Nature
Nature, or the natural world, encompasses the behavior and physiology of animals, plants and minerals
Lake Baikal and More of the Weirdest Lakes of the World
Set deep within the Russian subcontinent, Baikal is the deepest, oldest and most voluminous of all lakes
August 07, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
See a Google-Earth-Like View of an Embryo, Down to an Individual Cell
A new technology combines thousands of individual images to create a zoom-able picture of living tissue, down to the cellular level
August 07, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
New Forensics Tool for Catching Elephant Poachers
Good news on the illegal wildlife trade front: a new forensic genetics tool allows scientists to pinpoint where seized illegal ivory originates.
August 07, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Sir Bernard Lovell, The Man The Soviets Tried to Poison With Uranium, Dies at 98
Lovell, of the Lovell telescope, made several advances in radio astronomy and physics.
August 07, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Shark Attacks That Were the Inspiration for Jaws
One rogue shark. Five victims. A mysterious threat. And the era of the killer great white was born
August 07, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Becoming Human: The Evolution of Walking Upright
Walking on two legs distinguished the first hominids from other apes, but scientists still aren't sure why our ancestors became bipedal
August 06, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Newly Acquired Whale Skull a “Missing Link”
Marine mammals expert Charles Potter has big plans for his newest acquisition
August 03, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Can Natural Herbs Protect Your Skin From the Sun?
A number of studies indicate that several herb extracts could protect against sunburn and other damage from UV light
August 01, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Is the Livestock Industry Destroying the Planet?
For the earth's sake, maybe it's time we take a good, hard look at our dietary habits
August 01, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
The Origins of Modern Culture
A 44,000-year-old collection of wood and bone tools from South Africa may be the earliest example of modern culture, a new study suggests
August 01, 2012 |
By Erin Wayman
Read a 2007 Essay in Smithsonian by Gore Vidal, Last Writer of His Kind
Why more writers should be as fearless, and as prickly as Vidal.
August 01, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Simply Smiling Can Actually Reduce Stress
A new study indicates that the mere act of smiling can help us deal with stressful situations more easily
July 31, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Why You Shouldn’t Panic Over The Latest News About Bird Flu
New research reveals that the flu virus has mutated into a novel strain of influenza, which gained the ability to transfer not just from bird to seal, but from seal to seal.
July 31, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Is Barefoot Running Really Better?
The science is mixed on whether running shoes or bare feet are the way to go
July 30, 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How LOLCats and Laser Pointers Are Bad for Our Pets
The things we do to animals for the LOLs might not be as innocuous as they seem.
July 30, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Events July 31-Aug 2: X-Ray Fish, Imperial India and Club Native
This week at the Smithsonian, the evolution of fish through X-Ray, India's imperial arts and the divisive legacy of Native blood laws.
July 30, 2012 |
By Leah Binkovitz
A Brief History of Death By Subway in NYC
A few highlights of death on New York City's subways over the years.
July 29, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Shark Teeth Have Built-in Toothpaste
Sharks may have the healthiest teeth in the animal kingdom.
July 27, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
More Great Books and Where Best to Read Them
A continuation of last week's list of the author's favorite reads
July 27, 2012 |
By Alastair Bland
Live Bear Cam Shows Hot Bear on Salmon Action
A live webcam let's you watch Alaskan brown bears hunt salmon during the fishes' annual migration.
July 27, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
