The Deep-Sea Floor Rivals Rain Forests in Diversity of Life
Blue luminescence and marine snow define a world where millions of species of worms and other invertebrates live out their lives
Vietnam Now
In the center of Saigon, streets glow with signs of new prosperity and trails of light from passing vehicles
Urban New Agers Have Taken Over the Art of Dowsing
Once just a way to find water, this rural practice is now used to test both food and dinner partners can you believe it?
Itchiku Kubota’s Fascination With an Ancient Textile Art
The Japanese master has devoted his life to reviving a long-lost technique of fabric design and to creating handcrafted kimonos of lasting beauty
Without Garlic, Life Would Be Just Plain Tasteless
Sliced or chopped, sauteed or roasted, this bold little bulb has Americans clamoring for cloves to add sizzle to supper or to cure what ails us
The Aria Never Ends in the Opera That’s Casa Verdi
Retired singers, musicians and conductors find a home in Milan, Italy, where a zest for music works like a fountain of youth
The Strange and Inscrutable Case of Ezra Pound
The expatriate American poet returned home in ignominy, and the postwar world watched as a literary giant was charged with treason
Around the Mall & Beyond
Alan Fern, director of the National Portrait Gallery, offers his insights on the art of reading a portrait
How the Great War on War Surplus Got Won or Lost
Getting rid of $34 billion worth of old ships, planes and guns, not to mention seven million tubes of toothpaste, was no picnic
Smithsonian Perspectives
Some reflections on the first year in office and a look at the likely changes and challenges facing us
How the Body Defends Itself From the Risky Business of Living
Our cells take trillions of ‘hits’ each day from toxins both natural and man-made, but hardworking enzymes repair the damage
Climate Is Often a Matter of Inches and a Little Water
Planners ignore microclimates at their peril: mistakes can mean frozen crops, lower house values and camper vans blown off the highway
Phenomena, Comment & Notes
Today’s physics allow outrageous possibilities: faster-than-light travel across the galaxy, or even our learning to make new universes to specification
Now Playing in Academe: the King of Rock’n’Roll
At the University of Mississippi, the first annual International Conference on Elvis Presley brought together fans and scholars
Time Stands Still in the Harmonious World of Vermeer
It’s a must-see show at the National Gallery of Art; not since 1696 have so many of his paintings been brought together in one place
Harmonicas Are…hooty, Wheezy, Twangy and Tooty
They’re from the Old Country, but there’s nothing better for American music, from blues to honky-tonk and the fans are blown away
Sure the Piano-Violin Can Do Two Things At Once—But Can It Do Them Well?
Sure the piano-violin can do two things at once—but can it do them well?
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