CURRENT ISSUE
July/August 2011
Features
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Dig, Drink and Be Merry
By analyzing ancient pottery, Patrick McGovern is resurrecting the libations that fueled civilization
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Dazzling Displays
Out of more than 50,000 photographs submitted, editors – and readers – picked seven showstoppers
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The End of Illusions
Both North and South expected victory to be glorious and quick, but the first major battle signaled the long and deadly war to come
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Crisis in the Caves
Can scientists stop white-nose syndrome, a new disease that is killing bats in catastrophic numbers?
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Cultivating Art
To protect the fruits of their labor and thwart "plant thieves," early American growers enlisted artists
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A Whale to Watch
The true story of a lonely orca leaps from printed page to silver screen, with a boost from new technology
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Orca Culture
Researchers have found a variety of complex, learned behaviors that differ from pod to pod
Departments
Big Wheels
This enigmatic 1970 portrait of a tricycle took photography down a whole new road
Andrea Wulf: Historian
In her new book, Andrea Wulf argues that the founding fathers' love of gardening shaped their vision of America
A Better Space
Seeking the Origins of Amber
By studying the chemical signatures of living trees, Smithsonian's Jorge Santiago-Blay intends to reconstruct ancient forests
Wernher von Braun's Launch
Although the Nazi "vengeance weapon" was a wartime failure, it ushered in the space age
Q&A: Judith Martin
The columnist talks about how her portraiture collection reflects culture’s stance on etiquette
What's Up
Leaks and the Law
The former NSA official reached a plea deal with the government, but the case still raises questions about the public’s right to know