Smithsonian Institution
How Painting Portraits of Freedom Fighters Became William H. Johnson’s Life’s Work
A new exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum brings together the Black Modernist painter’s most famous series for the first time in more than 75 years
From the Inventor of Mass-Market Paper Bags to a Scientist Who Unraveled the Mysteries of Polio, Meet Five American Women Whose Remarkable Achievements Have Long Been Overlooked
The inaugural exhibition at the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum seeks to shine light on lesser-known historical figures
The Dirty Secret About How Our Hands Spread Disease
The human hand is an incredible tool—and a deadly threat
A History of Total Solar Eclipses Seen by Astronauts From Outer Space
Since the Gemini 12 mission in 1966, a handful of people have seen these stunning celestial events from orbit—or watched the moon’s shadow pass over Earth
Jupiter's Moon Europa May Have Less Oxygen Than Previously Thought
The new findings could have implications for whether Europa's vast ocean contains the conditions necessary to support life
This Is When Washington, D.C.'s Cherry Trees Are Predicted to Bloom This Year
"Peak bloom," which typically falls in late March or early April, refers to the day when at least 70 percent of the trees have blossomed
How the Memory of a Song Reunited Two Women Separated by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
In 1990, scholars found a Sierra Leonean woman who remembered a nearly identical version of a tune passed down by a Georgia woman’s enslaved ancestors
Joro Spiders, Spreading in the Southeast, Can Survive Surprisingly Well in Cities
Unlike most spiders, the hustle and bustle of urban areas doesn’t seem to disturb the non-native Joros, a new study finds
The Founder of This Trailblazing Opera Company Put Black Singers at Center Stage
Mary Cardwell Dawson created unprecedented opportunities for aspiring Black musicians
The Smithsonian’s Human Remains Task Force Calls for New Repatriation Policies
The report provides recommendations regarding the return of human remains in the Institution’s collections
Fantastical Art Joins Hundreds of Blooming Orchids to Shed Light on Conservation Efforts
Smithsonian Gardens’ 28th annual orchid exhibition is underway at the Kogod Courtyard
To Make Tiffany & Co. a Household Name, the Luxury Brand's Founder Cashed in on the Trans-Atlantic Telegraph Craze
Charles Lewis Tiffany purchased the surplus cable from the 1858 venture, turning it into souvenirs that forever linked his name to the short-lived telecommunications milestone
These Women Were the Real Geniuses Behind the Iconic Tiffany Lamps
A chic light fixture reveals how female designers remade the Tiffany brand—and went largely uncredited for nearly a century
Why Is the Year of the Dragon Considered So Lucky?
The only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac, the dragon has long been associated with prosperity and imperial power
The Moon Is Shrinking, Causing Moonquakes at a Potential NASA Landing Site, Study Finds
Though the risk to astronauts is low, the shaking could cause landslides and impact potential long-term settlements at the lunar south pole
How the Smithsonian Is Helping Black Americans Trace Their Roots
Free sessions hosted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture offer visitors advice on researching their genealogy
See Long-Lost Artifacts From Early Black Cinema
Now open in Detroit, "Regeneration: Black Cinema, 1898–1971" showcases nearly 200 rare props, posters, photographs and more
Prototype for Mars Helicopter Will Soon Be on Display at National Air and Space Museum
The surprisingly long-serving Ingenuity ended its historic service after breaking a rotor
N. Scott Momaday Built the Foundations of Native American Literature
Smithsonian scholars offer their reflections on the author, who died last week at age 89, and his impact on a new generation of Native writers
How Shade Coffee Aids Conservation
When managed in the right way, the farms that provide our morning brew can be a refuge for plant and animal biodiversity
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