Time
The past, present and future divided into geologic and historic eras, significant historic and cultural events, and centuries and decadesDiscover Smithsonian articles as they relate to the past, present and future.
The History of Pardoning Turkeys Began With Tad Lincoln
The rambunctious boy had free rein of the White House, and used it to divert a holiday bird from the butcher's block
November 21, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
To Adapt to Harsh Greenland Climate, Vikings Gorged on Seals
Despite their barbaric reputation, the Viking-era Norse typically worked as farmers rather than hunters - except on Greenland
November 21, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Here’s the Reality We’re Signing Up For By Letting Climate Change Happen
Say goodbye to winter, New Orleans, olive oil, rivers and world peace if climate change plays out as predicted
November 21, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
What’s the Secret of Hadrosaur Skin?
Were extra-thick hides the secret to why paleontologists have found so much fossilized hadrosaur skin?
November 21, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
People Have Been Using Stone-Tipped Spears For Way Longer Than We Thought
A new study adds 200,000 years to their run
November 20, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Different Wars Have Different Sounds
Changing weapons and technologies bring new sounds to the battlefield
November 20, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Paleontologists Puzzle Over Possible Dinosaur Bones
When did dinosaurs start to become giants? Enigmatic bone fragments found in England complicate the debate
November 20, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
These Communities Decided Not To Rebuild After Disaster
It seems that despite always asking the question, the answer is always the same: rebuild. Except in these cases - when entire communities just pick up and leave
November 19, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Cracking a German Secret Society’s Centuries-Old Encrypted Code
A secret society with ties to the Freemason's coded text has been cracked
November 19, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
The Early History of Faking War on Film
Early filmmakers faced a dilemma: how to capture the drama of war without getting themselves killed in the process. Their solution: fake the footage
November 19, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
F is for Futalognkosaurus
Though not as famous as other huge dinosaurs, Futalognkosaurus is the most complete giant sauropod ever found
November 19, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Israel and Gaza Are Now at War Both Online and in Reality
On the ground and online, the battle between Israel and Gaza are escalating quickly
November 16, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Is Your Syndrome Named After a Nazi?
Many are probably unaware that their condition has a Nazi's name attached to it
November 16, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Cretaceous Legs Give Away New Dinosaur
Slender limb bones found in Argentina give away a new species of tiny dinosaur
November 16, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Are We Headed for Another Dust Bowl?
The devastating drought of the 1930s forever changed American agriculture. Could those conditions return?
November 16, 2012 |
By Sarah Zielinski
The Fight that Wouldn’t Stay Fixed
How an apparent misunderstanding led to a brawl that turned into a donnybrook that became a legend
November 15, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
As BP Set to Plead Guilty for 2010 Spill, Some Good News From Gulf Wildlife
BP may be about to pay the largest criminal fine in U.S. history
November 15, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Lessons from Einiosaurus
New dinosaurs are always cause for excitement, but the real joy of paleontology is investigating dinosaur lives
November 15, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Lice Evolution Tracks the Invention of Clothes
The evolution of body lice shows that humans began wearing clothes between 50,000 to 200,000 years ago
November 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Are Humans Getting Intellectually And Emotionally Stupid?
Evolution no longer places intelligence-selecting demands on us, researchers argue, meaning we are slowly but surely regressing intellectually
November 14, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
