A Deadly Disease Is Eating Away at Caribbean Corals and Wreaking Havoc on Reefs. Could Probiotics Be the Solution?
New research suggests the probiotic McH1-7 could help stop the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease among wild corals near Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Capuchin Monkeys Caught on Camera ‘Abducting’ Baby Howler Monkeys in a Strange Tradition Seen for the First Time
Scientists on Panama’s Jicarón Island were mystified by photos and videos of young male capuchins carrying howler monkeys on their backs for days at a time
Being Struck by Lightning Is No Big Deal for This Tropical Tree—the Zap Even Gives It a Boost
The almendro tree may have evolved to attract lightning, which helps clear more space for it to grow, according to new research
A Peculiar, Short-Lived Office at the Smithsonian Once Explored Reports of Bizarre Natural Phenomena
From surprising squirrel migrations to islands popping up out of nowhere, the organization’s scientists tracked strange events as they happened
Astronomers Discover Evidence of a Stealthy Supermassive Black Hole Hiding Right ‘Under Our Noses’
The Large Magellanic Cloud is one of the most well-studied galaxies, but new findings suggest it might have been holding a giant secret
See Stunning Illustrations of Prehistoric Life From One of the Most Renowned Paleoartists in the World
A new book highlights the beautiful work of Jay Matternes, an accomplished artist who drew everything from mammoths to early humans
Vesuvius Turned a Roman Man’s Brain Into Glass. Now, Scientists Reveal How the Extremely Rare Preservation Happened
The remains of a young man, found in his bed in the destroyed town of Herculaneum, included glassy fragments that had mystified archaeologists
An Amateur Astronomer Seemingly Spotted a New Asteroid. It Turned Out to Be a Tesla in Space
The car, launched in 2018 on a SpaceX rocket’s upper stage, is one of many human-made objects in deep space that could potentially be mistaken for natural celestial bodies
Scientists Discover Traces of Salt Water and Building Blocks of Life in NASA’s Samples From the Asteroid Bennu
Two new papers describe hints to a brine-filled environment on the 4.5-billion-year-old space rock and the presence of amino acids, offering clues to how early Earth got its ingredients for life
Giant, Mysterious Spires Ruled the Earth Long Before Trees Did. What Exactly Are These Odd-Looking Fossils?
For more than 150 years, scientists have debated whether Prototaxites—which stood roughly 24 feet tall and 3 feet wide—were an early lichen or fungus, like a “giant mushroom”
The Head of the Smithsonian Talks About America’s 250th, Why Experts Still Matter and What to Expect From the Institution in 2025
In an extensive interview, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III spoke on the current political climate, the process of returning human remains from the Institution’s collections, the awe-inspiring scope of Smithsonian science and much more
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
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
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