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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.
Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher Dies at Age 87
Margaret Tatcher, former Prime Minister of Great Britain and first woman to lead a Western power, died today at the age of 87
April 08, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Five Ways to Cook With Chia Seeds
The nutty-flavored seeds responsible for Chia Pets provide a nutrient boost to smoothies, burgers and soups
April 08, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Events April 9-11: Tarantulas, Star Gazing and an Award-winning Film
This week, hold some creepy crawlers, look at craters on the moon and watch a film based on Joseph Conrad's first novel
April 08, 2013 |
By Paul Bisceglio
There Is Now a Hypothetical Species Named Shrewdinger Because of You
Last week, the public voted, and named a hypothetical placental ancestor Shrewdinger
April 08, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
What’s in Century-Old ‘Snake Oil’ Medicines? Mercury and Lead
A chemical analysis of early 1900s medicines, billed as cure-alls, revealed vitamins and calcium along with toxic compounds
April 08, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Where ‘An Eye for An Eye’ Should be the Letter of the Law
The courts have failed victims of violent crimes, according to one Fordham law professor, but does that mean that vengeance is justified?
April 08, 2013 |
By Amy Crawford
A Few Rare People Hallucinate Musical Scores
Musical hallucinations are the rarest form of 'text hallucinations'
April 05, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
New Web Tool Helps Avoid Flooding by Finding the Best Spots to Build Wetlands
Specifically placed small wetlands can help capture watershed runoff, helping city planners to guard against flood disasters
April 05, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Wildlife Managers Are Poisoning Rhino Horns to Stop People From Eating Them
The poison, a mix of parasiticides and pink dye, now fills more than 100 rhinos' horns
April 05, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Kolaches: The Next Big Thing in Pastries and The Tex-Czech Community Behind Them
Rural Czech communities in Texas have been enjoying the buttery pastry for more than a century, now homesick Texans bring kolaches to the rest of us
April 05, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Get Your Own Offshore Tax Haven, a Step-by-Step Guide
From $8 to $32 trillion dollars are buried in tax havens worldwide. Here's how it works
April 05, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Miss Piggy, My Feather Boa and A Moment to Consider Makeup’s Greasy Past
No Fools Need Apply to the Smithsonian's Curatorial Conference On Stuff, A Sometimes Annual Scholarly Gathering on a Subject Rarely Considered
April 05, 2013 |
By Amy Henderson
Google Autocomplete Isn’t the Same in Every Country
Chronicling the ways google autocompletes your searches can be both enlightening and horrifying. But the words it fills in for you aren't the same in every country
April 05, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Would You Like to Browse an Edo-Period Japanese Bookstore?
The brush to block revolution saw a flowering of Japanese popular culture that still intrigues and enchants
April 05, 2013 |
By Leah Binkovitz
Your Breath Is as Unique as Your Fingerprint
Microbes within our bodies give our breath a unique signature
April 05, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
TV Will Tear Us Apart: The Future of Political Polarization in American Media
In 1969, Internet pioneer Paul Baran predicted that specialized new media would undermine national cohesion
April 05, 2013 |
By Matt Novak
Every Day a Different Dish: Klari Reis’ Petri Paintings
This year, a San Francisco-based artist will unveil 365 new paintings, reminiscent of growing bacteria, on her blog, The Daily Dish
April 05, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
The History of the Flapper, Part 5: Who Was Behind the Fashions?
Sears styles sprung from the ideas of European artists and couturiers
April 05, 2013 |
By Emily Spivack
Do Wind Turbines Need a Rethink?
They're still a threat to bats and birds and now they even have their own "syndrome". So, are there better ways to capture the wind?
April 05, 2013 |
By Randy Rieland
Need to Build a Functioning Neuron?
In Minecraft, a player creates a functional neuron
April 04, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
