The Real Story Behind the Star-Spangled Banner, the Flag That Inspired the National Anthem
How the flag that flew proudly over Fort McHenry in September 1814 made its way to the Smithsonian
ISS Astronauts Forced to Briefly Take Shelter as Russian Satellite Suddenly Breaks Up in Orbit
Officials are unsure why the satellite fractured unexpectedly, splintering into nearly 200 pieces
‘Frog Saunas’ May Be the Key to Saving Amphibians From a Deadly Fungal Infection
Providing frogs with sun-warmed bricks inside mini-greenhouses can help them recover from chytrid and make them more resilient against the disease in the future, a new study finds
Dinosaur With Giant, Loki-Like Horns Has the ‘Craziest, Coolest’ Headgear—and Could Be a New Species
The discovery sheds light on the evolution of a surprisingly diverse group of horned dinosaurs in the western United States
These Badges Shed New Light on the Enslaved Workers Who Built Charleston
The Smithsonian has acquired a collection of 146 slave badges from between 1800 and 1865
Archaeologists Recover 900 Artifacts From Ming Dynasty Shipwrecks in South China Sea
The trove of objects—including pottery, porcelain, shells and coins—was found roughly a mile below the surface
Ancestry Releases Records of 183,000 Enslaved Individuals in America
The genealogy company has digitized and published 38,000 newspaper articles from between 1788 and 1867—before Black Americans were counted as citizens in the U.S. census
Untold Stories of American History
Twenty-Five Years Before the Wright Brothers Took to the Skies, This Flying Machine Captivated America
First exhibited in 1878, Charles F. Ritchel’s dirigible was about as wacky, dangerous and impractical as any airship ever launched
William Anders, NASA Astronaut Who Captured Iconic ‘Earthrise’ Photograph, Dies at 90
The Apollo 8 lunar module pilot also served in the U.S. Air Force and worked extensively on nuclear energy projects
Why Juneteenth, the U.S.’s Second Independence Day, Is a Federal Holiday
The celebration commemorates June 19, 1865, when a military decree informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free
People Are Spotting Rare, Blue-Eyed Cicadas Around Illinois
As two broods of periodical cicadas emerge across the U.S. this spring, people have discovered a few of the bugs that don’t have their trademark red eyes
Giant Pandas Are Coming Back to Washington, D.C.
A pair of the bears will arrive at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo by the end of 2024
Belugas May Communicate by Changing the Shape of Their Squishy Foreheads
Scientists documented five different melon shapes among the marine mammals living in captivity: push, flat, lift, shake and press
Northern Europe and the British Isles
At 200 Years Old, the London National Gallery Is Redefining What It Means to Be a ‘National’ Museum
Despite its decidedly traditional art collection, the British cultural institution is adopting a contemporary approach to public outreach and accessibility
Take a Closer Look at a Surprising New Sculpture That Rethinks Who We Put on a Pedestal
Korean artist Do Ho Suh’s “Public Figures” makes a grand arrival outside the National Museum of Asian Art
Original ‘Star Trek’ Enterprise Model Resurfaces Decades After It Went Missing
The model used in the original series’ opening credits is now back with Eugene Roddenberry Jr., the son of the show’s creator
Why Images of Ghosts Have Endured in Japan for Centuries
A new exhibition at the National Museum of Asian Art displays haunting, colorful woodblock prints
Scientists Clone Two Black-Footed Ferrets From Frozen Tissues in Conservation Effort
The aim of cloning the animals is to increase the genetic diversity of the endangered species
How Museums Are Preserving and Celebrating Selena’s Legacy
The singer’s presence can still be felt at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
This ‘Zen’ Motorcycle Still Inspires Philosophical Road-Trippers 50 Years Later
Robert M. Pirsig’s odyssey vehicle takes its final ride as it vrooms into public view for the first time ever at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
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