Alien Life Could Look Nothing Like What We Expect. Here’s How Microbes Beyond Earth Might Live Without Liquid Water
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 livability
An Asian Elephant Was Born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for the First Time in Almost 25 Years. Now, You Can Help Pick Her Name
The calf was born to 12-year-old Nhi Linh, a first-time mother, and 44-year-old Spike. The pair bred as part of a program working to conserve the endangered species
The Ten Most Significant Science Stories of 2025, From Medical Breakthroughs to an Interstellar Visitor
All year long, these moments captivated the public, demonstrated dangerous trends, and pushed research and innovation forward
Nearly Complete Skull of a Dome-Headed Dinosaur Makes Its Way to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
The remarkable skull will be on display from December 22 through December 28. After spending the next few years behind the scenes for research, it will join NMNH’s permanently showcased fossil collection
This ‘Feisty’ Asian Elephant at the National Zoo Is Pregnant. She May Birth the First Calf Born There in Nearly 25 Years
With fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants estimated to be remaining in the wild, the Smithsonian’s announcement gives hope to those working to preserve the endangered species
America risks losing its role as a space science pioneer
The uncertainty and instability of 2025 could cost the U.S. the next generation of space scientists
To decode future anxiety and depression, begin with a child’s brain
Neuroscientist Cat Camacho roots her work in kids’ lived experiences
How did Pluto capture its largest moon, Charon?
One scientist used computer simulations to unravel the mystery of Charon's formation
See the largest, most detailed radio image of the Milky Way yet
The new view unveils in great detail some of the celestial hubbub within our galaxy
Astronomers saw a rogue planet going through a rapid growth spurt
It’s the fastest growth rate ever observed in a planet
See a 3-D map of stellar nurseries based on data from the Gaia telescope
The nurseries are charted within about 4,000 light-years from the sun in all directions
Enceladus’ ocean may not have produced precursor chemicals for life
The icy moon of Saturn is a contender for hosting life
A primordial black hole may have spewed the highest energy neutrino ever found
These theoretical black holes may have formed right after the Big Bang
Seismic waves suggest Mars has a solid heart
The purported solid inner core has a radius of about 600 kilometers
Astronomers detect the brightest ever fast radio burst
No one knows what produces these flashes of radio waves
A Mars rock analysis tool proved its mettle on a chance find from Arizona
One researcher's find resembles a Martian sample whose spots could be a sign of ancient life
A newborn planet munches on gas and dust surrounding its host star
It’s the first time a young planet has been seen shaping rings of gas and dust
NASA’s Webb telescope spotted a new moon orbiting Uranus
It’s the planet’s 29th identified moon