Robots | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/robots/RSS feed for RobotsenFri, 22 May 2026 21:25:06 +0000An Underwater Robot Explores the Hidden 'Shipwreck City' Beneath the Surface of This Popular Urban Lake in the Pacific Northwesthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-underwater-robot-explores-the-hidden-shipwreck-city-beneath-the-surface-of-this-popular-urban-lake-in-the-pacific-northwest-180988799/Using a remotely operated vehicle, researchers are exploring a long-overlooked piece of Seattle’s maritime historyFri, 22 May 2026 21:25:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-underwater-robot-explores-the-hidden-shipwreck-city-beneath-the-surface-of-this-popular-urban-lake-in-the-pacific-northwest-180988799/NASA's Curiosity Rover Had a Martian Rock Stuck on Its Arm for Days. Watch It Finally Shake the Stubborn Stone Offhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasas-curiosity-rover-had-a-martian-rock-stuck-on-its-arm-for-days-watch-it-successfully-shook-the-stubborn-stone-off-180988708/While drilling has fractured rocks, this is the first time the instrument has ever accidentally pulled a whole chunk from the ground, according to the space agencyMon, 11 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasas-curiosity-rover-had-a-martian-rock-stuck-on-its-arm-for-days-watch-it-successfully-shook-the-stubborn-stone-off-180988708/Meet 'Gabi,' the Robot That Just Became a Monk at a Buddhist Temple in South Korea. It’s the Latest Robot to Take Up Religious Practicehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-gabi-the-new-robot-monk-at-a-buddhist-temple-in-south-korea-its-the-latest-robot-to-take-up-religious-practice-180988695/The humanoid promised to obey humans, save energy and treat other robots peacefully. South Korean Buddhist leaders have recently started to embrace artificial intelligenceThu, 07 May 2026 21:21:32 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-gabi-the-new-robot-monk-at-a-buddhist-temple-in-south-korea-its-the-latest-robot-to-take-up-religious-practice-180988695/Could Underwater Autonomous Robots Save Coral Reefs?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-underwater-autonomous-robots-save-coral-reefs-180988626/Reef restoration is a slow process, with divers planting coral fragments one at a time by hand. But roboticists are now developing automated planters that could change the gameThu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/could-underwater-autonomous-robots-save-coral-reefs-180988626/A Humanoid Robot Just Beat the Human World Record for the Fastest Half-Marathon During a Race in Chinahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-humanoid-robot-just-beat-the-human-world-record-for-the-fastest-half-marathon-during-a-race-in-china-180988599/A self-navigating robot called Lightning, developed by Chinese electronics company Honor, won the 13.1-mile race. Its results and others mark significant advancements since last year's inaugural event, where only 6 of the 21 androids reached the finish lineWed, 22 Apr 2026 19:27:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-humanoid-robot-just-beat-the-human-world-record-for-the-fastest-half-marathon-during-a-race-in-china-180988599/A Rare 1897 Film Discovered in an Old Trunk in Michigan Features the First On-Screen Appearance of a Robothttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-1897-film-discovered-in-an-old-trunk-in-michigan-features-the-first-on-screen-appearance-of-robot-180988547/Filmmaker Georges Méliès employed some of his signature special effects techniques to create comedy in "Gugusse and the Automaton"Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:16:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-1897-film-discovered-in-an-old-trunk-in-michigan-features-the-first-on-screen-appearance-of-robot-180988547/What Lies Beyond Artemis 2? These Other Missions Are Setting Their Sights on the Moon This Year—and on a Future With Humans in Spacehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-lies-beyond-artemis-2-these-other-missions-are-setting-their-sights-on-the-moon-this-yearand-on-a-future-with-humans-in-space-180988517/As the historic lunar flyby comes to a close, space companies and nations around the world are also shooting for the moon. Upcoming landings aim to change the landscape of space explorationThu, 09 Apr 2026 14:02:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-lies-beyond-artemis-2-these-other-missions-are-setting-their-sights-on-the-moon-this-yearand-on-a-future-with-humans-in-space-180988517/Sea Stars Can Lose an Arm and Soldier On. What If Robots Could Do the Same?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/sea-stars-can-lose-an-arm-and-soldier-on-what-if-robots-could-do-the-same-180988453/Bioinspiration looks to nature for clues on how to build more efficient, resilient robotsThu, 02 Apr 2026 15:47:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/sea-stars-can-lose-an-arm-and-soldier-on-what-if-robots-could-do-the-same-180988453/How Do Snakes 'Stand' Upright Nearly Stick-Straight? New Research Points to How They Pull Off the Gravity-Defying Feathttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-do-snakes-stand-upright-nearly-stick-straight-new-research-points-to-how-they-pull-off-the-gravity-defying-feat-180988470/These clever creatures seem to concentrate their muscle activity near their bases, which helps them cross gaps between tree branches in the wildThu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-do-snakes-stand-upright-nearly-stick-straight-new-research-points-to-how-they-pull-off-the-gravity-defying-feat-180988470/