14 September 2011 Last updated at 00:45 Share this page By Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature the footprint is preserved in the rock matrix encasing the 80-million-year-old fossil A fossil housed for half a century in a Polish museum has turned out to be the first dinosaur skeleton preserved in its own tracks, say scientists. A recent examination of the 80-million-year-old specimen revealed a single footprint preserved in the rocks encasing the fossilised bones. [...]

17 August 2011 last updated at 15:14 Share this page by Matt Walker Editor, BBC Nature Tiger sharks tend to be very cautious Sharks have again made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. On Tuesday a British man, Ian Redmond, was fatally attacked by a shark while he was snorkelling in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. It was the second fatal attack by a shark in the area this month. But are shark [...]

15 August 2011 Last updated at 02:30 Share this page by Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature The male-male pairs nestled and preened each other just like male-female pairs Same-sex pairs of monogamous birds are just as attached and faithful to each other as those paired with a member of the opposite sex. The insight comes from a study of zebra finches – highly vocal, colourful birds that sing to their mates, a performance thought [...]

8 August 2011 Last updated at 01:52 Share this page By Matt Walker Editor, BBC Nature Nazca boobies are sea-going birds Chicks abused by older birds are more likely to grow up to become abusers themselves, scientists have found. Researchers studying a colony of Nazca boobies, a colonial seabird, found the birds perpetuate a "cycle of violence". Juvenile birds that are maltreated by older, non-relatives grow up to become more violent towards other chicks. It [...]

5 August 2011 Last updated at 09:51 Share this page by Victoria Gill Science reporter, BBC Nature Boulder piles make ideal homes for hyraxes Israel's hyraxes are cute, furry and have a characteristic chirping song. but they are becoming a serious pest. The animals, also known as rock rabbits, have moved into residential areas of Galilee and have been destroying people's gardens. Scientists have now discovered why: hyraxes love to make their homes in the [...]

24 June 2011 last updated at 10:43 Share this page by Ella Davies Reporter, BBC Nature Ovenbirds pay close attention to sounds in their neighbourhood Ground-nesting birds eavesdrop on chipmunks in order to protect their nests, according to scientists. Ovenbirds and veeries live alongside egg-eating chipmunks in the Hudson Valley, New York, US. Researchers have found that when simulated chipmunk calls are played, the birds nest up to 20 metres further away. The study is [...]

14 June 2011 Last updated at 06:20 ET Share this page Crowe's comments were defended by film-maker Eli Roth Hollywood star Russell Crowe has apologised for criticising the ritual of circumcision on his Twitter account. Crowe said the procedure was "barbaric and stupid" but later deleted his comments. He later wrote: "I'm very sorry that I have said things on here that have caused distress. "My personal beliefs aside, I realise that some will interpret [...]

14 June 2011 Last updated at 10:01 ET Share this page by M Ilyas Khan BBC News, Islamabad The incident is rare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – one of Pakistan's most conservative provinces Police in Pakistan say they have arrested two men for stripping a woman naked and parading her in a village. One of the offenders had accused the woman's son of having illicit relations with his wife, the police said. Public dishonouring of women [...]

14 June 2011 Last updated at 09:58 ET Share this page Kevin O'Hare trained at the Royal Ballet Retired dancer Kevin O'Hare has been appointed the director of the Royal Ballet, it has been announced. O'Hare, who who trained at the prestigious school, said: "I want to continue to invigorate audiences with new work and emerging talents." Leading choreographers Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon will become part of his senior artistic team. In 2004 O'Hare [...]

13 June 2011 last updated at 22:56 ET Share this page Mexico's Agustin Carstens 'would be better' for IMF, says former IMF official Charles Adams The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has shortlisted two candidates to take over as its managing director. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and Governor of the Bank of Mexico Agustin Carstens will fight it out for the top job. The post became available after the former head of the IMF Dominique [...]