The name sounds innocuous, maybe even charming. But it’s also known by another name—the ant lion—and it’s every bit as predatory and remorseless as that name sounds.

Doodlebug Is a Misleading Name for an Accomplished Assassin (3:04)

In life, the role of Tutankhamun was to ensure the worship of the god Ra, so that the sun would rise up in the sky. In death, that obligation continued in the form of a perilous journey through the underworld.

King Tutankhamun Was Thought To Have A Direct Link To The Sun God (2:14)

When birds need sleep, they do it on the fly--quite literally. They're able to enter a special kind of half-sleep state that lets them rest midair, which is especially important if you're a migratory bird, like the Alpine swift, clocking thousands of miles at a time. Glide into the astounding world of avian sleep.

The Secret World of Animal Sleep: Asleep on the Wing (3:01)

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.

How Henry Ford Found the Right Tires for Model T Cars (1:46)

The two-wheel chariot was also a two-crew chariot: a driver handling the reins, and an archer unleashing a volley of arrows. Its speed and maneuverability made it the scourge of ancient battlefields.

Why the Two-Wheel Chariot Was So Effective in Ancient Battles (1:55)

A contemporary weapons expert is about to test a medieval war hammer on a steel breastplate from that era. The aim is to find out how much damage this fearsome instrument of death could deal.

What Kind of Damage Can a Medieval War Hammer Do? (2:09)

Hadrian’s Wall was a 73 mile barrier stretching from coast to coast, splitting the warlike north of Britain from the more docile south. It was the Roman Empire’s way of imposing peace in a hostile land

The Roman Wall That Split Britain Into Two Parts (3:35)

In the late 1300s, tea was introduced to Japan from mainland China, transported in delicate jars. Over the years, as drinking tea became a prized activity in Japan, so too did the jars in which it was stored

How Tea Drinking Became an Important Part of Japanese Culture (3:05)

The Leopard Rocks—giant boulders spread out over hundreds of square miles—impress. But it’s the area's wildlife that really catches the eye: from leopards to peacocks to gray langurs.

The Wildlife at Leopard Rocks Is as Impressive as the Terrain (1:24)

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 rigged

The 1919 World Series Fix That Tarnished America's Pastime (3:26)

These Ancient Stone Troughs Contained an Unlikely Beverage (2:43)

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.

The Weird Thrills That Americans Pursued in the 1920s (3:13)

Television reporter Shannon LaNier is a direct descendant of the third President of the United States. (Credit: Drew Gardner)

What It Took to Recreate a Portrait of Thomas Jefferson (3:28)

The two discussed their ancestors’ legacy more than 150 years after the famous figures both attended the Seneca Falls Convention. (Credit: Drew Gardner)

In Conversation: The Descendants of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass (4:54)

Through painstaking work, photographer Drew Gardner transformed Elizabeth Jenkins-Sahlin into her ancestor, a famous women’s rights activist. (Credit: Drew Gardner)

What It Took to Recreate a Portrait of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (2:26)

The name sounds innocuous, maybe even charming. But it’s also known by another name—the ant lion—and it’s every bit as predatory and remorseless as that name sounds.

Doodlebug Is a Misleading Name for an Accomplished Assassin (3:04)

When birds need sleep, they do it on the fly--quite literally. They're able to enter a special kind of half-sleep state that lets them rest midair, which is especially important if you're a migratory bird, like the Alpine swift, clocking thousands of miles at a time. Glide into the astounding world of avian sleep.

The Secret World of Animal Sleep: Asleep on the Wing (3:01)

No bird is more skilled at in-flight feeding than a hummingbird, thanks to their ability to hover in the air. But if it's rainy, these fantastic flyers have to be extremely careful not to get hurt.

Why Hummingbirds Don't Like Flying in Rainy Conditions (2:17)

Gasp! The answer will amaze you.

Ask Smithsonian: How Long Can a Person Hold Their Breath? (1:32)

The science of earwax in under a minute

Ask Smithsonian: What's the Point of Earwax? (1:05)

Mans best friend is also one of his oldest.

Ask Smithsonian: When Did People Start Keeping Pets? (1:05)

Lil Nas X explains the origins of his diamond-certified crossover hit, ‘Old Town Road.' Video by Adam Grossman | Good Dog Media

Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2019: Lil Nas X (3:04)

Medical researchers Ewelina Mamcarz and Stephen Gottschalk detail the science behind the gene therapy they invented to help children with “bubble boy disease,” or severe combined immunodeficiency. Video by Adam Grossman | Good Dog Media

Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2019: Ewelina Mamcarz and Stephen Gottschalk (3:32)

“In our world, nothing really is impossible. Everything at best is improbable,” says Alex Kipman, as he discusses the holographic, augmented reality technology his team at Microsoft is pioneering. Video by Adam Grossman | Good Dog Media

Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2019: Alex Kipman (2:45)

Climb into the guts of a hovercraft, as a team of salvage experts, led by a former NASA engineer, disassemble and cut through this iconic and unique vehicle.

Take a Look Inside One of the Most Unusual Vehicles Ever (2:43)

Nicole Austin is a Master Blender, Engineer and Distiller in the growing US craft spirits industry, the newly elected President of the New York State Distillers Guild, and is a seasoned imbiber of spirits.

Aqua Vitae or Hooch? The Secrets of Great Whiskey (19:39)

Molly Wright Steenson is an Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism & MassCommunication at UW-Madison. Pneumatic tubes have made her Internet famous.

Pneumatic Tube Systems, Particularly in Paris: It Really Is a System of Tubes (20:47)