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.
Tracking Raptors
At an Early Cretaceous site in China, paleontologists have discovered a rich trove of raptor tracks
August 22, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
The Smoothest Con Man That Ever Lived
"Count" Victor Lustig once sold the Eiffel Tower to an unsuspecting scrap-metal dealer. Then he started thinking really big
August 22, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
How to Learn a Language Nobody Speaks
After hundreds of years, and multiple attempts to develop a universal language the same problem still remains: no one wants to learn it
August 22, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Huge Triceratops Uncovered in Alberta
Paleontologists in Canada have just uncovered a rare, especially big Triceratops skeleton
August 21, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Document Deep Dive: What Did the Zimmermann Telegram Say?
See how British cryptologists cracked the coded message that propelled the United States into World War I
August 21, 2012 |
By Megan Gambino
Better, Faster, Taller – How Big can Buildings Really Get?
The race for the tallest structure in the world has been with us since humans built structures, and today it is going strong. But where's the limit?
August 20, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
NASA’s Nodosaur Track
Over 110 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed where a major NASA facility now sits
August 20, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
How Domed Dinosaurs Grew Up
Dome-headed dinosaurs dramatically reshaped their skulls. How does this affect how we count dinosaur species?
August 17, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
An In-Depth Look at Ankylosaur Armor
An exceptional ankylosaur preserves the position of ancient armor
August 16, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Carnotaurus Had a Hefty Neck
Could the hefty neck of Carnotaurus explain why this dinosaur had puny arms?
August 15, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Going Nuclear Over the Pacific
A half-century ago, a U.S. military test lit up the skies and upped the ante with the Soviets.
August 15, 2012 |
By Gilbert King
Archaeologists Excavate Death Pit, Finding Hundreds of Sacrificed Soldiers in Denmark
Archaeologists are excavating hundreds of skeletons from the boggy swamps, and the remains belong to men who all sacrificed around the time of Christ
August 15, 2012 |
By Rachel Nuwer
What Caused the Deadly Iranian Earthquakes?
Straddling the seam between the Eurasian and Arabian tectonic plates, Iran has a history plagued with earthquakes
August 15, 2012 |
By Colin Schultz
Hot for Hominids – Did Humans Mate With Neanderthals Or Not?
Geneticists are busy figuring out whether humans and Neanderthals got busy
August 15, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
Banjo Gets a Hand
Recently-discovered fossils fill out the arms of one of Australia's formidable predatory dinosaurs
August 14, 2012 |
By Brian Switek
Google Earth Probably Didn’t Just Find New Pyramids
Amateur archaeologist claims to have found lost pyramids using Google Earth. Real archaeologists are skeptical
August 14, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Olympics Are Over and Here Are the Best Infographics
While athletes were setting world records, designers and journalists were building graphics and games to track them. Here are the best ones.
August 13, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
The Demonization of Empress Wu
"She killed her sister, butchered her elder brothers, murdered the ruler, poisoned her mother," the chronicles say. But is the empress unfairly maligned?
August 10, 2012 |
By Mike Dash
Why People Won’t Leave the Town that Has Been On Fire for Fifty Years
For the residents of Centralia, Pennsylvania, the fire that has been burning beneath their town for fifty years is part of what makes it home.
August 10, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
How Olympic Bodies Have Changed Over Time
From 1929 to now, how do former Olympic champions compare to today's athletes?
August 09, 2012 |
By Rose Eveleth
