Linda Welzenbach, a geologist with the National Museum of Natural History's Department of Mineral Sciences, works in the Antarctic meteorite storage facility at the Smithsonian's Museum Support Center in Silver Hill, Maryland.
Photo by Chip Clark, Smithsonian Institution
Douglas Owsley, a forensic anthropologist at the National Museum of Natural History, examines skeletal remains in the field.
Photo by Smithsonian Institution
- What are the dark matter and dark energy that make up most of the universe?
- How did the stars and rocky planets like our Earth form and evolve?
Throughout history, people have observed the universe, seeking to understand its beginnings and how the galaxies, stars, and planets originated. At the Smithsonian, astrophysicists and other scientists continue to lead the quest to unlock the fundamental secrets of the cosmos. They explore our own solar system, meteorites, the Earth's geological past and present, and the paleontological record of our planet, showcasing the results of their explorations and connecting them to humankind's artistic and cultural endeavors.
