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Science / Mind & Body

Telomeres (tinted red) protect chromosomes like the plastic tips on shoelaces. The length of telomeres may be a marker for longevity.

Can Your Genes Predict When You Will Die?

New research suggests we can defy genetic destiny

The levels of radiation astronauts experience over the course of an extended mission in deep space could lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Does Deep Space Travel Cause Alzheimer’s?

A new study indicates that the levels of radiation astronauts would experience over the course of a deep space mission could lead to dementia

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Seven Must-See Art-Meets-Science Exhibitions in 2013

Preview some of the top-notch shows—on anatomy, bioluminescence, water tanks and more—slated for the next year

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Why Do We Blink So Frequently?

New research indicates that the brain enters a momentary state of wakeful rest when we blink, perhaps allowing us to focus better afterward

A new study indicates that marijuana isn’t a painkiller, but a pain distracter: Under the influence of THC, the same levels of pain are simply less bothersome.

Marijuana Isn’t a Pain Killer—It’s a Pain Distracter

A new study finds that under the influence of marijuana, the same levels of pain are simply less bothersome

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Slice of Life: Artistic Cross Sections of the Human Body

Artist Lisa Nilsson creates elaborate anatomical illustrations from thin strips of paper

In 1921, a miner found Kabwe 1, also called the Broken Hill Skull.

Four Species of Homo You’ve Never Heard Of, Part II

The history of anthropology is littered with many now-defunct hominid species that no longer have a place on the human family tree

A reconstruction of Homo erectus, the first hominid to reach a modern height.

How Death Played a Role in the Evolution of Human Height

A longer life expectancy might have allowed members of the genus Homo to grow taller than earlier australopithecines, researchers propose

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Take Two Pills and Charge Me in the Morning

Health and medical mobile apps are booming. But what happens when they shift from tracking data to diagnosing diseases?

IQ scores have significantly risen from one generation to the next.

Are You Smarter Than Your Grandfather? Probably Not.

Senility isn’t the answer; IQ scores are increasing with each generation. In a new book, political scientist James Flynn explains why

Only a sophomore in high school, Jack Andraka may have invented a new test for a deadly form of cancer.

Jack Andraka, the Teen Prodigy of Pancreatic Cancer

A high school sophomore won the youth achievement Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award for inventing a new method to detect a lethal cancer

The system uses a grid of surgically implanted electrodes to enable a blind person to “see” the letters.

New Device Digitally Projects Braille Directly onto Blind Patient’s Retina

The system uses surgically implanted electrodes so that a blind person can “see” the letters

Research shows that the FDA’s proposed graphic warning labels would be more effective than the current text-only ones.

Images on Cigarette Packs Are Scarier to Smokers Than Text Warnings

A new study shows that nothing scares a smoker away from taking another puff more than a picture of how a body will look like after a lifetime of doing so

In a new study, the larger fonts and backlights available on iPads and other readers helped improve reading speeds.

In Study, iPads and Readers Help Those With Vision Loss Read Faster

Researchers say that the larger fonts and backlights available on tablets help improve reading speeds

A new study shows that the equivalent of a few cups of coffee can help us process words more quickly and accurately.

In Experiments, Caffeine Accelerates the Brain’s Verbal Processing

A new study shows that the equivalent of a few cups of coffee can help us process words more quickly and accurately

A reconstruction of Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis. Lucy probably walked much slower than taller members of her species.

Did Lucy Walk Too Slow for Her Taller Group Mates?

Huge variability in Australopithecus afarensis height may have made it difficult for group members to walk together at the same speed

After Ebola is confirmed, doctors and scientists converge within days.

The Hunt for Ebola

A CDC team races to Uganda just days after an outbreak of the killer virus to try to pinpoint exactly how it is transmitted to humans

According to a new study, beautiful people are indeed happier but not always for the same reasons.

Ask Smithsonian 2017

How Much is Being Attractive Worth?

For men and women, looking good can mean extra cash in your bank account

Eating a fatty sandwich for breakfast could impact your cardiovascular health by the afternoon.

Even in Healthy Adults, High-Fat Fast Foods Affect Arteries Almost Immediately

In a new study, people who ate a pair of fatty sausage and egg sandwiches for breakfast showed reduced blood vessel health by the afternoon

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Scientists Use Cadaver Hands to Study the Dangers of Pumpkin Carving

A rigorous experiment compared pumpkin-carving tools to determine the safest way to carve a pumpkin

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