Scientists Solve Mystery of Narwhal's Spiral Tusk
Scientists just discovered why narwhals grow perfectly straight tusks that all spiral left. The answer lies in a double helix structure invisible to the naked eye.
Search
Find uplifting stories about heroes, innovations, and solutions
5 results for "narwhals"
UN Ships Agree to Quiet Down for Arctic Narwhals
Global shipping regulators just approved new guidance to reduce underwater noise threatening narwhals and other Arctic whales. Simple fixes like slower speeds and cleaner hulls could cut noise pollution nearly in half while saving fuel.
Scientists Unlock Secrets of Arctic's 'Unicorn Whales
Researchers have finally solved the mystery of the narwhal's 3-meter tusk, discovering it's packed with 10 million nerve endings that help these "unicorns of the sea" navigate a changing Arctic. The breakthrough could help protect these mysterious whales as their habitat transforms.
Scientists Unlock Whale Secrets Hidden in Baleen
Marine biologists are reading decades of whale life history from baleen plates, whiskers, and tusks like biological time capsules. This breakthrough is revealing mysteries about the ocean's most elusive giants without ever touching a living whale.
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Ff1%2Fe7%2Ff1e74dce-f258-494f-8951-8099c6f1f1d7%2Fimg_7803.jpg)
Pennsylvania's Snowdrop Fans Gather to Celebrate Tiny Flower
A 220-year-old meetinghouse in Pennsylvania fills each February with people from around the world celebrating snowdrops, delicate flowers that bloom through snow and ice. The annual Galanthus Gala has become a sold-out event honoring a plant that teaches us to slow down and find beauty in winter's darkest days.