David Attenborough Has Inspired Countless Scientists. To Mark His 100th Birthday, Here Are Ten Living Things They’ve Named After Him
Researchers around the planet grew up watching documentaries hosted by the English broadcaster and naturalist, which sparked their love of the natural world. Now, their discoveries become tributes to his legacy
The Planet Needs Prosperous Forests. These Scientists Are Planting More Than 33,000 Trees to Find the Perfect Species Blends
Forests provide myriad benefits, including timber, wildlife attraction, local cooling and climate resilience. At the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, ecologists are testing which tree combinations might create flourishing woodlands
Artemis 2 Astronauts Successfully Return to Earth After Completing a Historic Mission Around the Moon
The crewmembers splashed down Friday after breaking a space-faring record and viewing lunar features never seen by human eyes during their ten-day trip. It marks the first time anyone has left Earth’s orbit in more than 50 years
NASA’s Artemis 2 Mission Launches, Sending Humans Toward the Moon for the First Time in More Than 50 Years
Four astronauts have begun a ten-day mission in which they’ll loop around the moon, laying the groundwork to put humans on the lunar surface as early as 2028
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