Science | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/science-nature/RSS feed for ScienceenMon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000The Endangered Proboscis Monkey Is Easily Identifiable By One Physical Trait: Its Supersized Schnozhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/endangered-proboscis-monkey-easily-identifiable-by-one-physical-trait-supersized-schnoz-180988420/When you see this primate's nose, you know you're in Borneo, where efforts are underway to restore its habitatMon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/endangered-proboscis-monkey-easily-identifiable-by-one-physical-trait-supersized-schnoz-180988420/Purple Martins Rely on Human 'Landlords' to Provide Nest Boxes Each Spring. Can That Dynamic Last?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/purple-martins-rely-on-human-landlords-to-provide-nest-boxes-each-spring-can-that-dynamic-last-180988478/The large swallows have nested alongside human settlements for centuries. Now, the birds' breeding success depends on caretakers who are beginning to age out of the roleFri, 03 Apr 2026 12:33:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/purple-martins-rely-on-human-landlords-to-provide-nest-boxes-each-spring-can-that-dynamic-last-180988478/Spectators Flocked to the Artemis 2 Launch to Witness History Being Made. One Awed Viewer Called It 'the Best Thing Ever'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/spectators-flocked-to-the-artemis-2-launch-to-witness-history-being-made-one-awed-viewer-called-it-the-best-thing-ever-180988474/Wednesday evening, a human mission to the moon lifted off for the first time in more than 50 years. These 13 photographs capture what it was like to experience the momentThu, 02 Apr 2026 16:38:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/spectators-flocked-to-the-artemis-2-launch-to-witness-history-being-made-one-awed-viewer-called-it-the-best-thing-ever-180988474/Cascade Red Foxes Are Notoriously Reclusive. So How Did This Photographer Capture These Stunning Images of the Endangered Species?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cascade-red-foxes-notoriously-reclusive-how-photographer-captured-stunning-images-endangered-species-180988419/Even the scientists who study the animals rarely see them except on camera. But Gretchen Kay Stuart spent a season documenting them up closeTue, 31 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cascade-red-foxes-notoriously-reclusive-how-photographer-captured-stunning-images-endangered-species-180988419/Was Spinosaurus Really a 'Hell Heron'? Digging Into the Star of Netflix’s 'The Dinosaurs'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/was-spinosaurus-really-a-hell-heron-digging-into-the-star-of-netflixs-the-dinosaurs-180988440/With an incredible sail and heavy bones that might have acted as ballast, Spinosaurus seems primed for snatching fish. The creature has long captivated the public, from its early mysteries to the recent discovery of a new speciesMon, 30 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/was-spinosaurus-really-a-hell-heron-digging-into-the-star-of-netflixs-the-dinosaurs-180988440/Fish Traps Have Been Banned on the Columbia River for Nearly a Century. Could Bringing Them Back Help Save Salmon?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fish-traps-have-been-banned-on-the-columbia-river-for-nearly-a-century-could-bringing-them-back-help-save-salmon-180988439/A new experiment is testing the commercial success of fish traps in Washington and Oregon. Even as some conservationists embrace the technique, its return has reopened old wounds among local fishersFri, 27 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fish-traps-have-been-banned-on-the-columbia-river-for-nearly-a-century-could-bringing-them-back-help-save-salmon-180988439/How a Small Winter Flower Has Attracted Droves of Admirers—and Offers a Symbol of Resiliencehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-a-small-winter-flower-has-attracted-droves-of-admirersand-offers-a-symbol-of-resilience-180988423/The snowdrop, or Galanthus, blooms when the world is still frozen. Gardeners enamored with the plant gather each year in Pennsylvania to celebrate its subtleties and enduranceWed, 25 Mar 2026 14:05:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-a-small-winter-flower-has-attracted-droves-of-admirersand-offers-a-symbol-of-resilience-180988423/Alien Life Could Look Nothing Like What We Expect. Here's How Microbes Beyond Earth Might Live Without Liquid Waterhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/alien-life-could-look-nothing-like-what-we-expect-heres-how-microbes-beyond-earth-might-live-without-liquid-water-180988384/Like the lead character of “Project Hail Mary,” some scientists are proposing ways that life might exist beyond a star’s “habitable zone,” often considered the gold standard of potential livabilityFri, 20 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/alien-life-could-look-nothing-like-what-we-expect-heres-how-microbes-beyond-earth-might-live-without-liquid-water-180988384/These Sea Slugs Can 'Eat' Sunlight—but They're No Astrophage. Here's How the 'Project Hail Mary' Antagonist Has a Real-Life Analogue in Earth's Oceanshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-sea-slugs-can-eat-sunlight-but-theyre-no-astrophage-heres-how-the-project-hail-mary-antagonist-has-a-real-life-analog-in-earths-oceans-180988361/By snatching chloroplasts from algae, animals called sacoglossans produce their own energy through photosynthesisWed, 18 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-sea-slugs-can-eat-sunlight-but-theyre-no-astrophage-heres-how-the-project-hail-mary-antagonist-has-a-real-life-analog-in-earths-oceans-180988361/These Charcoal-Eating Fungi Flourish After Fires. Uncovering Their Genetic Secrets Could Help Rebuild Burned Ecosystemshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-charcoal-eating-fungi-flourish-after-fires-uncovering-their-genetic-secrets-could-help-rebuild-burned-ecosystems-180988336/Mycologists cultivated fungi they found in post-wildfire landscapes to understand the evolutionary traits behind their ability to thrive in the wake of flamesFri, 13 Mar 2026 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-charcoal-eating-fungi-flourish-after-fires-uncovering-their-genetic-secrets-could-help-rebuild-burned-ecosystems-180988336/Venomous Snakes Represent a Serious Public Health Problem. Scientists Are Biting Back With a Groundbreaking Antidotehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/venomous-snakes-represent-a-serious-public-health-problem-scientists-are-biting-back-with-a-groundbreaking-antidote-180988338/Researchers around the world are attempting to create a safer and more effective treatment in hopes of saving hundreds of thousands of livesThu, 12 Mar 2026 13:27:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/venomous-snakes-represent-a-serious-public-health-problem-scientists-are-biting-back-with-a-groundbreaking-antidote-180988338/Bumblebee Queens Breathe Underwater to Survive Drowning, Revealing How They Can Live Submerged for a Weekhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bumblebee-queens-breathe-underwater-to-survive-drowning-revealing-how-they-can-live-submerged-for-a-week-180988330/After scientists accidentally discovered that the common eastern bumblebee can withstand flood conditions, they wanted to investigate what makes that super-ability possibleWed, 11 Mar 2026 15:15:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bumblebee-queens-breathe-underwater-to-survive-drowning-revealing-how-they-can-live-submerged-for-a-week-180988330/Would You Jump Into Your Local River? Swimmable Cities May Be Within Reach as Once-Polluted Waterways Are Restoredhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/would-you-jump-into-your-local-river-swimmable-cities-may-be-within-reach-as-once-polluted-waterways-are-restored-180988317/Efforts to improve the “swimmability” of urban areas are gaining global traction, from Paris to ChicagoTue, 10 Mar 2026 15:13:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/would-you-jump-into-your-local-river-swimmable-cities-may-be-within-reach-as-once-polluted-waterways-are-restored-180988317/In the World's Best Place to See Wild Jaguars, Residents Are Using the Big Cat's Appeal to Reach Conservation Goalshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/in-the-worlds-best-place-to-see-wild-jaguars-residents-are-using-the-big-cats-appeal-to-reach-conservation-goals-180988290/Brazil’s Pantanal region has the highest jaguar density on Earth, drawing camera-toting visitors to its riverbanks. Despite overtourism concerns, one enclave may offer a model for how to protect the charismatic apex predatorWed, 04 Mar 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/in-the-worlds-best-place-to-see-wild-jaguars-residents-are-using-the-big-cats-appeal-to-reach-conservation-goals-180988290/As ADHD Coaching Gains Popularity, Researchers Stress the Importance of Careful Vettinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/as-adhd-coaching-gains-popularity-researchers-stress-the-importance-of-careful-vetting-180988270/A recent survey highlights variation in the training credentials and experience across the burgeoning industry, which is mostly unregulated and unlicensedTue, 03 Mar 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/as-adhd-coaching-gains-popularity-researchers-stress-the-importance-of-careful-vetting-180988270/This Giant Carnivore Ran on Hooves. Scientists Are Investigating Its Massive Skull and Crushing Teeth to Decipher the Beast's True Naturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-giant-carnivore-ran-on-hooves-scientists-are-investigating-its-massive-skull-and-crushing-teeth-to-decipher-the-beasts-true-nature-180988212/For more than a century, paleontologists have been piecing together how the mysterious predator Andrewsarchus is related to other mammals, like the extinct “hell pigs” and “wolves with hooves”Thu, 19 Feb 2026 18:37:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-giant-carnivore-ran-on-hooves-scientists-are-investigating-its-massive-skull-and-crushing-teeth-to-decipher-the-beasts-true-nature-180988212/The Sahara Desert Hasn’t Always Been a Dry, Desolate Landscape. Some Scientists See Signs It May Be Greening Againhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/sahara-desert-hasnt-always-been-dry-desolate-landscape-some-scientists-see-signs-greening-again-180988098/Petroglyphs on sandstone at a national park in Chad bear witness to wildlife that once roamed the area before the continent’s water largely receded 6,000 years ago. Could it return?Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/sahara-desert-hasnt-always-been-dry-desolate-landscape-some-scientists-see-signs-greening-again-180988098/After a Devastating Bird Flu Outbreak, Scotland's Seabirds Are Slowly Recovering—and So Are the Scientists Who Witnessed Their Declinehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/after-a-devastating-bird-flu-outbreak-scotlands-seabirds-are-slowly-recoveringand-so-are-the-scientists-who-witnessed-their-decline-180988211/The world’s largest colony of northern gannets was decimated by bird flu in 2022. Now, as their numbers climb again, researchers are collecting data to understand the virus’ lasting effectsWed, 18 Feb 2026 13:12:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/after-a-devastating-bird-flu-outbreak-scotlands-seabirds-are-slowly-recoveringand-so-are-the-scientists-who-witnessed-their-decline-180988211/When Coyotes Threatened Livestock on Central Texas Ranches, the Solution Was to Unlock an Ancient Ability in Dogshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/when-coyotes-threatened-livestock-central-texas-ranches-solution-unlock-ancient-ability-dogs-180988099/Killing the predators is not nearly as effective as the intimidating presence of well-trained guardians, a role some breeds have played for 5,000 yearsTue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/when-coyotes-threatened-livestock-central-texas-ranches-solution-unlock-ancient-ability-dogs-180988099/Gallop Into the Year of the Horse With These Five Amazing Equine Discoverieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/gallop-into-the-year-of-the-horse-with-these-five-amazing-equine-discoveries-180988194/Since their domestication, horses have changed the course of human history. It’s no wonder the Chinese zodiac associates them with prosperity and successFri, 13 Feb 2026 13:26:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/gallop-into-the-year-of-the-horse-with-these-five-amazing-equine-discoveries-180988194/The Tragedy of the Alps’ Disappearing Glaciers for Those Who Live, Visit and Ski Therehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-tragedy-of-the-alps-disappearing-glaciers-for-those-that-live-visit-and-ski-there-180988186/Warming temperatures are wreaking havoc at elevation, upending the Winter Olympics and the tourism industry and imperiling communitiesThu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-tragedy-of-the-alps-disappearing-glaciers-for-those-that-live-visit-and-ski-there-180988186/An Asteroid Ended the Age of the Dinosaurs. But How Did Their Reign Begin? Mysterious Early Reptiles May Hold the Answerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/an-asteroid-ended-the-age-of-the-dinosaurs-but-how-did-their-reign-begin-mysterious-early-reptiles-may-hold-the-answer-180988178/Researchers are uncovering the evolutionary steps that set the stage for dinosaurs to rule the planetWed, 11 Feb 2026 15:10:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/an-asteroid-ended-the-age-of-the-dinosaurs-but-how-did-their-reign-begin-mysterious-early-reptiles-may-hold-the-answer-180988178/These Lazy Bats Are Super-Efficient Killers That Carefully Conserve Energy to Attack at a Moment's Noticehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-lazy-bats-are-super-efficient-killers-that-carefully-conserve-energy-to-attack-at-a-moments-notice-180988152/Wild fringe-lipped bats spend just one-tenth of the night in flight, but they can precisely snatch a calling frog and nab prey that rivals their own sizeMon, 09 Feb 2026 15:18:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-lazy-bats-are-super-efficient-killers-that-carefully-conserve-energy-to-attack-at-a-moments-notice-180988152/If Microbes Entered the Olympics, These One-Celled Superstars Would Win Goldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/if-microbes-entered-the-olympics-these-one-celled-superstars-would-win-gold-180988135/They race, they spin, they shoot. Meet the organisms for which physical prowess is more than sport—it’s a matter of life and deathFri, 06 Feb 2026 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/if-microbes-entered-the-olympics-these-one-celled-superstars-would-win-gold-180988135/