Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/smithsonian-tropical-research-institute/RSS feed for Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteenTue, 03 Mar 2026 21:12:36 +0000Panamanian Golden Frogs Disappeared From the Wild Due to a Deadly Fungus. Now, Scientists Are Returning Them to Naturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/panamanian-golden-frogs-disappeared-from-the-wild-due-to-a-deadly-fungus-now-scientists-are-returning-tehm-to-nature-180988283/Smithsonian researchers in Panama have begun to reintroduce native golden frogs to the wild in special enclosuresTue, 03 Mar 2026 21:12:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/panamanian-golden-frogs-disappeared-from-the-wild-due-to-a-deadly-fungus-now-scientists-are-returning-tehm-to-nature-180988283/These Lazy Bats Are Super-Efficient Killers That Carefully Conserve Energy to Attack at a Moment's Noticehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-lazy-bats-are-super-efficient-killers-that-carefully-conserve-energy-to-attack-at-a-moments-notice-180988152/Wild fringe-lipped bats spend just one-tenth of the night in flight, but they can precisely snatch a calling frog and nab prey that rivals their own sizeMon, 09 Feb 2026 15:18:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-lazy-bats-are-super-efficient-killers-that-carefully-conserve-energy-to-attack-at-a-moments-notice-180988152/When Vampire Bats Become Close Friends, They Start ‘Talking’ Like Each Otherhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/when-vampire-bats-become-close-friends-they-start-talking-like-each-other-180988114/New research shows that just like humans, vampire bats with deep social relationships use similar sounds as one another to communicateFri, 30 Jan 2026 19:31:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/when-vampire-bats-become-close-friends-they-start-talking-like-each-other-180988114/A Robot Is Unraveling the Secrets of How Some Bats Bounce Sound Waves Off Leaves to Find Insect Preyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-robot-is-unraveling-the-secrets-of-how-some-bats-bounce-sound-waves-off-leaves-to-find-insect-prey-180988031/A new study from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute used a robot to mimic common big-eared bats' echolocation skillsWed, 21 Jan 2026 15:33:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-robot-is-unraveling-the-secrets-of-how-some-bats-bounce-sound-waves-off-leaves-to-find-insect-prey-180988031/A Jar of Fossil Bones Long Stored at a Museum Led Scientists to Discover a Goblin-Like Lizard From 76 Million Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-jar-of-fossil-bones-long-stored-at-a-museum-led-scientists-to-discover-a-goblin-like-lizard-from-76-million-years-ago-180986843/Fossils described in a new study speak to a previously unknown large-bodied lizard diversity that existed alongside dinosaursFri, 20 Jun 2025 14:45:51 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-jar-of-fossil-bones-long-stored-at-a-museum-led-scientists-to-discover-a-goblin-like-lizard-from-76-million-years-ago-180986843/Capuchin Monkeys Caught on Camera 'Abducting' Baby Howler Monkeys in a Strange Tradition Seen for the First Timehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/capuchin-monkeys-caught-on-camera-abducting-baby-howler-monkeys-in-a-strange-tradition-seen-for-the-first-time-180986644/Scientists on Panama's Jicarón Island were mystified by photos and videos of young male capuchins carrying howler monkeys on their backs for days at a timeMon, 19 May 2025 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/capuchin-monkeys-caught-on-camera-abducting-baby-howler-monkeys-in-a-strange-tradition-seen-for-the-first-time-180986644/Being Struck by Lightning Is No Big Deal for This Tropical Tree—the Zap Even Gives It a Boosthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/being-struck-by-lightning-is-no-big-deal-for-this-tropical-tree-the-zap-even-gives-it-a-boost-180986333/The almendro tree may have evolved to attract lightning, which helps clear more space for it to grow, according to new researchMon, 31 Mar 2025 15:29:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/being-struck-by-lightning-is-no-big-deal-for-this-tropical-tree-the-zap-even-gives-it-a-boost-180986333/Why Are Giant, Ancient Tropical Trees Dying?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-are-giant-ancient-tropical-trees-dying-180984812/Scientists from an international project are racing to figure out what kills these anchors of their ecosystems—before it's too late to save themFri, 02 Aug 2024 13:46:51 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-are-giant-ancient-tropical-trees-dying-180984812/Dinosaur With Giant, Loki-Like Horns Has the 'Craziest, Coolest' Headgear—and Could Be a New Specieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dinosaur-with-giant-loki-like-horns-has-the-craziest-coolest-headgear-and-could-be-a-new-species-180984577/The discovery sheds light on the evolution of a surprisingly diverse group of horned dinosaurs in the western United StatesThu, 20 Jun 2024 20:08:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dinosaur-with-giant-loki-like-horns-has-the-craziest-coolest-headgear-and-could-be-a-new-species-180984577/Uncovering the Secrets of Colombia's Rich Fossil Depositshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/uncovering-the-secrets-of-colombias-rich-fossil-deposits-180983712/Paleontologists are working hard to understand oceanic remains buried high in the AndesTue, 06 Feb 2024 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/uncovering-the-secrets-of-colombias-rich-fossil-deposits-180983712/