Events
Momentous and notable cultural and historic occasions as well as holidays and celebrations
Timbuktu’s Priceless Manuscripts Are Safe After All
Rebels set fire to the library, but the precious documents were already gone
February 04, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
The FBI Once Freaked Out About Nazi Monks in the Amazon Rainforest
In October 1941, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover received a strange bit of war intelligence in a classified document
February 01, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
The Unsuccessful Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln
On the eve of his first inauguration, President Lincoln snuck into Washington in the middle of the night, evading the would-be assassins who waited for him in Baltimore
February 2013 |
By Daniel Stashower
U.S. Military Wants to Recruit the Smartest Dogs by Scanning Their Brains
The theory is that, by scanning a dog’s level of neural response to various stimuli, including handler cues, the researchers will be able to identify the dogs that will be the quickest learners and therefore the easiest to train
January 30, 2013 |
By Lauren Kirchner
Some Microbes Are So Resilient They Can Ride Hurricanes
By comparison, other lifeforms such as fungal spores and pollen don’t thrive nearly as well as the microbes, the survey found.
January 30, 2013 |
By Lauren Kirchner
This Gun Shoots Criminals With DNA
This new gun shoots the bad guys with artificial DNA, that can then be traced back and identified
January 29, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
The History, Science and Culture of the Super Bowl
Catch up on everything you wanted to know about the Big Game -- What's its history? What makes a good advertisement? -- and much more
January 29, 2013 |
By Smithsonian.com
All about Valentine's Day
The History of Sweethearts, How Data is Changing How we Date, the Top Demonstrations of Love and More on Valentine's Day
January 29, 2013 |
By Smithsonian.com
Library Full of Precious Manuscripts Burned in Timbuktu
The main library in Timbuktu is full of cultural relics, manuscripts that have survived since the 1200's hidden in wooden trunks, buried in the sand, and finally housed in the small library. But recent reports from the country say that rebels might have burned that history to the ground
January 28, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
Iran Says It Sent This Traumatized-Looking Monkey to Space
Western nations fear the same technologies deployed in Iran's space program could be used to develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads
January 28, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Sonar Uncovers Amazing Photograph of Sunken Civil War Ship
The USS Hatteras, sunk 150 years ago, was discovered and photographed recently using 3D sonar
January 23, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
NASA’s Curiosity Team Gives Us a Geeky Reason To Go to the Inauguration Parade
Although the rover itself could not make the trip from Mars, a full-size model will roll in the parade alongside the real-life crew
January 18, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
“The Grave Looked So Miserable”
James Idle was only 19 when he became one of the earliest casualties of the First World War. But his senseless death inspired a lifetime of devotion from a 9-year-old girl who watched his funeral
January 18, 2013 |
By Mike Dash
The U.S. Once Wanted To Use Nuclear Bombs as a Construction Tool
From digging a harbor to expanding the Panama Canal, how couldn't nuclear bombs be used?
January 16, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
More Soldiers Die From Suicide Than Fall in Combat
In 2012, 349 active-duty servicemembers took their own lives
January 15, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Document Deep Dive: The Menu From President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball
What delicacies and confectionaries were found on the 250-foot-long buffet table?
January 15, 2013 |
By Megan Gambino
From Washington to Obama, Inaugural History
Everything you've wanted to know about the upcoming Presidential Inauguration
January 14, 2013 |
By Smithsonian.com
Ongoing Drought Could Send the Chicago River Flowing in Reverse
Low water levels in Lake Michigan could cause the Chicago River to start flowing the other way
January 10, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Australia is Burning, And It’s Only Going to Get Worse as the World Warms
Across Australia wildfires are raging. And yes, there is a climate connection
January 09, 2013 |
By Colin Schultz
Turn Your Dead Christmas Tree Into Beer
Rather than tossing your tree, turn it into spruce beer
January 07, 2013 |
By Rose Eveleth
