<em>HMS Beagle</em> returns to Britain after nearly five years circumnavigating the globe.

On 28 September 1838, Charles Darwin made some notes inspired by the writings of Rev. Thomas Malthus, and a famous simile was born.

…for which, read ‘giant ground sloth’ or ‘Megatherium’.

‘On the Moor: science, history and nature on a country walk’ shows how a routine walk in the countryside is enhanced by an appreciation of science, history, and natural history.

On 17th September 1842, Charles Darwin moved into Down House. It was to remain his home for the rest of his life.

Darwin first sets foot on the Galápagos Islands.

About my work in progress, a book exploring how Charles Darwin looked at the world, and how his theories enabled us to look at the same world in new and better ways.

On 8th September 1832, Charles Darwin observed gauchos using bolas. He later tried them out for himself, and managed to ensnare his own horse in the process.

Darwin meets Fitzroy.

An archaeological biography of John Lubbock.

On 24th August 1831, Charles Darwin’s great friend and mentor John Stevens Henslow sat down at his desk, took up his pen, and wrote what turned out to be one of the most important letters in the histo...

Yet another correctly forecast solar eclipse

On 7th August 1838, Charles Darwin described his first ever railway journey. He was not overly impressed.

On 5th August 1832, in what he described as ‘an eventful day’, Charles Darwin and his HMS Beagle colleagues helped put down an armed insurrection in Argentina.

Plastic fountain pen versus power-tool: what could possibly go wrong?

Charles Darwin begins work on ‘On the Origin of Species’.

Charles Darwin finally went public with his theory of evolution by means of Natural Selection on 1st July 1858.

Images of the moon, past and present.

On 15th June 1829, the young Charles Darwin was cited in Stephens’ ‘Illustrations of British Insects’.

Two David Hockney exhibitions provide a lesson in paying close attention.

The Renaissance Mathematicus has completed yet another orbit around the Sun and is, as of today, seventeen years old. Seventeen years of churning out history of science blog posts to keep myself oc…

On 31st May 1837, Charles Darwin presented his theory of coral reef formation.

Darwin the botanist • UNESCO recognition • Darwin’s address book • Charles Lyell • Leonard Jenyns • punctuated equilibria • what the heck are chins for? • and lots more…