Inventions
Ben Franklin Lives in Your Smartphone
The 18th-century inventor discovered concepts that impact modern technology
A Brief History of Snowboarding
Rebellious youth. Olympic glory. How a goofy American pastime conquered winter
Sixteen Innovators to Watch in 2022
These trailblazers are dreaming up a future with cell-cultured breastmilk, energy-saving windows and more
Ten Scientific Discoveries From 2021 That May Lead to New Inventions
From nanobots to cancer treatments, nature inspires a wide variety of innovations
Our Top Ten Stories of 2021
From archaeological finds to an invasive weed to Roman bathrooms, these were our most-read articles of the year
Keeping Tamagotchi Alive
The virtual pet that turned '90s kids into round-the-clock caretakers turned 25 this year
How Cup Noodles Became the Instant Ramen for Americans
Released in Japan 50 years ago, the portable meal proved to be one of the biggest transpacific business success stories of all time
The Return of America's Celebrity Inventor
In a new book, Smithsonian historian Eric S. Hintz traces the rise and fall, and rise again, of the maverick inventor
Smithsonian Scholars Pick Their Favorite Books of 2021
The writings of many fine authors support the research and ambitious undertakings of an Institution rising to the challenges ahead
Engineers Pick the Ten Best STEM Toys to Give as Gifts This Year
These expert-approved gifts teach robotics, coding and engineering thinking through stories and play
When Benjamin Franklin Shocked Himself While Attempting to Electrocute a Turkey
The statesman was embarrassed by the mishap—no doubt a murder most fowl
Marty McFly's 'Back to the Future II' Hoverboard Sells for $500,000
Signed by the franchise's star, actor Michael J. Fox, the movie prop easily surpassed its auction estimate
This Apparel Company Wants to Have a Profound Effect on Your Energy Use
LifeLabs Design was founded by a pair of Stanford professors who have developed fabrics capable of cooling and warming the wearer
'Saildrone' Captures First-Ever Video From Inside a Category 4 Hurricane
This uncrewed, remote-controlled vessel gathered valuable scientific data that could help researchers better understand and predict these violent storms
Fifty Years Ago, the First CT Scan Let Doctors See Inside a Living Skull
The invention came from an eccentric British engineer who worked at a company now better known for selling Beatles albums
The National Weather Service Began as a Crowdsourcing Experiment
Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry used an army of volunteers in what would eventually become the nation's weather forecasting operation
A Brief History of the Sonogram
In the mid-1950s, a Scottish obstetrician became the first to apply ultrasound technology to a pregnant human abdomen
The Rugged History of the Pickup Truck
At first, it was all about hauling things we needed. Then the vehicle itself became the thing we wanted
Scientists Design a Robotic Chameleon That Crawls and Changes Color
A new artificial skin can sense its surroundings and create a camouflage coat
How the Adirondack Chair Became the Feel-Good Recliner That Cures What Ails You
The furniture piece has gone through countless permutations, but it all started at a time when resting outdoors was thought to be a matter of life or death
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