From a small island off the coast of Panama to the farthest reaches of space, the Smithsonian advanced our knowledge of the ...

Scientists have found a way to monitor volcanic carbon dioxide levels — one of the first signs a volcano might be about to blow — that doesn't involve trekking up a mountain. When you purchase through ...

As extreme heat claims more lives during ruthless summers in the region, Southern Nevada is upping the ante in its tree planting efforts. But a new study suggests trees alone may not be enough to make ...

Buddhist temples in China are home to trees from dozens of endangered species, a new study shows. Some of them are almost 2,000 years old. A Phoebe zhennan tree, about 400 years old, in the Wen-Qi ...

From “experimental archaeology” to the mysterious appeal of exploration, the wide-ranging subjects detailed in these titles captivated Smithsonian magazine’s science contributors this year Joe Spring, ...

Young orangutans master the art of building intricate treetop nests not by instinct alone, but by closely watching their mothers and peers. Researchers tracking wild Sumatran orangutans over 17 years ...

Joshua trees are weird. I say this as an expert on Joshua trees. Joshua trees look weird — their twisty branches end in bouquets of stiff, knife-like leaves, which die back to hang from the branches ...

Oregon's tallest fir tree is on fire, and firefighters are racing to save it. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. In coastal Oregon, ...