Closeup of a handful of river herring underwater swimming toward the viewer, with silver bodies, yellow faces and beady black eyes.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

American Icons: Reviving the River Herring

Previously millions strong, the river herring have nearly gone belly-up. But not all hope is lost.

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National Museum of the American Indian

Unveiling the History and Renaissance of Native Tattoos

From the Paleolithic era to the present, the resurgence of Native cultural pride has re-emerged though ancient tattooing practices

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Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Does Helping Your Mom Pay Off? Queen Bee Pheromones Help Daughters Decide Whether to Stay or Leave the Nest

Queen pheromones in Megalopta bees tell daughters when it's worth sacrificing their fertility to help their mom

More From Smithsonian Voices
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Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

A Mountain Expedition in Panama to Test New Insect Monitoring Technology

A new, jungle-proof automated light trap for insect monitoring documented in Methods in Ecology and Evolution and Integrative and Comparative Biology. The Mothbox is like a mammal trail camera but designed for large-scale insect monitoring

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Smithsonian Books

In the House of the Bees, Rival Queens Fight to the Death. But See How a Beehive Operates More Like a Democracy

Witness the life cycle of bees with the book "Diary of a Honey Bee"

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National Museum of Natural History

Meet the Researcher Studying How Ancient Human Migrations Shaped a Hotbed of Avocado Diversity in Central America

While collecting avocado leaf samples in Nicaragua, archaeobotanist Kevin Wann finally tasted the fruit he has spent years studying

Detailed photo of a bronze sculpture depicting George Washington, Polly Cooper, and Skenandoah from the waist up.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

She Walked Over 200 Miles in the Snow to Feed a Starving Army. The Oneida Nation Has Remembered Polly Cooper for 250 Years

As one of America's first allies, the Oneida Nation sent 47 warriors to Valley Forge in 1778. Among them was a woman named Polly Cooper, whose skill, generosity and knowledge of white corn kept Washington's soldiers alive

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Smithsonian Journeys

Why Go Now? How Travel in 2026 is Defying the Odds

Tourism has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, from fuel shortages to water-gun-wielding locals, yet travel is poised to have a banner year. Behind the gloomy headlines, the real story is one of resilience and determination. Here are some ways people are getting around the obstacles and fulfilling their love for travel this year.

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Practical Tips for Anyone Currently Raising Nine Flamingo Chicks at the Same Time

Flamingo parenting comes with plenty of surprises. Smithsonian’s National Zoo curator Sara Hallager explains what you should know.

Four U.S. Marine band members perform on stage inside the museum

National Museum of American History

Museum Happenings This August at the National Museum of American History

Storytime, Music and More!

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National Museum of the American Indian

A Retrospective of the Art of Truman Lowe Celebrates One of the Most Acclaimed Native American Sculptors of the 20th Century

Growing up near the peaceful waters of the Black River in Wisconsin, traditional knowledge was gathered from the natural landscape and its resources. These cultural teachings and resources were used to develop the exhibition

A man on a stage plays a guitar.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

At the Global Concert of Colors, Detroit and Its Unifying Voice Take a Bow

The city of Detroit, Michigan, is known as the birthplace of techno music, the hometown of Motown Records, and a haven of resilience. But every July, it earns one more claim to fame: the stage and heartbeat of the Concert of Colors, a collaborator in "Of The People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals!"

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

We Can Freeze Human Reproductive Cells. Can We Do the Same for Red Wolves?

With only a few hundred red wolves left, Smithsonian scientist Jennifer Nagashima is pioneering new ways to preserve their genetic diversity.

illustration of a woman handing a musket to a militiaman at the doorway of a home while a child stands nearby and soldiers gather in the background.

National Museum of American History

How Did It Feel to Be an American Colonist in 1776? Probably Itchy, Achy and Slightly Nauseated

Trade the tricorn hats, bonnets and homespun shirts for flip-flops, sneakers and soccer jerseys, and the intrepid revolutionaries of 1776 would have looked a lot like the people of 2026. But their sense of embodiment and experience of health were markedly different from what Americans feel today

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National Museum of Natural History

Hailing from Glaciers, Geysers and Volcanoes, These Iconic Rocks Provide a Glimpse into How America was Formed and Built

In celebration of National Rock Day, learn how several rock specimens in the new exhibition “From These Lands” shed light on the nation’s geological heritage

Black-and-white photo of Elizebeth Smith Friedman from the chest up

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Elizebeth Smith Friedman Was the U.S. Government's First Woman Codebreaker. She Cracked Nazi Secrets, Saved 8,000 Lives and Pioneered Modern Cryptography

For decades, Elizebeth Smith Friedman worked in near-total secrecy, cracking codes that shaped the outcome of two world wars. Recently declassified, the full extent of her story is still coming to light

A man with short white hair, moustache, and glasses plays a wooden flute. Behind him, slightly out of focus, is a young woman with long dark hair in a bun and a black tank top.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

With Birchbark and Breath, Sierra and Hawk Henries Bring Intergenerational Artistry to the ‘Dawnland’

The Dawnland Festival of Arts and Ideas in Bar Harbor, Maine, uplifts Wabanaki and Northeastern Native thought leadership and artistry with panel discussions, performances, and a thriving artists’ market.

Julia Ward Howe posed seated with a book open on her lap.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Meet Julia Ward Howe, the Remarkable Poet Who Wrote the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and Fought for Women's Suffrage

The poet, philosopher and suffragist wrote a rallying cry in 1861 that would resonate for more than a century—echoing through the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.

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National Museum of Natural History

Discover Seven Stories of America in the National Museum of Natural History’s New Exhibition

From a bird prepared by a president to a monumental cave carved by water over millions of years, “From These Lands” reveals how America’s history is etched in nature itself

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National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

How Well Do You Know America’s Bird? Nine Fascinating Facts About the Bald Eagle

It soars on six-foot wings, graces our currency and stares out from a thousand patriotic murals. But how much do you actually know about the bald eagle?