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Subjects including the arts and humanities, government, nature, people, recreation, science and societyDiscover Smithsonian articles related to the arts, history, science and popular culture.
Getting in Touch After a Disaster
Before cellphones, it was much harder to get a hold of loved ones, but it was also less likely you knew they were in danger at all
April 17, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Q+A: What Is the Future of GPS? Are We Too Dependent?
Geographer Andrew Johnston discusses some of the applications and risks of the satellite-based technology, as well as its future
April 17, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Your Meat is Probably Packing Antibiotic Resistant Superbugs
Antibiotic resistant bacteria is rampant in grocery store meat, and it doesn't seem to be going away
April 17, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Northeastern United States Gets To See a Rocket Launch Today
At 5 p.m. today, a huge rocket will blast off from a base in Virginia
April 17, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The Colorado: America’s Most Endangered River
A new report points to drought, climate change and increased demand for water as the reasons the iconic river no longer reaches the sea
April 17, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
The 64-Square Grid Design of ‘Through the Looking Glass’
The sequel to Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland was designed to be a playable, albeit whimsical chess problem
April 17, 2013 |
By Jimmy Stamp
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
What Was the First Book Ever Ordered on Amazon.com?
Amazon wasn't always a multi-billion dollar company. Their first non-internal order came in 1995, and it was a science book
April 17, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
An Artist Creates Artificial Fog in San Francisco
Fujiko Nakaya works with an unusual medium. The Japanese artist is sculpting fog clouds at the Exploratorium's new site at Pier 15
April 17, 2013 |
By Aleta George
With New Ban, No More Lions and Tigers and Bears at Circuses
Any animal not normally domesticated in the UK will no longer appear on stage
April 17, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
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
Educating Americans for the 21st Century
Our Special Report highlights the bright spots where dynamic ideas, fascinating people and hard work are transforming education for American kids
April 17, 2013 |
By Smithsonian.com
Dark Lightning Is Just One of the Crazy Types of Lightning You’ve Never Heard Of
Dark Lightning is not the only weird form of lightning you've probably never heard of
April 16, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Trees Make Noises, and Some of Those Sounds Are Cries for Help
Knowing what kinds of noises trees in distress produce means researchers may be able to target those most in need of emergency waterings during droughts
April 16, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
‘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
The Earliest Stop Motion Animations are Weirdly Wonderful
The earliest stop motion animations remind us that you don't need Pixar's budget to make something wonderful
April 16, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
You’re Lying to Yourself About How Good Your Future Will Be
In a psychology experiment, people assumed that bad things would not happen to them in the future, but that those bad things could happen to their friends
April 16, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
No, You Can’t Officially Rename a Planet. But No One Can Stop You From Trying
This contest to name exoplanets isn't official. But does that really matter?
April 16, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
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
The Secret to Biofuels Might Be Hidden in Poop
A fungus that grows on manure and breaks down the leftover plant material could be a key clue for biofuel researchers
April 16, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
