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National Museum of Natural History

A chimpanzee sits among leaves

Explore How Chimpanzees Perceive Gender and More Natural History Programs This April

Tune in to programs about tiny human relatives, fungus-farming ants and more through the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

A small yellow frog with big eyes

Meet Seven Species Named After Musicians

On the eve of the Grammy Awards, learn how scientists sing the praises of their favorite musical artists in the names of ants, snakes, flies and more

Yoshino cherry tree

The Hybridized Nature of Washington's Iconic Cherry Trees

For the 110th anniversary of their arrival to DC, we explore the biology of these charismatic clones

Pink Hyperiid

Say Hello to the Scientist Using DNA to Track Plankton Diversity

Ecologist Paula Pappalardo hones strategies for identifying these critical ocean organisms

Cleveland Volcano with white clouds circling it as seen from the water on a bright, sunny day.

To Track Magma's Path to Eruption, Scientists Say There's Something in the Water

Understanding how magma behaves could help researchers forecast volcanic eruptions

Five orange, 3D-printed statues of female scientists in a garden in front of the Smithsonian Castle on a sunny day.

120 3-D-Printed Statues of Women Redefine What Scientists Look Like

“IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit” takes over Smithsonian March 5-27

A bat hangs upside-down on a thin branch during the day. Green leaves line the frame of the photo.

Real Bats Are Superheroes Too

They might not wear capes, but these mammals have superpowers to spare

A small bonfire burns in the foreground with a sunset in the background.

Explore How Fire Shaped Human Evolution and More Natural History Programs This March

Tune in to programs on the future of biodiversity, how to talk about climate change and more through the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Composite image of ten different species of zooplankton on black background.

An Ode to Zooplankton, the Hidden Heroes of the Sea

These charismatic animals power the marine world as we know it.

Silver tweezers hold a small diamond against a white background.

Five Functions of Diamonds Beyond Rings

From saw blades to scientific instruments, this tough mineral works like a charm

Rain falls from a small group of clouds over the open ocean as the sun shines behind the clouds.

From Clouds to Currents, What Is the Water Cycle?

The water on our planet flows along a path that links the land, ocean, atmosphere and living things

Zoologist Melissa Hawkins holds a squirrel with gloved hands and observes it while in the woods during daylight.

Meet the Scientist Extracting Ancient DNA From Squirrels and Lemurs

Zoologist Melissa Hawkins uses museum specimens and field expeditions to study rodents and primates

Three black and white acorn woodpeckers perched on a branch with wings spread.

Discover How Animals Show Their Love and Other Natural History Programs This February

Stream programs on early human ancestry, the history of disease and more through the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Two small fossil fragments of ancient brittle stars appear green as they rest on Ben Thuy's fingertip.

Scientists Describe Two New Species of Ancient Brittle Star

The newly unearthed fossils reveal an evolutionary path likely shaped by environmental crisis

Geolgist Cari Corrigan poses for a picture in the snow next to an American flag and a sign that reads "Geographic South Pole."

Get to Know the Geologist Collecting Antarctic Meteorites

Cari Corrigan gathers meteorites from the South Pole to help researchers understand the mineral makeup of asteroids and planets

A ground squirrel stands on its hind legs in gravel with greenery in the background.

How Five Hibernators Chill Out During Winter

Mammals have their quirks, and that extends to how they hibernate during the cold season.

A humpback whale breaches the surface of the ocean on a sunny day as three birds fly overhead.

10 Popular Scientific Discoveries From 2021

Read about the year's most attention-grabbing findings by scientists at the National Museum of Natural History

Five specimens of mistletoe fluid-preserved in clear jargs with black caps.

Five Things You Didn't Know About Mistletoe

Over 1,700 species of the parasitic plant grow around the globe

Turquoise and diamond encrusted diadem on a black background that lightens to gray in the center.

How Turquoise Replaced Emeralds in This Royal Diadem

Once gifted by Napoleon, the heirloom is now bejeweled in December’s birthstone

Headshot of paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner in a red sweater holding an early human skull up text to her face on white background.

Meet the Scientist Studying How Humans Started Eating Meat

Paleoanthropologist Briana Pobiner studies bones from animals eaten by early humans millions of years ago

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