CURRENT ISSUE
August 2009
Features
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River of Riches
An unsung Alabama waterway is one of the most biologically diverse places in the nation, home to rare flora and fauna
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Finding Herod's Tomb
After a 35-year search, an Israeli archaeologist is certain he has solved the mystery of the biblical figure’s final resting place
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Mad About Shells
Collectors have long prized mollusks for their beautiful exteriors, but for scientists, it’s what inside that matters
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Cool Katz
At 82, the pathbreaking painter known for stylized figurative works has never been in more demand
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Galileo's Vision
The Italian scientist turned his telescope toward the stars and changed our view of the universe
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Muscle Man
How the original 97-pound-weakling transformed himself and brought physical fitness to the masses
Departments
Still Together Now
On a whim, a young duo went to the legendary festival only to be captured in a memorable image by photographer Burk Uzzle
Out of the Box
The fiction writer cherishes her mountain town's anti-commercialism, as epitomized by the local swap stop, a regional landmark
Evolution's Big Bang
A storied trove of fossils from a Canadian paleontological site is yielding new clues to an explosion of life on earth
Blue Sky Thinking
How an unlikely mix of environmentalists and free-market conservatives hammered out the strategy known as cap-and-trade
Cracking the Code
On a small island near Washington, D.C., Smithsonian researchers have found a genetic code that could revolutionize botany
One Giant Leap
When the lunar module landed on the moon, it provided an unforgettable moment for the millions watching back on Earth
Q and A: Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, reflects on the Apollo 11 mission