Engineers Are Racing to Harness the Dazzling Magic of Feathers. They Haven’t Solved the Mystery Just Yet
The natural marvels, which do everything from enabling acrobatic flight to insulating against Antarctic cold, continue to inspire new designs and technologies
These Asian Bears Were Cut Open for Their Bile. Here’s What’s Being Done to Rehabilitate Them
Veterinarians in Vietnam perform surgeries, prepare special diets and craft recovery routines for moon bears to give them a better life
Once in Dire Straits, Atlantic Sturgeon Are Staging a Comeback on the East Coast
From Maine to Florida, the endangered, prehistoric fish is rebounding, but a recent study shows just how vulnerable the U.S. population remains
To Reduce Human and Grizzly Bear Conflicts, Both Species Must Change Their Behavior
Rural Alaskan and Canadian communities are trying to get along with the large mammals
Salmon in the Pacific Northwest Are Facing a New Threat: Booming Populations of Seals and Sea Lions
The mammals’ return to the region represented a conservation success story, but their appetite for endangered fish is upsetting the balance of a delicate ecosystem
This Elusive Snake’s Habitat Is Under Threat in Ecuador. Here’s How Conservationists Are Fighting Back
How do you protect an endangered serpent with a special talent for hiding in plain sight?
What Happened to FDR’s Fireside Chats? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
A Trove of Ice Age Fossils Buried in a Wyoming Cave Is Rewriting Our Understanding of Prehistoric Animals
At a site known as Natural Trap Cave, a team of scientists are rappelling down to uncover the secrets of what the Earth was like during the Pleistocene
Welcome to the Weird and Wondrous World of Sea Cucumbers
These spiny or slimy ocean creatures display an astonishing diversity of appearances, behaviors and lifestyles—and many are increasingly threatened
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
Be Blown Away by These 15 Images of Beautiful Butterflies
These shots from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest show just why butterflies have floated into our hearts
In Order to Unravel the Many Mysteries of Squids, Scientists Dive Into Their Mating Frenzies
Marine biologists hope to find out more about a creature that is vital to a healthy ecosystem and the state’s fishery
Why Have Birds Never Gotten as Big as T. Rex?
Even the most massive birds have never reached the sizes of their dinosaur relatives
Looking Back on the L.A. Wildfires Through the Lens of Two Photographers
As wildfire becomes an increasingly lethal force that’s remaking broad swaths of California, people and animals alike are in the hot seat
Why Do Mosquitos Bite Some People More Than Others? Your Blood Type, Sweat Contents and Even Alcohol Consumption May Make You More Attractive to the Pesky Insects
Scientists are working hard to discover the factors that drive the blood-sucking insects to target certain individuals
Why Have European Wolves Recovered So Much in the Past Decade?
The predators have increased by almost 60 percent on the continent
As Norway Considers Deep-Sea Mining, a Rich History of Ocean Conservation Decisions May Inform How the Country Acts
In the past, scientists, industry and government have worked together in surprising, tense and fruitful ways
Why Does This Endangered Butterfly Thrive After Hurricanes?
For Schaus’ swallowtail butterflies, the powerful storms mean clear skies and bright futures
From Massive Eyes to Shark-Like Tails, Seven Amazing Adaptations That Helped Prehistoric Reptiles Thrive at Sea
The creatures cruised the world’s oceans with features we often associate with marine mammals, such as coats of blubber and the ability to birth live young
Thousands of Giant Tortoises Anchor a Thriving Ecosystem on Aldabra, a Remote Atoll in the Indian Ocean
The animals graze the vegetation into a picturesque turf, fertilize the soil with their dung and disperse seeds over large distances
A Revealing Look Into the Surprisingly Tricky Sex Lives of Birds
Even among the most durable migratory bird pairings, sexual exclusivity is rarely part of their relationship
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