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Robert Hooke: the man who knew everything
Neither the smallest nor the largest objects in the known Universe escaped the brilliant Hooke's attention.
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The Herschel family and the Royal Observatory
Meet the Herschels, a remarkable family of amateur astronomers
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Elizabeth I's Royal Wardrobe
Queen Elizabeth I was very conscious of her appearance, and her image was engineered to convey wealth, authority and power.
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Elizabeth I: fashion and beauty
As the Queen of England and the nations most powerful woman, Elizabeth's taste set the of the 1500s.
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Samuel Plimsoll and ship safety
In the 19th century, MP Samuel Plimsoll campaigned for load lines to be painted on the side of ships to prevent them being overloaded and sinking.
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Shipbuilding: 800–1800
From Viking longships and 14th century carracks to 18th century battleships, the way ships were built evolved greatly between 800 and 1800.
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Shipbuilding: 1800–Present
From the 19th century onwards, ships began to be built from iron and steel. Sails were also replaced with steam engines and paddles with propellers.
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Shipbuilding: The earliest vessels
People have travelled by sea using ships and boats for centuries. The Egyptians, Greeks and Phoenicians made some of the earliest vessels