Neanderthals May Have Been Running a Sophisticated ‘Fat Factory’ in Germany 125,000 Years Ago
New research suggests that they smashed animal bones into tiny pieces before boiling them to extract the high-calorie grease inside
These ‘Weird’ Sea Spiders Don’t Have Abdomens—and Instead Store Organs in Their Legs. With DNA, Scientists Are Learning Why
Researchers sequenced the knotty sea spider’s genome for the first time, revealing a missing gene that many other animals have
Giant Sloths and Many Other Massive Creatures Were Once Common on Our Planet. With Environmental Changes, Such Giants Could Thrive Again
If large creatures like elephants, giraffes and bison are allowed to thrive, they could alter habitats that allow for the rise of other giants
‘Nothing Short of Magical’: Scientists Discover a Dinosaur Bone Nearly 800 Feet Beneath a Parking Lot at a Denver Museum
The partial vertebra appeared inside a 2.5-inch-diameter column of rock that researchers drilled, earning the title of the oldest and deepest dinosaur fossil found in Denver
See Ten Stunning Images From the International Aerial Photographer of the Year Awards
Breathtaking views of glaciers, volcanoes and animals were celebrated in the competition’s inaugural year
How Underwater Archaeology Brings Secrets to the Surface, From Lost Shipwrecks to Submerged Cities
An immersive new exhibition at the Intrepid Museum in New York City spotlights the science and technology behind the discipline
A Massive Underwater Fossil Find Includes Remains From Ancient Human Ancestors
More than 6,000 animal fossils were found in Indonesia, and two of them belong to Homo erectus
A Rare, Pregnant Ichthyosaur Fossil Discovered in Chile Is Revealing More Secrets About the Early Cretaceous World
The fossil helps scientists better understand not just the animal, but our planet’s geology
Bear-Sized Giant Beavers Once Roamed North America, and They’re Now the Official State Fossil of Minnesota
The large, extinct creatures roamed the Twin Cities area more than 10,000 years ago and could grow to more than 200 pounds
A Closer Look at the Kestrels, Hedgehogs and Other Wild Animals That Inhabit Rome
From antiquity to modern times, the city has been rife with creatures that creep, slither, scurry and nest among its pillars and palaces
These Cod Have Been Shrinking Dramatically for Decades. Now, Scientists Say They’ve Solved the Mystery
Eastern Baltic cod grow to much smaller sizes than they did just 30 years ago, because overfishing altered their genes, according to new research
Four Bewildering Bronze Lions’ Heads With Slightly Different Facial Expressions Found in Ancient Roman Grave in Israel
Similar examples of ancient lion artifacts appear to have been used as door knockers. But the newly discovered discs may have served a different purpose
How a Deadly Circus Fire on the ‘Day the Clowns Cried’ Traumatized a Community—and Led to Lasting Safety Reforms
On July 6, 1944, a blaze broke out at a Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show in Hartford, Connecticut. At least 167 people died, and hundreds were injured
Southern Hemisphere Gull Seen in Wisconsin for the First Time, Drawing Tourists for a Rare Glimpse of the Out-of-Place Bird
The vagrant kelp gull mated with a local herring gull, though the chick did not survive. Experts say it’s a “complete mystery” how the bird came to nest so far north in the first place
Orcas Appear to Be Sharing Their Prey With Humans—but What Does It Mean?
Researchers documented 34 instances of purported prey-sharing behavior, which suggests orcas may be altruistic and capable of recognizing sentience in another species
These Killer Whales Make Tools From Kelp to Massage Each Other in a Newly Discovered Grooming Behavior
Dubbed “allokelping,” it might be a unique cultural phenomenon that’s as endangered as the orca population itself
In a Milestone for Manhattan, a Pair of Coyotes Has Made Central Park Their Home
For six years, two photographers have carefully followed the canines and documented their secret lives
‘Enigmatic’ Dog-Sized Dinosaur Reveals a New Species That Scampered Around Jurassic North America
The speedy, plant-eating creature lived in what is now Colorado roughly 150 million years ago, and its skeleton went on display in London this week
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
Ten Stunning Nature Photos From the BigPicture 2025
From the beautiful to the bizarre, this annual photographic showcase shines a light on some of our planet’s most breathtaking species and places
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