Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/blog/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/RSS feed for Smithsonian Environmental Research CenterenFri, 31 Jul 2026 14:35:34 +0000American Icons: Reviving the River Herringhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/07/31/american-icons-reviving-the-river-herring/Previously millions strong, the river herring have nearly gone belly-up. But not all hope is lost.Fri, 31 Jul 2026 14:35:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/07/31/american-icons-reviving-the-river-herring/American Icons: A Toast to The White Oakhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/07/01/american-icons/From bourbon barrels to sea battles, white oaks are among the most significant trees in American history—and they need our help.Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:19:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/07/01/american-icons/Eight of the Worst Marine Invaders, According to Scientistshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/06/29/eight-of-the-worst-marine-invaders-according-to-scientists/Lionfish, mitten crabs and "sea vomit." Meet eight marine species inadvertently brought to new territory that are taking the aquatic world by stormMon, 29 Jun 2026 13:43:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/06/29/eight-of-the-worst-marine-invaders-according-to-scientists/Too Many Coral Restorations Fail. Treating Them Like Experiments Could Help Them Succeed.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/06/04/too-many-coral-restorations-fail-treating-them-like-experiments-could-help-them-succeed/Scientists suggest a new framework for coral restoration that could help safeguard them in a warming worldThu, 04 Jun 2026 14:05:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/06/04/too-many-coral-restorations-fail-treating-them-like-experiments-could-help-them-succeed/Tech Titans NC Helps Excavate Archaeologists From Mountains of Paperworkhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/04/14/Tech-Titans-NC-Helps-Excavate-Archaeologists-From-Mountains-of-Paperwork/How eight middle schoolers and their coach turned a student challenge into a real-world rescue for researchersTue, 14 Apr 2026 18:23:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/04/14/Tech-Titans-NC-Helps-Excavate-Archaeologists-From-Mountains-of-Paperwork/Meet the Scientist Uncovering How Mangroves Can Help the U.S. Militaryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/03/26/andre-rovai-profile/Smithsonian ecologist Andre Rovai studies how mangroves fight sea level rise, protecting military installations on the coast.Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:05:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/03/26/andre-rovai-profile/Cannibalism Takes Major Bite Out of Young Blue Crabs, but the Shallows Offer a Refugehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/03/16/cannibalism-takes-major-bite-out-of-young-blue-crabs/Smithsonian study finds juvenile crabs rely on shrinking shallow-water habitats to escape cannibalism by adultsMon, 16 Mar 2026 19:33:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/03/16/cannibalism-takes-major-bite-out-of-young-blue-crabs/Eight Weird Facts About Seagrass (and Why It’s Essential)https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/01/30/eight-weird-facts-about-seagrass-and-why-its-essential/Fact one: It's not seaweed.Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:26:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2026/01/30/eight-weird-facts-about-seagrass-and-why-its-essential/Six Ways the Smithsonian Shaped Environmental Science in 60 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/12/31/six-ways-the-smithsonian-changed-the-environment-in-60-years/The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center turned 60 this year. We're celebrating with six of our favorite stories since 1965.Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:59:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/12/31/six-ways-the-smithsonian-changed-the-environment-in-60-years/Scientists Flooded a Forest to Catch a Ghost Forest in the Making. Here’s What They Foundhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/12/05/scientists-flooded-a-forest-to-catch-a-ghost-forest-in-the-making/Scientists sent hurricane-level floods into a Maryland forest to find out what extreme weather and sea-level rise mean for coastal woodlandsFri, 05 Dec 2025 15:05:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/12/05/scientists-flooded-a-forest-to-catch-a-ghost-forest-in-the-making/How Volunteers Helped Train Satellites to Health-Check the Chesapeakehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/09/16/how-volunteers-trained-satellites-to-health-check-the-chesapeake/Thousands of water samples. Hundreds of volunteers. Meet Chesapeake Water Watch, the big data project where volunteers are improving how satellites measure water quality in the Bay.Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:04:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/09/16/how-volunteers-trained-satellites-to-health-check-the-chesapeake/River Otters Unfazed by Parasites, Poop While Eatinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/08/14/river-otters-unfazed-by-parasites-poop-while-eating/North American river otters eat, play and defecate in the same place. And their unhealthy habits make them ideal for detecting future health threats in the environment.Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:26:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/08/14/river-otters-unfazed-by-parasites-poop-while-eating/Local Women’s Voices Often Missing in Marine Protectionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/05/06/local-womens-voices-often-missing-in-marine-protection/A new technique offers a way for managers to make sure they include the perspectives of local women when designing marine protected areas.Tue, 06 May 2025 16:09:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/05/06/local-womens-voices-often-missing-in-marine-protection/Firefighting Planes Are Dumping Ocean Water on the Los Angeles Fires—Why Using Saltwater Is Typically a Last Resorthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/01/13/firefighting-planes-are-dumping-ocean-water-on-the-los-angeles-fires-why-using-saltwater-is-typically-a-last-resort/In Los Angeles, "Super Scooper" planes are dumping ocean water on the raging wildfires. But using seawater has downsidesMon, 13 Jan 2025 21:10:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2025/01/13/firefighting-planes-are-dumping-ocean-water-on-the-los-angeles-fires-why-using-saltwater-is-typically-a-last-resort/Hot, Fresh & Flooded: These Wetlands Spew Out the Most Methanehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/09/11/hot-fresh-flooded-these-wetlands-spew-most-methane/Your local wetland could send hundreds of tons of planet-warming methane into the atmosphere every year. Or virtually none.Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:03:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/09/11/hot-fresh-flooded-these-wetlands-spew-most-methane/Wait, the Ocean Is Losing Oxygen? Q&A With Denise Breitburghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/07/19/wait-the-ocean-is-losing-oxygen/Marine ecologist Denise Breitburg explains how oxygen loss is crippling our oceans, and why it needs to be included as the tenth "planetary boundary"Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:57:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/07/19/wait-the-ocean-is-losing-oxygen/How Crossbows Can Tell Us Which Genes Trees Are Turning On…and Offhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/05/20/how-crossbows-can-tell-us-which-genes-trees-are-turning-on/What's a scientist to do, when you need to reach the highest leaves in the forest and a giant crane isn't an option? Learn to use a crossbow.Mon, 20 May 2024 16:04:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/05/20/how-crossbows-can-tell-us-which-genes-trees-are-turning-on/Adult Fish Aren't Truly 'Protected' in Many Marine Protected Areashttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/04/04/adult-fish-marine-protected-areas/To replenish adult spawners, marine protected areas need strong enforcement and climate-friendly designThu, 04 Apr 2024 13:25:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/04/04/adult-fish-marine-protected-areas/How Much Can Wetlands Fight Climate Change? A New Carbon Atlas Has The Answers.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/03/29/coastal-carbon-atlas/The Coastal Carbon Atlas and Library map how wetlands store carbon around the world—and put open data to work for the environment.Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/03/29/coastal-carbon-atlas/Eight Weird and Wondrous Discoveries From 2023https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/01/26/eight-weird-and-wondrous-discoveries-from-2023/Life on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the true power of nature sanctuaries and more wild discoveries from the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:48:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2024/01/26/eight-weird-and-wondrous-discoveries-from-2023/