Nature
Nature, or the natural world, encompasses the behavior and physiology of animals, plants and minerals
The Amazon Rainforest Should Deal With Climate Change Better Than We Thought
Contrary to previous research, tropical rainforests should be able to stand up to climate change
March 11, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Being a Naturalist Is Way More Dangerous Than You Think
Some of these naturalists were murdered by people in the regions they were working. Others died of horrible diseases or lost their lives to their research subjects
March 11, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Cold, Hungry and Happy in the High Andes
Just 40 bucks in cash, a warm sleeping bag and plenty of wine carry the author through his final days in Ecuador, in the remote high country outside of Quito
March 08, 2013 |
By Alastair Bland
What Happened the Last Time the Climate Changed
Smithsonian scientists investigate a sudden warming of the Earth 55 million years ago to understand how climate change will affect future ecosystems
March 08, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Even Bees Get a Buzz When They Drink Caffeine
The drug, naturally present in coffee and citrus plant nectars, is shown to improve honeybees' long-term memory
March 07, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
You Should Be Really Scared of the CDC’s ‘Nightmare Bacteria’
Recent reports of this "nightmare bacteria" have grabbed headlines, and there are reports of fatality rates as high as fifty percent. Basically, it's bad, and the CDC is really worried
March 07, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The (Natural) World, According to Our Photo Contest Finalists
From a caterpillar to the Milky Way, the ten finalists in the contest's Natural World category capture the peculiar, the remarkable and the sublime
March 07, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Female Butterflies Can Sniff Out Inbred Males
Unlike in humans, butterfly females can actually distinguish between inbred and outbred males by their scent
March 07, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
A Plague of Locusts Descends Upon the Holy Land, Just in Time for Passover
Israel battles a swarm of millions of locusts that flew from Egypt that is giving rise to a host of ecological, political and agricultural issues
March 06, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
This 33,000-Year-Old Skull Belonged to One of the World’s First Dogs
A new DNA analysis confirms that an ancient skull found in a Siberian cave was an early ancestor of man's best friend
March 06, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What Does This Head From the Thirteenth Century Tell Us About Medieval Medicine?
What can a dissection specimen from the 13th century tell us about the Dark Ages?
March 06, 2013 |
By Angela Serratore
Some Insect Wings Are Natural Antibiotics
Dotted with tiny spikes, this cicada's wings are naturally antibiotic
March 06, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
2000-Pound Camels Used to Live in the Arctic
Living in the forest alongside bears and beavers, the ancient Canadian Arctic camel
March 06, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Snowy Day, But Smithsonian D.C. Museums Open, Zoo Closes
Bad weather threatens the metro area, but the Smithsonian museums Will Open, National Zoo is Closed
March 06, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
How Emperor Penguins Survive Antarctica’s Subzero Cold
The birds' plumage is even colder than the surrounding air, paradoxically insulating them from heat loss
March 05, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Dies at 58
The long-time leader, popular for his leftist views and tight control over oil, succumbs to cancer
March 05, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Winged Migration: The 77-Carat Butterfly Brooch That “Glows” in the Dark
The piece by Taiwanese artist Cindy Chao has a surprise revealed only under ultraviolet light
March 05, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
That’s Some Pig!
An Iowa farmer's quest to breed the perfect pig
March 05, 2013 |
By Angela Serratore
The U.S. And Russia Agree on One Thing: They Want to Save Polar Bears
In a rare moment of partnership, the U.S. and Russia are trying to join together to save the polar bear
March 05, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
