Science / Wildlife

Could This Tiny Drone Covered in Sticky Goop Do the Work of Bees?

Well, it may not replace bees. But it’s a fun project nonetheless

February 14, 2017

Pandamonium

It’s Easy to Fall in Love With a Panda. But Do They Love Us Back?

Keepers admire them, but have no illusions. Pandas are solitary creatures

February 10, 2017

Here’s Why You Should Never Kiss a Toad

A scientist at Smithsonian’s Tropical Research Institute helped catalog everything known about toxins in the skins of endangered frogs and toads

February 10, 2017

New Research

Inside Every Frog’s Mouth Is a Sticky, Grabby Bullet

Investigating frog tongues—and some human ones!—in the name of science

February 1, 2017

Smithsonian Scientist and a Reef-Diving Grandmother Team Up in Discovery of New Hermit Crab

A new species of hermit crab is named to honor her 7-year-old granddaughter Molly

January 31, 2017

The Zoo’s Baby Seal Is Cute and Cuddly, But Don’t Be Fooled

The National Zoo’s seal-breeding program has another gray seal pup success

January 26, 2017

The Innovative Spirit fy17

For Scientists, Chunks of Whale Earwax Can Be Biological Treasure Troves

Biologists are waxing poetic about these unusual oceanic core samples found in the ears of cetaceans

January 25, 2017

Disappearing Puffins Bring an Icelandic Hunting Tradition Under Scrutiny

Historically, hunting seabirds has been a distinctive feature of Nordic coastal culture. Should it still be?

January 17, 2017