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Articles

How a Ripped-Off Sequel of Don Quixote Predicted Piracy in the Digital Age

An anonymous writer’s spinoff of Cervantes’ masterpiece showed the peril and potential of new printing technology

Chair Illusion

Austria

Inside the Mind-Bending World of the Museum of Illusions

Perception or reality? This museum in Vienna, Austria, may cause you to do a double take

Adelbert Ames

Commentary

Is it Time We Built a Museum of the History of American History?

A better understanding of how we interpret our past, and what and who we choose to remember, would go a long way to healing our nation’s wounds

3D illustration showing an aerial view of the Khufu pyramid with the new "Big Void."

New Research

How Researchers Uncovered a Massive Void in the Great Pyramid of Giza

The cavity could hold clues to how the pyramids came to be

An illustration by cartoonist Jean Veber depicts British Army troops rounding up South African Boer civilians

Concentration Camps Existed Long Before Auschwitz

From Cuba to South Africa, the advent of barbed wire and automatic weapons allowed the few to imprison the many

Thor's Fight with the Giants by M.E. Winge, 1872

What a Smithsonian Folklorist Thinks about Marvel’s Cleaned-Up Version of Thor

In Hollywood’s hands, the Thor of ‘Ragnarok’ is a hunk with a heart compared to the brutish thug of lore

The Mysterious Murder Case That Inspired Margaret Atwood’s ‘Alias Grace’

At the center of the case was a beautiful young woman named Grace Marks. But was she really responsible for the crime?

An illustrated depiction of a scene of Lincoln lying in state

When You Die, You’ll Probably Be Embalmed. Thank Abraham Lincoln For That

The president was an “early adopter” of embalming technology, helping to bring the modern death industry to the mainstream

Europe

Color-Soaked Photographs Capture Norway’s Watery Wonderlands

“One Eye Project” explores liquid landscapes and reflections of Norway’s greatest sites

In Valle de Allende, Mexico, a school child carries her homework assignment, an altar for Día de los Angelitos, the first of three days when participants honor and commune with deceased ancestors.

These Dramatic Photos Reveal the Soul Behind the Day of the Dead

New Mexican Photographer Miguel Gandert allows his subjects to narrate their own story

Does science support the idea that teens are more reckless and impulsive than their adult counterparts?

The Impulsive “Teen Brain” Isn’t Based in Science

Yes, adolescent brains crave novelty. But they have the cognitive control to go with it

El Greco: Apocalyptic Vision {The Vision of St. John)

Where Do New Ideas Come From?

With close study, the genealogies of even the most original ideas can be traced

The "Hatbox Ghost" is one of the most beloved attractions in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion.

Halloween

A Brief History of the Haunted House

How Walt Disney inspired the world’s scariest Halloween tradition

An artist's impression shows two tiny but very dense neutron stars at the point at which they merge and explode as a kilonova.

What the Neutron Star Collision Means for Dark Matter

The latest LIGO observations rekindle a fiery debate over how gravity works: Does the universe include dark matter, or doesn’t it?

A signpost from Standing Rock is now in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

Signpost From Standing Rock, Now in the Smithsonian Collections, Shows the Power of Solidarity

A new addition to the National Museum of the American Indian links current events to a long and problematic history

Water-strapped cities with growing populations and energy needs could benefit the most. Greater Phoenix, for instance, is served by this reservoir and irrigation system fed by the Colorado River.

Five Questions You Should Have About Evaporation as a Renewable Energy Source

What’s the big deal with evaporation-driven engines?

Martin Luther makes his case before the Diet of Worms

From Escaped Nuns to a Knight in Disguise, 10 Facts About the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther

On the 500th anniversary of his 95 Theses, look back at some of the surprising aspects of the man who changed Christianity and the world

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