Pollution | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/pollution/RSS feed for PollutionenTue, 12 May 2026 16:49:45 +0000Microplastics Are Swirling Around in the Atmosphere, Where They Might Be Contributing to Climate Changehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/microplastics-are-swirling-around-in-the-atmosphere-where-they-might-be-contributing-to-climate-change-180988704/Airborne plastic particles, particularly colorful ones, absorb more sunlight than they reflect, which can heat the surrounding air, according to a new studyTue, 12 May 2026 16:49:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/microplastics-are-swirling-around-in-the-atmosphere-where-they-might-be-contributing-to-climate-change-180988704/Why Do Cows Burp Up So Much Planet-Warming Methane? A Newly Discovered Structure in Their Gut Microbes Could Be a Culprithttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-cows-burp-up-so-much-planet-warming-methane-a-newly-discovered-structure-in-their-gut-microbes-could-be-a-culprit-180988664/The "hydrogenobody" is an organelle inside certain microorganisms that live in a special stomach chamber in cattle, sheep and goats, according to a new studyMon, 04 May 2026 16:02:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-cows-burp-up-so-much-planet-warming-methane-a-newly-discovered-structure-in-their-gut-microbes-could-be-a-culprit-180988664/Butterflies Are in Dramatic Decline Across North America. A Close Look at the Western Monarch Shows Whyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/butterflies-are-in-dramatic-decline-across-north-america-a-close-look-at-the-western-monarch-shows-why-180988582/Pesticides, habitat loss and climate change have taken their toll on the beloved insects. But the experts working with them still find hope for their futureFri, 24 Apr 2026 15:42:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/butterflies-are-in-dramatic-decline-across-north-america-a-close-look-at-the-western-monarch-shows-why-180988582/Cocaine Pollution Seems to Make Salmon Swim Farther Than Usual. Scientists Don't Know the Long-Term Consequenceshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cocaine-pollution-seems-to-make-salmon-swim-faster-and-farther-than-usual-scientists-dont-know-the-long-term-consequences-180988600/The illegal drug’s main byproduct, benzoylecgonine, caused more robust effects than cocaine itself. Wastewater treatment plants often don't fully process such metabolites, so they are frequently found in bodies of water at higher concentrations than their parent drugsThu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cocaine-pollution-seems-to-make-salmon-swim-faster-and-farther-than-usual-scientists-dont-know-the-long-term-consequences-180988600/Earth's Smells Are Disappearing Because of Climate Change, and It's a Vast Cultural Losshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-smells-are-disappearing-because-of-climate-change-and-its-a-vast-cultural-loss-180988496/A triple threat of pollution, extinction and warming temperatures is altering the way the planet smells. Scientists are only beginning to understand the stakes for humansWed, 08 Apr 2026 12:57:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/earths-smells-are-disappearing-because-of-climate-change-and-its-a-vast-cultural-loss-180988496/Sharks in the Bahamas Test Positive for Drugs, Including Cocaine and Painkillers, in a New Studyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sharks-in-the-bahamas-test-positive-for-drugs-including-cocaine-and-painkillers-in-a-new-study-180988445/Around one-third of the studied sharks had detectable levels of the analyzed drugs in their bloodMon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sharks-in-the-bahamas-test-positive-for-drugs-including-cocaine-and-painkillers-in-a-new-study-180988445/