https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/science-nature/RSS feed for ScienceenMon, 16 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-seven-most-interesting-discoveries-weve-made-by-exploring-saturn-180984896/Scientists continue to learn new things about the planet, its sweeping rings and its many moonsMon, 16 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-the-longest-nerve-in-the-body-vagus-180985045/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 fearFri, 13 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/see-15-amazing-photos-of-beautiful-birds-180984998/These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images celebrate our feathered friendsFri, 13 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/tens-of-thousands-of-tiny-tags-are-revealing-the-secret-lives-of-birds-180985022/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 flyingThu, 12 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/when-a-glacial-dam-burst-an-alaskan-town-was-hit-with-a-sudden-flood-180984967/From Alaska to Peru and the Himalayas, glacial lakes are suddenly breaking free and causing deaths and millions of dollars in damagesMon, 09 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-the-effort-to-save-earths-biocrusts-180985001/Think twice before stepping on that crunchy top layer of soil. It may be a vital ecosystem that you can help protectFri, 06 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-did-dinosaurs-have-horns-it-may-not-have-been-simply-for-defense-180984866/Triceratops and its relatives may have evolved the structures for fighting, impressing mates, and moreWed, 04 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/honor-the-natural-beauty-of-these-tremendous-trees-see-the-glory-of-the-forest-and-the-trees-in-these-15-smithsonian-magazine-photo-contest-submissions-180985002/Find your inner Lorax and enjoy the glory of the forest and the trees in these submissionsFri, 30 Aug 2024 15:08:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/learning-live-beside-endangered-tigers-may-be-key-saving-them-180984900/New programs in India are helping to reduce conflict between humans and the big cats by educating communities and helping those who have been affected by animal attacksWed, 28 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-stunning-portraits-of-insects-reveal-the-intricacies-of-an-amazing-world-180984926/Photographer Thorben Danke combines hundreds of shots to create breathtaking images of the tiny creaturesWed, 28 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-world-war-i-prisoner-of-war-solved-the-mystery-of-the-ice-ages-180984927/Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković changed our understanding of Earth’s climate—and did a key part of his work while detained by Austro-Hungarian forcesMon, 26 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-the-hidden-kingdom-of-viruses-in-your-gut-180984933/Human innards are teeming with viruses that infect bacteria. Here's what scientists are learning about themFri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-the-endangered-rusty-patched-bumblebee-survive-180984894/A new genetic study reveals secrets about the creature, which may help researchers make decisions to conserve the speciesWed, 21 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-long-strange-history-of-teflon-the-indestructible-product-nothing-seems-to-stick-to-180984920/Chemists accidentally discovered the material in 1938, and since then it has been used for everything from helping to create the first atomic bomb to keeping your eggs from sticking to your frying panTue, 20 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-markers-of-scandinavias-missing-bronze-age-boatyards-were-hiding-in-plain-sight-180984880/Archaeologists argue that ancient fire pits were used for constructing the area's distinctive boatsFri, 16 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-mesmerizing-anemones-have-a-glowing-layer-of-protection-180984820/Marine biologists discovered that a protein that boosts fluorescent output also enables an antioxidant propertyMon, 12 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/15-playful-and-powerful-photos-to-celebrate-world-elephant-day-180984865/Never forget your favorite pachyderm with these memorable images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo ContestMon, 12 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-scientists-quest-to-find-the-secrets-of-life-in-four-grams-of-asteroid-dust-180984786/NASA researchers are scrutinizing rocks and dirt brought to Earth from the asteroid BennuFri, 09 Aug 2024 13:22:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/as-hurricanes-bear-down-and-get-stronger-can-a-34-billion-plan-save-texas-180984847/A massive project prompted by the wildly destructive Hurricane Ike offers a solutions-based preview of our climate futureThu, 08 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-valiant-effort-to-restore-the-caribbeans-sea-urchins-180984813/The very hungry, spiky custodians gobble up the algae that smother coral reefsWed, 07 Aug 2024 16:44:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/this-innovative-fossil-scanner-could-help-paleontologists-in-south-america-180984826/PaleoScan offers scientists at far-flung institutions a less expensive way to digitize their collections and preserve at-risk specimens of fish, turtles, pterosaurs and moreTue, 06 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/thousands-of-moonquakes-some-of-them-threatening-discovered-in-old-apollo-era-data-180984822/A new study found 22,000 previously unidentified lunar seismic events recorded between 1969 and 1977Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/feast-on-15-ferocious-tiger-photos-from-the-smithsonian-photo-contest-180984802/This majestic big cat is one of the world’s most recognizableFri, 02 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/parasites-are-everywhere-so-why-do-so-few-researchers-study-them-180984753/Aging parasitologists are working hard to inspire more students to enter the fieldWed, 31 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/no-dinosaurs-did-not-trudge-through-thick-rainforests-180984730/The first jungles dense with flowering plants only formed after an asteroid impact wiped out the giant creaturesMon, 29 Jul 2024 15:21:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-do-animals-change-their-social-habits-as-they-age-180984723/In patterns that may sound familiar, long-term studies reveal what elderly deer, sheep and macaques are up to in their twilight yearsFri, 26 Jul 2024 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/from-sleek-swimsuits-to-specialized-running-shoes-these-five-innovations-have-changed-the-olympics-180984769/Technology has advanced sports including fencing and pole vaultingThu, 25 Jul 2024 14:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-to-sweat-like-an-olympianthis-summer-dont-be-embarrassed-by-those-pit-stains-or-your-drenched-workout-clothes-our-expert-on-the-science-of-sweat-says-perspiration-is-what-makes-humans-faster-higher-and-stronger-180984760/This summer, don’t be embarrassed by those pit stains or your drenched workout clothes. Our expert on the science of sweat says perspiration is what makes humans faster, higher and strongerThu, 25 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-will-happen-if-this-iconic-research-vessel-stops-drilling-in-the-deep-sea-180984752/After a career marked by major discoveries, the JOIDES Resolution is likely on its last official mission to retrieve rock cores from the ocean floorWed, 24 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-will-climate-change-hurt-lesser-flamingos-180984669/Their food supply in East African lakes could collapse as rains increaseTue, 23 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000