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Smart News / Smart News Science

The abdomens of Australian honeypot ants can swell to hold honey that the colony uses as a food source when stores run low. 

Honey Made by Ants Could Protect Against Bacteria and Fungi

Australian honeypot ants create and store a sugary substance that may kill microbes, per a new paper that aligns with Indigenous knowledge

Rice's whales were initially thought to be a subspecies of Bryde’s whales—until scientists figured out they were a distinct species.

Fishermen Spot Rare Endangered Rice’s Whale in the Gulf of Mexico

Scientists say no more than 100 individuals of the species exist in the wild, placing the Rice’s whale among the scarcest marine mammals in the world

Paul Kaufmann inherited several of what are thought to be fragments of Ludwig van Beethoven's skull, which he has donated to the Medical University of Austria.

Skull Fragments Thought to Be Beethoven’s Return to Vienna

The composer asked that, following his death, his physician study the illnesses that plagued him during his life

Fork-tailed drongos have a signature color and pattern on their eggs, which helps them avoid getting duped by African cuckoos.

How These Birds Can Spot Look-Alike ‘Imposter’ Eggs in Their Nests

Fork-tailed drongos can identify and reject egg forgeries, laid by African cuckoos, with nearly 94 percent accuracy, new research suggests

David Grusch, former national reconnaissance officer representative of the UAP Task Force at the U.S. Department of Defense, testifies during a House Oversight Committee hearing.

Whistleblower Alleges U.S. Government Is Covering Up Alien Life at UFO Hearing

A Pentagon spokesperson has denied the claims, while lawmakers are pushing for information on UFOs to be declassified

A diver swims around a coral reef in Key West, Florida, on July 14, 2023. Coral reefs in the Florida Keys are at risk of bleaching and death because of very hot water temperatures this summer.

Water Temperatures Hit ‘Hot Tub’ Levels in the Florida Keys

A buoy in Manatee Bay recorded 101.1 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday evening, as coral reefs suffer

Researchers say that as climate change melts ice in Greenland, the influx of cool freshwater could weaken a network of ocean currents that affects Earth's weather.

A Vital Ocean Current System Could Collapse as Soon as 2025, Study Predicts

Climate change could halt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation sooner than thought, per a new paper, but some scientists are skeptical

Southern Delta Aquariids meteors and the Milky Way above Mount St. Helens

How to Watch the Striking Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower

The spectacle is among several showers brightening skies this week, including the highly anticipated Perseids

A researcher holds two White's seahorses before releasing them into Sydney Harbor.

Good News

Scientists Release Record-Breaking Number of Baby Seahorses Into Sydney Harbor

The team installed eight new “seahorse hotels,” which will provide much-needed homes for the endangered animals

Flames reach the Greek village of Gennadi, where residents stand on roofs to try to save their homes with water hoses.

Greece Is on Fire, Forcing Its Largest-Ever Evacuation From Flames

Blazes on three popular vacation islands have led thousands of people to flee the area amid a massive heat wave

Belugas head to Hudson Bay in the summer in droves to eat, molt and give birth.

Watch Tens of Thousands of Beluga Whales Migrate With These Live Streams

The marine mammals are gathering in Canada’s Hudson Bay and Churchill River—and their journey is a reminder of sea ice’s importance

Holland America Line is hosting two solar eclipse cruises, including on aboard the MS Koningsdam.

You Can Watch the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse From Aboard These Cruise Ships

Several cruise lines are offering special sailings for the rare celestial spectacle on April 8, 2024

Researchers found evidence of eight different spices on 12 stone tools at the Óc Eo archaeological complex in southern Vietnam.

Archaeologists Uncover Oldest Evidence of ‘Curry’ Outside of India

Ancient spice processing in Southeast Asia reveals an early trade of ingredients for dishes that Westerners often call “curry”

Nonprofits and policymakers are trying to balance tourism and outdoor recreation with conservation efforts at Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe’s Clear Water Is Brimming With Tiny Plastics

The pristine lake has a higher concentration of microplastics than the water near some floating garbage patches in the oceans, according to a new study

An orca mother travels alongside her son. Older orca females past their reproductive years often lead their pods on hunts.

Aging Mother Orcas Keep Their Sons Out of Fights

In a new study, male orcas with mothers that had gone through menopause showed less tooth scarring on their fins compared to other males

Scientists found that sending electricity into a brain region called the anterior precuneus created sensations of floating.

Have Scientists Found the Source of Out-of-Body Experiences?

Researchers identified a brain region that can create sensations of weightlessness or falling, and it could help develop new forms of anesthesia

A pink dolphin spotted in Louisiana.

Rare Pink Dolphins Spotted Swimming in Louisiana River

The cetaceans are likely bottlenose dolphins with albinism, and one could be “Pinky,” an animal first seen in the area in 2007

The Tusk Gorilla Trail features 15 life-size sculptures decorated by prominent artists and public figures.

Why a Trail of Life-Size Gorilla Sculptures Popped Up in London

The statues seek to raise awareness of wildlife conservation efforts in Africa

Alessandro Rotta Loria and a student in his lab walk through a train tunnel beneath the Chicago Loop.

Chicago May Be Slowly Sinking Because of ‘Underground Climate Change’

The ground beneath the Windy City is shifting as heat escapes from buildings and transit systems, posing a threat to infrastructure, a study finds

The sun sets during a record heat wave in Tempe, Arizona, on July 18, 2023.

From Japan to Louisiana to Rome, Here Are Ten Heat Records Earth Has Broken Since June

As the planet clocks the warmest June ever, here’s a list of temperature marks that fell this summer

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