Peeping in on the Process of Turning Caterpillar to Butterfly

Previously, researchers hoping to learn about metamorphosis had to dissect the chrysalis, which killed the developing insect inside
May 15, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

E. Coli Can Survive the Freezing Cold Winter Hidden in Manure

Even the harsh Canadian winter can't kill these hardy bacteria
May 15, 2013 | By Colin Schultz

Amazing Sea Butterflies Are the Ocean’s Canary in the Coal Mine

These delicate and stunning creatures are offering Smithsonian scientists a warning sign for the world's waters turning more acidic
May 14, 2013 | By Hannah Waters

Solving an Alligator Mystery May Help Humans Regrow Lost Teeth

A gator can replace all of its teeth up to 50 times--learning what triggers these new teeth to grow may someday keep us from needing dentures
May 13, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

How Often Does the Oldest Person in the World Die?

Every so often you hear about the oldest person in the world dying, but how often does this actually happen?
May 13, 2013 | By Rose Eveleth

Events May 14-16: New Research, Old Films and Live Jazz

This week, hear the latest from the brains at the Smithsonian, dissect the great Nam June Paik's video legacy and relax with live music
May 13, 2013 | By Leah Binkovitz

Macoto Murayama’s Intricate Blueprints of Flowers

The Japanese artist depicts blossoms from various plant species in fastidious detail
May 10, 2013 | By Megan Gambino

There Are Just Three Males of This Endangered Fish Left, And the London Zoo Is on a Global Hunt to Find a Lady

There are just three fish of this species left in the world, and they're all males.
May 10, 2013 | By Colin Schultz

There Should Be an Endangered Species List for Ecosystems, Too

Listing an ecosystem or animal as endangered does not save it from extinction, but it can bring attention and inspire protection
May 09, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

Baby Weddell Seals Have the Most Adult-Like Brains in the Animal Kingdom

The newborn seal pups possess the most well-developed brains compared to other mammals, but that advantage comes with a cost
May 09, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

The Deep Seafloor Turns Out to Be a Treasure Trove for Ancient DNA

DNA preserved in the the ocean floor could provide a unique view of ancient animals that aren't represented in the fossil record
May 08, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

How the Human Brain Tracks a 100-mph Fastball

Research shows that our brains have a specialized system to anticipate the location of moving objects, located in the visual cortex
May 08, 2013 | By Joseph Stromberg

Sometimes Male Spiders Eat Their Mates, Too

Many female arthropods - black widows, praying mantises - eat their male mates, but sometimes the reverse is true
May 08, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

What Happens When a Keyboard Goes From Tactile to Touchscreen?

There's a word for that odd quirk of Apple iPads that hold on to design components of old keyboards
May 08, 2013 | By Jimmy Stamp

Ray Harryhausen, the Godfather of Stop Motion Animation, Dies

Producer and animator Ray Harryhausen, who invented a kind of stop motion model animation called 'dynamation,' died today
May 07, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

Mapping the Routes of Invasive Stowaways

Singapore, Honk Kong, New York, Long Beach, CA, and the Panama and Suez canals are the areas most at risk from invasive species
May 07, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

Are Modern Football Helmets Any Safer than Old-School Leather Ones?

Recent testing shows that, contrary to prior findings, new plastic helmets reduce the risk of concussions by 45 to 96 percent
May 07, 2013 | By Joseph Stromberg

Heavy Metals, Insects and Other Weird Things Found in Lipstick Through Time

From seaweed and beetles to lead and synthetic chemicals, lipstick has seen its share of strange—and dangerous—components
May 03, 2013 | By Marina Koren

The Cicadas are Coming, And So Are the Terrifying Spores That Eat Them Alive

The cicadas have been waiting for 17 years. This deadly fungus has been waiting for them
May 03, 2013 | By Colin Schultz

Why Asparagus Makes Your Urine Smell

Our bodies convert asparagusic acid into sulfur-containing chemicals that stink—but some of us are spared from the pungent odor
May 03, 2013 | By Joseph Stromberg

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