Smithsonian
The Smithsonian was established in 1848 by virtue of a bequeath from British scientist James Smithson. In the course of events The Smithsonian became a dual private and governmental institution to “increase the diffusion of knowledge among men.” The Smithsonian is in actuality 19 museums, research centers, a zoo in the Washington D.C metro with additional sites in New York and Virginia, Panama and elsewhere. The Smithsonian is a depository of art, artifacts, photos and historical documents. The Smithsonian publishes a monthly magazine and sponsors educational events and training for students and professionals.
Washington D.C., 20013-7012
Fungi-filled forests are critical for endangered orchids
When it comes to conserving the world's orchids, not all forests are equal. In a paper to be published Jan. 25 in the journal Molecular Ecology, Smithsonian ecologists revealed that an orchid's fate hinges ...
Jan 24, 2012 |
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Scientists use fossil feathers reveal lineage of extinct, flightless ibis
A remarkable first occurred recently at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History when ornithologists Carla Dove and Storrs Olson used 700- to 1,100-year-old feathers from a long extinct species ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Nov 22, 2011 |
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Details of ancient shark attack preserved in fossil whale bone
A fragment of whale rib found in a North Carolina strip mine is offering scientists a rare glimpse at the interactions between prehistoric sharks and whales some 3- to 4-million years ago during the Pliocene.
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Nov 10, 2011 |
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Survey identifies sea turtle 'hitchhikers'
A recent survey documented the crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other marine organisms that make a home on the bodies Olive Ridley and green sea turtles living in the Pacific.
Nov 08, 2011 |
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Coasts' best protection from bioinvaders falling short
Invasive species have hitchhiked to the U.S. on cargo ships for centuries, but the method U.S. regulators most rely on to keep them out is not equally effective across coasts. Ecologists from the Smithsonian Environmental ...
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Nov 04, 2011 |
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New study reveals coral reefs may support much more biodiversity than previously thought
Smithsonian scientists and colleagues conducted the first DNA barcoding survey of crustaceans living on samples of dead coral taken from the Indian, Pacific and Caribbean oceans. The results suggest that the ...
Nov 02, 2011 |
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New genetic evidence confirms coyote migration route to Virginia and hybridization with wolves
Changes in North American ecosystems over the past 150 years have caused coyotes to move from their native habitats in the plains and southwestern deserts of North America to habitats throughout the United States.
Oct 25, 2011 |
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Scientists determine family tree for most-endangered bird family in the world
Using one of the largest DNA data sets for a group of birds and employing next-generation sequencing methods, Smithsonian scientists and collaborators have determined the evolutionary family tree for one of ...
Oct 20, 2011 |
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Super-tough seed coat keeps Michaux's sumac on critically endangered list
It is one of the rarest shrubs in the southeastern United States, and for scientists trying to save it, the critically endangered Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii) is not cooperating.
Oct 11, 2011 |
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Team develops new technique for dating silk
Strand for strand no fabric can compare to the luxurious feel, luminosity and sheen of pure silk. Since millennia, the Chinese have been unraveling the cocoons of the silk worm (Bombyx mori) and weaving the fibers into s ...
Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry
Sep 13, 2011 |
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New discovery positions Smithsonian to bolster genetic diversity among cheetahs
Researchers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have discovered why older females are rarely able to reproduce—and hope to use this information to introduce vital new genes into the pool. ...
Aug 12, 2011 |
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Toucans wearing GPS backpacks help Smithsonian scientists study seed dispersal
Nutmeg-loving toucans wearing GPS transmitters recently helped a team of scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama address an age-old problem in plant ecology: accurately estimating ...
Jul 28, 2011 |
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Endangered river turtle's genes reveal ancient influence of Maya Indians
A genetic study focusing on the Central American river turtle (Dermatemys mawii) recently turned up surprising results for a team of Smithsonian scientists involved in the conservation of this critically endang ...
Jul 22, 2011 |
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It's no sweat for salt marsh sparrows to beat the heat if they have a larger bill
Birds use their bills largely to forage and eat, and these behaviors strongly influence the shape and size of a bird's bill. But the bill can play an important role in regulating the bird's body temperature ...
Jul 20, 2011 |
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National Zoo Welcomes Whooping Crane
After an 88-year-long hiatus North America's tallest bird, the statuesque whooping crane (Grus americana), is once again on exhibit at the Bird House at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. An 11-yea ...
Jul 05, 2011 |
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