https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/smithsonian-institution/RSS feed for Smithsonian InstitutionenFri, 09 Oct 2026 21:05:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-five-adorable-newborn-cheetah-cubs-grow-on-a-livestream-from-the-smithsonians-conservation-biology-institute-180989669/The healthy and active babies are being cared for by first-time mother Zura, and the public can keep up with their antics through an online cheetah cub camFri, 09 Oct 2026 21:05:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-five-adorable-newborn-cheetah-cubs-grow-on-a-livestream-from-the-smithsonians-conservation-biology-institute-180989669/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-humble-history-of-the-bedpan-180989560/Over the past few centuries, inventors have tweaked the design of the receptacles here and there, but overall, not much has changed about the dependable medical supplyThu, 24 Sep 2026 19:04:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-humble-history-of-the-bedpan-180989560/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/from-22000-miles-up-this-satellite-tracks-airborne-health-threats-almost-in-real-time-180989523/The new instrument, called TEMPO, captures hourly snapshots of the pollutants swirling in the daytime atmosphere over North America—“chemical weather” reports that are helpful to public health researchers and government officialsFri, 18 Sep 2026 18:02:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/from-22000-miles-up-this-satellite-tracks-airborne-health-threats-almost-in-real-time-180989523/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/montana-built-a-107-million-museum-its-smallest-room-says-a-lot-about-the-thought-that-went-into-designing-the-space-180989453/The Montana Heritage Center in Helena has a smudge room. It is open to the public and teaches non-Native visitors why a room dedicated to the burning of cleansing materials, a practice of many Indigenous cultures, is neededMon, 14 Sep 2026 16:51:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/montana-built-a-107-million-museum-its-smallest-room-says-a-lot-about-the-thought-that-went-into-designing-the-space-180989453/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/in-the-aftermath-of-911-milton-glaser-creator-of-the-i-love-ny-logo-declared-that-he-loved-new-york-city-more-than-ever-180989475/The graphic designer revamped his world-famous emblem in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The updated design underscored the city's resilience in the face of tragedyFri, 11 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/in-the-aftermath-of-911-milton-glaser-creator-of-the-i-love-ny-logo-declared-that-he-loved-new-york-city-more-than-ever-180989475/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/secretary-lonnie-bunch-announces-retirement-head-smithsonian-38-years-service-institution-180989460/With a storied career dating back to the 1970s, Bunch leaves a remarkable legacy, most notably the founding of the National Museum of African American History and CultureTue, 08 Sep 2026 16:18:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/secretary-lonnie-bunch-announces-retirement-head-smithsonian-38-years-service-institution-180989460/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/kermit-the-frog-was-just-trying-to-put-on-a-variety-show-fifty-years-later-the-muppets-are-some-of-the-biggest-stars-in-television-history-180989451/The first episode of Jim Henson's "The Muppet Show" premiered in the United Kingdom on September 5, 1976. Enthusiasm for the eclectic ensemble has endured ever sinceFri, 04 Sep 2026 19:21:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/kermit-the-frog-was-just-trying-to-put-on-a-variety-show-fifty-years-later-the-muppets-are-some-of-the-biggest-stars-in-television-history-180989451/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/female-treefrogs-experience-choice-overload-amid-too-many-mating-calls-from-males-180989411/Faced with a chorus of potential mates, female Cope’s gray treefrogs may be overwhelmed by the number of options and struggle to make a careful decision, a study suggestsTue, 01 Sep 2026 13:42:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/female-treefrogs-experience-choice-overload-amid-too-many-mating-calls-from-males-180989411/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/yayoi-kusama-created-fantastical-infinity-mirror-rooms-that-became-the-most-famous-backdrops-of-the-art-world-her-work-spanned-from-counterculture-to-cosmos-180989409/The Japanese artist, who died on August 14 at 97, sought solace from hallucinations in her art, developing a visual language of polka dots, pumpkins and mirrors that entranced the worldThu, 27 Aug 2026 15:59:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/yayoi-kusama-created-fantastical-infinity-mirror-rooms-that-became-the-most-famous-backdrops-of-the-art-world-her-work-spanned-from-counterculture-to-cosmos-180989409/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dolly-parton-was-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-history-of-country-music-she-wanted-to-be-remembered-as-a-songwriter-180989405/After growing up in poverty, she became famous for her legendary songs, big heart and larger-than-life style. But the iconic musician insisted that "the songs lead to everything else"Wed, 26 Aug 2026 17:58:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/dolly-parton-was-one-of-the-biggest-stars-in-the-history-of-country-music-she-wanted-to-be-remembered-as-a-songwriter-180989405/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/once-the-solar-systems-ninth-planet-pluto-was-reclassified-20-years-ago-heres-why-planetary-scientists-and-the-public-alike-love-the-small-icy-body-180989383/Pluto is now the most well known of the outer worlds beyond Neptune—and the darling of the solar systemMon, 24 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/once-the-solar-systems-ninth-planet-pluto-was-reclassified-20-years-ago-heres-why-planetary-scientists-and-the-public-alike-love-the-small-icy-body-180989383/