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At the Smithsonian

Two neutron stars violently collide—potentially the sourse of all heavy elements in the universe, including gold.

All the Gold in the Universe Could Come From the Collisions of Neutron Stars

When two stars recently collided, astronomers landed on a new theory about where gold and other heavy elements originate

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Smithsonian Displays Its Own AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel

Created by Smithsonian volunteers and staff, the panel will be on view in the Kogod Courtyard one day only, July 17

Grab some popcorn for this summer’s blockbusters.

Minions! Did You See How Much a Movie Ticket Might Cost One Day?

Best way to beat the heat, says curator Amy Henderson, is the summer blockbuster, but are they going the way of the dinosaurs

Rina Banerjee’s “A world Lost…” is now on view in the Sackler Gallery pavilion.

“A world Lost…” Is the Stuff of Dreams and Nightmares

Rina Banerjee weaves personal and global history into her new Sackler Gallery installation, opening July 13

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Sneak Peek: Artist Rina Banerjee Creates “A world Lost…” at the Sackler

Debuting later this week, the new installation at the gallery incorporates everything from shells to ostrich eggs

Alexander Calder’s ‘Gwenfritz’ will be reinstalled in its original location on the west side of the American History Museum in October. This mock-up shows the sculpture at its new and old home in a reflecting pool, part of Calder’s intended aesthetic.

How Do You Freshen Up an Alexander Calder? Bolt by Precious Bolt

Alexander Calder’s 40-foot black steel sculpture is getting a makeover and then returning to its original location near the American History Museum

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Breaking Ground

The “Legacy of Slavery” Comes to the Smithsonian with Angola Prison Guard Tower Donation

Donations from the notorious Louisiana prison highlight a controversial history of incarceration

Celebrate Nikola Tesla’s Birthday with an Excerpt from a New Biography of the Inventor

Scholar W. Bernard Carlson explores Tesla’s experiments with automatons and radio controlled boats in this excerpt from his new book

Bring your friends to the Renwick Gallery for a night of craft art and craft beer at an adults-only DIY how-to.

Events July 9-11: Verbal Gymnastics, Craft Art and Beer and West African Music and Storytelling

This week, unlock your inner poet, make DIY garden-themed craft art and drink craft beer and sway to the beat of West African music and storytelling

Johnny Depp’s Tonto Isn’t Offensive, Just Weird, Says the Director of the American Indian Museum

We sent the Director of the American Indian Museum to the Lone Ranger; here’s what he thought

An Indian woman and her children from Kajõ, a village in the East Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, India, listen to a recording of a song in Koro. The Tibeto-Burman language is considered endangered.

July 7: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

Check out today’s events at the Folklife Festival, including dapper dressing, Welsh songs and Hungarian flavors

Members of a New Orleans social aid and pleasure club sport stylish and costly outfits and masquerade regalia. Organizations like these walk together in funerals and parades, such as the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras parade.

July 6: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

Check out today’s events at the Folklife Festival, including Roma fiddlers, Quecha music and headwrapping

Continue the patriotic celebration Friday, July 5, with the United States Air Force Band, which will perform at the Air and Space Museum.

Events July 5-7: Listen to Air Force Tunes, Dance the Day Away and Get Local with Art

This weekend, listen to sounds of the U.S. Air Force Band, participate in a day of dance and get a glimpse of a local artist’s perspective on art

Ayana Mongush, a throat singer from Kyzyl in the Republic of Tuva, Russian Federation, plays an igil. She is part of Tyva Kyzy, an all-female throat singing group, a profession which was traditionally prohibited for women.

July 5: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

Check out today’s events at the Folklife Festival, including shepherd culture, Tuvan music and histories of style

A professional potter works on his craft in Mezőtúr, Hungary, a town known for its traditional pottery-making.

July 4: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

Check out today’s events at the Folklife Festival, including Damali Afrikan couture, Jewish music in Hungary and hair styling

A priestess of Osun in the Yoruba tradition shops at the Dance Africa Festival and Bazaar in New York City. Her natural hair is combined with synthetics to produce her style.

July 3: Today’s Events at the Folklife Festival

Check out today’s events at the Folklife Festival, including African-inspired fashion, Bácska cuisine and folk-jazz with Dresch and Lukács

¡Así Kotama! is out July 2, on Smithsonian Folkways Records.

Listen to the Flutes of Ecuador, Then Catch Them Live

A new album on Smithsonian Folkways Records captures the effort to sustain a fading musical tradition

Gwyneth Glyn, a Welsh singer who performs original and folk songs in her native tongue, will perform at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival this year as part of the “One World, Many Voices” program.

Can Musicians and Educators Bring Welsh Back?

The Welsh language is spoken by few, but people like Gwyneth Glyn, a Welsh folk musician, are helping to revitalize it and renew interest in the culture

Flying high at one of the Folklife Festival’s many stages.

Dancing, Catwalking and Crafting: Photos From Folklife

The first weekend was full of colors and cultures from around the globe

Witness a cultural performance of Garifuna songs and drumming at the Folklife Festival Wednesday, July 3. The Garifuna are an ethnic minority in Central America with a diverse background and distinct culture and language.

Events July 2-4: Discover Genetic Coding, Experience Garifuna Culture and Watch ‘March Point’

This week, check out an exhibit on genes, witness a Central American song and dance performance and watch Native American film “March Point”

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