A Garden Party and 21 Other Things to Do in August at the Smithsonian
Sleepovers, culture and cuisine, calligraphy lessons and more
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Bats Use Leaves as Mirrors to Locate and Catch Their Prey
The latest discovery in the arms race between bats and insects reveals that even silent, motionless dragonflies aren't safe
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What's in a Name? Meet the Government Employees Who Make the Call
A little-known patchwork of bureaucratic boards are tasked with deciding when to change the names of geographic places
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Six of Thailand’s Most Magnificent Temples
It should come as no surprise that Thailand is a country of temples, given the significant role that Buddhism plays in its culture
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How Mosquitos Helped Shape the Course of Human History
Historian and author Timothy Winegard discusses the way mosquitos have played a major role in battles, genetics and the gin and tonic
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This Device Can Hear the Voice Inside Your Head
AlterEgo could help people with communication or memory problems by broadcasting internal monologues
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Reframing American Art
A new web series 'Re:Frame' explores American art by making unexpected connections across the Smithsonian
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What Do Bovids, Bridges and the West Have to Do With American Art?
In the debut episode of “Re:Frame,” Smithsonian curators explore the iconic symbol of the West, the American Bison
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'Re:Frame' the Picture
A new video web series, 'RE:Frame' explores American art’s many meanings and connections with experts across the Smithsonian
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Mesoamerican Sculptures Reveal Early Knowledge of Magnetism
Stone figures with magnetized cheeks and navels suggest the pre-Maya civilization of Monte Alto understood the attractive force
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How American Brewers Employed Fine Art to Sell Beer
The Smithsonian’s ‘Re:Frame’ investigates how artist Doris Lee gave beer a new post-prohibition image of domesticity and conviviality
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Mark Twain's Quest to Bring Affordable Watches to the Masses
At one time, he even invested in a watch company that launched a signature 'Mark Twain' pocket watch
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Smithsonian Scientists Are Using Ginkgo Leaves to Study Climate Change—They Need Your Help
Citizen scientists can submit leaf samples from their hometowns through the end of August
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The 19th-Century Mania for Ice Skating in the Summer
Europeans sought to recreate the luxury of wintering in the Alps with an indoor rink attraction
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How Artist Teresita Fernández Turns Graphite, the Stuff of Stardust, Into Memories
A new episode of the Smithsonian’s ‘Re:Frame,’ explores the origin of graphite, a material artists have used for centuries
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For 100 Years, KitchenAid Has Been the Stand-Up Brand of Stand Mixers
Even celebrity chef Julia Child said that the sleek appliance made mixing 'marvelous'
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Earth's Magnetic Field Could Take Longer to Flip Than Previously Thought
New research suggests a polarity reversal of the planet takes about 22,000 years, significantly longer than former estimates
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All the World’s a Fantastical Stage for the Artist Mingering Mike
‘Re:Frame’ delves into a work of one of Washington D.C.’s most imaginative artists and his fascination with the historic Howard Theatre
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The Patents Behind Seven Classic Back-to-School Supplies
From backpacks to crayons, every piece of gear has an invention story
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The Government Taste Testers Who Reshaped America’s Diet
In the 1930s, a forgotten federal bureau experimented with ways to make soy and other products more popular in the U.S.
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The Crazy Superstitions and Real-Life Science of the Northern Lights
In the latest episode of ‘Re:Frame,’ Smithsonian curators take a deep dive into the dramatic painting ‘Aurora Borealis’ by Frederic Church
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