Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Articles

A trio of upright walkers: Lucy (middle) and Australopithecus sediba (left and right)

Becoming Human: The Evolution of Walking Upright

Walking on two legs distinguished the first hominids from other apes, but scientists still aren’t sure why our ancestors became bipedal

This Wednesday, hear the original sounds of Arvel Bird as he performs a blend of Celtic and Native American music.

Events August 7-9: Sketching, Musical Genre-Bending and Stitching

This week, sketch like a master, catch a concert that blends Native American and Celtic sounds and stitch in the presence of greatness

Mark Twain. Left: Photographed by Life Magazine. Left, in Tesla’s Lab, photographed by Wutz

The Only Footage of Mark Twain in Existence

This silent film footage was taken in 1909 by Thomas Edison at Mark Twain’s estate

“The Energy-Water Collision”

41% of Water in the US is Used for Power Generation

The Union of Concerned Scientists describes how warming and drought can cause problems for power generation

None

VIDEO: This Deep-Sea Squid Breaks Off Its Own Arms to Confuse Predators

A bioluminescent squid species that lives off the coast of California was caught on camera ditching its arms

Hot, handmade corn tortillas may be among the simplest and tastiest staple food items of the world. Here, the author presses out a batch.

Best Vegetarian Foods of the World

Traveling and eating abroad, many diners discover that the world is a vegetarian’s oyster

The AMNH skeleton of Styracosaurus, one of the dinosaurs from the upper zone of the Dinosaur Park Formation.

Dinosaur Turnover

Canada’s Dinosaur Park Formation is an exceptionally rich fossil boneyard, but what drove the evolution of the different dinosaurs found there?

None

Scenes From a Changing Planet

Landsat satellites have been taking photos of Earth for a long time, but only now can you watch zoomable, time-lapse images of the planet’s transformation.

Political geography of America, March 30 1822 to November 15 1824

170 Years of America’s Evolution In One Animated GIF

In one click, the drifting lines and changing colors take you through 170 years of history.

Jesse Owens

76 Years Ago Today, Jesse Owens Proved the Nazis Wrong

In 1936 Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, throwing the idea of Aryan supremacy back into Hitler’s face

Esparza will fight for Team U.S.A. in the first Summer Olympics where women’s boxing is now an official sport.

Meet Team USA’s Marlen Esparza, the New Face of Women’s Boxing

The flyweight pugilist has spent all her life waiting for the chance to compete on the Olympic stage. Now, she just needs to win

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

None

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

Page 800 of 1332