Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See 15 Adorable Photos of Playful, Picture-Perfect Penguins
These images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show just why penguins have waddled into our hearts
How A.I. Can Help Humans Battle Wildfires, From Advanced Camera Systems to Forecasting Models
A variety of new technologies aim to improve wildfire detection and help map the spread of blazes
Six Clever Snakes to Celebrate as We Slither Into the Lunar New Year
These fascinating serpents embody acclaimed qualities including cunning and intelligence
Welcome to the Pyrocene
Human use of fire has produced an era of uncontrolled burning
How a Hawaiian High School Student Inspired Nine New State Animals
Researchers hope the designation of several species of land snails, or kāhuli, will lead to conservation
Eight Natural Phenomena Worth Traveling for in 2025
You won’t regret experiencing bioluminescence, swimming with sperm whales or witnessing the rush of a horizontal waterfall
How Cleaning Up Harmful Algal Blooms Could Help Fight Climate Change
A company called BlueGreen Water Technologies aims to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while also fighting algae’s toxic effects on people and the environment
How to Use Renaissance Paintings to Improve the Farming of Tomorrow
An arboreal archaeologist roots around the Italian countryside and in centuries-old frescoes for a cornucopia of fruits long forgotten—but still viable to grow and consume
How a Mass Extinction Driven by Ancient Volcanoes Led to the Age of the Dinosaurs
Roughly 201 million years ago, drastic changes extinguished many forms of life and led to conditions that allowed the terrible lizards to thrive
A Los Angeles Photographer Captures the Devastating Fires Threatening His Beloved Community
Ivan Kashinsky has traveled the world for Smithsonian magazine, but when disaster struck earlier this month, he rushed home to point his lens at his own neighborhood
Why Is Every Human Being Riddled With Genetic Errors?
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
How Scientists and Composers Teamed Up to Create a Stunning Natural Version of Colombia’s National Anthem
A team trekked for two weeks and collected the sounds of birds, frogs, a jaguar and whales in order to make the song
Everything You Want to Know About the Sex Lives of Dinosaurs, From Scratching the Ground to Battling With Horns
By evaluating fossils, scientists are learning what creature features may have been used to attract mates and fight off sexual competitors
What Have We Learned From Intentionally Infecting People With Covid-19?
Challenge trials help researchers study immune responses. Skeptics still doubt the approach is worth the risks
Inside One Scientist’s Quest to Understand Why Climate Change Is Making Europe’s Highest Peak More Dangerous
Geomorphologist and veteran climber Ludovic Ravanel is learning how Mont Blanc is shifting—and sharing his discoveries with the Alpine community
Marlon Brando Wanted to Build a ‘University of the Sea.’ These Scientists Are Bringing the Late Actor’s Vision to Life
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
Seven Ways to Explore Alaska’s Endangered Glacial World
With the state’s glaciers retreating at alarming rates, there is no time like now to trek, climb, paddle and fly to see them
They’re Adorable. And Endangered. Meet the World’s Smallest Monkey: the Pygmy Marmoset
The cute creatures are chatty, family oriented—and facing a shrinking habitat in the remote forests of Ecuador
Meet the Tiny, Adorable Owls That Have Mastered the Art of Hiding
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
Did Colonial Americans Wear Wristwatches? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
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