What the Long History of Mail-In Voting in the U.S. Reveals About the Election Process
A recent exhibition shows how soldiers sent in votes during the Civil War and World War...
Ants Farmed Fungi in the Wake of Dinosaurs’ Demise 66 Million Years Ago
A new study from Smithsonian scientists analyzes ant and fungus species, and uncovers the origins of...
The Colorful World of These Brazilian Identical Twins Bridges Dreams and Reality
The artists known as OSGEMEOS showcase the largest exhibition of their work in the United States...
How Century-Old Paintings Reveal the Indigenous Roots and Natural History of New England Landscapes
Seven guest collaborators bring new eyes to a Smithsonian museum founder’s collection of American art
See the Wonders of Bird Engineering in These Photos of Intricate Nests
In a new book, a curator at England's Natural History Museum describes rare and interesting nests...
These Fish Transformed Their Dorsal Fins Into Taste Buds
From tasting to hunting to hitching a ride, some fins have evolved for a variety of...
This Massive New Guidebook Will Forever Change the Way You Look at Trees
Written by Smithsonian botanist W. John Kress, the book details more than 300 North American tree...
How the Hirshhorn Museum Went From Iconoclast to Icon
Celebrating 50 years of the modernist masterpiece that shocked critics—and helped turn Washington into an arts...
After Nigerian Independence, One Renowned Artist Made Jesus a West African Savior in His Vibrant Work
Painter and printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya put forth a new vision of biblical figures for African Christians...
What's the History of Hawaiian Grass Skirts? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
‘Fearsome’ Saber-Toothed Cats Needed Their Baby Teeth and Mommies, Too
According to new research, two sets of sabers and unusual lower jaw anatomy show that the...
How a Blue SUV Named Stanley Revolutionized Driverless Car Technology
Almost 20 years ago, a Volkswagen Touareg, now on view at the National Museum of American...
How the Olympic Village Evolved From Makeshift Cabins to a City Within a City
The athletes' accommodations have come a long way in the last 100 years, expanding into modern...
Why Are Giant, Ancient Tropical Trees Dying?
Scientists from an international project are racing to figure out what kills these anchors of their...
Why the Eiffel Tower Has So Many Copycats
Replicas have popped up around the globe for decades, showcasing the design power and cultural significance...
Tommie Smith’s Raised Fist at the 1968 Olympics Inspired a Massive Golden Sculpture That Signifies the Art of His Protest
At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, an installation by artist Glenn Kaino made in collaboration with...
Geologists Uncover Remnants of Earth’s Mantle That Have Lasted Over 2.5 Billion Years
New research suggests that a discrepancy in rocks shows they endured extreme heat, and reveals more...
Apollo Astronauts Left American Flags, Boots and Even Poop on the Moon. Here's Why These Artifacts Matter
Fifty-five years after the first human lunar landing, scholars and experts are looking to preserve the...
How Golden Peacocks on a Dining Room Wall Destroyed a Longstanding Friendship in Victorian Society
Paintings, sketches and correspondence shed light on the drama surrounding the famed “Peacock Room”
Explore James Baldwin Alongside His Friends, His Contemporaries and the Queer Artists Inspired by His Writing
A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery honors the iconic writer while also celebrating the...
Here’s What We’ve Learned About Saturn Since Cassini Entered Its Orbit 20 Years Ago
The Cassini-Huygens mission increased our understanding of the planet’s rings and moons
From Powwows to Smartphones, See the Past and Present of Indigenous Plains Life in Narrative Art
The National Museum of the American Indian showcases centuries-old narrative art traditions that a new generation...
Could a Robin and a Bluebird Have Babies? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
What the Change of a Disney Park Ride Reflects About How America Sees Itself
Splash Mountain, originally based on the film ‘Song of the South,’ has become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
What a 100-Year-Old Lie Detector and 150-Year-Old Arsenic Tests Tell Us About Forensic Science Today
An exhibition at the National Museum of American History examines how humans influence and judge investigation...
How Indigenous Communities Preserve and Practice Heritage at the 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The annual festival returns to the National Mall to celebrate Indigenous traditions that span continents and...
How This Self-Taught Guitarist Became a Music Legend
For decades, Libba Cotten was one of the most distinctive folk musicians in America
How the First Black Barbie Was Born
A new documentary tells the story of Black Barbie, and why she has meant so much...
How Do You Rest in a Culture of Overwork?
A showcase of Black artists displays the restorative power of relaxation, and defines what it means...
There’s a Better Way to Teach the California Gold Rush
A new lesson plan centers Native American perspectives on the violence of Western expansion
See the Photographs That Introduced Americans to Their Presidents
The National Portrait Gallery traces early images of American leaders, from John Quincy Adams to Abraham...
This Giant Cosmic ‘Butterfly’ Is a Planet-Forming Disk
New research has confirmed that the celestial object may be the biggest of its kind ever...
