https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/science-nature/RSS feed for ScienceenMon, 14 Oct 2024 16:16:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nasa-launches-europa-clipper-to-search-for-signs-of-life-on-jupiters-moon-180985262/The huge spacecraft is headed toward the icy moon Europa, where it will use an array of instruments to survey for geologic activity, magnetism and moreMon, 14 Oct 2024 16:16:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-30-years-studying-new-england-woods-reveals-about-colors-changing-leaves-180985234/An ecologist’s long walks and detailed observations allowed him to chronicle the shifts in an iconic habitat and grow a once-overlooked branch of scienceFri, 11 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/uncovering-the-secrets-behind-hummingbirds-extreme-lifestyle-180985186/Here's how the aerial acrobats are able to survive on a nearly all-sugar diet, fly higher than many helicopters can and migrate over the open oceanWed, 09 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-a-mothers-mental-health-impact-a-baby-in-the-womb-180985158/Growing research indicates a pregnant woman’s stress level and overall mental well-being can affect fetal and child development, yet access to prenatal mental health care remains inadequateWed, 09 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/chonky-superstar-fat-bear-week-is-missing-competition-wont-be-same-without-him-180985185/While other bears battled over fish in a prime spot, Otis would sit off to the side and wait for the fish to come to him. But so far this year, he hasn’t been spotted in Katmai National Park and PreserveThu, 03 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-did-two-bowhead-whales-that-were-60-miles-apart-sync-their-diving-180985132/Researchers suspect the marine mammals may have been communicating across the vast distanceWed, 02 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/is-wildfire-smoke-causing-birds-to-tend-to-empty-nests-180985131/New studies suggest smoke from western megafires may be damaging bird health and leading to strange behaviorMon, 30 Sep 2024 13:09:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-to-find-the-ten-brightest-stars-in-the-night-sky-180985148/From Aldebaran to Vega, these gleaming beacons dazzle Northern Hemisphere viewers at various times of the year and provide a useful entry point into amateur astronomyFri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/these-15-photos-capture-the-delightful-undersea-lives-of-jellyfish-180985140/Despite their often dangerous stings, these creatures create serene scenes as they float through the deep seaFri, 27 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/just-how-much-can-we-trust-ai-to-predict-extreme-weather-180985117/Computer scientist and meteorologist Amy McGovern has studied the technology for two decades, and she weighs in with some answersMon, 23 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/dinosaurs-evolved-feathers-for-far-more-than-flight-180985012/Fluff and fuzz helped the creatures keep warm, blend in and communicateFri, 20 Sep 2024 13:18:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/in-a-landmark-study-scientists-determine-how-the-planets-temperature-has-changed-over-almost-500-million-years-180985110/Researchers show the average surface temperature on our planet has shifted between 51.8 to 96.8 degrees FahrenheitThu, 19 Sep 2024 18:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-odd-arctic-military-projects-spawned-by-the-cold-war-180985067/Many offbeat research efforts were doomed to fail, from atomic subways to a city under the ice.Thu, 19 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 +0000