December 2015
Smithsonian magazine delivers trusted and incisive reporting on history, science, nature, culture and travel.
Features
Peforming Arts: Bill Hader and Fred Armisen
The “SNL” veterans behind the sly new series “Documentary Now!” add a layer of authenticity to the art of sending up nonfiction films
Physical Sciences: Alan Stern
The scientist behind NASA’s New Horizons mission gave cheering earthlings their first close-up view of Pluto
Education: Françoise Mouly
The amazing tale of a determined art director who harnessed the powers of the greatest illustrators around the world to blow kids' minds
Technology: Rana el Kaliouby
An engineer's passion for decoding facial expressions is set to change the way we interact with our devices–and each other
History: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Composer, lyricist and performer, he wows Broadway audiences and upends U.S. history with his dazzlingly fresh hip-hop Hamilton
Youth: Lilianna Zyszkowski
At age 11, she designed a new life-saving device to help people track their medication. That was just the beginning
Social Progress: Theaster Gates
An artist's creative approach to revitalizing a crumbling Chicago neighborhood offers new hope for America's beleaguered cities
Snap Judgment
A better mousetrap has long been the holy grail of American ingenuity
Visual Arts: Zoe Crosher and Shamim Momin
A wildly creative art project transforms a classic American eyesore into an inspiring, 2,400-mile-long national narrative
Natural Sciences: Rudolph Tanzi and Doo Yeon Kim
Boston researchers have invented a revolutionary new tool to study the mysteries of Alzheimer's disease and counter the coming epidemic of dementia
Departments
Discussion
Reader responses to our November issue
Quakers with a Vengeance
Ron Howard's new film of "In the Heart of the Sea" captures the greed and blood lust of 1800s Nantucket
Ask Smithsonian
Your questions answered by our experts