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No question is too small or too big for our nation’s curators.

Ask a Curator Day Brings the Experts to You

On September 19, experts from around the world, including the Smithsonian, will be waiting for your questions

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The World’s 5 Most Mysterious Bird Species

Stunning plumage, strange eating habits and extreme rareness characterize these enigmatic birds

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Stockings Series, Part 3: Ads from the Archives, 1890-1939

For decades, Ivory sold itself as the suds that made legwear last longer

The Martian moon Phobos, passing in front of the Sun

A Solar Eclipse, As Seen From the Surface of Mars

Advances in space exploration has changed the way we see eclipses

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The Unfortunate Life of Speckles the Tyrannosaur

Combining tropes from various other films, Speckles: The Tarbosaurus 3D shows just how tired dinosaur cinema is

A new study finds a correlation between levels of BPA, a chemical used to line the inside of aluminum cans, and obesity in children and teens.

Is the Can Worse Than the Soda? Study Finds Correlation Between BPA and Obesity

BPA, a chemical used in aluminum soda cans and other food packaging, was found to be associated with childhood obesity in a new study

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LISTEN: The Freewheeling, Foot-Stomping Dust Busters

The Brooklyn string band brings it all back home

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Welcome to the Great American History Puzzle!

Hello, Great American History Puzzlers! I’m Ken Jennings–yes, the 70-something-time Jeopardy! champion, but also a lifelong history buff and puzzle addict. In the weeks to come, I’ll gradually be unveiling a series of diabolically devious enigmas and brain-teasers over at The Great American History Puzzle website. One lucky winner will be headed to Washington D.C. […]

Antarctica

68-Year-Old Explorer Plans to Cross Antarctica…in Winter

Sir Ranulph Fiennes will traverse Antarctica by ski, in the middle of winter

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The Blazing Career and Mysterious Death of the ‘Swedish Meteor’

Can modern science determine who shot this 18th-century Swedish king?

Photo of the painting “Flowers in a blue vase” by Vincent van Gogh. The discoloration is located on the right side of the bouquet.

In a Van Gogh Painting, the Flowers Are Changing Color

Scientists have figured out why some of the “Flowers in a blue vase” became discolored over time

Coral bleaching off Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

Majority of Coral Reefs Will Be Damaged By 2030 Due to Rising Greenhouse Gases

A new study finds that 70 percent of coral reefs worldwide will be damaged by warmer and more acidic waters

A dog named Maz collects on his psychic debt.

How Dogs Fight Cancer

Man’s best friend is becoming a key player in fighting cancer, allowing scientists to speed up the process of connecting dots between genetics and disease

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The Worst Dinosaur Ever

There are plenty of awful movie dinosaurs, but the tyrannosaur in a 1990 rip-off of The Fly is the worst of all

Human running is less efficient than the running of a typical mammal with the same body mass, a new study finds.

Energy Efficiency Doesn’t Explain Human Walking?

A new study of mammal locomotion challenges the claim that hominids evolved two-legged walking because of its energy savings

A Map of Every Passenger Plane in the Skies at This Instant

This site tracks thousands of passenger planes as they fly around the world

Mei Xiang is one happy mom after welcoming a new cub Sunday.

A Panda Cub! A Panda Cub! Mei Xiang Gave Birth

Joyful good news from the Zoo this morning. For the first time in seven years, a giant panda cub was born

Take a tour of the official state guest house for the President of the United States, shown here in 1951.

Events September 18-20: Free Love, Edward Hopper and Historic Houses

This week, take in some spoken word, learn more about the artist behind iconic scenes and tour the official guest house of U.S. presidents

Only in New York: The Lady in Lime Green

As models flaunt designer wear during fashion week, a subway rider imparts her own bold style

This weekend families can help create saw-dust carpets, a 400-year-old tradition in Guatemala, where everyone lends a hand to create colorful works of art.

¡It’s Dia de la Familia at American History!

Joann Stevens from the American History Museum looks to Saturday’s grooving festivities, marking a month of programming for Hispanic Heritage Month

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