Penguin Poop Helps Drive Cloud Formation Over Antarctica, According to a New Study
The ammonia from Adélie penguin guano reacts with sulfur-containing gases in the atmosphere to aid in forming clouds, which scientists say may be significant to regulating the climate
Aquarium Builds New ‘Assisted Living’ Retirement Retreat for Aging African Penguins to Live Out Their Golden Years
At the New England Aquarium, the geriatric birds can now enjoy a quieter, calmer setting with an emphasis on personalized care
Avian Flu Is Rapidly Spreading Across Antarctica
A new expedition offers insights on the deadly virus’ impact in the region
Scientists Uncover a Frozen History in 6,000 Years’ Worth of Penguin Poop, Revealing Past Ecology on Antarctica
Sediment samples from the Ross Sea coastline are revealing insights into how animals like elephant seals and Adélie penguins adapted to environmental changes long ago
The World’s Largest Iceberg Runs Aground, Potentially Averting a Collision With Penguin and Seal Breeding Areas
After months of floating, the “megaberg” known as A23a has finally come to a halt roughly 50 miles from South Georgia Island
What Did Scientists Learn After Thousands of Penguins Were Slaughtered by Mountain Lions?
The thriving bird colonies likely grew over several decades because local shepherds had temporarily eliminated pumas
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See 15 Adorable Photos of Playful, Picture-Perfect Penguins
These images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show just why penguins have waddled into our hearts
The Ten Most Awe-Inspiring Ocean Moments of 2024
From animal journeys across oceans to the discovery of dozens of new species in the deep sea, these stories wowed us
Gus, the Young Emperor Penguin Who Made a Surprise Appearance in Australia, Is Now Heading Home
Wildlife caretakers released the bird into the Southern Ocean after he’d put on some weight and regained his strength
Surfer Spots an Emperor Penguin on a Beach in Australia, Thousands of Miles From Its Antarctic Home
It’s not clear how the juvenile male ended up so far north, but experts suggest he was motivated by his appetite
See New Images of Pesto, Australia’s Enormous Baby Penguin, in His ‘Awkward Phase,’ Molting His Downy Feathers
The viral king penguin chick at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is beginning to lose his youthful down, a process that will give him his distinctive and waterproof adult plumage
How Scientists’ Tender Loving Care Could Save This Endangered Penguin Species
From fish smoothies to oral antibiotics, researchers are taking matters into their own hands in a radical effort to save New Zealand’s yellow-eyed penguins
Meet Pesto, the Biggest Baby Penguin This Australian Aquarium Has Ever Seen
Most adult king penguins weigh between 31 and 37 pounds. At nine months old, a 51.8-pound Pesto is already looming over his parents
Rare Yellow-Eyed Penguin Wins New Zealand’s Bird of the Year Contest
The noisy-but-shy bird, known as the hoiho, has earned the most votes for a second time amid threats to its survival
Sphen, Australian Penguin of Famous Same-Sex Couple, Dies at Age 11
Sphen and his longtime partner Magic got together at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium in 2018. They successfully hatched two foster chicks and became “international queer icons”
Antarctica’s Ozone Hole Is Persisting Later Into the Year, Raising Concerns for Wildlife
As a result of the longer-lasting hole, harmful ultraviolet radiation is reaching Earth during a time when young penguins and seals are more vulnerable, scientists say
You Could Run a ‘Penguin Post Office’ in Antarctica
Three new hires will spend five months living among gentoo penguins and sorting postcards at the world’s southernmost post office
Scientists Discover Four New Emperor Penguin Colonies From Satellite Images of Antarctica
The findings are a rare bright spot for the birds, which scientists predict will be mostly extinct by 2100
See 25 Breathtaking Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest
Representing some of the world’s best nature photography, the pictures are being put to a popular vote for the People’s Choice Award
Our Top Ten Stories of 2023
From the world’s oldest dog to the real history behind “Oppenheimer,” these were the magazine’s most-read articles of the year
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