Research News

Newsroom of the Smithsonian

The Smithsonian is one of the world’s foremost research centers in science, the arts, and the humanities. In addition to research pursued by the museums, our research centers specialize in areas of inquiry spanning the globe and the farthest reaches of the universe.

Picture of blanket with multiple, geometric patterns in earthy colors.
Smithsonian
Woolly Dog: Coast Salish blanket

A classic-style Coast Salish blanket, which includes a mixture of woolly dog and goat wool. The woolly dog wool is in the warp (vertical strands). Accessioned 1858. Collection notes.

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Image of a old blanket with only parts of the left and top border intact.
Smithsonian
Woolly Dog: Coast Salish blanket fragment

A classic-style Coast Salish blanket fragment, which includes a mixture of goat wool and woolly dog wool in the warp (vertical strands) and weft (horizontal strands). Accessioned 1881. Collection notes.

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Computer-generated rendering of medium-sized, white, fluffy dog.

The reconstructed woolly dog shown at scale with Arctic dogs and spitz breeds in the background to compare scale and appearance; the portrayal does not imply a genetic relationship. Credit: Karen Carr.

Researchers, Coast Salish People Analyze 160-Year-Old Indigenous Dog Pelt in the Smithsonian’s Collection
Analysis Conducted To Pinpoint the Origin and Sudden Disappearance of the Culturally Significant Coast Salish Woolly Dog
12.14.2023
Natural History Museum Research News
Photo of animal skull against white background
James Di Loreto, Brittany M. Hance, Phillip R. Lee and Rosa Pineda. Courtesy of Smithsonian
Rice’s Whale: Skull

The skull of the Rice’s whale skeleton that scientists studied and described to officially designate it as a new species of whale. In the field of biology, scientific recognition of a new species requires what is known as a holotype or type specimen.

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An organic, black piece of whale against a black background

A plate of baleen (left) and a plastic shard (right) found in the gut of the first Rice’s whale to be scientifically described.

Credit: James D. Tiller and Fred Cochard, Smithsonian.

Smithsonian To Host Symposium Focused on Endangered Rice’s Whale in Partnership With NOAA, Marine Mammal Commission
Museum Will Display Remains of the First Scientifically Described Rice’s Whale
11.09.2023
Natural History Museum Research News Exhibitions
White background photo with brown organic matter in hexagonal shape
James D. Tiller and Fred Cochard, Smithsonian
Rice’s Whale: Shard

A plate of baleen (left) and a plastic shard (right) found in the gut of the first Rice’s whale to be scientifically described.

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Photo of prganic whale matter against black background
James D. Tiller and Fred Cochard, Smithsonian
Rice’s Whale: Baleen Plate

A plate of baleen (left) and a plastic shard (right) found in the gut of the first Rice’s whale to be scientifically described.

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Photo of black, organic whale matter
James D. Tiller and Fred Cochard, Smithsonian
Rice’s Whale: Plate and Shard

A plate of baleen (left) and

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Exterior of Osiris-REx sample collector
NASA/Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold
Asteroid: Sample Collector

A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. Sample material from asteroid Bennu can be seen on the middle right.

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Techs working on sample in clean room
Robert Markowitz
Asteroid: Houston Sample 2

OSIRIS REx Asteroid Sample Return lid opening at Building 31 Astromaterials Curation Facility. Photo date: Sept. 26, 2023. Location: Bldg. 31 - OSIRIS REx Thin Section Lab.

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Technicians working with asteroid sample in clean room
Robert Markowitz
Asteroid: Houston Sample 1

OSIRIS REx Asteroid Sample Return lid opening at Building 31 Astromaterials Curation Facility. Photo date: Sept. 26, 2023. Location: Bldg. 31 - OSIRIS REx Thin Section Lab.

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Asteroid: Utah Sample

Curation teams process the sample return capsule from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission in a cleanroom, Sept. 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense’s Utah Test and Training Range.

Color photo of desert with black metal orb
NASA/Keegan Barber
Asteroid: Bennu capsule

The sample return capsule from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission is seen shortly after touching down in the desert, Sept. 24, 2023, at the Department of Defense's Utah Test and Training Range. The sample was collected from the asteroid Bennu in October 2020 by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.

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BW image of robotic spacecraft
NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
Asteroid: OSIRIS-REx spacecraft

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft unfurled its robotic arm Oct. 20, 2020, and briefly touched an asteroid to collect dust and rock from the surface for delivery to Earth in 2023.

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Black and white photo of asteroid
: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
Asteroid: Bennu

This mosaic image of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 PolyCam images collected Dec. 2, 2018, by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 15 miles (24 kilometers).

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Frishkoff poses with arms crossed at the University of Texas
Erika Nina Suárez, University of Texas at Arlington
Luke Frishkoff

Luke Frishkoff, coauthor of a study showing that protected lands help safeguard vertebrates from biodiversity loss.

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Benes holding a sapling
Carlos Muñoz Brenes
Carlos Muñoz Brenes

Carlos Muñoz Brenes holds a Pau Brasil seedling, ready to plant at a forest restoration event at the Pau Brasil National Park.

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Nowakowski in the field--fall forest
Kristen Goodhue/Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Justin Nowakowski

Justin Nowakowski, pictured in a forest at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, led a study showing that protected areas can slow biodiversity loss.

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Woman taking reading from tree branch
Jessica Deichmann
Jessica Deichmann

Jessica Deichmann installs an acoustic recording unit for a river herring survey in Maryland. (Credit: Jessica Deichmann)

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woodland stream with mossy rocks
Justin Nowakowski
Biodiversity: La Selva Stream

Stream in La Selva Research Station, a private forest reserve in Costa Rica spanning nearly 4,000 acres. (Credit: Justin Nowakowski)

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glassy lake surrounded by frost-covered trees
Marylin Veiman Echeverria
Biodiversity: Yosemite Lake

Lake in Yosemite National Park, one of the most popular protected areas in the U.S. (Credit: Marylin Veiman Echeverria)

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Yellow viper in tree
Marylin Veiman Echeverria
Biodiversity: Pit Viper

Reptiles like this pit viper (Bothriechis) are especially vulnerable to climate change, even inside protected areas. (Credit: Marylin Veiman Echeverria)

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Howler monkey in tree
Marylin Veiman Echeverria
Biodiversity: Howler Monkey

Howler monkeys (Alouatta) include over a dozen species, and several are vulnerable or endangered. (Credit: Marylin Veiman Echeverria)

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Gray and red bird
Carlos Muñoz Brenes
Biodiversity: Slaty-Tailed Trogon

Slaty-tailed trogon (Trogon massena), a bird common in tropical forests and coffee plantations of Central America.

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