At the Smithsonian

The National Portrait Gallery Wasn’t Allowed to Acquire Photographs When It Opened in 1968. Fifty Years Later, the Smithsonian Museum’s Collection Has Grown to 11,000 Photos and Counting

A new exhibition at the Washington, D.C. gallery celebrates half a century of collecting through portraits spanning the history of photography. Featured figures include President Abraham Lincoln, journalist Ida B. Wells and inventor Thomas Edison

November 13, 2026 7:45 a.m.

Astronomers Found a Mysterious Object Orbiting Far Beyond Pluto. It Could Be a New Dwarf Planet Hidden in Our Solar System

The dwarf planet candidate, called ED138, appeared in telescope images and takes roughly 280 years to orbit the sun. Astronomers need to determine its size to properly classify it

November 12, 2026 12:00 p.m.

How Do Pandas Have Sex While in Human Care? As the National Zoo’s Director Details in Her New Book, It Takes a Village of Dedicated Keepers

Brandie Smith, who leads the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, has seen more of pandas’ private lives than most people ever will. With “In the Company of Pandas,” she explores the world of the lovable black-and-white bears

November 10, 2026

The Panama Canal Has an Unusual Ecosystem, Flowing From Fresh Water to Salt Water and Serving as a Home to Crocodiles, Manatees and Sea Squirts. New Intruders Pose a Growing Threat to the Waterway

The species that occupy this artificial channel are transforming, thanks to a shifting environment and invading marine creatures. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is tracking what happens next

November 9, 2026

CARE Packages Provided a Lifeline for World War II Survivors. Here’s How the Group Turned Leftover Army Rations Into an 80-Year Legacy

The organization began as the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe, and it became a way for those in need to receive food, clothing and other necessities. It continues to aid people today

November 6, 2026

Women Who Shaped History

The Real Story Behind the 504 Sit-In for Disability Rights, the Longest Peaceful Occupation of a Federal Building in American History

Organizers like Judy Heumann pressured officials to implement the first federal legislation protecting disabled Americans from civil rights violations. “Being Heumann,” a new film by director Siân Heder, dramatizes the 26-day demonstration

November 6, 2026

See a Stunning Simulation of the Early Universe, Which Will Help Astronomers Shed Light on the Cosmic Dark Ages

The model, created by researchers at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, and other institutions, captures how the first stars and black holes gradually illuminated the universe after millions of years of darkness

November 3, 2026

What Can Space Offer Humanity? In Pursuit of the Answer, Astronauts Have Been Making a Home in Microgravity for Decades

In a new gallery called “At Home in Space,” the National Air and Space Museum shows how humans have tackled risky and arduous missions to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and exploration

October 30, 2026

For Over Four Years, the Hirshhorn Worked to Revitalize Its Sculpture Garden. Today, It’s Home to a ‘King and Queen,’ a ‘Wish Tree’ and a 55,000-Pound Vertical Swimming Pool Artwork

Newly refreshed by Japanese artist-architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, the sunken garden welcomes National Mall visitors with bronze masterpieces, contemporary stunners and a stage set for creative performances

October 30, 2026

Before Mountain Biking Became One of the Most Popular Recreational Sports, Adventurous Souls of the American West Had to Invent a Rugged Bike

The origin story has two settings: In Colorado, a gang of riders had the tenacity to conquer a treacherous terrain, and in California, others had the technology to design the ideal ride

November 2026

How Do Sea Creatures Survive the Intense Pressure of Living Deep in the Water? And More Questions From Our Readers

You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts

November 2026

A Soldier in Vietnam Recorded His Letter Home Because He Thought It Was Easier Than Writing. It’s a 43-Minute Splice of History

There’s more to Private First Class Frank A. Kowalczyk’s 1969 message than routine updates on his deployment. He poignantly preserved not just his feelings and personality, but a palpable soundtrack of war

November 2026

In the New Movie ‘Whalefall,’ a Cetacean Swallows a Diver Whole. The Sperm Whale’s Remarkable Anatomy and Feeding Habits Shape the Survival Thriller

The film, an adaptation of Daniel Kraus’ 2023 novel, tells the story of a young man with an extremely challenging task: make it out of a whale’s stomach alive

October 16, 2026

At the Bodega, Customers Can Get Pork Rinds, Plantains and Just About Anything They Need. Here’s How These Stores Became a ‘Community Anchor’ of Latino Life

For immigrants, bodegas provide daily necessities and cultural connections to the homelands they left behind. The recent book “Bodega Stories” paints a picture of one Florida family’s history working in and operating the stores

October 15, 2026

In the 1970s, the U.S. Commissioned Photographers to Document the Country’s People and Places. You Can Now See More Than 200 of the Powerful Images

At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, a “national portrait” reveals what the United States looked like during its bicentennial period

October 13, 2026

Watch Five Adorable Newborn Cheetah Cubs Grow on a Livestream From the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute

The healthy and active babies are being cared for by first-time mother Zura, and the public can keep up with their antics through an online cheetah cub cam

October 9, 2026

Researchers May Have Directly Glimpsed an Exoplanet’s Magnetic Field for the First Time, Building Hope of Peering Deeper Into Faraway Worlds

Radio signals emanating from Beta Pictoris b suggest that this young and massive exoplanet has a strong magnetic field and intense auroral show

October 7, 2026

These Five Birds Have Disappeared Forever. Their History Offers a Valuable Lesson for the Future

In an exhibition celebrating the natural history of the United States, a small group of taxidermy birds stands as a reminder of loss—and a symbol of hope

October 5, 2026

These 15 Adorable Photos of Pandas Will Make You Want to Visit the Zoo Immediately

Members of the fluffy and adorable but vulnerable species are often cared for in zoos and breeding centers around the world, and these snapshots may make you jealous of the caretakers’ jobs

October 2, 2026

‘The Icebergs’ Is One of Frederic Edwin Church’s Most Spectacular Paintings. For Decades, No One Knew Where It Was

In the 1970s, the administrator of a boys’ home in England wound up finding the missing 19th-century piece and bringing it back into the spotlight

September 29, 2026