Earth Science

NASA's New Lunar Rover

The Smithsonian Institution pitches in to help NASA prepare for its next lunar mission with a new "home on wheels"
January 2010 | By Megan Gambino

From Close Up or Far Away, Amazing Volcano Photos

Geologist Bernhard Edmaier has been photographing the majestic beauty of active and dormant volcanoes for over 15 years
December 02, 2009 | By Abby Callard

The Waldseemüller Map: Charting the New World

Two obscure 16th-century German scholars named the American continent and changed the way people thought about the world
December 2009 | By Toby Lester

A Coral Reef's Mass Spawning

Understanding how corals reproduce is critical to their survival; Smithsonian's Nancy Knowlton investigates the annual event
December 2009 | By Megan Gambino

A Swim Through the Ocean's Future

Can a remote, geologically weird island in the South Pacific forecast the fate of coral reefs?
September 17, 2009 | By Christopher Pala

The Ten Most Spectacular Geologic Sites

Smithsonian picks the top natural wonders in the continental United States
August 07, 2009 | By Laura Helmuth

Day 1: A Geological Trip Back in Time

Smithsonian Secretary Clough flies to Wyoming to learn about a period of intense global warming that occurred 55 million years ago
July 23, 2009 | By G. Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution

Day 2: Uncovering Earth’s History in the Bighorn Basin

Secretary Clough tours the different Smithsonian excavation sites and discovers some prehistoric fossils while there
July 23, 2009 | By G. Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution

Borne on a Black Current

For thousands of years, the Pacific Ocean’s strong currents have swept shipwrecked Japanese sailors onto American shores
June 16, 2009 | By Curtis Ebbesmeyer and Eric Scigliano

Invasion of the Lionfish

Voracious, venomous lionfish are the first exotic species to invade coral reefs. Now divers, fishermen—and cooks—are fighting back
May 08, 2009 | By Anika Gupta

Civil War Geology

What underlies the Civil War’s 25 bloodiest battles? Two geologists investigate why certain terrain proved so hazardous
April 14, 2009 | By David Zax

What's So Hot About Chili Peppers?

An American ecologist travels through the Bolivian forest to answer burning questions about the spice
April 2009 | By Brendan Borrell

Underwater Discovery

Watch an erupting underwater volcano
September 2008 | By Anika Gupta

Ground Thaw

Geographer Christopher Burn explains why permafrost is thawing
January 28, 2008 | By Anne Casselman

Glow-in-the-Dark Jewels

How the Hope Diamond's mysterious phosphorescence led to "fingerprinting" blue diamonds
January 14, 2008 | By Kenneth R. Fletcher

Rock of Ages

Where did the world's highest mountains come from? Geologist Elizabeth Catlos takes a new view
October 2007 | By J. Madeleine Nash

Mystery at Sea

How mercury gets into tuna and other fish in the ocean has scientists searching from the coast to the floor
September 27, 2007 | By Eric Jaffe

Turning the Tide

Our oceans are in trouble, says Nancy Knowlton. But it's not too late to do something about it
September 24, 2007 | By Cate Lineberry

Deep Trouble

Coral reefs are clearly struggling. The only debate for marine scientists is whether the harm is being done on a local or global scale
September 24, 2007 | By Mark Schrope

Glaciologist Puts Her Girls on Ice

October 2006 | By Anne Bolen

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