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Arts & Culture

According to magician Teller, "Neuroscientists are novices at deception. Magicians have done controlled testing in human perception for thousands of years."

Teller Reveals His Secrets

The smaller, quieter half of the magician duo Penn & Teller writes about how magicians manipulate the human mind

You probably know Errol Morris as an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker. Roger Ebert called his first film, Gates of Heaven, one of "the ten greatest films ever made."

Errol Morris: The Thinking Man’s Detective

The documentary filmmaker has become America’s most surprising and provocative public intellectual

The Contemplative Court (concept illustration) at the National Museum of African American History and Culture will feature falling water and a dramatic view.

Dream Building

Artists such as David Hockney were inspired by the SX-70.

How the Polaroid Stormed the Photographic World

Edwin Land’s camera, the SX-70, perfected the art of instant gratification

Simone Simon in Cat People, one of the 85 films cited by Martin Scorsese in a recent interview.

Martin Scorsese’s Film School vs. Roger Ebert’s Parakeets

Compiling and comparing movie lists

Organic red lentils

Five Ways to Eat Lentils

Tired of soup? Use them in cookies, pies or puddings—no, really

Fish Sauce, Ketchup and the Rewilding of Our Food

Fermented fish sauce has been a culinary staple since at least the 7th century B.C. What makes this seemingly disgusting condiment so popular?

Carol Kaye and Bill Pitman on guitar at Gold Star; circa 1963.

The Hidden History of a Rock ’n’ Roll Hitmaker

Bassist Carol Kaye blazed her own trail, as the only female studio musician to record some of the greatest songs of the ’60s and ’70s

Testing the Tango at the University of California Citrus Breeding Program

Design Specs for a Genetically Ideal Snack

How plant geneticists are growing convenience food on trees

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Peeling Open the 1947 Chiquita Banana Cookbook

What do ham banana rolls with cheese sauce and salmon salad tropical have to say about politics?

Asa Butterfield plays Hugo and Chloe Grace Moretz plays Isabelle in Hugo.

“A Precise, Beautiful Machine”: John Logan on Writing the Screenplay for Hugo

The Oscar-nominated writer tells how he adapted Brian Selznick’s bestseller for the screen

Visualization of California's statewide citrus production volumes.

Designing the Perfect Fruit

How a tiny, seedless fruit becomes the iPhone of the produce aisle

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2012 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Shorts: A Cheat Sheet

As always, Academy voters have their tendencies, but there’s one short this year that stands out among the rest

Blueberry endocarp

Fruits and Vegetables Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before

Microscopy artist Robert Rock Belliveau says, “I couldn’t believe the things I found on the things we eat every day”

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Know Your Enemy’s Weaknesses – Start with the Kelley Blue Book

Sun Tzu probably got a great deal on a used horse

Billy Collins is a two-time poet laureate of the United States and Smithsonian's poetry consultant.

The Unfortunate Traveler by Billy Collins

Smithsonian’s poetry consultant writes a poem specially for the photography issue

British musician Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones performs on stage during the band's 'Voodoo Lounge' tour, late 1994.

Five New Books That Will Rock You Like a Hurricane

The ‘70s music scene is being reexamined in these books by and about the major players of rock ‘n’ roll

Imogen + Hermiane Pembroke Studios, London 30th July 1982

Seven Famous Photographers Who Used Polaroids

For artists such as Andy Warhol and Ansel Adams, the Polaroid SX-70 was the digital camera of its day

Illusionist/director/writer Teller of the film "& Teller 2" poses for a portrait during the 11th annual CineVegas film festival held at the Palms Casino Resort on June 13, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Teller Speaks on the Enduring Appeal of Magic

The magician famous for being mute as a performer says that magic is all about the unwilling suspension of disbelief

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2012 Oscar-Nominated Live-Action Shorts: A Cheat Sheet

Here’s a quick look at the five nominees

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