Scientific Innovation
The Innovative Spirit: Changing Our World For the Better
In partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, we look at the innovative spirit within the Smithsonian and beyond
When the U.S. Government Tried to Make It Rain by Exploding Dynamite in the Sky
Inspired by weather patterns during the Civil War, the rainmakers of the 1890s headed to west Texas to test their theory
The Supernova That Launched a Thousand Gorgeous Space Images
By colorizing one of the first Hubble satellite images, illustrator Dana Berry ushered in a new era of stunning space visuals
Scientists Explain The Thrill of Detecting a Neutrino From a Far-Off Galaxy
For the first time, the IceCube observatory has triumphantly tracked a neutrino back to a massive blazar
Buried by the Ash of Vesuvius, These Scrolls Are Being Read for the First Time in Millennia
A revolutionary American scientist is using subatomic physics to decipher 2,000-year-old texts from the early days of Western civilization
Most Parents Want to Test Their Unborn Kids' Genes For Disease Risk
Despite the fact that they might not like what they learn
Are These Baked Mushroom Sandals the Future of Fashion?
As sustainable fashion goes mainstream, multiple designers are turning to fungi for compostable attire
Ten Female Innovators to Watch In 2018
These inventors, startup founders and businesswomen have exciting things happening this year. Stay tuned!
Why We Should Test Heart Drugs On a 'Virtual Human' Instead of Animals
Thousands of animals are used for heart drug tests each year—but research shows that computer-simulated trials are more accurate
Inside the Colorado Vault That Keeps Your Favorite Foods From Going Extinct
From heirloom potatoes to honeybee sperm, this collection works to preserve our invaluable agricultural diversity
King of the Mud Dragons
Robert Higgins has spent his career dredging out tiny creatures from dirt and obscurity
This Electronic "Skin" Already Has a Sense of Touch. Now It Can Also Heal Itself
The new e-skin can both heal itself and be recycled, limiting electronic waste
Heart-Stopping Arrow Poison Could Be the Key to Male Birth Control
A non-toxic version of the compound interrupts fertilization in rats
Charles Darwin’s Grandfather Was Famous for His Poems About Plant Sex
Erasmus Darwin’s poetics influenced his grandson’s vision of nature
Is Your Champagne Good? Listen to the Bubbles for Clues
You may be able to <em>hear</em> a high-quality bubbly
A Neurosurgeon's Remarkable Plan to Treat Stroke Victims With Stem Cells
Gary Steinberg defied convention when he began implanting living cells inside the brains of patients who had suffered from a stroke
How Artificial Intelligence Could Revolutionize Archival Museum Research
A new study shows off a computer program’s specimen-sorting prowess
How to Stop a Lethal Virus
With tens of millions of lives at stake, medical researchers are racing to create a revolutionary flu vaccine before the next devastating epidemic
What's Really in That Tuna Roll? DNA Testing Can Help You Find Out
This rapidly evolving tech aims to empower consumers and shine a light on the food industry
How Forest Forensics Could Prevent the Theft of Ancient Trees
To track down timber thieves, researchers are turning to new tech and tried-and-true criminal justice techniques
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