Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Smithsonian scientists provide worldwide access to some of the museum’s most delicate specimens Raven Capone Benko The National Museum of Natural History safeguards ...

Scientists have discovered 30 new species in the deep recesses of the Southern Ocean, including iridescent scale worms and a carnivorous “death ball” sponge. Left: An iridescent scale worm discovered ...

Pink filamentous bacterial mat with Peinaleopolynoe orphanae scale worm, located at a depth of 2.2 miles (3656 meters). Photo: Schmidt Ocean Institute About those worms—they’re what’s known as ...

Lurking beneath the icy waters of the Antarctic, these alien-looking scale worms boast iridescent armor and jaws that would make a sci-fi monster proud. Equal parts fascinating and fearsome, they’re ...

It’s time for the blobfish to move over. There’s another ugly sea creature in town (or the reefs, rather), and it’s essentially nightmare fuel. This is what Eulagisca gigantea, or the Antarctic scale ...