Arts and Humanities
The arts and humanities explore human experience through creative expression and critical analysis of history, literature, philosophy and religion
Sagging Pants Butt Up Against the Law
Yet the droopy trousers trend lives on
April 01, 2013 |
By Emily Spivack
Stop Trying to Live Like a Caveman
Modern humans are doing it all wrong - they eat wrong, they run wrong, they work wrong, they get married wrong. But is the life of cave people really what we should be striving for?
April 01, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Kon-Tiki Sails Again
A new film recreates the epic voyage—and revives the controversy over its legendary leader, Thor Heyerdahl
April 2013 |
By Franz Lidz
Photos: The U.S. Military’s Prototype for a Flying Submarine
Capable of carrying 66 tons of cargo, the Aeroscraft could bring airships back to the skies
April 2013 |
By Mark Strauss
Meet the Artist Who Blows Things Up for a Living
With ethereal artworks traced in flames and gunpowder, Cai Guo Qiang is making a big bang
April 2013 |
By Ron Rosenbaum
America’s Got a Case of Souvenir Mania
A new book from a Smithsonian curator looks at the culture and business of memorabilia
April 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
PHOTOS: Life Along the Borders
The recent book On Borders features the work of photographers who captured images of boundaries both literal and metaphorical
April 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
Michael Pollan, World War II and More Recent Books Out This Month
Read about the transformation of food and what happens to it once its in the digestive system
April 2013 |
By Chloë Schama
How the DC-3 Revolutionized Air Travel
Before the legendary aircraft took flight, it took 25 hours to fly from New York to Los Angeles
April 2013 |
By Kathleen Burke
How Much Water Is in a Cloud and More Questions From Our Readers
Imaginary numbers, Roy Lichtenstein and much much more
April 2013 |
By Smithsonian magazine
The Big Dilemma Facing Doctors Without Borders
The non-governmental organization concedes it sometimes pays a moral price to save lives
April 2013 |
By Guy Gugliotta
Where Was the Birthplace of the American Vacation?
First in rustic tents and later in elaborate resorts, city dwellers took to the Adirondacks to explore the joys of the wilderness
April 2013 |
By Tony Perrottet
Remembering the Last Great Worldwide Sailing Expedition
An 1838 journey pushed back the borders of the unknown
April 2013 |
By Michael Ruane
How to Tour Frank Sinatra’s Las Vegas
Even though most of 1950s Vegas is long gone, there are still many ways to relive the haunts of Ol’ Blue Eyes and the Rat Pack
April 01, 2013 |
By Nina Fedrizzi
What Major World Cities Look Like at Night, Minus the Light Pollution
Photographer Thierry Cohen tries to reconnect city dwellers with nature through his mind-blowing composite images—now at New York City's Danziger Gallery
March 29, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
