Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Health

A human embryo embeds itself into a fake uterus created by researchers.

See the First 3D Images of a Human Embryo Implanting, Shedding Light on the Crucial but Little-Known Process

A new study shows how human embryos reshape their environment by pulling on uterine tissue

This rabbit's "horns" are made of keratin, which is also found in hair and nails.

Rabbits With ‘Horns’ Seen in Colorado Are Going Viral. Here’s What’s Really Happening

Though the strange growths on these animals may look intimidating, experts say there’s not much to worry about, and they’re caused by a fairly common virus

A new study tested a device trained to translate four participants' inner thoughts.

Science Fiction? Think Again. Scientists Are Learning How to Decode Inner Thoughts

A brain-computer interface has gotten better than ever before at translating thoughts from people with speech difficulties. Researchers are also thinking through how to protect users’ privacy

None

Before Meditation Apps, Listeners Were Hooked on Whale Songs, Rain Sounds and the ‘Scream of the Southern Leopard Frog’

We’ve been listening to the great outdoors from the comfort of our homes since the invention of the portable tape recorder. Can nature sounds drown out the cacophony of modern life?

Apps like the newly launched Runmates provide links to running clubs worldwide.

Third Places Are Being Reimagined—and Welcoming Travelers in the Process

Outside of home and work, spaces like parks, food halls and libraries are stepping up with social offerings

A new study suggests blowing into a conch shell helps alleviate obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.

Suffering From Sleep Apnea? Try Blowing Into a Conch Shell Almost Daily, New Study Suggests

Researchers say the practice might provide a simpler and low-cost alternative to the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, though trials with more participants are needed

Demonstrators in Berlin last year advocated for increased awareness of ME/CFS.

Scientists Find Links to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Genes and in the Gut Microbiome

Two studies present new data on ME/CFS, offering “credibility and validity” to the experiences of patients struggling with symptoms

Scientists are currently studying whether cannabis use may cause schizophrenia.

Inside the Quest to Understand the Link Between Cannabis and Schizophrenia

Recent studies have examined the relationship between the drug and psychoses and looked at how the brain responds to the substance

Rheumatoid arthritis is often difficult to treat, and patients rely on immunosuppressant drugs. Now, a new implanted device promises to offer treatment without medication.

New, Implanted Device Could Offer a Long-Elusive, Drug-Free Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The FDA just approved the SetPoint System, which electrically stimulates the vagus nerve to control inflammation from the chronic disease

Australia’s major skink (Bellatorias frerei) has evolved to combat snake venom with the same mutation found in honey badgers, according to a new study.

Scientists Discover Australian Lizards Have Mutations to Resist Snake Venom—and One Day, That Could Help Humans

A new study looking at how skinks have evolved to block venom from reaching their muscles could guide development of new antivenoms

The study found that regular exercise, along with other lifestyle changes, can slow cognitive decline in older adults.

Cognitive Decline Can Be Slowed Down With Lifestyle Changes, From Diet to Exercise and Social Time, New Study Suggests

A 2,100-participant clinical trial found that structured and self-guided lifestyle changes can improve cognitive capabilities in older, at-risk adults

Seeing a potentially infectious person might kickstart the body's immune system, according to a new study.

The Mere Sight of Someone Sick Triggers an Immune Response, Study Suggests

Researchers equipped study participants with virtual reality headsets and observed how their brains and immune systems reacted to avatars with signs of illness

Early detection cancer tests are showing signs of promise, but some researchers still have reservations.

Cancer DNA Can Be Detected in the Bloodstream Up to Three Years Before Diagnosis, Study Suggests

For a few individuals, scientists found genetic material from cancerous tumors in blood samples taken years before they were diagnosed through traditional methods

Andreas Munch Studying Anatomy, Edvard Munch, 1886

Edvard Munch Was Haunted by Physical and Mental Illnesses—but He Was Also Fascinated by Them

Known as the painter of “The Scream,” the Norwegian artist and his loved ones spent many years suffering from health conditions. A new exhibition explores how the world of medicine influenced his art

As our companions, dogs are often exposed to the same carcinogens as us.

How Cancer Research for Dogs Is Helping Improve Treatment for Pets and Humans Alike

Canine and human cancers bear many similarities, and studies on dogs are helping advance care for our furry friends and for us

Mattel collaborated with leading diabetes organization Breakthrough T1D to design the first Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes.

Meet the First Barbie With Type 1 Diabetes. Her Colorful Accessories Showcase the Tools People Use to Treat the Chronic Disease

The new doll boasts a pink continuous glucose monitor to track blood sugar levels and a pink insulin pump

Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the plague

An Arizona Resident Died From the Plague. Here’s What to Know About the Rare Disease

The patient had the pneumonic plague, the rarest and deadliest form of the disease. Human cases remain very uncommon in the United States, though plague is endemic to the western part of the country

Girls' ADHD symptoms are often mistakenly attributed to other issues, like anxiety or depression, and it may take until adulthood for women to be accurately diagnosed.

The Future of Mental Health

Why Are So Many More Women Being Diagnosed With ADHD?

Experts once thought ADHD was something only boys experienced. The research is finally starting to catch up with reality

A measles vaccination is administered to a child.

U.S. Measles Cases Reach a Record High Since the Disease Was Declared Eliminated 25 Years Ago

With nearly six months left in the year, the total number of cases so far in 2025 has surpassed every year since 1992

The patient looks through measuring goggles at a series of markers on a grid. 

Can a Medical Device Restore Your Balance?

Nearly two million people worldwide have lost the simple ability to feel steady. Now researchers have developed an experimental medical implant that promises to restore the sensory machinery responsible for balance

Page 8 of 119