Articles

The Innovative Spirit

This Exoskeleton Is Actually Controlled by the Wearer’s Thoughts

Engineer Jose Contreras-Vidal’s “brain-machine interface” uses electrical activity in a person’s brain to move a robotic exoskeleton

September 14, 2015

Seven of the Most Extreme Milks in the Animal Kingdom

A lactation expert breaks down why rhinos, rabbits and even pigeons produce their own special blends for babies

September 14, 2015

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Inca Road

Handicraft Heaven: Nine Unique Gifts to Buy Along the Inca Road

Leave room in your suitcase for these irresistible items

September 11, 2015

What Makes a Fossil a Member of the Human Family Tree?

The surprising new species Homo naledi raises more questions than answers—for now

September 11, 2015

Dazzling Photos of Russia’s First Annual Pyrotechnic Festival

At an international fireworks competition in Moscow, leading companies stretched far beyond pyrotechnics’ ancient origins

September 11, 2015

The Innovative Spirit

A New Efficient Filter Helps Astronauts Drink Their Own Urine

Recycling water is key to getting humans to Mars

September 11, 2015

From Sublime to Wacky, Nothing Says Fashion Forward Like a Collection of Historic Bridal Gowns

An unforgettable—but not timeless—walk down the aisle from the archives of the now defunct Priscilla of Boston’s Bridal Shop

September 11, 2015

The Strange, Giant “Beach Animals” That Are About to Invade America’s Shores

Artist Theo Jansen’s sculptures first became hits on YouTube. Now they’ve reached the shores of New England

September 10, 2015

Innovative Spirit Health Care

The Future of Concussions: How 5 New Advances Could Change Treatment

Scientists and engineers are working on ways to diagnose, treat and prevent head injuries

September 10, 2015

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Quarterly: Inca Road

Photographer Yolanda Escobar Jiménez Captures Ecuador’s Street Scenes

Take a peek inside Jiménez’s visual journals

September 10, 2015

A Single Protein Is the Root of Dengue’s Virulence

But researchers who found the culprit say it could be a clue in developing a vaccine for the mosquito-borne virus

September 9, 2015

A Proposal to Change the Words We Use When Talking About the Civil War

Historian Michael Landis writes that vocabulary like “compromise” or “Union” shape how we view our past

September 9, 2015

Swimming Through Mud at the World Bog Snorkeling Championships

This year marks the 30th anniversary of one of the world’s strangest (and messiest) competitions

September 9, 2015

The Innovative Spirit

Test Your Restaurant Meal for Allergens in Two Minutes

Nima, a handheld food analyzer, can test for gluten on the spot

September 9, 2015

The Innovative Spirit

To Save His Dying Sister-In-Law, Charles Lindbergh Invented a Medical Device

The famous aviator’s biography is incomplete without the story of how the aviator worked to perfect his glass-chambered perfusion pump

September 9, 2015

Photos: Wacky, Wild Art From This Year’s Burning Man Festival

Feast your eyes on some of this year’s wildest art installations

September 8, 2015

Trekkies Needed for USS Enterprise Restoration Project

The National Air and Space Museum asks “Star Trek” fans for pre-1976 images or film of the original studio model of the USS Enterprise

September 8, 2015

Innovative Spirit Health Care

Can This App Predict Your Headache?

Migraine Buddy is one of a growing number of apps that use big data to help consumers manage their health issues

September 8, 2015

From Poof to Proof: Inside the Mind of a Mathemagician

Arthur Benjamin has a few new tricks up his sleeve to help people learn “alge(cada)bra”

September 8, 2015