Lighting the Darkness

The tragic true story of an innocent man suspected of murder is a classic motif of the Hollywood thriller and is used as a subplot in Scream.

Killers Don't Always Look the Part (2:50)

With fields full of pumpkins and forests full of ghosts, this New England state might be the perfect place for tricks and treats

Why People Believe Dudleytown, Connecticut is Cursed (1:37)

The beauty of Harbor Island shrouds the secrets of a dark history.

The Dark History of Maine's Harbor Island (1:34)

In 1788, a British mariner passed by the majestic, snow-covered mountains of northwest Washington - the peaks seemed the perfect dwelling place for Greek gods, so he named them the Olympic Mountains.

How the Olympic Mountains Got Their Name (1:42)

Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, thought in images, as this clip from his early 1960s piece "Cat and Mouse" exemplifies. Henson's prolific mind is celebrated in the new Smithsonian traveling exhibition "Jim Henson's Fantastic World."

Cat and Mouse (17:23)

The Marine Band, having played at nearly every presidential swearing-in ceremony since Thomas Jefferson's in 1801, readies for Barack Obama's inauguration

The Inaugural House Band (5:20)

Forensic anthropologist Doug Owsley discusses the skeletal specimens in a new exhibit at the Natural History Museum

Smithsonian's Own Crime Scene Investigator (5:16)

When young bull elephants start killing off females, scientists realize that severe poaching not only skewed the sanctuary's gender balance, it also psychologically damaged these once gentle giants.

Can an Elephant Become a Serial Killer? (3:45)

Once a company of only 10 employees, Lego is now one of the most recognized brands on the planet-valued at over 14 billion dollars. But none of this could have been possible without Lego's revolutionary approach to play and commerce.

How a Small Tweak Made Lego the Toy You Know Today (3:28)