How Do Space Programs Get Their Names? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
A Peculiar, Short-Lived Office at the Smithsonian Once Explored Reports of Bizarre Natural Phenomena
From surprising squirrel migrations to islands popping up out of nowhere, the organization’s scientists tracked strange events as they happened
How an 18th-Century Female Physicist Broke Boundaries and Inspired the Generations Who Followed
Cristina Roccati graduated from the University of Bologna when few other Italian women earned degrees, and she taught physics for decades
For Some Women With Serious Physical Ailments, Mental Illness Has Become a Scapegoat Diagnosis
Patients with difficult-to-diagnose conditions like endometriosis are often sent home with diagnoses like anxiety or bipolar disorder
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See Fantastic Frogs in 15 Fun Photographs
Hop through these images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Can Researchers Find Remedies for the Problems Created by High-Altitude Pregnancies?
In people not adapted to life at altitude, the sparse oxygen can impair fetal growth, causing issues that can last a lifetime
The Swarm of People Intent on Saving Our Bees
An army of experts and citizen scientists devoted to documenting and protecting the country’s native bees is telling us a lot about the hidden lives of these insects
A Century Ago, Pioneering Astrophysicist Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Showed Us What Stars Are Made Of
The trailblazing Harvard scientist, who documented the dominance of hydrogen and helium in stars, is still inspiring researchers today
Studying This Slow-Moving Alaskan Landslide May Help Avert Future Disaster
If the landslide at the Barry Arm fjord collapses, its falling ice and rock could generate a devastating 650-foot-high tsunami
This Intrepid Team of Bee Lovers Are Doing Everything They Can to Save Rare Native Species From Extinction
Iridescent sweat bees, hairy-faced mining bees, tiny Perdita minima the size of a gnat. Thanks to swarms of apiary enthusiasts, native species are finally getting the buzz they deserve
Huh? Interjections Are Critically Important to Communication
Utterances like “um,” “wow” and “mm-hmm” aren’t garbage—they keep conversations flowing
Citizen Scientists Are Hitting the Streets of the Country’s Fastest-Warming Cities to Collect Detailed Temperature Data
The heat mapping of metros like Reno, Nevada, could be key to taming urban heat, saving lives and designing for a cooler future
Nine New Tardigrade Species Discovered Thanks to the Efforts of Danish Schoolchildren
The budding scientists collected the tiny water bears in a massive citizen science project that involved almost 30,000 participants
Tiny Antarctic Krill Benefit the Planet in Big Ways, but Face a Barrage of Threats
The bountiful creatures sequester carbon and are a vital food source for marine predators, but their future is uncertain
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See 60 Remarkable Finalists From the 22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
From stunning landscapes to captivating portraits, the photographs showcase the diverse beauty of the world around us. Vote for your favorite, too, for the Readers’ Choice competition
The Future of Transplanting Pig Organs in People
After years of research into xenotransplantation, the field is at a turning point—yet risks and ethical issues remain
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See Magnificent Monkeys From Around the World in These Shots From the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
You don’t have to swing from treetops to get a close-up look at these curious creatures
Inside the Herculean Effort to Study and Save the World’s Smallest Sea Turtle
After years of steady gains, a decades-long conservation program dedicated to the Kemp’s ridley hits rough seas
About One Billion People Are Deficient in Selenium. Genetic Engineering Could Change That
Hoping to stave off a global health crisis, scientists are breeding a new generation of crops that suck the mineral, which helps the thyroid and immune system, from soil
The Six Most Amazing Discoveries We’ve Made by Exploring Uranus
Its bland exterior belies a dynamic world full of surprises
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