Ingenious Minds | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/ingenious-minds/RSS feed for Ingenious MindsenMon, 19 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000This Simple but Ingenious Instrument Helped the World Measure Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmospherehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/simple-ingenious-instrument-helped-the-world-measure-carbon-dioxide-levels-atmosphere-180986566/Scientist Charles Keeling's invention had a profound effect on scientists' understanding of the severity of the climate change crisisMon, 19 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/simple-ingenious-instrument-helped-the-world-measure-carbon-dioxide-levels-atmosphere-180986566/Sunlight-Tracking Polymer, Inspired by Sunflowers, Could Maximize Solar Powerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tiny-polymer-sunflowers-could-boost-efficiency-solar-panels-180973478/The SunBOTS bend toward light source and could help solar cells capture more direct sunlight all day longWed, 06 Nov 2019 21:46:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tiny-polymer-sunflowers-could-boost-efficiency-solar-panels-180973478/Honey Bees Can Do Simple Math, After a Little Schoolinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/honey-bees-can-do-simple-arithmetic-after-little-schooling-180971451/Researchers trained 14 bees to add and subtract by one, suggesting their tiny brains have found novel ways of doing complicated tasksThu, 07 Feb 2019 19:55:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/honey-bees-can-do-simple-arithmetic-after-little-schooling-180971451/Astrophysicist Mercedes Lopez-Morales Is Grooming the Next Generation of Planet Huntershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/astrophysicist-mercedes-lopez-morales-is-grooming-next-generation-of-planet-hunters-180971191/"The Daily Show" correspondent Roy Wood, Jr. talks with the astrophysicist about adrenaline, fear, curiosity and attracting younger generations to scienceFri, 01 Feb 2019 18:52:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/astrophysicist-mercedes-lopez-morales-is-grooming-next-generation-of-planet-hunters-180971191/Studying the History of Life on Earth Keeps This Paleontologist Optimistichttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/studying-history-life-earth-keeps-paleontologist-optimistic-180971378/Smithsonian scientist Nick Pyenson explains how taking an interest in natural history can help us understand our futureWed, 30 Jan 2019 16:46:41 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/studying-history-life-earth-keeps-paleontologist-optimistic-180971378/How Jean Bennett Found a Way to Treat Hereditary Blindness in Childrenhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-jean-bennett-found-way-treat-hereditary-blindness-children-180971168/In conversation with chef Spike Gjerde, the molecular geneticist explains how she is paving the way for the future of gene therapyFri, 04 Jan 2019 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-jean-bennett-found-way-treat-hereditary-blindness-children-180971168/How Drag Helped Sasha Velour Cope With the Loss of Her Motherhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-drag-helped-sasha-velour-cope-loss-her-mother-180971161/The drag queen talks with breast cancer specialist Laura Esserman about gender identity, expression and celebrationThu, 03 Jan 2019 15:41:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-drag-helped-sasha-velour-cope-loss-her-mother-180971161/March for Our Lives Activist Naomi Wadler Isn’t Like Most 12-Year-Oldshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/march-our-lives-activist-naomi-wadler-isnt-most-12-year-olds-180971057/Disney Imagineer Bei Yang interviews the young activist about social media, gun violence, hope and her futureWed, 02 Jan 2019 17:22:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/march-our-lives-activist-naomi-wadler-isnt-most-12-year-olds-180971057/Farmworkers Rights Activist Mily Treviño-Sauceda Empowers Women to Create Changehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/farmworkers-rights-activist-mily-trevino-sauceda-empowers-women-to-create-change-180971099/The founder of the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas joined poet Jacqueline Suskin in a conversation about family, women, strength and unityFri, 21 Dec 2018 17:03:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/farmworkers-rights-activist-mily-trevino-sauceda-empowers-women-to-create-change-180971099/Studying Political Pessimism in the Past Actually Makes Historian Jon Grinspan Optimistic About the Futurehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/studying-political-pessimism-past-actually-makes-historian-jon-grinspan-optimistic-about-future-180971082/Columnist David Brooks interviews the political historian about what we can learn from negative political engagement in our country’s historyThu, 20 Dec 2018 15:19:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/studying-political-pessimism-past-actually-makes-historian-jon-grinspan-optimistic-about-future-180971082/