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Larissa and Michael Milne, shown here in their hometown of Philadelphia, sold nearly all their belongings in 2011 and embarked on a tour of the world. Along the way they visited the frightening but fascinating country of North Korea. Also shown in this photo is the Milnes’ travel companion, “Little Rocky,” a six-inch figurine of one of Philadelphia’s most famous native sons.

A Frightening and Fascinating Journey Through North Korea

When a Philadelphia couple took a world tour in 2011, they quickly struck upon the idea of visiting one of the world’s most mysterious places

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The Decline and Fall of the Space Action Hero

Elroy gets to meet the star of his favorite show—but, in the real world, spacemen were disappearing from American televisions

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Last Minute Food-Themed Gift Ideas

There’s still time to pick up these magazines, books, kitchen gadgets and food stuffs for your Christmas shopping needs

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The Ten Best Ocean Stories of 2012

From deep-sea squid habits to vanishing coral reefs, here are the ocean stories we couldn’t stop talking about this year.

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Nimbus Clouds: Mysterious, Ephemeral and Now Indoors

Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde has found a way to create clouds in gallery spaces. In the seconds before they dissipate, he captures beautiful photographs

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The Scientific Reason Why Reindeer Have Red Noses

Some reindeer really do have red noses, a result of densely packed blood vessels near the skin’s surface

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The Best Inventions of 2012 You Haven’t Heard of Yet (Part 1)

They haven’t received much attention yet, but here are some of the more innovative—and useful—ideas that have popped up this year.

Actor Bing Crosby, Actresses Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, and Actor Danny Kaye, during the 1954 Paramount production of “White Christmas.”

Is White Christmas the Best Popular Song Ever Written?

The idyllic scenes of the dreamy holiday tune were painted by a Russian Jewish immigrant named Israel Baline, better known as Irving Berlin

Images A, C, E and G show the new species E. bazinga, the others the E. ignita.

A Brand New Bee Was Just Named After Sheldon From ‘The Big Bang Theory’

Andre Nemesio and his team just named a brand new orchid bee Euglossa bazinga, after the catch phrase used by Sheldon Cooper

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Your Guide to the Most Delicious Drinks for the Holidays

Few beers may so strongly evoke the image of dark winters and frozen European landscapes as Imperial Stout—and a bottle fits nicely in a Christmas stocking

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Tree Climbers, Wood Eaters, and More: The Top 10 Human Evolution Discoveries of 2012

This year’s hominid finds illuminate the great diversity and adaptability of our ancient relatives

Let these guys bring you a jazzed up holiday season with a Take 5! concert.

Events December 18-20: National Apologies, Robot Face-offs and Jazzy Holidays

Learn about the 2009 official apology to Native Americans, talk with an expert at Air and Space and hear some “post-cool” takes on seasonal classics

The Inkwell used by Lincoln, the Proclamation draft and Lincoln's pen.

How the Emancipation Proclamation Came to Be Signed

The pen, inkwell and one copy of the document that freed the slaves are photographed together for the first time

Without cutting emissions by 2020, avoiding catastrophic levels of global warming, including ice melt and sea level rise, will be extremely unlikely.

Climate Change Tipping Point: Research Shows That Emission Reductions Must Occur by 2020

A new report indicates that we have roughly 8 years to cut fossil fuel use without risking catastrophic levels of warming

Nothing says Smithsonian cheer like ZooLights.

Events December 21-23: Medicinal Tattoos, Dakota 38, and ZooLights

This weekend, learn about the health history behind tattoos, watch one man’s journey to mark the Dakota War and take in the holidazzle at the Zoo

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The Christmas Tree Worm, Decorating Coral Reefs Year-Round

The oceans show holiday spirit with a worm on coral reefs that resembles a fluffy fir tree adorned with colored ornaments.

The Smithsonian homepage in 1995

Fun Places on the Internet (in 1995)

What were you doing on the web back in the age of Netscape and Gopher?

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Why Japan Is Obsessed With Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas

Thanks to the successful “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” (Kentucky for Christmas!) marketing campaign in 1974, Japan can’t get enough KFC on Christmas Day

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White Gold: How Salt Made and Unmade the Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos had one of the world’s first, and largest, salt industries

A graphic data readout of the a collision of two protons, briefly producing a Higgs Boson, from the Large Hadron Collider.

Mythical Particles, Goldilocks Planets and More: Top 5 Surprising Scientific Milestones of 2012

From the Higgs Boson to the Curiosity rover, 2012 was a major year for science

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