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Survivors have a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease, pain, insomnia, psychosocial distress and new cancers. Many, patient advocates say, are not receiving adequate long-term care

Pesticides, habitat loss and climate change have taken their toll on the beloved insects. But the experts working with them still find hope for their future

Scientists speculate that the wild cats are trying to improve hydration or ease their cubs’ transition to solid food. The finding points to resilience in one of the world’s most endangered felines

Intensifying wildfires across the continent are spewing air pollution, putting human health at risk, particularly Americans living with chronic illnesses

From preserved plants to T. rex, the material found in these Late Cretaceous rocks has resulted in countless breakthroughs for paleontologists

After rounding the moon, viewing a solar eclipse and traveling farther than any human had before, the four astronauts of Artemis 2—the first manned lunar mission in more than five decades—will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere tomorrow. Beyond those milestones, the mission represents a step toward establishing a long-term human presence in space and sets up the moon as a lens for considering the future…

There's More to That A Smithsonian magazine special report Gretchen Kay Stuart is a wildlife photographer who has cultivated a special relationship with the Cascade red fox. She first spotted the rare animal in 2020 on the slope of Mount Rainier in Washington State. “I instantly fell in love,” she recalls. So Stuart started documenting the foxes wherever she could. Sometimes she’s witnessed tragi…

Take a whiff of the air—chances are you’re smelling something this very moment. The human nose can detect more than one trillion scents. If this article were scratch-and-sniff, I’d be able to conjure the smell of old-growth forest and the ocean at daybreak, desert creosote after a rainfall or maybe even the aroma of a rosebush growing on an urban balcony. But as a matter of medium, I can’t bring …

Unusually for a major tourist attraction, the phrase “death trap” features prominently in the signage and the lore at the La Brea Tar Pits, the celebrated fossil site in the heart of Los Angeles. “Death Trap for Meat-Eaters” says the sign at one site, though in truth it’s a death trap for plant-eaters, too. Over the past 60,000 years or so, animals by the millions, including giant ground sloths, …

If Cyrano de Bergerac had been a proboscis monkey, he might not have needed poetry. For this furry primate, found only on the island of Borneo, a prominent nose is an asset. Males with the biggest snouts, up to nearly seven inches long, usually have the largest bodies overall. And, because their noses are an indicator of both status and reproductive fitness, these fellows attract more mates than …

Where rare birds go, camera-toting enthusiasts tend to follow. But sometimes, all it takes to cause a commotion is a relatively common, though little-known, bird with some funky dance moves. On Friday, more than 650 people congregated for a special bird walk in New York City’s Bryant Park, where American woodcocks have been stopping to rest and refuel on their migrations north for breeding. “We h…

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Video Discover the world and all its wonders with these videos on national treasures, historical mysteries, animal facts, scientific explainers, fabulous finds and much more Discover the world and all its wonders with these videos on national treasures, historical mysteries, animal facts, scientific explainers, fabulous finds and much more

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Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has massive storms that match its size. These storms—some of which can last centuries—unleash powerful bolts of lightning. But understanding the full strength of these strikes has been difficult because of the planet’s hefty clouds. Now, thanks to data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft and a fortuitous lull in some storms, scientists have calculated that…

Sustainability Our Mission Smithsonian Media exists for the sole purpose of increasing and diffusing knowledge. Our Audience The Smithsonian Audience is truly engaged. They make numerous contributions to society and expect to leave this world a better place than when they got here. These independent, influential thinkers trust us to present factual, well-researched and insightful information that…

Archaeologists in Florida have discovered the original burial site of a U.S. Army soldier who died of yellow fever 153 years ago. In October 1872, a young bookbinder named George Tupper enlisted in the Army. He left his home in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, and moved to Fort Jefferson, a remote fort on a small island roughly 70 miles west of Key West. Today, the fort is part of Dry Tortugas National …

Recycling Partnership Recycling is a simple act that makes a big difference every day. Smithsonian Enterprises -- along with other media companies, paper companies and catalogers -- is a supporter of Recycling Works in Publishing (RWIP). RWIP is a member of The Recycling Partnership, a program of Curbside Value Partnership, whose goal is to increase curbside recycling in communities throughout th…

Like rebellious bandmates onstage, the three chicks featured in the grand-prize-winning image of the 23rd annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest are “full of attitude, energy and individuality,” says photographer Jacqueline Burke, who playfully titled her entry “The Punk Rockers.” Their unruly, spiked plumage gives the unmistakable look of tiny mohawks, she says. Photographed at a New Jersey r…

Environmental Sustainability Sustainability means working to protect our natural resources for future generations. We understand that recycling is inherently good and is fundamental to a healthy environment and society. But it is important to separate the issue of improving collection rates from how that recycled material is then used. Simply dictating that recycled fiber should go into magazine …