On April 22, 1970, Americans pledged environmental action for the planet. Here’s what scientists and we, the global community, have done since

An American doctor operating out of Philadelphia made clinical observations that where patients lived, not how they lived, was at the root of the problem

Paleontologists seek the ancestors that could explain how bats became the only flying mammals.

While the virus seems capable of infecting some pets and wild animals, these cases probably aren’t occurring often

The fourth installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis

You've got questions. We've got experts

A new study of ancient climate has a dire warning about today's dry conditions

Lendbreen, a pass high in the Norwegian mountains, was an important route from the Roman era until the late Middle Ages

No one knows exactly how the nocturnal hunters manage their whisper-soft flight, yet it's inspiring the design of quieter airplanes, fans and wind turbines

From teaching curious museumgoers to adding creativity to the scientific process, art thrives at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History

As a biological anthropologist focused on health, diseases are part of Sabrina Sholts' specialty

The SARS-CoV-2 virus endures for days on plastic or metal but disintegrates soon after landing on copper surfaces. Here’s why

These letters and journals offer insights on how to record one's thoughts amid a pandemic

The containment practices of outbreaks past could have lessons for modern epidemics

The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism Summit will now stream online starting this Earth Day; tune in and be inspired

Fossil teeth uncovered in Peru reveal that an extinct family of primates, thought to have lived only in Africa, made it across the ocean

False information about the pandemic is rampant; here’s how experts say you can identify what news to trust and what might be faulty

Congratulations to first-time mother Echo the cheetah!

The pandemic has left many unable to leave harbor, creating a window for fishing grounds to recover from years of overfishing

One detects an active infection; another signals that the virus has already left the body. Both are critical for tracking the spread of disease

Researchers see promise in recruiting red siskin pet traders as conservation partners

Fragments of a comet likely hit Earth 12,800 years ago, and a little Paleolithic village in Syria might have suffered the impact

Researchers suggest that the Humboldt squid uses bioluminescent backlighting for visual cues in the dark deep sea

The different hominid species, possibly including the oldest-known Homo erectus, existed in the region's hills and caves

So-called gynandromorphs are rare, but they can teach us a lot about development and evolution

Past public health crises inspired innovations in infrastructure, education, fundraising and civic debate

Find a hobby, for starters, and don't forget the mission, say scientists who have worked at remote research stations

Though COVID-19 likely makes recovered patients immune, experts aren't sure how long protection lasts

Debate over Earth’s oldest fossils fuels the search for our deepest origins

Dineobellator was a formidable predator and boasts the battle scars to prove it.

An early childhood education expert provides tips about how to explain the ongoing pandemic to children

It’s been 180 years since Charles Wilkes voyaged to the Antarctic continent and his journey has never been more relevant

Bringing historical context and scientific evidence as the pandemic unfolds

Tasked with curbing a 1907 outbreak, Esther Pohl emphasized the importance of clean, vermin-free environments

The curious set of numbers shows up in nature and also in human activities.

With the COVID-19 coronavirus causing a global pandemic, a look back at the scientists who figured out viruses and their relationship to disease

Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot Alfred "Al" Worden, an aviator, engineer and storyteller passed away on March 18, 2020

Yes, most infectious diseases are seasonal. But waiting for COVID-19 to wane on its own is a bad idea

You’ve got questions, we’ve got experts

As the 50th anniversary of Earth Day approaches, looking at the constructive, inspiring ways communities and people are responding to a changing planet

The green-and-white banner from an Illinois high school recalls the first Earth Day 50 years ago

The outbreak, and the travel bans and fears that come with it, have endangered long-running research projects

The renewable energy source has never quite lived up to its potential, but a new experiment in Nova Scotia could flip the script

Deepen your understanding of the natural world with these free resources

Fed up with invasive species and sterile landscapes, Douglas Tallamy urges Americans to go native and go natural

As the pachyderms increasingly clash with farmers and villagers over disappearing land, scientists study the way the animals' minds work

These scientists and inventors set out to change the planet with these out-of-the-box ideas

In a famous 1970 teach-in demonstration, prosecutors hammered away at the nation’s most powerful defendant

Long victimized by poaching and deforestation, the primate species is in the midst of a surprising rebound that is sparking new hopes of recovery

The newly launched #SmithsonianEdu campaign highlights 1.7 million online tools geared specifically toward students and teachers