Arts & Culture

Bringing the Color Back to Ancient Greece

The white marble statutes we revere were originally dressed in eye-popping pigments

November 2012

Why Camille Paglia is Alarmed About the Future of Art

Is the rise of secularism behind the general malaise in the fine arts?

November 2012

What Does it Mean to be Seriously Amazing?

The Smithsonian’s secretary introduces the Institution’s new campaign to highlight its best and most innovative work

November 2012

Discussion

Discussion

November 2012

Alan Dudley’s Wondrous Array of Animal Skulls

A new book delivers fascinating photographs of over 300 skulls from the British taxidermist’s personal collection—the largest in the world

October 31, 2012

Candy Land: A Coast-to-Coast Tour of America’s Sweet Treats

A Twix is nice, but these local candies and treats provide some much-needed variety this Halloween season

October 31, 2012

Why Does Dracula Wear a Tuxedo? The Origins of Bram Stoker’s Timeless Vampire

The evolution of Dracula, from the mind of a sickly youth to an iconic portrayal on the silver screen

October 31, 2012

The Halloween Tradition Best Left Dead: Kale as Matchmaker

Be happy this Scottish tradition is passé, your future marriage may have depended on it

October 30, 2012

12 Creepy Kids in Halloween Masks

When their faces are obscured, these children transform into frightening little creatures

October 29, 2012

Nikon Announces the Winners of its “Small World” Competition

See a selection of beautiful images captured by scientists gazing through light microscopes

October 29, 2012

Scientific Illustrations: Your Go-To Guides for Halloween Costumes

The details are what separate a good outfit from an amazing one. The images in the Biodiversity Heritage Library can help you make the leap

October 26, 2012

The Witches of Halloween Past

Sexy or scary, the outfit has cast a spell on costume wearers going back many years

October 26, 2012

Copyright Confection: The Distinctive Topography of the Hershey Bar

After a legal tug-of-war, Hershey’s secured a trademark for the structural design of their classic chocolate bar

October 24, 2012

Political Animals: Republican Elephants and Democratic Donkeys

Politicians and parties may flip-flop but for more than 100 years, the political iconography of the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant has remained unchanged

October 23, 2012

Dress Codes and Etiquette, Part 2: Diana Vreeland vs. Emily Post on Vulgarity

How much drama is too much? These two famous women, who wielded power over how we dress, could have debated the subject

October 23, 2012

Taking a Closer Look at an Odd Pair of Very, Very Old Socks

With their divided toes and extreme length, these red knit wonders from an excavated Egyptian site have an otherworldly quality

October 19, 2012

Teaching Physics with a Massive Game of Mouse Trap

Mark Perez and his troupe of performers tour the country, using a life-sized version of the popular game to explain simple machines

October 19, 2012

Designing Lives and Building Stories, Chris Ware’s Comic Book Epic

In Building Stories, cartoonist Chris Ware presents the banality of everyday life as a stunning comic epic

October 18, 2012

Designer Kitchens and the People Who Don’t Cook in Them

From designer appliances to bigger floorplans, Americans love kitchens, just not cooking in them

October 17, 2012

Turn Your Favorite Words of Wisdom into Beautiful Art

A new company called Epic Frequency turns historic audio files into artwork

October 17, 2012