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David Attenborough is one of a kind, for better or worse

People often ask who might replace the nature broadcaster, who turns 100 this week. The truth is that he’s irreplaceable, but a wide range of voices are attempting to fill his shoes.

Leader

New Scientist recommends Attenborough documentary Making Life on Earth

Life

51�� recommends Attenborough documentary Making Life on Earth

Culture

Tigerite Rock, Australia

Environment

Stunning photographs show the dynamic patterns of the natural world

Regulars

4238_D045_00238_R Jessie Buckley stars as Agnes and Joe Alwyn as Bartholomew in director Chlo?? Zhao???s HAMNET, a Focus Features release. Credit: Agata Grzybowska / ?? 2025 FOCUS FEATURES LLC

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51�� recommends Hamnet, and its look at our links with nature

Culture

Overall winner Zeke Rowe Wouldn't Hurt a Fly Coiba National Park, Panama Sony a6500 with Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3. f/9, 1/1000 sec exposure, ISO 6400 A calm American Crocodile meets the camera with an unwavering stare as biting flies are drinking from its head. In a quiet Panamanian tidal marsh, this apex predator proves that sometimes it truly wouldn?t hurt a fly.

Life

Piercing crocodile close-up wins ecology photo competition

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TX DATE:16-01-2022,TX WEEK:03,EMBARGOED UNTIL:11-01-2022 00:00:01,DESCRIPTION:Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on Tuesday 11/01/2022 - Picture shows: Sir David Attenborough Sir David Attenborough holding the seed head of a Bulrush, Typha latifolia, Cambridge, UK. Each may contain a quarter of a millions seeds, tightly packed together. These are released over a period of months, increasing the chances that at least some of them will be blown by the wind to new areas of water, where they can germinate. ,COPYRIGHT:BBC Studios,CREDIT LINE:BBC Studios

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The best new science documentaries of 2026

Culture

Why connecting with nature shouldn't mean disconnecting from science

Life

Why connecting with nature shouldn't mean disconnecting from science

Comment

Overall winner Mesmerizing spider threads The image shows two exceptional silk threads of the Australian netcaster spider, Asianopis subrufa. Unlike typical web-builders, this spider holds a specialized, sticky net between its four front legs. When an unsuspecting insect approaches, the spider rapidly expands its net and casts it over the prey, a maneuver that demands dramatic extensibility from the supporting lines at the sides of the sticky net. These threads are composed of an elastomeric core encased in a sheath of harder fibers of varying sizes; the result is a structure that is both strong and stretchy. The mesmerizing, looping fibers in the image capture the eye with their meandering fiber bundles, which shift in their complex winding from large to small scales. The image covers 50 microns in width and was captured using a Zeiss GeminiSEM 360 field-emission scanning electron microscope under high vacuum and after coating of Au-Pd. Minimal adjustments of curves and cropping were applied via Adobe Photoshop. Martin J. Ramirez Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales - CONICET

Life

Incredible close-up of spider silk wins science photo prize

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TX DATE:21-07-2025,TX WEEK:29,EMBARGOED UNTIL:08-07-2025 00:00:00,DESCRIPTION:Dramatic reconstruction of early anatomically modern Homo sapiens living in Africa.,COPYRIGHT:BBC Studios,CREDIT LINE:BBC / BBC Studios

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The four best science documentaries of 2025

Culture

Artist: Dean Patman 229 - Red Underwing Moth Medium: Found object sculpture Size: 47x67x14cm

Life

51�� recommends the Society of Wildlife Artists' annual expo

The books, TV, games and more that 51�� staff have enjoyed this week

Culture

Technology

The 19 best Christmas gifts for science lovers (and nerds)

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Life

51�� recommends this extreme birdwatching documentary

Culture

Health

Forest bathing may boost physical health, not just mental well-being

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Mind

Biodiversity needs neurodiversity, says insightful new book

Culture