Paleontologists Stumble Across 15-Million-Year-Old Fish Fossils That Are So Well Preserved, Their Last Meals Are Intact
Discovered in Australia, the fossils represent a new species that lived during the Miocene epoch and highlight how iron-rich rock can protect specimens over time
Cougar Cubs Spotted in Michigan for the First Time in More Than a Century
Two kittens, believed to be between 7 and 9 weeks old, were photographed by a motorist in the western Upper Peninsula
Avian Flu Is Rapidly Spreading Across Antarctica
A new expedition offers insights on the deadly virus’ impact in the region
A Hunter Was Out Looking for Deer in West Texas. He Found a Rare Mammoth Tusk Instead
Discovered in the drainage area of a creek bed, the tusk was initially thought to be “just an old stump”
From a Guitar Shark to an Octocoral, Scientists Discover More Than 800 Marine Species
The Ocean Census hopes to discover thousands of new creatures before they go extinct
These Male Octopuses Use Venom to Subdue Female Mates—and Avoid Being Eaten After Sex
Scientists observed male blue-lined octopuses injecting tetrodotoxin into females, which rendered them immobile for mating
A New Study Finds That Domestic Cats Traveled the Silk Road to China About 1,400 Years Ago
The animals were likely gifted to some elites, then spread throughout the region
These Bird Nests Are Full of Trash, Including Some That’s 30 Years Old
Scientists studying Eurasian coots in Amsterdam found layers of decades-old garbage in their urban nests
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
See Magnificent Monkeys From Around the World in These Shots From the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
You don’t have to swing from treetops to get a close-up look at these curious creatures
The World’s Largest Iceberg Runs Aground, Potentially Averting a Collision With Penguin and Seal Breeding Areas
After months of floating, the “megaberg” known as A23a has finally come to a halt roughly 50 miles from South Georgia Island
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
More Than 1,500 Sandhill Cranes Killed by Bird Flu in Indiana, Raising Concerns Among Biologists
The tall, slender grey birds are making their annual spring migration to northern breeding grounds. Experts say the virus could become a larger problem if it gets passed to endangered whooping cranes
Chinook Salmon Are Swimming in This California River for the First Time in More Than 80 Years
The juvenile fish recently hatched from eggs that scientists deposited in the gravelly riverbed of the North Yuba River last fall
Rare Footage Shows Baby Polar Bears Emerging From Their Den in the Arctic
In a new study, researchers used remote cameras and data from GPS tracking collars to learn more about this vulnerable period in the early lives of these marine mammals
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wants You to Eat These Giant, Invasive Rodents
As part of National Invasive Species Week, the agency is calling on Americans to “eat the invaders,” including swamp-dwelling nutria
How a Fragile Insect Living 100 Million Years Ago Becomes a Fossil
A bug, a dinosaur and a tree intersect, creating the perfect conditions for resin to capture a moment in time
Biologist Spots Rare, Flightless Grasshopper in Virginia for the First Time in Nearly 80 Years
The last time anyone in the state had officially documented the Appalachian grasshopper was in 1946, and the species was once thought to be extinct
Crocodiles in Australia Are Shifting Their Behavior Because of Climate Change, and It Might Harm Their Ability to Hunt
A new study finds that as temperatures rise, the animals are getting hotter, spending less time diving and putting more effort into cooling off
Watch California’s Internet-Famous Bald Eagles Tend to Three New Eggs, Expected to Hatch Soon
Last year, the mated pair Jackie and Shadow also incubated three eggs—but none of them hatched. This year’s “pipping period,” when chicks may break out of their shells, begins in early March
Researchers Use A.I. to Find an Elusive and ‘Odd’ Australian Bird. It Hadn’t Been Recorded in the Area Since 1989
Once abundant throughout southeastern Australia, the critically endangered plains-wanderer is now on the brink of extinction
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