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Plants

Early shoots of thale cress sprout in their case of transparent gel on the space station. This is the same type of plant examined in this latest study for its "brain."

New Research

Seeds May Use Tiny “Brains” to Decide When to Germinate

Two clumps of cells send hormone signals to each other to help determine when the time has come to sprout

Screenshots from the iNaturalist app, which uses "deep learning" to automatically identify what bug—or fish, bird, or mammal—you might be looking at.

AI Plant and Animal Identification Helps Us All Be Citizen Scientists

Apps that use artificial intelligence to allow users to ID unknown specimens are making science more accessible to everyone.

New Research

Is Australia’s Dingo-Proof Fence Changing the Ecosystem of the Outback?

A new study says yes, but it’s complicated

The ginkgo biloba or Maidenhair tree has been around for at least 270 million years, making it the botanical equivalent of the shark.

Age of Humans

The World Told Through the Eyes of the Ginkgo Tree

By deciding this ancient plant was worthy of their attention, humans ended up dramatically shaping its evolution

Tea leaves

New Research

Researchers Read the Genome in the Tea Leaves

It’s massive—four times that of coffee

Unlikely savior: The remarkable properties of spaghnum moss help preserve long-dead bodies, sequester carbon and even heal wounds.

World War I: 100 Years Later

How Humble Moss Healed the Wounds of Thousands in World War I

The same extraordinary properties that make this plant an “ecosystem engineer” also helped save human lives

The super bloom draped California's Walker Canyon in a riot of colors.

Cool Finds

California’s Lush Super Bloom Is Even More Stunning From Space

Satellite images captured an explosion of flowers stretching across California’s desert hills

Ingenious leafcutter ants have developed a successful symbiotic relationship with the fungi they farm. New genetic analysis helps pinpoint when, and why.

New Research

How Ants Became the World’s Best Fungus Farmers

Ancient climate change may have spurred a revolution in ant agriculture, Smithsonian researchers find

David Fairchild in 1940, tasting the fruit of an antidesma tree in Indonesia.

This Swashbuckling Botanist Changed America’s Landscapes

Not always for the better

A fern repeats its pattern at various scales.

Art Meets Science

Fractal Patterns in Nature and Art Are Aesthetically Pleasing and Stress-Reducing

One researcher takes this finding into account when developing retinal implants that restore vision

Though the pictured fish belong to a German research collection, they represent similar samples around the world that have come under attack.

Trending Today

The Campaign Is On to Save the Natural History Collections of a Louisiana University

The school is displacing millions of specimens in favor of a new track

New Research

Researchers Turn Spinach Leaves Into Beating Heart Tissues

These living leaves could eventually become patches for the human heart

One of the world's most iconic deserts was once lush and green. What happened?

New Research

What Really Turned the Sahara Desert From a Green Oasis Into a Wasteland?

10,000 years ago, this iconic desert was unrecognizable. A new hypothesis suggests that humans may have tipped the balance

False-color x-ray of the purported 1.6 billion-year-old red algae

New Research

At 1.6 Billion Years Old, These Fossils Could Be the Oldest Complex Life

Three types of ancient red algae-like fossils captivate scientists, but many questions remain

This image, taken from space last summer, shows a long swath of dead mangroves on Australia's northern coast.

New Research

What Killed Northern Australia’s Mangroves?

Last year’s massive die-off was the largest ever observed

Westgate Park's salt lake has once again turned cotton-candy pink.

Cool Finds

Why Did This Australian Lake Turn Bright Pink?

Hot weather, scant rainfall and high salt levels have created a perfect storm for pinkness

Marianne North’s Obsession with the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant

Painter Marianne North’s obsession with local Borneo vegetation led her to one of the most unusual and rare plants in the world

A reconstruction from the 3,700-year-old remains of Ava, a woman unearthed in the Scottish Highlands

Pollens Found in Grave of Bronze Age Woman Paint Picture of Bygone Scotland

But do they shed light on the mystery of the woman’s death?

The award-winning, responsive-design website fits your phone, tablet and computer and can be used to make an itinerary for easy printout and planning.

You Don’t Need to Wait for Spring to Enjoy the Smithsonian Gardens

This new tour guide will help you relax in these urban oases

Flowering quinoa

New Research

Genome Mapping Could Lead to Cheaper and More Abundant Quinoa

New data on the “superfood” could help breed varieties that require less processing and can thrive in poor soil conditions

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