March 2023
Smithsonian magazine delivers trusted and incisive reporting on history, science, nature, culture and travel.
Features
Make Way for Pufflings
A town in Iceland rallies to rescue beloved baby seabirds that have lost their bearings
Message Received
Glory goes to the African American women who achieved a vital mission in World War II: getting mail to the troops
Re-Greening the Desert
After a historic victory in the West’s notorious water wars, Native Americans in Arizona turn to an ancient technology to revive their farms and culture
The Swimming Iguana
Looking after a quirky icon of evolution in the Galápagos Islands that faces a rocky future
Life Among the Ruins
From the ashes of a terrible industrial accident, a wonderful garden is flourishing again
Departments
Discussion
Your feedback on Mississippi John Hurt, captive-bred lion hunting and Stradivarius violins
Breaking Ground
With a long-overdue upgrade, the Smithsonian's most symbolic building prepares for a more egalitarian future
Barging Ahead
The engineering wonder that opened up the heartland
Along for the Ride
A new exhibition of Evelyn Hofer’s timeless portraits from half a century ago
Monkeying Around
The surprisingly scientific roots of a U.S. playground favorite
The Vienna Agent
The American heiress who risked her life to help people escape the Nazis—and pioneered the refugee assistance movement
Untangling the Alphabet
A curious new find yields clues to the mystery of the first writing
A Life of Discovery
A recent Nobel laureate pays tribute to the vision and perseverance of Barbara McClintock, a pioneering geneticist
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