confusing reports.
-
-
The Children’s BBC news site all about animals. Great for younger readers.
-
Perhaps the world’s leading science magazine, New Scientist is fantastic for repackaging difficult and dense scientific papers into easily readable articles. A must for any serious science enthusiast.
-
What's hot in the world of science and technology.
-
Just that: your daily dose of science news.
-
This is an online magazine bringing all kinds of reports and articles on science. It is also the home of the 'Science Blogs' (see below).
Blogs
Blogs (short for Weblog) are fast becoming popular and influential methods of reaching the public. Ask a Biologist started as a kind of Blog. Below are just a small sample of the many excellent science blogs that are out there.
-
PZ Myers runs one of the most popular blogs in science and is a delightful mixture of serious research and irreverence. He has won a number of awards for his efforts and makes for compelling reading, especially if you love cephalopods, and hey, who doesn't?
-
Tetrapod Zoology is a highly eclectic mix of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Darren's interested in just about everything alive and is happy to bring it to a wide audience. Wolf-hunting eagles (yes, really), giant dinosaurs, big cats in Britain, speciation in lizards, and monkey evolution. Darren moved to scienceblogs in 2007, but his older stuff is available here.
-
Mike Ryan's blog on all things fossil-y. Well worth some of your time if like anything to do with palaeontology.
-
This is a blog dedicated to the biology and evolution of birds. The title refers to the number of species of bird currently though to exist, though only around 8000 have been described by science. There's lots of work still to do!
-
A fun blog covering all kinds of natural history, especially fossil discoveries.
-
Home of a huge number of science-based blogs. It's well worth exploring, not just for the information content, but to find a blogger whose style of writing suits you. Its easy to find a favourite and to follow them keenly. They do have specific sections for 'Biology' and 'Brain and Behaviour'
Science forums
Forums are places where people can come to learn more about evolution and biology or to discuss current scientific issues.
-
This is the 'virtual university' home of scientists worldwide. It consists of reposts from various blogs and new articles on the world of biology and evolution. It can get very technical, but there is always something of interest available.
-
The legendary resource that is Talk Origins! Biology and palaeontology are far too frequently the subject of highly inaccurate criticism. Talk Origins provides both a forum for discussion and an archive of misconceptions about evolution and explanations for them.
-
Unlike the main wikipedia source, this one is almost exclusively written by professional scientists and provides a great resource on all aspects of evolutionary theory.
-
The DML is used by professionals and amateurs alike to keep track of friends and colleagues and discuss the world of the dinosaurs (and some of their closer relatives). The language can get very technical and detailed, but it can be well worth browsing the archives. When big discoveries hit the press, you can be sure it has already been analysed in great depth here.
Educational sites
This is collection of various databases and resources covering a wide variety of subjects.
-
This is the University of California Museum of Paleontology's web project on public education in evolution.
-
Currently the most comprehensive list of dinosaurs on the Internet. This database is revised on a regular basis.
-
An online resource aimed at making fossils more accessible. Their history of the Earth sections are fantastic miniature guides.
-
This site covers all aspects of geology. It is aimed mostly at A-level and undergraduate students of geology but there is information and tutorials for all ages and levels of experience on geology and palaeontology.
-
Crazy about dinosaurs, fossils, and the history of life? Read more about current research topics. The articles here have all been prepared by undergraduate and Masters students on our palaeobiology programmes in Bristol.
-
One for the teachers. Keep up to date with science news with lots of advice and resources for science teachers.
-
One for our younger guests. Lots of facts and games on natural history and all manner of other things. Enjoy!
-
Easily digestible chunks of biology for kids.
-
More bites, this time for higher level biology.
-
The whole range of BBC Scotland's online biology resources.
Fossil hunting
Sites about looking for fossils.
-
A site dedicated to fossils. In includes a discussion forum, and there is great guide to fossil collecting site in the UK.
-
Another good site for amateur fossil collectors and enthusiasts.
-
In-depth look at the Burgess Shale, one of the most amazing fossil beds in the world.
Museums
Homepages for many of the worlds best museums and online resources for museums.
-
One of the great museums. Incredible collection, especially their hall of skeletons.
-
One of the worlds oldest and best dinosaur exhibits, recently renovated.
-
This is the home page of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.
-
One of the great homes of science and natural history. In addition to holding one of the worlds great research collections, it also runs a pretty nifty website. Enjoy.
-
A list of many of the Natural History museums in the UK so you can find one close to where you live. The main site also contains some good stuff about UK wildlife.
Associations & Foundations
This is a selection of some societies and associations (both national and international) that you can join to become more involved in biology and science.
-
Home to the conservation societies founded by legendary conservationist and author Gerald Durrell. Here you can keep up to date with all the work carried out here preserving and protecting species, based out of the famous Jersey Zoo.
-
The UK government branch devoted to both research and protection of our forests and woodlands
-
Perhaps more famous for conserving historic buildings but they also work to protect parks, gardens and farms and have lots of places to visit and enjoy wildlife and livestock.
-
This group is dedicated to the promotion of science and rational thought. Keeps an up-to-the-minute list of articles about science and evolution from around the world, plus editorials and reports.
-
Home of the RSPCA, dedicated to animal welfare.
-
The RSPB is one of the best known conservation societies around, and one of the best.
-
Britain's biggest conservation group for birds, founded by Sir Peter Scott. They conserve many bird watching sites around the UK.
-
One of the biggest and most influential conservation group worldwide.
-
Founded in 1826 this has to be the oldest conservation foundation. Owner of London Zoo as well as an established research institute in its own right.
Archives & Resources
Various databases of information about biology, fossils and texts.
-
One of the great biology sites on the web. ARKive houses pictures, videos and sound clips of many of the animals on Earth. They have a long, long way to go to catch up with the estimated 15 – 20 million species alive today, but they do have several thousand already and are growing all the time.
-
There's tonnes more here besides animals, but you can see hundreds of clips of animals in action here. (Requires registration to use, but that is free.)
-
The complete works of Charles Darwin – letters, books, notes and papers, all scanned and made available for free on the internet. This is a an impressive collection of works and is of global significance.
Mike Taylor
Alistair McGowan
A. Brent Richards
