Humanities
Critical analysis and thought in the fields of history, law and philosophy
The True Story of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Nathaniel Philbrick takes on one of the Revolutionary War’s most famous and least understood battles
May 2013 |
By Tony Horwitz
Starving Settlers in Jamestown Colony Resorted to Cannibalism
New archaeological evidence and forensic analysis reveals that a 14-year-old girl was cannibalized in desperation
May 01, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
What Happened to the Wizard of Oz Costumes and More Great Questions From our Readers
Apollo 11 souvenirs, Walt Whitman’s politics, and dinosaur DNA were among the subjects you wanted to know more about
May 2013 |
By Smithsonian magazine
How the Ford Motor Company Won a Battle and Lost Ground
Corporate violence against union organizers might have gone unrecorded—if it not for an enterprising news photographer
April 30, 2013 |
By Gilbert King
Decoding the Range: The Secret Language of Cattle Branding
Venture into the highly regulated and fascinating world of bovine pyroglyphics
April 30, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
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 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
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
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
Chechnya, Dagestan, and the North Caucasus: A Very Brief History
Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev hails from Dagestan, a war-torn Russian region in the North Caucasus.
April 19, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Cheating Their Way to Fame: The Top 9 Adventure Travel Hoaxes
From polar exploration to summit bids to marathons, claims of heroic journeys have turned out to be tales woven with lies
April 17, 2013 |
By Alastair Bland
Sequestration to Cause Closures, Secretary Clough Testifies
Gallery closings, fewer exhibitions and reduced educational offerings are some of the impacts he listed before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
April 17, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
‘I Remember’: An Artist’s Chronicle of What We Wore
In the 1970s, Joe Brainard wrote a book-length poem that paid heed to fashion
April 16, 2013 |
By Emily Spivack
Q+A with Chadwick Boseman, Star of New Jackie Robinson Biopic, ’42′
The actor talks about getting vetted by the baseball legend's grandchildren, meeting with his wife and why baseball was actually his worst sport
April 16, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
