The Death of a Sports Legend on This Day in 1993 Changed How Americans Viewed AIDS
Tennis star Arthur Ashe achieved many firsts as a Black athlete. In the months leading up to his death, he thrust AIDS advocacy into the mainstream
A Mysterious Shipwreck Rests Just 20 Feet Below the Surface. It May Be Connected to Vasco da Gama’s Final Voyage
Researchers think a coral-covered vessel discovered off the Kenyan coast could be the “São Jorge,” a galleon that sank 500 years ago
A Giant Meteorite Ripped Up the Seafloor and Boiled Earth’s Oceans 3.26 Billion Years Ago. Then, Life Blossomed in Its Wake
Geologists suggest the catastrophic impact of “S2” delivered key nutrients to the oceans, prompting microorganisms to thrive
Slow-Motion Ripples in Earth’s Mantle Built Mysterious and Stunning Highland Landscapes, Study Finds
Following the break-up of an ancient supercontinent, waves propagated through the hot, rocky layer beneath the planet’s brittle crust and reshaped its surface over millions of years
Botanists Vote to Remove Racial Slur From Hundreds of Plant Species Names
In a first for taxonomy, researchers opted to change scientific names containing derivatives of the slur “caffra” to derivatives of “afr,” in reference to the plants’ origins in Africa
This Pathbreaking South African Horseman Hands a New Generation the Reins
In Soweto, an unlikely champion offers lessons in riding and in life
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Get a Taste of South Africa Through These 15 Photos of Stunning Wildlife and Vibrant Communities
From desert landscapes to glittering beaches, see what this country has to offer
Is This Stingray-Shaped Rock the Oldest Known Animal Art?
While they urge caution, researchers think an artist may have traced a stingray in the sand some 130,000 years ago
Single Orca Spotted Killing a Great White Shark for the First Time Ever
In less than two minutes, the marine mammal attacked a juvenile white shark and ripped out its liver in an encounter off the coast of South Africa last year
Mysterious Creatures With Bird-Like Feet Made These Tracks Long Before Birds Evolved
The footprints pre-date the earliest known fossils of avian ancestors by roughly 60 million years, per a new study
Scientists Uncover a Golden Mole Species Thought to Be ‘Possibly Extinct’
A scent-detecting dog led the team to the discovery in South Africa, and traces of mole DNA helped confirm it
African Penguins Tell Each Other Apart by Their Polka Dot Patterns
New research suggests the birds may find their mates in crowded colonies by looking at their chest plumage
Where Did South Africa’s Missing Sharks Go?
After a spate of orca attacks spooked the fish, they have now been found
Ancient Human Relatives May Have Buried Their Dead
Remains in a South African cave system predate the oldest known human burials by about 160,000 years or more
During the ‘Great Dying,’ This Saber-Toothed Predator Reigned
This ancestor of mammals briefly thrived amid a massive extinction event, hinting at how carnivores may respond to climate change today
Humans May Have Eaten Giant Snails 170,000 Years Ago
Shell fragments from a cave in southern Africa show signs of exposure to extreme heat, suggesting they were cooked
Paleontologists Uncover Fossil Impressions of Giant, Alligator-Like Amphibians
The find reveals how the creatures swam and relaxed in prehistoric waterways
The Ambitious Plan to Stop Mice From Eating Seabirds
Conservationists want to clear Marion Island of the pests, which are wreaking havoc on albatross and other nesting species
A Ring of Fire, Millions of Monarchs and Other Rare Natural Phenomena Worth Traveling For
Be in the right place at the right time to witness these sublime sights
Is It Ethical to Hunt Captive Lions?
In South Africa, the big cats are raised to be killed by hunters. Opponents are outraged, but advocates point to conservation benefits
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