Nature
Events August 31-September 1: Prehistoric Prints, American Animals and a Peek Inside the Castle
This weekend, learn how man really came to walk the Earth, visit the newly opened American Trail and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Castle
At a Glance: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Oregon Coast
The coastal Highway 101 route, through rainforest and redwoods, is as beautiful as it is popular
Events August 24-26: Bones, Steel Pans, and Photographic Ingenuity
This weekend, bone up on your skeletal knowledge, survey new artwork from the Middle East and celebrate the steel pan
Where Has the Heat Been Most Oppressive This Summer?
This year is shaping up to be among the warmest on record—not only in the United States but worldwide. Here are a few of the hottest hotspots
Shark Week Proves We Are Fascinated by Sharks, So Why Do We Kill So Many of Them?
Around the world, these animals command a strange sort of fascination in their human admirers—an urge to see, learn and encounter, but also to kill
Great Food Festivals of the World
To sample the best foods and flavors of a region, head for a festival
Lake Baikal and More of the Weirdest Lakes of the World
Set deep within the Russian subcontinent, Baikal is the deepest, oldest and most voluminous of all lakes
Newly Acquired Whale Skull a “Missing Link”
Marine mammals expert Charles Potter has big plans for his newest acquisition
Is the Livestock Industry Destroying the Planet?
For the earth's sake, maybe it's time we take a good, hard look at our dietary habits
Events July 31-Aug 2: X-Ray Fish, Imperial India and Club Native
This week at the Smithsonian, the evolution of fish through X-Ray, India's imperial arts and the divisive legacy of Native blood laws
More Great Books and Where Best to Read Them
A continuation of last week's list of the author's favorite reads
Events July 27-29: Human Origins, “This is Peru” and a Meeting of Worlds
Celebrate Peru and learn traditional Indian dance this weekend
Why the Idea of Killing Sharks to Make Waters Safer Is Absurd
The recent fatal shark attack off Western Australia has ignited a debate there over whether the fish should continue to be protected
Sam Kean Decodes DNA’s Past
The author discusses his new book, a collection of entertaining stories about the field of genetics titled The Violinst's Thumb
Great Books—and the Best Places to Read Them
Reading while traveling can serve as a sensory supplement to one's surrounding environment. Here are some of my favorite books and where to read them
Colds and Conquests: How A Health Crisis May Have Spurred Roman Expansion
Smithsonian Research Associate Alain Touwaide will argue that a quest for medicinal plants may have spurred Roman expansion at his July 18 lecture
A Treasure Trove of Old Maps at Your Fingertips
Soon, all of the United States Geographical Survey's old topographical maps will be available online
Return of the King Salmon
In the ocean waters just off California's Central Coast, the fish are swarming this summer like they haven't in years
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