Special Report

Planet Positive

From stories about rebounding endangered species to others about innovations that reduce our carbon footprint, these Smithsonian magazine dispatches show what's working in wildlife and environmental conservation.

A Hawaiian green sea turtle swims off Maui. Reinhard Dirscherl / ullstein bild via Getty Images

<p>Bald eagles are intensely social in spite of also being fierce predators. Some 500 live near the remote fishing port of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.</p>

The Bald Eagle's Soaring Return Shows That the U.S. Can Change for the Better

<p>Male Svalbard walruses cluster by the shore. Each weighs an average of about 3,000 pounds and is up to ten feet long.</p>

A Welcome Comeback for Norway's Walruses

<p>A rare sighting of a northern spring salamander on migration night. These nocturnal creatures spend their days hiding under logs and stones.</p>

Why Did the Salamander Cross the Road?

Featured Story

Lions spritzed with the hormone oxytocin stayed closer together.

Can Spraying Lions With the 'Love Hormone' Help Them Live Together?

Researchers administered oxytocin to captive animals, and preliminary results showed the big cats were less hostile towards strangers

More Science and Conservation Coverage

Since 2017 when the Smithsonian Institution launched its first Earth Optimism Summit, marine biologist Nancy Knowlton notes that positive change is happening. “The price of renewable energy is cheaper than ever, electric vehicles are finally on the verge of taking off, and the world seems ready to protect 30 percent of its lands and water,” she says.

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

A New Surge of Earth Optimism Takes Center Stage at This Year's Folklife Festival

Ruth Anna Stolk

The newly described jumping spider, Guriurius minuano, has a stripy pattern on its abdomen and large black eyes. (Pictured)

Scientists Identify 50,000th Spider Species on Earth—but Thousands More Are Waiting to Be Discovered

Elizabeth Gamillo

Steered by a computer to loop in the wind, this kite converts wind energy into electricity via a tether attached to a generator on the ground. Currently, such kites can generate enough electricity to power 60 average US households.

Could High-Flying Kites Power Your Home?

Kurt Kleiner, Knowable Magazine

The muscles that allow for the "puppy-dog eyes" in domestic dogs is undeveloped in wolves, suggesting that the adorable look evolved to captivate humans. (Pictured: The author's dog, Smoky.)

The Science Behind Those Big Ol' Puppy-Dog Eyes

Elizabeth Gamillo

Scientists found the smell ranked the most pleasant regardless of cultural background was vanilla.

The World's Favorite Scent Is Vanilla, According to Science

Elizabeth Gamillo