Smithsonian Magazine | Smithsonian Magazine

What Bonobos Have to Say About Language

A famed researcher's daring investigation into ape communication—and the backlash it has caused

What is the Flu Virus with Pandemic Potential

The findings are a reminder not to forget about seasonal viruses, but also shows that virus surveillance systems work

Beyond the Ballot

Winning the vote for women was a mighty struggle. Securing full liberation for women of color was no less daunting

The Pandemic Gives the Louvre Back to Parisians

With a steep drop in international tourists and new COVID-19 safety measures in place, the most visited museum in the world reopened yesterday

The Accidental Invention of the Slip ‘N Slide

A young boy's summer antics 60 years ago inspired his father to create the timeless backyard water toy

What Is Pooled Testing?

Placing swabs from multiple individuals in a single test gets more people diagnosed using fewer supplies

Doodlebug Is a Misleading Name for an Accomplished Assassin

The name sounds innocuous, maybe even charming. But it’s also known by another name—the ant lion—and it’s every bit as predatory and remorseless as that name sounds.

What Bonobos Have to Say About Language — What Bonobos Have to Say About Language

A famed researcher's daring investigation into ape communication—and the backlash it has caused

What is the Flu Virus with Pandemic Potential — What is the Flu Virus with Pandemic Potential

The findings are a reminder not to forget about seasonal viruses, but also shows that virus surveillance systems work

Beyond the Ballot — Beyond the Ballot

Winning the vote for women was a mighty struggle. Securing full liberation for women of color was no less daunting

The Pandemic Gives the Louvre Back to Parisians — The Pandemic Gives the Louvre Back to Parisians

With a steep drop in international tourists and new COVID-19 safety measures in place, the most visited museum in the world reopened yesterday

The Accidental Invention of the Slip ‘N Slide — The Accidental Invention of the Slip ‘N Slide

A young boy's summer antics 60 years ago inspired his father to create the timeless backyard water toy

What Is Pooled Testing? — What Is Pooled Testing?

Placing swabs from multiple individuals in a single test gets more people diagnosed using fewer supplies

Doodlebug Is a Misleading Name for an Accomplished Assassin — Doodlebug Is a Misleading Name for an Accomplished Assassin

The name sounds innocuous, maybe even charming. But it’s also known by another name—the ant lion—and it’s every bit as predatory and remorseless as that name sounds.

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Native Americans and Polynesians Met Around 1200 A.D.

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Why Is Ivory So Precious? And More Questions From Our Readers

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How a Black Fireman Brought a Pole Into the Firehouse

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The TR-808 Drum Machine Changed the Sound of Pop Music Forever

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Start With a Polaroid, Then Add Disinfectant. Here's the Result

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A Snapshot of Life in America in 1981

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How the Ice Cream Truck Made Summer Cool

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Make Thomas Jefferson's Recipe for Ice Cream

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What Today's Indigenous Potters Are Learning from Ancient Chocolate-Drinking Jars

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How Northern Publishers Cashed In on Fundraising for Confederate Monuments

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What Can Bonobos Teach Us About the Nature of Language?

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Mary McLeod Bethune Was at the Vanguard of More Than 50 Years of Black Progress

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