Animals
Four Zebras Escape From Trailer on Washington State Highway—One Is Still on the Loose
The animals ran around residential areas before community members—including a former rodeo bullfighter—helped corral three of them
How Should Colorado Handle Its Booming Moose Population?
Roughly 3,000 animals now roam the state's mountain ranges
Extremely Rare Blue Rock Thrush Spotted in Oregon Might Be the First Ever in the United States
Amateur photographer Michael Sanchez captured photos of the blue-and-chestnut bird on a beach—but he didn’t realize just how special the “mind-bending” encounter was, until later
How Intelligent Was T. Rex? Scientists Suggest the Dinosaurs Were Like 'Smart, Giant Crocodiles'
A new paper refutes the idea that T. rex was as brainy as a baboon, furthering the debate on the extinct reptile's intellect
Rescuers Save 130 Beached Pilot Whales in Western Australia After Mass Stranding
An additional 29 whales died, officials reported last week, while the reason behind the stranding remains unknown
Move Over, Cicadas: These Living Things ‘Go Dark’ For a Long Time, Too
From frogs to orchids, many organisms go dormant or move underground for lengthy stints
Endangered Ocelots May Be Expanding Their Range in Texas
DNA testing of an ocelot killed in 2021 raises the possibility that the creatures may be roaming outside their established South Texas territory, which is currently their only stronghold in the country
New Statue Honors Elizabeth II—and Her Beloved Corgis
The seven-foot-tall bronze monument is billed as the "first permanent memorial" to the late queen
These Massive, Extinct Salmon Had Spiky Teeth Like a Warthog's Tusks
For decades, scientists thought the teeth pointed downward, similar to those of a saber-toothed cat, but now they believe the fish's chompers jutted out sideways
The 'World's Largest Wildlife Crossing' Will Help Animals Walk Safely Over Eight Lanes of California Traffic
The 210-foot-long bridge across a busy freeway in Los Angeles County is expected to be finished in 2025
Paleontologists Unravel Secrets of 'Enigmatic' 33-Foot Prehistoric Shark After Fossil Discovery
Scientists didn't know much about Ptychodus, an ancient shark genus, because its remains were usually just fragments. Now, complete fossils reveal its body shape and hunting habits
Follow the Soap Opera-Worthy Relationship Drama of the World's Oldest Common Loons
Called ABJ and Fe, the duo mated every spring for 25 years—but they split up in 2022. Now, they’re back at their Michigan breeding grounds, showing no signs of getting together
Scientists Clone Two Black-Footed Ferrets From Frozen Tissues in Conservation Effort
The aim of cloning the animals is to increase the genetic diversity of the endangered species
Scientists Translate Sleeping Birds' Silent Songs Into Sound—and They May Have Recorded a Nightmare
Using surgically implanted electrodes and modeling, researchers brought to life the vocal muscle activity of sleeping great kiskadees
Extensive Desert 'Lava Tubes' Sheltered Humans for 7,000 Years, Archaeologists Find
Formed after volcanic activity, the underground caves periodically hosted early humans and their livestock in Saudi Arabia, facilitating cultural exchange
Scientists Uncover Bones of Massive Extinct Snake, Comparable in Size to the 43-Foot Titanoboa
The 27 vertebrae discovered in India suggest the enormous creature, dubbed Vasuki indicus, was between 36 and 50 feet long
11-Year-Old Uncovers Fossils of Giant Ichthyosaur in England, the Largest Marine Reptile Ever Found, Scientists Say
The jawbone fragments belonged to an 82-foot-long creature that represents a new species, according to a new study
Journey Under the Sea With 15 Amazing Photos of Marine Life
These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves
What Happens When Animals Cross the Road
Our byways are an unnatural incursion into the natural world, especially when they’re allowed to fall into disuse. Meet a roadkill scientist and a journalist tracking how roads mess with nature—and what we can do about it
Hibernating Bumblebee Queens Can Survive Underwater for Up to a Week, Study Finds
Researchers discovered the insects’ unexpected superpower during an accidental laboratory snafu
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