From gigantic dinosaur footprints preserved in stone to a spectacular parade of planets, science in 2025 has delivered some truly dazzling moments.
We revisit turning points in human history, from the earliest evidence of fire production to new insights into how humans form lasting bonds.
The natural world has also continued to surprise us. Wild chimpanzees have been filmed using plants as medicine, while moon dust, described by scientists as rarer than gold, has arrived in the UK for study.
However, not all stories bring good news. A giant iceberg drifting toward a remote island threatens wildlife, reminding us that science is as vital to detecting dangers as it is to making discoveries.
Gigantic Jurassic footprints discovered
A quarry in Oxfordshire, southeast England, has revealed one of the largest dinosaur track sites in the world, with around 200 huge footprints left 166 million years ago.
The footprints capture the movements of two very different dinosaurs: a long-necked sauropod, thought to be a Cetiosaurusand the bipedal carnivore Megalosaurus.
Some trails extend up to 150 meters, and researchers believe they could go even further, as only part of the quarry has been excavated.
Humans ruled fire 400,000 years ago
At an archaeological site in the village of Barnham, in the county of Suffolk in eastern England, researchers have discovered remarkable – and the oldest known – evidence of human-caused fires, dating back around 400,000 years.
The discovery anticipates the origin of fire production by more than 350,000 years and marks a decisive moment in human evolution.
The ability to create fire transformed daily life, providing heat, enabling food cooking and brain development, enabling early humans to think, plan and innovate.
Read the full report on the discovery that changed the history of fire as we know it.
Humans excel at monogamy
We humans may think of ourselves as romantically unique, but research comparing pair-making behaviors across species suggests otherwise.
With about 66 percent of humans forming monogamous bonds, we surpass chimpanzees and gorillas, but lag behind the California field mouse, the true heavyweight champion of everlasting love.
The study shows that although humans are far from the most monogamous creatures, our tendency to form lifelong pairs remains remarkable compared to many other species.
See here the place of humans in the ranking of monogamous love.
Seven planets took part in a rare parade
During a few nights in February, skywatchers were treated to a rare celestial spectacle: seven planets appeared simultaneously in the night sky.
Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury and Saturn participated in the planetary parade. Four were visible to the naked eye, while Saturn was low on the horizon and Uranus and Neptune required the use of a telescope.
Scientists say such a sharp, synchronized apparition won’t happen again until 2040.
Find out what made the February night sky so special here.
Moon rock samples in the UK
For the first time in almost 50 years, samples of moon rocks have arrived in the UK, on loan from China.
The tiny grains of lunar dust are now stored at a high-security facility in Milton Keynes and are being studied by Professor Mahesh Anand, the only British scientist with access to the material to date.
Described as more valuable than gold due to their scientific value, the samples could offer new insights into the formation and evolution of the Moon.
Chimpanzees have a surprising knowledge of natural remedies
In Uganda, wild chimpanzees have been filmed using plants to treat open sores and other injuries.
Researchers from the University of Oxford (UK), working with a local team, observed the animals applying plant material to their own wounds and, in some cases, to those of other chimpanzees.
The findings, based on decades of observations, add to growing evidence that our closest relatives possess an astonishing knowledge of natural remedies.
Find out what chimpanzees have taught scientists here.
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