BBC News - Science & Environment

PM urged to cut wind farm subsidy More than 100 Conservatives are among MPs who have written to the prime minister calling on him to slash subsidies for onshore wind turbines.

Prince optimistic for fisheries Prince Charles says there are reasons to be optimistic about the state of the world's oceans, but it is "critically urgent" to tackle overfishing.

Largest optical telescope created Astronomers at the Paranal observatory combine four telescope to create the world's largest virtual device with a 130m-mirror.

Striking galaxy image from Hubble The Hubble space telescope captures an image of a "barred spiral" galaxy that could help us better understand our own Milky Way.

Oil spurs Canadian PM China visit Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit China next week to discuss Canada's oil products, after the US blocked a key pipeline.

Malaria toll 'is twice as high' The number of deaths worldwide from malaria has been underestimated, according to data published in the medical journal the Lancet.

Anti-fracking demo in Enniskillen About 100 people gather in Enniskillen to demonstrate against the use of fracking to extract gas from shale rock in County Fermanagh.

VIDEO: Art by animals goes on show A work of abstract expressionism by a chimp and a still life of a flower by an elephant are part of a new exhibition in London of artworks created by animals.

Brains may be wired for addiction Abnormalities in the brain may make some people more likely to become drug addicts, according to scientists.

More Galileo satellites ordered The German-UK consortium building the operational spacecraft for Europe's Galileo sat-nav system wins a contract to provide an additional eight units.

Humble moss 'brought on ice ages' Research shows that primitive moss-like plants could have helped cool the Earth 470 million years ago, bringing on mini ice ages.

Seagrass age surprises scientists Meadows of seagrass, a keystone species in marine ecosystems, found in the Mediterranean Sea are likely to be tens of thousands of years old, a study shows.

In pictures: Science meets art Winners of science photography contest dazzle

'Supergiant' found in deepest sea A huge crustacean called a supergiant - more than 30cm long - has been discovered 7km down in the waters north of New Zealand.

Mega volcanoes 'may be predicted' The eruption of some of the largest volcanoes on the planet could be predicted decades before the event, research suggests.

MP's call to pardon 'hero' Turing An MP tables a motion calling for computer pioneer Alan Turing to be posthumously pardoned over a conviction for gross indecency.

Spider sex trick boosts paternity Some male spiders voluntarily "castrate" themselves during sex in order to increase their chances of fathering offspring, according to a new study.

Science decodes 'internal voices' Researchers turn brain waves from thoughts of words into actual words, in a breakthrough that could benefit comatose and locked-in patients.

Self-steering bullet researched US researchers are developing a bullet that guides itself to a laser-illuminated target. But an expert is concerned it may be sold to the public.

Isolated Peruvian tribe pictured A Spanish archaeologist has snapped the most-detailed pictures ever seen of an "uncontacted" tribe in the Amazon.

Super-Earth 'could support life' Astronomers have found a fourth planet with conditions similar to Earth, which they say could support life.

Rhino poachers in SA get 25 years Three Mozambicans are sentenced to 25 years each in a South African court for rhino poaching, according to the South African national parks body.

'Big cat' theory ruled out by DNA Scientists fail to find any evidence that "big cats" killed two roe deer found dead in Gloucestershire.

Spider web's strength explained Explaining the remarkable strength of spiders' webs

Ancient giant crocodile discovery 'Shieldcroc' is an ancient, extinct crocodile that's been discovered by scientists studying fossils in Missouri in the US.

Canada firm halts Argentina mine After protests by Argentine environmental campaigners, a Canadian mining firm is suspending its exploration work on a project in La Rioja province.

Gorillas grin 'to reassure pals' Gorillas bare their teeth in a playful "grin" to reassure one another as they play, scientists discover.

Pythons link to mammals decline Non-native Burmese pythons are the likely cause of a severe decline in mammals living in Florida's Everglades region, a study suggests.

Search for black squirrels begins Scientists want the UK public to report their sightings of black squirrels, in order to estimate the rate at which they are spreading.

VIDEO: MPs urge PM to cut wind farm subsidy More than 100 Conservative MPs have written to David Cameron calling on him to slash subsidies for onshore wind turbines.

VIDEO: Birds' paradise lost in Kashmir? Nearly a million migratory birds visit Kashmir's wetlands every year, but this time the severe winter has made it nearly impossible for them to find food.

VIDEO: 'Green' tour of London Olympics site A look around the site of what is pledged to be the "greenest ever" Olympic Games.

VIDEO: Lifting the Cutty Sark into place The historic tea clipper will be reopened to the public in spring 2012. Part of the conservation work included lifting her 3m off the ground.

VIDEO: Science converts thoughts into speech Scientists have unveiled a new technique for decoding human brainwaves and then converting them into speech.

VIDEO: How do you weigh a polar bear? Staff at Highland Wildlife Park are trying to weigh Walker the polar bear who is thought to be about 400kg (63 stone).

VIDEO: Thai poachers target elephants for meat Thailand's wildlife experts say that elephants could face extinction if they continue to be hunted as a source of meat.

VIDEO: Bats find shelter in Israeli bunkers Bats are finding a surprising haven in abandoned Israeli bunkers, researchers say.

Totally tropical at Kew A tour of Kew's Royal Botanic Gardens' exotic orchids

Green void looms after Huhne departure What Huhne’s departure means to 'the greenest government ever'

Olympics shoot for green medal Will London 2012 fulfil its ‘greenest Olympics’ pledge?

Do the dead outnumber the living? Do the dead outnumber the living - or is it the other way round?

Giving an invasive water pest the bullet Wrestling one of the UK's most invasive pests

Strangford life Wildlife, landscape and heritage of Strangford Lough

Meet the galanthophiles The strange world of snowdrop fanciers