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Science News unveils its list of 10 scientists making an impact on our world
As a teenager, Gabriela Farfan became fascinated by the shapes and colors of minerals. Now, as curator of gems and minerals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, she studies what they can reveal about our planet.From corals that preserve chemical signatures of changing oceans to sparkling gemstones, Farfan uses crystal structures, chemistry and spectroscopy to uncover the information trapped inside minerals and show why they’re an essential part of natural history. WASHINGTON, O
What can minerals tell us about Earth’s past? This geologist is finding out
Smithsonian geologist Gabriela Farfan studies corals, gemstones and other minerals for clues to changing oceans and environments.
Microplastics Have Been Linked With Myriad Human Health Problems. Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out How They Harm the Body
Lab experiments suggest that tiny bits of plastic can react with water inside us to produce highly reactive molecules. They can lead to damaging oxidative stress and inflammation
Microplastics Have Been Linked With Myriad Human Health Problems. Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out How They Harm the Body
Lab experiments suggest that tiny bits of plastic can react with water inside us to produce highly reactive molecules. They can lead to damaging oxidative stress and inflammation
*POSTPONED* Behind the Science with Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria Dr. Matthew Carrano
***Due to speaker illness, this event has been postponed. A new date will be announced in two weeks. If you registered for this program, please check your email for more information. We apologize for the inconvenience.*** Is the 21st Century the real Age of Dinosaurs? Today, more paleontologists are discovering more dinosaur fossils from more places in the world than ever before. Our understanding of these amazing creatures has leapt forward while their popularity has surged. Museums sit at the junction of these phenomena. The Smithsonian has been a center for dinosaur research for more than a century, and its collections include many iconic and scientifically important specimens. Today, Smithsonian researchers continue to discover new dinosaurs, but they are also uncovering more information about the ones we already know and love. New techniques and approaches allow them to investigate aspects of dinosaur biology, ecology, and evolution in ways that would have been inconceivable to early paleontologists. The result is an ever-improving understanding of dinosaurs as living, breathing, and thriving animals. This month, go behind the science with paleontologist Dr. Matthew Carrano, Curator of Dinosauria at the National Museum of Natural History as he discusses new discoveries at home and abroad, in the field and in the museum. Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis. ---------------- About the Series: Behind the Science A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers Each month, join the National Museum of Natural History for the new series, Behind the Science, where NMNH researchers share insights into their latest discoveries and explore the fascinating questions driving their work—from the origins of life to the future of our planet. Come learn what’s happening behind the scenes and how science shapes our understanding of the natural world. Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!
Scientists Took a Cheek Swab From the World's Oldest Tortoise. His DNA Could Reveal Hints to Longevity
Jonathan, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is about 194 years old and the oldest land animal alive today. Discoveries about his genetics could provide clues to extending lifespan in humans
Laura: Our great national museums have turned into political instruments
Fox News host Laura Ingraham discusses Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch stepping down and criticizes the institution’s past DEI initiatives on ‘The Ingraham Angle.’
National Museum of Natural History’s Sant Director Kirk Johnson To Depart for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Kirk Johnson announced today that he will step down as the Sant Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History after 14 years in the role, as he prepares to join the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as its next president and CEO. An advocate for science, nature and the power of museums to influence the […]
Denver Museum of Nature & Science appoints Kirk Johnson as president and CEO
/PRNewswire/ -- The Denver Museum of Nature & Science Board of Trustees has appointed Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of...
Behind the Science with Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria Dr. Matthew Carrano
Is the 21st Century the real Age of Dinosaurs? Today, more paleontologists are discovering more dinosaur fossils from more places in the world than ever before. Our understanding of these amazing creatures has leapt forward while their popularity has surged. Museums sit at the junction of these phenomena. The Smithsonian has been a center for dinosaur research for more than a century, and its collections include many iconic and scientifically important specimens. Today, Smithsonian researchers continue to discover new dinosaurs, but they are also uncovering more information about the ones we already know and love. New techniques and approaches allow them to investigate aspects of dinosaur biology, ecology, and evolution in ways that would have been inconceivable to early paleontologists. The result is an ever-improving understanding of dinosaurs as living, breathing, and thriving animals. This month, go behind the science with paleontologist Dr. Matthew Carrano, Curator of Dinosauria at the National Museum of Natural History as he discusses new discoveries at home and abroad, in the field and in the museum. Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis. ---------------- About the Series: Behind the Science A monthly after-hours series featuring NMNH scientists and researchers Each month, join the National Museum of Natural History for the new series, Behind the Science, where NMNH researchers share insights into their latest discoveries and explore the fascinating questions driving their work—from the origins of life to the future of our planet. Come learn what’s happening behind the scenes and how science shapes our understanding of the natural world. Programs take place in Q?rius, the Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Topics and speakers announced on a rolling basis, but save the dates now!
Why Smithsonian scientists flood an Anne Arundel forest every summer
On a large campus in Edgewater, scientists at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center flood a forest every summer to learn about climate change. It's just one of the large-scale experiments conducted at the institution which has, so far, escaped some of the scrutiny and critique that Donald Trump has lobbied at the rest of the Smithsonian.
Lancaster\'s Capital Day featured in recent article on Smithsonian magazine website
Capital Day will take center stage in downtown Lancaster Saturday as history groups, business and performers come together to celebrate the day in 1777 when the city was briefly our
Melania Trump hosts China’s first lady
WASHINGTON (AP) — Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan on Thursday toured one of the largest Asian art museums in the United States, celebrating cultural ties between the U.S. and China during a high-profile diplomatic visit to Washington. Leaving their husbands behind at the White House, the first ladies visited the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian […]
From Boosting Mental Health to Reducing Dementia Risk, Here's Why Reading Is Extremely Good for You, According to Science
Mounting evidence suggests that regularly cozying up with a book can increase brain and mental health, improve literacy and math skills, and even slow cognitive decline. What's more, fiction seems to have the added benefit of introducing readers to others' perspectives
From Boosting Mental Health to Reducing Dementia Risk, Here's Why Reading Is Extremely Good for You, According to Science
Mounting evidence suggests that regularly cozying up with a book can increase brain and mental health, improve literacy and math skills, and even slow cognitive decline. What's more, fiction seems to have the added benefit of introducing readers to others' perspectives
‘Who wants to sign up to deal with the political pressure?’: Smithsonian faces Trump’s culture war as search for leader is on
By René Marsh, CNN (CNN) — As the Smithsonian Institution prepares to launch a nationwide search for a new leader, an unexpected question mark hangs over the position that’s long been considered a plum one in the worlds of art, science and history. “Who wants to sign up to deal with the political pressure?” one
‘Who wants to sign up to deal with the political pressure?’: Smithsonian faces Trump’s culture war as search for leader is on
As the Smithsonian Institution prepares to launch a nationwide search for a new leader, an unexpected question mark hangs over the position that’s long been considered a plum one in the worlds of art, science and history.
From 22,000 Miles Up, This Satellite Tracks Airborne Health Threats Almost in Real Time
The new instrument, called TEMPO, captures hourly snapshots of the pollutants swirling in the daytime atmosphere over North America—“chemical weather” reports that are helpful to public health researchers and government officials
Five Ways the World of the Dinosaurs Looked Different From Ours, Beyond the Presence of the 'Terrible Lizards'
Earth has changed dramatically since the Age of Dinosaurs, from its climate to geography and animal life
Fact Check Team: Smithsonian and Kennedy Center face scrutiny over politics
The Smithsonian and Kennedy Center are facing questions about the role of politics in America's cultural institutions during Trump's second term.
Some Fish in the Great Lakes Might Be More Than 400 Years Old, a Study Suggests, Outliving Around 15 Generations of Humans
Lake sturgeon may be among the longest-living vertebrates, second only to Greenland sharks, according to recent research. However, scientists note that follow-up work is necessary to clarify the species’ lifespan
Bass skips hearing on L.A. homeless spending, calling probe politically motivated
Burchett's effort to force Bass to testify is the latest example of congressional Republican leaders trying to examine California's handling of regional issues and finances.
Lonnie Bunch on his legacy and protecting the Smithsonian from political pressure
Discuss the resignation of the Smithsonian Secretary and who determines what memories are preserved in museums
Trump asks Smithsonian to install George Washington statues and exhibit
Trump asked for an exhibit beginning now and continuing through Feb. 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. For Constitution Day on Sept. 17, Trump asked the institution to install the 11-foot statue of Washington featured at the recent Freedom 250 IndyCar race in the museum's Flag Hall.
Smithsonian pulls back the curtain on its political history archive
Each year, millions of visitors stream through the Smithsonian National Museum of American History – bearing witness to a trove of items documenting the country’s past. But only a fraction of the Smithsonian’s political archives is ever on display at one time.
Smithsonian pulls back the curtain on its political history archive
Each year, millions of visitors stream through the Smithsonian National Museum of American History – bearing witness to a trove of items documenting the country’s past. But only a fraction of the Smithsonian’s political archives is ever on display at one time.
Smithsonian head retiring amid Trump pressure
Lonnie Bunch III has led the institution since 2019
Unlocking Forest Diversity from Above: Fieldwork at Smithsonian’s BiodiversiTREE
Laying groundwork for using airborne remote sensing to better understand the characteristics of forest species diversity.
Smithsonian chief Lonnie Bunch to retire following clash with Trump admin
Bunch said in a news release Tuesday that he was departing the position he had held since 2019 "with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude"
Smithsonian chief Lonnie Bunch to retire following clash with Trump admin
Bunch said in a news release Tuesday that he was departing the position he had held since 2019 "with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude"
Smithsonian chief Lonnie Bunch to retire following clash with Trump admin
Bunch said in a news release Tuesday that he was departing the position he had held since 2019 "with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude"
Lonnie Bunch to retire from Smithsonian leadership following Trump administration clash
Bunch is going to retire from Smithsonian Institution leadership following an ideological clash.
Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch is leaving amid fights with Trump
Bunch, the first African American and first historian to lead the institution, said he has ‘mixed emotions’ about departing.
Smithsonian head Lonnie Bunch to retire amid Trump administration effort to reshape institution
Lonnie Bunch III said Tuesday that he will retire as the head of the Smithsonian Institution, a role that placed him at the center of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the world’s largest museum organization.
Scientists Recreated the Long-Lost Chirps of Jurassic Insects. Listen to the Simulated Soundscape of 165 Million Years Ago
With artificial intelligence and careful modeling of fossilized wings, researchers reproduced how some extinct, katydid-like insects might have made noise
Trump administration says agencies may stop working with the Smithsonian
The Trump administration has suggested federal agencies may stop working with the Smithsonian Institution if its leadership does not change, ramping up a monthslong pressure campaign to align the world’s largest museum complex with its views.
Trump administration threatens to cut off agencies’ ties to Smithsonian
Echoing White House attacks, an Interior Department letter threatened the institution “under current leadership” with loss of support for sourcing artifacts and more.
Would You Eat a Cookie Made From Upcycled Plastic? Scientists Propose a New Way to Deal With Waste and Provide Food in Extreme Environments
A team of researchers programmed yeast to turn broken-down plastic and agricultural waste into sweet treats called µBites. They might come in handy during deep-space missions or in disaster zones, although some critics say the food is impractical
Once the Solar System's Ninth Planet, Pluto Was Reclassified 20 Years Ago. Here's Why Planetary Scientists and the Public Alike Love the Small Icy Body
Pluto is now the most well known of the outer worlds beyond Neptune—and the darling of the solar system
Why Don't Insects Live in the Ocean? Scientists Just Ruled Out One Possible Explanation Thanks to Deep-Diving Fly Larvae
Researchers thought that insects might not live there because their respiratory systems would implode from water pressure. But certain fly larvae in East Africa make daily trips toward the bottom of Lake Malawi with the help of strong air sacs that contain a stretchy protein
Smithsonian Brings Sandy Beach Scientists to Texas A&M Galveston
Scientists from the U.S. and South America are workshopping at Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) this week to expand sandy beach research and broaden collegiate learning opportunities.The Tides of Opportunity Project, co-led by the Smithsonian’s Marine Global Earth Observatory (MarineGEO) Program, TAMUG, the Smithsonian Marine Station, the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and the University of Miami, is a collaborative monitoring project with marine science professors and their students.Tuesday, Aug. 18, through Friday, Aug. 21, 15 professors and marine science professionals from the United States, Brazil, Peru, and Urugay will co-design a sandy beaches monitoring protocol and associated course modules and test the protocol in the field.The goal is to incorporate sandy beach monitoring protocols into marine science courses, which college faculty and students can use to achieve learning goals while providing essential data can help researchers diagnose the health of an understudied critical coastal habitat.Dr. Guilherme Corte, an assistant professor of marine biology in the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies at TAMUG, is a principal investigator for MarineGEO. Texas A&M University at Galveston students and faculty package samples collected on the beach to take to campus for study in the Benthic Ecology Lab. Credit: TAMUG Division of Marketing and Communications“One third of the world’s ice-free coastlines are made of sandy beaches, and they go from pole to pole,” Corte said.However, despite their abundance and place as one of the most accessible coastal ecosystems for college-level education and research, they remain critically understudied.The Tides of Opportunity Project recognized that accessibility makes sandy beaches uniquely suited for engaging professors and students, including those with limited resources.“Any students can do sandy beach research,” Corte said, encouraging instructors to help students take a break from typing questions into artificial intelligence tools and embrace opportunities to do real science. “Providing this hands-on experience is something unique.”Tides of Opportunity Project goals include:Training a cohort of professors from across the Americas in standardized sandy beach monitoring methods; Equipping participating faculty with classroom modules, field tools, and multilingual teaching materials; Expanding MarineGEO with new monitoring sites focused on the implementation of long-term sandy beach monitoring; Strengthening hands-on, college-level learning experiences; And cultivating interest, learning, and efficacy in science among college-level students.By the end of this week, workshop participants plan to have a final version of the protocol and associated course modules that we can share with professors shortly after the workshop ends to then test with their students in courses that take place between September 2026 and February 2027.The scheduleDay 1: Tuesday, Aug. 18Location: Aggie Special Events Center (ASEC), Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast9 – 9:30 am Welcome and brief group introductions9:30 – 10 a.m. Introduction to Tides of Opportunity Project, Design Workshop, MarineGEO, and the Connecting Coastlines to Campuses Program (presentation)10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Introduction to workshop participants and project coordination team (presentations by each participant)• Brief lunch break from 12-12:30 p.m.1 – 3 p.m. Discussion about why collaborative science matters (presentation and interactive group discussion)3 – 4:15 p.m. Introduction to sandy beaches (presentation and group discussion)Day 2: Wednesday, Aug.19Location:• Morning sessions: ASEC Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston • Afternoon sessions: Corte’s field site (location available upon request)8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast9 a.m. – noon Prep for fieldwork (presentation and interactive group discussion)• Finish conversation about importance of studying sandy beaches• Go through sandy beaches monitoring protocol and field sheetsNoon – 12:45 p.m. Lunch12:45 – 1:30 p.m Prep for field (including driving to the field site)1:30 – 5:30 p.m. Fieldwork & bring samples back to TAMUGDay 3: Thursday, Aug. 20Location:• Breakfast: ASEC Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston • Fieldwork: Guilherme’s field site (location available upon request)• Lab/afternoon sessions: TAMUG lab (location available upon request) and ASEC Rooms 102 B and C8:30 – 9 a.m . Breakfast9 – 11 a.m. Return to field• Shorter field trip – recovering samples left out overnight11 a.m. – noon Lab work12 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch12:45 – 2:45 p.m. Continue lab work3 – 5 p.m. Discuss with professors the feasibility of implementing protocol in their courses and where might need to make changes (discussion)Day 4: Friday, Aug. 21Location: ASEC Rooms 102 B and C, Texas A&M University at Galveston 8:30 – 9 a.m. Breakfast9 a.m. – noon Group Discussion• How to evaluate student learning and engagement• Course modules• Next steps
Earth's Organisms Developed Via Evolution. Some Theorists Wonder: What if the Entire Cosmos Did, Too?
The idea that universes evolve like organisms sat on the fringes of theoretical physics for decades. Then, a Substack post and a 2022 find by the James Webb Space Telescope boosted the concept
Trump targets Biden-era billion-dollar Smithsonian budgets amid anti-'woke' push
Trump's budget proposal cuts Smithsonian funding below $1 billion for the first time since 2020 as a 162-page White House report targets woke ideology.
Smithsonian America 250 exhibit features 3x more liberal items than conservative ones
The Smithsonian's America 250th anniversary exhibit features nearly two dozen items for liberal causes but just seven representing conservatism.
Former Democratic staffers, DEI leaders shape Smithsonian leadership amid political firestorm
A Fox News Digital review of public biographies and social media profiles identified roughly two dozen individuals employed by the Smithsonian in leadership positions or as curators who worked for Democratic offices or progressive nonprofits before being hired.
Trump orders signs placed outside Smithsonian museum warning of "inaccurate" information
Smithsonian pushed ‘revolting’ social action training after ‘whiteness’ chart apology: expert
Smithsonian staff co-authored a DEI training toolkit that calls objectivity part of white supremacy, years after the museum apologized for a similar chart.
The White House is heaping political pressure on the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian has so far mostly resisted the White House’s more extreme wishes, but Trump-backed efforts implement ideological change at the museum are mounting.
WATCH LIVE: House holds hearing on oversight of Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
White House accuses Smithsonian of hijacking US narrative, director denies politics
Republicans accuse the Smithsonian's American History museum and its director of rewriting the country's narrative.
Smithsonian history museum chief rejects White House's radical leader claims
A White House report released on July Fourth criticized the museum as not telling history in an inspiring and unifying way
A Massive Flow of Rock and Mud Tumbled Down Mount Rainier Centuries Ago. Scientists Pinpointed Its Date to Better Understand the Volcano's Complex Threats
In a recent study, researchers dated a historic lahar called the Electron Mudflow to the summer of 1507, establishing a way to determine when past geologic events around the Puget Sound occurred
WATCH LIVE: House Oversight hearing examines how the Smithsonian presents U.S. history, under attack by Trump
In a First, Scientists Witness the Seafloor Spread in Real Time, Giving Them a Rare Glimpse at a Mysterious Geologic Process
Across a matter of days in 2024, the seafloor in part of the Indian Ocean dropped by about 13 feet, and roughly 5.7 billion cubic feet of molten rock rose to the crust's surface, according to a new study
Trump admin falsely accuses Smithsonian of 'extreme political activism'
Unbiased Politics News
White House: Smithsonian unworthy US stewards
A White House report accused the museum of painting an insufficiently ‘patriotic’ view of the United States
White House Blasts Smithsonian History Exhibits For 'Radical' Activism
A new Trump administration report singles out references to 'Hamilton,' drag queens and Mickey Mouse.
White House report accuses Smithsonian museum of ‘extreme political activism’
The 162-page report on the National Museum of American History marks an escalation of President Donald Trump’s criticism of the Smithsonian museums.
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History promotes 'extreme political activism,' WH report alleges
A 162-page White House report accuses the National Museum of American History of ideological capture and abandoning straightforward education.
White House report accuses Smithsonian leaders of 'extreme' activism
A White House report accuses leaders of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History of embracing "extreme political activism."
White House report accuses Smithsonian leadership of radical ideology
The White House has accused Smithsonian Institution leadership of adopting a divisive ideological framework that erases American heritage.
White House report brands Smithsonian leadership as radical activists who can't be trusted
The report released late on Independence Day by the White House Domestic Policy Council comes in the midst of Trump’s aggressive campaign to overhaul some of Washington's most sacred cultural and historic institutions.
White House report brands Smithsonian leadership as radical activists who can’t be trusted
A White House report brands the leadership of the Smithsonian Institution, especially at the National Museum of American History, as radical activists who cannot be trusted.
White House Criticizes Smithsonian Museum for ‘Extreme Political Activism’
A scathing report released on the Fourth of July says the National Museum of American History downplays the role of the founders while emphasizing social justice.
This satellite constellation transformed earth science by creatively tuning in to GPS signals
Key takeaways —The first constellation to produce high-quality data by picking up GPS microwaves reflecting off Earth, called CYGNSS, is featured in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Living in the Space Age exhibit. —Distortions in the reflected signals can reveal information about Earth, including hurricane wind speed and the distribution of moisture in soil, and the constellation provided unprecedented coverage in both time and space. —GNSS-R data is useful for mon
Working From Home Is Making People Lonelier and Worsening Mental Health, a Study Suggests
The findings do not mean that in-office mandates are a fix, experts say. Instead, workplaces should have flexible policies that allow employees to choose where they’d like to work
See a Diamond Planet, an Exploding Star and a Black Hole Up Close in a New Immersive Virtual Reality Experience
Informed by science from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and astronomers worldwide, this “documentary that you can walk through” visualizes the cosmos in a 3-D introduction to the universe
Scientists Invented a Disease to Test Whether A.I. Knew It Was Fake. Then, Chatbots Started Saying It Was Real
The eye condition bixonimania doesn't exist, but neither bots nor some researchers caught that the content was fabricated—despite obvious clues
Princeton scientists identify first experimental evidence of a 'co-extinction' connection: Without elephants, dung beetles disappear
A new study from Princeton University, the Smithsonian Institute, the Mpala Research Centre and many partner institutions has now documented the interconnection between the largest animals in the savanna and some of the smallest.
As America celebrates its 250th, Smithsonian leader Lonnie Bunch treads a fine political line
For over a year, Lonnie Bunch III, the head of the storied Smithsonian Institution, has been at the center of a political tempest.
House rejects Smithsonian women’s museum bill after GOP bans ‘biological men’
The widely backed proposal devolved into a partisan fight after Republicans changed the bill to ensure no transgender people are included in exhibits
Gentoo Penguins Are Actually Four Different Species, Scientists Say, Revealing They're Not Quite 'Winners' of Climate Change After All
A new study indicates the adaptable birds evolved into distinct lineages as isolated populations shifted to match their environmental conditions over time. The work has implications for how conservationists assess threats to gentoos
When Did Crabs Evolve Their Iconic Sideways Scuttle? Scientists Traced It to a 200-Million-Year-Old Common Ancestor
The findings suggest that their famous lateral movement evolved just once. It may have helped the animals rapidly spread and diversify because traveling in two directions meant they could easily escape predators
Smithsonian reveals 'In Pursuit' exhibit in celebration of semiquincentennial
The exhibit consists of 250 objects throughout the museum's 250,000 square feet
How 'Seabird Sue' Blends Art and Science to Attract Birds Back to Lost Habitat
For the past decade, Sue Schubel has been making detailed decoys of terns, puffins and other seabirds to entice real ones to restored or new homes
East Africa Might Break Off From the Continent Sooner Than Scientists Thought—and a New Ocean May Fill the Gap
A new study suggests that a rift in Kenya and Ethiopia has reached a critical stage in the split-up process, and that water may flood it in a few million years
David Attenborough Has Inspired Countless Scientists. To Mark His 100th Birthday, Here Are Ten Living Things They've Named After Him
Researchers around the planet grew up watching documentaries hosted by the English broadcaster and naturalist, which sparked their love of the natural world. Now, their discoveries become tributes to his legacy
Ella Halbert '23 wins 2026 National Science Foundation Award | Oberlin College and Conservatory
The young alum will use the funding to conduct wildlife and ecology research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
A New Big Database of DNA From Indigenous Americans Shakes Up Scientists' Theories About Human Settlement of South America
Genomic data provides evidence for a previously unknown wave of migration, with Indigenous groups living in central and southern Mexico spreading into South America and the Caribbean starting around 1,300 years ago
The Planet Needs Prosperous Forests. These Scientists Are Planting More Than 33,000 Trees to Find the Perfect Blend of Species
Forests provide myriad benefits, including timber, wildlife attraction, local cooling and climate resilience. At the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, ecologists are testing which tree combinations might create flourishing woodlands
The Planet Needs Prosperous Forests. These Scientists Are Planting More Than 33,000 Trees to Find the Perfect Species Blends
Forests provide myriad benefits, including timber, wildlife attraction, local cooling and climate resilience. At the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, ecologists are testing which tree combinations might create flourishing woodlands
Scientists uncover identity of mysterious 'golden orb' discovered miles underwater in 2023
NOAA and Smithsonian scientists have identified the mysterious golden orb found two miles deep in the Gulf of Alaska as part of a rare giant deep-sea anemone.
Low and slow meets forever: US postage stamps honor lowrider car culture
NEW MEXICO Stamps honor lowrider culture ALBUQUERQUE — From Mexican American and Chicano barrios in the American Southwest to the halls of the Smithsonian on the National Mall and even the streets of Japan, lowrider culture has become part of mainstream car culture around the globe. The U.S. Postal Service is joining the club with […]
When Did the Earth's Crust Start to Shift? Scientists Uncover Evidence of Plate Tectonics Happening 3.48 Billion Years Ago
A new study provides the oldest direct evidence of tectonic plate movement ever recorded
Shorebird science and conservation collective shows big data can protect birds
New research from the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), published in the journal Conservation Biology, provides ...
Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective Shows Big Data Can Protect Birds
New research published in the journal Conservation Biology provides a model for big data to inform conservation.
Scientists Make a Major Breakthrough in Solving a Hair-Raising Mystery About Static Electricity
The findings can help explain the physics behind phenomena like volcanic lightning
Alien Life Could Look Nothing Like What We Expect. Here's How Microbes Beyond Earth Might Live Without Liquid Water
Like the lead character of “Project Hail Mary,” some scientists are proposing ways that life might exist beyond a star’s “habitable zone,” often considered the gold standard of potential livability
Venomous Snakes Represent a Serious Public Health Problem. Scientists Are Biting Back With a Grou...
Could Life on Earth Have Descended From Microbes That Traveled From Mars Long Ago?
Scientists demonstrated that an Earthly extremophile might withstand being ejected from the Red Planet on debris spewed into space due to an asteroid strike
Box Turtles Are Vanishing. Can Science Help Bring Them Back?
Smithsonian researcher Maxwell Earle explains how tracking tech can help protect struggling Eastern box turtle populations in Virginia.
Science & Nature News and Features
Delve into the wonders of science and nature on Smithsonian Magazine's category page. Explore fascinating articles, discoveries and natural phenomena.
Scientists discover recent tectonic activity on the moon
Scientists have produced the first global map and analysis of small mare ridges (SMRs) on the moon, a characteristic geological feature of tectonic activity. Published in The Planetary Science Journal ...
Seals Are Seemingly Vanishing Off the Dutch Coast. These Scientists Are Trying to Get to the Bottom of the Mysterious Disappearances
Recent counts of the Wadden Sea’s adult harbor seal population have revealed a surprising trend of decline, prompting a consortium of researchers to investigate whether the animals are dying off, relocating or experiencing something else altogether
How Do Menopause and a Treatment to Manage Its Symptoms Affect the Brain and Mental Health?
New research suggests an association between menopause and anxiety, depression and shrinkage in certain brain regions—which hormone replacement therapy might not mitigate
Smithsonian hands over documents as its leader works to balance “principal and pragmatism” in facing White House demands
As the Smithsonian faced a deadline to comply with the White House’s request for extensive documents about its museum exhibitions, Lonnie Bunch III, the historian who leads the institution, has been treading a careful line between maintaining independence and complying with the Trump administration’s demands.
'Excitement With a Little Dash of Fear': Polar Plunges Ring in the New Year With a Splash. But What Actually Happens to Your Body?
Three experts share the science behind taking a dip in cold water—and offer safety tips that any potential plungers should bear in mind
The top Smithsonian science stories of 2025
The Smithsonian advanced our knowledge of the universe on scales big and small in 2025.
CfA Science in the Press at AAS 247 | Center for Astrophysics
Cambridge, Mass. (December 22, 2025)— New scientific results from across the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) will be revealed at multiple press conferences and presentations during the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) from January 5-8, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.Presentations will highlight new research, including a deeper look into little red dots, a more complete census of active galactic nuclei, and uncovering properties of early universe dwarf galaxies, a look at Betelgeuse’s binary companion.
White House pushes Smithsonian to comply with review to receive federal funding
The Trump administration has signaled to the Smithsonian Institution that the White House could withhold federal funding from the museum organization if it does not comply with the administration’s unprecedented, sweeping review.