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National Museum of Natural History

State shells pictured in a circular arrangement against a gray background.

New Smithsonian Exhibition to Showcase Objects From All 50 States

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To Understand a Changing Estuary, Smithsonian Scientists Search for Biodiversity Buried in the Sediment

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When the Moon Obscures the Sun, How Does Life on Earth Respond?

A man wearing a ripped white shirt stands among thick greenery, holding a plastic sample bag

Meet the Smithsonian Scientist Untangling the Branches of Hawaii’s Evolutionary Tree

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To Understand How Animals See in the Abyss, Scientists Peer Through the Eyes of an Alien Amphipod

The inside of a lumpy white and brown seashell is smooth and pink.

The Story Behind the Seashells By the Seashore

An orange-colored fly, as seen from above and below

Get to Know the Scientist Studying How Parasitic Flies Stomach Bat Blood

A small yellow frog with big eyes

Meet Seven Species Named After Musicians

Pink Hyperiid

Say Hello to the Scientist Using DNA to Track Plankton Diversity

Headshot of a person under a canopy wearing a headlamp and holding a bat in gloved hands near their face

Get to Know the Biologist Who Identifies Bats by the Color of Their Poop

Male acorn woodpeckers, like the one on the left, have more offspring over their lives when they’re polygamous, according to new research. (Vivek Khanzode)

Study Finds Polygamy Helps Male Acorn Woodpeckers Thrive

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