Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ‘Jaws’ With 15 Shark Snapshots
The classic thriller might discourage you from getting in the water, so check out these sensational shark images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest instead
The 15 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2025
From a barbecue capital in Texas to the site of the first offensive victory for American forces in the Revolutionary War in New York, these spots are worthy of a visit this year
The Fearsome Megalodon Ate Basically Whatever It Wanted to Reach Its Daily 100,000-Calorie Need, Study Suggests
Scientists previously assumed the giant, prehistoric sharks mostly feasted on whales, but it turns out they probably weren’t so picky
Our Teeth May Descend From Sensitive Bumps on Prehistoric Fish Armor, New Research Finds
Hundreds of millions of years ago, fish had sensory features on their exoskeletons that contained dentine, the material that makes our teeth sensitive today
Listen to the First Known Recording of Shark Sounds, a ‘Weird’ Audio Clip Captured at a Marine Lab in New Zealand
Researchers detected short clicking noises from rig sharks during handling in the lab, though they’re not sure why or how the sound is produced
See 15 Captivating Images From the British Wildlife Photography Awards, From a Majestic Shark to Hungry Pigeons
The winning photographs highlight the diversity of animal and plant life in Britain as well as the often hidden behaviors of wild creatures
Watch an Octopus Hitch a Ride on a Shark—an Unusual Duo Dubbed the ‘Sharktopus’
Researchers in New Zealand captured the odd pairing on video, but they still don’t know how to explain the behavior
Megalodon Might Have Been Longer and Skinnier Than Previously Thought, Growing Up to 80 Feet
A new paper suggests the enormous, extinct shark looked less like a bulky great white and more like an elongated lemon shark
Greenland Sharks Can Live for 400 Years. Scientists Are Using DNA to Unravel Their Longevity Secrets
These large, mysterious creatures are the longest-living vertebrates on the planet—and their genomes could contain clues to how they prevent cancer and reach such an advanced age
Shark Pup Mysteriously Hatches in Aquarium Tank With Only Females. How Could This Birth Happen?
Experts say the case is either a rare form of asexual reproduction or an instance of (very) delayed fertilization
Fossil Hunter Discovers 66-Million-Year-Old Vomit in Denmark, Offering a Clue to the Cretaceous Food Chain
A marine animal snacked on some sea lilies that did not agree with its stomach—and we now know what happened next
Marlon Brando Wanted to Build a ‘University of the Sea.’ These Scientists Are Bringing the Late Actor’s Vision to Life
On Tetiaroa, a vibrant coral atoll dotted with sandy islets, archaeologists, marine biologists and cultural practitioners are working together to improve understanding of a unique ecosystem
From Giant Tortoises to Immortal Jellyfish, These Impressive Animals Are Eight of the Longest-Living Species on Earth
Aging gracefully comes naturally to these creatures, which can live for hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of years
A Pod of Orcas Learned to Target and Feast on Whale Sharks, the Largest Fish in the Sea
Photos and videos of the apex predators reveal how they engage in coordinated hunts in Mexican waters to take down juvenile whale sharks
These Are Americans’ Biggest Fears in 2024, as the Country Is ‘Becoming More Afraid’
Government corruption, loved ones becoming ill or dying, cyberterrorism and nuclear weapons topped the list of Chapman University’s annual survey
Admire the World’s Largest Collection of Fossilized Poop at the New ‘Poozeum’ in Arizona
Owner George Frandsen has some 8,000 coprolites from dinosaurs, sharks and other creatures
A Great White Shark Mysteriously Washed Ashore in Cape Cod, and Researchers Don’t Know Why
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of death for the 12.5-foot-long shark, which was named Koala
See Ten Strange and Mesmerizing Creatures From the Deep Ocean, From Sea Toads to Frilled Sharks
Scientists who explore the depths using submersibles continue to discover amazing animals that inhabit dark waters
The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis Triggered the Worst Shark Attack in History
In the final weeks of World War II, a Japanese torpedo sank an American heavy cruiser. Only 316 of the 900 sailors who survived the initial attack were ultimately rescued
Construction Project Unearths Millions of Fossils Beneath a Los Angeles High School
The discoveries include sharks, shorebirds, mammals and saber-toothed salmon, with the oldest remains dating to almost nine million years ago
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