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A digital rendering of Curiosity, set to land on Mars early Monday morning.

Curiosity, NASA’s Most Advanced Rover Yet, Is About to Land on Mars

The mobile laboratory will learn about the red planet’s climate and geology, hoping to determine whether it once could have supported life

Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes searching for clues on his mobile phone

A Modern Sherlock Holmes and the Technology of Deduction

A modern Sherlock Holmes requires a modern tool. Today, his iconic problem-solving magnifying glass has been replaced by the indispensable cell phone

I Put Ice in My Wine Because You Don’t Serve it at the Right Temperature

Is there one perfect temperature to serve red or white wine? Perhaps not, but here are some good guidelines

This Saturday, celebrate Owney the dog, the unofficial mascot for the U.S. Railway Mail Service.

Events August 3-5: Children’s Workshop, Mail Time With Owney, East of the River Boys & Girls Steelband

This weekend, join Smithsonian for a workshop on 1950s Segregation, celebrate Owney the dog at the National Postal Museum and enjoy a steel drum concert

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The Double Dinosaur Brain Myth

Contrary to a popular myth, dinosaurs didn’t have butt brains

This palm frond fossil dating to the the Eocene period was found in Utah’s Green River Basin.

Ancient Climate Change Meant Antarctica Was Once Covered with Palm Trees

53 million years ago, Antarctica was so warm that palm trees lived along its shores.

Like this dinosaur, but not made of stone.

Australian Billionaire in Talks with Cloning Pioneers to Build Real Jurassic Park

With his billions of dollars, Clive Palmer is investigating cloning dinosaurs to build a real life Jurassic Park

Charles Austin competes in the high jump at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Charles Austin’s Guide to Watching the High Jump

The gold medalist offers a cheat sheet on his sport’s rules, maneuvers and slang

Susan Williams smiles at her daughter, Sydney, after she receives the bronze medal during ceremonies for the women's triathlon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

Susan Williams’ Guide to Watching the Triathlon

The bronze medalist offers a cheat sheet on her sport’s rules, maneuvers and game-changing moments

Natalie Golda looks to pass the ball during a preliminary round water polo match at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Natalie Golda’s Guide to Watching Water Polo

The silver medalist tells you all you need to know about her sport

“Night At The Museum” For Adults Lets You Sleep Over With Dinosaurs

London’s Natural History Museum is challenging adults to channel their inner child in an upcoming grown ups-only slumber party

Author Gore Vidal, who died yesterday, published 25 novels in his lifetime. “The Smithsonian Institution” is one you’ve probably never heard of.

That Time When Gore Vidal Spiced up the Smithsonian

We take a look back at one of the late author’s lesser-known novels that imagines a history a little too close to home

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Reverse Jurassic Park

What if Jurassic Park were flipped, with raptors pondering the fate of prehistoric humans?

Experiments show several natural herbs provide some protection from the sun.

Can Natural Herbs Protect Your Skin From the Sun?

A number of studies indicate that several herb extracts could protect against sunburn and other damage from UV light

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Research Suggests Politicians are More Likely to Be Psychopaths

Several of the characteristics that define a psychopath also correspond to the traits that make for effective leaders. For politicians, this is true

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Old-Timey Olympians Show How Things Have Changed

Clendenin’s photos evoke the feeling that for all the changes seen by the modern Olympic games, the athletes themselves could be transposed across time

Seemingly benign bovines and other livestock eat soybeans from the deforested tropics, emit clouds of methane, pollute streams and gobble up 30 percent of the world’s grain production. It makes one wonder whether the world might taste better without them.

Is the Livestock Industry Destroying the Planet?

For the earth’s sake, maybe it’s time we take a good, hard look at our dietary habits

Artist rendering of Curiosity cruising the Martian surface

How to Follow Every Second of the Curiosity Mars Mission

The Curiosity lander sets down in just a few days, and here’s who to follow on Twitter in anticipation

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What the Heck is a Chork?

The new trend of modifying cutlery has a new look with the Chork, which combines the scandalous fork with age-old chopsticks

A Vietnamese man lovingly gazes at his dog, Op-kun (front). Two days later, Op-kun was snatched up by a restaurant thief and never seen again.

Vietnam’s Dogs are Both Humans’ Best Friends and Snacks

In Vietnam, dog lovers had best keep their pooches behind high, locked fences if they don’t want their pets to wind up boiled in a pot

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