Smart News

Lions Get More Protection From the Endangered Species Act

Americans will still be able to hunt in some regions, but bringing trophies home will be harder

December 21, 2015

A Brief History of Figgy Pudding

The dense, spicy dish has been giving good cheer for centuries

December 21, 2015

Abstract shapes of glowing-eyed cats would play and pose on top of five or six pedestals along the bridge.

A New San Francisco Overpass Could Be Bedecked With Demonic-Looking Cats

"Catbridge": Unnerving or adorable?

December 21, 2015

In Parts of China, Clean Air Costs Extra

People are being charged for fresh air

December 21, 2015

This Weekend's Southern Lights Were Nothing Short of Spectacular

The Northern Hemisphere hasn't yet cornered the market for glorious aurorae

December 21, 2015

Montenegro Will Get a Women’s-Only Art Museum

The museum was proposed by feminist punk collective Pussy Riot

December 18, 2015

How Do Hardworking Hummingbirds Keep Cool?

Special “windows” in the feathers covering their tiny bodies prevent overheating while hovering and flying

December 18, 2015

Darwin's “Puddle” Could Show How New Species Emerge in Close Quarters

A genetic study of cichlid fish in a small crater lake seems to support a debated evolutionary concept

December 18, 2015

The Ursid meteor shower appears to radiate from the Little Dipper (top right).

Two Sparkling Meteor Showers Will Bookend the New Year

Sky-watchers should be on the lookout in coming weeks for the Ursid and Quadrantid showers

December 18, 2015

Mother Teresa stands with children at her Calcutta mission.

Mother Teresa Will Become an Official Saint

The champion of India's poorest has sprinted to sainthood since her 1997 death

December 18, 2015

These Parrots Use Pebbles as Tools to Grind up Seashells

Polly want a mineral supplement?

December 18, 2015

After this traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, the bride is required to take her new husband’s surname

In Japan, Couples Are Still Legally Required to Have the Same Surname

The Supreme Court upheld a century-old law that was challenged by equal rights activitsts

December 18, 2015

A beach closed during Lake Erie’s 2014 toxic algal bloom

Toxic Algae Blooms in Lake Erie Could Become the New Normal

Plans to reduce fertilizer runoff may not be enough to counter the blooms when climate change is taken into account

December 17, 2015

Shockingly, Pandas That Like Each Other Have More Babies Together

The deceptively simple discovery could revolutionize panda breeding

December 17, 2015

Does that book feel more like a doorstop? It's part of a growing trend.

Bestselling Books Are Getting Longer

But are they getting better?

December 17, 2015

Logs like this one are being digitized in museums all over New England and used to help scientists understand climate change.

Logbooks From 19th Century Whaling Ships Could Help Climate Change Scientists

A new crowdsourcing project lets amateur enthusiasts contribute, too

December 17, 2015

Railway tracks lead into a dark underground shaft in a former mine in Walbrzych, Poland near where amateur treasure hunters say they have found a lost Nazi train full of gold.

Sorry, Treasure Hunters: That Legendary Nazi Gold Train Is a Total Bust

After months of searching, experts say rumors of a forgotten treasure are just that

December 17, 2015

Skaters Turned a 100-Year-Old Church Into a Mural-Covered Skatepark

Talk about holy rollers

December 17, 2015

Part of the Capitol Christmas Tree's splendor comes from marine debris collected along the Alaska coast.