At the Smithsonian | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/smithsonian-institution/RSS feed for At the SmithsonianenThu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000Way Bandy Was One of the Most Influential Makeup Artists in the World. He Challenged Stigmas in the 1980s by Making Sure His Death From AIDS Was Widely Knownhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/way-bandy-was-one-of-the-most-influential-makeup-artists-in-the-world-he-challenged-stigmas-in-the-1980s-by-making-sure-his-death-from-aids-was-widely-known-180989330/He instructed the executors of his will to make his specific cause of death from the disease public during a time when many others feared doing soThu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/way-bandy-was-one-of-the-most-influential-makeup-artists-in-the-world-he-challenged-stigmas-in-the-1980s-by-making-sure-his-death-from-aids-was-widely-known-180989330/How Artist Nick Cave Memorializes His Ancestors Through ‘Mammoth’ Workhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-artist-nick-cave-memorializes-his-ancestors-through-mammoth-work-180989262/An exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum spotlights how everyday objects can serve as the foundation for artistic expressionTue, 04 Aug 2026 20:50:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-artist-nick-cave-memorializes-his-ancestors-through-mammoth-work-180989262/These Shark Look-Alikes Have Long Confounded Fishers and Scientists on the East Coast. Tracking Where They Migrate Could Help Clear the Confusionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/these-shark-look-alikes-have-long-confounded-fishers-and-scientists-on-the-east-coast-tracking-where-they-migrate-could-help-clear-the-confusion-180989210/Researchers are tagging and tracking spinner sharks to map out their geographic distribution, because they've seen that the range of the very similar blacktip shark has shiftedThu, 30 Jul 2026 19:50:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/these-shark-look-alikes-have-long-confounded-fishers-and-scientists-on-the-east-coast-tracking-where-they-migrate-could-help-clear-the-confusion-180989210/Ancient Fossil Footsteps Found in Kenya May Hint That an Early Human Relative Was Larger Than Previously Thoughthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ancient-fossil-footsteps-found-in-kenya-may-hint-that-an-early-human-relative-was-larger-than-previously-thought-180989206/The trackway sheds light on how some hominins moved around their environments and with one anotherMon, 27 Jul 2026 19:08:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ancient-fossil-footsteps-found-in-kenya-may-hint-that-an-early-human-relative-was-larger-than-previously-thought-180989206/Ancient Genes Reveal That Big, Bright Avocados Were Carried Through the Americas Thousands of Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ancient-genes-reveal-that-big-bright-avocados-were-carried-through-the-americas-thousands-of-years-ago-180989171/People brought large avocado seeds from South America to Central America, kicking off a burst of diversity for the fruitWed, 22 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ancient-genes-reveal-that-big-bright-avocados-were-carried-through-the-americas-thousands-of-years-ago-180989171/This 19th-Century Diary Written by an Enslaved Maryland Man Is a Crucial Record of His Life and Family History—and the Only One of Its Kind Found in the United Stateshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-19th-century-diary-written-by-an-enslaved-maryland-man-is-a-crucial-record-of-his-life-and-family-historyand-the-only-one-of-its-kind-found-in-the-united-states-180989146/Adam Francis Plummer’s chronicle is believed to be the country’s sole known example of a multigenerational journal begun by an enslaved person. It’s now on view at the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community MuseumFri, 17 Jul 2026 18:30:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-19th-century-diary-written-by-an-enslaved-maryland-man-is-a-crucial-record-of-his-life-and-family-historyand-the-only-one-of-its-kind-found-in-the-united-states-180989146/Artemis 1's Orion Spacecraft Withstood the Heat of Re-entry in a Critical Test for Humans' Return to the Moon. Now, NASA Will Lend the Historic Capsule to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museumhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/artemis-1s-orion-spacecraft-withstood-the-heat-of-re-entry-in-a-critical-test-for-humans-return-to-the-moon-now-nasa-will-loan-the-historic-capsule-to-the-smithsonians-national-air-and-space-museum-180989094/The exact timeline for the spacecraft's display hasn’t been announced, but the artifact will fit into an upcoming exhibition on how humans have built a long-term presence in Earth orbit and laid the groundwork for farther space travelMon, 13 Jul 2026 19:09:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/artemis-1s-orion-spacecraft-withstood-the-heat-of-re-entry-in-a-critical-test-for-humans-return-to-the-moon-now-nasa-will-loan-the-historic-capsule-to-the-smithsonians-national-air-and-space-museum-180989094/An Ancient Sea Once Split North America Down the Middle. The Beautiful Multicolored Ammonite Shells From Its Waters Are So Perfectly Preserved That They Still Shimmer Todayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/an-ancient-sea-once-split-north-america-down-the-middle-the-beautiful-multicolored-ammonite-shells-from-its-waters-are-so-perfectly-preserved-that-they-still-shimmer-today-180989104/Spectacular marine fossils tell the story of the long-gone Western Interior Seaway and the planet’s past aquatic lifeFri, 10 Jul 2026 16:30:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/an-ancient-sea-once-split-north-america-down-the-middle-the-beautiful-multicolored-ammonite-shells-from-its-waters-are-so-perfectly-preserved-that-they-still-shimmer-today-180989104/This Spanish Officer Besieged the British During the American Revolution, Giving George Washington Time to Plan a Pivotal Attackhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-spanish-officer-besieged-the-british-during-the-american-revolution-giving-george-washington-time-to-plan-a-pivotal-attack-180989079/Bernardo de Gálvez indirectly contributed to the Continental Army’s victory at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. A rare painting of him is now on view at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait GalleryTue, 07 Jul 2026 17:05:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-spanish-officer-besieged-the-british-during-the-american-revolution-giving-george-washington-time-to-plan-a-pivotal-attack-180989079/To Recreate One of the American Revolution's Most Famous Paintings, This Artist Painstakingly Crafted Miniature Wax Figures of the Nation's Foundershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/to-recreate-one-of-the-american-revolutions-most-famous-paintings-this-artist-painstakingly-crafted-miniature-wax-figures-of-the-nations-founders-180989026/Bartlett M. Frost’s diorama is modeled after John Trumbull's depiction of the presentation of the Declaration of Independence. Newly conserved, the work is now on view at the National Portrait GalleryThu, 02 Jul 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/to-recreate-one-of-the-american-revolutions-most-famous-paintings-this-artist-painstakingly-crafted-miniature-wax-figures-of-the-nations-founders-180989026/America's First Space Station Proved Humans Could Live and Work in Orbit for Months. Now, the Public Can See What It Looked Like in Person for the First Time in Eight Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/americas-first-space-station-proved-humans-could-live-and-work-in-orbit-for-months-now-the-public-can-see-what-it-looked-like-in-person-for-the-first-time-in-eight-years-180989055/A backup version of Skylab was displayed when the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum opened 50 years ago. After renovation of the building, the artifact is once more on view in a new galleryWed, 01 Jul 2026 21:30:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/americas-first-space-station-proved-humans-could-live-and-work-in-orbit-for-months-now-the-public-can-see-what-it-looked-like-in-person-for-the-first-time-in-eight-years-180989055/Queer Artists Peter Hujar and Paul Thek Drew From Their Intimate Relationship to Create Unique 20th-Century Workshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/queer-artists-peter-hujar-and-paul-thek-drew-from-their-intimate-relationship-to-create-unique-20th-century-works-180989024/Their fascinating, intense pieces are being highlighted in new exhibitions this year—and their story is chronicled in a recent bookMon, 29 Jun 2026 16:52:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/queer-artists-peter-hujar-and-paul-thek-drew-from-their-intimate-relationship-to-create-unique-20th-century-works-180989024/Everyone Wanted Alexander Graham Bell to Debut the Telephone at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. He Almost Avoided It Entirelyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/everyone-wanted-alexander-graham-bell-to-debut-the-telephone-at-the-philadelphia-centennial-exhibition-he-almost-walked-away-first-180989016/The inventor had to be persuaded to make the trip from Boston, then balked at the thought of a delay in debuting his device. But history interceded, and his American innovation got its proper accoladesThu, 25 Jun 2026 15:05:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/everyone-wanted-alexander-graham-bell-to-debut-the-telephone-at-the-philadelphia-centennial-exhibition-he-almost-walked-away-first-180989016/This Building Hosted Lincoln's Inaugural Ball and Displayed the Declaration of Independence. Today, It's Home to Two World-Class Art Museumshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-building-hosted-lincolns-inaugural-ball-and-displayed-the-declaration-of-independence-today-its-home-to-two-world-class-art-museums-180988990/The Old Patent Office Building now houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. A new exhibition spotlights the structure's rich history of encouraging innovationThu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/this-building-hosted-lincolns-inaugural-ball-and-displayed-the-declaration-of-independence-today-its-home-to-two-world-class-art-museums-180988990/How One German Button Maker Searched the Rivers of the American Midwest for the Shells That Could Make Him a Fortunehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-one-german-button-maker-searched-the-rivers-of-the-american-midwest-for-the-shells-that-could-make-him-a-fortune-180989012/John Boepple settled in Muscatine, Iowa, where he produced pearl buttons made from freshwater mussel shells. His innovations brought economic prosperity to the town—and disaster to the local mussel populationsThu, 25 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-one-german-button-maker-searched-the-rivers-of-the-american-midwest-for-the-shells-that-could-make-him-a-fortune-180989012/These Devoted Dads Across the Animal Kingdom Will Warm Your Heart This Father’s Dayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/these-devoted-dads-across-the-animal-kingdom-will-warm-your-heart-this-fathers-day-180988987/From foxes that bring home dinner to fish that keep watch over their young, male animals across several species take an active role in building nests and caring for their babiesThu, 18 Jun 2026 20:53:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/these-devoted-dads-across-the-animal-kingdom-will-warm-your-heart-this-fathers-day-180988987/What Natural History Objects Represent Your State? You Can Find Out in This New Exhibition of More Than 600 Specimens and Artifactshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/what-natural-history-objects-represent-your-state-you-can-find-out-in-this-new-exhibition-of-more-than-600-specimens-and-artifacts-180988980/The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History celebrates America’s 250th anniversary by spotlighting fascinating items from across the nationThu, 18 Jun 2026 14:15:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/what-natural-history-objects-represent-your-state-you-can-find-out-in-this-new-exhibition-of-more-than-600-specimens-and-artifacts-180988980/Ants Can Get Distracted by Cookies, Chips and Other Junk Food. Here’s Why That Could Be a Problem for the Environmenthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ants-can-get-distracted-by-cookies-chips-and-other-junk-food-heres-why-that-could-be-a-problem-for-the-environment-180988962/The insects enjoy snack crumbs, but new research shows that this unnatural food source can divert them from one of their most significant roles: dispersing plant seedsTue, 16 Jun 2026 16:15:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ants-can-get-distracted-by-cookies-chips-and-other-junk-food-heres-why-that-could-be-a-problem-for-the-environment-180988962/