National Museum of Natural History Blog

Smithsonian Voices

The Smithsonian Curator Who Loved Frogs

As the first female curator of the National Museum of Natural History’s collection of amphibians and reptiles, Doris Cochran shaped herpetology at the museum and beyond

Ashley D'Souza | March 31, 2026

Meet ‘Junior,’ the Giant Bison Skull That Crossed the Country to Star in New Exhibition at the National Museum of Natural History

The colossal cranium from Idaho recently received a touch-up to prepare for the Smithsonian spotlight

Jack Tamisiea | March 26, 2026

Meet the Scientist Analyzing Historic Bison DNA to Understand How the Species Rebounded From the Edge of Extinction

Smithsonian researcher Sarah Johnson studies bison specimens to understand how the species’s genetic diversity changed after its decline

Ashley D'Souza | March 4, 2026

Researchers Discover New Lineage of Critically Endangered Sunda Pangolins Using Scales in the Museum’s Collection

For world pangolin day, learn more about how genetic researchers helped pinpoint a hidden lineage of the critically endangered mammals

Kaleela Thompson | February 19, 2026

How Did Animals Conquer the Deep Sea? Mussels and Clams Point to Two Different Strategies

New research shows why some shelly critters flourished in the ocean's harshest habitats — and others didn't

Jack Tamisiea | February 11, 2026

To Get on the Same Frequency as Early Reptiles, this Scientist Compares Tiny Fossilized Bones to Modern Lizard Ears

Using the fossil record and modern cold-blooded critters, paleontologist Kelsey Jenkins recreates the hearing capabilities of ancient animals

Jack Tamisiea | February 5, 2026

Scientists Discover New Species of Poison Dart Frog with One-of-One Specimen Collected More than Sixty Years Ago

If not for a pair of Smithsonian scientists, the fingernail-size frog from Brazil would have likely gone extinct without ever being described

Jack Tamisiea | January 21, 2026

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A New Pterosaur, Ancient Asteroid Brine and More Discoveries from the National Museum of Natural History in 2025

The year’s most notable findings also include insights into dog and sheep domestication and a new species of manta ray in the museum’s collection

Jack Tamisiea | January 1, 2026