Smithsonian
Monarch Butterflies Might Soon Be Listed as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act
If a new proposal is adopted, the insects would become the most commonly seen species to be the subject of federal protection under this law
The Best Books of 2024, as Chosen by Smithsonian Scholars
Staff at the Institution pick their favorite reads of the year, including riveting memoirs, fascinating true histories and fun fiction
Watch a Starlink Satellite Plummet Through the Atmosphere in Videos Captured Last Weekend
The fireball—one of many decommissioned satellites from SpaceX's internet service—was spotted by dozens of people across at least four states, and many mistook it for a meteor
A Cloned Ferret Has Given Birth for the First Time in History, Marking a Win for Her Endangered Species
Antonia, a cloned black-footed ferret at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, has produced two healthy offspring that will help build genetic diversity in their recovering population
Scientists Unearth the Oldest Tadpole Fossil Ever Found, and It's a 161-Million-Year-Old 'Giant'
Found in a rock in Argentina, the six-inch-long tadpole sheds light on the history of frog metamorphosis
Historic New Shepard Rocket Booster and Crew Capsule Will Go on Display at the Air and Space Museum
The two artifacts donated by Blue Origin achieved record-breaking feats and will extend the museum's story of trailblazing space travel into the present
Is Wildfire Smoke Causing Birds to Tend to Empty Nests?
New studies suggest smoke from western megafires may be damaging bird health and leading to strange behavior
Earth Is Getting a New 'Mini Moon' for the Next Two Months, Astronomers Say
A roughly 33-foot-long asteroid called 2024 PT5 will chart a horseshoe-like path around our planet
In a Landmark Study, Scientists Discover Just How Much Earth's Temperature Has Changed Over Nearly 500 Million Years
Researchers show the average surface temperature on our planet has shifted between 51.8 to 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit
Mysterious 'Wow!' Radio Signal Might Finally Have an Explanation—and No, It's Not Aliens
The infamous signal recorded in 1977 might have been a laser-like beam of radiation from a hydrogen cloud energized by a powerful, magnetic star, preliminary research suggests
Scientists Suggest Freezing Endangered Animals' Cells and Preserving Them on the Moon
Shadowed areas in lunar craters may be cold enough to safeguard species' DNA amid "climate disasters and social disasters" on Earth, according to Smithsonian-led research
Busting 13 of the Smithsonian’s Most Persistent Myths
From castle hauntings to hiding evidence of giant humans, the Smithsonian has long been the subject of wild rumors and tall tales
See 25 Stunning Images of the Cosmos From the Chandra X-Ray Observatory as It Celebrates 25 Years in Space
Chandra, the world’s most powerful X-ray telescope, has been peering at black holes, stellar explosions and dark energy for a quarter-century
Two Pandas Arrive at the San Diego Zoo, the First to Enter the U.S. in 21 Years
For months, the only pandas in the country had been in Atlanta. Next, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are expected to also receive pandas this year
ISS Astronauts Forced to Briefly Take Shelter as Russian Satellite Suddenly Breaks Up in Orbit
Officials are unsure why the satellite fractured unexpectedly, splintering into nearly 200 pieces
'Frog Saunas' May Be the Key to Saving Amphibians From a Deadly Fungal Infection
Providing frogs with sun-warmed bricks inside mini-greenhouses can help them recover from chytrid and make them more resilient against the disease in the future, a new study finds
Dinosaur With Giant, Loki-Like Horns Has the 'Craziest, Coolest' Headgear—and Could Be a New Species
The discovery sheds light on the evolution of a surprisingly diverse group of horned dinosaurs in the western United States
William Anders, NASA Astronaut Who Captured Iconic 'Earthrise' Photograph, Dies at 90
The Apollo 8 lunar module pilot also served in the U.S. Air Force and worked extensively on nuclear energy projects
People Are Spotting Rare, Blue-Eyed Cicadas Around Illinois
As two broods of periodical cicadas emerge across the U.S. this spring, people have discovered a few of the bugs that don’t have their trademark red eyes
Belugas May Communicate by Changing the Shape of Their Squishy Foreheads
Scientists documented five different melon shapes among the marine mammals living in captivity: push, flat, lift, shake and press
Page 1 of 77