Arts and Humanities
The arts and humanities explore human experience through creative expression and critical analysis of history, literature, philosophy and religion
Events April 30-May 2: Origins of the Renaissance, Native Crafts and History Reanimated
This week, hear how a Roman emperor may have started the Renaissance, make your own Native art and meet digital animation artist Kota Ezawa
April 29, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
How a Pizza Maker Revolutionized the Stunt-Kite-Flying World
First, let's establish the fact that there is something in the United States called the American Kitefliers Association. And there's something called competitive stunt kiting
April 26, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Strange Beauty of David Maisel’s Aerial Photographs
A new book shows how the photographer creates startling images of open-pit mines, evaporation ponds and other sites of environmental degradation
April 26, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
Decoding The City: The Road Graffiti Placed by Utility Workers
These infrastructural lines mark the pathways of pipes and wires beneath the paved surface -- but what does each color mean?
April 26, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
The New $100 Bill Will Have Thousands of Tiny Lenses Built In
The $100 is the note most frequently targeted by counterfeiters
April 25, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Russia’s Cold War Plan to Reverse the Ocean and Melt the Arctic
A giant dam across the Pacific could re-route ocean currents and melt the Arctic, and the Soviets wanted to try
April 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Events April 26-28: Arbor Day, Expert Collectors and Classical Music
This weekend, plant a tree, learn about the art of craft collecting and listen to one of Haydn's masterpieces
April 25, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
How Do You Say ‘Star Wars’ In Navajo?
The Navajo Nation teamed up with Lucasfilm to translate the classic space opera
April 25, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Story of Elizabeth Keckley, Former-Slave-Turned-Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker
A talented seamstress and savvy businesswoman, she catered to Washington's socialites
April 24, 2013 |
By Emily Spivack
NYC Kids May Have to Wait Until They’re 21 to Buy Cigarettes
New York City is tightening its campaign to rid the metropolis of its most significant cause of preventable deaths
April 23, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
As Tigers Dwindle, Poachers Turn to Lions for ‘Medicinal’ Bones
Because wildlife managers are overwhelmed by the rhino horn poaching epidemic, investigations into missing lions will likely take second place
April 23, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Microbe Hunters
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest, scientists search for the micro-organisms that lived inside ancient humans
April 23, 2013 |
By Elizabeth Quill
Animal Rights Activists Make Off With One Hundred Mutant Mice
Animal rights activists ruined years of important research on diseases such as autism and schizophrenia
April 23, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Eyes Have It
In the wake of the Boston bombing, Amy Henderson explores parallels between Edison's revolution of electricity and today’s mediascape that helped solve the crime
April 23, 2013 |
By Amy Henderson
Before and After: America’s Environmental History
For the EPA's State of the Environment Photography Project, people are returning to sites photographed in the 1970s. They are snapping the scenes yet again—to document any changes in the landscape
April 22, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
VIDEO: Earth Art on the Mall
Four artists left their mark for the Smithsonian's first ever land art installation as part of a new exhibit about African artists and the earth
April 22, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Curses! Archduke Franz Ferdinand and His Astounding Death Car
Was the man whose assassination began World War I riding in a car destined to bring death to a series of owners?
April 22, 2013 |
By Mike Dash
Events April 23-25: Cyrus Cylinder, Collage Art and a Craft Show
This week, hear about one of history's most important artifacts, see how assemblage changed the definition of art and peruse crafts by 121 artists
April 22, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Intriguing Science Art From the University of Wisconsin
From a fish's dyed nerves to vapor strewn across the planet, images submitted to a contest at the university offer new perspectives of the natural world
April 19, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
