Skip to main content

Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.

Smart News

Algae in the Yellow Sea near Qingdao in 2008

China’s Massive Algae Bloom Could Leave the Ocean’s Water Lifeless

The beaches of Qingdao, China, are covered in algae, but marine life may be faring worse than the swimmers

None

Wander Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley With Street View

The Diagon Alley set from Harry Potter has been added to Google Street View

None

This Super Weird-Looking Bike Might Break the Speed Record

It has to be pushed to start and caught when he stops to not fall over but this strange fish-shaped bike might be able to beat the speed record

None

The Creator of the Computer Mouse Never Received Any Royalties

Though Engelbart revolutionized computing in 1967 with the invention of the mouse, he never received any royalties from his creation

People Who Subconsciously Dwell on Death Write Funnier New Yorker Cartoon Captions

People who are deliberately thinking about death, on the other hand, produce the least funny cartoon captions

The Catholic Church Is Getting Less Strict About Miracles

Both John Paul II and John XXIII will be made saints at the end of the year, suggesting a shift from traditions

The Bikini’s Inventor Guessed How Much It Would Horrify the Public

The modern bikini, named after Bikini Atoll where the atomic bomb was tested, was first unleashed on the world more than 75 years ago

Which Barbie would you buy?

Barbie Gets a Real-World Makeover

Artist Nickolay Lamm created a 3D doll-sized model of a healthy, average 19-year-old American woman, then made her up like Barbie

None

This July 4th, Celebrate Two Million Years of Grilling

The advent of open fire cooking began with Homo erectus

P4 and P5, now Kerberos and Styx. Photo: NASA, ESA, M. Showalter

Astronomers Pull Rank, Name Pluto’s Moons After the Underworld, Not Star Trek

Say hello to Pluto’s newest moons, Styx and Kerberos

How to Survive a Lion Attack

If you’re managed to get yourself into a person vs lion situation, you probably don’t know what to do about it. Thankfully, the internet is here for you

If Women Assume Fake Names, They Do Better on Math Tests

Assuming a false name helped women perform better on math tests

A coy Buttercup wearing his brand new foot.

Buttercup the One-Legged Duck No Longer Has to Hobble

Buttercup’s adorable plight, which concluded on Sunday when engineers successfully outfitted the duck with a 3D printed duck foot

Phobos

Mars’ Tiny-Looking Moon Is Slowly Crash-Landing on the Planet

Mars’ moon Phobos may look small in the sky, but it won’t for long

None

Woman Builds a Prosthetic Leg Out of Legos

Vanity prosthetic legs aren’t new - but this is probably the first one built out of LEGOS

Kids Will Eat Their Veggies If You Explain Why They Need To

Explaining to kids why veggies are good for them and making a show of just how tasty they can be are effective strategies for getting kids to eat greens

None

Virus Hunters Are Testing Bats, Camels, Goats And Cats to Find a Deadly Illness’ Origin

Bats have been pinpointed as the most likely culprits behind MERS, though camels are a close second

None

These Contact Lenses Can Zoom In and Out, Give You Telescopic Vision

These contact lenses can switch your vision back and forth from regular sight to a 2.8x zoom

None

Obama Tackles Illegal Wildlife Trade

Obama’s plan will specifically address poaching of elephants and rhinos, though he has also reportedly begun conversations with China about curbing demand

None

Yoga a “Distinctly American Cultural Phenomenon,” California Judge Decrees

Though its roots are in India, American yoga is a whole different thing

Page 1036 of 1132