Ask Smithsonian / Video

Ask Smithsonian: Five False ‘Facts’ About the Human Body

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 …

Ask Smithsonian: What’s Up With Willpower and Why Don’t I Have It?

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 …

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 …

Ask Smithsonian: Does Chicken Soup Really Help With a Cold?

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 …

Ask Smithsonian: Why Don’t People Smile in Old Photographs?

Why saying “cheese” just didn’t happen in the early days of photography

Ask Smithsonian: Do Cannibals Still Exist?

Hungry for an answer? Host, Eric Schulze, dishes one up in less than a minute.

Ask Smithsonian: Can Cats Really Make Rats Into Zombies?

The science behind rat zombies

Ask Smithsonian: What’s the Difference Between Bacteria and Viruses?

The answer…and why you should care

Ask Smithsonian: Do People Really Drill Holes in Their Heads?

The oldest known form of surgery might have you scratching your head.

Ask Smithsonian: How Does Anesthesia Work?

A modern medical mystery

Ask Smithsonian: Lightning Round

How many of your questions can our host, Eric Schulze, answer in 45 seconds?

Ask Smithsonian: Does Acupuncture Work?

Our host, Eric Schulze, looks into the ancient medical technique.

Ask Smithsonian: How Do Taste Buds Work?

The sweet science behind our sense of taste

Ask Smithsonian: What’s a Stone Baby?

Prepare to be amazed.

Ask Smithsonian: Does Lightning Ever Strike Twice?

Here’s why old sayings shouldn’t always be trusted

Ask Smithsonian: What Is the Origin of Applause?

Put your hands together for our host, Eric Schulze, as he dives into history to answer your questions.

Ask Smithsonian: How Do Dolphins Sleep Without Drowning?

Not to worry—shut-eye comes easily to these aquatic mammals

Ask Smithsonian: What Would Happen if a Solar Flare Hit the Earth?

“Be prepared” might not cover it when it comes to super storms.

Ask Smithsonian: Why Were Prehistoric Animals So Big?

Our giant of a host, Eric Schulze, explains why size mattered in prehistory.

Ask Smithsonian: How Much Stuff Is in Orbit Around the Earth?

Much more than you’d think – and it’s whirling around at dangerously high speeds

Ask Smithsonian: What Are the Weirdest Things Pregnant Women Crave?

Our host explains why you should never say ‘no’ to a hungry pregnant woman

Ask Smithsonian: Why Do Songs Get Stuck in My Head?

The science behind earworms and why they won’t leave us alone

Ask Smithsonian: How Did King Tut Die?

It was no doubt a fantastical death, worthy of a pharaoh

Ask Smithsonian: Why Do Bugs Die on Their Backs?

The science behind going belly up

Ask Smithsonian: Where Does Space Begin?

Watch to get the answer that surprised the heck out of us

Ask Smithsonian: Why Does My Dog Howl at Sirens?

Eric Schulze delves into little Rover’s mind to see what all that racket is about

Ask Smithsonian: Is It True We Have Taste Buds in Our Stomachs?

Not one to hide from the bitter truth, our host, Eric Schulze dishes up the answer

Ask Smithsonian: What Would Happen if a Large Asteroid Hit the Moon?

Think blockbuster movie and you’ve got an idea of how this story ends

Ask Smithsonian: How Do Noise-Canceling Headphones Work?

Our host, Eric Schulze explains how 1 + 1 = 0 when it comes to sound

Ask Smithsonian: Does Stress Turn Your Hair Gray?

Take a calming breath, then watch this video to find out

Ask Smithsonian: Can Plants Communicate?

Our host, Eric Schulze, has the answer

Ask Smithsonian: Why Did Ancient Greeks and Romans Lie Down to Eat?

Reclining and dining in the ancient classical world