Shoes | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/shoes/RSS feed for ShoesenWed, 04 Mar 2026 16:47:24 +0000Why Do Basketball Players' Shoes Squeak on the Court? Here's the Physics Behind the Iconic, High-Pitched Soundshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-basketball-players-shoes-squeak-on-the-court-heres-the-physics-behind-the-iconic-high-pitched-sounds-180988289/The screeches come from wave-like deformations of sneakers’ flexible solesWed, 04 Mar 2026 16:47:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-basketball-players-shoes-squeak-on-the-court-heres-the-physics-behind-the-iconic-high-pitched-sounds-180988289/Hundreds of Mysterious Victorian-Era Shoes Are Washing Up on a Beach in Wales. Nobody Knows Where They Came Fromhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hundreds-of-mysterious-victorian-era-shoes-are-washing-up-on-a-beach-in-wales-nobody-knows-where-they-came-from-180987943/The leading theory is that the black leather boots, which were discovered by volunteers, were traveling on a cargo ship that sank nearby roughly 150 years agoMon, 05 Jan 2026 15:59:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hundreds-of-mysterious-victorian-era-shoes-are-washing-up-on-a-beach-in-wales-nobody-knows-where-they-came-from-180987943/In 1907, This Daring Performer Walked on Water From Cincinnati to New Orleans, Covering Nearly 1,600 Miles in 40 Dayshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-1907-this-daring-performer-walked-on-water-from-cincinnati-to-new-orleans-covering-nearly-1600-miles-in-40-days-180987576/Charles Oldrieve used custom-made wooden shoes to float on the water's surface and propel himself forwardThu, 30 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-1907-this-daring-performer-walked-on-water-from-cincinnati-to-new-orleans-covering-nearly-1600-miles-in-40-days-180987576/Archaeologists Are Investigating an Ancient Mosaic Depicting Sandals That Look Strangely Like Modern Flip-Flopshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-are-investigating-an-ancient-mosaic-depicting-sandals-that-look-strangely-like-modern-flip-flops-180987214/The colorful artwork decorates the frigidarium of the Villa Romana del Casale, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in SicilyFri, 22 Aug 2025 16:51:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-are-investigating-an-ancient-mosaic-depicting-sandals-that-look-strangely-like-modern-flip-flops-180987214/Archaeologists Keep Finding Massive Shoes at an Ancient Roman Fort—and They Have No Idea Why They're So Bighttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-keep-finding-massive-shoes-at-an-ancient-roman-fort-and-they-have-no-idea-why-theyre-so-big-180987028/Discovered near Hadrian's Wall in northern England, the oversized leather footwear has left researchers puzzledMon, 28 Jul 2025 15:00:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-keep-finding-massive-shoes-at-an-ancient-roman-fort-and-they-have-no-idea-why-theyre-so-big-180987028/Barbie's Feet Have Become Less Arched Over Time, According to a New Study by Podiatristshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/barbies-feet-have-become-less-arched-over-time-according-to-a-new-study-by-podiatrists-180986655/By the 2020s, only 40 percent of Barbie dolls were designed with permanently arched feet for wearing high heelsFri, 23 May 2025 15:21:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/barbies-feet-have-become-less-arched-over-time-according-to-a-new-study-by-podiatrists-180986655/Birkenstocks Are Not Works of Art, According to a German Courthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/birkenstocks-are-not-works-of-art-according-to-a-german-court-180986109/The ruling comes after years of legal battles surrounding cheaper knock-offs, which the company argues are a violation of copyright lawTue, 25 Feb 2025 21:59:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/birkenstocks-are-not-works-of-art-according-to-a-german-court-180986109/Dorothy's Ruby Slippers From 'The Wizard of Oz' Sell for a Record-Breaking $28 Millionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dorothys-ruby-slippers-from-the-wizard-of-oz-sell-for-a-record-breaking-28-million-180985620/The iconic shoes, which went missing for more than a decade, are now the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever auctionedTue, 10 Dec 2024 17:07:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dorothys-ruby-slippers-from-the-wizard-of-oz-sell-for-a-record-breaking-28-million-180985620/The Judy Garland Museum Wants to Buy Dorothy's Ruby Slippershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-judy-garland-museum-wants-to-buy-dorothys-ruby-slippers-180984604/Officials hope to raise millions to bid on the shoes, which were missing for over a decade, at auction in DecemberTue, 25 Jun 2024 19:26:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-judy-garland-museum-wants-to-buy-dorothys-ruby-slippers-180984604/Archaeologists Unearth 1,000-Year-Old Ice Skate Made of Animal Bone in Czech Republichttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-ancient-ice-skate-made-of-animal-bone-has-been-found-in-the-czech-republic-180984037/The artifact dates to a time when skates were used primarily for practical purposesThu, 28 Mar 2024 20:36:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-ancient-ice-skate-made-of-animal-bone-has-been-found-in-the-czech-republic-180984037/