‘Unsolvable’ Code Hidden in Antique Dress Pocket Is Finally Cracked
Short, handwritten lines of unrelated words contained coded weather reports to send via telegraph in the late 19th century
The Great Lakes Reached a Record Low for Ice Cover on New Year’s Day
The ‘extreme’ lack of ice follows warm temperatures in December and calls attention to recent downward trends in ice coverage on the lakes
52 Cold-Stunned Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles Rescued From Cape Cod
The critically endangered creatures were flown by private plane to rehabilitation centers in Florida
The Ten Best Science Books of 2023
From stories on the depths of the ocean to the stars in the sky, these are the works that moved us the most this year
Smithsonian Scholars Recommend Their Favorite Books of 2023
Curators and staffers satisfied their endless curiosity with novels, short stories, biographies, art collections and journalistic reporting
One Reason Migrating Birds Get Lost Is Out of This World
Solar energy can alter the Earth’s magnetic field and likely lead the animals astray
How Citizen Scientists Rescued Crucial World War II Weather Data
Newly declassified documents from the Pacific theater have been digitized and could improve climate models
Dense ‘Super Fog’ Causes Deadly Car Crashes in Louisiana
The thick haze lowers visibility to less than ten feet and forms when smoke from smoldering leaves, brush or trees mixes with moisture in cool air
Cheetahs Become More Nocturnal in Extreme Heat, Study Finds
Hunting later at night may force the big cats to surrender their prey to larger carnivores, such as lions and leopards
How and Why Do Violent Tornadoes Form?
Scientists hope new technology and computing power will help them understand destructive twisters
Hurricane Otis Slams Mexico in ‘Nightmare Scenario’ That Shocked Meteorologists
The storm rapidly intensified in just 24 hours before it hit Acapulco as a category 5, killing at least 27 people and destroying infrastructure
Groundhogs Are Old News. In This Tiny Town, Caterpillars Predict the Weather
Thousands of people flocked to Banner Elk, North Carolina, this year to watch the nation’s biggest woolly worm caterpillar race
Atlantic Hurricanes Are Getting More Dangerous, More Quickly
If such changes are in response to climate change, the future may feature more sudden, daunting storms
This September Was the Earth’s Hottest on Record
The scorching month follows the hottest June, July and August in recorded human history
100-Year-Old Shipwreck Discovered 800 Feet Below Lake Superior
The “Huronton” sank after colliding with a larger ship amid heavy fog and smoke in October 1923
At Least 125 River Dolphins Have Died Amid Drought and Heat in Brazilian Amazon
Though the pink animals’ cause of death is not confirmed, temperatures in the remote Lake Tefé reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit in late September
Flamingos Spotted in Wisconsin for First Time on Record Amid String of Rare Appearances
Following Hurricane Idalia, the conspicuous pink birds have been sighted in at least 11 states where they don’t typically live
When California and Florida Attracted Settlers With Promises of a Perfect Climate
Today, they rank at the top of lists of U.S. states most at risk from climate change
See When Brilliant Fall Foliage Will Peak With This Interactive Map
The tool’s county-by-county predictions will help you plan the best leaf-peeping trips
Drought Reveals 113-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Tracks in Texas
The footprints are normally submerged under the water and silt of the Paluxy River, part of which has dried up this summer
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