December 2013
Smithsonian magazine delivers trusted and incisive reporting on history, science, nature, culture and travel.
Features
The 2013 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards
We recognize nine of the past year's shining achievements and the innovators behind them
Mars Attack!
A nine-year project to land the $2.5 billion Curiosity rover on Mars came down to seven nail-biting minutes
Notes from the Edge
She brings new sophistication to top composition, conjuring ethereal dreamscapes from her suburban roots
Voices Carry
By capturing the stories of those who've survived crises, voice of witness is changing the way we record history
Quantum Mechanic
A teenager harnesses cutting-edge physics and nanotechnology for a new kind of radiation detector with possible applications ranging from automobiles to astronomy
Warp Factor
A revolutionary materials scientist pushes the boundaries of medicine with electronics that melt in your body
Visualizing Ben
How one historian is harnessing big data to map Ben Franklin’s world of Enlightenment ideas
Climb Higher
New research is revolutionizing the way the best colleges reach out to talented low-income students
Escape Artist
He uses video, music, mirrors, railroad cars, even entire buildings to create works that make every viewer a participant
Code Breaker
He enraged the chemical community and shocked his peers by discovering that DNA changes aren’t the only way the environment can affect future generations
Can You Hear Me Now?
One of the earliest examples of ingenuity in the Western Hemisphere is a 1,200-year-old phone
Dreaming of Shakespeare
For renowned director Julie Taymor, the Bard is a fantasy and a nightmare
Departments
From the Editor
From the Editor
Discussion
Discussion
Ice Maker
A scientist might have finally solved the mysetry of the Antarctic Sea's big chill
The Phone That Helped Andy Carvin Report the Arab Spring is Now in the Smithsonian
The NPR reporter talks about how he was able to factcheck tweets amid the rush of information in 2011
Dive into Jen Lewin's Interactive Light Pool
"The Pool" invites visitors to create dazzling light displays by jumping across 100 glowing pads