New Research
Nearly Half of the Colorful and Charismatic Heliconia Tropical Plant Species Are Threatened With Extinction, New Study Reveals
Using data from over 10,000 herbarium specimens, Smithsonian scientists uncover the urgent conservation needs of the plants, which are critical to tropical ecosystems
Oldest Known Impact Crater Discovered in Australia
The discovery bolsters the theory that meteorite impacts played an important role in Earth's early geological history
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Humans May Have Lived in Tropical Rainforests Much Earlier Than Scientists Previously Thought, Study Finds
New research suggests that humans inhabited the rainforests of West Africa roughly 150,000 years ago, providing new insights into our ancestors' ability to adapt to challenging environments
Scientists Hope This Tool Could Identify Tiny Fossils on Mars, Revealing Hints to Potential Early Life on the Planet
If Mars ever hosted microorganisms in its bygone oceans, their fossils might still be preserved in minerals—and now, we have a new potential way to find them
How Enormous Glaciers on the Frozen 'Snowball Earth' Might Have Bulldozed the Path to Complex Life on Our Planet
A new study suggests glaciers carved metals out from the Earth’s surface 700 million years ago, leading to chemical reactions in the oceans that set the stage for early animal evolution
Parts of California Are Sinking, and It Could Worsen the Effects of Sea-Level Rise, NASA Study Finds
The ground in many parts of the state—including Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Central Valley—is subsiding due to groundwater withdrawal, landslides and compacting of sediment
A Fisherman and His Son Noticed Strange Pieces of Wood on a Beach. They Turned Out to Be Fragments of a Polynesian Canoe
The boat, known as a waka, was unearthed in the Chatham Islands. Researchers say it could be one of the most significant discoveries of its kind
Greenland Sharks Can Live for 400 Years. Scientists Are Using DNA to Unravel Their Longevity Secrets
These large, mysterious creatures are the longest-living vertebrates on the planet—and their genomes could contain clues to how they prevent cancer and reach such an advanced age
Watch Cuttlefish Use Camouflage to Confuse Crabs, Taking on the Appearance of Coral and Leaves
Scientists have captured footage of the sea creatures using four distinct color-shifting techniques to trick their prey
Biotech Company Creates 'Woolly Mouse' as a Step in Its Quest to Resurrect Woolly Mammoths Through Gene Editing
Colossal Biosciences leaders say the fluffy, golden-haired mice help validate their technique to “de-extinct” species, but outside scientists remain skeptical
Earth's Strongest Ocean Current Could Slow 20 Percent by 2050 Because of Climate Change, Study Finds
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is involved in everything from storing carbon to guarding Antarctica from invasive marine species, and a slower current could have far-reaching consequences
Who Were the Huns Who Invaded Rome? A New Study Has Revealed Surprising Genetic Diversity
Researchers found that the group led by Attila the Hun contained a mixture of diverse ancestries, with at least a few related to elites of the Xiongnu Empire
Vesuvius Turned a Roman Man's Brain Into Glass. Now, Scientists Reveal How the Extremely Rare Preservation Happened
The remains of a young man, found in his bed in the destroyed town of Herculaneum, included glassy fragments that had mystified archaeologists
Is the ISS Too Clean for Astronauts’ Health? New Study Finds the Space Station Lacks Microbial Diversity
Humans have evolved alongside microbes in Earth's environment that help strengthen our immune systems. But sterile living conditions can reduce that beneficial exposure
Scientists Identify a Gene Linked to Spoken Language, and It Makes Lab Mice Squeak Differently
A new study suggests the unique human version of the NOVA1 protein developed after our ancestors split from Neanderthals on the evolutionary tree, and it might have given us a competitive edge over our relatives
Rare Footage Shows Baby Polar Bears Emerging From Their Den in the Arctic
In a new study, researchers used remote cameras and data from GPS tracking collars to learn more about this vulnerable period in the early lives of these marine mammals
The Great Wall of China Might Be Older Than We Thought
New research suggests that some sections of the wall were constructed during the Western Zhou dynasty between 1046 and 771 B.C.E.
Crocodiles in Australia Are Shifting Their Behavior Because of Climate Change, and It Might Harm Their Ability to Hunt
A new study finds that as temperatures rise, the animals are getting hotter, spending less time diving and putting more effort into cooling off
The Red Dust on Mars Might Be a Different Mineral Than Scientists Thought, Shedding Light on the Planet's Past
A new study suggests the iron oxide responsible for the red planet's distinctive hue is ferrihydrite, pointing to the bygone presence of water, an important ingredient for life
Lab Mice Appear to Offer 'First Aid' Care to Their Unconscious Companions, Even Pulling on Their Tongues
A new study finds that mice will sniff, lick and pull the tongue of other mice that are under anesthesia, serving to open their airways
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