Steve's Herpetological Blog

An insight into the life of Steve, his research and the many books he reads

#SciFri

#SciFri: A Body of Knowledge at the Royal College of Physicians

As you may have seen from the recently #MuseumMonday post, I visited the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) Museum, which is located in in Regent’s Park. While I was there, I visited the temporary exhibition A Body of Knowledge which…

#SciFri: When frogs were used as pregnancy tests

Long before lateral flow pregnancy tests became a routine purchase in pharmacies or supermarkets, confirming a pregnancy was a slow, uncertain, and often expensive process. During the early twentieth century, physicians relied on indirect signs and symptoms or laboratory tests…

#SciFri: Kew Gardens – A Comprehensive Review and History of Britain’s Botanical Treasure

I have previously written on the wonders of Kew Gardens, but since then I have learnt a lot more about this amazing attraction, so I thought I’d try to do it justice this time. In my mind, there are few…

#SciFri: Wild Health – People, Nature & One Health

The health of people, animals and the natural world is inseparable. The quality of the environments in which we live, the health of wildlife and domestic animals, the spread of infectious diseases, the pollutants we release into the environment and…

#SciFri: Titanosaur at Peterborough Cathedral

When you think of dinosaurs, the last place that comes to mind is probably a cathedral (unless you’re thinking along the lines of the Natural History Museum). However, earlier in the spring of 2026, one of the most extraordinary exhibitions…

#SciFri: The Art of Deception at the Whipple Museum

There is something wonderfully appropriate about the fact that the Whipple Museum of the History of Science should mount an exhibition about deception. Scientific instruments are objects upon which trust depends. A telescope must provide a reliable image; a balance…

#SciFri: Homo sapiens – Classifying the Human Animal

The classification of the human species has occupied philosophers, physicians, theologians, and naturalists for thousands of years. Long before the emergence of modern biology, human beings sought to understand what humanity was, how humans differed from animals, and whether differences…

#SciFri: Fossil Hunting at the Kings Dyke RIG Site

It will be no surprise to regular readers of this blog that I really enjoy fossil hunting! Recently, I visited a new site with a number of friends of mine, at the Kings Dyke Nature Reserve, which is often referred…

#SciFri: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition has become one of the Natural History Museum’s most successful annual exhibitions, bringing together some of the most remarkable images of the natural world from across the globe. The 2025 exhibition (the sixty-first…

#SciFri: Breaking Barriers – Women in Wildlife

For over two centuries, women have been at the heart of conservation, challenging norms, advancing science, and protecting the natural world. At ZSL’s Breaking Barriers: Women in Wildlife Wild Talks event, this legacy took centre stage, celebrating both the pioneers…