Welcome to Smithsonian Science – a website produced by the Smithsonian’s Office of Public Affairs featuring stories, photos and videos of Smithsonian scientific research that asks questions and explores issues relevant to today and pushes the boundaries of human knowledge.

Science plays a critical role in the daily life of the Smithsonian. More than simply displaying science in a glass case, the Smithsonian does science. Our scientists probe animals and events from millions of years in the past and imagine the future at the far reaches of the universe.

Every day, Smithsonian scientists examine many of the world’s most complex and time-sensitive problems. Our scientists apply what they learn to improve the quality of life on Earth. They protect natural resources and endangered animals, assess the consequences of climate change and even help keep aircraft safe from bird strikes.

More than 500 Smithsonian scientists, augmented by an equal number of fellows and hundreds of international collaborators, conduct research on all seven continents and serve as experts in a wide scope of disciplines.

We’ll bring you their stories, updating this site every few days with news, features, photos and videos.

We encourage you to visit regularly and comment on the articles.

Content for this site is maintained by John Barrat in the Office of Public Affairs. Contact him at 202-633-5181 or insideresearch@si.edu