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Take a guided tour of the universe in the Air and Space Museum's portable planetarium.

Weekend Events Feb 3-5: Under the Stars, Black History Month Family Day, and The Big Sleep

Eintopf

The Battle for Food in World War II

A new book examines how food figured into the major powers’ war plans

A restoration of the Cretaceous snake Sanajeh about to gulp down a baby sauropod.

Scrambled Eggs and the Demise of the Dinosaurs

Did egg-eating lizards and snakes contribute to the dinosaurs’ extinction?

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Telomeres and Longevity in Zebra Finches

A study in birds confirms that protective caps on chromosomes predict a longer lifespan

The Acela trip between New York and Washington has many great scenic views.

What to Look for on the Train Ride From New York to Washington

Sure, the view along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor has its share of grime. But there are also sights that’ll make you want to put away your smart phone

The Black List features portraits of fifty African Americans who are influential in their fields, such as Chris Rock.

Celebrate Black History Month with the Smithsonian

From Kenyan storytelling performances to Black Power film screenings, February on the Mall is buzzing with Black History Month events

Felicity Aston looks back on her journey across Antarctica.

To the Bottom of the World—and Back Again

When Felicity Aston caught sight of Antarctica’s coastal mountains, she told me, “they were like a neon sign flashing at me saying, ‘You have finished!’”

The Venopolis Zoo

Hunting Dinosaurs on Venus

Why bother with cloning and time travel, when your dream safari awaits on a nearby planet?

An abstract image of an egg

Where Jet Engines, Football Fans and Eggs Collide

Does the noise in a Super Bowl stadium create enough power to fry up a dozen eggs?

A restoration of the island hadrosauroid Tethyshadros by Nobu Tamura

The “Duck-billed” Dinosaur That Wasn’t

Instead of a long, low duck bill, the beak of Tethyshadros was shaped like a snowplow and serrated. Why it had such a strange beak is a mystery

The Marx Brothers in Horsefeathers

Super Bowl Guide to Football Films

The sport was fodder for slapstick comedy, but as the technology evolved, so did the way in which filmmakers portrayed the gridiron on the big screen

The Art of Video Games exhibit opens at the American Art Museum on March 16.

The Top Five Most Anticipated Exhibits of 2012

Take a look at the five upcoming exhibits we’re most excited about

The bluetongue skink. Note the blue tongue.

How Animals Prepare for an Alien Invasion

Why can some—but only some—bluetongue skinks eat a toad that is poisonous to eat or even lick?

Lucy Jones is among the world's most influential seismologists—and perhaps the most recognizable.

Meet Lucy Jones, “the Earthquake Lady”

As part of her plan to prepare Americans for the next “big one,” the seismologist tackles the dangerous phenomenon of denial

According to author Eric Klinenberg, there are more than 32 million people living alone—about 28 percent of all households.

Eric Klinenberg on Going Solo

The surprising benefits, to oneself and to society, of living alone

Some orchid species mimic nectar-producing flowers to lure bees; others emit the fetid smell of rotting meat to attract carrion flies.

The Orchid Olympics

Breeders from 19 countries put their creations to the test at the 20th World Orchid Conference in Singapore

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Wild Things: Yeti Crabs, Guppies and Ravens

Tree killers and the first beds ever round up this month in wildlife news

Acquired by Samuel Cox, the mummy is "our . . . most richly decorated [specimen]," says curator Melinda Zeder.

How One Mummy Came to the Smithsonian

An American diplomat’s memento takes center stage after 125 years

A 1920 poster by Howard Chandler Christy.

Here & Now

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Letters

Readers Respond to the December Issue

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