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Giant prehistoric turtle from Colombia chomped everything in sight–including crocodiles!

Giant prehistoric turtle from Colombia chomped everything in sight–including crocodiles!

The specimen’s skull measures 24 centimeters, roughly the size of a regulation NFL football. The shell which was recovered nearby – and is believed to belong to the same species – measures 172 centimeters, or about 5 feet 7 inches, long. [...more]

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First ever record of insect pollination captured in 100 million-year-old amber

First ever record of insect pollination captured in 100 million-year-old amber

Scientists have discovered several specimens of tiny insects covered with pollen grains in two pieces of amber, revealing the first record of pollen transport and social behavior in this group of animals. [...more]

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$35-million donation will build new dinosaur hall at National Museum of Natural History

$35-million donation will build new dinosaur hall at National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History will construct a new dinosaur exhibition hall made possible by a $35 million donation from David H. Koch, executive vice president of Koch Industries and philanthropist. [...more]

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Meet the 125-million-year-old pollinator “Jeholopsyche liaoningensis”

Meet the 125-million-year-old pollinator “Jeholopsyche liaoningensis”

Jeholopsyche liaoningensis is a new genus and species of flying insect from northeastern China, recently revealed in two new fossil specimens. [...more]

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New fossil whale species raises mystery regarding why narwhals and belugas live only in cold water

New fossil whale species raises mystery regarding why narwhals and belugas live only in cold water

A newly described species of toothed whale that lived some 3-4 million years ago during the Pliocene, is causing scientists to reconsider what is known about its living cold-water relatives: narwhals and belugas. [...more]

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Largest snake the world has ever seen is being brought back to life by Smithsonian Channel

Largest snake the world has ever seen is being brought back to life by Smithsonian Channel

Slithering in at 48 feet long and weighing an estimated one-and-a-half tons, the largest snake the world has ever seen is being brought back to life. Sixty million years ago, in the mysterious era after the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, scientists believe that a colossal snake related to modern boa [...] [...more]

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Two new species of extinct camels discovered in Panama Canal excavations

Two new species of extinct camels discovered in Panama Canal excavations

The discovery of two new extinct camel species by scientists from the University of Florida and the Smithsonian is casting new light on the history of the tropics, a region containing more than half the world's biodiversity and some of its most important ecosystems. [...more]

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How do paleontologists identify dinosaur teeth? Smithsonian Curator Matthew Carrano identifies Cretaceous dinosaur teeth from the Washington D.C. area.

How do paleontologists identify dinosaur teeth? Smithsonian Curator Matthew Carrano identifies Cretaceous dinosaur teeth from the Washington D.C. area.

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Scientists from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center have found that fledgling catbirds living in the suburbs are extremely vulnerable. Almost 80 percent are killed by predators before they reach adulthood. Nearly half of the deaths are connected to domestic cats. The team studied catbird nests in 3 suburban neighborhoods in Maryland: Spring Park, Opal Daniels Park, and Bethesda. Learn more about this 2011 study by clicking here. (Catbird photo by Gerhard Hofmann)

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