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Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in front of a very-'90s strip mall

Pop History

‘Captain Marvel”s Missed Opportunity With Nostalgia

The ‘90s lives in the new superhero film but doesn’t tell us much about the decade

An ultraviolet image of the Andromeda galaxy, the closest major galaxy to the Milky Way, taken by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer space telescope. Like our own galaxy, Andromeda is a spiral galaxy with a flat rotating disk of stars and gas and a concentrated bulge of stars at the center.

Streams of Stars Snaking Through the Galaxy Could Help Shine a Light on Dark Matter

When the Milky Way consumes another galaxy, tendrils of stellar streams survive the merger, containing clues about the universe’s mysterious unseen matter

The new designs call for the reopening of a long shuttered underground passageway that connects the garden to the museum plaza, as well as plans for a new area for large-scale contemporary works, performance spaces and intimate settings for the museum’s masterpiece collections.

American South

Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden to Undergo First Redesign in More Than 40 Years

Hiroshi Sugimoto’s design provides easier access from the National Mall and space for larger installations

A young boy talks to U.S. Army military police as the exhibit visited Toledo, Ohio.

Americans Flocked to See This Controversial Exhibit of Berlin’s Art Treasures in the Wake of World War II

Discovered in a salt mine in Nazi Germany, these artworks toured the United States in a questionable move that raised serious ethical concerns

A composite color image of the Western Hemisphere captured by NOAA's GOES-16 satellite from 22,300 miles above the surface, January 15, 2017.

The Risks, Rewards and Possible Ramifications of Geoengineering Earth’s Climate

Injecting aerosols into the stratosphere could help cool the planet, but scientists have yet to study exactly how such solar geoengineering would work

Stalactites reflect in the water at Crystal Caves in Bermuda.

Bermuda

These Caves in Bermuda Inspired the ‘80s TV Show ‘Fraggle Rock’

When imagining a setting and plot for the children’s show, Michael K. Frith looked to Crystal Caves on the island where he grew up

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Bermuda

Explore Bermudian Cuisine Through the Eyes of a Local

Bermunchies curates an Instagram feed highlighting the culinary stars of Bermuda

Nine African American women gather for the Banner State Woman's National Baptist Convention in 1915

Women Who Shaped History

How the Daughters and Granddaughters of Former Slaves Secured Voting Rights for All

Historian Martha S. Jones takes a look at the question of race versus gender in the quest for universal suffrage

The Groclock aims to teach little kids to stay in bed until a predetermined time.

Five Technologies That Could Ease the Transition to Daylight Saving Time

Don’t forget, it’s nearly time to “Spring forward!” Here are some strategies to help you deal with the change

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Smithsonian Voices

Get to Know the Leading Ladies of Science at the Smithsonian

These women paved the way for female scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station.

Future of Space Exploration

After a Successful Test Flight to the International Space Station, SpaceX Looks Ahead to Launching Astronauts

SpaceX’s new Crew Dragon spacecraft could launch the first astronauts from U.S. soil in almost a decade

The microbes in human guts, including bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses, play a significant role in how our bodies respond to diseases and treatments.

How the Microbiome Could Be the Key to New Cancer Treatments

The effectiveness of drugs that help the immune system fight cancer cells appears to depend on bacteria in the gut

Fossilized bones from the distant past and the bones that constitute our skeletons today are perhaps the best tool to help scientists learn about the evolution of life.

How Bone Connects Life’s Past, Present and Future

A new book dives into the history of osteology, the study of bones, and everything we can learn from the skeletons life leaves behind

"A New Yorker in the snow this afternoon carrying what seems like ... iced coffee? #OnlyInNYC #BundleUpNY," @nycgov tweeted on January 30.

Pop History

What’s the Deal With Ordering Iced Coffee in the Winter?

A hot take, if you will, on the iced trend

A mural titled "The Origin of Life on Earth" at NASA Ames Research Center. The mural depicts the formation of our planet and the conditions that led to the evolution of life.

Earth’s Rock Record Could Reveal the Motions of Other Planets

Studying the layers of Earth’s crust, scientists have created a “Geological Orrery” to measure planetary motions dating back hundreds of millions of years

An Appreciation of Küchle, My Family’s Deep-Fried Dough Tradition for Fat Tuesday

Avoid a grease fire. Support a local bakery.

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American South

Peek Inside the Workshop Where Mardi Gras Floats Are Made

Mardi Gras World in New Orleans offers tours of its whimsical warehouse, where visitors can see floats being constructed all year round

A photo taken at a Free Huey Newton Rally in 1968 with five of the six women identifiable—Delores Henderson, Joyce Lee, Mary Ann Carlton, Joyce Means and Paula Hill—provides testament to those who actualized the daily operations of the Black Panther Party.

Women Who Shaped History

The Rank and File Women of the Black Panther Party and Their Powerful Influence

A portrait taken at a “Free Huey” rally defines the female force that both supported and propelled the movement

The Outhouse Races take place during Fur Rondy in Anchorage, Alaska.

Inside the World’s Largest Outhouse Race

Dozens of teams compete in this annual event in Anchorage, all trying their best to not be number two

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Smithsonian Voices

20 Things to Do at the Smithsonian in March

20 Things to Do at the Smithsonian in March

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