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Articles

The Mapungubwe National Park Interpretive Center in South Africa is John Ochsendorf's most famous work.

With Ancient Arches, the Old is New Again

An MIT professor shows how ancient architecture can be the basis for a more sustainable future

African slaves brought their art of basket weaving to the American South. See samples such as this wave basket through November 28 at African Art.

What’s Up

Artists will move beyond the "four walls of established institutions," says Richard Koshalek, director of the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum.

Art’s Bold New Direction

The director of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum predicts how art will engage us as never before

Literature, says poet, novelist and playwright Rita Dove, will look "for different ways to distinguish itself from mass media."

Rita Dove on the Future of Literature

The Pulitzer-Prize winning poet discusses how new technologies will affect the creative process

"Kids have fantastic ideas," says "wired composer" Tod Machover, holding an instrument from the Beatles version of Rock Band, the computer-based musical toy invented by his students at MIT.

Tod Machover on Composing Music by Computer

The inventor and MIT professor talks about where music and technology will intersect over the course of the next 40 years

James Cameron, with Sigourney Weaver, Joel Moore and Sam Worthington, is in command on the set of Avatar.

James Cameron on the Future of Cinema

The director of Avatar and Terminator talks about future sequels, 3-D television and Hollywood in 2050

"I see it [comedy] changing by having the comedy club come to your house," says comedian George Lopez.

George Lopez on Comedy and Race

The late-night talk show host discusses how America’s changing demographics will affect what makes people laugh

"Most people from the Western world would think that imagery is forbidden in Islam and that Islamic art is fact geometry—the arabesque," says Sabiha Al Khemir.

Sabiha Al Khemir on Islam and the West

The museum curator and author predicts that relations between the United States and the Muslim world will improve

The human race "has not been elevated" over the past 40 years, Carl Hiaasen says.

Carl Hiaasen on Human Weirdness

The satirist talks about the “curve of human weirdness” and the need for public outrage in the political arena

"The idea of musical chops—instrumental mastery—will still be around," says Laurie Anderson.

Laurie Anderson on the Sounds of the Future

The multi-faceted artist sees a future in which artists change our auditory experiences

Findings from the first major study on human-robot marital discord since the passage of the Automaton Marriage Act of 2050.

Married, With Glitches

Will human-robot interactions be undone by technical difficulties?

Founding editor Edward K. Thompson guided the new magazine through its first decade.

From the Editor: Curveballs at the Un-Magazine

From the first issue 40 years ago, Smithsonian has blazed its own path through the media landscape

The Obamas worship at African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.

Anticipation

We salute the basic human urge to remember the future

The United States, not China, will dominate world affairs, George Friedman believes.

George Friedman on World War III

The geopolitical scientist predicts which nations will be fighting for world power in 2050

In Japan, violence has faded as its population has aged.

The Age of Peace

Maturing populations may mean a less violent future for many societies torn by internal conflict

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What Will America Look Like in 2050?

A Smithsonian/Pew poll finds optimism about science and social progress despite worries about the environment and population growth

"Much of the innovation reshaping our world comes from the private sector," President Obama writes.

President Barack Obama: Why I’m Optimistic

Looking ahead to the next 40 years, President Obama writes about our nature as Americans to dream big and solve problems

Population growth places the United States in a radically different position from that of Russia, Japan and Europe.

The Changing Demographics of America

The United States population will expand by 100 million over the next 40 years. Is this a reason to worry?

Reservations "are strongholds of community," says Chris Eyre.

A Youth Renaissance for Native Americans

Filmmaker Chris Eyre says Native pride will embolden the next generation of first Americans

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Weekend Events: Hong Kong Slapstick, An Argentine Design Festival and Gullah Recipes

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