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Outer Space, our solar system and Earth’s geography, geology and human environmentDiscover Smithsonian articles by place—including Earth, the solar system and outer space.
Giant Goldfish Have Invaded Lake Tahoe
Populations of native fish have decreased tenfold in Lake Tahoe, and this new invader could only exacerbate the situation
February 27, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Lighting Up the Arctic Sky With Artificial Aurorae
The U.S. military's Naval Research Lab teamed up with university researchers and defense contractors to set the atmosphere aglow
February 27, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Overzealous Male Frogs Practice a Practical Sort of Necrophilia
Both males and females still get to pass on their genes to the next generation, despite one of them being dead
February 27, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Too Little Sleep Can Really Mess Our Bodies Up
People who sleep normally have around 1,800 functioning genes, but the sleep deprived lose around 400 of these
February 26, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
What Makes These Avocados Different From All Others?
The spectrum of the fruit here is almost as varied as the people who grow them, and for avo advocates, Ecuador is a excellent place to go tasting
February 26, 2013 |
By Alastair Bland
Investigation: China Covertly Condones Trade in Tiger Skins and Bones
The Chinese government says it is committed to saving tigers from extinction, yet it legalized trade in captive-bred big cats' skin and bones
February 26, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Don’t Believe the Guy Who Claims He’s Descended From Vikings
The good news is that you can probably claim Viking or whatever other heritage of choice you prefer and have a good chance of hitting the mark—without forking over $200
February 26, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
10 Vintage Menus That Are a Feast for the Eyes, If Not the Stomach
From the late-19th century to the 1970s, restaurants had one surefire way of standing out
February 26, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
China Acknowledges It Has a Problem With Pollution-Laden ‘Cancer Villages’
This is most likely the first that authorities dubbed pollution-laden problem locations "cancer villages" in an official report
February 26, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Dead Woman Who Brought Down the Mayor
Vivian Gordon was a reputed prostitute and blackmailer—but her murder led to the downfall of New York Mayor Jimmy Walker
February 25, 2013 |
By Rachel Shteir
We Spent $52 Billion on Our Pets Last Year
Last year we spent more on pet grooming and treats than Facebook made in advertising revenue
February 25, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Who Owns This Half-Million Dollar Banksy Mural?
A public piece of art, painted on a private wall, by an pseudonymous artist. Who owns the work?
February 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Chemicals in Water May Be Messing With Otters’ Sexual Mojo
Scientists examined hundreds of otters to arrive at these grim findings
February 25, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Scientific American in 1875: Eating Horse Meat Would Boost the Economy
Where did our aversion to horse meat come from, and why did Scientific American think we should eat it anyway?
February 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Could a Whale Accidentally Swallow You? It Is Possible
Whale sharks probably can't fit you down their esophagus, but mariners claim that sperm whales have swallowed people in the past
February 25, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
A Snowball Fight in the West Bank
For the first time in their lifetimes, these teenagers got to enjoy the thrill of a fresh layer of snow
February 25, 2013 |
By Caroline Lacey
For Female Golden Moles, Size Does Matter
Females judge potential mates by their penis sizes, which they use to gauge a male's attractiveness for copulation
February 22, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
More than Half of Our ‘Tuna’ Isn’t Really Tuna
Around one-third of 1,200 seafood samples from restaurants and grocery stores around the U.S. were not from the fish their label claimed to be
February 22, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Artificial Wetland Uses Bacteria to Clean Pharmaceuticals From Sewage
By harnessing bacteria to do the heavy lifting, a way to clean pharmaceuticals from waste water
February 22, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
What Damage Could Be Caused by a Massive Solar Storm?
An enormous solar storm could short out telecom satellites, radio communications, and power grids, leading to trillions of dollars in damages, experts say
February 22, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
