Sea urchins are stuck belly up in low-oxygen hot water
As oceans warm and become more acidic and oxygen-poor, Smithsonian researchers asked how marine life on a Caribbean coral reef copes with changing conditions.
Smithsonian scientist clears up Panamanian urban legend
How did canal grass arrive in Panama? STRI staff scientist Kristin Saltonstall compared the DNA of sugar cane relatives from around the world to find out.
In the footsteps of crocs
Crocodiles fulfill important functions in the ecosystems where they live, and they play a prominent role in the myths and legends of cultures around the world. Miryam Venegas-Anaya will share stories about years of field work in Panama with these fascinating reptiles to increase our understanding and appreciation of their diversity and behavior.
First Sightings of Lek and courtship behavior in wrinkle-faced bats
Male Wrinkle-faced bats lower a flap of skin resembling a face mask when they are ready to mate according to a rare sighting of a lek of bats in Costa Rica.
Diving into the deep past
Coming from a humble family, Félix Rodríguez decided from a young age that he would focus on his education in order to secure a better future for himself and his family. At different points in his life he said yes to the opportunities that were presented to him, with a curious heart. This led him to learn from world-class experts, get training abroad and become a paleontologist at the...
Modern computational tools may open a new era for fossil pollen research
By integrating machine-learning technology with high-resolution imaging, scientists are improving the taxonomic resolution of fossil pollen identifications and greatly enhancing the use of pollen data in ecological and evolutionary research.
Amy Koehler transforms bat science into bat art
Reshaping her interest in science into a career in art, Amy Koehler does what she loves best in the Bat Lab
You are what you eat: Evolutionary lessons from agricultural ants in Panama
Just as contemporary human societies depend on large-scale agriculture, leaf-cutter ants depend on a long, co-evolved relationship with a fungus. As humans, we may share some of the same rules that govern their relationship.
DNA in fringe-lipped bat poop reveals unexpected eating habits
The poop of Trachops cirrhosus revealed surprising results about its foraging abilities and prey preferences.
The ritual significance of a classic Maya sweat bath in Guatemala
An unusual offering in an abandoned and unique-looking structure revealed new evidence of the role it played in the community
