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New Faces of 1946

An unpopular president. A war-weary people. In the midterm elections of 60 years ago, voters took aim at incumbents

Marie Antoinette

The teenage queen, now the subject of a new movie, was embraced by France in 1770. Twenty-three years later, she lost her head to the guillotine. (But she never said, "Let them eat cake")

The Smart and Swinging Bonobo

Civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has threatened the existence of wild bonobos, while new research on the hypersexual primates challenges their peace-loving reputation

Speaking Bonobo

Bonobos have an impressive vocabulary, especially when it comes to snacks

Song and Dance Man

Growing up in a gritty urban neighborhood, Erich Jarvis dreamed of becoming a ballet star. Now the scientist's studies of how birds learn to sing are forging a new understanding of the human brain

Chile's Driving Force

Once imprisoned by Pinochet, the new Socialist president Michelle Bachelet wants to spread the wealth initiated by the dictator's wrenching economic policies

Pilgrims' Progress

We retrace the travels (and travails) of the ragtag group that founded Plymouth Colony, gave us Thanksgiving and laid the foundation for democracy in the New World

Watching Water Run

Uncomfortable in a world of privilege, a novelist headed for the hills

Q&A: Lucy Lawless

Lucy Lawless, star of Xena: Warrior Princess, which aired from 1995 to 2001, has given her signature costume to the Museum of American History

Passion Fruit

Edward Weston quested for the perfect pepper

R.I.P., Mighty O

A fabled aircraft carrier sunk deliberately off the coast of Florida is the world's largest artificial reef

Sharp Pencils

How three pioneering reporters reshaped the way the press covers elections-and politics itself

Ways of Seeing

Inviting artists to help showcase its collections is just one way the Hirshhorn Museum is expanding its vision

Sky Writer

Anne Morrow Lindbergh chronicled the flights made with her celebrated husband

What's Up

Topper, 1st Class and No Popcorn

November Letters

Readers respond to the September issue

Wild Things: Life as We Know It

Killer whales, trap-jaw ants and dinosaurs

Interview: David Galenson

Pondering the nature of artistic genius, a social scientist finds that creativity has a bottom line

November Anniversaries

Momentous or Merely Memorable

Last Page: Strings Attached

"You want the greatest guitar ever?" Dad asked