Your body is a collection of cells carrying thousands of genetic mistakes accrued over a lifetime—many harmless, some bad and at least a few that may be good for you
A team trekked for two weeks and collected the sounds of birds, frogs, a jaguar and whales in order to make the song
By evaluating fossils, scientists are learning what creature features may have been used to attract mates and fight off sexual competitors
Challenge trials help researchers study immune responses. Skeptics still doubt the approach is worth the risks
Geomorphologist and veteran climber Ludovic Ravanel is learning how Mont Blanc is shifting—and sharing his discoveries with the Alpine community
On Tetiaroa, a vibrant coral atoll dotted with sandy islets, archaeologists, marine biologists and cultural practitioners are working together to improve understanding of a unique ecosystem
With the state’s glaciers retreating at alarming rates, there is no time like now to trek, climb, paddle and fly to see them
The cute creatures are chatty, family oriented—and facing a shrinking habitat in the remote forests of Ecuador
One of the smallest owls in North America, the northern saw-whet lives among us and is rarely seen—but one volunteer science project aims to find them and uncover their secrets year after year
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
The third president knew that the whims of nature shaped Americans' daily lives as farmers and enslavers
Smithsonian paleoanthropologists explore how the year brought us closer to understanding ancient human relatives and origins
From indestructible tardigrades to body-merging comb jellies, animals can teach humans so much about medicine, robotics, aging and survival
Keep your eyes on the sky this upcoming year for a chance to spot breathtaking meteor showers, a special view of Saturn and a blood-red moon
Short sleepers cruise by on four to six hours a night and don’t seem to suffer ill effects
The shells of the hawksbill sea turtle have been used for luxury items for centuries, but with the species now endangered, new technology is pinpointing where protections are needed most
From animal journeys across oceans to the discovery of dozens of new species in the deep sea, these stories wowed us
From a total solar eclipse that captivated our continent to record temperatures that scorched the planet, these were the biggest moments of the year
From the realization that paleontologists still haven’t found the biggest dinosaurs to the unearthing of a small burrowing dino, the year has been marked by awe-inspiring finds
Aging gracefully comes naturally to these creatures, which can live for hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of years