Special Report
Our Sustainable Future
A hub dedicated to the latest on how global change affects life on Earth today and on what solutions scientists, including those at the Smithsonian, are researching to build a more sustainable planet
How Dairy Farmers Are Turning Manure Into Money
These New Englanders have found a way to help the planet and convert more than 9,000 tons of cow waste annually into electricity
Why Buying ‘Bird Friendly Cocoa’ Is a Sweet Deal
The Smithsonian launches a new certification for chocolate lovers looking to help their feathery friends
Sustainability at the Smithsonian
Sustainability News From Smithsonian Magazine
The Centuries-Old Abandoned Farmhouses of Puglia Are Having a Renaissance Moment
Supporting sustainability and local economies, these out-of-the-way structures known as masserie are offering a new type of rustic luxury
How Sweden’s Vätternrundan Became One of the Biggest Recreational Bike Rides on the Planet
For 60 years, cyclists have descended on the city of Motala in June to ride 196 miles around Lake Vättern and promote healthy living
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
Would You Wear a Wedding Dress Made of Disposable Paper? These 1960s Brides Donned Them to Save Money—and Make a Daring Fashion Statement
Created with synthetic textiles, the “nonwoven” gowns could be shortened for the reception or easily packed away for the honeymoon
Making Ride Hailing, Bike Shares and Other Transportation Options Accessible to All
Shared mobility is good for the environment, but not equal opportunity. What can be done to make travel easier for everyone?
Climate Change News
Scientists Will Melt the World’s ‘Oldest Ice’ to Reveal Its Secrets and Uncover a Climate Record of 1.5 Million Years
The ice cores could offer clues about a period known as the Mid-Pleistocene Transition that has long puzzled scientists
Athens Is Reviving a 2,000-Year-Old Roman Aqueduct to Deliver Water to the City Amid Prolonged Droughts
With the capital’s reservoirs approaching historic lows, officials are turning to ancient engineering to conserve potable water
As Interest in Deep-Sea Mining Grows, Scientists Raise Alarms About the Possible Ecological Consequences
Gathering minerals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese and lithium from the seabed could affect everything from sponges to whales. The long-term effects of these extractions remain uncertain
Melting Glaciers Will Lead to More Volcanic Eruptions, Study Suggests. Now, All Eyes Are On Antarctica
New research from the Chilean Patagonia has identified a link between glacial retreat and underground volcanic activity
Scientists Shed Light on the Mysterious ‘Cold Blob’ in the North Atlantic Amid a Search for Its Cause
In two recent studies, researchers suggest a weakening ocean current system is to blame for a persistent cold spot in the Atlantic Ocean, though other factors may also be at play
More Than One-Third of Tuvalu’s Population Has Applied for a ‘Climate Visa’ to Relocate to Australia
The world-first climate visa agreement will grant permanent residency status to 280 Tuvaluans per year as the island nation grapples with sea-level rise
These Colorful Satellite Views Reveal Our Forests in Unprecedented Detail and Showcase the Potential of the New Biomass Mission
The European Space Agency’s satellite will measure trunks, branches and stems in forests to shed light on how much carbon is stored in trees across various continents