Environment
Listen to These Amazing Sounds of Lost Places and Animals Within Them
Prolific audio naturalist Martyn Stewart has released a free collection of his remarkable recordings before his passing
Meet Elmer and Lima, a Same-Sex Penguin Couple Fostering a Chick at a Syracuse Zoo
The two male birds are 'exemplary' parents, says the zoo’s director
Designing a More Environmentally Friendly Sunscreen
Scientists are sourcing new ultraviolet ray-blocking compounds from algae, seaweed, cyanobacteria and other marine creatures
The Quest to Extinguish the Flames of Turkmenistan's Terrifying 'Gates of Hell' Firepit
The country's president says it’s time to quash the ongoing 50-year blaze at the 230-foot-wide Darvaza gas crater
Scientists Pull Animal DNA Out of Thin Air
The new method, tested at two zoos, could revolutionize the study of biodiversity in the wild
Fish Can Recover Surprisingly Quickly From Mercury Pollution
If the chemical stops leaking into freshwater ecosystems, its concentration in some fish species can drop by more than 75 percent
The Ten Best Science Books of 2021
From captivating memoirs by researchers to illuminating narratives by veteran science journalists, these works affected us the most this year
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Hosts Life in the Open Ocean
Coastal plants and animals are thriving on the plastic debris, posing potential ecological risks
Smithsonian Scholars Pick Their Favorite Books of 2021
The writings of many fine authors support the research and ambitious undertakings of an Institution rising to the challenges ahead
Global CO2 Emissions Have Returned to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels
A new report shows carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels jumped by more this year than they fell during 2020
Five Important Questions About COP26 Answered
Representatives from nearly 200 nations are expected to meet and report on climate change promises made in the Paris Agreement
Rodents of Unusual Size Take Over Gated Community in Argentina
Weighing up to 175 pounds and growing to four feet in length, capybaras are reclaiming habitat that once was theirs in South America
Africa's Last Rare Glaciers May Soon Disappear
The continent is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, despite its population contributing little to the problem
Officials Use Contraceptives to Control Pablo Escobar's 'Cocaine' Hippos
Smuggled into Colombia by the drug kingpin in the 1980s, the African mammal is now a growing environmental threat in the South American country
How the Smithsonian Grapples With Climate Change
As a hub for research and education, the Institution is poised to help the world find solutions to the global challenge
The American Bumblebee Has Nearly Vanished From Eight States
In two decades, the insect's population has declined by nearly 90 percent due to a combination of threats, including habitat loss, pesticides and diseases
Plastics Make Beaches Hotter During the Day and Colder at Night
A study of remote islands shows that debris alters sand temperatures
With Ropes and Nets, Fishing Fleets Contribute Significantly to Microplastic Pollution
Synthetic ropes release 'substantial amount' of plastic particles into the sea during each use, according to new research
The Best Place to Watch Monarch Butterflies Migrate Might Be This Little California Beach Town
Thousands of western monarchs migrate to Pismo Beach each fall to escape winter cold, but climate change threatens the species' survival
Researchers Potty Trained Young Cows, a Promising Measure to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
One cow pees up to eight gallons a day; training them is easy, and capturing and treating the waste could make a difference
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