https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/videos/RSS feed for the videosenMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/to-the-moon-and-back-apollo-11-celebrates-its/Sending a man to the moon required an overhaul of the entire space program, involving more powerful rockets and new spacecraft (Video: Lauren Hogan, Beth Py-Lieberman, Brian Wolly)Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/to-the-moon-and-back-apollo-11-celebrates-its/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/colombia-dispatch-video-palenque-a-piece-of/Four hundred years ago, escaped slaves formed the village of Palenque. The town’s younger generations have reconnected with their African roots through cultural traditions handed down from their ancestors (Kenneth Fletcher/SmithsonianMag.com). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/colombia-dispatches.htmlMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/colombia-dispatch-video-palenque-a-piece-of/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/top-chef-shows-how-to-cook-a-geoduck/Hung Huynh, winner of Season 3 of Top Chef, prepares the giant clam two different ways, raw and fried. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Happy-As-Clams.htmlMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/top-chef-shows-how-to-cook-a-geoduck/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sultry-jazz-of-john-eaton/Take a walk through jazz history with pianist John Eaton as he recollects his career of the past five decades (Meredith Bragg)Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sultry-jazz-of-john-eaton/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-scurlocks-and-black-washington/For over 80 years, the Scurlock photography studio catalogued the lives of the black middle class of Washington, D.C (The exhibit, The Scurlock Studio and Black Washington: Picturing the Promise, is on view at the National Museum of American History through November 15, 2009. Thanks to Lonnie Bunch, Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which co-organized the exhibit). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/The-Scurlock-Studio-Picture-of-Prosperity.htmlMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-scurlocks-and-black-washington/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-robert-franks-the-americans/The National Gallery of Art organized a comprehensive exhibit of Robert Frank's work (Images courtesy of: National Gallery of Art; Produced by: Diane Bolz and Brian Wolly)Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-robert-franks-the-americans/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/edward-steichens-world-war-ii-photographers/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/In-Vogue.html At 62 years old, Edward Steichen convinced the U.S. Navy to let him gather a team of photographers to capture the men serving their country in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/edward-steichens-world-war-ii-photographers/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/herman-leonards-jazz-photographs/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Herman-Leonards-Eye-for-Jazz.html With just a camera as his ticket, Herman Leonard captured jazz icons performing on and off stage.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/herman-leonards-jazz-photographs/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonians-own-crime-scene-investigator/Forensic anthropologist Doug Owsley discusses the skeletal specimens in a new exhibit at the Natural History Museum (Meredith Bragg). Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-the-scientist-who-reads-bones-40315000/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonians-own-crime-scene-investigator/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/walking-through-civil-war-history/Edwin Bearss lends a dynamic personality and a booming voice to teaching the history of the Civil War in northern Virginia (Meredith Bragg)Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/walking-through-civil-war-history/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/chili-and-the-food-of-the-southwest/Jane Butel, author and expert on food from the American Southwest, reveals the stories behind how chili peppers, beef and wine became part of the region's cuisine (Meredith Bragg)Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/chili-and-the-food-of-the-southwest/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-click-of-the-wild-eland-antelope/Listen for the subtle clicks of the eland bull's kneesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-click-of-the-wild-eland-antelope/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-john-marshall-juhoan-bushman-film-and-vi/Watch a selection from the Smithsonian Institution's submission for the UNESCO Memory of the World Register of historic artifactsMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-john-marshall-juhoan-bushman-film-and-vi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/nikita-khrushchevs-great-american-tour/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Nikita-in-Hollywood.html As part of a diplomatic mission, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev traveled across the United States, meeting Americans from New York to Iowa to California.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/nikita-khrushchevs-great-american-tour/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bobbing-to-the-backstreet-boys/Snowball the cockatoo bobs his head and lifts his leg to the beats of the Backstreet Boys' "Everbody"Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bobbing-to-the-backstreet-boys/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-magnificent-shells-of-the-smithsonian/Home to the worlds largest shell collection, the Smithsonian catalogues and studies shells both large and small, spiky and smooth (Brendan McCabe).Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-magnificent-shells-of-the-smithsonian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/you-have-v-mail/Victory Mail allowed servicemen during World War II to transmit letters to their loved ones back home quickly and easily (National Postal Museum). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/before-email-there-was-v-mail-1-180949023/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/you-have-v-mail/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-brief-history-of-chocolate/Uncover the bittersweet story of this ancient treat. Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-chocolate-21860917/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-brief-history-of-chocolate/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/crawling-crop/A wheat seed burrowing into the ground. Under dry, daytime conditions, the two "awns" that project from the seed bend away from each other. Under humid, nighttime conditions, they straighten. This action pushes the seed downwardMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/crawling-crop/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-big-man-at-the-hirshhorn/Ron Mueck's "Big Man" sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum is a crowd favorite, sparking a wide variety of reactions. Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ron-muecks-big-man-is-big-13474925/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-big-man-at-the-hirshhorn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-joy-of-cooking-with-julia-child/Through her television shows, Julia Child shared her love for culinary arts with the world.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-joy-of-cooking-with-julia-child/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-stamp-collector-in-chief/Read more about FDR at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/From-the-Castle-FDRs-Stamps.html A stamp collector since childhood, Franklin Roosevelt designed postage stamps to help promote his presidential agenda.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-stamp-collector-in-chief/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/visiting-lafcadio-hearns-japan/The temples and scenery of Japans San-in coast are as captivating now as they were when Lafcadio Hearn wrote about them in the 19th century (Produced by: Brendan McCabe; Narration by: T.A. Frail; Music by: Kevin MacLeod; Photos by: Hans Sautter / Aurora Select).Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/visiting-lafcadio-hearns-japan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-books-of-thomas-jeffersons-library/Jeffersons respect for the enlightenment ideals of memory, reason and imagination shaped how he organized his library (Video: Molly Roberts). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/on-the-hunt-for-jeffersons-lost-books-38566672/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-books-of-thomas-jeffersons-library/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-raid-on-harpers-ferry/In one fateful night, John Brown brought the country closer to Civil War (Video: Meredith Bragg). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Day-of-Reckoning.htmlMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-raid-on-harpers-ferry/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-mix-of-classical-and-jazz/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Hazel-Scotts-Lifetime-of-High-Notes.html In a performance filmed for World War II soldiers, Hazel Scott begins with a section from Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" and ends with a jazzy tune (Army / Navy Screen Magazine).Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-mix-of-classical-and-jazz/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-residents-of-arlington-cemetery/While President Kennedy may be one of the best known gravesites in Arlington, there are many other notable Americans buried in these sacred grounds (Ryan Reed and Molly Roberts). Read more at http://smithsonian.com/arlingtonMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-residents-of-arlington-cemetery/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-rare-look-at-tucker-cars/Collector David Cammack owns three of the 43 remaining cars in existence designed by Preston Tucker, which he puts on display in a secluded museum in Virginia. Editor's Note: We're sad to report that David Cammack passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at the age of 84.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-rare-look-at-tucker-cars/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-juhoansi-tribe-in-action/Over the course of 50 years, John Marshall filmed the African tribe, tracking how their nomadic culture slowly died outMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-juhoansi-tribe-in-action/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-many-faces-of-sherlock-holmes/Over 50 different actors have portrayed the famous detective on the big screen, from Basil Rathbone to Robert Downey, Jr. Photos Courtesy of The Internet Archive; Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection; TM and © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved, Courtesy: Everett Collection; © United Artists/courtesy Everett Collection; © Paramount/ Courtesy: Everett Collection; © Orion Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection; Everett CollectionMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-many-faces-of-sherlock-holmes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-of-sausage-making/Stanley Feder, founder of Simply Sausage, walks us through what it takes to make truly outstanding links.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-of-sausage-making/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-horrors-of-auschwitz/From the moment they arrived at the concentration camp, Jews and other Holocaust victims were treated like animals, and only a lucky group survived the experience.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-horrors-of-auschwitz/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/women-spirit-catholic-sisters-in-america/This traveling exhibit reveals the mystery behind some of the women that helped shape this country's social and cultural landscapeMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/women-spirit-catholic-sisters-in-america/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-of-gaman-arts-and-crafts-from-the-jap/During World War II, Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps used scraps and found materials to create beautiful works of art.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-of-gaman-arts-and-crafts-from-the-jap/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-photography-of-timothy-h-osullivan/After his start capturing the horrors of the Civil War for Mathew Brady's studio, 19th century photographer Timothy O'Sullivan uncovered the beauty of the great expanses of the American westMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-photography-of-timothy-h-osullivan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-fast-can-an-elephant-run/Researchers at a conservation center in Thailand tested many variables to study an elephant’s gait and how they accelerate when facing dangerMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-fast-can-an-elephant-run/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-george-friedman_1/Looking at the future of geopolitics, the author reveals the surprising results of his research. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/George-Friedman-on-World-War-III.htmlMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-george-friedman_1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/music-for-the-masses/Tod Machover, an MIT professor whose classroom produced Guitar Hero and Rock Band, talks about a future in which everyone can make musicMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/music-for-the-masses/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/unearthing-the-history-of-the-potato/From the Americas to Europe then back again, there's more to the potato than meets the eyes.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/unearthing-the-history-of-the-potato/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sounds-of-boogie-woogie/Smithsonian's own jazz man, John Edward Hasse, gives a lesson on the influential music genre. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-smithsonians-ambassador-of-jazz-53620539/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sounds-of-boogie-woogie/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-museum-of-glass/From decorative urns and plates to chandeliers, the Corning Museum of Glass features glass blown items from today to as far back as ancient Egypt.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-museum-of-glass/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/kennedy-for-president/The curators at the American History museum delve into the archives to show artifacts from the 1960 election.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/kennedy-for-president/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mathew-bradys-vision/Mathew Brady is known for his Civil War photography and groundbreaking work in the field. Read more about the Civil War at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Civil-War-History.html.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mathew-bradys-vision/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-an-octopus-eats/While camouflaged on the ocean floor off the coast of Israel in the Red Sea, octopods use their arms to grab unsuspecting preyMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-an-octopus-eats/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/arcimboldo-more-than-meets-the-eye/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Arcimboldos-Feast-for-the-Eyes.html The Hapsburg Dynasty's court painter's unique style of portraiture, using fruits, vegetables and animals to compose his faces -- has fascinated artists and the general public for centuries.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/arcimboldo-more-than-meets-the-eye/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-photography-of-eudora-welty/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/womens-history/The-Writers-Eye.html Scholars and friends of Eudora Welty discuss how her hobby influenced her later works.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-photography-of-eudora-welty/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wayne-thiebaud-beyond-the-cakes/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Wayne-Thiebaud-is-Not-a-Pop-Artist.html He made a name for himself painting pastries and other everyday objects, but his other work--cartoons and cityscapes--showcase the scope of his talents.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wayne-thiebaud-beyond-the-cakes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/edward-curtis-photographing-the-north-america/A close look reveals how the famed photographer altered his glass negatives, creating the popular image of Native Americans that still exists todayMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/edward-curtis-photographing-the-north-america/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/kitchen-of-the-golden-temple/This sacred shrine in India feeds over 100,000 people a day regardless of race, religion and class.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/kitchen-of-the-golden-temple/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/was-mary-surratt-a-lincoln-conspirator/The southern widow's Maryland house was a crucial stop on the escape route for assassin John Wilkes Booth the night he shot the president. Read more about Abraham Lincoln at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/life-of-lincoln.htmlMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/was-mary-surratt-a-lincoln-conspirator/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-life-of-george-ault/Alexander Nemerov looks back at the artist's life and how earlymisfortunes shaped his interpretation of the 1940sMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-life-of-george-ault/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/pikas-and-climate-change/Related to rabbits and hares and adapted to high-elevation habitat, the American pika faces a bleak future as temperatures rise and snow cover disappearsMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/pikas-and-climate-change/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/music-during-the-american-civil-war/The musicians of the Union and Confederate armies provided strong memories of the homes left behind for the battlefield.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/music-during-the-american-civil-war/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bavarias-beer-gardens/Some people may relax and read a newspaper with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, but in south Germany, they do it with a beer.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bavarias-beer-gardens/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-did-the-rebel-yell-sound-like/ARTICLE: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/civil-war-veterans-come-alive-in-audio-and-video-recordings-97841665/ In this exclusive clip from the 1930s, Confederate veterans step up to the mic and let out their version of the fearsome rallying cry.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-did-the-rebel-yell-sound-like/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sounds-of-the-sperm-whale/Read more about sperm whales: http://j.mp/sOSais Watch underwater footage of the mammal and hear its strange clicking sounds that are crucial to their survivalMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sounds-of-the-sperm-whale/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/haleakala-a-sacred-place/Read more about Haleakala: http://j.mp/ufv44s The Hawaiian volcano, with its unique vegetation and meditative winds, has a spiritual connection to the native populationMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/haleakala-a-sacred-place/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/introducing-ask-smithsonian_1/http://smithsonian.com/ask Now it's your turn to ask the Institution's experts your questions about science, history, art or cultureMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/introducing-ask-smithsonian_1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-of-video-games/Chris Melissinos, guest curator of an exhibit about video games at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, explains what makes the genre an art formMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-of-video-games/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-clemente-meant-to-baseball/Biographer David Maraniss says that in order to truly understand Clemente's importance to the sport, you have to look beyond his spectacular numbersMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-clemente-meant-to-baseball/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-cherry-blossoms-in-under-a-minute-timelap/This year marks the 100 year anniversary of Japan's gift of cherry blossoms to Washington, D.C.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-cherry-blossoms-in-under-a-minute-timelap/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-meaning-behind-hula/Paul Theroux's Quest to Define Hawaii: http://j.mp/HPVhp8 For Hawaiians, both native and those who have made it their adopted home, the Hula is more than just a dance, it is a artistic representation of the islands themselvesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-meaning-behind-hula/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/julia-child-makes-crepe-suzette/Watch the famous chef make the classic French dish, but stay for her inventive use of a blowtorchMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/julia-child-makes-crepe-suzette/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-incredible-flying-car-of-the-1950s/Equipped with wings and a propeller, Moulton Taylor Aerocar aerobile was capable of taking off from a stoplight or the runwayMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-incredible-flying-car-of-the-1950s/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/creator-of-ted-conference-i-hate-being-spoke/Richard Saul Wurman, the founder of the popular speaker series, shares his ideas for how to make learning more interestingMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/creator-of-ted-conference-i-hate-being-spoke/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-edisons-boxing-cats/From the inventor's New Jersey film studio, the delight of cats doing things on film was discovered early in 1894Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-edisons-boxing-cats/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-butterfly-wings-inspire-innovation/More on biomimicry: http://j.mp/RI3OOB Scientists believe the iridescent wings of the morphos butterfly could be used in technology to benefit humans.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-butterfly-wings-inspire-innovation/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/historic-newsreel-footage-of-the-cuban-missile/Tensions intensified between Cuba and the United States in October 1962 as they appear destined to plunge the planet in global warMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/historic-newsreel-footage-of-the-cuban-missile/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/benh-zeitlin-and-the-beasts-of-the-southern-wi/The American Ingenuity Award winner describes what it takes to tell a great storyMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/benh-zeitlin-and-the-beasts-of-the-southern-wi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sebastian-thrun-on-the-future-of-learning/Why the American Ingenuity Award winner believes higher education should be a basic human rightMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sebastian-thrun-on-the-future-of-learning/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elon-musks-journey-to-mars/How the American Ingenuity Award winner plans to build a self-sustaining civilization on MarsMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elon-musks-journey-to-mars/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jack-andrakas-pancreatic-cancer-breakthrough/What was the motivation behind the American Ingenuity Award winner's medical breakthrough that will save thousands of livesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jack-andrakas-pancreatic-cancer-breakthrough/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/pardis-sabetis-new-look-at-infectious-disease/The American Ingenuity Award winner is on the brink of using the human genome to provide better diagnostics for deadly diseasesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/pardis-sabetis-new-look-at-infectious-disease/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-cyrus-cylinder-an-artifact-ahead-of-its-t/This relic from ancient Persia had a profound influence on the Founding Fathers. More on the Cyrus Cylinder: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-cyrus-cylinder-goes-on-view-at-the-sackler-gallery-1334866/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-cyrus-cylinder-an-artifact-ahead-of-its-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/archival-footage-of-d-day/On June 6, 1944, allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy, France to fight Nazi GermanyMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/archival-footage-of-d-day/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-march-on-washington/An oral history of the March on Washington: http://j.mp/1feuQK3 John Lewis, Eleanor Holmes Norton and others relive the pivotal moment of the Civil Rights Movement.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-march-on-washington/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-birmingham-church-bombing/More on the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing: http://j.mp/15wAByw A former Freedom Rider describes what it was like walking among the rubble of the 16th Avenue Baptist ChurchMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-birmingham-church-bombing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-hyena-poop/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-hyena-poop/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-geese-fly-in-a-v/Geese have known something for millions of years that humans have only recently figured out for themselves.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-geese-fly-in-a-v/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-apps-for-apes/Zookeepers at the National Zoo keep orangutans mentally stimulated with an innovative use of iPadsMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-apps-for-apes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dave-shealys-2000-skunk-ape-clip/From Smithsonian.com's story on Dave Shealy, Florida's self-proclaimed skunk ape expert: www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/trail-floridas-bigfoot-skunk-ape-180949981/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dave-shealys-2000-skunk-ape-clip/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-would-happen-if-a-large/Think blockbuster movie and you’ve got an idea of how this story endsMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-would-happen-if-a-large/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/funkadelic-mothership-footage/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/funkadelic-mothership-footage/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-deepest-weve-ever-d/What’s the world record for deepest vertical dig? Go ahead, take a guess. We bet you won’t come close to the surprising answer unearthed in this one-minute video by Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze. Then, stick around to find out what scientists found lurking below.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-deepest-weve-ever-d/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fbi-cerberus-undercover-footage/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fbi-cerberus-undercover-footage/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-spiders-make-a-web/How do spiders make such intricate webs? Don’t get too tangled up about it. In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, weaves his way to the answer.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-spiders-make-a-web/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-the-anthropocene/Discover why scientists think we are in a new geologic age and what it means for our future.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-the-anthropocene/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-colors-affect-our-mood/Feeling blue? Try watching this one-minute video. Our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, explains how colors affect our moods.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-colors-affect-our-mood/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-timelapse-of-artist-han-seok-hyun-installing/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-timelapse-of-artist-han-seok-hyun-installing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-long-can-a-person-hold-th/Gasp! The answer will amaze you. Still Image Credit: MaFelipe / iStockMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-long-can-a-person-hold-th/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/space-archaeologist-sarah-parcak-uses-satellit/Sarah Parcak | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for History This tech-savvy researcher of our past uses satellites and other remote-sensing tools to discover and explore stunning new evidence of lost cultures—including, just this year, another possible Viking site in North America. In addition, she has located an astonishing number of ancient Egyptian remains—thousands of settlements, lost tombs and hidden pyramids. A Yale- and Cambridge-trained Egyptologist and archaeologist, Parcak is a professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she serves as founding director of the Laboratory for Global Observation. Read more about Parcak’s work: http://smithmag.co/ZuwTGP | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqyMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/space-archaeologist-sarah-parcak-uses-satellit/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stephen-colbert-congratulates-ok-go-on-winning/"OK Go made music videos relevant again." – Stephen Colbert OK Go​, Damian Kulash Jr. and Trish Sie​ won the Smithsonian magazine​ American Ingenuity Award for Visual Arts for pushing the music-video envelope with their zero-gravity video for "Upside Down & Inside Out." Read more about their work and see the video here: http://smithmag.co/HZ8vzr The Smithsonian has been celebrating innovation in American culture for more than 150 years, and following in this tradition, Smithsonian magazine presents the American Ingenuity Awards, honoring revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, education and social progress. http://smithmag.co/R7hyROMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stephen-colbert-congratulates-ok-go-on-winning/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-should-humans-care-about-biodiversity-loss/Humans don't just impact the interconnected web of life—we depend on it.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-should-humans-care-about-biodiversity-loss/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/lava-stream-from-kilauea-volcano/A massive lava stream from Kilauea Volcano flows into the ocean from a lava tube at the Kamokuna ocean entry on the southeast side of the Big Island at sunrise. Credit Elyse ButlerMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/lava-stream-from-kilauea-volcano/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/saving-a-nest-of-baby-rabbits-mauled-by-a-dog/After a dog digs up a rabbit's nest and leaves a litter exposed, the team at the Toronto Wildlife Center must rehabilitate the malnourished babies before they can be released back into the wild.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/saving-a-nest-of-baby-rabbits-mauled-by-a-dog/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/evel-knievels-famous-snake-river-canyon-jump/On September 8th, 1974, famous daredevil Evel Knievel climbed into a steam-powered rocket and attempted to blast across Idaho's Snake River Canyon. From: AERIAL AMERICA: Idaho http://bit.ly/1wfmlbOMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/evel-knievels-famous-snake-river-canyon-jump/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-changing-colors-of-deciduous-leaves/As foliage darkens in the fall, the pigments within the plant matter break down and transformMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-changing-colors-of-deciduous-leaves/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-1935-florida-hurricane-had-a-devastating/On September 2, 1935, Florida was hit by the most intense hurricane ever recorded—a category 5. Despite early warnings by the weather authorities, a calamitous loss of life shocked the nationMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-1935-florida-hurricane-had-a-devastating/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-suffragette-who-was-killed-by-king-george/In 1913, British Royalty would come in direct contact with a changing social order, thanks to a suffragette named Emily Davison. Her death at Epsom Falls would send shockwaves through the nation.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-suffragette-who-was-killed-by-king-george/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-5000-year-old-tomb-is-spectacularly-pres/Despite the fact that it’s over 5,000 years old, Maeshowe, Orkney's answer to Stonehenge, is in amazing shape. But why did Neolithic Britons go to such great lengths to build it?Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-5000-year-old-tomb-is-spectacularly-pres/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-discoveries-at-saqqara/An incredible trove of archaeological artifacts has been unearthed once again at Saqqara—including 100 coffins, and incredibly rare statues dating back 4,500 years.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-discoveries-at-saqqara/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-dangerous-trick-wowed-houdinis-fans/The water torture cell escape was arguably Houdini’s most memorable stunt. So much so that many people wrongly assume it killed him–a myth invented by the 1953 movie about his life starring Tony Curtis.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-dangerous-trick-wowed-houdinis-fans/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-was-like-to-be-gay-during-wwii/In the early 20th century, the medical establishment became fixated with the idea that gay people could be “cured.” To achieve this, they turned to a litany of brutal practices: from electrotherapy to lobotomies.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-was-like-to-be-gay-during-wwii/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/chuck-yeager-press-conference-1953/By 1953, six years after the Bell X-1 first went supersonic, that airplane and others were routinely flying at more than twice the speed of sound. On December 17, 1953the 50th anniversary of the Wright brothers first powered flight at Kitty HawkMajor Yeager sat down at the Pentagon for an informal press briefing to discuss his own Mach 2.43 flight in the X-1 five days earlier. Video: Department of Defense, Courtesy National Archives and Records AdministrationMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/chuck-yeager-press-conference-1953/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-001-king-henry-viiis-wives/From tumultuous love affairs to violent betrayals, the six wives of Henry VIII all left marks on the Tudor dynasty – and shaped the course of history. Read more about these women here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-true-history-behind-six-the-musical-about-henry-viiis-wives-180978781/ --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-001-king-henry-viiis-wives/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-003-king-tuts-tomb/Do you ever wonder what secrets lie beneath the sands of Egypt? Prepare to be astonished as we unveil the untouched tomb of King Tutankhamun. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-003-king-tuts-tomb/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-002-james-webb-space-telescope/For more than a year now, the world has been treated to breathtaking images of the outer reaches of our universe from the NASA instrument. But how does it even work? --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-002-james-webb-space-telescope/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-007-lincoln-facts/The 16th president is widely celebrated for his role in helping to abolish slavery and preserving the Union during the Civil War. But did you know these facts about this iconic figure in American History? --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-007-lincoln-facts/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shocking-history-legacy-salem-witch-trials/What fueled the frenzy that sent so many to their deaths in colonial America? And how did Americans reckon with the aftermath of the panic? --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shocking-history-legacy-salem-witch-trials/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-008-artemis/The Artemis program represents the pinnacle of NASA's mind-boggling technological capabilities. Learn about the groundbreaking achievements and breathtaking lunar landscapes that await us in this new era of space exploration. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-008-artemis/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-was-on-menu-first-thanksgiving/Follow us to the very first Thanksgiving celebration, where the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag came together for a historic feast.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-was-on-menu-first-thanksgiving/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/five-surprising-facts-about-rosa-parks/Largely recognized for her leading role in the bus boycott of 1955, Rosa Parks was an enduring activist for the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout her numerous decades of service, Parks left behind a legacy of hope, inspiration, and leadership for millions around the world. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/five-surprising-facts-about-rosa-parks/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ten-fun-facts-about-butterflies/Discover astonishing butterfly facts and delight in learning about the superlatives of butterflies, from the largest to the smallest to the fastest. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, an avid butterfly lover, or simply someone looking to expand their knowledge, this video is sure to leave you spellbound. Subscribe to our channel for more exciting videos exploring the wonders of the natural world. Don't miss out on future uploads where we uncover the secrets and hidden beauty of various flora and fauna, aiming to instill a deeper appreciation for the enchanting world we live in. --- Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ten-fun-facts-about-butterflies/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/five-surprising-facts-about-pompeii/This immersive archaeological exploration of Pompeii, a once-thriving Roman city, will transport you back in time – before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/five-surprising-facts-about-pompeii/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-really-happened-in-the-election-of-1800/Two titans of the era went head-to-head in a heated race for the presidency. The stakes were high. The very future of a young nation hung in the balance. Join us as we explore the revolutionary ideas that shaped this critical moment in American democracy. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-really-happened-in-the-election-of-1800/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/five-unexpected-facts-about-george-washington/Explore the lesser-known details of the founder’s childhood, home life and career and gain a deeper understanding of his contributions to the United States. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/five-unexpected-facts-about-george-washington/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ten-fun-facts-about-jellyfish/Jellyfish, the wobbly wonders of the ocean, often astound with their unique shapes, sizes, and stings. Learn more about these marine marvels as we dive deeper into the underwater world. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra Theobald Footage provided by Storyblocks and ShutterstockMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ten-fun-facts-about-jellyfish/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-a-solar-eclipse/Have you ever wondered what a solar eclipse is? Join us as we explore the science behind this awe-inspiring celestial event. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-a-solar-eclipse/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/10-fascinating-facts-about-owls/From their jaw-dropping hunting abilities to their unique physicality, owls are truly captivating creatures. Join us as we delve into the world of these mysterious birds of prey. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/10-fascinating-facts-about-owls/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-aztec-civilization/Explore the history of the Aztecs, their incredible achievements in art, architecture, and warfare, as well as the factors that led to their decline. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-aztec-civilization/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/7-weirdest-bird-calls/When it comes to bird calls, every chirp, trill, and warble tells a story. From eerie screeches to melodic tunes, these distinctive sounds from nature are sure to surprise you. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Producer: Sierra Theobald Video Editor: Michael Kneller Script: Michelle Mehrtens, Michael Kneller Audio provided by the Macaulay Library at Cornell LabMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/7-weirdest-bird-calls/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dont-call-the-blobfish-ugly/From its unique appearance to its habitat and behavior, here's everything you need to know about this mysterious deep-sea creature. Dive into the world of the blobfish and discover why it has become an iconic symbol of marine life. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra Theobald Graphic Designer: Kevin SchoenblumMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dont-call-the-blobfish-ugly/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-bridgerton-gets-right-about-the-regency-e/From gender roles to etiquette to fashion, step back in time to learn more about the real lives of the Regency women who inspired 'Bridgerton.' --- To read more about the Regency era - and 'Bridgerton' - check out these articles from Smithsonian Magazine: What 'Bridgerton' Gets Wrong About Corsets: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-bridgerton-gets-wrong-about-corsets-180976691/ The Real History Behind 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story' https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-real-history-behind-queen-charlotte-a-bridgerton-story-180982130/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-bridgerton-gets-right-about-the-regency-e/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-history-of-the-lie-det/Have you ever wondered whether lie detectors actually...work? Join us as we delve into the history and science behind these devices - from how they measure "deception" to the controversies surrounding their use. This video is the first episode of the National Treasure series, where we share behind-the-scenes stories of objects in the Smithsonian Collections. --------- To learn more about the exhibition "Forensic Science on Trial" at Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, read below: What a 100-Year-Old Lie Detector and 150-Year-Old Arsenic Tests Tell Us About Forensic Science Today https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/what-a-100-year-old-lie-detector-and-150-year-old-arsenic-tests-tell-us-about-forensic-science-today-180984623/ Forensic Science on Trial https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/forensic-science-trial Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Original Footage: Cade MartinMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-history-of-the-lie-det/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-dark-and-deadly-history-of-the-plague/What caused the Plague? And what methods did people use to combat the spread? Learn about its origins, past outbreaks (including the Black Death), and the long-lasting impact of its legacy today. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Producer: Sierra Theobald Video Editor: Natalie Cline Graphic Designer: Kevin SchoenblumMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-dark-and-deadly-history-of-the-plague/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-wild-story-of-what-happened-to-pablo-escob/Four decades ago, Pablo Escobar brought to his Medellín hideaway four hippopotamuses, the centerpieces of a menagerie that included llamas, cheetahs, lions, tigers, ostriches and other exotic fauna. After Colombian police shot Escobar dead in December 1993, veterinarians removed the animals—except the hippos, which were deemed too dangerous to approach. The hippos fled to the nearby Magdalena River and multiplied.  Today, the descendants of Escobar’s hippos are believed to number nearly 200. Their uncontrolled growth threatens the region’s fragile waterways. Smithsonian contributor Joshua Hammer joins us to recount this strange history and explain why Colombian conservationists have embarked upon an unusual program to sterilize these hippos in the wild via “invasive surgical castration,” a procedure that is, as he has written (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/pablo-escobar-abandoned-hippos-wreaking-havoc-colombian-jungle-180984494/) for Smithsonian magazine, “medically complicated, expensive and sometimes dangerous for hippos as well as for the people performing it.” Then, ecologist Rebecca Lewison tells us how her long-term study of hippo populations in Africa offers hints of how these creatures will continue to alter the Colombian ecosystem—and what authorities can do about it. Let us know what you think of our show, and how we can make it better, by completing our There's More to That listener survey here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfS90zjBZ2oGa9JxVa-R5affKcOHaR2-ib1_KZeWm3HDQXJIA/viewform) . Read Josh Hammer's Smithsonian story about Escobar's hippos and their descendants here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/pablo-escobar-abandoned-hippos-wreaking-havoc-colombian-jungle-180984494/) . Learn more about Rebecca Lewison and her work here (https://cmi.sdsu.edu/rebecca-lewison/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz  Music by APM Music.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-wild-story-of-what-happened-to-pablo-escob/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-crime-of-the-century-a-century-later/The past hundred years have seen more than one high-profile prosecution branded as the “crime of the century.” The shocking 1924 crime that was among the first to carry the title turned out to be a harbinger of how public mania around criminal cases could influence the legal system, and how psychiatry would be used and abused by prosecutors and defense attorneys alike as the 20th century wore on and gave way to the 21st. Smithsonian editor Meilan Solly introduces us to teens Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb and their botched, but still deadly, effort to perpetrate “the perfect crime.” (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-leopold-and-loeb-committed-cold-blooded-murder-in-the-crime-of-the-century-180984345/) What happened next was also surprising: After confessing to the abduction and murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks, they were spared capital punishment thanks to their famed attorney Clarence Darrow. True-crime historian Kate Winkler Dawson then tells us how public interest in Leopold and Loeb’s fate helped solidify true crime as a durable subject of fascination. She also tells us about the tools used by the prosecution that were in their infancy during the famed case. Read Meilan Solly's Smithsonian story about Leopold and Loeb here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-leopold-and-loeb-committed-cold-blooded-murder-in-the-crime-of-the-century-180984345/) . Learn more about Kate Winkler Dawson, her books, her podcasts, and her work at her site (https://www.katewinklerdawson.com/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz / photography by Katherine Kimball, Joshua Brasted, and Jeremy Tauriac Music by APM Music.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-crime-of-the-century-a-century-later/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-austin-morris-as-lewis-dougla/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USAMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-austin-morris-as-lewis-dougla/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-wwii-battalion-of-black-women-that-in/The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was the only unit comprised entirely of Black women to have been deployed overseas during World War II, and it had served a critical function: clearing the backlog of mail that marked the only line of communication between American soldiers in Europe and their loved ones back home. In this episode, we speak with retired Army Colonel Edna Cummings, who made it her business to get the 6888 their belated recognition, and with Smithsonian magazine senior writer Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, who wrote about Col. Cummings' quest (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-all-black-female-WWII-unit-saved-morale-battlefield-180981540/) for the March 2023 issue of Smithsonian. NOTE: In the interval since we recorded our interview with Col. Cummings, another veteran from the 6888 has died. With the passing of Crescencia J. Garcia last month at the age of 103, there are now five women who served in the 6888 during World War II who remain alive. Learn more about the women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion at the Women of the 6888th site (https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-wwii-battalion-of-black-women-that-in/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-happens-when-the-colorado-river-dries-up/What happens when one of the nation's largest rivers dries up? Photojournalist Pete McBride tells us about the consequences of a prolonged drought in the Colorado River, which provides drinking water and electricity to millions of Americans, and shares his experience walking the river from end to end. What can we learn from the landscape revealed by the historically low water levels, and will they become the new normal? Read “The Breathtaking Glen Canyon Reveals Its Secrets (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/glen-canyon-reveals-its-secrets-180980754/) ,” photographs & text by Pete McBride, Smithsonian, October 2022. Learn more about Pete and his work at his site (https://petemcbride.com/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-happens-when-the-colorado-river-dries-up/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/discovery-of-the-lake-serpent-in-lake-erie/Video by David VanZandtMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/discovery-of-the-lake-serpent-in-lake-erie/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-preview-of-petra-by-virtual-wonders/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-preview-of-petra-by-virtual-wonders/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-freedom-riders-history/In the spring of 1961, black and white civil rights activists rode buses to protest the segregationist policies of the Deep South (Marian Holmes, Brian Wolly, Photos courtesy of Corbis, Getty Images and Library of Congress, Audio clips courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways. Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-freedom-riders-then-and-now-45351758/Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-freedom-riders-history/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-sing-a-song-ella-jenkins/Discover how Ella Jenkins' joyful songs and storytelling have inspired generations of young listeners, while her commitment to advocacy has profoundly affected the world of music and beyond. --------- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Director of Programming: Nicki Marko Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo JaimesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-sing-a-song-ella-jenkins/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-mysterious-death-of-edgar-allan-poe-may-ne/Uncover the dark and curious truth behind the death of one of America's most beloved authors, Edgar Allan Poe. For centuries, the circumstances surrounding his death have remained shrouded in mystery, sparking endless speculation and debate. Was it murder, disease, or something even more sinister? ___ A little more information: In 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore. He was taken to a hospital but died four days later, with no clear explanation for his condition. Theories about his demise range from alcoholism to rabies to a neurological disorder. Some suggest a more sinister plot, involving foul play or a conspiracy. Despite extensive speculation, Poe's death ultimately remains an enigma, adding to the haunting allure of his literary legacy. #unsolvedmysteries #gothicliterature #theraven #edgarallanpoe #truecrime #Smithsonianmagazine Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Read more about the mystery of Edgar Allan Poe’s death here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/still-mysterious-death-edgar-allan-poe-180952936/ How did Edgar Allan Poe become such a prolific and popular storyteller, even after his death? Learn more about his history here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/edgar-allan-poe-became-era-premier-storyteller-180971001/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Director of Programming: Nicki Marko Manager of Programming: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor and Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-mysterious-death-of-edgar-allan-poe-may-ne/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/5-record-breaking-bird-migrations/Birds: nature's ultimate travelers, undertaking jaw-dropping migrations that push the boundaries of endurance, speed and altitude. From the longest migratory routes to record-breaking heights, these avian wonders are true flight experts. ___ A little more information: Bird migration is a key piece in understanding biodiversity and global ecosystems. Migrations can span thousands of miles, with some species flying nonstop across vast distances. This behavior is often triggered by changes in temperature, food availability and daylight as the seasons change. In the Northern Hemisphere, many birds migrate south for the winter to avoid freezing temperatures and the scarcity of food. In the spring, they return north to take advantage of the abundance of food and suitable breeding conditions. Overall, it’s an awe-inspiring phenomenon that showcases the resilience and adaptability in nature. #birding #birdwatching #birdmigrations #ornithology #birdconservation Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Why are bird migration patterns changing? Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bird-migration-patterns-are-changing-and-climate-change-may-be-to-blame-180979054 Did you know birds form friendships with other bird species while migrating? Read more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/birds-form-surprising-relationships-with-other-avian-species-during-migration-study-suggests-180985059/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Director of Programming: Nicki Marko Manager of Programming: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor and Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/5-record-breaking-bird-migrations/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-giant-panda-steals-hear/Known for their distinctive black-and-white fur, giant pandas are one of the most recognizable and beloved creatures in the world. After a brief hiatus, these furry animals are back at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo – where visitors can now meet the adorable two-year-old duo, Bao Li and Qing Bao, all the way from China. Read about the Zoo's new pandas here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-national-zoos-giant-pandas-are-finally-making-their-public-debut-180985867/ ___ A little more information: Despite their large size, pandas primarily feed on bamboo, which flourishes in the mountainous forests of China. Their striking black-and white coat helps them blend into the snowy environments and dense bamboo forests of their homeland. Thanks to significant conservation efforts, including habitat preservation, anti-poaching laws, and breeding programs, the population of pandas has seen a steady increase. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute continues to play an important role in global panda conservation, providing researchers with valuable data on panda breeding, health, and behavior. Bao Li and Qing Bao and their conservation story continues to inspire people worldwide to support wildlife protection efforts. They made their public debut at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute on January 24, 2025. #pandas #china #pandadiplomacy #wildlife #cuteanimals Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine How can you tell the National Zoo’s giant pandas apart? For tips and tricks, read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-zoo-conservation-biology-institute/2025/01/14/how-can-you-tell-the-national-zoos-giant-pandas-apart/ Excited to meet rambunctious duo Bao Li and Qing Bao? Learn more about them here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/giant-pandas-are-coming-back-to-washington-dc-180984356/ Brush up on your giant panda facts here: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/giant-panda For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-giant-panda-steals-hear/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behold-the-worlds-smallest-monkey-the-pygmy/Pygmy marmosets are the world's smallest monkeys, measuring just five inches in body length and weighing only four ounces. From their adorable facial expressions to their remarkable social skills, you'll fall in love with these miniature marvels. We sent acclaimed nature photographer Neil Ever Osborne to check them out, and luckily, he came back with stunning footage. Read more about the marmosets and see Neil’s photography here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/adorable-endangered-worlds-smallest-monkey-pygmy-marmoset-180985628/ ___ A little more information: Native to the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin, pygmy marmosets are incredibly agile and thrive in dense vegetation. They have adapted to their tiny size by being excellent tree climbers. These monkeys have a diet primarily consisting of insects, fruits, and tree sap, which they extract using specialized teeth. Highly social, they live in small groups and communicate with a range of chirps, screeches, and chatter. These tiny primates are incredibly resourceful and perfectly adapted to life in one of Earth’s most biodiverse and challenging ecosystems. #pygmymarmosets #pygmymarmosetfacts #wildlife #pygmymonkeys #wildlifeconservation Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine What can marmosets teach us about diet and nutrition? Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-marmosets-can-teach-us-about-obesity-114966042/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Videography and Editing: Neil Ever Osborne Photography Editor: Jeff Campagna Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Director of Programming: Nicki Marko Manager of Programming: Michelle MehrtensMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behold-the-worlds-smallest-monkey-the-pygmy/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-an-aurora/Auroras emit swirling hues in the sky, mesmerizing spectators with their bands of color. Different hues come from different gases—for instance, oxygen makes green, nitrogen makes purple. It’s like a cosmic dance party in the sky—one that all of us can join. ___ A little more information: Auroras are not just stunning light displays—they are wondrous scientific phenomena. Their streams of color are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with Earth’s magnetic field and supercharging gases in the atmosphere. These interactions create vivid patterns in the sky, primarily seen in polar regions. Notably, the bright hues of the aurora depend on the type of gas—and the altitude at which the collisions occur. You can typically spot the aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and the aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere—and, in a cool twist, right now is a prime time to see them! Auroras are becoming more intense—and visible in farther-reaching places—due to an increase in solar activity. They usually appear in high-latitude regions like Norway, Iceland, Canada, Alaska and parts of Russia, but they’re also occasionally visible at lower latitudes during strong solar storms. You may have even seen pictures of these widespread auroras popping up on social media. Feeling inspired to do your own aurora-chasing? Check out our video for tips and tricks on how to catch one—including the best way to take a picture. #auroraborealis #scienceofauroras #aurora #northernlights Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to catch the next aurora? Follow the advice of veteran aurora chasers here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/missed-the-auroras-in-may-heres-how-to-see-them-next-time-180984480/ When it comes to the history of the aurora borealis, superstition and science often collide. Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/crazy-superstitions-and-real-life-science-northern-lights-180972779/ Auroras have long dazzled people on Earth. Some scientists are poring over ancient texts to track the lights’ past activity—and potentially predict solar storms in the future: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-the-quest-to-find-evidence-of-auroras-in-ancient-texts-180983844/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor: Trina Espinoza Narrator: Faith Decker License ID code: RHBF0CLEPK5COJMQMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-an-aurora/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-does-a-cowboy-look-like/The legend of the cowboy—celebrated in literature and film—has become central to the history of the American West. This romanticized image often overlooks the rich diversity that shaped cowboy culture. In reality, cowboys included Indigenous herders, African-American cattle hands, and Mexican vaqueros, each bringing unique skills and traditions. This diverse legacy continues today, showcasing that the true history of the cowboy is a multicultural story unlike what we’re shown in the movies. ___ A little more information: Cowboys originated with Spanish settlers in the 1500s, who introduced cattle ranching and horseback riding to the Americas. By the 1800s, as the U.S. expanded westward, cowboys became essential to managing cattle across vast, often rugged landscapes. These cowhands faced harsh conditions, from long cattle drives to unpredictable weather. Over time, these cattle ranchers became a symbol of American frontier life, shaped by both myth and history. While the cowboy is often portrayed as a lone, rugged figure—John Wayne, anyone?—the reality was far more diverse. Mexican vaqueros played a key role in shaping cowboy culture, contributing significant techniques and terminology—like the lasso. Although often overlooked in mainstream narratives, Black cowboys also made up a significant portion of the workforce, as did Indigenous cattle hands with extensive knowledge of the West. Today, their powerful impact lives on – and influences the work of cowboys today. #cowboys #cowboyhistory #cowboyheritage #oldwest #cowboycarter Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine One in four cowboys was Black. So why aren’t they more present in popular culture? Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/lesser-known-history-african-american-cowboys-180962144/ From the Wild West to 21st-century cinema, revisit the history of Native Americans on the silver screen: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-native-representation-in-film-180983043/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor & Narrator: Adam Benavides Cowboy Photographs: Rory Doyle / Smithsonian Magazine Photo ContestMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-does-a-cowboy-look-like/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fact-or-fiction-the-legend-of-the-qwerty-keyb/The QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Latham Sholes in the 1870s – and has stayed around ever since. Today, QWERTY's widespread adoption and legacy ensure its dominance, even in the face of technological advancements. ___ A little more information: Christopher Latham Sholes, a newspaper editor and inventor, developed the QWERTY keyboard while working on the first practical typewriter. Sholes, along with his colleagues, experimented with various key layouts, eventually settling on the now-famous arrangement of letters. This design, featuring the distinctive "QWERTY" cluster in the top-left corner of the keyboard, was later adopted by the Remington Company for its first commercially successful typewriter in 1873. As typewriters grew ubiquitous in offices and businesses across the world, the QWERTY layout became the standard. In the 20th century, the rise of computers and their own keyboards further cemented QWERTY’s dominance, as early machines were designed to accommodate the familiar layout. Over the decades, despite the emergence of more ergonomic and speed-optimized alternatives –like the Dvorak and the KALQ layout – QWERTY has endured. Today, it remains the default keyboard layout on almost all digital devices, its legacy solidified by over a century of global use. #qwerty #qwertykeyboard #christophersholes #mechanicalkeyboard #keyboardhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the history of QWERTY? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/fact-of-fiction-the-legend-of-the-qwerty-keyboard-49863249/ How and why did the QWERTY layout become what it is today? Where did it even come from? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/origins-qwerty-keyboard-typewriter-180982726/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fact-or-fiction-the-legend-of-the-qwerty-keyb/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-truth-about-the-sex-lives-of-dinosaurs/Dinosaurs are often thought of as aggressors—giant beasts that dominated our planet for millions of years. But these prehistoric animals almost certainly had a softer side. In the last decade, researchers have gained tantalizing insights into the sex lives and mating habits of these ancient reptiles. In this episode, Smithsonian contributing writer Riley Black (https://rileyblack.net/) describes new evidence that reveals how and when dinosaurs mated—including ancient behavior recorded in rock, a new theory around dinosaur horns and spikes, and a prehistoric cloaca. Read Riley's coverage of dinosaurs here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/everything-you-want-know-about-dinosaur-sexual-anatomy-reproduction-from-their-genitalia-how-they-laid-eggs-95156234/) and here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-a-mass-extinction-driven-by-ancient-volcanoes-led-to-the-age-of-the-dinosaurs-180985737/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on the sticking power of stories about animal behavior (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/are-wild-animals-really-just-like-us-180982939/) , what happens when the Colorado River goes dry (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/hear-whats-happening-to-the-colorado-river-from-a-photojournalist-who-has-spent-entire-life-alongside-it-180982685/) and how asteroid dust might tell us about the origins of life (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-nasa-captured-asteroid-dust-to-find-the-origins-of-life-180983274/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales.  Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Images via by Donald E. Hurlbert for Smithsonian Institution (SI-19-2014), James St. John via Flickr under CC BY 2.0, and public domain.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-truth-about-the-sex-lives-of-dinosaurs/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/8-mind-boggling-facts-about-the-octopus/Did you know octopuses are highly intelligent animals with the ability to problem-solve complex puzzles – and even change color? They have three hearts and blue blood, helping them survive in deep ocean environments. Their eight arms give them incredible flexibility and control, making them the masters of movement. ___ A little more information: Octopuses are among the most fascinating creatures on Earth, known for their intelligence and agility. These marine animals belong to the mollusk class and have evolved to thrive in various ocean environments. With three hearts, blue blood, and the ability to regenerate limbs, octopuses are truly unique. One of their most remarkable features is their brain. Octopuses have the largest brain-to-body ratio of any invertebrate, and studies show they exhibit behaviors associated with problem-solving, learning, and even using tools. Experiments show that they can watch other octopuses perform tasks and mimic their actions, showing a complex level of social learning. The octopus’s body is equally extraordinary. Its soft, flexible structure allows it to squeeze through tiny spaces, making it a master of escape. They also have specialized cells called chromatophores, which let them change color and texture, providing perfect camouflage. This helps them avoid predators or hunt for prey Overall, octopuses are smart and adaptable – and continue to amaze scientists and animal lovers alike. #octopus #animalfunfacts #wildlife #octopusfacts #marinebiology Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the science behind octopuses? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-wild-facts-about-octopuses-they-have-three-hearts-big-brains-and-blue-blood-7625828/ Biologists have discovered four new octopus species near Costa Rica. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/biologists-discover-four-new-octopus-species-deep-ocean-costa-rica-180983631/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor & Narrator: Trina EspinozaMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/8-mind-boggling-facts-about-the-octopus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-mystery-surrounding-the-grave-of-jfk-is-solv/Before he was a civil rights activist, James Felder was a member of the elite U.S. Honor Guard who helped bury John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery after his assassination in 1963. In a move that was unrehearsed, after laying the casket to rest, the members of the Honor Guard placed their military hats upon the gravesite in what James Felder called “a final salute to President Kennedy.” Years later, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis commissioned a bronze wreath to be made in honor of her husband that incorporated the caps. Once completed, this sculpture disappeared quite suddenly. Half a century later, improbably, it was found due to the help of a couple of sleuths at a private garden in Northern Virginia. In this episode, we hear from Elinor Crane of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation and James Felder.  Read the original Smithsonian article by Ellen Wexler here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-secret-sculpture-built-for-john-f-kennedys-grave-vanished-in-the-1970s-half-a-century-later-the-mystery-has-been-solved-180985235/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on the man behind the nonfiction thriller about Abraham Lincoln's assassination (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-man-behind-manhunt-the-new-apple-tv-show-about-the-lincoln-assassination-180983992/) , separating fact from fiction in the life of Sojourner Truth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-to-separate-fact-from-myth-in-the-extraordinary-story-of-sojourner-truth-180983820/) , and the complicated legacy of being the descendant of a Civil War hero (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-your-great-great-great-grandfather-is-a-civil-war-hero-180983426/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Images via John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, and public domain.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-mystery-surrounding-the-grave-of-jfk-is-solv/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/who-was-the-real-cleopatra/Cleopatra was the last ruler of ancient Egypt, famous for her sharp mind and political savvy. She navigated tumultuous family rivalries and formed powerful alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, shaping the fate of empires. Her dramatic life and mysterious death continue to captivate history lovers and storytellers alike. ___ A little more information: Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Egypt, was a master strategist who worked tirelessly to secure her kingdom's independence. Ascending the throne at a young age, she navigated family rivalries and political unrest to solidify her reign. Known for her intelligence and ambition, Cleopatra strengthened Egypt's economy and military, revitalizing the nation during a time of crisis. Her diplomatic skills were legendary. She forged crucial alliances with powerful figures to maintain Egypt's sovereignty and influence. She also worked to restore Egypt's cultural and economic prominence, fostering trade and building strong ties with neighboring kingdoms. Cleopatra was highly involved in the administration of her realm, overseeing reforms in taxation, grain production, and infrastructure. A shrewd ruler, she managed to maintain Egypt’s independence for as long as possible, even as Rome’s influence expanded. Cleopatra’s political successes made her a symbol of resilience, and her legacy is a testament to her determined rule over the Egyptian kingdom. #cleopatra #egyptianhistory #egyptianfunfacts #queenofthenile #queencleopatra Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Who was Cleopatra? Learn more about the real Queen of the Nile here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-was-cleopatra-151356013/ Archaeologists are still on the hunt for Cleopatra’s tomb - and they may have found new clues about where she might be. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/does-this-statue-found-at-an-ancient-egyptian-temple-really-depict-cleopatra-180985789/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Adam Benavides Narrator: Faith DeckerMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/who-was-the-real-cleopatra/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-swarm-of-people-intent-on-saving-our-bees/Native bees in the United States are dying due to pesticides, disease and habitat loss. These insects play a critical role in nature and on farms, yet we know very little about native bees in part because they’re a challenge to study. That’s where a legion of bee enthusiasts and amateur experts, called “beeple,” come in. Armed with nets and jars, they fan out across the country to find, document and study native bees, both common and rare. Host Ari Daniel interviews Smithsonian writer Susan Freinkel and self-proclaimed bee enthusiast Michael Veit about the future of bees through the lens of the beeple who care deeply about them. Read the original Smithsonian article by Susan Freinkel here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/intrepid-team-bee-lovers-doing-everything-save-rare-native-species-extinction-180986181/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on the tale of what happened to Pablo Escobar’s hippos (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/wild-story-what-happened-pablo-escobar-hungry-hungry-hippos-180984676/) , the popularity of stories about animal behavior (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/are-wild-animals-really-just-like-us-180982939/) and the sex lives of dinosaurs (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-truth-about-the-sex-lives-of-dinosaurs-180986088/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Images via John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, and public domain.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-swarm-of-people-intent-on-saving-our-bees/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-winston-red-diamond/The Winston Red Diamond, one of the rarest gems in the world, is a stunning 2.33-carat red diamond displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Its captivating color and rarity make it a marvel of nature. ___ A little more information: The Winston Red Diamond is one of the rarest diamonds on Earth – and can now be spotted in a new exhibition at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, along with a whole rainbow of colored diamonds. Colored diamonds, like the Winston Red, owe their hues to impurities or structural anomalies. For instance, yellow diamonds get their color from nitrogen, while blue diamonds are altered by boron. With green diamonds, their hues come from something quite unexpected: radiation damage. Only a few red diamonds have been found worldwide, and they tend to be smaller in size, which makes the Winston Red even more distinct – and speaks to the natural beauty that can be found deep underground. #winstonreddiamond #coloreddiamonds #diamonds #fancycoloreddiamonds #geology Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the science behind the iconic Winston Red Diamond? Read more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/fancy-that-180986244/ The Argyle mine in Western Australia is among the world’s largest sources of natural diamonds –including rare pink diamonds. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/geologists-unravel-the-mysteries-of-australias-rare-pink-diamonds-180982933/ Smithsonian Acquires One of the World’s Largest “Fancy Red” Diamonds: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smithsonian-acquires-one-worlds-largest-fancy-red-diamonds For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriters: Michelle Mehrtens & Nicki Marko Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-winston-red-diamond/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-doughnut-a-hole-lot-more-history-than-you/Ever wondered how the doughnut came to be? Its origins date back to Dutch settlers in the eighteenth century, who brought recipes for "olykoeks,” or “oil cakes,” to the New World. Over time, doughnuts gained popularity – especially in the U.S. – where they became a staple of American culture and a beloved breakfast treat. ___ A little more information: In the 18th century, early versions of the beloved doughnut resembled fried cakes (often in round shapes, but without the iconic hole). Since then, stories about its iconic ring shape have followed the delicious treat, and vary widely. The outcome, however, is always the same: someone removed the undercooked middle of the dough...and the rest is history. Doughnuts became more widespread during World War I, when "Doughnut Dollies" volunteered to fry and serve doughnuts to soldiers, further cementing their place in American culture. After the war, doughnuts continued to grow in popularity, and mass production took off in the early 20th century. In 1937, Krispy Kreme was founded, followed by Dunkin' Donuts in the 1950s, which helped solidify doughnuts as a breakfast staple in the United States. Today, doughnuts are enjoyed globally, with countless variations and flavors, continuing their legacy as a beloved treat and cultural icon. Be sure to grab a donut to celebrate National Donut Day on June 6! #doughnuts #donuts #nationaldoughnutday #foodhistory #historyofdonuts Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the history of the doughnut? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-history-of-the-doughnut-150405177/ Who were the women who fried donuts and dodged bombs on the frontlines of World War I? Learn more about them here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/donut-girls-wwi-helped-fill-soldiers-bellies-and-get-women-vote-180962864/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Jenise MorganMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-doughnut-a-hole-lot-more-history-than-you/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/can-we-predict-the-universes-randomness-or/From coin flips to river levels to the placement of freckles, many events appear random at first glance—but dig a little deeper, and limits to the chaos start to emerge. Mathematician Michel Talagrand, winner of the 2024 Abel Prize, made groundbreaking contributions to understanding these seemingly random processes. ___ A little more information: We live in a universe governed by chaos: any system, if left alone, will gradually rise in entropy – a measure of uncertainty or disorder. Randomness, which does not follow patterns, surrounds us. The mathematical study of randomness is rooted in probability theory, which helps us understand and quantify uncertainty. At its core, probability theory deals with the likelihood of different outcomes in unpredictable situations. A key concept in this field is the random variable, which represents outcomes of a random experiment, and probability distributions, which describe how likely different outcomes are. Randomness is often modeled through stochastic processes – systems that evolve over time in an unpredictable manner. Think stock market fluctuations or the growth of bacteria. Now, with mathematical formulas, researchers are learning how to determine maximum or minimum limits on these processes—essentially, finding a way to harness the chaos. Ultimately, the mathematical study of randomness is essential for understanding complex, real-world phenomena and making informed decisions in situations of uncertainty. #randomness #probability #randomnesstheory #mathematicalrandomness Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Read more about Michel Talagrand’s work on stochastic systems and randomness here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mathematician-who-made-sense-of-the-universes-randomness-wins-maths-top-prize-180984020/ Avi Wigderson’s contributions to theoretical computer science – including his research on randomness - revolutionized modern computing. Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mathematician-who-shed-light-on-randomness-in-algorithms-wins-top-prize-in-computing-180984132/ In 2019, Karen Uhlenbeck was the first woman to win the Abel Prize. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/karen-uhlenbeck-first-woman-win-maths-top-prize-180971758/?itm_source=related-content&itm_medium=parsely-api For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Trina EspinozaMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/can-we-predict-the-universes-randomness-or/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-truth-behind-the-legend-of-king-arthur/From the valiant Knights of the Round Table to the romantic allure of Camelot, the legend of King Arthur has endured for centuries. But behind the sword of Excalibur and the Holy Grail lies a lingering question: Was King Arthur a real person? ___ A little more information: The legend of King Arthur is one of the most enduring tales in Western literature, blending history, myth, and folklore. Arthur is often depicted as a noble king who defended Britain against invaders like the Saxons. The earliest references to Arthur appear in Welsh texts from the 6th century and later in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s "The History of the Kings of Britain." These early accounts portray Arthur as a heroic, almost mythical figure rather than a fully historical one. Over time, the story of King Arthur grew more elaborate through literature. In 1485, Sir Thomas Malory’s "Le Morte d'Arthur" helped solidify many elements of the legend, including Excalibur, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the tragic romance between Lancelot and Guinevere. Some historians believe he is, indeed, a fictional character – but inspired by a real-life 5th-century leader. However, concrete evidence is lacking. The absence of archaeological proof means that King Arthur’s existence remains a matter of speculation – with the story continuing to live on as a rich mix of legend, history, and myth. #kingarthur #kingarthurscourt #geoffreyofmonmouth #arthurianlegend #holygrail #camelot Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Who was King Arthur? Learn more about the man – and the myth – here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/king-arthur-real-person-180980466/ Researchers have excavated King Arthur’s Hall, a rectangular enclosure in southwest England, and determined that it dates to at least 3000 B.C.E. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historians-thought-this-was-a-medieval-site-linked-to-king-arthur-it-turned-out-to-be-a-mysterious-monument-built-4000-years-earlier-180985470 You Might Also Like: A Palace Was Unearthed Where Legend Places King Arthur’s Birthplace https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/palace-unearthed-king-arthurs-birthplace-180960035/?itm_source=related-content&itm_medium=parsely-api "The Green Knight" Adopts a Medieval Approach to 'Modern' Problems https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/green-knight-dev-patel-medieval-literature-180978340/?itm_source=related-content&itm_medium=parsely-api Archaeologists Begin First-Ever Excavation of Tomb Linked to King Arthur https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-begin-first-ever-excavation-of-king-arthurs-tomb-180980362/?itm_source=related-content&itm_medium=parsely-api For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-truth-behind-the-legend-of-king-arthur/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-star-spangled-banner-became-the-nation/Inspired by the sight of the American flag after battle, Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Its vivid imagery captured the spirit of survival, symbolizing the nation's push for freedom. In 1931 – more than 100 years later – it would become the official national anthem of the United States. ___ A little more information: On September 13, 1814, during the Battle of Baltimore, American lawyer Francis Scott Key witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. As the smoke cleared at dawn, Key saw the American flag flying over the fort. Inspired, he wrote a poem called, "The Defence of Fort M’Henry." He set it to the tune of a popular British song, “To Anacreon in Heaven.” Although it wasn’t originally intended to be a national anthem, the song became increasingly popular, especially at public events and military ceremonies. By the 20th century, it was regularly performed at official ceremonies and sporting events. Despite its growing acclaim, critics of the song’s message specifically noted the hypocrisy of the lyric “land of the free.” Abolitionists denounced it for romanticizing a country that they considered the "Land of the Free and Home of the Oppressed.” Key himself similarly received pushback from his peers – he both criticized slavery as a practice, yet was also a slave owner. While this complicated legacy remains a crucial part of the song’s history, it did eventually receive national recognition as a symbol of patriotism. On March 3, 1931, after a push from lawmakers, Congress officially made "The Star-Spangled Banner" the national anthem of the United States. #starspangledbanner #fortmchenry #americanhistory #nationalanthem #fourthofjuly Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the history of “The Star-Spangled Banner”? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/real-story-behind-star-spangled-banner-flag-inspired-national-anthem-149220970/ During Francis Scott Key’s lifetime, abolitionists criticized the lyrics of “The Star-Bangled Banner,” arguing that the United States was far from the “land of the free.” Key himself was a slave-holder. Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/wheres-debate-francis-scott-keys-slave-holding-legacy-180959550/ Two hundred years ago, a young Black girl made history—literally. Grace Wisher was an indentured servant in the household of Mary Pickersgill, and she helped create the flag that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Find out more about her legacy here: https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/african-american-girl-who-helped-make-star-spangled-banner For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf, Michelle Mehrtens, Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Jenise MorganMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-star-spangled-banner-became-the-nation/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/neanderthals-our-misunderstood-ancient-relati/Once thought primitive, we now know Neanderthals were intelligent and even interbred with modern humans—many people today carry some Neanderthal DNA. Turns out, a lot of our jokes against our evolutionary counterparts are …misguided. New research continues to bust myths left and right – shedding light on the surprising intricacies of Neanderthal communities. ___ A little more information: Neanderthals are often portrayed as unintelligent “cavemen,” but modern research reveals a far more complex picture. Neanderthals made sophisticated tools, used fire, wore clothing, and built shelters. They hunted large animals in organized groups and likely had spoken language. Evidence also shows they cared for the sick, buried their dead, and may have engaged in artistic practice, such as creating cave art and wearing ornaments. Despite their intelligence and adaptability, Neanderthals vanished around 40,000 years ago. The reasons behind their extinction are still being studied—potential causes include competition with Homo sapiens, climate change and population decline. It’s also possible they were gradually absorbed into modern human populations through interbreeding. Their story challenges long-held assumptions about what it means to be human. As new discoveries continue to emerge, Neanderthals are increasingly seen not as distant evolutionary figures, but as close relatives who contributed to our shared history—and whose legacy lives on in our DNA. #neanderthals #homosapiens #humanevolution #anthropology #prehistorichumans Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to learn more about the history of Neanderthals? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/heres-what-we-now-know-about-neanderthals-180983344/ Researchers tracked down when Neanderthals and early modern humans interbred using ancient genomes: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-track-down-when-neanderthals-and-early-modern-humans-interbred-using-ancient-genomes-180985665/ Did a Neanderthal who lived 43,000 years ago paint a red nose on a rock that looked like a face? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-a-neanderthal-who-lived-43000-years-ago-paint-a-red-nose-on-a-rock-that-looked-like-a-face-180986704/ Learn more about the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's Human Origins program: https://humanorigins.si.edu/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor & Narrator: Trina Espinoza Graphic Designer: Kevin Schoenblum Illustration Animator: Sierra TheobaldMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/neanderthals-our-misunderstood-ancient-relati/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/who-was-bloody-mary/Ruling from 1553 to 1558, Mary I of England was the nation’s first crowned queen. Determined to restore Catholicism after her father Henry VIII’s break with Rome, she launched a fierce counter-reformation. Her reign was marked by the fiery persecution of Protestants…earning her a fearsome nickname: “Bloody Mary.” But was this moniker accurate? Or just propaganda? ___ A little more information: The daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Mary’s life was shaped by religious and political upheaval from an early age. When her Protestant half-brother, Edward VI, died in 1553, Mary boldly claimed the throne. Greeted with public celebration, Mary became England’s first queen regnant. Her ascension was seen as a triumph – both of rightful lineage and Catholic hope. But the joy was short-lived. Mary—a devout Catholic—was determined to undo the Protestant reforms of her father and brother. Her vision was not simply political—it was deeply personal. She believed that returning England to Catholicism was a divine mission. Unfortunately, her methods were harsh and uncompromising. Over 280 Protestants were burned at the stake for heresy during her reign—a campaign that would later earn her the notorious nickname "Bloody Mary," despite the fact that those who came before and after her were just as violent. Despite the turmoil, Mary’s reign was not without significance. She maintained relative economic stability and strengthened the navy, laying some groundwork that her half-sister, Elizabeth I, would later build upon. In 1558, Mary died at the age of 42. Her death marked the end of Catholic rule in England and ushered in the reign of Elizabeth. Mary’s legacy has long been overshadowed by the mythos of her bloodshed, yet modern historians now view her as a complicated figure: a queen driven by conviction, caught in the storm of one of England’s most volatile eras. #bloodymary #queenmaryi #bloodymaryrealstory #tudors #tudorfamily #britishhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine History remembers Mary I as a murderous monster who burned hundreds of her subjects at the stake, but the real story of the Tudor monarch is far more nuanced: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/myth-bloody-mary-englands-first-queen-180974221/ Does this mysterious portrait depict Lady Jane Grey, the doomed queen who ruled England for nine days in 1553? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/does-this-mysterious-portrait-depict-lady-jane-grey-the-doomed-queen-who-ruled-england-for-nine-days-in-1553-180986198/ The royal scandal that rocked Elizabeth I’s teenage years: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/royal-scandal-rocked-elizabeth-i-teenage-years-starz-180980199/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriters: Dan Wolf & Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/who-was-bloody-mary/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-conspirators-behind-the-plot-to-kill-presi/John Wilkes Booth will forever be known as the infamous assassin who killed Abraham Lincoln—but he didn’t act alone. Lewis Powell, Mary Surratt, John Surratt, David Herold, and George Atzerodt each played a sinister role in a vast conspiracy to take down the United States government just after the end of the Civil War. ___ A little more information: On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It was the culmination of a deadly conspiracy orchestrated by a group of Confederate sympathizers, all of whom were determined to strike a final blow against the United States. At the center was John Wilkes Booth, a charismatic but fanatical actor who vehemently opposed Lincoln’s policies and the abolition of slavery. Booth believed killing Lincoln would revive the faltering Confederate cause and plunge the United States into chaos. Booth did not act alone. The goal was to destabilize the entire U.S. government by targeting its top leaders – including Secretary of State William Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson. Although Booth managed to shoot Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre, his co-conspirators – Lewis Powell, George Atzerodt, David Herold, John Surratt – faltered, and the larger plan collapsed. Booth’s dramatic escape ended days later at a Virginia farm, where he was cornered and killed. This chilling conspiracy shocked a nation already battered by the Civil War, turning a tragic moment into a dark chapter of American history. #lincolnassassination #thelincolnconspiracy #lincolnconspirators #marysurratt #americanhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/abraham-lincoln-team-of-rivals-180954850/ Mary and John Surratt helped John Wilkes Booth assassinate Abraham Lincoln and then paid the ultimate penalty for their actions. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-family-plot-to-kill-lincoln-2093807/ How Samuel Mudd, a surgeon who set John Wilkes Booth’s leg while on the run, went from alleged Lincoln conspirator to medical savior: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-samuel-mudd-went-lincoln-conspirator-medical-savior-180954980/ Read about John Wilkes Booth’s final hours before he was found and killed: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/an-assassins-final-hours-117632847/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-conspirators-behind-the-plot-to-kill-presi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-why-the-chesapeake-bay-matt/The Chesapeake Bay – the largest estuary in the U.S. – is a dynamic ecosystem teeming with life. Spanning over 64,000 square miles, it nourishes wetlands, forests, and more than 3,600 species. A vital resource for fishing, recreation, and commerce, the Bay also faces threats—pollution, climate change and habitat loss. Yet, restoration efforts are reviving it, inspiring hope. ___ A little more information: The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) is a leading scientific facility devoted to understanding coastal ecosystems – and how human activities impact them. Located in Maryland, SERC conducts interdisciplinary research on topics like water quality, habitat restoration, climate change, and biodiversity. One of their most important goals? Addressing the environmental challenges in the Chesapeake Bay. From building oyster sanctuaries to studying otter poop, SERC hopes to promote conservation in any and all forms. The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure that is fed by watersheds from six states and Washington, D.C. Its diverse habitats support more than 3,600 plant and animal species, including blue crabs, oysters, bald eagles and striped bass. The Bay also holds deep cultural and historical significance, having shaped Indigenous traditions, colonial settlements, and modern coastal communities for centuries. More than 18 million people live within its watershed, depending on it for drinking water, recreation and livelihoods. Boating, fishing and tourism are major drivers of its local economies. However, the Bay faces serious challenges – pollution, habitat destruction and rising sea levels threaten its delicate balance. Decades of overharvesting have strained its ecosystems, especially its iconic oyster reefs. Still, there is hope. Coordinated restoration efforts, such as no-harvest oyster zones, wetland protection, and pollution reduction, are making a measurable difference. Local, state, and federal agencies, along with nonprofits and everyday citizens, are working together to restore the Bay’s health. To protect the Bay is to preserve a vital part of America’s natural and cultural heritage—for today and for generations to come. #serc #chesapeakebay #chesapeakebaywaterfront #marylandwaterfront #conservation #marinebiology Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about the health of the Chesapeake Bay here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/checking-health-and-vigor-chesapeake-bay-180971179/ Who were the Indigenous communities who resided along the Chesapeake for thousands of years? Find out here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/following-footsteps-capt-john-smith-smithsonian-scholar-finds-neglected-history-180960984/ Why marshlands are the perfect lab for studying climate change: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/marshlands-perfect-lab-studying-climate-change-180980992/ This blog post from SERC explains why, for river otters, pooping is a social event. Their droppings are providing a heap of information for Smithsonian biologists: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-environmental-research-center/2020/07/30/river-otters-take-party-pooping-new-level/ For more about SERC, check them out here: https://serc.si.edu/about-us Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrators: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-why-the-chesapeake-bay-matt/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-how-frank-kameny-became-the/Frank Kameny was a pioneer in the modern gay rights movement and dedicated his life to fighting for LGBTQ+ equality. From his early career as an astronomer with the U.S. government to his later years as a vocal activist, Kameny's courage and determination paved the way for future generations. ___ A little more information: A Harvard-trained astronomer, Frank Kameny was fired from his federal position in 1957 because he was gay. Rather than retreat, he launched an unrelenting fight against the discrimination facing LGBTQ+ individuals. In 1961, Kameny became the first person to petition the U.S. Supreme Court on the grounds of anti-gay discrimination. Although the Court declined to hear his case, his legal challenge was a landmark moment. He co-founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., one of the first LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and organized some of the earliest public protests for gay rights, including pickets in front of the White House and the Pentagon in the 1960s—at a time when such visibility was rare and dangerous. Kameny also challenged the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental illness, helping to bring about its removal from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual in 1973. His unapologetic slogan, “Gay is Good,” coined in 1968, echoed the civil rights movement and became a rallying cry for LGBTQ+ equality. His activism helped influence the eventual reversal of discriminatory federal employment policies, and he was officially honored by the U.S. government decades later. Kameny's contributions, both legal and cultural, positioned him as a crucial early architect of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. #frankkameny #lgbtqhistory #civilrights #homophilemovement #politicalactivism #queerhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Two of Kameny’s notebooks – which flagged gay-friendly establishments that had been raided by police or were under surveillance – are in the Archives Center of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History: https://americanhistory.si.edu/ja/collections/archival-item/sova-nmah-ac-1146-ref2538 Read more about Kameny's notebooks and his life as an activist in Washington, DC here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/frank-kameny-helped-chart-part-liberation-millions-gay-americans-180987148 Want to learn more about Frank Kameny and his legacy? Read more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/remembering-gay-rights-activist-frank-kameny-1925-2011-105187020/ On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall uprising materialized as a response to a police raid at The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York – but the most radical thing about it came later. Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/national-museum-american-history/2021/06/10/stonewall/ How World War I sparked the gay rights movement: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/forgotten-origins-modern-gay-rights-movement-wwi-180963283/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrators: Adam Benavides and Dusty Porter Correction: 00:42 Frank Kameny got a B.S. from Queens College and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-how-frank-kameny-became-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-really-happened-at-the-boston-tea-party/On December 16, 1773, American colonists stormed three British ships and hurled 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. This explosive act of rebellion against unfair taxes shook the empire, ignited colonial unity, and set the stage for America’s fight for freedom and independence. ___ A little more information: The Boston Tea Party – an event that fanned the flames of the American Revolution – took place in the winter of 1773. After years of disillusionment, this moment became a powerful symbol of colonial resistance. The root cause was the Tea Act of 1773, passed by the British Parliament. While it actually lowered the price of tea, it was meant to undermine sales of Dutch imports – which colonists had taken to purchasing instead of British-taxed tea. The passage of the Act granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies – which its residents found unacceptable. Colonists had no say in Parliament, yet they were forced to pay taxes imposed by a government thousands of miles away. The key issue wasn’t the price but the principle: “Taxation without representation.” Angry colonists in Boston planned a dramatic response. On a cold December night, a group of about 60 men, disguised as members of the Mohawk and Naranganssett communities, boarded three British ships docked in Boston Harbor. With determination and urgency, they smashed open 342 chests of tea and dumped the entire contents into the water. This act of defiance shocked Britain and escalated tensions. The British government responded harshly with the Coercive Acts, which further restricted colonial freedoms and punished Massachusetts. The crackdown united the colonies in outrage. Today, it remains a powerful symbol of rebellion and the fight for freedom. #bostonteaparty #revolutionarywar #teaact #bostonhistory #americanhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about the Boston Tea Party here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-many-myths-of-the-boston-tea-party-180983399/ When it came to the American Revolution, New England and Virginia ultimately chose to join forces. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/dive-into-deeper-story-american-revolution-how-new-england-virginia-united-against-british-180986438/ How America took a great leap of faith toward democracy and independence: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-books/2025/07/03/how-america-took-a-great-leap-of-faith-toward-democracy-and-independence/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-really-happened-at-the-boston-tea-party/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/marie-antoinette-the-queen-behind-the-revolut/Marie Antoinette, born an Austrian archduchess, became Queen of France at just 19. Known for her extravagant lifestyle, she faced harsh criticism amid France’s growing financial crisis. Her fate was sealed during the French Revolution, ending with her execution in 1793. ___ A little more information: Born November 2, 1755, Marie Antoinette was an Austrian archduchess destined to play a pivotal role in European history. At just 14, she was married to Louis-Auguste, Duc de Berry, the future king of France. Following the death of Louis XV, her husband became king and she – not yet 20 – assumed the role of queen. Her marriage was meant to solidify peace between Austria and France, but her life in the French court was anything but peaceful. Known for her extravagant tastes, Marie Antoinette quickly became a symbol of royal excess at a time when many French citizens endured poverty and hunger. Despite her charm and efforts to engage in charitable work, she was widely criticized. Rumors and political propaganda painted her as careless and disconnected. As tensions rose, Marie Antoinette’s position became precarious. The French Revolution exploded in 1789, challenging the monarchy’s authority. Eventually, she and Louis XVI were arrested, tried and convicted of treason. In 1793, Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine, marking a tragic end to the era of absolute monarchy in France. Today, she remains a complex figure—both a symbol of royal decadence and a woman caught in the whirlwind of history. #marieantoinette #frenchrevolution #guillotine #versailles #europeanhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about Marie Antoinette here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/marie-antoinette-134629573/ Why Marie Antoinette's reputation changes with each generation: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-marie-antoinette-reputation-changes-with-each-generation-180981784/ Supporters of the French Revolution killed Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette with the same apparatus used to execute common criminals – the guillotine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/on-this-day-in-1793-revolutionaries-executed-the-king-of-france-by-guillotine-a-deadly-machine-they-saw-as-a-symbol-of-equality-180985835/ Smuggled out of France during a bloody revolution, Marie Antoinette’s shimmering pink diamond was owned by generations of European royalty: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smuggled-out-of-france-during-bloody-revolution-marie-antoinettes-shimmering-pink-diamond-is-heading-to-auction-180986764/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriters: Dan Wolf, Michelle Mehrtens, Nicki Marko Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/marie-antoinette-the-queen-behind-the-revolut/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-countercultural-roots-of-the-renaissance-f/Since they started in the 1960s, Renaissance fairs have celebrated the art, culture and philosophy of the era that took place centuries ago. Today, they are held annually across the U.S. and have even inspired similar festivals in other countries. While they vary in size and style, they all share a common goal: to bring history to life through community and imagination. But what’s the deal with the turkey legs? ___ Video based on an article by Gillian Bagwell, “The Surprisingly Radical Roots of the Renaissance Fair”: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-surprisingly-radical-roots-of-the-renaissance-fair-180982918/ ___ A little more information: Organized by teacher and theater director Phyllis Patterson, the first modern Renaissance fair was held in 1963 in California. Designed as a weekend fundraiser for a local radio station, the event combined historical reenactments, costumed performers and educational entertainment. It was such a success that it became an annual tradition and set the template for future fairs. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, they spread across the United States, growing in popularity alongside the countercultural movement. These events offered a space where creativity, theatrical expression and political progressivism could flourish. Unlike traditional historical reenactments, Renaissance fairs embraced a mix of authenticity and fantasy—welcoming everything from Shakespearean actors and blacksmiths to elves and pirates. Today, visitors can watch jousting tournaments, interact with costumed characters, shop handmade crafts and enjoy performances like madrigal singing. The atmosphere is deliberately immersive, encouraging guests to dress in costume and speak in period-style English. Whether for education, escapism or fun, Renaissance fairs continue to thrive as vibrant celebrations of the past—blended with a healthy dose of theatrical flair. #renfaire #renaissancefair #renaissancefestival #medievalhistory #elizabethanera Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Scientists are still unraveling the secrets of the Mona Lisa: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-mona-lisa-180983069/ How medieval women used letters and embroidery to reflect on their inner lives: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-medieval-women-expressed-their-forbidden-emotions-180983953/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-countercultural-roots-of-the-renaissance-f/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-audie-murphy-the-world-war/Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, earning every major U.S. military honor by age 20. After the war, he became a Hollywood actor and used his fame to advocate for veterans' mental health. ___ A little more information: Audie Murphy is a true American hero – one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. history and a symbol of courage under fire. Born in Texas in 1925, he lied about his age to join the military at just 16. During World War II, he fought bravely across Europe and earned many awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, plus decorations from France and Belgium. His most famous act of heroism came in 1945, when he held off an entire German company – alone and wounded – by firing from a burning tank. After the war, he turned to Hollywood, starring in over 40 films, including "To Hell and Back," which was based on his own war memoir. At the same time, he privately struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Later in life, he used his platform to speak up for veterans, especially those dealing with the invisible wounds of war. Audie Murphy’s legacy is more than medals and movies – it’s a story of grit, sacrifice and resilience. He showed the world what bravery looks like, both on the battlefield and in the years that followed. #audiemurphy #ww2 #audiemurphybiography #ptsd #westernmovies #soldier Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about Audie Murphy here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/audie-murphy-idol-silver-screen-came-after-most-decorated-american-hero-world-war-ii-180987467 How the ghost army of WWII used art to deceive the Nazis: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-the-ghost-army-of-wwii-used-art-to-deceive-the-nazis-180980336/ The stunning search for the remains of fallen WWII Airmen: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-stunning-search-for-the-remains-of-fallen-wwii-airmen-180986697/ The dramatic rescue of the citizen sailors who patrolled the Atlantic coast looking for Nazi u-boats: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/dramatic-rescue-citizen-sailors-patrolled-atlantic-coast-looking-nazi-uboats-180985632/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrators: Jason Smith, Phil Freeman (voice of Audie Murphy), Aaron Ralby (voice of Lieutenant Weispfenning)Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-audie-murphy-the-world-war/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-wildest-reality-show-in-alaska-is-fat-bear/Fat Bear Week, hosted by Katmai National Park in Alaska, draws bated breath from viewers every year. It’s an annual online tournament where people vote to crown the bear that’s best bulked up for hibernation. And the real question is…who’s your favorite? ___ A little more information: Fat Bear Week takes place every fall at Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where brown bears prepare for hibernation by doing their favorite activity: eating. This event invites the public to vote for the bear that has most successfully gained weight over the summer. Featuring before and after photos of the park’s brown bears as they gorge on salmon, the event highlights their survival skills—and the importance of a healthy ecosystem. As winter approaches, these bears consume vast quantities of salmon, sometimes gaining hundreds of pounds in just a few months. This fat helps them survive the long winter months without food while they remain dormant in their dens. Fat Bear Week not only celebrates these feats of nature but also highlights the crucial work of conservation efforts at Katmai. Check out explore.org to learn more and watch the live cam. For 2025, Fat Bear Week is here early. The tournament began on September 23 and continues until September 30—when a winner will be announced. Don’t forget to cast your votes here: https://www.explore.org/fat-bear-week #fatbearweek #grizzlybear #bears #wildlife #animalfacts #nature #alaska Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about Fat Bear Week—and 2024 fan favorites—here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/highly-defensive-mother-bear-grazer-defeats-male-that-killed-her-cub-to-win-fat-bear-week-180985241/ How the bears at Alaska’s Katmai National Park became celebrities: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-the-bears-at-alaskas-katmai-national-park-became-celebrities-180980894/ Before Fat Bear Week, don’t forget the corpulent cubs competing in Fat Bear Junior: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/before-fat-bear-week-dont-forget-the-cubs-competing-in-fat-bear-junior-180982973/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-wildest-reality-show-in-alaska-is-fat-bear/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/uncovering-the-secrets-of-the-great-sphinx-of/The Great Sphinx of Giza, a massive limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a human, has long represented the power of ancient Egypt. Sitting near the pyramids, it has watched over the desert for more than 4,500 years, shrouded in mystery—and we’re uncovering some of those secrets now. ___ A little more information: The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most iconic monuments in the world. Carved from a single block of limestone, it stands 66 feet tall and 240 feet long, with the body of a lion and the head of a man—likely the pharaoh Khafre, who ruled during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty around 2500 B.C.E. It sits on the Giza Plateau, not far from the famous pyramids, guarding the ancient tombs like a silent sentinel. The Sphinx has fascinated historians, travelers and dreamers for thousands of years. During this time, it has been buried by sand, uncovered, restored and studied, yet it still holds many secrets. Its missing nose has sparked countless theories, from natural erosion to deliberate destruction. No one knows exactly why the Sphinx was built, but many believe it symbolizes strength, wisdom and power. In Egyptian mythology, it may have served a protective role, watching over sacred ground. Today, it remains one of Egypt’s most photographed and visited landmarks—a timeless wonder that connects the modern world to an ancient civilization. #pharaoh #egypt #greatsphinxofgiza #sphinx #ancientegypt #sphinxfacts #wondersoftheworld Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about the Great Sphinx of Giza here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/uncovering-secrets-of-the-sphinx-5053442/ Wind may have helped sculpt Egypt’s famous Sphinx. Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wind-may-have-helped-sculpt-egypts-famous-sphinx-180983218/ A buried ancient Egyptian port reveals the hidden connections between distant civilizations: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/hidden-ancient-egyptian-port-reveals-180984485/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get more Smithsonian magazine: Official site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Jenise MorganMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/uncovering-the-secrets-of-the-great-sphinx-of/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-life-and-legacy-of-evel/On the 50th anniversary of his iconic jump at Kings Island theme park, we’re celebrating Evel Knievel—a daredevil stuntman famous for his daring motorcycle jumps. Clad in red, white and blue, he became a 1970s icon of fearless showmanship. His legendary, gravity-defying stunts thrilled millions and inspired generations to chase the impossible. ___ A little more information: Born Robert Craig Knievel in 1938, Evel Knievel mastered the art of turning danger into entertainment. With his patriotic jumpsuit and signature swagger, he jumped over cars and buses, and he even attempted to hurtle across the Snake River Canyon. Crashes were frequent—Knievel allegedly broke over 400 bones in his lifetime—but that only added to his allure. He knew how to deliver a spectacle, whether it ended in success or fiery failure. On October 25, 1975, Knievel set out to accomplish his most daring feat yet at Kings Island theme park outside Cincinnati. In front of a massive live TV audience and 25,000 spectators, he soared over 14 Greyhound buses—a distance of 133 feet—and landed perfectly. It was his longest successful jump and helped cement his place in history. Knievel blurred the line between hero and madman, bravely riding into danger with style and bravado. He wasn’t just a stuntman—he was a symbol of fearless ambition. His Harley-Davidson XR-750 is an object from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American collection: https://www.si.edu/object/evel-knievels-harley-davidson-xr-750%3Anmah_1001261 It is currently on display at the “Nation of Speed” exhibition at the National Air & Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu/multimedia-gallery/523590368376e6b938700ojpg Fans can also revisit Knievel’s legacy at the Evel Knievel Museum, which will open in Las Vegas in April 2026. #evelknievel #evelknievelmotorcycle #harleydavidson #historyofevelknievel #extremesports Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about Evel Knievel and his life here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/after-motorcycle-daredevil-evel-knievel-failed-clear-13-buses-jump-attempt-only-one-thing-to-do-180987464/ This woeful wipeout made Evel Knievel an instant legend: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/woeful-wipeout-made-evel-knievel-instant-legend-180967601/ Risk-taker Evel Knievel was a big proponent of wearing a helmet: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/risk-taker-evel-knievel-was-big-proponent-wearing-helmet-180961246/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get more Smithsonian magazine: Official site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-the-life-and-legacy-of-evel/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-edmund-fitzgerald-sank-half-a-century-ag/Half a century ago, on an unseasonably warm fall day, the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald set off from the western edge of  Lake Superior with a cargo full of iron ore. Within hours, a ferocious storm gathered in strength, ultimately producing 50-foot waves and sinking the prized vessel. There were no survivors. The exact cause of its demise remains unknown. Over the decades, many ships have faced a similar fate on the Great Lakes, a part of the world that some say is more dangerous than the open ocean. But the tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald looms the largest in our collective national memory — and it led to changes in the maritime industry that dramatically improved the safety of shipping. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with author John U. Bacon (https://johnubacon.com/) about what made the Edmund Fitzgerald famous even before it sank, what we know and don’t know about the crew’s final moments, and the ship’s lasting legacy. Read more coverage of the sinking of the Fitzgerald here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/nobody-knows-what-sank-the-edmund-fitzgerald-but-its-doomed-final-voyage-will-always-be-americas-defining-shipwreck-180987657/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the return of a set of important belongings to the Lakota community (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-chance-for-healing-170-years-after-a-lakota-massacre-180987479/) , the search for the remains of three fallen World War II airmen (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-stunning-search-for-the-remains-of-fallen-wwii-airmen-180986697/) , and the role that enslaved Africans and Southern colonists played in launching the American Revolution (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/dive-into-deeper-story-american-revolution-how-new-england-virginia-united-against-british-180986438/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Photo by Lake Superior Maritime Collection at the University of Wisconsin-Superior Special Collections and Archives, Bob Campbell / Images by mdnahidkha23 via Adobe Stock, Newspapers.com (http://newspapers.com/) and public domainMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-edmund-fitzgerald-sank-half-a-century-ag/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stonehenge-a-monument-of-mystery-unearthing/Stonehenge is a mysterious prehistoric monument in England, known for its massive stone circles. It was built around 5,000 years ago, and its purpose remains a topic of debate—possibly a site for astronomical observations or religious rituals. The sheer scale and precision of its construction continue to awe researchers and visitors alike. ___ A little more information: Stonehenge, one of the world’s most iconic and enigmatic ancient wonders, stands on Salisbury Plain in southern England. Its history stretches back over 5,000 years, with construction occurring in several phases between 3000 B.C.E. and 1600 B.C.E. Despite extensive research, its exact purpose remains a mystery, but theories abound, ranging from an astronomical observatory to a site for religious rituals. The earliest phase of Stonehenge was built around 3000 B.C.E. as a circular earthwork. During this period, the site was already aligned with the movements of the sun, suggesting an early connection to astronomy. Around 2500 B.C.E., the iconic stone circle began to take shape. The massive stones used for the structure, known as megaliths, were transported from far-flung quarries, some as far as 140 miles away in Wales. This feat of engineering remains a remarkable achievement, as the builders had no advanced technology, yet they managed to move these massive stones with remarkable precision. By 1600 B.C.E., Stonehenge had taken its final form, with the iconic “horseshoe” arrangement of stones in the center. Today, Stonehenge stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting over a million visitors each year. Archaeologists and historians continue to study the monument, using advanced technologies like ground-penetrating radar to uncover hidden structures and gain insights into its history. #stonehenge #stonehengefacts #ancienthistory #britain #stonehengetheories #neolithicperiod Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine How far did Neolithic Britons carry Stonehenge’s most famous boulder? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-far-neolithic-britons-carry-stonehenge-most-famous-boulder-180986246/ Stonehenge was built during a period of immigration from mainland Europe, and it may have been intended to unify communities across the British Isles: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-britons-may-have-built-stonehenge-to-symbolize-unity-180985728/ A Neolithic cow’s tooth helps point to the mysterious origins of Stonehenge’s iconic stones: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-neolithic-cows-tooth-helps-point-to-the-mysterious-origins-of-stonehenges-iconic-stones-180987222/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Jenise MorganMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stonehenge-a-monument-of-mystery-unearthing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-are-there-so-many-shipwrecks-in-the-great/Beneath the waters of the Great Lakes, thousands of shipwrecks, hulking carcasses of a bygone era, have been hiding for generations, just waiting to be revealed. Once someone stumbles upon one of these sunken treasures in Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, Tamara Thomsen gets a call (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-using-sunken-dugout-canoes-learn-indigenous-history-america-180985638/) . Thomsen is a maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation and Archaeology program. Her job is to investigate and survey shipwreck sites. Over the years, Thomsen has added some of these ships to the ​​National Register of Historic Places. And she and her colleagues have also unearthed dugout canoes that were fashioned thousands of years old by the Indigenous people who lived on this land. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with Thomsen about how she took up this profession, why she views shipwrecks as time capsules, why so many vessels met their watery grave on the Great Lakes, and how one stays warm at depth when diving for these wrecks for hours at a time. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-edmund-fitzgerald-sank-half-a-century-ago-were-still-fascinated-180987648/) , the return of a set of important belongings to the Lakota community (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-chance-for-healing-170-years-after-a-lakota-massacre-180987479/) and a baseball field resurrected in a World War II-era Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts.  “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images by Zach Whitrock / Wisconsin Historical Society and public domain.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-are-there-so-many-shipwrecks-in-the-great/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-secret-life-of-mistletoe-love-legends-an/We often think of holiday rom-coms and romantic kisses when we see mistletoe. But did you know this festive plant is actually a parasite, stealing nutrients from its host? Its curious biology, mixed with centuries of folklore, reveals a surprising story behind one of the season’s most enduring romantic rituals. ___ A little more information: While mistletoe may look like an innocent seasonal decoration, it is actually a kind of parasite. It latches onto tree branches and steals water and nutrients from its host. Despite this sneaky behavior, mistletoe isn’t all bad: It still performs photosynthesis and even supports wildlife. Birds feast on its sticky berries and spread its seeds to new trees, continuing the plant’s peculiar life cycle. Mistletoe also produces chemicals that may have medicinal properties, and some species even glow slightly under certain light conditions. Its seeds can’t germinate in soil—they only grow when stuck to a tree branch by that signature sticky coating. Long before it became a Christmas tradition, mistletoe held deep cultural meaning. Since it stayed green even in the harshest winters, the ancient Celts saw it as a symbol of fertility, protection and eternal life. In Norse mythology, mistletoe played a role in the death and rebirth of the god Baldur, which may have inspired its later association with peace and love. By the 18th century, the custom of kissing under the mistletoe appeared in England, transforming a once-mystical plant into a part of Christmas celebrations. So, the next time you spot mistletoe hanging overhead, remember: It’s more than a sign of romance. It’s a tiny marvel of evolution, myth and Christmas magic—all in one clump of evergreen leaves. #mistletoe #christmas #mistletoehistory #holidaytraditions #christmasplants #botany #biology Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Want to know more about the science of mistletoe? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/poop-tree-parasite-mistletoe-180967621/ How mistletoe became a Christmas kissing tradition: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-mistletoe-became-christmas-kissing-tradition-180985450/ Find out even more about mistletoe and its holiday evolution here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/mistletoe-the-evolution-of-a-christmas-tradition-10814188/ Learn more about the biology of mistletoe here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/biology-mistletoe-180976601/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-secret-life-of-mistletoe-love-legends-an/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-when-gemini-vi-got-into-the/During the 1965 Gemini VI space mission, astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford pulled off one of NASA’s most memorable pranks. After radioing Mission Control about a mysterious unidentified spacecraft flown by someone in a red suit, they played “Jingle Bells” on a smuggled harmonica and bells—the first live musical performance from space. ___ A little more information: The Soviet Union had scored early victories in the space race with Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin, but by late 1965, the United States was gaining momentum on its path to putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. NASA’s Gemini missions focused on the technological advances and skills needed to reach that goal: rendezvous, docking, long-duration flight and precise re-entry. Led by astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, Gemini VI successfully launched on December 15, 1965—and met its counterpart, Gemini VII, in orbit. It was the first true space rendezvous: two spacecraft maneuvering within inches of each other. In an otherwise tense mission, Gemini VI supplied a welcome dose of levity. As the mission neared completion, Schirra radioed a startling report to Mission Control: a mysterious, fast-moving object resembling a command module—piloted by someone in a red suit. After a dramatic pause, Schirra and Stafford broke into a spirited performance of “Jingle Bells,” played on a tiny harmonica and a pair of smuggled sleigh bells. It was the first music ever performed in space—and a perfectly timed holiday prank. #geminivi #jinglebells #nasa #spacerace #santaclaus #holidays #apollo Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine The day two astronauts said they saw a UFO wearing a red suit: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/day-two-astronauts-said-they-saw-ufo-santa-suit-109444898/ Forgotten photos show the human face of NASA’s early astronaut program: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/ghosts-of-gemini-159164462/ How the United States and the Soviet Union made unsuccessful attempts to collaborate during the space race: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-books/2025/06/12/how-the-us-and-the-soviet-union-made-unsuccessful-attempts-to-collaborate-during-the-space-race/ How NASA marketed its space program with fantastical depictions of the future: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/nasa-marketed-moon-future-180975781/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get more Smithsonian magazine: Official site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-when-gemini-vi-got-into-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/from-cloud-to-crystallization-the-science-of/Surprisingly, the magic of snowflakes often begins with dust in the air. All it takes is for a cold drop of water to freeze on one of these particles, creating an ice crystal. Because every crystal takes a unique journey through the atmosphere, no two snowflakes are alike. ___ A little more information: As an ice crystal begins to grow, temperature and humidity affect its shape. Slight changes in these conditions—sometimes within fractions of a second—cause the crystal to shift direction, split, or stretch, creating the intricate six-sided structures we see in the sky. The study of snowflake science was transformed by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, a Vermont farmer who, in 1885, became the first person to photograph ice crystals. Using a bellows camera attached to a microscope, Bentley captured more than 5,000 flakes during his lifetime. He later donated 500 prints to the Smithsonian collection: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/snow-crystals. Bentley’s images revealed the astonishing complexity of ice crystals and helped scientists understand how temperature affects their many shapes—up to 35! Some of these patterns include plates, needles, columns, and dendrites. Today, scientists continue to explore the physics behind snowflake formation with high-speed cameras, cloud chambers and computer models. As for Bentley’s photographs? Their delicate beauty remains an iconic symbol of winter. #snowflakes #science #winter #nature #ice #snow #sciencefacts #weather Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Find out more about the science of snowflakes – and why they all fall in one of 35 different shapes: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/snowflakes-all-fall-one-35-different-shapes-180953760/ Learn more about the man who revealed the hidden structure of falling snowflakes: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/the-man-who-revealed-hidden-structure-falling-snowflakes-106274664/ Photographer and scientist Nathan Myhrvold has developed a camera that captures snowflakes at a microscopic level never seen before: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/these-are-highest-resolution-photos-ever-taken-snowflakes-180976710/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriters: Carlyn Kranking & Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/from-cloud-to-crystallization-the-science-of/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/exoplanets-the-mind-blowing-worlds-beyond-our/Have you ever wondered if there is life on another planet? Exoplanets may hold the key to this question. They’re planets that orbit stars beyond our solar system, and scientists find them by observing subtle changes in starlight. With this technique, they have discovered an incredible number of worlds, from giant gas planets to rocky Earth-like ones. Studying them helps scientists understand how planetary systems form—and whether life might exist beyond our galaxy. ___ A little more information: The study of exoplanets helps scientists learn more about how planets form, evolve and interact with their stars. To detect them, scientists rely on techniques like the transit method, which measures tiny dips in a star’s brightness when a planet passes in front of it. There’s also the radial velocity method, which detects small wobbles in a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. This research has uncovered thousands of worlds with remarkable diversity. Some exoplanets are massive gas giants orbiting extremely close to their stars, while others are frozen worlds far from any heat source. There are also rocky, Earth-size planets that may have atmospheres, oceans and the right conditions for life. It’s a science that also addresses one of humanity’s oldest questions: Are we alone in the universe? #exoplanets #space #NASA #cosmos #astronomy #solarsystem #spaceexploration #universe Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Interested in learning more? Take a look at NASA’s full list of exoplanets here: https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/ From worlds that look like cotton candy to others covered in volcanoes, these are the strangest and most captivating exoplanets: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/from-worlds-that-look-like-cotton-candy-to-others-covered-in-volcanoes-these-are-the-strangest-and-most-captivating-exoplanets-180986260/ Exoplanet discoveries pass the 6,000 mark, shedding light on how our solar system compares with the rest of the universe: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/exoplanet-discoveries-pass-the-6000-mark-shedding-light-on-how-our-solar-system-compares-to-the-rest-of-the-universe-180987390/ Chemical hints on a distant planet offer ‘strongest evidence yet’ for life outside our solar system, astronomers say: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chemical-hints-on-a-distant-planet-offer-strongest-evidence-yet-for-life-outside-our-solar-system-astronomers-say-180986453/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/exoplanets-the-mind-blowing-worlds-beyond-our/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-stunning-escape-from-slavery-told-on-tattere/In the mid-1800s, before the Civil War, Thomas White fled his enslavement in Maryland for freedom. It was a risky escape, one that involved a horseback ride under the cover of darkness, abolitionists helping to hide him, and a northward journey through Delaware and Pennsylvania. Ultimately, he arrived—safe and free—in Massachusetts. The details of White’s flight are chronicled on 40-odd sheets of paper and were written most probably by other people who heard his story. Such slave narratives are exceedingly rare, and this one’s length made it especially unique. Smithsonian magazine wrote about the discovery (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/tattered-pages-discovered-in-storage-reveal-an-enslaved-mans-daring-bid-for-freedom-and-his-second-life-at-sea-180986838/) last year. In this episode, we speak with Rachel Fortuna Cabral, the Roger Williams University undergraduate who helped study the manuscript, and scholar Deborah Plant to learn about White’s escape, how the papers were discovered, and what such narratives tell us about slavery and emancipation in the United States. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about a recently solved mystery surrounding the burial of JFK (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-mystery-surrounding-the-grave-of-jfk-is-solved-180986178/) , the only battalion during World War II composed entirely of Black women (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-remarkable-story-of-wwiis-6888-as-told-by-the-women-who-were-there-180982854/) and a baseball field resurrected in a World War II-era Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images from Anastasiia Hevko via Adobe Stock / Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture / Cindy Elder.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-stunning-escape-from-slavery-told-on-tattere/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-how-nicole-malachowski-beca/Women in aviation have long had to fight for space in the cockpit, beginning with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II. They proved their skill and courage even as they were denied military status and recognition. In the decades that followed, progress came slowly. By the late 1990s and 2000s, that persistence reshaped what was possible in military aviation. Nicole Malachowski’s selection as the first woman to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds marked a powerful culmination of that journey—and a visible breakthrough for women in the skies. ___ A little more information: The WASPs of World War II laid the groundwork for every woman who would later fly in the U.S. military. Formed in 1943, the WASPs were civilian pilots who moved aircraft and tested new planes. Flying nearly every type of military aircraft, they proved that women could handle demanding, high-risk aviation roles. When the war ended, their program was quietly disbanded, and their contributions went unacknowledged for decades. In the postwar years, aviation returned to peacetime rules that formally excluded women from combat and most military flight roles. Still, women remained involved—training as pilots, working as engineers, instructing, racing, and setting records. Figures like Jackie Cochran and Louise Thaden kept women visible in the air. The 1970s marked a shift. As the U.S. military reassessed restrictions, women were admitted to pilot training programs. In 1974, the first women earned U.S. Air Force pilot wings. In 1993, the combat aviation ban was lifted, opening fighter and bomber cockpits to women. Step by step, barriers that had once seemed permanent were removed. Nicole Malachowski is a trailblazing U.S. Air Force officer whose career reflects the progress that began with the WASPs. A 1996 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Malachowski became an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and flew combat missions. In 2005, she made history as the first woman selected to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the elite aerial demonstration team. Flying high-performance fighter aircraft in precise, close-formation maneuvers, the Thunderbirds perform in public airshows and ceremonial events. Beyond the cockpit, Malachowski held a range of leadership roles, including serving as a White House Fellow and later as a senior Air Force officer, before retiring at the rank of colonel. After retirement, due to complications from tick-borne illness, she became an outspoken advocate for awareness of chronic illness and veterans’ health. Like the WASPs, Malachowski’s career shows how perseverance, skill, and courage can reshape institutions and expand opportunity for future generations. #nicolemalachowski #thunderbirds #usaf #usairforce #wasps #femaleaviators #aviation #womenshistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about Nicole Malachowski here:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/helmet-kept-air-force-pilot-safe-soaring-through-glass-ceiling-180988091/ You can see Nicole Malachowski’s flying helmet in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Air and Space collection here: https://www.si.edu/object/helmet-flying-type-hgu-55p-united-states-air-force%3Anasm_A20080402000 Aeronautics curator Dorothy Cochrane explores the history of the WASPs and their fight for recognition for their contributions to World War II: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/air-space-museum/2020/06/01/flying-homefront-women-airforce-service-pilots-wasp/ During World War II, the WASP proved that an airplane couldn’t tell the difference between a male and female pilot: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/we-represented-all-women-31963915/ Want to find out more about the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/thunderbirds-are-back-new-routine-180977758/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrator: Maggie RossMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-how-nicole-malachowski-beca/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-fit-250-years-of-american-history-and-c/In honor of the United States’ 250th birthday this year, Smithsonian magazine has curated an interactive map, “250 Places to Celebrate America (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/250-places-to-celebrate-america-180987824/) .” The map features 250 of the most dramatic, intriguing, and surprising places to visit across the country, spanning ten categories including food, film and oddball Americana. In this episode, we speak with one of the editors behind the map project. In addition, we interview a preeminent historian and co-host of the podcast “This Day” to discuss the significance of the 250th anniversary, how other national birthdays have been celebrated in the past and the larger context of this moment in American history. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the growing concerns around human-made objects in orbit hurtling back toward Earth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-astronomical-problem-of-space-junk/) , the vast fleet of shipwrecks at the bottoms of the Great Lakes (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/why-are-there-so-many-shipwrecks-in-the-great-lakes/) and the L.A. wildfires as viewed through the eyes of two photographers (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/looking-back-on-the-la-wildfires-through-the-lens-of-two-photographers/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images via public domain.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-fit-250-years-of-american-history-and-c/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-do-we-laugh-the-science-behind-humor-and/Why do we laugh? It might feel simple, but laughter is actually a full-body experience—one powered by complex neural circuits and ancient social instincts. And, it turns out, it can even be good for us. ___ A little more information: With early humans, laughter likely evolved as a social bonding signal. It was a nonthreatening vocal cue that promoted trust, cooperation and group cohesion. Similar vocalizations are seen in other primates, suggesting deep evolutionary roots. By signaling safety and shared understanding, laughter strengthened alliances and improved group survival. It’s also fueled by a surprisingly complex network in the brain and body. Laughter often begins with humor, like a funny joke. Several regions of the brain work together in this process. Areas involved in language and reasoning help you “get” the joke, while the brain’s reward system releases pleasure chemicals like dopamine. That’s why laughter can feel almost automatic and contagious—it activates systems tied to both emotion and social bonding. Laughter also has measurable physical effects. It increases heart rate and oxygen intake, stimulates circulation and briefly lowers stress hormones. Some research suggests it may support immune function and improve pain tolerance. Importantly, we don’t just laugh at jokes. We laugh far more often in social situations than when we’re alone. Scientists believe laughter evolved as a bonding tool, a signal that says, “This is safe.” It helps smooth social interactions and strengthen relationships. In the end, laughter is more than a reaction to humor. It’s a rapid-fire collaboration of cognition, emotion and biology—a built-in mechanism that promotes joy, resilience and human connection. #scienceoflaughter #whydowelaugh #psychologyoflaughter #whathappenswhenyoulaugh #howlaughterworks #laughterexplained Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about the science of laughter here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-we-laugh-59922652/ An anthropologist explores why laughter has the ability to delight, disturb and disrupt: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-does-laughter-have-such-a-strange-power-over-us-180985999/ Listeners can tell if laughers are friends or not. Find out why here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whos-laughing-now-listeners-can-tell-if-laughers-are-friends-or-not-180958721/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-do-we-laugh-the-science-behind-humor-and/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/10-incredible-facts-about-honeybees/Amazingly, bees have existed for over 100 million years—and today, they are one of the most important insects on Earth. Through pollination and food production, they play a critical role in ecosystems. They are known not only for making honey, but for their complex biology, advanced communication and finely tuned social systems. ___ A little more information: Found on every continent except Antarctica, bees work as a highly organized group that supports ecosystems, agriculture and food production on a massive scale. Modern science shows that their success is the result of precise coordination. Inside a beehive, thousands of individual bees function as a single colony. Each bee has a specialized role—worker, drone or queen—and their actions are regulated by chemical signals called pheromones. These invisible messages control everything from reproduction to defense, allowing the colony to respond instantly to changes in its environment. Beyond the hive, bees rely on advanced sensory systems to navigate the world. Their eyes detect ultraviolet light, revealing patterns on flowers that guide them directly to nectar. Their antennae measure air movement, humidity and scent, helping them locate food sources miles away. One of the most remarkable behaviors observed in bees is communication. When a worker bee finds a rich food source, it returns to the hive and performs the “waggle dance”—a precise movement that indicates the direction, distance, and quality of the nectar. Bees also play a crucial role in pollination. As they move from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen, they transfer material among plants, enabling reproduction. Today, this process supports a large percentage of the world’s food crops, making bees a foundational component of global food systems. Though small in size, bees remain one of the most scientifically complex and impactful insects on the planet. #bees #scienceofbees #pollination #honeybee #savethebees #beekeeping #hive #honey #animalfunfacts Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Learn more about bees here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-secret-life-of-bees-99559587/ Researchers develop a “superfood” for honeybees to fight the drastic decline of their colonies: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-develop-a-superfood-for-honeybees-to-fight-the-drastic-decline-of-their-colonies-180987234/ Bees manage to build the best honeycombs, even on imperfect foundations: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bees-manage-to-build-the-best-honeycombs-even-on-imperfect-foundations-180987272/ Facing the scourge of a parasitic Asian mite, commercial beekeepers are trying to breed a resistant strain of honeybee: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/beekeepers-seek-save-honeybees-colony-invading-pest-180973241/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Leland James / Studio Koa Narrator: Adam BenavidesMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/10-incredible-facts-about-honeybees/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-inca/The Inca were a powerful Indigenous civilization that emerged in South America during the early 1200s and flourished until the 16th century. At their height, they were the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas, known for their vast road system, sophisticated engineering and tightly organized government. The Inca are especially famous for their agricultural innovations and monumental sites like Machu Picchu. ___ A little more information: High in the Andes, around 1200 CE, a small kingdom emerged from the valley of Cusco, Peru. It was guided by a legend: the sun god Inti had sent his children to build a civilization. They were the Inca. Everything changed in 1438, when a visionary leader named Pachacuti took the throne. After defending Cusco from invasion, he reshaped Inca society from the ground up, turning a modest kingdom into a fast-expanding empire. In just a few decades, the Inca conquered and united vast territories along South America’s western spine, creating Tawantinsuyu, “the Land of Four Quarters.” By the late 1400s, their empire stretched over 2,500 miles, from modern-day Colombia to Chile. They built stone cities like Machu Picchu, engineered mountain terraces and laid down an extraordinary road system spanning 25,000 miles. At the center of this empire stood the Sapa Inca, the “only emperor,” believed to be divine. Society was tightly organized around labor and loyalty. The principle of ayni—reciprocity or mutual aid—guided everyday life. Citizens contributed through mit’a, a system of rotational labor that sustained the empire’s infrastructure and defense. But when Emperor Huayna Capac died around 1527, a deadly civil war erupted between his sons Atahualpa and Huascar—weakening the empire from within. Soon after, a small group of Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro arrived. In 1533, armed with steel and horses—and carrying disease deadly to the Indigenous population—they captured Atahualpa, shattering the empire’s leadership. Though Inca resistance continued for decades, the empire was effectively broken. Today, the legacy of the Inca—their knowledge, culture and resilience—continues to thrive among modern Andean communities. #inca #incanhistory #incaempire #incacivilization #quechua #peru #machupicchu Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine This Inca building—the only surviving structure of its kind—might have been designed to amplify sound and music: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-inca-building-the-only-surviving-structure-of-its-kind-might-have-been-built-to-amplify-sound-and-music-180987597/ A lock of braided human hair could change how we think about Inca society and record-keeping: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-lock-of-braided-human-hair-could-change-how-we-think-about-inca-society-and-record-keeping-180987187/ This colorful mural of stars and fish is the first of its kind found on the coast of northern Peru https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-colorful-mural-of-stars-and-fish-is-the-first-of-its-kind-found-on-the-coast-of-northern-peru-180987144/ Researchers have found an Inca tunnel beneath the Peruvian city of Cusco: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-have-found-an-inca-tunnel-beneath-the-Peruvian-city-of-cusco-180985872/ For more videos from Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Narrator: Laura WelshMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-inca/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-real-story-behind-abigail-adams-remember/In March of 1776, Abigail Adams — who would go on to become the nation’s second first lady — wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, as he and the other founders were debating independence. She wrote, "I desire you would remember the ladies (https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0241) and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands." A common contemporary interpretation is that Abigail Adams was advocating for women’s suffrage and rights more broadly. But most historians offer an alternative understanding. They believe that she was condemning husbands who had unchecked power over their wives. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with historian Cassandra Good (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/cassandra-good/) about the role of women in revolutionary America, the importance of this letter at the time, and how it has been interpreted since. A transcript is below. To subscribe to “There’s More to That” and to listen to past episodes about Smithsonian magazine’s interactive map to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-to-fit-250-years-of-american-history-and-culture-into-one-map-180988259/) , the discovery of an enslaved man’s narrative about his fight for freedom (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-stunning-escape-from-slavery-told-on-tattered-pages-180988083/) , and a baseball field resurrected in a World War II-era Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Images via Massachusetts Historical Society / National Gallery of Art and public domainMon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-real-story-behind-abigail-adams-remember/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-remarkable-amazing-stories-of-route-66-re/The famed Route 66 has had many lives (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-america-found-itself-ready-rock-roll-route66-stretching-chicago-los-angeles-road-endless-possibilities-180988406/?preview) . It emerged in an era when cars were new but roads were dangerous and intended for horses. But there were those who imagined a highway that would connect the cities of the Midwest to the West Coast — and Route 66 was born. During the Great Depression, the roadway helped migrants find their way to new jobs in the West. During World War II, it facilitated the transportation of munitions and armaments en route to the Pacific theater. Later, it became a busy thoroughfare for Americans wanting to explore their country.  Storefronts, towns, gas stations, cafes and much more grew up along its edges. Then, as major interstates became the main byways for traveling Americans, Route 66 fell into obsolescence, becoming more a time capsule than roadway. Today, some of those roadside stops still exist, catering to tourists seeking a dose of unvarnished Americana. This episode chronicles the origin of the federal interstate system and how Route 66 fits into that history — before the massive tangle of highways and roads we know today were paved and packed with traffic. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about an interactive map commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-to-fit-250-years-of-american-history-and-culture-into-one-map-180988259/) , the ongoing fascination with the sinking of the ’Edmund Fitzgerald (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-edmund-fitzgerald-sank-half-a-century-ago-were-still-fascinated-180987648/) ’ and the moving return of personal belongings to the Rosebud Sioux tribe (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-chance-for-healing-170-years-after-a-lakota-massacre-180987479/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Images via Library of Congress and public domain.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-remarkable-amazing-stories-of-route-66-re/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/colombia-dispatch-video-turco-gils-accordion/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/colombia-dispatches.html In Valledupar, Colombia, Turco Gil operates a school to teach local children how to play vallenato music. Listen to Juan David Atencia, a blind 9-year-old prodigy play the accordion.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/colombia-dispatch-video-turco-gils-accordion/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-daily-life-in-niaqornat-greenland/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/In-Search-of-the-Mysterious-Narwhal.html Staff writer Abigail Tucker relates her experiences reporting from the small Arctic village of narwhal hunters.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-daily-life-in-niaqornat-greenland/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-life-the-mask-of-lincoln/National Portrait Gallery historian David C. Ward discusses images of Abraham Lincoln that document his life in the White House (Anika Gupta, Beth Py-Lieberman, Jesse Rhodes and Ryan Reed). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/life-of-lincoln.htmlSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-life-the-mask-of-lincoln/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cat-and-mouse/Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, thought in images, as this clip from his early 1960s piece "Cat and Mouse" exemplifies. Henson's prolific mind is celebrated in the new Smithsonian traveling exhibition "Jim Henson's Fantastic World."Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cat-and-mouse/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/reviving-the-ohlone-language/Using archived ethnographic research, Linda Yamane is bringing back the language of the Ohlone, a Northern California tribe. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/american-indian-heritage.htmlSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/reviving-the-ohlone-language/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flipping-out-over-pinball/David Silverman has collected more than 800 pinball machines to preserve their history and create a national pinball museum.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flipping-out-over-pinball/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/farewell-tai-shan/Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2009/12/tai-shan-will-return-to-china/ Visitors to the National Zoo have enjoyed watching their baby panda grow up over the last four years.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/farewell-tai-shan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/seeing-baltimore-through-aubrey-bodines-lens/A. Aubrey Bodine's daughter reflects on her father's trained eye toward capturing the people of Charm City. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/photographing-baltimores-working-class-9338157/Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/seeing-baltimore-through-aubrey-bodines-lens/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-american-historys-dollhouse/Curator Larry Bird takes you inside the history of the Bradford dollhouseSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-american-historys-dollhouse/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/j-henry-fair-on-devastating-beauty/The photographer talks about what he aims for in his shots of industrial scars on the American landscape. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Devastation-From-Above.html.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/j-henry-fair-on-devastating-beauty/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/civil-war-ballooning/The story of how Thaddeus Lowe reinvented reconnaissance at the encouragement of President Lincoln.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/civil-war-ballooning/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/photographing-the-elusive-jaguar/Deep in the jungles of Brazil, photographer Steve Winter explains how he managed to capture stunning images of one of the world's top predators. Read more about jaguars at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/video/Photographing-the-Elusive-Jaguar.htmlSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/photographing-the-elusive-jaguar/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-many-beads-can-you-glue-to-the-outside-of/The Huichol people of west-central Mexico have designed the Vochol—a car turned work of artSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-many-beads-can-you-glue-to-the-outside-of/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-multimedia-spectacle-at-the-hirshhorn/Read more about SONG 1: http://j.mp/GTZ0Ru & http://j.mp/GVlcMx Watch how artist Doug Aitken transforms the outside of the art museum into a panoramic movie screenSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-multimedia-spectacle-at-the-hirshhorn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bringing-back-the-olympia-oysters/Oysters were Mark Twain's favorite food: http://j.mp/LCWpx8 What the tiny shellfish lacks in size, it makes up for in taste. Meet the farmers who are counting on the Olympia's successSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bringing-back-the-olympia-oysters/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-dolley-madison-saved-george-washington/As the British marched towards the White House, the first lady ordered a portrait of George Washington to be savedSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-dolley-madison-saved-george-washington/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-only-footage-of-mark-twain-in-existence/Silent film footage taken in 1909 by Thomas Edison at Mark Twain's estateSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-only-footage-of-mark-twain-in-existence/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/decoding-the-national-cryptologic-museum/The CIA burglar who went rogue: http://j.mp/UpJtCJ Using the Enigma and the Sigaba, world powers encrypted their messages in hopes of catching their opponents by surprise.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/decoding-the-national-cryptologic-museum/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-explosive-event-with-cai-guo-qiang/Read more about the event here: http://j.mp/TyPfBO The world famous Chinese artist uses pyrotechnics to turn a 40-foot-tall pine tree into an optical illusion.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-explosive-event-with-cai-guo-qiang/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-happens-to-your-body-in/Obviously it's a bad idea to go out into space without a trusty spacesuit, but what exactly happens?Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-happens-to-your-body-in/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-boomerangs-work/It depends on which variety of boomerang you're using. Our host Eric Schulze has moreSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-boomerangs-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-keeps-satellites-from-fa/Are you the kind of person who needs to know what keeps satellites from plummeting to the Earth in a big, fiery ball? Then you need to watch this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze gives us the lowdown on what-in-the-name-of-science makes those satellites stay up.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-keeps-satellites-from-fa/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fishing-with-irrawaddy-dolphins/Local Burmese fisher Maung Lay shows how his family has traditionally teamed up with rare river dolphins and explains why their partnership is now at risk. (Video by Demelza Stokes and Mark Scialla)Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fishing-with-irrawaddy-dolphins/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-is-wind/In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, explains what causes wind. The answer might blow you away.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-is-wind/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/need-a-new-organ-surgeon-anthony-atala-sees-a/Anthony Atala | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Life Sciences The director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Atala is a surgeon and leading expert in creating living human tissues and organs to replace those that are defective or damaged. He has spent the past decade attempting to construct living organs using 3-D printing technology. Atala implanted the world’s first laboratory-grown organ into a human in 1999 and, this year, he and his colleagues “printed” cartilage, bone and muscle tissue before successfully implanting them into a lab animal. That’s a crucial first step toward Atala’s long-term goal of overcoming the dire shortage of donated organs with custom-made body parts. Read more about Atala's work: http://smithmag.co/SiiV2J | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqySun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/need-a-new-organ-surgeon-anthony-atala-sees-a/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/nasas-first-chimp-in-space/As part of Project Mercury, NASA prepared to send a chimpanzee, Ham, into space to test the effects of space on a living creature.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/nasas-first-chimp-in-space/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-stunningly-clear-features-on-the-lindow-ma/Lindow Man, believed to be a victim of human sacrifice, remains one of the best preserved ancient bodies in all of Europe. The level of detail on his face is staggering—not bad for a 2,000-year-old mummySun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-stunningly-clear-features-on-the-lindow-ma/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/david-burnett-on-being-a-war-photographer-in-v/In the years before digital cameras, the process of getting shots from the field to the printers was incredibly complicated and dangerous. Video by Adam Grossman | Good Dog MediaSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/david-burnett-on-being-a-war-photographer-in-v/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-1919-world-series-fix-that-tarnished-ameri/The Chicago White Sox were heavy favorites going into the 1919 World Series. But they were defeated by the Cincinnati Reds - and it soon became clear that the game was riggedSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-1919-world-series-fix-that-tarnished-ameri/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-an-amazing-time-lapse-of-growing-mushroo/A mesmerizing 10,000-shot video captures the dramatic life cycles of several species (Owen Reiser)Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-an-amazing-time-lapse-of-growing-mushroo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elmo-final-logo/With his bright red coat, big orange nose, and wide eyes, Elmo is arguably the most famous of the Sesame Street muppets–but he didn’t always have it this good. Elmo began as an "Anything Muppet"—an extra, if you will, until Kevin Clash refashioned his character into the one we know—and kids love–today. Throughout the '80s his star continued to shine, eventually becoming an international icon and best-selling Christmas toy. Forty years later, he’s still going strong, enshrined in a popular exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elmo-final-logo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/announcing-the-winners-of-the-21st-annual-smit/After reviewing more than 30,000 photos, the editors of Smithsonian magazine are proud to announce the winning submissions. Learn more about the finalists and winners of 2024 here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/see-winners-21st-annual-smithsonian-magazine-photo-contest-180984001/. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/announcing-the-winners-of-the-21st-annual-smit/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/americas-best-new-restaurant-celebrates-the-f/African cuisine has always been well represented in the United States, particularly in dishes characterized as “Southern” in origin, like gumbo or hoppin’ john. But even before chef Serigne Mbaye’s New Orleans eatery Dakar NOLA was named (https://www.eater.com/24175309/james-beard-awards-2024-winners-restaurant-and-chef-awards) the Best New Restaurant of 2024 at the James Beard Awards this week, the contributions of the African diaspora to the American diet had at last begun to enjoy a long-overdue reappraisal via reality television, Netflix docuseries and, most important, a number of widely praised dining establishments: If you want to book a table at Tatiana (https://www.tatiananyc.com/story/) in Manhattan, Dept of Culture (https://www.deptofculturebk.com/) in Brooklyn or Kann (https://kannrestaurant.com/) in Portland, you’d better plan ahead, because their tables are often booked up well in advance. In this episode, Smithsonian contributor Rosalind Cummings-Yeates explains how the ascendancy of pan-African cuisine from “auntie” restaurants into the rarefied fine dining sphere is part of a larger and more meaningful campaign of cultural reclamation. And Mbaye tells us why it was so important to him to make Dakar NOLA (https://www.dakarnola.com/) a showcase of the distinctive flavors of Senegal, where he spent his formative years. Read Rosalind's Smithsonian story about the rise of West African fine dining in the U.S. here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/these-chefs-are-elevating-african-and-caribbean-cuisines-from-carryouts-to-fine-dining-180984466/) . See the full list of 2024's James Beard Award winners here (https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2024-james-beard-award-winners) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz / photography by Katherine Kimball, Joshua Brasted, and Jeremy Tauriac Music by APM Music.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/americas-best-new-restaurant-celebrates-the-f/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-we-love-eclipses/Eclipses have been a subject of fascination throughout human history, and the fact that we now have a clearer understanding of what they actually are—at least in the celestial mechanics sense—than we did in centuries past has not made them any less exciting. With the North American total solar eclipse (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/prepare-for-2024s-solar-eclipse-now-with-these-four-key-steps-180981933/) just days away as we’re releasing this episode, and the next one visible from the contiguous United States not due until 2044, we’ll learn about the eclipses from astronomy obsessive (and Smithsonian science correspondent) Dan Falk and hear from Indigenous astronomer Samantha Doxtator about how the Haudenosaunee people have observed and interpreted these mysterious daylight darkenings of the skies over many centuries. You can read Dan’s Smithsonian story about how ancient civilizations responded to eclipses here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-ancient-civilizations-reacted-to-eclipses-180983894/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-we-love-eclipses/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/before-beyonce-and-taylor-swift-ran-the-world/Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have achieved a degree of power in the music industry that singer/songwriters of earlier eras like Joan Baez—as the folk icon tells us—never even contemplated. Six decades ago, Baez was part of a folk revival that regarded music not merely as entertainment but as a vessel for political engagement and social change. In the documentary Joan Baez: I Am a Noise, the now-83-year-old musician and activist reflects on her career and legacy. Smithsonian senior editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz interviewed Baez about the film and about the shifting intersection of art and activism. We present excerpts from that conversation in this episode. Then, veteran music critic Evelyn McDonnell discusses how the political dimensions of pop music have changed since Baez’s era, and what it means that many fans now look Beyoncé and Taylor Swift not just for great music, but for comment on the state of the world. Clips from Joan Baez: I Am a Noise in this episode are used with permission from Magnolia Pictures & Mead Street Films. Learn more about that film here (https://www.magpictures.com/joanbaez/) . Evelyn McDonnell’s latest book is The World According to Joan Didion (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-world-according-to-joan-didion-evelyn-mcdonnell?variant=41001679487010) . You can learn more about Evelyn and her work at her site, Populism (https://populismblog.wordpress.com/about-2/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/before-beyonce-and-taylor-swift-ran-the-world/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-separate-fact-from-myth-in-the-extraord/The facts of Sojourner Truth’s life are inspiring: Born into slavery in the late 1790s, she became an influential abolitionist and Pentecostal preacher, transfixing audiences from the mid 1840s through the late 1870s with her candid and powerful voice, not to mention her singing. Tall and strong, Truth was physically formidable, too. No one was using the term “intersectionality” in the 19th century, but Truth embodied this idea, declaring that her Blackness and her womanhood were equally essential facets of her identity. But many people, both in Truth’s lifetime and in the approximately 140 years since her death, have found it useful to recast Truth as they wish to remember her instead of as she was. There’s no better example of this than “Ain’t I a woman?,” the hypothetical that Truth supposedly put to the audience when she addressed a women’s rights convention in 1851 in Akron, Ohio—the city where a public plaza will be dedicated in her honor this spring. There’s reason to doubt she said that, or at least that she said it in that way. In this episode, we speak with two historians who’ve dug into Truth’s complicated legacy and challenged much of what’s been written about this American icon. Cynthia Greenlee reported on recent efforts to honor Truth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remarkable-untold-story-sojourner-truth-180983691/) for the March 2024 issue of Smithsonian. Nell Irvin Painter wrote the groundbreaking 1996 biography Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol, and she’s hard at work on a follow-up volume titled Sojourner Truth Was a New Yorker and She Didn’t Say That. Together, Greenlee and Painter help us understand us who Sojourner Truth really was, and why several generations of activists have claimed her as a symbol — at the expense of our understanding of her as a person. Read Cynthia Greenlee’s March 2024 Smithsonian story about Sojourner Truth here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/remarkable-untold-story-sojourner-truth-180983691/) . You can learn more about Dr. Greenlee and her work at her site (https://www.cynthiagreenlee.com/) . You can learn more about Dr. Nell Irvin Painter’s work as an author, artist, and historian at her site (http://www.nellpainter.com/) . And read more here for the history of Mar-a-Lago (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-mar-a-lago-180965214/) mentioned in our dinner party fact. Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-separate-fact-from-myth-in-the-extraord/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/when-your-great-great-great-grandfather-is-a-c/Photographer Drew Gardner has a passion for history. His long-term project, “The Descendants,” (https://www.drewgardner.com/descendants)  wherein he recreates famous portraits of historical figures featuring their direct offspring, is his most visible expression of this interest. But like a lot of people who study history, Gardner has in recent years begun to contemplate more deeply the question of whose stories have been judged worthy of preservation, and whose have been allowed to fade into obscurity. That was how he decided to shift his specific focus to locating and photographing Black American descendants of Civil War veterans. You can take a look at Gardner’s photographs and read magazine editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz’s exploration of their meaning here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/) . On the latest episode of the Smithsonian podcast “There’s More to That,” (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast)  I speak with Janisse Flowers and her 9-year-son, Neikoye, who are descended from the Civil War drummer boy David Miles Moore Jr. After some reflection, Janisse and her husband decided to grant Gardner’s request to photograph Neikoye dressed in a replica of Moore’s Union Army uniform. Both Janisse and Neikoye share their surprise over how this experience made them more conscious of their heritage. I’m also joined by Gardner himself, who describes the challenges—and, he hopes, the potential benefits—of asking Black Americans to revisit one of the most painful chapters of America’s history by (almost) literally stepping into their ancestors’ shoes. You can learn more about Drew and his work at his website (https://www.drewgardner.com/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/when-your-great-great-great-grandfather-is-a-c/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-gory-origins-of-valentines-day/Typically, Valentine’s Day conjures up images of truffles and teddy bears - all wrapped in a heart-shaped bow. Is this holiday really a day about love? Or…death? Turns out, the history of Valentine’s Day is a little more tumultuous – and bloody – than expected. ___ A little more information: Valentine's Day has a bizarre history. Its origins are partly linked to Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr who was executed for secretly marrying couples against the orders of Emperor Claudius II of Rome. And when was this holy priest decapitated? That’s right: February 14, 273 AD. Eventually, the history of this martyrdom transformed into a celebration of romance – especially during the 14th century, when courtly love flourished. Aided by medieval poets like Geoffrey Chaucer, who linked the day to lovers in his poem “The Parlement of Foules,” the romantic nature of the holiday gained momentum. While the origins of Valentine’s Day are…complex, it has evolved into a celebration of love, affection, and romance for many worldwide. #valentinesday #valetinesdaytrivia #historyofvalentinesday #romantictraditions Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine Valentine’s Day began as a feast to celebrate the decapitation of a third-century Christian martyr…or two. Learn more about its history here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gory-origins-valentines-day-180968156/ Why do we even eat chocolate on Valentine’s Day? Read here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-chocolate-and-valentines-day-mated-life-180954228/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Dan Wolf Video Editor and Narrator: Adam BenavidesSun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-gory-origins-of-valentines-day/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place/Baseball was a way of life in the camps that incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II. The United States government stripped the Americans who lived in these camps of their liberties, but for those communities, having played the game for generations, baseball brought them closer to each other and, paradoxically, to their country. At Manzanar, one such site at the foot of the Sierra Nevada in California, dozens of baseball and softball teams played regularly. Decades after the camps closed, and after Japanese Americans had returned to their homes on the West Coast, Manzanar was established as a historic site (https://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm) . Replicas of camp buildings were erected to memorialize what had happened there, but the baseball field was in complete disrepair. Artist and baseball enthusiast Dan Kwong led the herculean restoration effort. Host Ari Daniel talks with Kwong and Smithsonian writer Rachel Ng, who reported (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/moving-story-of-bringing-baseball-back-to-manzanar-where-thousands-of-japanese-americans-were-incarcerated-during-world-war-II-180986312/) on the endeavor.  Read the original Smithsonian article here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/moving-story-of-bringing-baseball-back-to-manzanar-where-thousands-of-japanese-americans-were-incarcerated-during-world-war-II-180986312/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on a recently solved mystery surrounding the burial of John F. Kennedy (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-mystery-surrounding-the-grave-of-jfk-is-solved-180986178/) , the only battalion during World War II composed entirely of Black women (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-remarkable-story-of-wwiis-6888-as-told-by-the-women-who-were-there-180982854/) , and everything you wanted to know about sweating and sports (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-to-sweat-like-an-olympianthis-summer-dont-be-embarrassed-by-those-pit-stains-or-your-drenched-workout-clothes-our-expert-on-the-science-of-sweat-says-perspiration-is-what-makes-humans-faster-higher-and-stronger-180984760/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts.  “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos by Aaron Rapoport and the National Archives under public domain.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dive-into-the-deeper-story-of-the-american-rev/Two hundred and fifty years ago this month, silversmith Paul Revere took to his horse on a midnight ride to warn American rebels that British troops were approaching. The famous ride and an ensuing battle at Lexington and Concord (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-have-discovered-the-first-musket-balls-fired-in-the-american-revolution-180984726/) touched off the American Revolution. But there are other stories involving the role that enslaved Africans and Southern colonists played in launching and sustaining the rebellion that led to the founding of the United States of America. Host Ari Daniel speaks with Nikki Stewart of Old North Illuminated (https://www.oldnorth.com/about-old-north-illuminated/) and Smithsonian writer Andrew Lawler (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/andrew-lawler/) about these lesser-known histories. Read the original Smithsonian article here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-spurred-south-join-american-revolution-180986240/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about a baseball field resurrected in a World War II-era Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) , a recently solved mystery surrounding the burial of John F. Kennedy (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-mystery-surrounding-the-grave-of-jfk-is-solved-180986178/) and how artificial intelligence is making ancient scrolls readable again (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-1/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-year-old-scrolls-readable-again/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos by Ari Daniel, gregobagel via Getty Images and the Metropolitan Museum of Art under public domain.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dive-into-the-deeper-story-of-the-american-rev/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-prehistoric-cave-that-trapped-and-entombed/Natural Trap Cave is a pit in northern Wyoming into which countless animals have fallen and met their untimely demise since the Pleistocene. Paleontologists today find the cave a treasure trove — a stunning record of the species that have long roamed the area. The mammalian fossils left behind shed light on the climate, food sources and migration patterns of these species from earlier eras. Careful excavation work over the years that has involved sifting for bones, extracting ancient DNA, and looking for prehistoric pollen has revealed not just the plants and animals that once populated this part of the world, but also the ecosystems and climates that governed it. It also has required some rather advanced rappelling skills. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with vertebrate paleontologist Julie Meachen and Smithsonian contributing writer Michael Ray Taylor (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/trove-ice-age-fossils-buried-in-wyoming-cave-rewriting-understanding-prehistoric-animals-180986577/) about what rappelling into Natural Trap Cave reveals about its contents and what it can tell us about Earth’s past. To subscribe to "There’s More to That," and to listen to past episodes about the sex lives of dinosaurs (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-truth-about-the-sex-lives-of-dinosaurs/) , the numerous archaeological treasures that await beneath the city of Rome (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-joys-of-discovering-the-roman-underground-from-the-colosseum-to-whats-beneath-the-trevi-foundation/) , and the science of roadkill (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-1/roads-scholars/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos courtesy of Dr. Susumu Tomiya and public domain.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-prehistoric-cave-that-trapped-and-entombed/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-you-should-love-durian-the-worlds-smelli/The durian, a spiky fruit that grows across Southeast Asia, has a polarizing reputation for its pungent odor and strong taste. There are the durian haters — people who experience waves of revulsion at the mere thought of consuming one. And then there are the superfans who sing its praises and travel the world to experience the rare and complex bliss it inspires on the palate. Those who relish this fruit say there’s a lot to love. It can be eaten raw (shortly after falling from the tree) or prepared as the hero of both sweet and savory dishes. In this episode, host Ari Daniel travels with his children to a San Francisco restaurant to interview its chef and owner, Azalina Eusope (https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/california/san-francisco/restaurant/azalina-s) , about her love of durian and the cuisine it inspires. And he speaks with Smithsonian contributing writer Tom Downey about his trip to Malaysia (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/search-worlds-best-durian-where-divisive-fruit-prized-reviled-180986806/) to experience the euphoria of fresh durian firsthand. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about using fruit depicted in Renaissance paintings to rescue modern agriculture (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/?page=2) , an award-winning restaurant in New Orleans that showcases Senegalese cuisine (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/americas-best-new-restaurant-celebrates-the-flavors-of-west-africa-180984531/) , and a prehistoric pit that entombed animals for millennia (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/journey-into-a-prehistoric-cave-that-trapped-and-entombed-animals-for-millennia/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos courtesy of Dr. Susumu Tomiya and public domain.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-you-should-love-durian-the-worlds-smelli/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/birds-bats-and-bugs-the-teeming-world-above/The skies above us are filled with legions of migrating birds, bats, bugs and microbes. And yet we know little about their movements and intentions, mostly because this ethereal world has largely been inaccessible for research. But new technologies are providing a window into how animals use their aerial habitat to travel and hunt. The burgeoning field is called “aeroecology,” and researchers are revealing just how substantially humans are altering the world overhead—with deadly consequences for flying animals. The new insights are giving us ways to make the air safer for these creatures. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with Dustin Partridge of the New York City Bird Alliance as he directs the intermittent shutdown of the iconic Tribute in Light to protect disoriented birds during 9/11 this year. And we hear from Smithsonian contributing writer Jim Robbins about what aeroecology is telling us about the ecosystem above (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/new-science-aeroecology-tells-more-about-amazing-creatures-humans-can-ensure-survival-180987151/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the army of people devoted to saving native bees (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-swarm-of-people-intent-on-saving-our-bees-180986278/) , the prehistoric cave that entombed animals for millennia (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/journey-into-a-prehistoric-cave-that-trapped-and-entombed-animals-for-millennia-180986775/) and the sex lives of dinosaurs (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-truth-about-the-sex-lives-of-dinosaurs/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Cleo Levin, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Photos by malik / Jim via Adobe Stock / Dina Litovsky and public domain.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/birds-bats-and-bugs-the-teeming-world-above/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-photographers-glimpse-into-the-dwindling-wo/Gretchen Kay Stuart (https://gretchenkaystuart.com/) is a wildlife photographer who has cultivated a special relationship with the Cascade red fox. She first spotted the rare animal in 2020 on the slope of Mount Rainier in Washington State. “I instantly fell in love,” she recalls. So Stuart started documenting the foxes wherever she could. Sometimes she’s witnessed tragic endings, but other times, the outcome has been more rewarding. For instance, she received exclusive access to photograph a family of these foxes, and her documentation is helping bring awareness to this subspecies (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cascade-red-foxes-notoriously-reclusive-how-photographer-captured-stunning-images-endangered-species-180988419/?preview) that has only 50-some individuals remaining. In this episode, host Ari Daniel talks to Stuart and Jocelyn Akins of the Cascades Carnivore Project (https://www.cascadescarnivore.org/team) about what makes these foxes special, the threats they’re facing, and what’s being done to keep them from going extinct. A transcript is below. Stuart’s favorite Cascade red fox photograph will be featured in a new exhibition, “The Nature of Hope (https://www.festivaldellafotografiaetica.it/the-nature-of-hope-eng/) ,” celebrating the life of Jane Goodall. The image is also part of a fundraiser (https://vitalimpacts.org/collections/maison-senato-milano-open-edition/products/gretchen-kay-stuart-whitefoot) sponsored by the conservation group Vital Impacts to benefit the Jane Goodall Institute. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about a prehistoric cave that entombed animals for millennia (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/journey-into-a-prehistoric-cave-that-trapped-and-entombed-animals-for-millennia-180986775/) ; the teeming world of migrating birds, bats and bugs above our heads (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/birds-bats-and-bugs-the-teeming-world-above-our-heads-180987559/) ; and the army of experts and citizen scientists devoted to protecting native bees (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-swarm-of-people-intent-on-saving-our-bees-180986278/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Images by Gretchen Kay Stuart and public domain.Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-photographers-glimpse-into-the-dwindling-wo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-the-photobooth/Collector Nakki Goranin leads a tour of her collection (Kenneth Fletcher). Read more at http://smithsonian.com/photoboothSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-the-photobooth/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/americas-backyard/Take a tour of the National Mall, past and present (Kenneth R. Fletcher). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-pierre-lenfant-and-washington-dc-39487784/Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/americas-backyard/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-endangered-gorillas-of-the-congo/In the Virunga National Forest, the mountain gorilla population sits in the middle of a war zone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as forest rangers track and keep a watchful eye on the threatened primates Music: Kevin MacLeodSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-endangered-gorillas-of-the-congo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-navy-plebe-re-meets-his-match/Photojournalist Lucian Perkins reunites Naval Academy graduates Sandee Irwin and Don Holcomb, 30 years after his photo captured the new gender dynamics at the school (Photography Interview and Production by Lucian Perkins; Music: Kevin MacLeod; Photos from World War II, Korea and Vietnam by the U.S. Army and Air Force). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/up-in-arms-over-a-co-ed-plebe-summer-30290895/Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-navy-plebe-re-meets-his-match/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zombie-caterpillar/A dying caterpillar's unusual reaction to a predatory bug.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zombie-caterpillar/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-festival-of-st-efisio/Since 1656, thousands of Sardinians have filled the streets of Cagliari to honor St. Efisio (Produced by: Brendan McCabe; Photography & Audio by: Ann Johansson)Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-festival-of-st-efisio/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-mariachis-of-puebla/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Savoring-Puebla.html The streets of Puebla are filled with the sound of Mariachis who sing at most traditional Mexican ceremony.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-mariachis-of-puebla/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/memphis-beale-street-and-beyond/The city famous for blues and barbecue is a little “ragged around the edges” according to tour guide Tad Pierson, who drives tourists around in his pink 1955 Cadillac by Lucian PerkinsSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/memphis-beale-street-and-beyond/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ins-and-outs-of-court-tennis/Between the unusual court shape and specialized equipment, jeu de paume is a game that must be seen to be believedSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ins-and-outs-of-court-tennis/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/henri-cartier-bressons-with-the-abraham-linco/Filmed by the famous photographer during the Spanish Civil War, this clip debuted at the 2010 Orphan Film SymposiumSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/henri-cartier-bressons-with-the-abraham-linco/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-chimpanzees-learn/Primatologist Tetsuro Matsuzawa studies chimps in hopes of uncovering how they learn and communicateSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-chimpanzees-learn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/serene-smithsonian-gardens/Carefully planned gardens provide visitors a place to relax and reflect during their visit to the Smithsonian.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/serene-smithsonian-gardens/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/palladio-americas-architectural-grandfather/The grand buildings of Washington, D.C. would look quite different were it not for the work of Palladio. Read more at Smithsonian.comSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/palladio-americas-architectural-grandfather/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/when-tarantulas-attack/A Smithsonian entomologist demonstrates how tarantulas feed by placing live crickets inches from their jaws.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/when-tarantulas-attack/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-neal-cassady-as-dean-moriarty/In this clip from the documentary, see how Cassady embodied the spirit of Jack Kerouac's iconic character from On the RoadSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-neal-cassady-as-dean-moriarty/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-long-history-of-3d-photography/A museum in Portland, Oregon highlights the multi-layered path of 3D imagery, from stereoscopes of the American West to blockbuster moviesSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-long-history-of-3d-photography/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-portraits-of-thomas-jefferson/Read more about Thomas Jefferson: http://j.mp/w07Y8G At the turn of the 18th century, Americans learned what their leaders looked like through paintings and drawings, explains a historian at the National Portrait GallerySat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-portraits-of-thomas-jefferson/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-identify-a-bird-from-a-single-feather/Ornithologist Carla Dove explains how the microscopic structure of a bird's feather can help identify the species and at the same time, make air travel safer for humansSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-identify-a-bird-from-a-single-feather/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/opening-jim-thorpes-wheaties/Read more about Thorpe: http://j.mp/M9PsXT Smithsonian conservators go to extreme lengths to prepare an iconic box of cereal for displaySat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/opening-jim-thorpes-wheaties/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jim-andersons-quest-to-solve-climate-change/The American Ingenuity Award winner warns that no place on Earth is safe from the dangers of global warmingSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jim-andersons-quest-to-solve-climate-change/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-did-ancient-greeks-and-ro/Reclining and dining in the ancient classical worldSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-did-ancient-greeks-and-ro/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-does-my-dog-howl-at-siren/Eric Schulze delves into little Rover's mind to see what all that racket is aboutSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-does-my-dog-howl-at-siren/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-when-will-the-leaning-tower-o/Have you ever wondered if the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a catastrophe waiting to happen? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze explains how architects and engineers spent the last eight hundred years or so making things go from bad to worse, bringing the gravity-defying tower to the brink of disasterSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-when-will-the-leaning-tower-o/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-elephants-jump/In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian Host, Eric Schulze, weighs in on whether or not elephants can jump.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-elephants-jump/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-evening-with-eo-wilson/E.O. Wilson discusses his new book, "Half-Earth," and his recent and thought-provoking proposal to devote half the surface of the Earth to nature. The livestream video features E.O. Wilson and Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-evening-with-eo-wilson/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sonic-boom-of-light/Using an ultrafast camera, scientists successfully imaged the scattering of light in different materials. Credit: Science AdvancesSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sonic-boom-of-light/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-henry-ford-found-the-right-tires-for-model/Henry Ford was a genius who virtually created the automobile industry as we know it. But what's less lauded was his talent for publicity—and his ability to partner with other pioneers such as Ohio's Harvey Firestone.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-henry-ford-found-the-right-tires-for-model/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-truffle-dog-is-facing-a-really-challengin/Lola, a Lagotto Romagnolo trained to sniff out and dig up black truffles in her native Washington, is ready for a challenge: to find truffles out of season on a hot day where their distinctive odor dissipates really quickly. Video courtesy of Smithsonian Channel.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-truffle-dog-is-facing-a-really-challengin/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-ancient-greeks-became-fascinated-with-anci/Ancient Greeks were endlessly fascinated by Egyptian culture, and especially the Egyptian Gods whom they saw as versions of their own. So much so that they ended up adopting Egyptian culture and customs as their own.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-ancient-greeks-became-fascinated-with-anci/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-004-how-did-dinosaurs-die/Almost 66 million years ago, an asteroid hit Earth – and changed our planet forever. From tsunamis to shockwaves, join us on a journey through time as we explore the science behind this cataclysmic event. READ MORE about the last day of a dinosaur here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-last-day-in-the-life-of-an-edmontosaurus-180979932/ --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smg-004-how-did-dinosaurs-die/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-one-photographer-recreated-19th-century-po/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USASat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-one-photographer-recreated-19th-century-po/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-do-we-vote-on-tuesdays/It’s a tradition that dates back more than 100 years, but have you ever wondered why? Learn more about why we cast our votes on a seemingly random weekday - and its roots in past customs. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-do-we-vote-on-tuesdays/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-osage-changed-martin-scorseses-mind-a/A true-life saga involving organized crime, racial prejudice, and evolving American identity, David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the F.B.I. seemed at first glance like a perfect fit for Martin Scorsese, the beloved filmmaker whose dozens of critically adored movies include Taxi Driver, GoodFellas, and The Departed. But when Jim Gray, a former chief of the Osage Nation, and other Osage leaders invited the filmmaker to Oklahoma to hear their concerns about his new project, Scorsese came. Scorsese listened. And then he rewrote and reconfigured Killers of the Flower Moon from soup to nuts, with a result that has earned a rapturous response from Native viewers like Gray and journalist Sandra Hale Schulman, and from the broader critical community, too. The movie opens in theatres tomorrow and will appear on the Apple+ streaming service before the end of the year. In this episode, Schulman walks me through a brief history of how Native Americans have been depicted in a century’s worth of movies. Then, Chief Gray tells me about his personal connection to Killers of the Flower Moon, the pattern of Native American erasure from national discourse, and how he and his colleagues persuaded Scorsese to rethink the new movie. A transcript of this episode can be found here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/how-the-osage-changed-martin-scorseses-mind-180983094smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/how-the-osage-changed-martin-scorseses-mind-180983094) . Sandra’s Smithsonian story about Native representation in cinema is here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-native-representation-in-film-180983043/) . You can learn more about Sandra and her work at her site (http://www.sandraschulman.com/) . Dennis McAuliffe Jr.’s The Deaths of Sybil Bolton: An American History, which Chief Gray cites as formative in this episode, is here (https://www.amazon.com/Deaths-Sybil-Bolton-American-History/dp/081292150X) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-osage-changed-martin-scorseses-mind-a/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-we-see-oppenheimer-plus-smithsonians-in/Christopher Nolan's epic new film "Oppenheimer" is no mere biopic… nor is it the first attempt to capture the father of the atomic bomb in fiction. We look at prior dramatizations of this very complicated man—including one wherein J. Robert Oppenheimer played himself!—and examine why they worked or didn't. In the episode: Physicist-turned-photographer Minesh Bacrania shares his experience photographing inside the top-secret labs at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where J. Robert Oppenheimer and other scientists created the first nuclear weapon. Next, with Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer exceeding commercial expectations, Smithsonian magazine writer Andy Kifer discusses the complexities of Oppenheimer's genius and how prior attempts to depict him in film and television and on stage have fared. Read Andy Kifer’s “The Real Story Behind Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer” here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-history-behind-christopher-nolans-oppenheimer-180982529/) . See Minesh Bacrania’s photographs of Los Alamos and read Smithsonian senior editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz’s text here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/exclusive-behind-scenes-look-los-alamos-lab-where-robert-oppenheimer-created-atomic-bomb-180982336/) or in the July/August 2023 issue of Smithsonian. There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rozas Rivera, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-we-see-oppenheimer-plus-smithsonians-in/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/manufacturing-of-bitumen-lined-water-bottles/Manufacturing of bitumen-lined water bottles in the traditional method of Native Californian Indians. Credit: Nicholas Radtkey, UC Davis & Sabrina SholtsSat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/manufacturing-of-bitumen-lined-water-bottles/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/re-broadcast-meet-the-wide-awakes-the-club-o/We’re busy at work on our new season, which will hit your feeds later this month. In the meantime, we’re bringing you an episode of the Smithsonian Institution’s podcast Sidedoor to tide you over. Smithsonian curator of political history Jon Grinspan takes you inside the story of the Wide Awakes, a group of torch-bearing (https://www.si.edu/object/campaign-parade-torch-1868:nmah_497300) young activists who helped elect Abraham Lincoln and spurred the nation toward Civil War. Grinspan recently wrote about the Wide Awakes (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/club-cape-wearing-activists-helped-elect-lincoln-spark-civil-war-180984000/) in an issue of Smithsonian magazine. We’ll be back soon with all new episodes to kick off our second season. Happy new year!Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/re-broadcast-meet-the-wide-awakes-the-club-o/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-joys-of-discovering-the-roman-underground/Tourism is surging in many places around the world—swarmed national parks, throngs of visitors amassing in churches and museums, and sidewalk cafes overburdened with diners. In this episode, we’d like to offer a less crowded way to be a tourist: consider going underground.  This summer is a Jubilee Year in Rome, so the city will be more packed than ever. But below the traffic jams and bustle of pedestrians in the streets of Rome lie its subterranean sites, which include ancient aqueducts, pagan shrines and even apartment complexes built centuries ago. While tourists pound the pavement visiting the iconic landmarks aboveground, explorers can search beneath the streets of the Eternal City for a different perspective on ancient—and modern—Roman life.  Host Ari Daniel speaks with Smithsonian contributing writer Tony Perrottet, who wrote recently about Rome’s underworld (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/explore-romes-hidden-underworld-city-beneath-city-180986228/) —the city lurking beneath the city. And he offers numerous tips to listeners who want to explore these fascinating and tranquil sites for themselves. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the use of Italian Renaissance paintings to improve the farming of tomorrow (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/how-to-use-renaissance-paintings-to-improve-the-farming-of-tomorrow/) , a special baseball field at a Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) and the use of artificial intelligence to make ancient scrolls readable again (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-1/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-year-old-scrolls-readable-again/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos by Tim Bieber via Getty Images and public domain.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-joys-of-discovering-the-roman-underground/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-superman-became-a-character-for-the-ages/This summer’s big blockbuster, Superman, marks the latest installment of the Man of Steel — a character whose identity has evolved over the decades, connecting with the concerns and ideas of the day. Even the phrase he may be best known for — “Truth, Justice, and the American Way” — has changed to suit new vibes and new markets.  Superman’s persona transcends any one classification. He is Kal-El, an alien sent to Earth by parents with hopes of a better life for their child. He is Clark Kent, a good ole boy from Kansas who moves to the big city and works a 9 to 5. Completing the trifecta is his identity as a formidable superhero who battles fictional enemies including Lex Luthor and real-life villains like Hitler and Stalin. Because Superman has alternated between being the mouthpiece of American power and that of the disenfranchised and oppressed, he has often been misunderstood. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with Smithsonian contributing writer Samantha Baskind about what these different “Supermen” (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/heres-how-supermans-iconic-motto-of-truth-justice-and-the-american-way-evolved-over-time-180986927/) have meant throughout history and what it means for his legacy today. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the search for the remains of fallen airmen from World War II (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-stunning-search-for-the-remains-of-fallen-wwii-airmen/) , the magic of what lies beneath the city of Rome (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-joys-of-discovering-the-roman-underground-from-the-colosseum-to-whats-beneath-the-trevi-foundation/) , and a deeper look at lesser-known stories of the American Revolution (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/dive-into-deeper-story-american-revolution-how-new-england-virginia-united-against-british/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Photos: Swim Ink 2, LLC / Corbis via Getty Images and public domain.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-superman-became-a-character-for-the-ages/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/venomous-snakes-represent-a-serious-public-hea/Snakes bite five million people each year, killing some 125,000 and disfiguring or blinding three times as many. Antivenoms aren’t always readily available where the problematic snakes live. They also can be deadly themselves, as they could induce life-threatening allergic reactions. Within the last couple years, however, researchers have made substantial progress toward creating safer antivenoms, reducing the chance of anaphylaxis. Some dream of a universal remedy, but venom is a complex brew, and many of its most dangerous components remain unknown to science. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with journalist Victoria Malloy, who wrote a story for Smithsonian magazine about antivenoms (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-high-stakes-quest-to-make-snakebites-survivable-took-leaps-forward-this-year-with-promising-new-avenues-to-safer-antivenoms-180987876/) , and researcher Irene Khalek. They discuss the danger of snakebites globally, the history of antivenoms and their traditional manufacture, and the various efforts underway to create safer versions. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the teeming world of migrating birds, bats and bugs above our heads (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/birds-bats-and-bugs-the-teeming-world-above-our-heads-180987559/) ; a prehistoric cave that entombed animals for millennia (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/journey-into-a-prehistoric-cave-that-trapped-and-entombed-animals-for-millennia-180986775/) ; and the army of experts and citizen scientists devoted to protecting native bees (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-swarm-of-people-intent-on-saving-our-bees-180986278/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images from Paul Starosta via Getty Images and public domain.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/venomous-snakes-represent-a-serious-public-hea/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/star-spangled-salute/Re-enactors relive the Battle of Baltimore and celebrate the flag that inspired our national anthem (Ryan R. Reed). Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/star-spangled-banner-back-on-display-83229098/Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/star-spangled-salute/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/happy-tests-mirror/On her third day of mirror exposure, Happy engages in repetitive trunk raises while backing in and out of the mirror location. This behavior appears to be a form of mirror-testing, say researchersFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/happy-tests-mirror/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/funny-guy/Watch Steve Martin's groundbreaking 1974 appearance on "The Tonight Show" with host Johnny Carson and guest Sammy Davis Jr.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/funny-guy/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/louise-bourgeois-the-spider-the-mistress-th/In this trailer for a documentary about the acclaimed sculpturist, Louise Bourgeois discusses her life workFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/louise-bourgeois-the-spider-the-mistress-th/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-shorebirds-of-delaware-bay/Staff writer Abigail Tucker recounts the scene of a beach littered with horseshoe crabs and a sky filled with red knots. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Return-of-the-Sandpiper.htmlFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-shorebirds-of-delaware-bay/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/street-painting-the-book-of-omens/Artist Michael Kirby spent four days painting an image from "Falnama: The Book of Omens" in front of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/muralist-uses-the-sidewalk-outside-the-sackler-gallery-as-canvas-20678724/Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/street-painting-the-book-of-omens/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/reporting-from-the-serengeti/Smithsonian staff writer Abigail Tucker came across imperiled zebras, dusty savannahs and perilous roads while researching the Tanzanian lions. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Truth-About-Lions.htmlFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/reporting-from-the-serengeti/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-goes-into-a-prohibition-era-cocktail/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Wayne-B-Wheeler-The-Man-Who-Turned-Off-the-Taps.html Beverage expert Derek Brown shows how to make three cocktails from the early 20th century at his Washington, D.C. bar.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-goes-into-a-prohibition-era-cocktail/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-elephants/Read more about elephants at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/How-Male-Elephants-Bond.html Keepers and pachyderms alike are enjoying the new Asian elephant exhibit, Elephant Trails, at the National Zoo.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-elephants/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sticky-rice-in-laos/From the fields to the monasteries to the markets, this rice dish is everywhere in this Asian nation Written & Narrated by Mike Ives Music by Tuxedo Special thanks to Vilayluck Onphanmany & Eliza BerryFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sticky-rice-in-laos/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-distill-texas-whiskey/Garrison Brothers use local ingredients and antique machinery to create the smooth spiritFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-distill-texas-whiskey/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-will-happen-to-puerto-maldonado/A local fisherman talks about the uncertain future facing locals when the new bridge connecting Peru and Brazil is completedFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-will-happen-to-puerto-maldonado/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-dogfish-head-brewery/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/The-Beer-Archaeologist.html One of the brains behind the famed Delaware brewery talks about what goes into producing one of their beers.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-dogfish-head-brewery/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-the-kitchen-with-top-chef-dale-talde/From the kitchen of his new restaurant in Brooklyn, the chef talks about what it takes to fuse Asian cuisine with an American twistFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-the-kitchen-with-top-chef-dale-talde/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/listen-to-the-sounds-of-the-music-box/More on The Music Box: http://j.mp/KX15yK The artists behind the most eccentric place in New Orleans present their wacky homemade instrumentsFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/listen-to-the-sounds-of-the-music-box/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rare-apollo-11-footage-remixed-and-in-hd/In 1969, three men traveled to the moon cameras documented their every moveFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rare-apollo-11-footage-remixed-and-in-hd/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-artcar-fest/Take a look at the outrageous automobiles of the San Francisco ArtCar FestivalFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-artcar-fest/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bryan-stevenson-the-legal-crusader/The American Ingenuity Award winner is giving new hope to thousands of young people in America's prisonsFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bryan-stevenson-the-legal-crusader/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wrongfully-admitted-to-sunbury-asylum/In 1945, Maraquita Sargeant was admitted to a mental institution in Australia against her will and remained their for 22 years - produced by Matt Cleaves and George ClippFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wrongfully-admitted-to-sunbury-asylum/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-julian-bond/Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-julian-bond/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-worlds-first-yoga-film/Thomas Edison's 1902 trick film, "Hindoo Fakir," depicts an Indian fakir-yogi performing a magic act.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-worlds-first-yoga-film/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-fight-crime-withwater/A new law enforcement tool is marking alleged criminals without their knowledgeFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-fight-crime-withwater/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-animals-laugh/The answer may lie between being ticklish and having a sense of humorFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-animals-laugh/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-oldest-animal/Take a guess - the answer might surprise youFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-oldest-animal/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-could-a-plague-pandemic-strike-agai/Digging up the past to find out what caused one of the world’s deadliest pandemicsFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-could-a-plague-pandemic-strike-agai/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-people-really-drill-holes/The oldest known form of surgery might have you scratching your head.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-people-really-drill-holes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/luna-moth-wings-deflect-bat-attacks/Spinning tails on the moths' wingtips scramble bats' echolocation signals to keep the moths from being eatenFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/luna-moth-wings-deflect-bat-attacks/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/where-the-nazis-hid-35-billion-of-stolen-art/In the spring of 1945, with the Third Reich crumbling, the Nazis hid their stolen art in a sealed salt mine. But when U.S. troops arrived, they found that the opening to the mine had been destroyed.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/where-the-nazis-hid-35-billion-of-stolen-art/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-you-mummify-a-body/Many cultures have found ways to preserve the human body after death, but how? In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian Host, Eric Schulze, wraps up the answer.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-you-mummify-a-body/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/electric-eels-curl-up-to-boost-their-power/In these clips, an electric eel in the lab attacks a dead fish attached to wire, which is shaken to simulate a struggle. The sounds represent the change in voltage level the eel is producing. (Video courtesy Kenneth Catania)Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/electric-eels-curl-up-to-boost-their-power/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-imaging-of-the-apollo-11-capsule-inside/Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-imaging-of-the-apollo-11-capsule-inside/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/2016-flap-canada-bird-layout/Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/2016-flap-canada-bird-layout/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-past-present-and-future-of-agriculture/Humans have been modifying plants since the beginning of agriculture, but now, globalization and new technologies have given us more control and more power over our food than ever before.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-past-present-and-future-of-agriculture/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zebrafish-embryo-dr-philipp-keller-and-ragh/Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute / Ashburn, Virginia, USA / Spatially isotropic whole-animal functional imaging of a behaving Drosophila larva labeled with a calcium indicator / Custom-built IsoView light-sheet microscope / 16xFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zebrafish-embryo-dr-philipp-keller-and-ragh/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/astrophysicist-michelle-thaller-on-understandi/Autodesk vice president Brian Mathews talks with the NASA science communicator about the search for life on other planets and why it’s importantFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/astrophysicist-michelle-thaller-on-understandi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-astonishing-spying-capabilities-of-this-u/The "Manned Orbiting Laboratory," or "MOL," was built to capture high-resolution images of Soviet targets on the ground. It was so advanced, it could pick up objects on earth as small as a baseballFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-astonishing-spying-capabilities-of-this-u/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-london-blacksmith-forges-replicas-of-medi/A London blacksmith has perfected a technique known as pattern welding to create elaborately-designed replica Saxon swords and knives. He demonstrates his technique on camera.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-london-blacksmith-forges-replicas-of-medi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-terrifying-physics-of-wwii-dive-bombing/The act of dive bombing during World War II was a death defying trial of skill and nerve. You aimed your plane down, four miles above the ocean and plummeted at speeds of up to 275 miles per hourFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-terrifying-physics-of-wwii-dive-bombing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/david-burnett-on-his-experience-jumping-out-of/David Burnett on His Experience Jumping Out of a Plane With D-Day VetsFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/david-burnett-on-his-experience-jumping-out-of/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-600-mile-journey-across-alaska-saves-the-tow/In 1925, an Alaskan adventurer and his trusted Siberian husky completed a grueling 600-mile journey across the frozen plains. Their exploits would end up saving the lives of 2,000 people.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-600-mile-journey-across-alaska-saves-the-tow/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-idlewild-courted-the-black-middle-class-in/By the 1930s, the black middle class had arrived, with the purchasing power to match. Sensing an opportunity, developers established Idlewild: a summer resort aimed exclusively at African-Americans.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-idlewild-courted-the-black-middle-class-in/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-11000-year-old-piece-of-wood-is-more-tha/It looks like a fairly nondescript plank of wood, found in the fields of Star Carr. But from an archaeological perspective, it’s far more significant: It’s the oldest piece of carpentry found anywhere in Europe.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-11000-year-old-piece-of-wood-is-more-tha/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-edisons-stunning-footage-of-the-klondi/In 1896, Thomas Edison set off to a remote Canadian district near the Alaska border, with cameras in tow. He succeeded in capturing fascinating images of the prospectors brought in by the Gold Rush.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-edisons-stunning-footage-of-the-klondi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-neil-armstrong-saved-the-gemini-8-spacecra/Gemini 8 was in trouble. After completing the first space docking with another craft, it begins to spin uncontrollably. Ditching protocol, commanding officer Neil Armstrong tries an unorthodox plan.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-neil-armstrong-saved-the-gemini-8-spacecra/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-titanic-sinking-became-fake-news/Hours after the Titanic sank, news organizations latched onto a telegraph message that seemed to say that the ship and all its passengers had been rescued. It would turn out to be a tragic case of fake news.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-titanic-sinking-became-fake-news/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/teddy-roosevelt-goes-flying/The Wright exhibition team was performing at an air meet in St. Louis when pilot Arch Hoxsey crossed paths with Teddy Roosevelt on October 11, 1910. At the time, Roosevelt was campaigning for Missouris state Republican party. In this silent clip, Roosevelt initially refuses Hoxseys invitation to fly, but changes his mind. One can only imagine what Roosevelt was thinking as Hoxsey put the biplane into three steep dives, pulling up sharply each time. Video: Library of CongressFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/teddy-roosevelt-goes-flying/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smn-aw-1001-lancaster-clip01-lancasterthedambu/In WW2, the British made destroying German dams a key strategic target in order to kneecap the German industrial effort. To accomplish this, they needed a special plane to deliver the payload: the Lancaster Bomber.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smn-aw-1001-lancaster-clip01-lancasterthedambu/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/belgian-train-station-offers-a-glimpse-of-the/The Liège-Guillemins railway station looks like it belongs far in the future: a vast curving monolith of glass, steel and concrete curves extending high above the train tracks. Just as astonishing as its design is the fact that it was built while the normal train schedules continued, with no disruption.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/belgian-train-station-offers-a-glimpse-of-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-of-americas-greatest-national-monuments/Lonnie Bunch, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, discusses the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial, one of America's greatest monuments.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-of-americas-greatest-national-monuments/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-sweat-like-an-olympian/Have you ever felt embarrassed by the need to carry a towel, or even a fresh shirt, with you during the most sweltering months of the year? You shouldn’t. Sweating is one of the most remarkable ways our bodies protect themselves when the mercury heads north. With summer temperatures spiking around the world as the sweat-filled Olympic Games begin in Paris, we’re joined by Sarah Everts, a Smithsonian contributor and the author a marvelous book called The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration. She explains why the body’s thermostat is so ingenious, and how it cools athletes—and the rest of us. Plus: A series of snack-sized anecdotes about the Olympics! Let us know what you think of our show, and how we can make it better, by completing our There's More to That listener survey here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfS90zjBZ2oGa9JxVa-R5affKcOHaR2-ib1_KZeWm3HDQXJIA/viewform) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . Read Smithsonian magazine's coverage of the Olympics (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-paris-summer-olympics-smithsonians-guide-to-the-games-2948430/) , past and present, here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-the-olympics-gave-out-medals-for-art-6878965/) , here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-wheaties-became-breakfast-champions-180978246/) , here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/breaking-will-debut-at-the-summer-olympics-180984199/) , and here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-graphic-artists-olympic-pictograms-changed-urban-design-forever-180978256/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz  Music by APM Music.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-sweat-like-an-olympian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-kwesi-bowman-as-andrew-jackso/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USAFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-kwesi-bowman-as-andrew-jackso/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-deanna-stanford-walz-as-harri/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USAFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-deanna-stanford-walz-as-harri/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-jared-miller-as-richard-oliver/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USAFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-jared-miller-as-richard-oliver/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/beyond-the-titanic-the-real-science-of-deep-s/After five people perished on a controversial submersible dive to the wreckage of the Titanic in June, we got to thinking about what genuine undersea exploration looks like. In this episode, we speak with Tony Perrottet, who profiled the late OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush for Smithsonian magazine in 2019, about our ancient fascination with exploring hostile environments. Then we’re joined by Susan Casey, who has written four best-selling books about the ocean and its creatures, the newest of which is The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean. Susan tells us why understanding the ocean is key to humanity’s survival, and how, while serious research and shipwreck tourism may have some overlap, they remain two very different things. Read Tony Perrottet’s June 2019 (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/worlds-first-deep-diving-submarine-plans-tourists-see-titanic-180972179/) Smithsonian (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/worlds-first-deep-diving-submarine-plans-tourists-see-titanic-180972179/) profile (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/worlds-first-deep-diving-submarine-plans-tourists-see-titanic-180972179/) of Stockton Rush. Learn more about Tony and his work at his site (http://tonyperrottet.com/) . Read an excerpt from Susan Casey’s new book, The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/inside-the-nerve-racking-dive-to-an-active-submarine-volcano-180982687/) . Learn more about Susan and her work at her site (https://susancasey.com/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz (contains elements by Madelgarius (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Titan_(mod%C3%A9lisation_sketchup_-_twilight_render_-_Gimp).jpg) , via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0) Music by APM Music.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/beyond-the-titanic-the-real-science-of-deep-s/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-amelia-earhart-designed-a-n/In 1932, Amelia Earhart made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, cementing her legacy in aviation. But her influence extended far beyond the cockpit. Earhart also launched a women’s clothing line that blended style with practicality – encouraging women to embrace an active and adventurous lifestyle. ___ A little more information: Amelia Earhart revolutionized the landscape of aviation – and her bold spirit made her an enduring symbol of courage and adventure. Born in Atchison, Kansas, she became fascinated with flying after taking a plane ride in 1920. Earning her pilot’s license a year later, Earhart quickly began making a name for herself in aviation. Her 1932 solo flight across the Atlantic solidified her place in history and demonstrated her skill and determination. Earhart became a global icon, using her fame to encourage women to break societal boundaries and pursue their dreams. She also created a clothing line designed specifically for women, merging flair with function. In 1937, Earhart set out on her most ambitious mission: to fly around the world. Along with navigator Fred Noonan, she embarked on this daring journey. During the final leg, her plane vanished over the Pacific Ocean. Despite an extensive search, neither Earhart nor Noonan were ever found, and their disappearance remains a mystery. Earhart endures as a trailblazer – one who shattered barriers for women in aviation and beyond, inspiring future generations to defy expectations. #ameliaearhart #aviationlegends #womeninhistory #aviationhistory #ameliaearhartbio Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine The Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Air and Space is anticipated to open in summer 2025. Learn more about one of America's most famous pilots here: https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/amelia-earhart Read more about how Amelia Earhart raced to become the first woman to fly across the Atlantic: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/when-amelia-earhart-and-the-queen-of-diamonds-raced-to-become-the-first-woman-to-fly-across-the-atlantic-180983960/ Will Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane ever be found? Find out more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-thought-they-found-amelia-earharts-missing-plane-it-turned-out-to-be-a-plane-shaped-pile-of-rocks-180985603/?preview For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Art Direction & Motion Design: Catherine Eunice Archival Producer: Daphne Glover Ferrier Video Editor: Richard Royle Narrator: Faith DeckerFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-amelia-earhart-designed-a-n/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-what-malcolm-x-reveals-abou/On the anniversary of his 100th birthday, we revisit the life, legacy and words of Malcolm X. Known for his fiery speeches and unwavering stance against racial injustice, he was a powerful voice for Black empowerment. Speaking with bold truth and urgency, his vision for racial equality made him one of the most influential figures of the civil rights era. ___ A little more information: Malcolm X was a transformative leader whose voice and vision reshaped the struggle for civil rights in America. Born Malcolm Little in 1925, he rose to prominence as a minister and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, advocating for Black empowerment, self-reliance, and resistance to systemic oppression. With his sharp intellect and fiery oratory, Malcolm challenged the mainstream civil rights movement by rejecting nonviolence and calling out the deep-rooted racism embedded in American society. In 1964, after a pilgrimage to Mecca, Malcolm experienced a profound shift in perspective. He left the Nation of Islam and founded the Organization of Afro-American Unity, embracing a more inclusive and international approach to human rights. His evolving philosophy highlighted the global dimensions of racial injustice and connected the Black American experience to liberation movements worldwide. Malcolm X’s life was cut short when he was assassinated in 1965 at the age of 39. Yet, on his 100th birthday, we see how his legacy endures as a symbol of strength, transformation, and unwavering commitment to truth. #malcolmx #malcolmxfacts #civilrightsmovement #politicalactivism #blackhistory Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine More than 50 years after his death, Malcolm X’s writings endure to this day. Read more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-malcolm-x-still-speaks-truth-power-180953976/ Malcolm X remains a complex and charismatic figure in the Civil Rights Movement. Learn more here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/it-time-reassessment-malcolm-x-180968247/ Check out the tape recorder used by Malcolm X at Mosque #7 here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2011.53?destination=/explore/collection/search%3Fedan_q%3DMalcolm%2520X%26page%3D1 For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer & Editor: Sierra Theobald Motion Designer: Ricardo Jaimes Narrator: Garan PatrickFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/national-treasure-what-malcolm-x-reveals-abou/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-natures-most-violent-storms-tornadoes/Swirling columns of air that touch down from stormy skies — tornadoes are among nature’s most awe-inspiring yet terrifying forces. Behind their power lies a complex science of clashing temperatures, shifting winds and atmospheric instability. ___ A little more information: Tornadoes are one of nature’s most powerful and unpredictable phenomena. They form when warm, moist air near the ground collides with cold, dry air above, creating atmospheric instability. This clash can trigger strong thunderstorms known as supercells, where wind shear—changes in wind speed and direction with height—causes rising air to spin. If this rotating column gets tilted vertically, pushed by the rising air, it might intensify and stretch downward, becoming a funnel cloud. When the funnel touches the ground, it becomes a tornado. Most tornadoes last only a few minutes, but some can persist for hours, carving paths of destruction across miles. Their wind speeds can exceed 200 miles per hour, capable of leveling homes, tossing vehicles and uprooting trees. Scientists use tools like Doppler radar, weather balloons and storm-chasing data to study how and when tornadoes form. Despite advances, predicting the exact time and location of a tornado remains a challenge. Understanding the science of tornadoes is critical for improving early warning systems and public safety. As climate patterns shift, some researchers suggest tornado behavior may also change, making continued research even more important. #tornadoes #weather #stormchasers #tornadovideos #environmental science #naturaldisasters Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@SmithsonianMagazine How and why do violent tornadoes form? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-and-why-do-violent-tornadoes-form-180983140/ Ten amazing facts about tornadoes, explained: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-amazing-facts-about-tornadoes-explained-180984051/ A rare tornado spinning the “wrong” direction formed over Oklahoma in 2024: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-tornado-spinning-the-wrong-direction-forms-over-oklahoma-180984298/ For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/original-series/ Get More Smithsonian Magazine: Official Site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smithsonianmagazine/ X: https://x.com/smithsonianmag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SmithsonianMagazine/ Executive Producers: Nicki Marko & Brian Wolly Supervising Producer: Michelle Mehrtens Scriptwriter: Carlyn Kranking Video Editor & Narrator: Trina EspinozaFri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-natures-most-violent-storms-tornadoes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-tragedy-of-the-alps-disappearing-glaciers/Some 2,500 huts dot the landscape across the Alps. For more than two centuries, hikers and climbers have sought out these refuges as they’ve navigated the snowy, high elevations. But the mountain glaciers that have defined this region are melting, putting these huts, the entire culture of alpine hiking, and nearby towns and communities in danger. Avalanches, rockfalls, mudslides and flooding—brought on by a changing climate—are happening at a time when the Alps are more popular than ever. And the subject of an altered alpine habitat takes on additional importance amid the Winter Olympics in Italy. In this episode, we speak with Smithsonian magazine’s Megan Gambino, who edited a story on this topic (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-race-is-on-to-save-the-alps-famous-huts-and-trails-as-melting-permafrost-threatens-to-destroy-them-180987994/) , and environmental scientist Markus Stoffel, who studies how climate change is impacting higher elevations. Both are skiing enthusiasts, so the issue is personal to them as well. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the growing concerns around human-made objects in orbit hurtling back toward Earth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-astronomical-problem-of-space-junk/) , the vast fleet of shipwrecks at the bottoms of the Great Lakes (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/why-are-there-so-many-shipwrecks-in-the-great-lakes/) and the L.A. wildfires as viewed through the eyes of two photographers (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/looking-back-on-the-la-wildfires-through-the-lens-of-two-photographers/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images from Martin Bergsma via Adobe Stock and public domain.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-tragedy-of-the-alps-disappearing-glaciers/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sharks-stewards-of-the-reef/In this trailer, experts discuss the importance of sharks to the health of coral reefs. Marine ecologist Enric Sala of Scripps Institution of Oceanography talks about the role of sharks as top predators in ocean ecosystems. Peter Knight, executive director of WildAid, and Sonja Fordham of the Ocean Conservancy detail the decline of shark populations worldwide as a result of fishing pressureThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sharks-stewards-of-the-reef/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/restaging-the-greensboro-counter-sit-in/Learn how to stage a sit-in right next to the Greensboro lunch counter, the location of one of the civil rights movement's most famous protests (Video by: Katy June-Friesen). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Courage-at-the-Greensboro-Lunch-Counter.htmlThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/restaging-the-greensboro-counter-sit-in/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zooming-in-on-ants/Biologist and videographer Mark Moffett's footage of ants gets up close and personal with the leaf-cutter species of the insectThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zooming-in-on-ants/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/discovering-titanoboa-the-worlds-largest-sna/Fossils found in Colombia indicate that a giant snake may have roamed the earth 60 million years agoThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/discovering-titanoboa-the-worlds-largest-sna/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-folk-dances-of-jodhpur/Hailing from an area known for its raucous music and dance traditions, the Kalapriya Dance Troupe perform at the opening of the "Garden and Cosmos" exhibit (Anika Gupta). Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/dance-of-the-desert-hindu-folk-performance-brings-raucous-rhythms-to-the-mall-1-180941518/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-folk-dances-of-jodhpur/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-hall-of-presidents/Senior historian Sid Hart discusses the highlights of the National Portrait Gallerys Hall of Presidents. (Filmed and Edited by Ryan Reed / Produced by Beth Py-Lieberman, Megan Gambino and Jesse Rhodes). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/tour-the-portrait-gallerys-hall-of-presidents-on-presidents-day-39165669/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-hall-of-presidents/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-whistling-orangutan/Bonnie, the subject of a recently published paper, is the Smithsonian National Zoo’s famous whistling orangutanThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-whistling-orangutan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tidbitting-rooster/How do hens react when they see the movement of a rooster's waddle?Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tidbitting-rooster/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-coral-reefs-spawn/Watch breathtaking underwater footage off the Panama coast, where coral reefs reproduce in a flurry of carefully-timed action. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/A-Coral-Reefs-Mass-Spawning.htmlThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-coral-reefs-spawn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-battle-of-the-greasy-grass/Each year, the Lakota of the Great Plains commemorate their victory over the United States army at the Battle of the Greasy Grass, better known in American history as the Battle of Little Bighorn Photographs by Aaron Huey Directed and Edited by Kristin MooreThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-battle-of-the-greasy-grass/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/saving-the-coral-reef-one-stitch-at-a-time/Margaret Wertheim talks about how math and climate change inspired her to start the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef project. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-to-crochet-a-coral-reef-69064479/Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/saving-the-coral-reef-one-stitch-at-a-time/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-lost-map-of-the-hindenburg/Read more about the Hindenburg disaster: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/80th-anniversary-hindenburg-disaster-mysteries-remain-180963107/ Seventy-five years after the tragedy, a curator at the National Postal Museum made a discovery that shed new light on what happened to the doomed dirigibleThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-lost-map-of-the-hindenburg/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-last-transit-of-venus-until-2117/The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this epic footage of Venus crossing the face of the sun on June 5, 2012Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-last-transit-of-venus-until-2117/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/anne-kelly-knowles-uses-gis-tools-to-re-write/The American Ingenuity Award winner is using geographic information systems to map history's most iconic landscapesThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/anne-kelly-knowles-uses-gis-tools-to-re-write/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-plasma-downpour-on-the-sun/When plasma falls to the surface it results in a dazzling display known as coronal rainThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-plasma-downpour-on-the-sun/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-do-you-3d-scan-a-dinosaur/A night at the museum with the Smithsonian's "Laser Cowboys" http://j.mp/17Vclt8 Using laser scanners and high-tech computer software, Vince Rossi and Adam Metallo are recreating a digital Dinosaur Hall before it's dismantledThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-do-you-3d-scan-a-dinosaur/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-3d-printers-in-space/If you need something while up in space, soon all you'll have to do is print it.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-3d-printers-in-space/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-new-cars-for-small-spaces/Researchers at MIT may have the solution for city traffic jams.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-new-cars-for-small-spaces/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-the-five-second-rule-rea/You might think twice about picking that chip off the carpet and putting it into your mouth.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-the-five-second-rule-rea/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-makes-skunk-spray-smell/Did you ever think you’d hear the words "skunk," "anti-aircraft weaponry" and "nipple squirters" in the same sentence? Brace yourself and watch this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze sticks his nose into the science of skunk spray.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-makes-skunk-spray-smell/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-future-is-bright-if-more-teens-think-about/Cellist Yo-Yo Ma talks with the founder of the Girls Computing League about the promise of her generationThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-future-is-bright-if-more-teens-think-about/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-smithsonian-sports-curator-explains-how-athl/Atlantic staff writer Frank Foer interviews Damion Thomas about athletes moving from a position of apathy to engagementThu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-smithsonian-sports-curator-explains-how-athl/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-british-castle-still-has-a-functioning-fl/In the 19th century, there was a watermill almost every mile of the river, such was the huge demand for flour and bread. Today, Eastnor castle’s own mill is still operational–an important piece of local history.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-british-castle-still-has-a-functioning-fl/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-man-behind-manhunt/Before it was even published in 2006, historian James Swanson’s book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer attracted the notice of Hollywood. After several prior attempts to adapt the nonfiction thriller for the screen, the first two episodes of the seven-part Apple TV+ miniseries Manhunt finally premiered on March 15, with the subsequent five arriving weekly. Meet Swanson — a self-described Lincoln obsessive — and hear about what moved him to write the book, what his role in its long-gestating adaptation was, and how he came to be so obsessed with our most-admired president in the first place. Smithsonian magazine related articles: The real history behind the events dramatized in “Manhunt,” (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-history-behind-apple-tvs-manhunt-and-the-search-for-abraham-lincolns-killer-180983943/)   James Swanson’s favorite Lincoln artifacts (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-blood-relics-from-the-lincoln-assassination-180954331/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-man-behind-manhunt/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-brief-history-of-book-banning-in-america/Book-banning might seem like a relic of less enlightened times, but the practice is back in a big way. The American Library Association reports (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/american-library-association-names-2022s-most-banned-books-180982048/) that 2022 saw more attempts to have books removed from public libraries than in any prior year this century — indeed, it documented more than twice as many attempted bans in 2022 than in 2021. In schools, attempts to keep certain books out of the hands of students have been even more aggressive and draconian. What’s new about these efforts is the subject that binds the most-challenged titles: Most of them address themes of LGBT+ identity or gender expression. In this episode, we talk with journalist Colleen Connolly about Thomas Morton’s New English Canaan, the first book ever to be suppressed in North America. What did the Puritans find so threatening about it, and how has this book echoed through subsequent centuries? Then we’re joined by Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, for a wide-ranging conversation about the history of book bans in the United States, how a resurgent wave of book bans in many states differs from those of prior eras, and why organized attempts to prevent specific people from reading specific books usually fail. A transcript of this episode can be found here (http://smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-banned-books-in-america-180983011) . Read Colleen’s Smithsonian story about New English Canaan here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-americas-first-banned-book-survived-and-became-an-anti-authoritarian-icon-180982971/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-brief-history-of-book-banning-in-america/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/abraham-lincoln-an-extraordinary-life/Behind the Scenes with Harry Rubenstein At the National Museum of American History (Beth Py-Lieberman, Ryan Reed and Molly Roberts). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/life-of-lincoln.htmlWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/abraham-lincoln-an-extraordinary-life/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/altruistic-lizards/A blue-throated side-blotched lizard defending his territory against an orange-throated side-blotched lizardWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/altruistic-lizards/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rhythms-of-gamelan-music/Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2008/12/music-of-the-tropics-balinese-drum-troupe-performs-at-the-sackler/ Bells and gongs are the sounds behind Gamelan music, which has different variants from one Indonesian island to the next.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rhythms-of-gamelan-music/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sing-along-to-the-messiah/The story within Handels famous piece is what drives its enduring popularity, and it is also what keeps D.C.s Metropolitan Chorus excited for their annual performance. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-glorious-history-of-handels-messiah-148168540/Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sing-along-to-the-messiah/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/poaching-the-venus-flytrap/Researchers are able to track Venus flytrap plants that were stolen from protected areasWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/poaching-the-venus-flytrap/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-peep-jousting-experiment/Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2010/04/01/a-peep-experiment/ Our Surprising Science blogger tests whether stale peeps or fresh peeps are better for the spring tradition of peep jousting.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-peep-jousting-experiment/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-hirshhorn-transforms-for-after-hours/Art and music lovers who attended the museum's premier event were treated to Andy Warhol's "Shadows" and live musicWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-hirshhorn-transforms-for-after-hours/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-dark-days-of-the-cuban-missile/What did analysts find in the recon photographs from the Cuban Missile Crisis? http://j.mp/RwFMbj Former CIA analyst Dino Brugioni was one of the first to spot missiles in Cuba in October 1962.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/remembering-the-dark-days-of-the-cuban-missile/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-emancipation-proclamation/Director of the African American History and Culture Museum Lonnie Bunch looks at the forces that brought about the January 1, 1863 order.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-emancipation-proclamation/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-difference-between/The answer…and why you should careWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-difference-between/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/arthur-molella-on-the-habits-and-habitats-of-i/The director of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation explores how personality and environment help creativity flourishWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/arthur-molella-on-the-habits-and-habitats-of-i/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/with-master-of-none-aziz-ansari-has-created/Aziz Ansari | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Performing Arts The actor, comedian and author is being honored for his starring role as Dev Shah in “Master of None,” the Netflix series that he created with Alan Yang. Like the character he plays, Ansari is the son of Indian immigrant parents, and his smart, surprising take on life, love, technology and cultural identity in the United States has helped make the show “the year’s best comedy straight out of the gate,” as the New York Times put it. Among Ansari’s other accomplishments are his unforgettable portrayal of the loopy Tom Haverford on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” his best-selling book about dating in the internet age, Modern Romance (co-authored with Eric Klinenberg), and his blockbuster stand-up act that sold out Madison Square Garden. Read more about Ansari’s work: http://smithmag.co/jvdAaL | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqyWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/with-master-of-none-aziz-ansari-has-created/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/without-these-whistleblowers-we-may-never-hav/Marc Edwards and Leeanne Walters | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winners for Social Progress The duo joined forces to protect tens of thousands of people during the disastrous water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Walters, a Flint resident, grew suspicious when her tap water changed color and her family suffered odd maladies. Officials insisted that the problems were limited to her household, but she refused to accept that answer and sought out Edwards, a Virginia Tech civil engineering professor and a veteran of municipal water wars. Combining political action and scientific credibility, the testing initiative undertaken by Walters and Edwards showed that the city’s water supply was contaminated with toxic chemicals—an explosive finding that finally forced state and local officials to address the dangers. Read more about their work: http://smithmag.co/D4dIHy | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqyWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/without-these-whistleblowers-we-may-never-hav/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-took-to-recreate-a-portrait-of-frederi/Kenneth Morris is the great-great-great-grandson of the heralded abolitionist and helped compile an illustrated biography of his ancestor. (Credit: Drew Gardner)Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-took-to-recreate-a-portrait-of-frederi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-conversation-the-descendants-of-elizabeth/The two discussed their ancestors’ legacy more than 150 years after the famous figures both attended the Seneca Falls Convention. (Credit: Drew Gardner)Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-conversation-the-descendants-of-elizabeth/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-lizzie-borden-became-the-main-suspect-in-h/How did a god fearing church-goer like Lizzie Borden become a suspect in the gruesome crime of the century? Her inconsistent account, and an eerie nonchalance, immediately damaged her credibility with investigators.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-lizzie-borden-became-the-main-suspect-in-h/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/best-small-towns-america-to-celebrate-fall/Travel to Oregon, Minnesota, North Dakota and Rhode Island to see beautiful autumn foliage and much more. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/best-small-towns-america-to-celebrate-fall/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-neikoye-flowers-as-david-mile/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USAWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-neikoye-flowers-as-david-mile/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-ye/When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 C.E., it covered the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under tons of ash. Millennia later, in the mid-18th century, archeologists began to unearth the city, including its famed libraries, but the scrolls they found were too fragile to be unrolled and read; their contents were thought to be lost forever. Only now, thanks to the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning, scholars of the ancient world have partnered with computer programmers to unlock the contents of these priceless documents. In this episode of “There’s More to That,” science journalist and Smithsonian contributor Jo Marchant tells us about the yearslong campaign to read these scrolls. And Youssef Nader—one of the three winners of last year’s “Vesuvius Challenge” to make these clumps of vulcanized ash readable—tells us how he and his teammates achieved their historic breakthrough. Read Smithsonian’s coverage of the Vesuvius Challenge and the Herculaneum scrolls here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-students-decipher-first-passages-2000-year-old-scroll-burned-vesuvius-eruption-180983738/) , here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/buried-ash-vesuvius-scrolls-are-being-read-new-xray-technique-180969358/) , and here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologoists-only-just-beginning-reveal-secrets-hidden-ancient-manuscripts-180967455/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-ye/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-christopher-wilson-as-louis-t/Smithsonian magazine commissioned Drew Gardner for a project that connects Black Americans today to their lost ancestry. Read about Gardner’s project and process, as well as more details about the subjects of this incredible series here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/ Video produced by Sierra Theobald. Special thanks to Drew Gardner Additional credits: Emma MacBeath, WikiTree US Black Heritage project; Ottawa Goodman, research and coordinator; Sam Dole, Penumbra Foundation; Elizabeth Zuck, set design; Calvin Osbourne, props and costume; Angela Huff, hair and make up; Diego Huerta, Lexia Krebs, behind-the-scenes filming; background prints by Fujifilm USAWed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-descendants-christopher-wilson-as-louis-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/healing-the-wounds-of-the-vietnam-war/Every Veterans Day, Jeremy Redmon thinks about his father, Donald Lee Redmon — an Air Force veteran who survived more than 300 combat missions over Southeast Asia, but who took his own life when Jeremy was 14. This year, Redmon traveled back to Hanoi with a group of former prisoners of war, many of whom had flown the same missions as his dad. Jeremy asked these veterans questions he was never able to ask his own father, about how they’d healed from the war and lived rewarding lives thereafter. In this episode, guest host Jennie Rothenberg Gritz speaks with Redmon about the complexities of the Vietnam War, as well as his own experiences as a reporter in Iraq. Then, Vietnamese American author Mai Elliott discusses her family’s experiences in North and South Vietnam, and how her feelings about the conflict changed throughout the 1960s. Read Jeremy Redmon’s Smithsonian story “Fifty Years After Their Release, Former Vietnam POWs Journey Back to Hanoi” here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/fifty-years-finding-freedom-vietnam-vets-healing-journey-hanoi-180983052/) . Order Mai Elliott’s book The Sacred Willow: Four Generations in the Life of a Vietnamese Family here (https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Willow-Generations-Vietnamese-Family-ebook/dp/B074JBTTZ3?ref_=ast_author_mpb) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/healing-the-wounds-of-the-vietnam-war/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-first-ladies-dresses-at-the-smithsonian/An exhibit about the first ladies reopens at the National Museum of American History, including dresses worn at inaugural balls.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-first-ladies-dresses-at-the-smithsonian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/gene-therapy-experts-look-ahead-in-treating-bl/Two of the preeminent researchers of gene therapy hope to improve their patients' sight in an experimental operation (Stephen Voss/WPN)Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/gene-therapy-experts-look-ahead-in-treating-bl/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/riding-to-freedom/In the spring of 1961, black and white civil rights activists rode buses to protest the segregationist policies of the Deep South Script and narration: Marian Holmes Photos courtesy of Corbis, Getty Images and Library of Congress Audio clips courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways (https://folkways.si.edu/)Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/riding-to-freedom/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/building-the-onrust/From steaming the wooden planks to hoisting the ship into the water, this replica of a 17th century ship needed the work of many volunteers to set sailTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/building-the-onrust/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-eastern-pacific-black-ghost-shark/The ghost shark's tentaclum on its head is used to facilitate copulation with a femaleTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-eastern-pacific-black-ghost-shark/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hang-ten-with-kelly-slater-in-fiji/Quiksilver captures stunning aerial views of the world champion surfer's dazzling techniqueTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hang-ten-with-kelly-slater-in-fiji/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-scanning-bringing-history-back-to-life/More on 3D scanning: http://j.mp/JM43KD Specialists are using new technology to unravel a mystery in the Smithsonian collections.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-scanning-bringing-history-back-to-life/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-girl-who-struck-out-babe-ruth/On April 2, 1931, 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell struck out the New York Yankees slugger.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-girl-who-struck-out-babe-ruth/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stunning-timelapse-of-bustling-midtown-manhatt/Production company District 7 condenses more than 50,000 frames shot in 100 different locations into a brief, beautiful tour of New York CityTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stunning-timelapse-of-bustling-midtown-manhatt/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-lyrebird-natures-mimic/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-lyrebird-natures-mimic/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/orphaned-baby-elephant-takes-a-flight/When Gary Roberts found this orphaned elephant next to its dead mother, he made an attempt to fly it to safetyTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/orphaned-baby-elephant-takes-a-flight/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-national-air-and-space-museum-lowers-charl/The first plane to fly nonstop from New York to Paris will reside on the ground level of the National Air and Space Museum for the next five months as it undergoes preservation (Courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum)Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-national-air-and-space-museum-lowers-charl/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/aerial-acrobatics-of-the-praying-mantis/High-speed video captures the unique ability of a leaping praying mantis to control its spin in mid-air and precisely land on a target.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/aerial-acrobatics-of-the-praying-mantis/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-trigger-a-bolt-of-lightning/To study otherwise unpredictable thunder and lightning, SwRI scientists launch small rockets trailing grounded copper wire into thunderclouds in Florida. The copper wire creates a conductive path for the bolt so the team can focus their instruments and conduct multiple experiments. Credit: UF/FIT ICLRTTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-trigger-a-bolt-of-lightning/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/transporting-a-live-elephant-is-exactly-as-dif/The team at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy needs to transport Kinani, a blind male elephant, to a 4,000-acre compound where he'll be able to roam freely without disturbing other wildlife. Weighing in at nearly eight tons, it'll take careful maneuvering and custom equipment to bring the animal to his new sanctuary.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/transporting-a-live-elephant-is-exactly-as-dif/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-henry-ford-went-from-pacifist-to-major-sup/Henry Ford spent the majority of the war as a pacifist. By 1917, however, his state-of-the-art assembly line was churning out vital engine parts to feed the war machine.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-henry-ford-went-from-pacifist-to-major-sup/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-church-has-an-eerie-visual-record-of-the/The Black Death of 1348 was a devastating event, wiping out half the population of Britain. And in churches like this one, drawings on the wall provide a haunting visual record of the scale of the tragedy.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-church-has-an-eerie-visual-record-of-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-wild-turkey-dust-bathing-in-new-york/Regular dust bathing removes pest and parasites and keeps the wild bird's iridescent feathers in top condition. (Credit: Carla Rhodes)Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-wild-turkey-dust-bathing-in-new-york/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-good-day-for-a-swim-with-orcas/Our photographer gets up close and personal with orcas in Norway. Credit: Jacques de Vos and Jeremy Goncalves with Valhalla Orca ExpeditionTue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-good-day-for-a-swim-with-orcas/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-fascinating-structure-inside-ancient-tomb/Archaeologists uncover an exciting find: a tomb that predates most of the others in the area by around 2,000 years. Inside, is a series of perfectly preserved inscriptions on a panel known as a "false door’."Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-fascinating-structure-inside-ancient-tomb/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-americans-got-hooked-on-counting-calories/In 1918, Lulu Hunt Peters—one of the first women in America to earn a medical doctorate—published the best seller Diet and Health With Key to the Calories, making a name for herself as an apostle for weight reduction in an era when malnutrition was a far greater public health threat than obesity. She pioneered the idea of measuring food intake via the calorie, which at the time was an obscure unit of measurement familiar only to chemists.  A century later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm) that 42 percent of American adults are clinically obese and that Type 2 diabetes is on the rise (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1229-future-diabetes-surge.html) . With those who can afford it now turning to pharmaceuticals to help them lose weight, we’ll examine why and how calorie counting has failed to help Americans maintain a “healthy” weight.  In this episode of “There’s More to That,” we hear from food historian Michelle Stacey about Peters’ legacy—and from Ronald Young Jr., creator and host of the critically acclaimed podcast “Weight For It (https://www.radiotopia.fm/podcasts/weight-for-it) ,” about how American society continues to stigmatize what he calls “fat folks” for reasons that have nothing to do with public, or even individual, health. A transcript is below. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on the complex legacy of Sojourner Truth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-to-separate-fact-from-myth-in-the-extraordinary-story-of-sojourner-truth-180983820/) , how Joan Baez opened the door for Taylor Swift (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/before-beyonce-taylor-swift-ran-world-joan-baez-180983893/) , how machine learning is helping archeologists to read scrolls (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-year-old-scrolls-readable-again-180984264/) buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago and more, find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) or wherever you get your podcasts. Read Michelle Stacey's story about Dr. Lulu Hunt Peters in the June 2024 issue of Smithsonian here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/doctor-pioneered-counting-calories-century-ago-were-still-dealing-with-consequences-180984282/) . Listen to Ronald Young, Jr.'s podcast "Weight For It" here (https://www.radiotopia.fm/podcasts/weight-for-it) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-americans-got-hooked-on-counting-calories/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-use-renaissance-paintings-to-improve-th/Italian researcher Isabella Dalla Ragione has a most unusual job. An “arboreal archaeologist,” Dalla Ragione scours Renaissance paintings and medieval archives, discovering endangered fruits that might be revived. Her life’s work offers a possible solution to the problem of monocrops.  Year after year, agricultural giants cultivate the same varieties of the same fruits and vegetables, while many other varieties have fallen to the wayside. Monocrops contribute to climate change and are highly susceptible to its consequences, jeopardizing our food supply. In this episode, Isabella and Smithsonian contributing writer Mark Schapiro discuss the importance and challenges of protecting biodiversity and agriculture in the midst of a changing climate — and why it matters. Read Mark's story for Smithsonian magazine here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/meet-italian-fruit-detective-who-investigates-centuries-old-paintings-clues-produce-180985227/) . To subscribe to There’s More to That, and to listen to past episodes on a plan to save Texas from deadly hurricanes (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/as-hurricanes-bear-down-and-get-stronger-can-a-34-billion-plan-save-texas-180984847/) , the wild story of Pablo Escobar’s hippos (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/wild-story-what-happened-pablo-escobar-hungry-hungry-hippos-180984676/) , and how artificial intelligence is making 2,000 year old scrolls readable again (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-year-old-scrolls-readable-again-180984264/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg, and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve, and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos by Simona Ghizzoni / Images via the Metropolitan Museum of Art under public domain Music by APM Music.Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-use-renaissance-paintings-to-improve-th/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cupcake-presidents/Pastry artist Zilly Rosen renders Presidents Lincoln and Obama in cupcake form at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Meredith Bragg). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Inauguration-2009.htmlMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cupcake-presidents/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rome-reborn/Fly through, and over, ancient Rome's winding streets, broad plazas, forums—even its most famous monumentsMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rome-reborn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/constructing-the-guggenheim/Videos from the 1950s show architect Frank Lloyd Wright at the site of the Guggenheim MuseumMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/constructing-the-guggenheim/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/having-fun-in-jim-hensons-fantasic-world/Around the Mall bloggers sit down and talk with a few old friends from Sesame Street (Narration and Video by Megan Gambino / Anika Gupta as Intrepid Reporter / Beth Py-Lieberman as the voice of Big Bird / Script by Jesse Rhodes / Jesse Rhodes as the voice of Cookie Monster and Oscar). Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2008/10/sesame-street-redux/Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/having-fun-in-jim-hensons-fantasic-world/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sparklab-ignites-the-imagination/Interpretive exhibits coordinator Steven Madewells demonstrates a few experiments at Spark!Lab, an interactive exhibit at the National Museum of American History. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/theres-nothing-like-a-sparklab-to-ignite-the-imagination-1-180949007/Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sparklab-ignites-the-imagination/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/assessing-coral-populations/Marine biologist Nancy Knowlton discusses a research trip to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, in Panama, where she and her collaborators collected data on coral reef populations. Reef sustainability is closely tied to coral reproduction. Then director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Knowlton, who has since been hired to lead the Smithsonian's Ocean Initiative, has reservations about the long-term future of coralsMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/assessing-coral-populations/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/when-tentacled-snakes-attack/Watch a slow-motion video of a tentacled snake lie in wait and scare its prey into escaping right into its mouthMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/when-tentacled-snakes-attack/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-york-city-street-rats/Rats thrive in New York City due to an ample food supply coming in the form of garbage left on the streetsMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-york-city-street-rats/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sights-and-tastes-of-hanoi/In Vietnam's capital city, pho restaurants dot the streets and fill them with the aromas of the flavorful soup. Read more at http://Smithsonian.com/phoMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-sights-and-tastes-of-hanoi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mustangs-spirits-of-the-wild-west/Photographer Melissa Farlow traveled across the American West capturing the majestic beauty of wild mustangs before they become a relic of the past Music by David Guy BakerMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mustangs-spirits-of-the-wild-west/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-story-behind-gene-kranzs-vest/Listen to a short lecture given by curator Margaret Weitekamp on Gene Kranz career with NASA and how his vest ended up at the SmithsonianMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-story-behind-gene-kranzs-vest/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-march-of-the-turtles/After rescuing the Kemp’s ridleys from Cape Cod beaches in late fall, volunteers bring the turtles back to health and reintroduce to them to their saltwater homes in the warmer summer months amidst cheering onlookersMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-march-of-the-turtles/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-johnson-jeffries-fight/Filmed for movie theaters in 1910, the heavyweight championship fight between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries was a nationwide phenomenon Narration: T.A. FrailMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-johnson-jeffries-fight/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dance-of-the-dumbo-octopus/In 2005, members of the VISIONS 05 expedition crew captured the first high-definition video of a white deep-sea octopusMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dance-of-the-dumbo-octopus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-rules-for-yellowstone-bison/Under relaxed federal rules, bison are now allowed more room to roam outside Yellowstone National ParkMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-rules-for-yellowstone-bison/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/billy-collins-reads-the-unfortunate-traveler/Smithsonian magazine's poetry consultant recites his poem commissioned for a special photography issueMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/billy-collins-reads-the-unfortunate-traveler/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fishing-for-sharks-from-a-blimp/Daring anglers hook sharks from the cabin of a huge airship in Fisher IslandMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fishing-for-sharks-from-a-blimp/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/my-three-hour-tour-of-eight-smithsonian-museums/How to build a museum tours app? Send the intern out to see if she can see it all in just three hoursMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/my-three-hour-tour-of-eight-smithsonian-museums/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stunning-timelapse-of-the-pacific-northwest/From the stars moving across the night sky to clouds moving over snow-capped mountains, photographer John Eklund captures the beauty of the regionMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stunning-timelapse-of-the-pacific-northwest/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-ken-jennings/Smithsonian.com's puzzle master and your gaming adventure guideMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-ken-jennings/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hot-air-balloons-light-up-the-sky/In Albuquerque, New Mexico every Fall season is marked by the start of the Balloon FiestaMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hot-air-balloons-light-up-the-sky/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-history-of-coffee-culture-in-america/Merry "Corky" White, author of Coffee Life in Japan, traces the history of coffee culture in the United StatesMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-history-of-coffee-culture-in-america/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-elephant-learned-to-speak-korean/Koshik, an elephant in a South Korean zoo, learned to say five different Korean words (Still: iStock/ROMAOSLO)Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-elephant-learned-to-speak-korean/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/experiments-with-david-atwood-by-artist-nam/A clip from the father of video art's 1969 pieceMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/experiments-with-david-atwood-by-artist-nam/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-secret-plot-to-kill-lincoln/More on the unsuccessful plot to kill Lincoln: http://j.mp/VnSZ9g During his inauguration tour in 1861, the president's life was threatened in the city of Baltimore.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-secret-plot-to-kill-lincoln/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/helping-underpriviledged-children-hear/By 2020, the Starkey Hearing Foundation plans to donate one million hearing aids to kids in the developing worldMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/helping-underpriviledged-children-hear/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tour-of-the-alps/The mountain range system that stretches across eight countries in Europe captured in this stunning high definition timelapseMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tour-of-the-alps/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-motion-video-contest-highlights/Five categories (People, Arts, Nature, Travel and Mobile) and a grand prize of $2,000.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-motion-video-contest-highlights/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-history-of-the-presidential-seal/Go inside the White House and discover locations where the seal is hiding in plain siteMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-history-of-the-presidential-seal/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/natural-hair-takes-root/http://j.mp/196BLpQ From her salon in Maryland, Camille Reed sees more black women embracing natural hairMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/natural-hair-takes-root/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-animal-spies/The CIA used birds, cats and even dolphins to help them on covert operations.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-animal-spies/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-sleep/Experts may not agree on all the specifics, but here's what we do know.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-sleep/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-toothbrush/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-toothbrush/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-noise-canceling-headph/Our host, Eric Schulze explains how 1 + 1 = 0 when it comes to soundMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-noise-canceling-headph/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-bugs-die-on-their-back/The science behind going belly upMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-bugs-die-on-their-back/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-did-king-tut-die/It was no doubt a fantastical death, worthy of a pharaohMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-did-king-tut-die/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-smithsonian-channel-commemorates-the-50th/Aerial America: Wilderness premieres Sunday, Sept. 7 at 9PM ET/PTMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-smithsonian-channel-commemorates-the-50th/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-taste-buds-work/The sweet science behind our sense of tasteMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-taste-buds-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inspiring-questions-in-the-museum/Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inspiring-questions-in-the-museum/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-acupuncture-work/Our host, Eric Schulze, looks into the ancient medical technique.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-acupuncture-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-fast-does-a-snake-strike/Slowed-down recordings from a lab experiment show two snake species striking at a test glove. (Video clips courtesy of David Penning)Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-fast-does-a-snake-strike/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/artist-michael-najjar-travels-to-the-stratosph/(Credit: Michael Najjar/Courtesy of Benrubi Gallery, NYC)Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/artist-michael-najjar-travels-to-the-stratosph/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-when-did-people-start-keeping/Man’s best friend is also one of his oldest.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-when-did-people-start-keeping/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-team-of-scientists-who-discovered-gra/Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Ronald Drever | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winners for Physical Sciences In February, physicists announced the first-ever detection of gravitational waves—a phenomenon Albert Einstein predicted back in 1915. The faint reverberation, from two merging black holes 1.3 billion light-years ago, registered in the two giant detectors that make up the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO. It took decades for LIGO’s founders—Weiss, of MIT, and Thorne and Drever, of Cal Tech—to amass the necessary funding and brainpower. Barish, a particle physicist at CalTech, became LIGO’s director and expanded its work to include more than 1,000 researchers worldwide. Their revolutionary achievement opens the way for a new understanding of the universe, perhaps even a glimpse of the Big Bang. Read more about their work: http://smithmag.co/FZBFeP | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqyMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-team-of-scientists-who-discovered-gra/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-of-the-strangest-stealthiest-turtles-you/A mata mata turtle can go 15 minutes between breaths--it's another one of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's many unique animals. Join the Zoo's experts for an inside look at some of its 2,000 rare and extraordinary creatures.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-of-the-strangest-stealthiest-turtles-you/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-video-of-c-3po-photo-shoot/Credit: Cade Martin / © & ™ Lucasfilm LtdMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-video-of-c-3po-photo-shoot/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/restaurateur-jose-andres-dreams-of-milking-the/In a conversation with architect David Rockwell, the philanthropic chef urges an invested effort to create technology that could collect water from the cloudsMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/restaurateur-jose-andres-dreams-of-milking-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-a-non-hazardous-nasa-mission-turned-dead/In 1967, a horrific fire broke out during a routine pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission at Cape Kennedy, Florida. It would claim the lives of three NASA astronautsMon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-a-non-hazardous-nasa-mission-turned-dead/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-archival-footage-28th-marin/Recently digitized footage shows the Marine assault on Iwo Jima during World War II, including prepping equipment, arriving on the island and raising the flag. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving Image Research Collections, University of South Carolina)Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-archival-footage-28th-marin/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-architect-of-notre-dames-astounding-footb/Under exuberant coach, Knute Rockne, Notre Dame set the standards for football excellence. But off the field, the Fighting Irish was a PR sensation, capturing the hearts of a riveted nation.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-architect-of-notre-dames-astounding-footb/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-books-we-loved/You can describe what a journalist does in any number of ways. One definition that’s as accurate as any is that a journalist is someone who liked having homework back when they were in school so much that they decided to keep doing homework for a career. That certainly describes the team here at Smithsonian magazine. We’re all big readers. So we thought that before our brief winter hiatus—a time when many of us are trying to think of gift ideas to please the empathetic, curious people in our lives—we’d poll the staff of Smithsonian on their favorite books they read this year. Because we’re primarily a history and science magazine, we tried to steer them toward nonfiction published in 2023, but as you’ll hear, we weren’t sticklers for either criterion. We thought it better to let you hear from our staff about the books they were most genuinely excited to share. You’ll recognize some of these voices if you’re an avid listener, but this episode also provides the chance to hear from some of the talented staffers we haven’t been able to feature on the show before now. Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-books-we-loved/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-wildfires-are-burning-hotter-and-longer/The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, begins this week in Dubai. A new topic on the agenda this year is how wildfires are emerging as a serious health risk not just to those in their immediate vicinity, but even to people thousands of miles away. Last summer, smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted not only as far south as the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, but even across the Atlantic Ocean. We speak with John Vaillant, whose book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World recounts a 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Canada that dislocated tens of thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage. That natural disaster seemed like a terrifying outlier when Vaillant began his reporting, but 2023’s unprecedented fire activity suggest that Fort McMurray was merely the shape of things to come. John explains how climate change is making wildfires hotter and harder to contain. Next, we’re joined by photojournalist Andria Hautamaki, who observed a “prescribed burn” in Plumas County, California. Andria shares how these kinds of carefully planned, intentionally set fires can be a useful tool for preventing more destructive blazes. Read an excerpt from John’s book Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-worlds-first-wildfire-tornado-blazed-a-path-of-destruction-through-australia-180982309/) , and learn more about John and his other books here (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/58679/john-vaillant/) . Andria’s reporting for her wildfires story (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fighting-fire-with-fire-california-180981810/) y from the April/May 2023 issue of Smithsonian was supported by the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (https://www.ijnr.org/) . You can learn more about Andria and her work at her website (https://ahowdyphoto.com/About/1) . Andria recommends these resources for anyone seeking more information about prescribed burns: • Your state’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state) • The Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils (https://www.prescribedfire.net/) • The Great Plains Fire Science Exchange (https://gpfirescience.org/) , which can help you find Prescribed Burn Associations in your area • The National Fire Protection Association, aka Firewise USA (https://www.nfpa.org/) • The Cooperative Extension of any universities in your region Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-wildfires-are-burning-hotter-and-longer/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hes-not-just-ken-the-true-history-of-barbi/He is (K)enough… or is he? With filmmaker Greta Gerwig's Barbie breaking box-office records—and devoting much of its story to Ken's existential crisis—we wondered if there's any more to Barbie's perennial plus-one. Journalist and lifelong Barbie fan Emily Tamkin talks us through Ken’s development, or lack thereof, over the decades. Read Emily’s “A Cultural History of Barbie,” and Chris’s brief Ken history “Not Your Average Beau,” here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/cultural-history-barbie-180982115/) or in the June 2023 issue of Smithsonian. Emily is the author of The Influence of Soros: Politics, Power, and the Struggle for an Open Society and Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities. Learn more about Emily and her work here (https://www.emilytamkin.com/) , or subscribe to her Substack newsletter (https://emilyctamkin.substack.com/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rozas Rivera, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hes-not-just-ken-the-true-history-of-barbi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-chance-for-healing-170-years-after-a-lakota/This fall, 69 belongings made their way home to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. These items, which included buffalo robes, blankets, moccasins and a doll, had been taken from the Lakota community after the Blue Water Massacre in 1855 (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-recovering-history-little-known-lakota-massacre-could-heal-generation-pain-180985226/) , the first major ambush on a Native American community by the U.S. Army. It would become the start of a decades-long campaign against the Plains tribes that would end with the death and displacement of numerous Native Americans. The return of the belongings offers a modicum of closure, but the pain of the massacre lives on among those on the reservation today. In this episode of Smithsonian magazine’s podcast “There’s More to That,” host Ari Daniel speaks with Ione Quigley and Karen Little Thunder, two members of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, and Smithsonian contributing writer Tim Madigan about the journey of these belongings from their birthplace to a museum and back (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/return-plundered-heirlooms-offers-chance-healing-grieving-lakota-community-170-after-long-forgotten-massacre-180987246/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the search for the remains of fallen airmen from World War II (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-stunning-search-for-the-remains-of-fallen-wwii-airmen/) , a baseball field resurrected in a Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) and a deeper look at lesser known stories of the American Revolution (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/dive-into-deeper-story-american-revolution-how-new-england-virginia-united-against-british/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Cleo Levin, Sandra Lopez Monsalve, Pedro Rafael Rosado and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos by Gary Whitton / Nawaphon via Adobe Stock and public domain.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-chance-for-healing-170-years-after-a-lakota/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-astronomical-problem-of-space-junk/We have launched all manner of satellite and machinery into low-Earth orbit. But what goes up must come down. Most often, these items burn up in the atmosphere upon re-entry, which isn’t good for air quality or the ozone layer. But not everything incinerates — and increasing amounts of debris are hurtling back toward Earth and landing in backyards and farm fields. Falling detritus disrupts air travel and risks collision with infrastructure and people on the ground. There are those who argue that additional regulation is required around the launching and de-orbiting of these materials. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with astronomer Samantha Lawler (https://campioncollege.ca/resources/dr-samantha-lawler/) and Smithsonian contributing writer Dan Falk (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/dan-falk/) about space junk (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-space-junk-on-the-rise-is-a-catastrophic-event-inevitable-180986907/) and the concern among researchers that it is becoming a growing threat to public safety. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about all the shipwrecks hidden beneath the waters of the Great Lakes (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-are-there-so-many-shipwrecks-in-the-great-lakes-180987720/) ; the river of birds, bats and bugs fluttering, often invisibly, in the skies above (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/birds-bats-and-bugs-the-teeming-world-above-our-heads-180987559/) ; and the story behind the timelessness of Superman (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-superman-became-a-character-for-the-ages-180986954/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images by Samantha Lawler / NASA / smspsy via Adobe Stock and public domain.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-astronomical-problem-of-space-junk/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/finding-evolution-at-the-natural-history-museum/Discover evidence of natural selection and evolution at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum (Meredith Bragg)Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/finding-evolution-at-the-natural-history-museum/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-lightest-bowling-pin/For decades, in a tradition imported from Belgium, bowlers in Michigan have rolled their balls at feathers, not pins (Edited and produced by: Roberta Cruger)Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-lightest-bowling-pin/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/tackling-obesity-at-the-national-zoo/After arriving at the zoo obese, Nikki the Bear was put on a strict diet by the zoo nutritionists with great results (Video by: Ryan R. Reed). Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/nikki-the-bear-lost-110-pounds-on-the-national-zoo-diet-46145236/Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/tackling-obesity-at-the-national-zoo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/did-new-orleans-invent-the-cocktail/Cocktail historians differ on the birthplace of the word "cocktail," but they cherish America' invention of drinks like the mint julep (Meredith Bragg)Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/did-new-orleans-invent-the-cocktail/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/historian-speaks-to-lincolns-legacy/Author Harold Holzer discusses Abraham Lincoln's presidency and the President's lasting impact on modern American politics and nostalgia (Meredith Bragg). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/life-of-lincoln.htmlSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/historian-speaks-to-lincolns-legacy/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/about-face/Anna Coleman Ladd fits soldiers for masks in her studioSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/about-face/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-taste-of-tradition/Learn about the history of wild rice and the OjibwaSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-taste-of-tradition/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-water-beads-form/Duke University scientists used vibrations from a loudspeaker to understand how water beads and rolls off lotus leavesSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-water-beads-form/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/working-with-orangutans/What makes human and orangutan brains different? Researchers at the National Zoo hope to find out by playing customized computer games with the savvy primates.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/working-with-orangutans/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-1970s-visit-to-bamiyan/As a part of a television broadcast, world travelers Hal and Halla Linker toured the Afghan countryside in 1973, years before the Soviets invaded and the Taliban took control of the Buddhist siteSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-1970s-visit-to-bamiyan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-the-scaneagle-drone-in-action/This unmanned aerial vehicle can be launched from, and land on, a moving ship thanks to new technology Narrated by T.A. Frail Script by Brendan McCabe Video courtesy of InsituSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-the-scaneagle-drone-in-action/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flash-mob-at-the-smithsonian/Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2011/06/dancing-splash-mob-floods-the-natural-history-museum In an effort to celebrate World Oceans Day, organizers planned a "splash" mob at the National Museum of Natural History's Sant Ocean Hall.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flash-mob-at-the-smithsonian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cheetah-cubs-make-their-debut-at-the-national-_1/The cheetah cubs will be named after the fastest male and female American Olympic athletes in the 100-meter dash at the London Olympics.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cheetah-cubs-make-their-debut-at-the-national-_1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/epic-hermit-crab-migration/One morning on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, photographer Steve Simonsen captures thousands of hermit crabs migratingSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/epic-hermit-crab-migration/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-gorilla-family-in-the-wild/The World Wildlife Fund films a family of western lowland gorillas in the Dzanga-Sangha reserveSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-gorilla-family-in-the-wild/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/whats-a-kolache-doing-in-brooklyn/Czech immigrants brought the pastry to Texas; Autumn Stanford brought them to New YorkSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/whats-a-kolache-doing-in-brooklyn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/vancouver-timelapse/Using a GoPro camera, Luc Poletto captures the holiday atmosphere in the Canadian citySun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/vancouver-timelapse/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-coffin-maker/The first coffin Marcus Daly built was for his own child. Now, he has mastered the art of creating a final resting place for so manySun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-coffin-maker/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-gender-bending-fish/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-gender-bending-fish/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-microwave-ovens-work/You don’t actually see microwaves, you only see what they do to your food. So how, exactly, does it warm up your lunch?Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-microwave-ovens-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-humongous-fungus/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-humongous-fungus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-get-goosebumps/Saber toothed cats, temperature and things that go bump in the night, Eric Schulze explainsSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-get-goosebumps/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-it-true-that-your-hair-and/To find out, we need to get down to the basics. Eric Schulze explainsSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-it-true-that-your-hair-and/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bern-hyperlapsed/Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bern-hyperlapsed/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-much-stuff-is-in-orbit-ar/Much more than you’d think – and it’s whirling around at dangerously high speedsSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-much-stuff-is-in-orbit-ar/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-vaccines-work/Have you ever wondered how a simple shot can keep you from dying a horrible death? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian’s host, Eric Schulze, unravels how vaccines boot-camp our bodies into shape, getting us ready to fight off deadly diseases.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-vaccines-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-up-with-willpower-and-w/Want better willpower? Learn how to just say no with this step-by-step guide on boosting your self-control. In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze dishes on the science behind willpower – what saps it and what makes it stronger.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-up-with-willpower-and-w/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-jazz/Members of the National Museum of American Historys jazz program discuss the legacy of jazz in the United StatesSun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-jazz/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-use-one-hand-more-t/So what exactly factors into how we end up being right or left-handed? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze breaks down the science of being a southpaw.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-use-one-hand-more-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-does-my-nose-run-when-its/Host Eric Schulze opens the floodgates of knowledge to reveal the answer.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-does-my-nose-run-when-its/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-man-was-tried-in-tennessee-for-teaching-e/In July 1925, a young science teacher named John Scopes was in court, accused of contravening the Butler Act—a Tennessee law that prohibited the teaching of evolution in schools.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-man-was-tried-in-tennessee-for-teaching-e/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-took-to-recreate-a-portrait-of-thomas/Television reporter Shannon LaNier is a direct descendant of the third President of the United States. (Credit: Drew Gardner)Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-took-to-recreate-a-portrait-of-thomas/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-auroras-are-suddenly-everywhere-all-at-once/For millennia, auroras have both enchanted and haunted human beings. Ancient lore is filled with myths attempting to explain what caused the celestial phenomenon. More recent historic documentation of auroras may even help us predict damaging solar storms in the future. As we head into a year expected to bring the best northern lights in two decades, we consider the science behind auroras and why they are suddenly so plentiful—even in places that hardly qualify as northern. In this episode, Jo Marchant, author of The Human Cosmos (https://amzn.to/4aHIiu9) , and Smithsonian science editor Carlyn Kranking revel in auroras through the ages and explain how to view these dazzling displays yourself. Tap here (https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental) to see the NOAA tracker mentioned in the episode. Read Carlyn's coverage of auroras here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-could-see-dazzling-auroras-tonight-as-strong-solar-storm-hits-heres-what-to-know-180985251/) and here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/missed-the-auroras-in-may-heres-how-to-see-them-next-time-180984480/) . To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on our love of eclipses (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-we-love-eclipses-180984067/) , the use of asteroid dust to find the origins of life (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-nasa-captured-asteroid-dust-to-find-the-origins-of-life-180983274/) and why orcas may not be doing what we think (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/are-wild-animals-really-just-like-us-180982939/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales.  Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. / Images via public domain.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-auroras-are-suddenly-everywhere-all-at-once/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-stunning-search-for-the-remains-of-fallen/In the fall of 1944, Japanese fighters opened fire on a wave of U.S. planes near Palau, including a bomber carrying pilot Jay Ross Manown Jr., gunner Anthony Di Petta and navigator Wilbur Mitts. Their aircraft crashed into the sea, and the three men were “presumed dead.” They were assigned by the Navy, like so many others, to a purgatorial category—not likely to be alive, but not declared dead, either. Decades later, a group known as Project Recover worked relentlessly to track down the wreckage and then exhume the bones whose DNA could be tested. They ultimately identified the remains of all three crewmembers, allowing them to be laid to rest and giving a sense of closure to their families. Host Ari Daniel speaks with Stephen Mihm, who wrote (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/recovering-lost-aviators-world-war-ii-180983690/) about this effort for Smithsonian magazine. And he interviews Rebecca Sheets, Manown’s niece, about what her uncle’s recovery meant for her and her family. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the untold stories of the American Revolution (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/dive-into-deeper-story-american-revolution-how-new-england-virginia-united-against-british/) , baseball at a Japanese internment camp (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/a-field-of-dreams-built-in-an-unlikely-place-a-japanese-american-internment-camp/) and a recently solved mystery surrounding the burial of President John F. Kennedy (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-mystery-surrounding-the-grave-of-jfk-is-solved-180986178/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photo courtesy of the Mitts and Di Petta Families. Images via Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library and public domain.Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-stunning-search-for-the-remains-of-fallen/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/feeding-the-newborn-penguin/An adult penguin, recently back from a foraging trip, responds to the cheeping of its two-week-old chick and feeds itSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/feeding-the-newborn-penguin/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/charles-babbages-difference-machine-no-2/The first computer is thought to be the invention of a 19th century mathematicianSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/charles-babbages-difference-machine-no-2/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elephants-investigate-mirror/Elephants Maxine and Patty show investigative behavior on the first day of mirror exposure. Maxine climbs the wall to search behind the novel apparatusSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elephants-investigate-mirror/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mating-and-sentinel-calls/Hear audio of mouse lemurs and pied babblers (Note: Lemur calls have been slowed down to one-tenth their speed so that scientists can analyze their differences.)Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mating-and-sentinel-calls/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-richard-koshalek_1/The Director of the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum predicts what the museum's collections will hold in the next 40 years Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/Arts-Bold-New-Direction.htmlSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-richard-koshalek_1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/florida-everglades-restoring-the-wetlands/With an 80-acre scale model of the 1.6 million-acre Everglades wetland system, scientists study how to restore the flow of water that was interrupted years agoSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/florida-everglades-restoring-the-wetlands/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/building-the-udvar-hazy-center/Find out what it takes to build a museum large enough to house 130 aircraftSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/building-the-udvar-hazy-center/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/poof-there-goes-perspiration/Watch this commercial for Stopette spray deodorant from 1952Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/poof-there-goes-perspiration/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-worlds-sharpest-x-ray/The world’s sharpest x-ray beam peers in at nanoscopic levelsSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-worlds-sharpest-x-ray/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-it-true-we-have-taste-buds/Not one to hide from the bitter truth, our host, Eric Schulze dishes up the answerSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-it-true-we-have-taste-buds/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/see-a-hoverboard-in-action/At Smithsonian magazine's 2015 Future is Here conference, the company Hendo showed off its hoverboard technology.Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/see-a-hoverboard-in-action/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-did-the-plague-kill-so-ma/The plague’s deadliest outbreak was in the 1300s – but is it gone for good? In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian Host, Eric Schulze, explains what causes the plague and what we are doing to make sure it doesn’t happen again.Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-did-the-plague-kill-so-ma/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/is-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-the-future-of-space/Jeff Bezos | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Technology The Princeton-educated Amazon founder, Washington Post owner and new-economy pioneer also helms an innovative spaceflight company, Blue Origin, which he founded in 2000. This year it became the first aerospace manufacturer to launch, land and relaunch a rocket into space—an essential leap toward our extraterrestrial future. Bezos aims to revolutionize travel and work in space by making spaceflight so inexpensive that entrepreneurs will rush to create new businesses that have not even been imagined yet. Blue Origin’s achievement has been described as comparable to the shift from the sail to the steam engine. Read more about Bezos’ work: http://smithmag.co/GICDO2 | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqySat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/is-jeff-bezos-blue-origin-the-future-of-space/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/director-david-lynch-wants-schools-to-teach-tr/David Lynch | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Education As a filmmaker, Lynch has a reputation for creating dark, surreal movies such as Eraserhead, Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart as well as the TV show “Twin Peaks.” In the education world, he's becoming known for something very different: promoting inner peace. Over the past decade, the David Lynch Foundation has sponsored Transcendental Meditation classes for half a million children in places as far-flung as the Bronx, Detroit, Los Angeles, Congo and the West Bank. The program, called Quiet Time, is now at the center of one of the largest-ever studies of meditation for children—a 6,800-pupil research project conducted by the Crime Lab at the University of Chicago and designed to learn if meditation can help kids in highly stressful environments fare better at home and in school. Read more about Lynch’s work: http://smithmag.co/9sHhtm | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqySat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/director-david-lynch-wants-schools-to-teach-tr/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mae-jemison-reads-the-letter-written-by-john-g/Two weeks before he died, the legendary astronaut wrote a letter in recognition of Jeff Bezos' work, read at the 2016 American Ingenuity Awards Smithsonian magazine American #IngenuityAwardsSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mae-jemison-reads-the-letter-written-by-john-g/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rise-and-fall-of-an-inland-amazon-sea/Credit: Carlos Jaramillo, German Bayona and Edward Duarte, using Gplates and VideoPad by NCHsoftwareSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-rise-and-fall-of-an-inland-amazon-sea/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cornwall-the-most-beautiful-place-in-britain/One of the most evocative and breathtakingly beautiful coastal landscapes in Britain is the historic county of Cornwall. It’s also a place steeped in legend, including that of Britain’s legendary King Arthur.Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cornwall-the-most-beautiful-place-in-britain/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/x-ray-of-an-ancient-mummy-reveals-details-of-n/X-rays of the mummy of an ancient Egyptian noblewoman reveal an assortment of health issues: from curvature of the spine, known as scoliosis, to other deformities that could be the result of polio.Sat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/x-ray-of-an-ancient-mummy-reveals-details-of-n/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-best-small-towns-to-celebrate-summer/From charming streets to stunning scenery, consider Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, or New York for your next summer adventure. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Producer: Sierra Theobald Editor: Michael KnellerSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-best-small-towns-to-celebrate-summer/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-next-pandemic-are-we-prepared/An exclusive group of thought leaders gathered at the museum to discuss how the world prepares for the next global pandemic, raises public awareness, and explores potential responses and solutionsSat, 30 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-next-pandemic-are-we-prepared/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flapping-their-wings/As chicks mature, they strengthen their breast muscles by flapping their wings vigorouslyFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flapping-their-wings/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/underwater-archaeology-in-pensacola-bay/Researchers from the University of West Florida are slowly uncovering the remains of a 16th-century shipwreck of a Spanish galleon in the shallow, murky waters near PensacolaFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/underwater-archaeology-in-pensacola-bay/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/underwater-volcano/A remote camera captures the first-ever video of an erupting underwater volcanoFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/underwater-volcano/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/removed-from-its-setting-the-hope-diamond-sta/The naked stone is on exhibit at the Natural History museum through next springFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/removed-from-its-setting-the-hope-diamond-sta/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/scanning-the-worlds-greatest-violins/In between trips to archaeology digs around the world, scientist Bruno Frohlich uses 3-D imaging to uncover what makes a great stringed instrument. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/scanning-a-stradivarius-13807009/Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/scanning-the-worlds-greatest-violins/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/take-a-ride-on-a-norry/In the jungles of Cambodia, villagers travel along abandoned railway tracks on a norry, a rickety transport of spare lumber with a speedy (and loud) motor attached Video, Photographs and Narration by Russ JuskalianFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/take-a-ride-on-a-norry/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/no-need-for-a-plane-this-snake-can-fly/Watch as researchers study the paradise tree snake that is capable of launching itself as far as 330 feetFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/no-need-for-a-plane-this-snake-can-fly/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-jeremy-everett/Selected by Bruce Weber for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-jeremy-everett/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-the-spacex-rocket-liftoff/The Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, the company founded by Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award winner Elon Musk, takes off from Cape Canaveral, Florida in May 2012Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-the-spacex-rocket-liftoff/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-insect-outbreaks-from-space/LandTrendr technology shows pine beetles infest a forest in the Pacific NorthwestFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-insect-outbreaks-from-space/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-solar-flare-erupts/NASA's video of a solar flare from June 7, 2011Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-solar-flare-erupts/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bees-drink-nectar-from-a-coffee-flower/Honeybees get a caffeine buzz and memory boost when they drink coffee nectarFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bees-drink-nectar-from-a-coffee-flower/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/home-for-the-100-year-herd/The National Zoo gets a new state of the art Elephant Community Center complete with 8,943 square meters of romping roomFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/home-for-the-100-year-herd/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-are-planets-round/The answer has everything to do with falling flat on your faceFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-are-planets-round/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-stress-turn-your-hair-gr/Take a calming breath, then watch this video to find outFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-stress-turn-your-hair-gr/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/researchers-discover-the-oldest-most-complete/The 12,000 year old skeleton of a teenage girl was found in Hoyo Negro, an underwater cave system on the Yucatan Peninsula.Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/researchers-discover-the-oldest-most-complete/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-dont-people-smile-in-old/Why saying cheese just didn’t happen in the early days of photography.Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-dont-people-smile-in-old/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-hermit-crab-species-pylopaguropsis-mollymu/This is video of the new hermit crab species Pylopaguropsis mollymullerae taken by Ellen Muller at dive site 'Something Special', southern Caribbean. Credit: Rafael Lemaitre and Ellen MullerFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-hermit-crab-species-pylopaguropsis-mollymu/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/can-you-learn-the-steps-to-this-18th-century-d/Julie Montagu, the American-born Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, is meeting up with an expert on 18th century dance. Her aim is to learn about the dances performed in that era.Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/can-you-learn-the-steps-to-this-18th-century-d/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-object-in-history-f-14-tomcat/From This Object in History, aired on @SmithsonianChannelFri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-object-in-history-f-14-tomcat/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/survey-help-us-design-our-future-season/We're over here making podcasts, and you're over there listening. Let's bridge that gap! We want to know more about you, like: why you're listening, what your favorite topics are, and what Smithsonian magazine can do to make "There's More to That" even better. Tell us what you think at  smithsonianmag.com/podcastsurvey (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcastsurvey) .Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/survey-help-us-design-our-future-season/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/political-props/Smithsonian curator Larry Bird shows off convention artifacts and other campaign memorabilia from the collection of the National Museum of American History (Smithsonian.com). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Inauguration-2009.htmlThu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/political-props/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/going-deep-into-coral-reefs/Nancy Knowlton talks about the dangers facing our oceans’ coral reefsThu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/going-deep-into-coral-reefs/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/grand-canyon-uranium-mining/With hundreds of new uranium mining claims filed within just a few miles of Grand Canyon National Park, a proposed new law would close the area to mining development and prevent radioactive contamination from discharging into the parkThu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/grand-canyon-uranium-mining/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/is-this-nasas-earliest-timelapse/One timelapse enthusiast edited footage from Projects Mercury and Gemini to create a stunning look at early space travelThu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/is-this-nasas-earliest-timelapse/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-five-false-facts-about-the-hu/Think you know everything about your own body? Test your smarts against this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze uncovers the facts behind five popular myths about the human body.Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-five-false-facts-about-the-hu/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-people-get-phobias/How can something like a tiny, harmless spider or a clown make your heart race and your palms sweat? And for the love of all things science, how can you make these fears stop? Find out in this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze delves deep into the dark recesses of our minds to get at the facts behind our phobias.Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-people-get-phobias/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-happens-when-you-get-a-c/We all know concussions are a bad thing, but have you ever wondered exactly what happens to your brain when it gets knocked around? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze takes a few whacks to the head in the name of science. (Disclaimer: No brains were harmed during the making of this video.)Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-happens-when-you-get-a-c/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-ok-go-has-revolutionized-the-music-video/OK Go, Damian Kulash Jr. and Trish Sie | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winners for Visual Arts Specializing in the whimsical and unexpected, these artistic dynamos have collaborated on some of the most arresting music videos ever made. This year’s “Upside Down & Inside Out” showcases the OK Go band members in a gravity-defying gambol shot aboard a Russian jetliner flying parabolas to induce periods of weightlessness. (“Here It Goes Again,” a treadmill ballet released in 2006, won a Grammy Award for best short-form video.) OK Go, formed in Chicago in 1998 and now based in Los Angeles, features Tim Nordwind (bass), Andy Ross (guitar), Dan Konopka (drums) and Damian Kulash Jr. (vocals and guitar). “Upside Down & Inside Out” is the fourth video that Kulash has co-directed with Sie, an acclaimed choreographer and film director who is also his sister. Read more about their work: http://smithmag.co/HZ8vzr | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqyThu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-ok-go-has-revolutionized-the-music-video/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/christopher-grays-scholly-app-is-bringing-mil/Christopher Gray | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for Youth Achievement Christopher Gray is the founder and CEO of Scholly, the groundbreaking web and mobile app that matches current or future college students who need financial support with scholarships that can help them. Scholly has been downloaded 850,000 times and has connected college students with some $50 million in scholarships. Philadelphia-based Gray, an ABC “Shark Tank” winner and recipient of a $100,000 grant from philanthropist Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest competition, sees his digital platform as a 21st-century tool for helping countless young Americans achieve their college dreams without piling on crushing debt.Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/christopher-grays-scholly-app-is-bringing-mil/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/women-proved-to-be-exceptional-pilots-during-w/With millions of men serving in WWII, the nation needed pilots to ferry planes from the factory to the air bases. That’s when Jackie Cochran proposed a novel idea: why not let women fly?Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/women-proved-to-be-exceptional-pilots-during-w/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-woman-manages-americas-oldest-lighthouse/Boston’s iconic lighthouse, the Boston Light, is managed by a single person: Sally Snowman. She is the 70th keeper of the lighthouse since it was built over 300 years ago.Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-woman-manages-americas-oldest-lighthouse/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonian-national-zoo-doctor/Watch Dr. Suzan Murray perform her morning rounds (Kenneth R. Fletcher)Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonian-national-zoo-doctor/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/uncovering-the-terra-cotta-soldiers/A curator from the Houston Museum of Natural Science explains how the terra cotta warriors were discovered and what they reveal about China’s Qin dynastyWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/uncovering-the-terra-cotta-soldiers/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/getting-to-know-sharks/Author Juliet Eilperin reveals what she learned about the predators of the sea and how humans have little to fear of themWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/getting-to-know-sharks/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-happens-when-galaxies-collide/In about four billion years from now, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will crash together Visualization: NASA, ESA, and F. Summers, STScI Simulation credit: NASA, ESA, G. Besla, Columbia University, and R. van der Marel, STScIWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-happens-when-galaxies-collide/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rare-baby-crocs-born-at-the-national-zoo/More on the crocs at Smithsonian.com: http://j.mp/SWhbxZ The two Cuban crocodiles are the first for the zoo since 1988.Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rare-baby-crocs-born-at-the-national-zoo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-right-whale-skeleton-arrives-at-the-smithson/See the process involved when a massive specimen arrives at the SmithsonianWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-right-whale-skeleton-arrives-at-the-smithson/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-flamingos-stand-on-one/Have you ever wondered why these birds strike this peculiar pose? Find out in this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze walks us through the reasons behind the majestic bird’s one-legged stance.Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-flamingos-stand-on-one/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/metamaterials-inspired-by-islamic-art/See how geometric designs are inspiring new ways to make stretchy materials. (Video by Ahmad Rafsanjani and Damiano Pasini/McGill University)Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/metamaterials-inspired-by-islamic-art/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/coral-bleaching-2016/Images collected by Professor Terry Hughes, Director ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. James Cook UniversityWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/coral-bleaching-2016/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hooverball/Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-MuseumWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hooverball/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-archival-footage-5th-div-c/Recently digitized footage shows the 5th Div. cemetery dedication on Iwo Jima with band, gun salute and officers speaking. In the final scene, tow Marines kneel over the temporary resting place of 3/13 PFC Ernest T. Langbeen. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving Image Research Collections, University of South Carolina)Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-archival-footage-5th-div-c/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-grand-prize-winner-of-the-21st-annual/After reviewing more than 30,000 photos, the editors of Smithsonian Magazine are proud to announce the Grand Prize Winner. #shortsWed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/meet-the-grand-prize-winner-of-the-21st-annual/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-foods-and-flavors-that-make-our-holidays-d/Cherished recipes are often passed down from generation to generation, but how much do we know about the stories that shaped those foods? Whether a tasty cookie, a flavorful side, a resplendent showstopping entree, these dishes have a strong association with the holiday season. To celebrate, we’re honoring the origins of traditional foods lovingly prepared by two of our correspondents. In this episode, host Ari Daniel drops into two homes to explore two holiday traditions. We start with Elisa Hough, an editor at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and the Filipino torta recipe that her mother prepared every Christmas (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-center-folklife-cultural-heritage/2021/12/16/torta-filipino-christmas-cake/) . Now during the holidays, Elisa is the one making torta. And it’s the time of the year when she connects most closely to her Filipino heritage. Then we head to Jamaica where we meet Vaughn Stafford Gray, an independent journalist and former chef, who explains the history of jerk and what it means (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/brief-history-jamaican-jerk-180976597/) in contemporary Jamaican culture. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about those who pursue the divisive durian fruit (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-you-should-love-durian-the-worlds-smelliest-fruit-180986874/) , an award-winning restaurant in New Orleans that showcases Senegalese cuisine (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/americas-best-new-restaurant-celebrates-the-flavors-of-west-africa-180984531/) , and using fruit depicted in Renaissance paintings to rescue modern agriculture (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/how-to-use-renaissance-paintings-to-improve-the-farming-of-tomorrow-180985879/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Ali Budner, Cleo Levin, Genevieve Sponsler, Sandra Lopez-Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Illustration by Emily Lankiewicz / Images by Jane Dulay / Joshua Resnick, anaumenko, annapustynnikova, zoryanchik, Kris Black, cunaplus and Africa Studio via Adobe Stock / public domain.Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-foods-and-flavors-that-make-our-holidays-d/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fridays-in-floyd/Every week, the Floyd Country Store draws musicians and their fans from across southwest VirginiaTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fridays-in-floyd/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ready-to-fledge/The biological urge is too strong to resist for penguin chicks as they fledge and dive into the water for the first time.Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ready-to-fledge/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/home-movies-of-the-patton-family/The grandson of Gen. George S. Patton shares his family's home moviesTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/home-movies-of-the-patton-family/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/berry-or-ant/An infected ant's bright red abdomen looks like a berryTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/berry-or-ant/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/understanding-what-makes-fish-flee/A new study reveals the secrets and chemical makeup behind "Shreckstoff"Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/understanding-what-makes-fish-flee/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/curiositys-seven-minutes-of-terror/Team members share the challenges of Curiosity's final minutes to landing on the surface of MarsTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/curiositys-seven-minutes-of-terror/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rep-eleanor-holmes-norton-on-the-genius-of-ba/The former SNCC activist explains how the Civil Rights leader pulled off the perfect marchTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rep-eleanor-holmes-norton-on-the-genius-of-ba/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-ambergris/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-ambergris/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/matt-mahurins-vision-of-the-star-spangled-ban/Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/matt-mahurins-vision-of-the-star-spangled-ban/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-cannibals-still-exist/Hungry for an answer? Host, Eric Schulze, dishes one up in less than a minute.Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-cannibals-still-exist/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-would-happen-if-the-yell/Have you ever wondered why Yellowstone is full of hot springs, bubbling mudpots and geysers like Old Faithful? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze explains the supervolcano that lies beneath this national park and answers the life-or-death question: Will it erupt in a fiery inferno anytime soon?Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-would-happen-if-the-yell/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-does-rain-have-a-distinct/Nothing beats the sweet smells of a summer rain. But what exactly is it that we’re smelling? Find out in this one-minute video, when Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze breaks down the alluring aromas of rain.Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-does-rain-have-a-distinct/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-seahorses-have-square-tails/Used more for grasping than locomotion, seahorse tails are both flexible and uniquely strong. (Video courtesy Dominique Adriaens, UGent)Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-seahorses-have-square-tails/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-renwick-gallery-opens/Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-renwick-gallery-opens/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jose-gomez-marquez-wants-to-turn-every-doctor/Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter interviews the co-founder of MIT’s Little Devices Lab about democratizing health technologyTue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jose-gomez-marquez-wants-to-turn-every-doctor/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/justice-for-medgar-evers-comes-30-years-after/In 1963, civil rights leader Medgar Evers arrived home when he was shot and killed. It would be over 30 years before his killer was brought to justice.Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/justice-for-medgar-evers-comes-30-years-after/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/these-mesmerizing-carvings-tell-a-mysterious-t/Clues into the disappearance of the ancient Picts lie in the tiny Scottish village of Aberlemno: 1,700-year-old Pictish stones, marked with some very unusual carvings.Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/these-mesmerizing-carvings-tell-a-mysterious-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elephants-keeping-their-ears-to-the-ground/Male elephants use both audible sounds and seismic frequencies to locate a female elephant, according to recent researchMon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elephants-keeping-their-ears-to-the-ground/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/portrait-gallery-exit-poll/Visitors to the National Portrait Gallery share their presidential thoughts on the eve of Election Day (Video by Ryan Reed / Edited by Ryan Reed and Jesse Rhodes / Interviews by Megan Gambino / Produced by Beth Py-Lieberman)Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/portrait-gallery-exit-poll/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/food-science-in-slow-motion/Watch a piece of charcoal catch fire and see what happens when a cube of gelatin is dropped on a flat surfaceMon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/food-science-in-slow-motion/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/examining-an-orangutan/At the National Zoo, primates undergo routine checkups to ensure a healthy lifestyle.Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/examining-an-orangutan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-at-the-world-orchid-conventi/Article: http://j.mp/AwLdIY The global orchid community convenes in Singapore to compete for the title of best in show.Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-at-the-world-orchid-conventi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/2013-in-motion-video-contest-highlights/Five categories (People, Arts, Nature, Travel and Mobile) and a grand prize of $2,000.Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/2013-in-motion-video-contest-highlights/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-flies-in-space/How flies are making space safer for humansMon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-flies-in-space/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-a-stone-baby/Prepare to be amazed.Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-a-stone-baby/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dogs-engage-in-rapid-mimicry/A slowed-down recording, made as part of a scientific study, shows one dog quickly mimicking another canine's expression during playtime in a park in Palermo. (Video courtesy Elisabetta Palagi)Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dogs-engage-in-rapid-mimicry/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-electric-eels-defensive-response/Credit: Ken Catania, PNAS, 2016Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-electric-eels-defensive-response/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-former-afghan-interpreter-for-the-us-milit/(Footage: Erin Trieb. Video Editing: Nicole Boliaux)Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-former-afghan-interpreter-for-the-us-milit/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/yearlong-migration-of-the-kirtlands-warbler/Credit: Nathan CooperMon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/yearlong-migration-of-the-kirtlands-warbler/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-smithsonian-researchers-are-studying-eleph/See how researchers at Smithsonian's National Zoo are trying to glean insight into elephant foraging behavior and more.Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-smithsonian-researchers-are-studying-eleph/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-ultimate-skywatching-guide-for-every-season/Whether you're a passionate astronomer or a beginner eager to explore the cosmos, join us as we deep-dive into seasonal skywatching. Gain valuable insights into identifying meteors, stars, and fascinating deep-sky objects that grace the night sky. Interested in learning more? Check out this piece from Smithsonian Magazine on the celestial events to watch in 2024: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nine-dazzling-celestial-events-to-watch-in-2024-180983505/ And don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more exciting videos exploring the wonders of the natural world. --- Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldMon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-ultimate-skywatching-guide-for-every-season/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tomato-trail/From soil to soup (Smithsonian.com). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/passion-for-tomatoes.htmlSun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tomato-trail/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fallow-groan/Fallow deer are the first species outside of primates to be able to make auditory discernment of social dominanceSun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fallow-groan/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-historic-neighborhoods-of-buenos-aires/Take in the sights and sounds of the European influences of Argentina's capital city (Produced by: Brendan McCabe). Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/daniel-politi-on-hola-buenos-aires-138874294/Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-historic-neighborhoods-of-buenos-aires/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-night-at-the-national-zoo/The Smithsonian National Zoos Snore & Roar program gives visitors a behind the scenes look (Video and Reporting by Megan Gambino and Ryan Reese). Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2008/09/sleep-over-party-at-the-zoo/Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-night-at-the-national-zoo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/american-history-museum-transformed/A step-by-step tour of the renovation of the National Museum of American History (Narration by Beth Py-Lieberman / Edited by Ryan Reed and Brian Wolly)Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/american-history-museum-transformed/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-richard-koshalek/The Director of the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum predicts what the museum’s collections will hold in the 40 years Interview by Marian Smith Holmes Special Thanks to Richard KoshalekSun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-richard-koshalek/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ice-skating-on-an-iceless-rink/Winter in Washington, D.C. may be too warm for outdoor ice skating, so organizers at the National Zoo brought in a special kind of rink for their annual "Zoo Lights" celebrationSun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ice-skating-on-an-iceless-rink/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-does-liu-bolin-make-himself-invisible/Watch how the artist directs his team so when a photograph is taken, Bolin is completely camouflaged by his surroundingsSun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-does-liu-bolin-make-himself-invisible/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/red-hot-kathleen-turner-discusses-molly-ivins/More on Kathleen Turner and her show at Arena Stage: http://j.mp/T0IkkZ Before taking the stage in "Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins," Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner discusses the woman who inspired the show.Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/red-hot-kathleen-turner-discusses-molly-ivins/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-chimps-be-genetically-eng/Human beings and chimps share as much as 98 percent of their DNA. If our species are so similar, can chimps be genetically engineered to be more like us?Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-chimps-be-genetically-eng/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-are-lakes-freshwater-and/Erosion, evaporation, and a leaky faucet, our host Eric Schulze breaks it all down.Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-are-lakes-freshwater-and/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-fire-a-solid-liquid-or-ga/It's been helping humans in myriad ways for over a million years, our host Eric Schulze has moreSun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-fire-a-solid-liquid-or-ga/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-sneeze/Feel a sneeze coming on? Don’t hold it in! In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, explains why we sneeze.Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-sneeze/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-footage-marines-in-the-fiel/Recently digitized footage shows Marine in dugouts in the field, working on building a hospital and assisting the wounded on the front lines. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving Image Research Collections, University of South Carolina)Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-footage-marines-in-the-fiel/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/down-under-in-georgia/Take a virtual tour of the Kangaroo Conservation Center in Dawsonville, GeorgiaSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/down-under-in-georgia/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-smart-crow/A crow named Icarus uses a short tool to extract a long tool, which he then uses to fish out a piece of meat.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/one-smart-crow/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cooking-with-crickets/Chef Darin Nesbit demonstrates how to cook cricket-crusted redfish. (Still Image: Natthanan Chumphookaew/iStock)Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cooking-with-crickets/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/face-to-face-with-ants/Using new technologies, Smithsonian entomologists are using detailed photo of ant faces to understand the differences among the 12,000 speciesSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/face-to-face-with-ants/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-father-of-camouflage/Artist Abbot Thayer illustrated the prevalence of camouflage in the animal world and advocated using it as a military tacticSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-father-of-camouflage/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/lizards-pop-wheelies/Australian lizards adapt to rapid accelerationSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/lizards-pop-wheelies/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/feeding-the-leopards/Caretakers feed the new baby clouded leopards at the Zoo's research facility in VirginiaSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/feeding-the-leopards/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/alvin-ailey-revelations/The Alvin Ailey dance troupe performs from its signature RevelationsSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/alvin-ailey-revelations/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-curators-tour-through-inaugurations-past/Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Inauguration-2009.html Two curators from the American History Museum show the highlights of the archives of inauguration relics.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-curators-tour-through-inaugurations-past/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-pollinating-cricket/For the first time ever, researchers observed a cricket as a pollinator for a flowerSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-pollinating-cricket/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-optimistic-are-you-about-the-future/In an unscientific series of interviews, we asked visitors to the Smithsonian if they were optimistic about the next 40 yearsSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-optimistic-are-you-about-the-future/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/red-rock-national-conservation-area/Just a few miles from the casinos, Red Rock Canyon offers a spectacular backdrop for outdoor recreation and a peaceful escape from the hustle of Las VegasSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/red-rock-national-conservation-area/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-call-of-the-elk/During the rut, or mating season, the male elk's distinctive call brings female elk and tourists alike to Estes Park, ColoradoSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-call-of-the-elk/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/andy-warhols-headlines/Ever the media gadfly himself, the pop artist was fascinated by newspapers, especially the tabloids, as explored in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Bringing-Andy-Warhols-Shadows-to-the-Hirshhorn.htmlSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/andy-warhols-headlines/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-farzana-wahidy/Selected by Reza for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her workSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-farzana-wahidy/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-keith-coleman/Selected by Albert Watson for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-keith-coleman/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-pilar-belmonte/Selected by Sylvia Plachy for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her workSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-pilar-belmonte/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/lizard-inspired-running-robot/Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/lizard-inspired-running-robot/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/michigans-spectacular-upper-peninsula/From the Porcupine Mountains to the northern lights over Marquette, this timelapse captures the true beauty of the UPSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/michigans-spectacular-upper-peninsula/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/earth-art-for-earth-day/Four artists take over the Smithsonian grounds for the first time everSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/earth-art-for-earth-day/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/joyce-ladner-and-the-media-of-the-march-on-was/The SNCC activist's meeting with Lena Horne turned into a nationally televised interview with Nancy DickersonSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/joyce-ladner-and-the-media-of-the-march-on-was/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-female-ferrets_1/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-female-ferrets_1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/see-dcs-cherry-blossoms-in-less-than-a-minute/In case you missed the city’s famous flora, see the Tidal Basin in full bloomSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/see-dcs-cherry-blossoms-in-less-than-a-minute/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/eating-the-amputated-arm-of-another-octopus/The octopus places the arm in its mouth, treating it like food.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/eating-the-amputated-arm-of-another-octopus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/pioneering-video-artist-peter-campus-presents/Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/pioneering-video-artist-peter-campus-presents/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/people-arent-all-bad/Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/people-arent-all-bad/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/para-fumar/Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/para-fumar/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-cats-really-make-rats-int/The science behind rat zombiesSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-cats-really-make-rats-int/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/george-luber-on-the-health-hazards-of-climate/The CDC scientist highlights some of the physical and mental ailments already affecting people due to climate shifts, and offers some possible ways to re-shape communities to be more resilient and adaptable.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/george-luber-on-the-health-hazards-of-climate/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/top-of-the-wall/Watch a time-lapse build of the Top of the WallSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/top-of-the-wall/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-have-cats-been-domesticated/When did we start getting cuddly with cats? And have those tabbies really been tamed? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze investigates the surprising history and science behind today’s house cat.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-have-cats-been-domesticated/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-up-with-saturns-rings/Despite being just one minute long, this Ask Smithsonian video hosted by Eric Schulze is crammed full of strange things you never knew – but should – about Saturn’s rings. Prepare to be amazed.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-up-with-saturns-rings/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-prototype-for-a-robotic-flipper-was-inspi/Megan Leftwich, an engineering professor at George Washington University, is building a robotic flipper based on her observations of sea lionsSat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-prototype-for-a-robotic-flipper-was-inspi/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-night-vision-technol/Who’s afraid of the dark? Our Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze is here to explain the illuminating science behind night vision.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-night-vision-technol/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hunting-for-deep-life/This time-lapse video shows researchers collecting samples inside a South African gold mine. (by Gaetan Borgonie)Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hunting-for-deep-life/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/eo-wilson-on-mapping-diversity-of-life-on-ea/Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/eo-wilson-on-mapping-diversity-of-life-on-ea/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/did-the-spanish-flu-impact-americas-ability-t/By late September 1918, in a bid to contain the spread of the flu, the U.S. had made the decision to cancel the draft. It was too little, too late—in October alone, over 200,000 Americans were killed by the disease.Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/did-the-spanish-flu-impact-americas-ability-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/movie-magic-at-the-museums/The entertainment curator at the American History Museum shows cinematic highlights from the museum's collections, including Dorothy's red slippers and Superman's cape (Produced by: Ryan Reed). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Night-at-the-Museum.htmlFri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/movie-magic-at-the-museums/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-inaugural-house-band/The Marine Band, having played at nearly every presidential swearing-in ceremony since Thomas Jefferson's in 1801, readies for Barack Obama's inauguration (Meredith Bragg). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Inauguration-2009.htmlFri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-inaugural-house-band/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-grill-caveman-t-bone-steaks/In a clip from his PBS show “Primal Grill,” Steve Raichlen cooks T-bone steaks by placing them directly on the charcoal to delicious effectFri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-grill-caveman-t-bone-steaks/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-vinton-cerf/Vice president of engineering and chief evangelist at Google on the connected world in 2050. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/vinton-cerf-on-where-the-internet-will-take-us-1128826/Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-vinton-cerf/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-and-science-of-taxidermy/"Immortalized," a new show on AMC, pits taxidermists against each other in a high-stakes competitionFri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-art-and-science-of-taxidermy/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/michael-craig-martin-drawings/Timelapse of a British artist creating a site-specific piece for the Ulster MuseumFri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/michael-craig-martin-drawings/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-tobacco-hornworm/Researchers investigating nicotine poisoning discover the “breath of death”Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-tobacco-hornworm/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/e-line-never-alone-video-game/Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/e-line-never-alone-video-game/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-love-junk-food/What is it about junk food that makes it so hard to resist? Find out how this empty-calorie food is designed to keep us wanting more in this one-minute video with Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze.Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-love-junk-food/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-skin-heal/Our skin is an endlessly complex organ. Luckily, in this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze is here to explain exactly what happens after you get a scrape.Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-skin-heal/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ancient-lizards-revealed-in-3d-scans/A short movie explores 3D scans of some of the mid-Cretaceous lizards found trapped in amber. (courtesy of Daza et al., Science Advances)Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ancient-lizards-revealed-in-3d-scans/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-animals-predict-earthquak/Our host, Eric Schulze, explains how science is tackling this puzzling question from space.Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-animals-predict-earthquak/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sea-star-storytime-with-chris-mah/Chris Mah, researcher at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in the invertebrate zoology department, describes the characteristics of different sea star species observed on the final dive of the Laulima O Ka Moana expedition. (Credit: Video courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana)Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sea-star-storytime-with-chris-mah/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/encore-those-orcas-still-arent-doing-what/Last summer, news reports of orcas deliberately tearing the propellers off of yachts in the Strait of Gibraltar thrilled observers who were eager to cast these intelligent and social pack hunters as class warriors striking a blow for the “common mammals” against the one percent. That turned out to be wishful thinking, according to guest Lori Marino, a biopsychologist who studies whale and dolphin intelligence. She told us that these six-ton whales were just having fun—if they wanted to harm the occupants of those boats, we’d know it.  Even so, these encounters are becoming a predictable seasonal occurrence between the months of May and August: A 50-foot charter vessel sank after its hull and rudder were damaged in an orca encounter near the Strait of Gibraltar on May 12. So here again is our episode on the perils of assigning human motives to wild animals, featuring Marino and Smithsonian assistant digital science editor Carlyn Kranking. This episode was originally released in September 2023.   Dr. Marino invites you to learn more about The Whale Sanctuary Project at their site (https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/about-the-whale-sanctuary-project/) . You can also see Dr. Marino in the documentary films Blackfish (2013), Unlocking the Cage (2016), and Long Gone Wild (2019). Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . And read the transcript of this episode here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/are-wild-animals-really-just-like-us-180982939/) . There’s More to That (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast) is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/encore-those-orcas-still-arent-doing-what/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-gingerbread-smithsonian-castle/The Smithsonian Castle is recreated in gingerbread by Charles Froke, executive pastry chef of Washington's Four Seasons (Produced by: Abby Callard)Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-gingerbread-smithsonian-castle/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-quirky-ways-of-the-postal-service/Over the years, the mail has been delivered by train, donkey, bus, truck and even rocket (Produced by: Boaz Frankel )Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-quirky-ways-of-the-postal-service/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-sequoia-circle-of-life/The park rangers at Sequoia National Park let wildfires burn free, as they are necessary for new trees to take root in the unique northern California landscapeThu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-sequoia-circle-of-life/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/recreating-the-discovery-space-shuttle-fly-ove/Follow team LEO A DALY as they replicate the Discovery space shuttle flight over Washington, D.C. for CANstructionThu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/recreating-the-discovery-space-shuttle-fly-ove/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-algorithm-predicts-the-images-in-a-dream/A learning simulation, combined with fMRI readings, is able to predict the visualizations seen by a dreamer in real timeThu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-algorithm-predicts-the-images-in-a-dream/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-daylight-saving-time/The answer depends on how you feel about cluster headachesThu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-daylight-saving-time/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/astronomers-create-first-realistic-virtual-uni/This video from the Illustris project simulates 13 billion years of the universe in just two minutesThu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/astronomers-create-first-realistic-virtual-uni/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/evaluating-sources-and-using-evidence/Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/evaluating-sources-and-using-evidence/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-we-see-oppenheimer-redux/Christopher Nolan's epic new film "Oppenheimer" is no mere biopic… nor is it the first attempt to capture the father of the atomic bomb in fiction. We look at prior dramatizations of this very complicated man—including one wherein J. Robert Oppenheimer played himself!—and examine why they worked or didn't. In this episode: Physicist-turned-photographer Minesh Bacrania shares his experience photographing inside the top-secret labs at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where J. Robert Oppenheimer and other scientists created the first nuclear weapon. Next, with Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer exceeding commercial expectations, Smithsonian magazine writer Andy Kifer discusses the complexities of Oppenheimer's genius and how prior attempts to depict him in film and television and on stage have fared. Read Andy Kifer’s “The Real Story Behind Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer” here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-real-history-behind-christopher-nolans-oppenheimer-180982529/) . See Minesh Bacrania’s photographs of Los Alamos and read Smithsonian senior editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz’s text here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/exclusive-behind-scenes-look-los-alamos-lab-where-robert-oppenheimer-created-atomic-bomb-180982336/) or in the July/August 2023 issue of Smithsonian. Original release date: July 27, 2023 There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rozas Rivera, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-we-see-oppenheimer-redux/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/baby-talk-from-a-rhesus-macaque/Watch how a mother rhesus makes funny faces to her infant child to grab its attentionWed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/baby-talk-from-a-rhesus-macaque/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/titanoboa-at-the-zoo/In the wild, titanoboa probably ate large crocodiles, fish and other snakes—but if there were a titanoboa at the National Zoo today, what would the zoo keepers feed it?Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/titanoboa-at-the-zoo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/panda-enrichment/Mei Xiang plays with a log, solves a puzzle and chows down on bambooWed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/panda-enrichment/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-quicksand-real/Can quicksand really swallow you up, or does that just happen in the movies? Host Eric Schulze dives in to separate science fact from science fiction."Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-is-quicksand-real/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-string-theory-brian-greene-explains/The Columbia University physicist untangles the science behind the idea that the whole universe is built from tiny vibrating stringsWed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-is-string-theory-brian-greene-explains/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/geo-engineering-the-earths-atmosphere/David Keith speaks at Smithsonian magazine's 2015 Future Is Here FestivalWed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/geo-engineering-the-earths-atmosphere/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/coming-july-27-theres-more-to-that-from-smit/Smithsonian magazine covers history, science and culture in the way only it can — through a lens on the world that is insightful and grounded in richly reported stories. On There's More to That, meet the magazine's journalists and hear how they discover the forces behind the biggest issues of our time. Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/coming-july-27-theres-more-to-that-from-smit/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/performing-ask-your-mama/In a workshop at the University of Michigan, composer Laura Karpman oversees a rehearsal of Ask Your Mama, a musical rendition of the Langston Hughes epic poem, with George Manahan conductingTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/performing-ask-your-mama/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/saving-amphibians-from-deadly-fungus/Building captive colonies for eventual re-introduction to the wild, scientists from Atlanta rescue endangered frogs and other amphibians threatened with extinction by a fatal fungus spreading through South American forestsTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/saving-amphibians-from-deadly-fungus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/high-tech-construction-with-low-tech-ideas/In this time-lapse video, watch how workers built a visitor’s center in South Africa using ancient Roman techniques such as the arched ceiling, or vaultTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/high-tech-construction-with-low-tech-ideas/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-grand-staircase-of-escalante-monument/Covering nearly 1.9 million acres, this monument's breathtaking landscapes yield major scientific discoveries from the age of dinosaursTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-grand-staircase-of-escalante-monument/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-can-contemporary-art-be-made-of-anything/Evelyn Hankins, curator at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, explains how artists from the last century have used almost anything to create masterpiecesTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-can-contemporary-art-be-made-of-anything/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-flight-through-the-universe/The Sloan Digital Sky Survey recently released the largest ever 3-D map of the sky with some 540,000 galaxiesTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-flight-through-the-universe/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/esperanza-spaldings-new-take-on-jazz/The American Ingenuity Award winner on the connection between history and musicTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/esperanza-spaldings-new-take-on-jazz/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-a-freckle/What are freckles, and how do they form? In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, shines a light on the subject.Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-a-freckle/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-meaning-of-thanksgiving-has-changed/The holiday was used as a call for freedom during the civil rights movement and as a day of mourning by Native Americans.Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-the-meaning-of-thanksgiving-has-changed/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-best-small-towns-to-celebrate-spring/This spring, take a break and smell the flowers in New Mexico, Kansas, California and New Jersey. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra TheobaldTue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-best-small-towns-to-celebrate-spring/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/roads-scholars/As highways encroach ever further into animal habitats, drivers and wildlife are in greater danger than ever. And off the beaten path, decaying old forest roads are inflicting damage as well. “Roads are this incredibly disruptive force all over the planet that are truly changing wild animals’ lives and our own lives in almost unfathomable, unaccountable ways,” says science journalist Ben Goldfarb, author of the 2023 book Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet. Ben wrote about this problem (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/case-destroying-old-forest-roads-180983693/) for the March 2024 issue of Smithsonian. For Earth Day, we’ll talk to Ben about what’s being done to make the relationship between roads and lands more harmonious, and we’ll meet Fraser Shilling — a scientist at UC Davis who’ll tell us what he’s learned from his rigorous scholarly examination of… roadkill. Meep meep! Learn more about Ben and his work at his site (https://www.bengoldfarb.com/about) . Learn more about Fraser and the UC Davis Road Ecology Center here (https://roadecology.ucdavis.edu/people/fraser-shilling) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/roads-scholars/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/recovering-the-hunley/New technologies helped marine archaeologists recover the H.L. Hunley, a Civil War submarineMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/recovering-the-hunley/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/climate-change-and-the-colorado-river/Serving 30 million people in seven states and Mexico, the drying Colorado River can still be saved by sustainable measures and collaborationMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/climate-change-and-the-colorado-river/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/blowing-up-the-dam/Section by section, demolition crews are slowly exploding the Elwha River damMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/blowing-up-the-dam/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-secret-to-making-food-look-irresistible-on/High-speed cameras and special effects help transform watching a commercial into a mouth-watering experienceMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-secret-to-making-food-look-irresistible-on/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/growing-coffee-in-brazils-countryside/Using family traditions, farmers in Carmo de Minas are able to grow some of the best organic coffee in the worldMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/growing-coffee-in-brazils-countryside/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/john-lewis-journey-to-the-march-on-washington/At age 23, the former chairman of SNCC stepped up to the podium to deliver a powerful speech to thousands on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/john-lewis-journey-to-the-march-on-washington/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-airbags-for-skiers/But at speeds nearing 100 mph, there's a fine line between helping and hurtingMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-airbags-for-skiers/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-subliminal-messages-work/This video does not contain hidden messages that will make you want to watch more Smithsonian videos.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-do-subliminal-messages-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/animation-of-merging-black-holes/Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/animation-of-merging-black-holes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mysterious-octopus-pranks-its-prey/Rather than pouncing on its prey, the larger Pacific striped octopus extends a tentacle and taps its victim, startling it into the octopus's deadly embrace. (Video courtesy Roy Caldwell, UC Berkeley)Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mysterious-octopus-pranks-its-prey/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/simulating-bubbles-in-the-brain/This video shows a laser being fired into neurons grown in a gel, re-creating the shock wave-induced cavitation that may cause brain damage in blast victims. (Jon Estrada, Christian Franck/Brown University)Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/simulating-bubbles-in-the-brain/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/driving-while-black/Watch this exclusive clip from the upcoming Ric Burns documentary about the "Green Book"Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/driving-while-black/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-point-of-earwax/The science of earwax in under a minuteMon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-the-point-of-earwax/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stephen-hawking-congratulates-the-ligo-team-on/"They have given mankind a completely new way of looking at the universe." – Stephen Hawking, congratulates Kip Thorne, Rainer Weiss, Barry Barish and Ronald Drever, the first scientists to detect gravitational waves. | Smithsonian magazine #IngenuityAwards The Smithsonian has been celebrating innovation in American culture for more than 150 years, and following in this tradition, Smithsonian magazine presents the American Ingenuity Awards, honoring revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, education and social progress.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stephen-hawking-congratulates-the-ligo-team-on/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/scotlands-most-mysterious-stone-age-settlemen/The Orkneys, an archipelago of islands off the northern coast of Scotland, are home to some of the greatest neolithic treasures in western Europe: from the settlement of Skara Brae to the Ness of Brodgar.Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/scotlands-most-mysterious-stone-age-settlemen/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dogs-can-sniff-out-malaria/Sally, a Labrador retriever, sniffs sock samples and then pauses on the sample worn by a child with malaria. (Durham University/Medical Detection Dogs/London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dogs-can-sniff-out-malaria/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/yosemite-slideshow/Carleton Watkins' 19th-Century Photographs of Yosemite Valley (Produced and Narrated by: Brendan McCabe. Text by Bruce Hathaway). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/john-muirs-yosemite-10737/Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/yosemite-slideshow/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/encyclopedia-of-life/Take a virtual tour of the Encyclopedia of Life Web siteSun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/encyclopedia-of-life/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-canvas-with-artist-alex-katz/The figurative painter talks about the artistic process, his education and his influences.Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-canvas-with-artist-alex-katz/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-cowboys-of-ra-brown-ranch/Donnell Brown and his fellow cowboys combine modern science with their decades of experience with cattle ranching to create the perfect specimen of beefSun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-cowboys-of-ra-brown-ranch/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bringing-a-60-year-old-billboard-back-to-life/Two curators and their team at the National Museum of American History piece together a World War II-era advertising relicSun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bringing-a-60-year-old-billboard-back-to-life/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-headless-cockroach/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionSun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-headless-cockroach/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rare-footage-of-duke-ellington-playing-baseball/[Harry Carney Home Movies], Ruth Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American HistorySun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/rare-footage-of-duke-ellington-playing-baseball/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-is-the-origin-of-applaus/Put your hands together for our host, Eric Schulze, as he dives into history to answer your questions.Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-is-the-origin-of-applaus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cheese-mites-dr-scott-chimileski/Harvard Medical School / Boston, Massachusetts, USA / Hundreds of harmless cheese mites (Tyrophagus casei) bustle across a rind of cheddar cheese / Stereomicroscopy / 5xSun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cheese-mites-dr-scott-chimileski/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-weird-thrills-that-americans-pursued-in-th/In the 1920s, the U.S. was in full thrill-seeking mode. From horse-diving (you have to see it to believe it) to barnstorming. And at the center of many of these activities were a group of daring young women.Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-weird-thrills-that-americans-pursued-in-th/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-joys-of-bird-spotting/The Chesapeake Bay watershed is the winter home for a broad variety of birds, and avid bird watchers flock to the region to find the rarest species (Meredith Bragg)Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-joys-of-bird-spotting/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zebra-tracking/In Bostwana's Makgadikgadi Pans, researcher James Bradley studies how the zebras travel across the great expanse of landSat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/zebra-tracking/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sloth-bear-cub-plays-a-harmonica/Sloth bear cub Remi plays harmonica as part of an animal enrichment program at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The activity encourages the same behavior sloth bears in the wild use to suck insects out of their nestsSat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sloth-bear-cub-plays-a-harmonica/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bumblebees-are-feeling-the-heat/While bumblebees are not expanding northward, some are retreating to higher elevations as the temperature warms. This animation shows the range compression for a hypothetical North American species forced to shift its elevation by more than 300 meters—a figure consistent with newly observed data. (Animation by Jeremy T. Kerr)Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bumblebees-are-feeling-the-heat/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-army-ants-build-better-bridges/In Panama, researchers recorded army ants crafting living bridges to take the most efficient route along the forest floor. (Christopher R. Reid, Matthew J. Lutz, Simon Garnier, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology)Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-army-ants-build-better-bridges/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-kiss/Is a kiss really just a kiss? In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian Host, Eric Schulze, explains why we pucker up.Sat, 16 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-kiss/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/indianas-secret-parties-and-perfect-popcorn/A large portion of Indiana's economy relies on an invaluable crop: corn. Popcorn plants like Pop Weaver have perfected the production of our favorite movie snack down to a science.Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/indianas-secret-parties-and-perfect-popcorn/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/tony-antonelli-paving-the-way-for-human-explo/Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/tony-antonelli-paving-the-way-for-human-explo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/boston-and-new-york-competed-for-americas-fir/In March 1895, Boston and New York City began an epic and highly competitive race to become the first American city with a working subway system.Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/boston-and-new-york-competed-for-americas-fir/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-eleanor-holmes-norton/Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-eleanor-holmes-norton/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-are-humans-the-only-animals-t/Yet another reason to fight light pollutionThu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-are-humans-the-only-animals-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-electric-eel-shocks-a-fake-human-arm/Credit: Ken Catania, PNAS, 2016Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-electric-eel-shocks-a-fake-human-arm/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/echoes-of-elvis/Fans strap on their blue suede shoes and join the celebration of Elvis Presley's 75th birthday at the National Portrait Gallery. Read more at http://Smithsonian.comWed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/echoes-of-elvis/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-this-virtual-fly-through-of-a-human-brain/SNAP, by Cleveland-based company Surgical Theater, gives surgeons a three-dimensional view of their patients. (Credit: Surgical Theater)Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-this-virtual-fly-through-of-a-human-brain/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-egg-hatches/A chick in the process of hatching as the female adult looks onSun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-egg-hatches/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-nasa-captured-asteroid-dust-to-find-the-or/Capturing a piece of an asteroid and bringing it to Earth is even more difficult than it is time-consuming. After four years in space, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx craft made a brief landing on the asteroid Bennu to collect samples of the ancient rock. Six months later, part of the spacecraft began its journey home to Earth, and earlier this fall, that sample collection canister landed, via parachute, in Utah. Scientists will be studying those samples of Bennu for decades in the hope of unlocking the mystery of how life on Earth began — but they’ve already learned enough to get them excited. In this episode, we speak with Linda Shiner, the former editor of Air & Space / Smithsonian magazine, about the challenges and triumphs of the OSIRIS-REx mission, and what scientists hope it will teach us about how life on Earth began. Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-nasa-captured-asteroid-dust-to-find-the-or/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-their-midst/Paul Raffaele explores gorilla tourism, raising gorillas in captivity and the future of the Congo mountain gorillasFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/in-their-midst/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-final-takeoff/Watch one of Amelia Earhart's final takeoffs, July 2, 1937Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-final-takeoff/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/albert-einstein-lives-on/Through the science of robotics, researchers in California have created a lifelike bust of Albert Einstein to teach others, and themselves, about the breakthroughs made with robotsFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/albert-einstein-lives-on/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/moab-music/The Moab Music Festival combines timeless music with nature's beautyFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/moab-music/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-photos/In a telephone interview, Gregory Crewdson remarks on the genesis and production of some of the photos included in the storyFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/behind-the-photos/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-the-den/Watch Masai Mara hyenas in their natural habitatFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/inside-the-den/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/transitions-photographs-by-robert-creamer/Transitions: Photographs by Robert CreamerFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/transitions-photographs-by-robert-creamer/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/counting-down-for-the-liftoff-to-the-moon/Photographer David Burnett focused his camera on the many tourists who flocked to Florida in 1969 to watch the launch of Apollo 11 (Produced by Molly Roberts; Photographs by David Burnett/Contact Press Images)Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/counting-down-for-the-liftoff-to-the-moon/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wax-paper-as-art/Sarah Muehlbauer’s “Rustle” earned her the grand prize in “Green Light,” a juried exhibit of emerging artists with disabilitiesFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wax-paper-as-art/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shedding-light-on-dark-matter/Astrophysicist Stephen Murray explains how X-ray energies can be used to understand dark matter and its place in the universeFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shedding-light-on-dark-matter/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ambushed-by-a-prehistoric-spider/Using a CT scanner, scientists have created a 3-D model of Cryptomartus hindiFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ambushed-by-a-prehistoric-spider/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/high-lonesome-honga/Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys blend bluegrass and klezmer during a performance in New York CityFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/high-lonesome-honga/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/african-ape-smuggling/Endangered chimpanzees and gorillas in Africa face a new threat as investigators uncover what appears to be an undercover ape smuggling operationFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/african-ape-smuggling/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/silky-sifakas-the-angels-of-the-forest/For the first time ever, filmmakers have caught these elusive white lemurs of Madagascar on tapeFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/silky-sifakas-the-angels-of-the-forest/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-perfect-game-heard-round-the-world/Watch newsreel footage of Angel Macias' astonishing performance at the Little League World Series.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-perfect-game-heard-round-the-world/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dust-and-snowmelt-in-the-colorado-mountains/Scientists find the effect of dust on mountain snowpack can be the dominant driver of snowmelt and water supplies downstream, an important discovery for water managers in the drying SouthwestFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/dust-and-snowmelt-in-the-colorado-mountains/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/simon-johnson-on-over-the-counter-derivatives/The MIT professor believes many of the financial products sold today will be rightly regarded as not in the best interest of consumersFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/simon-johnson-on-over-the-counter-derivatives/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/patricia-bloom-on-living-longer-and-living-bet/The associate professor, geriatrics department of Mt. Sinai, says we may not routinely live to 120, but hopefully we can extend wellness and shorten decline and disabilityFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/patricia-bloom-on-living-longer-and-living-bet/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/monster-snakes-in-the-florida-everglades/Hunters search for 30-foot exotic pythons that prey on endangered species in the Everglades National Park and surrounding wetlandsFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/monster-snakes-in-the-florida-everglades/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sage-grouse-in-the-spotlight/Federal authorities now recognize that the greater sage grouse deserves more legal protection as their undisturbed habitat disappearsFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/sage-grouse-in-the-spotlight/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/endangered-dolphins-in-new-zealand/Reduced to just a few thousand, Hector's dolphins are being decimated by fisheries bycatchFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/endangered-dolphins-in-new-zealand/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/music-in-one-of-the-worlds-most-violent-cities/Fifteen-year-old Esteban, a clarinetist from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, uses music to survive his chaotic environment Reporting by Dominic Bracco II / Prime and Susana SeijasFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/music-in-one-of-the-worlds-most-violent-cities/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-cycle-opera-rehearsal/Theater students in Scunthorpe, England, rehearse for their performance celebrating the life of homegrown cyclist Lal WhiteFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-cycle-opera-rehearsal/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/celebrating-the-woody-guthrie-centennial/Deep in the Smithsonian Folkways collections are never before seen artifacts from the life of one of the greatest musicians of all timeFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/celebrating-the-woody-guthrie-centennial/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-civil-war-tour-echoes-of-the-past/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-civil-war-tour-echoes-of-the-past/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-cook-in-a-space-kitchen/Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield prepares a 0-g treatFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-to-cook-in-a-space-kitchen/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-john-lewis/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-john-lewis/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-making-gasoline-from-bacteria/Researchers from South Korea have discovered a unconventional way to produce gasoline.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-making-gasoline-from-bacteria/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-fly-the-friendly-skies-with-a-jetpa/Tired of waiting to catch your flight? Then strap on your very own jetpack and off you go!Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-fly-the-friendly-skies-with-a-jetpa/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-have-an-appendix/The appendix may not be as useless as commonly thought.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-have-an-appendix/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-scientists-are-tagging-reindeer-to-track-c/In the Arctic regions of Norway, researchers track down reindeer to measure how the warming winters affect the species at largeFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-scientists-are-tagging-reindeer-to-track-c/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-cracking-the-code-on-camouflage/Scientists are looking at the sea to help protect our soldiers in the fieldFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-cracking-the-code-on-camouflage/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-space-cloud/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-space-cloud/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/google-street-view-angkor/Thanks to Google's Trekker technology, you can see the sights of Angkor from anywhere in the world.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/google-street-view-angkor/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/using-questions-in-the-classroom/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/using-questions-in-the-classroom/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/you-can-test-out-life-on-mars-in-this-state/Soaring over Utah, it's easy to imagine that you've left Earth and have stepped onto another planet.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/you-can-test-out-life-on-mars-in-this-state/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/world-science-festival-misunderstood-geniuses/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/world-science-festival-misunderstood-geniuses/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/skiing-the-nantucket-slush/Visitors to Nantucket were able to ski through wide strips of slushy ice left on the beach in February 2015.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/skiing-the-nantucket-slush/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/where-the-fastest-cars-in-the-world-come-toget/Nearly 300,000 people gather every Memorial Day to witness the legendary Indianapolis 500, one of the greatest spectacles in U.S. racingFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/where-the-fastest-cars-in-the-world-come-toget/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-race-against-the-tide-to-recover-the-fossil/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-race-against-the-tide-to-recover-the-fossil/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/frank-sinatra-a-voice-on-air/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/frank-sinatra-a-voice-on-air/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-imaging-of-the-apollo-11-capsule-outside/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/3d-imaging-of-the-apollo-11-capsule-outside/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/native-american-tribes-suffer-when-the-truckee/Several communities rely on the 121-mile-long river, fed by snowpack melting into Lake Tahoe. (Carla Schaffer/AAAS)Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/native-american-tribes-suffer-when-the-truckee/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/we-asked-are-you-optimistic-about-the-earths/Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/we-asked-are-you-optimistic-about-the-earths/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-bandit-faced-dino-hid-from-predators-usin/Credit: David Marshall, University of BristolFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-bandit-faced-dino-hid-from-predators-usin/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/scientists-didnt-know-much-about-earthquakes/On March 10, 1933, a major earthquake caught the Los Angeles area by surprise. The devastation was of sufficient scale to spur scientific interest in earthquakes—and how to predict them.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/scientists-didnt-know-much-about-earthquakes/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fannie-lou-hamer-risked-her-life-for-the-right/Fannie Lou Hamer, a voting rights activist, suffered unspeakable violence and intimidation at the hands of white supremacists and police. Her response: to elevate her cause by launching a long-shot campaign for the U.S. SenateFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fannie-lou-hamer-risked-her-life-for-the-right/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stratford-upon-avon-is-a-magnet-for-shakespear/To soar over Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire is to be transported back in time to the age of William Shakespeare, a man born in humble circumstances who would go on to become the most celebrated writer of all time.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/stratford-upon-avon-is-a-magnet-for-shakespear/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elevating-the-forgotten-histories-of-black-wom/The power behind the music of Our Native Daughters comes from giving voice to the struggles of those who came before us—and few have struggled to be heard as much as black women.Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elevating-the-forgotten-histories-of-black-wom/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-coffin-is-unearthed-using-ancient-egyptian-t/Archaeologists in Saqqara make a dazzling discovery: a late period Egyptian coffin with a gilded mask. Now, to bring it to the surface, they use a pulley known as a "tambora," a technology that dates back to Ancient EgyptFri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-coffin-is-unearthed-using-ancient-egyptian-t/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/no-place-like-home/Members of the Gullah community discuss the changes facing them todayThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/no-place-like-home/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-colorful-lionfish-under-the-sea/Two lionfish in Papua New Guinea swim gracefullyThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-colorful-lionfish-under-the-sea/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-window-on-the-universe/Take an animated tour of the future Giant Magellan TelescopeThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/new-window-on-the-universe/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/paradise-lostand-found/Watch a video on the restoration of Gorongosa Park. The video was originally featured on Foreign Exchange with Fareed Zakaria and produced by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/paradise-lostand-found/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/gas-drilling-supports-conservation/To offset the environmental impact of their drilling in Wyoming's gas fields, energy companies are funding mitigation projects like conservation easements to protect habitat needed by wildlifeThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/gas-drilling-supports-conservation/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/discovering-secrets-on-the-seashore/Mineralogist Bob Hazen talks about what he loves about walking along the coast of the Chesapeake Bay, hunting for fossils and shark teeth hidden in the sandThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/discovering-secrets-on-the-seashore/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elephant-fight-club/Bull elephant Kevin, crazed with testosterone, challenges Greg, the most powerful elephant in the groupThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/elephant-fight-club/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/final-farewell-to-the-space-shuttle/As the space shuttles complete their final missions, curator Valerie Neal at the National Air and Space Museum highlights the spacecraft's history and legacy in manned space flight.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/final-farewell-to-the-space-shuttle/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/are-spelunkers-carrying-the-white-nose-fungus/Concern that cavers using contaminated equipment may be unwittingly transporting the syndrome responsible for killing thousands of bats from cave to caveThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/are-spelunkers-carrying-the-white-nose-fungus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-restoration-of-the-elwha-river/As the dams begin to come down, the National Park Service looks back at the region’s history and prepares for the welcome changes to the ecosystemThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-restoration-of-the-elwha-river/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-tamir-ben-kalifa/Selected by Eli Reed for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-tamir-ben-kalifa/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-man-who-stopped-the-desert-dc-environme/Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer from Burkina Faso, has become a pioneer in the fight against desertification – succeeding where many international agencies have failedThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-man-who-stopped-the-desert-dc-environme/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/making-music-after-hurricane-sandy/Three months after the devastating storm forced the students of PS 317 to put down their instruments, the band is back and making music againThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/making-music-after-hurricane-sandy/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/solo-symphony/Choreographer Allison Orr created a unique piece based off of Austin Symphony conductor Peter Bay's movement and passion for musicThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/solo-symphony/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-angola-prison-tower-heads-to-the-smithsonian/After being cut from a concrete base, the guard tower is ready for its ride from Louisiana to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DCThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-angola-prison-tower-heads-to-the-smithsonian/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-toe-tastebuds/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-toe-tastebuds/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-it-snows-what-on-venus/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-it-snows-what-on-venus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-extinct-frog-resurrected/The gastric-brooding frog eats its young, well sort of - our Kelly Carnes explainsThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-extinct-frog-resurrected/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-is-beatboxing-safer-than-singing/Our Kelly Carnes explainsThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-is-beatboxing-safer-than-singing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-would-happen-if-a-solar/"Be prepared” might not cover it when it comes to super storms.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-would-happen-if-a-solar/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-dolphins-sleep-without/Not to worry—shut-eye comes easily to these aquatic mammalsThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-do-dolphins-sleep-without/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-friedman-on-nature-economics-and-forei/The award winning author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The New York Times discusses how the natural world influences geo politics.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-friedman-on-nature-economics-and-forei/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-get-prune-fingers/Why are we equipped with this curious modification? Find out in this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze gives us the info on our wrinkled digits.Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-we-get-prune-fingers/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/impalas-and-baboons-share-a-feast/Research in Tanzania shows that impalas follow baboons to sausage trees to share fruits and feel safer from predators. (Video courtesy Brooke Davis)Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/impalas-and-baboons-share-a-feast/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/alonzo-gardeners/Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-MuseumThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/alonzo-gardeners/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fishing/Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-MuseumThu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fishing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/writing-letters-to-everyone-in-the-world/Two British artists travel to Pittsburgh for their second installment of their "Mysterious Letters" art project.Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/writing-letters-to-everyone-in-the-world/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/biodiversity-decline/Fifty years ago, the Amazon comprised 14 percent of the Earth's surface. Now, it covers just 6 percent.Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/biodiversity-decline/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-robin-maddock/Selected by Martin Parr for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workTue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-robin-maddock/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jays-robbing-a-hummingbird-nest/A new study shows that hummingbirds often nest near hawks to avoid egg-robbing Mexican jays, like the pair seen here. (Video by Harold F. Greeney, Yanayacu Biological Station)Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jays-robbing-a-hummingbird-nest/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-cromwell-henry-viiis-partner-in-crime/In 1536, Thomas Cromwell spotted an opportunity to enrich his master, Henry VIII, and further increase his own standing: the dissolution of the monasteries and claiming their wealth for the Crown.Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thomas-cromwell-henry-viiis-partner-in-crime/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonian-40-years/Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonian-40-years/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-savior-of-the-wild-tiger/Conservation scientist Ullas Karanth is still optimistic about the future of the majestic cats of the south Asian jungle Photos by Julie Larsen MaherSun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-savior-of-the-wild-tiger/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/apollo-11-moonwalk-montage/On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moonSat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/apollo-11-moonwalk-montage/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-plants-communicate/Our host, Eric Schulze, has the answerSat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-can-plants-communicate/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/baker-family-films-austria-family-and-hitler/Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/baker-family-films-austria-family-and-hitler/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-german-wasp-jan-rosenboom/Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany / A German wasp (vespula germanica) awakening / Light Microscopy / 30xSat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-german-wasp-jan-rosenboom/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/looking-back-on-the-la-wildfires-through-the/After multiple wildfires ripped through greater Los Angeles earlier this year, Californians were left to rebuild communities and grapple with the loss of life, nature and property. Thousands of homes were destroyed, and as many as 180,000 residents (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-wildfires-latest-at-least-5-dead-more-than-100000-forced-to-evacuate.html) were under evacuation orders until the flames could be controlled. Unfortunately, this seems to be the new order in California; officials are already working (https://www.ksbw.com/article/california-new-c-130-tanker-fight-wildfires/64592194) to prepare for the next fire season. In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with photographer Ivan Kashinsky, who witnessed and documented (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/los-angeles-photographer-captures-the-devastating-fires-threatening-his-beloved-community-180985870/) the devastation of the Palisades Fire up close, even as he tried to rescue his cats and valuables from his family home in Topanga Canyon. And we hear from writer and wildlife biologist Anton Sorokin, who chronicled (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/heres-how-the-los-angeles-wildfires-are-affecting-animals-from-fish-to-snakes-to-birds-180986004/) the animals that escaped, fled and perished due to the fiery forces that are increasingly shaping our world. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about a group of people dedicated to saving native bees (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-swarm-of-people-intent-on-saving-our-bees/) , the sex lives of dinosaurs (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-2/the-truth-about-the-sex-lives-of-dinosaurs/) and the story of Pablo Escobar’s hippos (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/series/theres-more-to-that/season-1/the-wild-story-of-what-happened-to-pablo-escobars-hungry-hungry-hippos/) , find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) , iHeartRadio (https://www.iheart.com/) or wherever you get your podcasts. “There’s More to That” is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions.  From the magazine, our team is Ari Daniel, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Genevieve Sponsler, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Sandra Lopez Monsalve and Edwin Ochoa. The executive producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Our music is from APM Music. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Photos by Anton Sorokin and public domain.Sat, 02 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/looking-back-on-the-la-wildfires-through-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hitting-the-streets/Watch free runners take their urban art form to the streets. (Still Image: iStock/aluxum)Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hitting-the-streets/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-view-from-above/Now on view at the National Air and Space Museum, See Dragon eye, the five-pound unmanned aerial vehicle, in flightFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-view-from-above/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/coral-reefs-and-creatures/In the remote Pacific, the Phoenix Islands provide an unspoiled center for marine scienceFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/coral-reefs-and-creatures/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/velocity/Student Tiffany Riesenberg measures the velocity of a stream's flowFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/velocity/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/growing-into-a-new-shell/After molting (note the discarded shell in the background), a black-backed land crab struggles to move its flimsy new exoskeletonFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/growing-into-a-new-shell/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/avian-warning-system/The Siberian jay screeches at predators when they are near, but uses a different call for each deadly intruderFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/avian-warning-system/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/augustine-erupts/Watch St. Augustine in Alaska erupt and create lightningFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/augustine-erupts/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jellyfish-are-stirring-up-the-ocean/Researchers in Palau are studying how the movement of jellyfish through the open water helps with ocean mixingFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/jellyfish-are-stirring-up-the-ocean/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/driving-art-around/Art car designers tour the country with their cars, some thousands of miles a year, not for fame or money, but just to make people smile. (Produced by: Abby Callard and Ryan Reed)Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/driving-art-around/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tour-of-the-co-canal/Dating back to 1831, the C&O Canal was an essential link in connecting a vastly growing countryFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tour-of-the-co-canal/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-making-of-go-waggaloo/Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion talk about the joy of making an album with their family and friendsFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-making-of-go-waggaloo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hiding-in-a-coconut/Scientists filmed octopuses near Indonesia using coconut shells as a tool, a first for invertebratesFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/hiding-in-a-coconut/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bill-mckibben-on-the-symptoms-of-global-warming/The author and activist says we may see out-of-control rises in sea level, enormous shortfalls in crop yields and wars over available fresh waterFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/bill-mckibben-on-the-symptoms-of-global-warming/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-joel-kotkin_1/How will populations change in the United States over the next 40 years? Interview by Terence Monmaney Special Thanks to Joel KotkinFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-joel-kotkin_1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-smithsonian-in-2050/We asked visitors to the National Mall what they thought should be in the Smithsonian collections in 2050. The consensus? Lady Gaga and much more...Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-smithsonian-in-2050/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/aquatic-invaders/In the American West, simple safeguards can help curb the invasion of exotic snails that are spreading through watersheds and causing damageFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/aquatic-invaders/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/florida-everglades-dying-of-thirst/With federal funding, scientists and engineers hope to restore the Everglades ecosystem by removing dikes and canals and building the world's largest reservoirFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/florida-everglades-dying-of-thirst/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/under-the-sea-with-dolphins/Swim with bottlenose dolphins in the Red Sea and learn about their amazing intelligenceFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/under-the-sea-with-dolphins/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-amazing-look-at-solar-flares/New telescopes have given scientists unprecedented views of the Sun, helping them to better understand solar activityFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/an-amazing-look-at-solar-flares/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-sirio-magnabosco/Selected by David Burnett for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-sirio-magnabosco/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-jos-antonio-martnez/Selected by Mary Ellen Mark for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-jos-antonio-martnez/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-tomeu-coll/Selected by Donna Ferrato for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his workFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-tomeu-coll/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-funeral-parade-for-the-last-veteran-of-the/In 1905, New York City hosted a grand procession for the last living soldier of a war that ended 90 years earlierFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-funeral-parade-for-the-last-veteran-of-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-endangered-orchids-of-north-america/The North American Orchid Conservation Center is working to ensure the survival of some of the most unique plants in the worldFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-endangered-orchids-of-north-america/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/curiositys-journey-to-mars/NASA's Curiosity rover traveled 154 million miles and will now begin the search for the ingredients of life on the red planetFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/curiositys-journey-to-mars/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/may-yohe-and-the-hope-diamond/The classic American tale of a woman who grew up poor, became queen of the stage and even owned the Hope DiamondFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/may-yohe-and-the-hope-diamond/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/best-view-of-the-baby-panda-yet/The Zoo’s new cub got a thorough grooming and a panda cam close-upFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/best-view-of-the-baby-panda-yet/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mits-new-water-powered-artificial-muscles/Scientists have created thin polymer sheets that expand and contract when in contact with waterFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mits-new-water-powered-artificial-muscles/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-stretchable-battery/This battery can be stretched to 300% its original sizeFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-stretchable-battery/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-new-miniature-3d-video-display/This compact 3D projection system could show up in the next generation of mobile devicesFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-new-miniature-3d-video-display/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tour-of-georgetown/By avoiding areas well traveled by tourists, Jin Young Lim was able to highlight architecture and the streets we walk onFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-tour-of-georgetown/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/amp-up-the-classroom/At Fairmont Heights High School in Maryland, a unique class is aimed at students with the gift of musicFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/amp-up-the-classroom/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/courtland-coxs-view-from-the-march-on-washing/The former SNCC activist describes seeing the stream of celebrities who followed Harry Belafonte to lend their supportFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/courtland-coxs-view-from-the-march-on-washing/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/reinventing-the-nations-first-museum/Today, nearly a dozen Smithsonian museums line the National Mall. But all of those spaces, in some way, grew out of the Arts & Industries Building, first called the National Museum building. Take a look behind the scenes of the building's renovations. Video Credit: Science Media Group, Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/reinventing-the-nations-first-museum/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/emammal/Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/emammal/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-golden-treasure/A team of archeologists uncover a treasure trove of golden artifacts during an excavation in JerusalemFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-golden-treasure/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-medical-photos-as-modern-art/Cirrhosis, emphysema and gallstones challenge the definition of artFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-medical-photos-as-modern-art/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-tongue-print/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-tongue-print/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-suicidal-sloths/Why three-toed sloths risk life and limb when nature callsFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-suicidal-sloths/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-tunnel/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-tunnel/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-t-rexs-journey-to-dc/Follow the "Nation's T-Rex" as it travels from Montana to WashingtonFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-t-rexs-journey-to-dc/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-songs-get-stuck-in-my/The science behind earworms and why they won’t leave us aloneFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-do-songs-get-stuck-in-my/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/paul-revere/Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/paul-revere/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-are-the-weirdest-things/Our host explains why you should never say ‘no’ to a hungry pregnant womanFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-are-the-weirdest-things/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-lightning-round/How many of your questions can our host, Eric Schulze, answer in 45 seconds?Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-lightning-round/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-chicken-soup-really-help/Don't suffer through one more miserable cold-and-flu-season without getting an answer to the burning question: can chicken soup cure your cold? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian's host Eric Schulze reveals the secrets and the science behind the classic remedy offered up since the time of the ancient Greeks.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-chicken-soup-really-help/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-engineering-will-be-vital-in-a-changing-cl/Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough offers personal insights on the realities of climate change and the best ways for society to adaptFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-engineering-will-be-vital-in-a-changing-cl/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/slush-waves-on-nantucket/Extreme cold in New England caused seawater near shore to take on the consistency of a Slurpee in February 2015.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/slush-waves-on-nantucket/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-a-room-in-new-jersey-gave-us-the-film-indu/While Thomas Edison is best-known for inventing the lightbulb, it's often forgotten that he also set up the world's first movie studio, in Fort Lee, New JerseyFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-a-room-in-new-jersey-gave-us-the-film-indu/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-are-mosquito-borne-infections/This animation explains how diseases, like dengue, are transmitted. Credit: C. Schaffer/AAAS.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-are-mosquito-borne-infections/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/these-gentle-giants-would-rather-be-left-alone/Historically feared by humans, brown bears were once aggressively hunted in the contiguous U.S. Because of this, 95% of these majestic creatures live in Alaska.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/these-gentle-giants-would-rather-be-left-alone/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flythrough-video-of-the-apollo-11-3d-model/Take a guided trip through the model and then head over to Smithsonian X 3D to zip through it yourself.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/flythrough-video-of-the-apollo-11-3d-model/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-a-dimple/Host Eric Schulze digs into the science behind these depressions.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-whats-a-dimple/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-does-the-world-look-like/Learn more about color blindness: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian-how-does-world-look-the-color-blind-180960415/ Have a question in mind? It's your turn to Ask Smithsonian: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian/ask-form/Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-what-does-the-world-look-like/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/erin-brockovich-congratulates-marc-edwards-and/“Superman isn’t coming. It is a moment in our time when we must look to ourselves, and not take for granted or wait for something from the top to come down, but rather…pick up the torch, carry the torch, to find information and the truth…” – Erin Brockovich applauds Marc Edwards and LeeAnne Walters for their work exposing the Flint water crisis | Smithsonian Magazine American #IngenuityAwards Read more about Edwards and Walters’ work: http://smithmag.co/D4dIHy The Smithsonian has been celebrating innovation in American culture for more than 150 years, and following in this tradition, Smithsonian magazine presents the American Ingenuity Awards, honoring revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, education and social progress. http://smithmag.co/R7hyROFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/erin-brockovich-congratulates-marc-edwards-and/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-making-of-beyond-curie-celebrating-badass/Credit: Amanda PhingbodhipakkiyaFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-making-of-beyond-curie-celebrating-badass/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/blimp/Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-MuseumFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/blimp/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonian-secretary-david-skorton-talks-with/The former NYC mayor talks about the solutions that offer real hope for the future of the planetFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smithsonian-secretary-david-skorton-talks-with/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fronterizo-fandango/Credit: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural HeritageFri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/fronterizo-fandango/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-pendant-is-britains-oldest-piece-of-iron/A small pebble with ornate markings is Britain’s earliest piece of Mesolithic art—but what do the markings denote, and was it worn for cosmetic purposes or spiritual ones?Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-pendant-is-britains-oldest-piece-of-iron/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-took-to-recreate-a-portrait-of-elizabe/Through painstaking work, photographer Drew Gardner transformed Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin into her ancestor, a famous women’s rights activist. (Credit: Drew Gardner)Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-it-took-to-recreate-a-portrait-of-elizabe/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/denali-has-one-of-the-deepest-canyons-in-the-w/Ruth Glacier’s Great Gorge is quite simply one of the continent’s most awe-inspiring sights. At 2,000 feet and over ten miles long, it’s one of the deepest canyons in the world.Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/denali-has-one-of-the-deepest-canyons-in-the-w/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cat-mummies-were-a-big-thing-in-ancient-egypt/Archaelogists uncover what appear to be cat mummies–a common practice around the Ptolemaic period. But an x-ray scan reveals a surprise: the mummies are just bandages. So what happened?Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cat-mummies-were-a-big-thing-in-ancient-egypt/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-500-year-old-cold-case-in-the-village-of-wha/Human remains discovered at Wharram Percy are about to be examined by an expert, in a bid to determine what happened. Is it a medieval murder mystery—or something far more sinister?Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-500-year-old-cold-case-in-the-village-of-wha/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/those-orcas-arent-doing-what-you-think/It’s not the most urgent news story that’s gripped the world since 2020, but it might be the weirdest: The last three years have seen more 400 “encounters”— many reports have used the word “attacks”—between orca whales and boats in the Strait of Gibraltar. Because the orcas are particularly fond of tearing the propellers off of yachts, the temptation to characterize these six-ton, pack-hunting, demonstrably intelligent mammals as class warriors fighting back against the 1 percent is strong, and the memes have been fun (https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/orca-wars-killer-whales-attacking-boats) . But trying to understand animal behavior in human terms is a mistake. In this episode, we speak with Carlyn Kranking (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/carlyn-kranking/) , Smithsonian’s assistant digital science editor, about why stories about animal behavior are so popular with our readers, and how she decides which ones deserve more scrutiny. Then, I speak with Lori Marino, a biopsychologist with a specific focus on whale and dolphin intelligence, about what’s really happening between the orcas and the yacht set. Dr. Marino invites you to learn more about The Whale Sanctuary Project at their site (https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/about-the-whale-sanctuary-project/) . You can also see Dr. Marino in the documentary films Blackfish (2013), Unlocking the Cage (2016), and Long Gone Wild (2019). Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . And read the transcript of this episode here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/are-wild-animals-really-just-like-us-180982939/) . There’s More to That (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast) is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/those-orcas-arent-doing-what-you-think/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-mark-test/The researchers place a white "X" on one side of Happy's head. When Happy sees the "X" in the mirror, she repeatedly touches the mark with her trunkFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-mark-test/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/beetles-destroy-pines-in-the-rockies/At high elevations in the northern Rockies, mountain pine beetles are killing countless whitebark pine trees, a major source of food for wildlife including grizzly bearsFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/beetles-destroy-pines-in-the-rockies/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shark-attack/The common thresher attack stuns and immobilizes its prey with a rapid strike with its tail, then moves in for the kill. (Still Image: iStock/bearacreative)Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shark-attack/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-did-frogs-evolve/New research shows that frogs who land on their bellies are among the most primitive of frog speciesFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-did-frogs-evolve/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/first-glimpse-of-the-national-zoos-panda-cub/Panda Cam captures Mei Xiang as she cradles her newbornFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/first-glimpse-of-the-national-zoos-panda-cub/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-homemade-rock-climbing-wall/Inspired by professional climbers, 8-year-old Kathrin Houston and her father constructed a wall for her to practice her passionFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-homemade-rock-climbing-wall/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-critical-past-2/Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-critical-past-2/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-pregnant-dads/Sometimes, in fact, nature is stranger than fictionFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/weird-science-pregnant-dads/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-humpback-whales-fish-with-bubble-nets/Courtesy of GoProFri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/watch-humpback-whales-fish-with-bubble-nets/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/south-african-great-whites/Learn about this often misunderstood creatureThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/south-african-great-whites/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mountain-gorillas-threatened/Venture into Virunga National Park with Smithsonian writer Paul Raffaele as he examines the threats facing mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the CongoThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/mountain-gorillas-threatened/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wolves-return-to-the-rockies/Ranchers and wildlife advocates are at odds over how to handle the gray wolf's return to the RockiesThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/wolves-return-to-the-rockies/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/erebus-erupts/Mount Erebus in Antarctica eruptsThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/erebus-erupts/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/give-the-devil-his-due/The shy and timid Tasmanian devil gained its reputation for fierceness in part from its ferocious-looking yawn when cornered or frightenedThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/give-the-devil-his-due/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/gorilla-conflict/A scuffle between silverback and male blackback gorilla reveals much about the social structures of the speciesThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/gorilla-conflict/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/playing-the-unplayable-records/Researchers and scientists work together together to find a way to play recordings made by the studio of inventor Alexander Graham BellThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/playing-the-unplayable-records/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cheetah-cubs-make-their-debut-at-the-national/The National Zoo's cheetah cubs will be named after the fastest American athletes in the 100-meter dash at the OlympicsThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/cheetah-cubs-make-their-debut-at-the-national/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-critical-past-1/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/march-on-washington-critical-past-1/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-why-are-these-mice-unafraid-of-cats/Scientists are researching how the rodent can become less susceptible to its feline foe.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-why-are-these-mice-unafraid-of-cats/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-where-does-space-begin/Watch to get the answer that surprised the heck out of usThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-where-does-space-begin/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/apollonia-a-dogumentary/Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/apollonia-a-dogumentary/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-anesthesia-work/A modern medical mysteryThu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-how-does-anesthesia-work/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-conservative-groups-forced-an-era-of-censo/It's 1933 and Mae West is just arriving at Grauman's Chinese Theater for the premiere of I'm No Angel. It draws fans from all over the country—as well as an organized protest from conservative religious groups.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-conservative-groups-forced-an-era-of-censo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/was-a-jamestown-governor-the-father-of-us-de/In 1619, George Yeardley, the newly appointed governor of Jamestown, made history: He convened 22 elected members of a burgeoning commonwealth, creating the first democratic assembly in America.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/was-a-jamestown-governor-the-father-of-us-de/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thiebaud-on-being-a-pop-artist/The artist discusses where his work fits among the many genres of paintingWed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/thiebaud-on-being-a-pop-artist/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-millipede-is-the-leggiest-creature-in-the/The newly discovered Lllacme plenipes has up to 750 legs, more than any other known creatureWed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/this-millipede-is-the-leggiest-creature-in-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-lightning-ever-strike-tw/Here’s why old sayings shouldn’t always be trustedWed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-does-lightning-ever-strike-tw/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/anthology-of-hip-hop-and-rap/Credit: Smithsonian Digital StudioTue, 21 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/anthology-of-hip-hop-and-rap/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/nasas-inflatable-spacecraft-heat-shield/Experts are working on a unique experiment that will use an inflatable aeroshell/heat shield to protect a spacecraft when entering a planet's atmosphere or returning to EarthFri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/nasas-inflatable-spacecraft-heat-shield/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/was-this-cave-an-ancient-lab-for-preserving-hu/A series of remarkably well-preserved human remains in a remote cave in Scotland has archaeologists grappling with a staggering question: were these bodies brought here during the Bronze Age to be mummified?Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/was-this-cave-an-ancient-lab-for-preserving-hu/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/theres-a-limit-to-the-comfort-level-of-nasa-s/The space suits used by the astronauts on Gemini 7, known as grasshopper suits, were designed for comfort. But after two weeks inside them, that was the last thing on the crew’s minds.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/theres-a-limit-to-the-comfort-level-of-nasa-s/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/alaskan-natives-see-gulf-oil-damage/A group of tribal leaders from Alaska tour the Gulf spill area and ponder what might happen to their homelands if offshore oil drilling is approved for Arctic seasThu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/alaskan-natives-see-gulf-oil-damage/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-delphine-diaw-diallo/Selected by William Coupon for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her workThu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/shooting-stars-delphine-diaw-diallo/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/robotic-ants-mimic-navigation-of-argentine-ants/Researchers use miniature robots to replicate the behavior of a colony of Argentine ants on the move, navigating from their nest entrance to a food sourceThu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/robotic-ants-mimic-navigation-of-argentine-ants/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-most-impressed-harry-belafonte-about-the/Standing at the podium, the singer/songwriter saw a sea of people from many different backgroundsThu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/what-most-impressed-harry-belafonte-about-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/these-famous-names-came-out-of-omaha/After his arrival in Omaha in 1892, Tom Dennison - nicknamed the "Grey Wolf" - controlled the city's street's for more than 30 yearsThu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/these-famous-names-came-out-of-omaha/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-pirogues-eye-view-of-harper-liberia/A pirogue's eye view of the inlet at the edge of Harper. Some of the first groups of freed American slaves landed on the shores of West Africa near here. (Credit: Clair MacDougall)Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-pirogues-eye-view-of-harper-liberia/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/could-3d-printing-save-music-education/DC chef Erik Bruner-Yang interviews Jill-of-all-trades Kaitlyn Hova about her plan to infuse STEM education with open source, 3D printable instruments.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/could-3d-printing-save-music-education/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-archival-footage-27th-and-2/Recently digitized footage showing Marines loading onto LST with supplies on equipment and waiting on the beach, among other things. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving Image Research Collections, University of South Carolina)Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/us-marine-corps-archival-footage-27th-and-2/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/counter-clockwise-attack/A snake attacks a rare counter-clockwise snailWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/counter-clockwise-attack/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-platypus/The bizarre-looking Australian native takes a swim. (Still Image: JohnCarnemolla/iStock)Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-platypus/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/finding-a-black-hole/After mapping the movement of stars for years, astronomers believe they have found a black hole at the center of the Milky WayWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/finding-a-black-hole/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-making-of-the-works/Singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke discusses how she used Woody Guthrie’s lyrics to create her folk album. (Still Image: Kirk Stauffer/Flickr)Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-making-of-the-works/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-vincent-cerf/Vice president of engineering and chief evangelist at Google on the connected world in 2050Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/q-a-vincent-cerf/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-coffee-breaks-became-a-staple-of-american/Coffee - it's a staple of American life, and inside the vaults of the National Museum of American History, they know the secret to its wide spread success: packagingWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/how-coffee-breaks-became-a-staple-of-american/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-comet-zooms-close-to-earth-this-month/Viewable to the unaided eye, the comet PanSTARRS will speed past our planet for the first and only timeWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/a-comet-zooms-close-to-earth-this-month/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-is-a-piece-of-joan-of-arcs-dungeon-in-the/Larry Bird, author of Souvenir Nation, reveals rare artifacts from deep within the American History Museum's archivesWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/why-is-a-piece-of-joan-of-arcs-dungeon-in-the/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-maya-beheadings/Dismembered war captives from the 17th century uneartherdWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/smartnews-maya-beheadings/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-search-for-earth-20/Sara Seagers groundbreaking research ranges from the detection of exoplanet atmospheres to innovative theories about life on other worlds to development of novel space mission concepts. Dubbed an astronomical Indiana Jones, she is on a quest to discover a true Earth twin. A professor at MIT, she was named in Time magazines 25 Most Influential in Space.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-search-for-earth-20/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-inner-earth/1,000 scientists in 40 countries are searching for answers 100 miles below our feetWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/unlocking-the-secrets-of-the-inner-earth/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-were-prehistoric-animals/Our giant of a host, Eric Schulze, explains why size mattered in prehistory.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ask-smithsonian-why-were-prehistoric-animals/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/world-pangolin-day-2015/A new video from conservation nonprofit Save Vietnam's Wildlife shows the plight of the world's only scaled mammal, the endangered pangolin.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/world-pangolin-day-2015/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/darwin-letter-recovered-returned-to-smithsoni/A letter by Charles Darwin that was stolen more than 30 years ago was recovered by the FBI’s Art Crime Team and returned to the Smithsonian on May 26, 2016. Credit: FBIWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/darwin-letter-recovered-returned-to-smithsoni/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-national-museum-of-natural-history-gets-a/Smithsonian Facebook Live EventWed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-national-museum-of-natural-history-gets-a/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-invisible-enemy-wiping-out-entire-species/To save a species from extinction, scientists scour the Panamanian jungle for the few remaining frogs. But will they be too late?Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/the-invisible-enemy-wiping-out-entire-species/