Sharks have been losing teeth for 400 million years. Here’s a guide to uncovering some of these plentiful fossils across the country
Historians say that Sarah Emma Edmonds exaggerated many aspects of her wartime experiences. Still, she bravely served in the Union Army, becoming one of hundreds of women who fought in the conflict in secret
In a new book, a curator at England's Natural History Museum describes rare and interesting nests and eggs—from the house sparrow to the village weaver—and the lessons they hold for avian conservation
Scientists continue to learn new things about the planet, its sweeping rings and its many moons
Like a highway system, the vagus nerve branches profusely from your brain through your organs to marshal bodily functions, including aspects of the mind such as mood, pleasure and fear
Henry Hale Bliss' death presaged the battle between the 20th-century automobile lobby and walkers in U.S. cities
During Mid-Autumn Festival, Chinese around the world eat the miniature molded and filled cakes to wish their families wealth and happiness
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System has put nearly 50,000 incredibly lightweight radio transmitters on birds, bats and insects. We caught up with an ornithologist to learn more about where these creatures are flying
The ocean became a dumping ground for weapons after Allied forces defeated the Nazis. Now a team of robots and divers is making the waters safer
On September 10, 1622, Japanese officials burned alive or beheaded 55 missionaries and laypeople alike. The violence coincided with Japan's push to expel all foreign influences
From tasting to hunting to hitching a ride, some fins have evolved for a variety of uses beyond swimming
Smithsonian Photo Contest Galleries
These selections from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images capture this South American paradise
From Alaska to Peru and the Himalayas, glacial lakes are suddenly breaking free and causing deaths and millions of dollars in damages
Think twice before stepping on that crunchy top layer of soil. It may be a vital ecosystem that you can help protect
Can automated restaurants still be community and cultural spaces, or will they become feeding stations for humans? These and other questions loom as new food tech reaches the market
An unlikely duo exposed political corruption in Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1914—and set a new precedent for fair voting across the country
The July 1924 killing of Robert Imbrie fueled the rise of the Pahlavi dynasty and set the stage for both a CIA-backed 1953 coup and the 1979 Iran hostage crisis
The spine-tingling roots of a mischievous Halloween tradition
Historical evidence is helping to pinpoint the exact locations of fabled sites, from King Arthur’s castle to Solomon’s Temple
Colorful, intricate drawings on view at the American Folk Art Museum are anything but simple
Page 1 of 1274