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National Museum of Natural History

African Bush Elephant, Skeleton Coast, Namib Desert, Namibia by Arby Lipman. Winner of “African Wildlife.” (© Arby Lipman, Nature’s Best Photography Awards 2018)

Check out the Winning Photos From the 2018 Nature’s Best Photography Awards

60 stunning photographs depicting the beauty and diversity of nature are on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History through September 2019.

The newly opened Steinhardt Museum of Natural History at Tel Aviv University preserves and displays Israel’s natural heritage. (David Furth, Smithsonian Institution)

Here’s How the Smithsonian Helped Develop the Middle East’s First Natural History Museum

The Middle East’s first comprehensive natural history museum recently opened with help from the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian embedded the first Ceratosaurus ever discovered in the wall of the National Museum of Natural History in 1911. It remained stuck in the wall for more than 100 years. (Smithsonian Institution)

A Smithsonian Dino-Celebrity Finally Tells All

The Smithsonian’s <i>Ceratosaurus</i> is finally giving up its secrets as it prepares for a long fight with a <i>Stegosaurus</i> in the “David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time,” opening June 8, 2019.

A fossil sea turtle skull excavated from Angola’s coastal cliffs. A cast of this fossil will be featured in “Sea Monsters Unearthed,” opening November 9 at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. (Hillsman S. Jackson, Southern Methodist University)

Q&A: Sea Monsters in Our Ancient Oceans Were Strangely Familiar

Stunning fossils reveal that Angola's ancient ocean ecosystem was at once strange and familiar.

The Nation’s T. rex decapitating a Triceratops in its new pose as the centerpiece of the

An Elegy for Hatcher the Triceratops

Named in honor of the discovering paleontologist, Hatcher introduced <i>Triceratops</i> to the world, and was a pillar of the Smithsonian community for 113 years.

C. David de Santana and his team exploring the Javari River on the border of Brazil and Peru on a misty morning. (Douglas Bastos)

Discovery and Danger: The Shocking Fishes of the Amazon's Final Frontier

Smithsonian Scientist races to discover and study the mysterious fishes of the Amazon's final frontier.

The Nation’s T. rex decapitating a Triceratops in its new pose as the centerpiece of the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils – Deep Time, a 31,000-square-foot dinosaur and fossil exhibit slated to open June 8, 2019. (Smithsonian Institution)

Q&A: Smithsonian Dinosaur Expert Helps T. rex Strike a New Pose

The Nation's T. rex is back at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in a striking new pose.

A drawer of pinned adult mosquitoes from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History’s National Mosquito Collection. The specimens shown here were digitized recently. Meaning, their bionomic information is databased and individual specimens are cataloged. (David Pecor, WBRU)

Can Scientists Stop One of the World's Deadliest Mosquitoes?

The National Mosquito Collection provides invaluable insight into how species behave and how scientists can detect them before they spread disease.

Meet the People Leading the Fight Against Pandemics

"Outbreak" highlights the faces and voices of the people who work to identify pathogens, respond to outbreaks, treat patients, and research cures—as well as those who have survived infection.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History designed and installed a new lab that enables scientists to process and study ancient DNA. (James Di Loreto, Smithsonian)

Safety Suit Up: New Clean Room Allows Scientists to Study Fragile Ancient DNA

A new lab at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History allows scientists to process and study ancient DNA.

The National Museum of Natural History’s “Earth Temperature History Symposium” convened leading paleoclimate scientists to draw a comprehensive temperature curve of Earth’s past climates. (Lucia RM Martino, Smithsonian)

Leading Scientists Convene to Chart 500M Years of Global Climate Change

The National Museum of Natural History’s “Earth Temperature History Symposium” convened the world's leading paleoclimate scientists to synthesize the latest scientific research in a comprehensive temperature curve of Earth's past climates.

New Smithsonian Exhibit Spotlights "One Health" to Reduce Pandemic Risks

Sabrina Sholts, Curator of Physical Anthropology discusses her work on "Outbreak," an upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History that aims to raise public awareness about pandemic risks in order to decrease them.

A new exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian highlights the ways in which American Indians have been part of the nation’s identity since before the country began. (Ernest Amoroso, Smithsonian)

New Exhibit Reveals Indians Everywhere...Except in Your Textbooks

Gwyneira Isaac, the National Museum of Natural History's Curator of North American Ethnology, reviews the newest exhibit on display at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Foraminifera from Ernst Haeckel's Kunstformen der Natur. (Ernst Haeckel)

Here's How Scientists Reconstruct Earth's Past Climates

Scientists apply different methods to the geologic record with the goal of better understanding and quantifying ancient Earth's temperatures.

With more disciplines working together, better use of big data, and more computer simulations and other quantitative approaches, archaeologists may be able to make meaningful predictions of the future. (Photo courtesy of Wendy Cegielski and Jay Etchings)

Convergence May Help Scientists Predict the Future

Archaeologists J.Daniel Rogers and Wendy Cegielski identified three distinct research trends that need to converge to address today’s greatest challenges.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History houses countless artifacts and specimens related to the American Presidency, like this meteorite which was presented to President Ulysses S. Grant by the Mexican government. (Paul Fetters for the Smithsonian)

Check Out These Unexpected Connections in Natural and Presidential History

To celebrate President’s Day, here are some of my favorite natural history artifacts and specimens that not only form the foundation for scientific discovery, but also reveal a piece of the American story.

St. Croix ground lizards are one of the world's rarest lizards. (Nicole Angeli, Smithsonian)

Why Aren't St. Croix Ground Lizards on St. Croix?

Smithsonian scientists are working to save St. Croix ground lizards from extinction and bring them home to their namesake island.

Schools of snappers, grunts and jacks on a seagrass plain at Hol Chan marine reserve, Belize. (Pete Oxford, International League of Conservation Photographers)

Can Genetics Improve Fisheries Management?

The Smithsonian's Marine Conservation Program uses genetics as one tool in a holistic approach to marine conservation. In doing so, the Program provides fisheries managers with sound scientific data that can be used for evidence based decision-making and adaptive management.

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History traveled the world and made many new discoveries this year--like this Cyrtodactylis payarhtanensis, a new species of bent-toed gecko. (Daniel G. Mulcahy)

Countdown to the New Year: 7 of Our Favorite Discoveries from 2017

To count down to the new year, here are some of our favorite stories about the exciting discoveries our researchers made this year.

Tlingit Killer Whale Clan Hat digitized and repatriated by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in 2005. (Nick Partridge, Smithsonian)

Is 3D Technology the Key to Preserving Indigenous Cultures?

Smithsonian scientists apply 3D technology to indigenous artifacts to ensure native cultures survive and thrive for future generations.

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