A gamma-ray burst - the most powerful explosion known in the Universe - may have hit the Earth in the 8th Century, a study suggests.

Shorebird trapping in China is threatening endangered spoon-billed sandpipers arriving for winter, conservationists say.

US and Japanese authorities begin a joint investigation into the Japanese battery maker for Boeing's troubled 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Social networks such as Facebook and on-line gaming are changing people's view of who they are and their place in the world, says a UK report.

A Welsh holidaymaker is hailed a hero for wrestling a shark that was swimming towards children on a beach in Australia.

A rare species of spider which lives in darkness is found in the vaults of Highgate Cemetery in north London.

Salting roads in icy conditions is helping a coastal flower become the fastest spreading plant in Britain, says a conservation charity expert.

Video footage of Adelie penguin foraging habits reveal intimate details of the birds' efficient hunting style, say Japanese scientists.