Articles

Ask Smithsonian 2017

Why Does the Durian Fruit Smell So Terrible?

Scientists examine what chemicals make the Asian fruit smell like “turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock”

November 30, 2012

The Insane Amount of Biodiversity in One Cubic Foot

David Liittschwager travels to the world’s richest ecosystems, photographing all the critters that pass through his “biocube” in 24 hours

November 30, 2012

Drawing on the Edge: Six Contemporary Portraitists Challenge Convention

Six young artists leave their mark on portraiture with the National Portrait Gallery’s new exhibit

November 30, 2012

1 Million Dollars Worth of Rare Dictionaries About to Go on Sale

On December 4, a collection of rare old dictionaries will go on auction at Bonhams in New York City

November 30, 2012

Amazing Modernist Sandcastles Sculpted by Calvin Seibert

Seifert uses simple tools to craft the details: two plastic putty knives and a five-gallon bucket to fill with extra sand.

November 30, 2012

8 Ways People Are Taking Twitter Seriously

Born in desperation and long mocked, the social media platform has become a popular research and intelligence-gathering tool

November 30, 2012

A Holiday Shopping Reminder: Do We Really Need That Extra Pair of Jeans?

Meaningful purchases trump frenetic shopping and closets bulging with new clothes

November 29, 2012

Being Really, Really Good at Video Games Could Get You a Scholarship

A $1,000 scholarship beckons, if you can display your gaming prowess

November 29, 2012

Crockford’s Club: How a Fishmonger Built a Gambling Hall and Bankrupted the British Aristocracy

A working-class Londoner operated the most exclusive gambling club the world has ever seen

November 29, 2012

Confirmed: Both Antarctica and Greenland Are Losing Ice

After decades of uncertainty, a new study confirms that both polar ice sheets are melting

November 29, 2012

Are People Who Are Obsessed With Themselves Actually Hotter?

Being narcissistic also tends to make you more physically attractive

November 29, 2012

Why Did Plant-Munching Theropods Get So Big?

Were these Late Cretaceous dinosaurs just the culmination of an evolutionary trend towards ever-larger body size or was something else at work?

November 29, 2012

Events Nov. 30-Dec. 2: Africa’s Space Programs, the Middle East’s Diva and Ang Lee’s Wedding Banquet

Explore a continent’s long history with the stars, hear the vocal stylings of Karima Skalli and watch another classic in a series of film screenings

November 29, 2012

The Meals That Starving Travelers Dream Of

Daydreaming of food is a tradition as old as the saga of man versus wild. What would you wish to eat if you were starving in a tent or a dinghy at sea?

November 28, 2012

Danilo Pérez, Creator of Musical Guardians of Peace

The Panamanian performer catches up with Joann Stevens before his Nov. 30 concert at the Kennedy Center

November 28, 2012

A New Life for Old Breweries

In response to a changing economy and demographic shift toward urban areas, the deserted homes of Schlitz, PBR and other beers are being repurposed

November 28, 2012

The 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards Liveblog

Follow along as we award the best innovators of the year

November 28, 2012

The Episode Where George Jetson Rages Against the Machine

Never trust a robot co-worker

November 28, 2012

Why Do We Hiccup? And Other Scientific Mysteries—Seen Through the Eyes of Artists

In a new book, 75 artists illustrate questions scientists haven’t fully answered yet

November 28, 2012

Feathers Fuel Dinosaur Flight Debate

Was the early bird Archaeopteryx more of a glider than a flier?

November 28, 2012