Nature
Nature, or the natural world, encompasses the behavior and physiology of animals, plants and minerals
Hunting for Gold in the Amazonian Jungle
The author joins two American fortune-seekers on a gold-panning outing at the confluence of the Negro and Paute rivers
February 28, 2013 |
By Alastair Bland
Why Are Our Brains Wrinkly?
Brain wrinkles naturally develop as the brain gets larger in order to lend more surface area and help white matter fibers avoid long stretches
February 28, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Nitpicking the Lice Genome to Track Humanity’s Past Footsteps
Lice DNA collected around the planet sheds light on the parasite's long history with our ancestors, a new study shows
February 27, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Why Do We Care Whether Animals Appreciate Our Art?
In a recent study, researchers put seven Java Sparrows in a cage with a bunch of artwork and watched them to see which ones they preferred
February 27, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
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
From Pyenson Lab: When Is a Museum Specimen the Real Deal?
Can you tell the difference between a replica and the real thing? Does it matter? A curator at Natural History talks about copies, 3-D printing and museums
February 27, 2013 |
By Nick Pyenson
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
Video: This Stretchable Battery Could Power the Next Generation of Wearable Gadgets
Durable and rechargeable, the new battery can be stretched to 300 percent of its size and still provide power
February 27, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
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
Snakes in a Frame: Mark Laita’s Stunning Photographs of Slithering Beasts
In his new book, Serpentine, Mark Laita captures the colors, textures and sinuous forms of a variety of snake species
February 26, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
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
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
Events February 26-28: A Garden Scavenger Hunt, Japanese Flute and Drums and Author Taylor Branch
This week, get active in Smithsonian's gardens, jam out to jazz on traditional Japanese instruments and meet the author of The King Years
February 25, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Climate Change is Reducing Our Ability to Get Work Done
Increased temperature and humidity have already limited humankind's overall capacity for physical work—and it will only get worse in the future
February 25, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Growing New Hearts Without Using Embryonic Stem Cells
A different type of stem cell—one used in asexual reproduction—can create new heart muscle tissue without raising ethical questions, new studies show
February 23, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
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
Dolphins May Have Names for One Another
Whether dolphin vocalizations should truly be considered names and are used in a way comparable to humans remains contested, but the latest research results suggest that they may
February 22, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Story of How An Artist Created a Genetic Hybrid of Himself and a Petunia
Is it art? Or science? With DNA, Eduardo Kac pushes the limits of creativity and ethics
February 22, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Touch a Manatee, Spend Six Months in Jail
After posting several photos on Facebook of himself and his two young daughters playing with a baby manatee, a Florida man was arrested by the wildlife authorities
February 21, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Scientists’ Best Idea for Saving Endangered Fish Isn’t Really Working
Fish ladders, meant to help swimming fish navigate dams, don't really work
February 21, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
