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Smart News / Smart News Science

Bei Bei, the National Zoo's youngest giant panda cub, during a veterinary exam when he was less than three months old.

The Long, Adorable History of Pandas in America

Su Lin was the first giant panda to come to America, landing in San Francisco in 1936

New Research

Caesarean Births Could Be Affecting Human Evolution

But it’s too soon to know for sure

New species of scaleworm, Peinaleopolynoe.

New Research

Six New Deep Sea Creatures Just Discovered at Site Slated for Underwater Mining

Seafloor hot springs are rife with life

A new study on pilots' mental health suggests the skies may not be that friendly after all.

New Research

Think Your Job Is Depressing? Try Being an Airline Pilot

New study suggests pilots are more depressed than the average American

Not the largest wave ever recorded

Cool Finds

Sixty-Two-Foot Wave Sets New Record

A sensor in the North Atlantic detected a set of waves averaging over six stories tall, setting a new record for a buoy-measured wave

New Research

Fossil Footprints Show Movements of Our Early Ancestors

The trace fossils found in Tanzania spurred a debate about how early hominids lived

New Research

Never Fear, an Oceanic Asteroid Impact Wouldn’t Cause Apocalyptic Tidal Waves

But it could have long-term effects on the climate

Illustration of NASA's 2005 Deep Impact mission

Think Big

Scientist Warns We’re Unprepared for a Comet Strike

NASA researcher Joseph Nuth proposes that we build and store two spacecraft to deal with potential comet or asteroid strikes

A view of Chicago during the last polar vortex, which plunged the Midwest into winter misery in 2014.

Trending Today

Grab Your Sweaters: The Polar Vortex Is Back

The atmospheric phenomenon will pack a chilly one-two punch this week

This colorful pattern is actually the cells inside a zebrafish embryo.

Cool Finds

Prize-Winning Videos Capture Mesmerizing, Microscopic World

Everything looks cooler when it’s viewed through the lens of a microscope

Postpartum depression inflicts one in seven mothers after their child's birth.

Trending Today

21st Century Cures Act Tackles Postpartum Depression

The new legislation includes grants to help diagnose and treat this prevalent issue

Trending Today

New Rule Will Crack Down on Fraudulent Fish

The Seafood Import Monitoring Program will require fish to be traced from the ocean to the U.S. in an attempt to stop illegal seafood

A Geminid meteor streaks through the sky.

Trending Today

The Full Moon May Dull the Dazzle of this Year’s Geminid Meteor Shower—But You Can Still Catch a Glimpse

With just the right timing, stargazers could catch a few of the sparkling streaks

This bird has a bun in the oven.

Trending Today

Wisdom the Oldest Known Albatross Is Having Another Baby

Old age hasn’t slowed down the prolific bird

Rice paddies are one source of global methane emissions.

Trending Today

Methane Levels Have Surged, and Scientists Don’t Know Why

As Earth heads toward climate crisis, the pressure is on to learn more about CH4

Artist's rendering of KITE

Cool Finds

Japan Testing “Space Tether” to Knock Junk Out of Orbit

The KITE experiment will use a half-mile long cable to guide some of the 500,000 chunks of space junk out of orbit

Trending Today

U.S. Life Expectancy Drops for the First Time in 23 Years

While it only decreased by 0.1 percent overall, eight of the top ten causes of death all saw increases in 2015

Trending Today

Giraffes Silently Slip Onto the Endangered Species List

Years of habitat destruction and poaching have reduced giraffe numbers by 30 percent, placing them in the vulnerable category for the first time

This jaguar was spotted by a wildlife camera in Arizona.

Trending Today

America’s Only Known Jaguar May Not Be Alone Anymore

Perhaps “El Jefe” isn’t so lonely after all

It isn't pretty, but it made history.

Cool Finds

Someone Paid $46,000 for a Bunch of Mold

Its discovery was an accident, but this scientific sample changed the course of medicine forever

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