Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

National Museum of Natural History

NMNH-2026-01022.jpg

Hailing From Glaciers, Geysers and Volcanoes, These Iconic Rocks Provide a Glimpse Into How America Was Formed and Built

A - PNAS MS 2025-05513_Cover Artwork_Submission Version.jpg

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

DSC03488.jpg

For 25 Years, the Smithsonian’s Global Volcanism Program Has Kept Weekly Tabs on Volcanic Eruptions Around the World. Here’s How They Do It

b7_-_nelson-tagsam-shot-b.jpg

New Research Reveals That the Asteroid Bennu Likely Originated on Outskirts of the Solar System

Two men and a woman stand together holding a case with a large diamond inside in this black and white image

How the 'King of Diamonds' Gave the National Museum of Natural History Its Crown Jewel

fancy_color_diamond_spiral.png.jpg

How Do Diamonds Get Their Fancy Colors?

d_-_ted_schultz_-_d_coral-fungus_agriculture.jpg

Top Discoveries at the National Museum of Natural History in 2024

Two men sit on a rock bed on top of a forested hill over looking a remote lake.

Searching for Earth's Oldest Rocks: Follow a Smithsonian Expedition to the Remote Northwest Territories

A slab of multicolored, sedimentary rock is pictured with vibrant trees and water surrounding it.

Meet the Scientist Venturing to Remote Canada in Search of the Earth’s Oldest Rocks

SIA2019-001834-S (1).jpg

How the Structure of a Mammoth Meteorite Reveals the Rough and Tumble Nature of the Asteroid Belt

Screen Shot 2024-06-18 at 9.53.54 AM.png

The ‘Ultimate Honor’: Why a Colorful Mineral Honors the Smithsonian‘s Namesake

Yellow and white lichens are pictured against a back background on a tree branch.

Meet the Smithsonian Fellow Alumni Helping to Save the Planet

meteor crater.jpg

Mars Madness: Meet the Scientist Studying the Rocky Surface of Mars

A man sits in front of a large, white machine and a row of computer screens in a lab setting.

Uncovering Earth's Secrets One X-ray at a Time

A white, fluffy dog stands in front of a brown mural with other dogs

NMNH in Review: Top Discoveries by Museum Scientists in 2023

NMNH-2024-00329 (2).jpg

NMNH in Review: How an Asteroid Sample Traveled From Outer Space to the Museum's Mineral Hall

A blue bird with white and grey spots lies against a white background.

Celebrate the Holiday Season with the Museum’s Stunning Collection of Blue Specimens

A large, brown tooth sits on top of a colorful map of the California coast

Summer Summary: A Mysterious Fossil Tooth, Metallic Planet and Marine Hitchhikers

IMG_9721 2.jpg

New Museum Display Showcases the Mineral Building Blocks of Cellphones

Tsavorite 116.76 carat Square-Cushion Smithsonian Dark Background.jpg

The Story Behind the Smithsonian’s Newest Gem: the Exquisite Lion of Merelani

Categories
Archive

Page 1 of 3