Social Sciences
The social sciences study cultural artifacts, innovations, language and behaviors to discover how humans relate to each other and to society
What the Inuit Taught Scientists About Killer Whales
The native people knew what orcas ate, how they hunted prey, how the prey responded to the whales and when and where predation occurred
February 06, 2012 |
By Greg Laden
How Old is That Silk Artifact?
A chemist from the Textile Museum is perfecting a new technique for understanding the past
February 2012 |
By Joseph Stromberg
How One Mummy Came to the Smithsonian
An American diplomat’s memento takes center stage after 125 years
February 2012 |
By Owen Edwards
The Science of Sarcasm? Yeah, Right
How do humans separate sarcasm from sincerity? Research on the subject is leading to insights about how the mind works. Really
November 14, 2011 |
By Richard Chin
Secretary Clough on Jefferson's Bible
The head of the Smithsonian Institution details the efforts American History Museum conservators took to repair the artifact
October 2011 |
By G. Wayne Clough
Fossil Finds Complicate Search for Human Ancestor
A new analysis of a 2-million-year-old hominid shows that it had an intriguing mix of australopithecine and Homo-like traits
September 09, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
Farming Like the Incas
The Incas were masters of their harsh climate, archaeologists are finding—and the ancient civilization has a lot to teach us today
September 07, 2011 |
By Cynthia Graber
Gene Tunney's Gloves Enter the Ring
Fans still argue about who really won the 1927 "long count" fight between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey
September 2011 |
By Owen Edwards
Six Talking Apes
“Talking” apes are not just the stuff of science fiction; scientists have taught many apes to use some semblance of language
August 11, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
Archaeologists May Have A Bone To Pick With Herbivores
Carnivores aren't the only creatures munching on bones, and herbivores are not the strict vegans we think they are
August 04, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The Beer Archaeologist
By analyzing ancient pottery, Patrick McGovern is resurrecting the libations that fueled civilization
August 2011 |
By Abigail Tucker
The Saddest Movie in the World
How do you make someone cry for the sake of science? The answer lies in a young Ricky Schroder
July 21, 2011 |
By Richard Chin
The Fall of Zahi Hawass
Removed as minister of antiquities, the high profile archaeologist no longer holds the keys to 5,000 years of Egyptian history
July 18, 2011 |
By Andrew Lawler
Snake-Spotting Theory Brings Primate Vision into Focus
Do camouflaged predators explain why monkeys, apes and other primates evolved superior eyesight?
June 22, 2011 |
By Erin Wayman
The Secret to Machu Picchu’s Success: Llama Poop
The Incas used llama dung as fertilizer to grow maize, and fuel an empire
May 24, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Ancient Egyptian Princess Had Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease isn't just a modern problem--even the ancient Egyptians suffered from it
May 19, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
Make Room for 10 Billion People
The United Nations announced this week that the world population is expected to reach 10 billion by the end of the century—and then just keep on growing (more details in the pdf). That's a big increase from the previous estimate of a peak of 9 billion that would then stabilize or shrink.Science mag...
May 05, 2011 |
By Laura Helmuth
El Mirador, the Lost City of the Maya
Now overgrown by jungle, the ancient site was once the thriving capital of the Maya civilization
May 2011 |
By Chip Brown
The Curious World of Zombie Science
Zombies seem to be only growing in popularity, and I'm not talking about the biological kind
April 18, 2011 |
By Sarah Zielinski
What is Beneath the Temple Mount?
As Israeli archaeologists recover artifacts from the religious site, ancient history inflames modern-day political tensions
April 2011 |
By Joshua Hammer
