Video | Smithsonian.com

Rare Footage of Helen Keller Speaking

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:44:06 GMT

Working with her instructor, the American author and political activist learned to talk despite being deaf and blind

36 Unusual Units of Measurement

Wed, 15 May 2013 03:32:46 GMT

Mental Floss answers how much a "dash" actually is and uncovers what a hogshead measures

Grisly Photographs From the Civil War

Mon, 06 May 2013 04:25:32 GMT

It isn't possible to tell the story of the American Civil War without recourse to the million photographic images that were created

Forensic Anthropologist Confirms Survival Cannibalism at Jamestown

Wed, 01 May 2013 04:05:30 GMT

Findings were proven through collaborative research efforts by Preservation Virginia's Jamestown Rediscovery Project, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History

The Human Experience Captured Through a Phone

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:26:36 GMT

The life of one man as seen through his iPhone

Daily Routine

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:33 GMT

Using the 8mm iPhone app, Melih Kundakcioglu captured a day in his life

In Motion Video Contest Highlights

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:52:21 GMT

Feeling inspired? Check out to submit your video for a chance to win our grand prize

The Microbes We're Made Of

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:58:55 GMT

The human body hosts more than ten thousand different kinds of microbes. Most of these bacteria aren't harmful - in fact, many of them actually aid the immune system

The Healthy Truth About Traditional Childbirth

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:59:04 GMT

When a baby is born surgically via C-section, it may miss out on the health benefits of passing through the birth canal

How Do You 3-D Scan a Dinosaur?

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:18:16 GMT

Using laser scanners and high-tech computer software, Vince Rossi and Adam Metallo are recreating a digital Dinosaur Hall before it's dismantled

Earth Art for Earth Day

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:14:42 GMT

Four artists take over the Smithsonian grounds for the first time ever

Why Do We Cry?

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:28:44 GMT

There are three types of tears and it doesn't only happen when you're emotional

Teaching Kids Real Math With Computers

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:07:48 GMT

Conrad Wolfram says the part of math we teach -- calculation by hand -- isn't just tedious, it's mostly irrelevant to real mathematics and the real world

Changing Education Paradigms

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:55:27 GMT

Ken Robinson's heralded talk about education and creativity gets an animated treatment

Let's Use Video to Reinvent Education

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:43:49 GMT

Salman Khan of Khan Academy shows the power of interactive exercises and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script

Beats of Hidden Cells

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:55:31 GMT

Artists create exhibit inspired by nature that comes to life if you're curious enough to interact with it

A Tour of Georgetown

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:28:45 GMT

By avoiding areas well traveled by tourists, Jin Young Lim was able to highlight architecture and the streets we walk on

Solo Symphony

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:39:34 GMT

Choreographer Allison Orr created a unique piece based off of Austin Symphony conductor Peter Bay's movement and passion for music

Why is a Piece of Joan of Arc's Dungeon in the Smithsonian?

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:57:37 GMT

Larry Bird, author of Souvenir Nation, reveals rare artifacts from deep within the American History Museum's archives

How to Cook Spinach in Space

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:07:54 GMT

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield shows how vacuum sealed dehydrated spinach is prepared to eat aboard the International Space Station

Michael Craig-Martin Drawings

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:38:49 GMT

Timelapse of a British artist creating a site-specific piece for the Ulster Museum

The Story of the Wall Street Bull

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:05:30 GMT

From a ticker tape parades to the Occupy Wall Street movement, "Charging Bull" has seen it all

Michigan's Spectacular Upper Peninsula

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:35:05 GMT

From the Porcupine Mountains to the northern lights over Marquette, this timelapse captures the true beauty of the UP

45 Odd Facts About U.S. Presidents

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 02:49:37 GMT

John Green of Mental Floss discusses which president ran over a lady with his horse and Richard Nixon's favorite snack

Stunning Underwater Footage

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:49:28 GMT

Off the shores of Koh Tao, Thailand lies a fascinating world of plants and wildlife

Vancouver Timelapse

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:54:24 GMT

Using a GoPro camera, Luc Poletto captures the holiday atmosphere in the Canadian city

A Tour of the Alps

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:06:37 GMT

The mountain range system that stretches across eight countries in Europe captured in this stunning high definition timelapse

Making Music After Hurricane Sandy

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:28:35 GMT

Three months after the devastating storm forced the students of PS 317 to put down their instruments, the band is back and making music again

Amazing Chicago Timelapse

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:58:36 GMT

Fascinated by the city, Eric Hines shot over 30,000 photographs to complete his cityscape

Life of Samiulla

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:48:16 GMT

When his father died in a bomb blast at a Bazaar in Pakistan, Samiulla had to give up his dream of going to school and provide for his family

Helping Underpriviledged Children Hear

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:33:43 GMT

By 2020, the Starkey Hearing Foundation plans to donate one million hearing aids to kids in the developing world

Bunker Hill Official Book Trailer

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:10:50 GMT

Nathaniel Philbrick brings his prodigious talents to the story of the Boston battle that ignited the American Revolution

What's a Kolache Doing in Brooklyn?

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:54:13 GMT

Czech immigrants brought the pastry to Texas; Autumn Stanford brought them to New York

A Plasma Downpour on the Sun

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 08:17:25 GMT

When plasma falls to the surface it results in a dazzling display known as coronal rain

Timelapse Earth

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:54:52 GMT

Using footage from the International Space Station, photographer Bruce W. Berry, Jr. created a stunning compilation of our planet

Home for the 100 Year Herd

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:02:34 GMT

The National Zoo gets a new state of the art Elephant Community Center complete with 8,943 square meters of romping room

Kon-Tiki Official Trailer

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT

The story of legendary explorer Thor Heyerdal's epic crossing of the Pacific Ocean on a balsa wood raft in 1947

Building the World's Largest Ship

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 02:46:19 GMT

In just 76 seconds, watch as construction on the very first Triple-E vessel goes from start to finish

The Largest Bat Collection in the World

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:15:00 GMT

Scientists place high-speed cameras at the mouth of a cave and catch thousands of bats in action as they fly off to feed.

Tracking Bat Colonies With High-Speed Cameras

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:15:00 GMT

Scientists place high-speed cameras at the mouth of a cave and catch thousands of bats in action as they fly off to feed.

The Cyrus Cylinder: An Artifact Ahead of Its Time

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 03:32:23 GMT

This relic from ancient Persia had a profound influence on the Founding Fathers

Dance of the Honey Bee

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:02:12 GMT

With the insect always on the move, the complex world in which they live is changing with enormous speed

The Elephant Whisperer

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:43:55 GMT

Caitlin O'Connell has been studying the interactions of elephants for 20 years.

Danger at the Watering Hole

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:31:15 GMT

Elephant families clash over access to the best spot at the watering hole

How to Become the Pope

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:34:38 GMT

With the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the long process to elect a new pope begins

Doomsday in Tunguska

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 09:37:26 GMT

Did an asteroid shake the earth 100 years ago, or was it something even more disturbing?

A Traveling iPhone Photographer

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:13:36 GMT

Kevin Russ uses an iPhone and Instagram to capture incredible images of the American west

Designing the Next Generation Space Suit

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:25:44 GMT

Two men from Final Frontier Designs are creating the next generation suit from scratch

The Science of Love

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 04:36:22 GMT

The brain in love looks strikingly similar to one on drugs

All 39 Birds-of-Paradise Species Captured on Film for the First Time

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:23:49 GMT

After eight years, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Geographic succeeded in recording every species in the colorful bird family

Swim With The Whales

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:50:02 GMT

Holding his breath and diving into the deep sea, videographer Howard Hall captures stunning images of whales off the shore of Tonga

This Is How Your Brain Works

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:31:35 GMT

These brain tricks and illusions will help demonstrate the two main systems of Fast and Slow Thinking in your brain

A Bird Ballet

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:33:35 GMT

While shooting a commercial, videographer Neels Castillon captures thousands of birds dancing in the sky

Apollo 16 Lunar Dash Cam

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:16:22 GMT

Astronauts John Young and Charlie Duke take the lunar rover for a spin on the surface of the moon

The Secret Plot to Kill Lincoln

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:57:02 GMT

During his inauguration tour in 1861, the president's life was threatened in the city of Baltimore

Using the Sun to Make Music

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:08:44 GMT

Composer Robert Alexander is helping NASA make new discoveries by turning raw data into music through a process called data sonification

Bees in Slow Motion and Ultra HD

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:22:42 GMT

Filmed and edited at 4K resolution, this video captures the beauty of honey bees in flight

We Were All Female Once

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:54:43 GMT

In the first 5-6 weeks of embryonic development, the Y chromosome in male fetuses has yet to activate, making us all female

Ray: A Life Underwater

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 07:49:05 GMT

At 75-years-old, Ray Ives has been deep sea diving for a lifetime and found some extraordinary artifacts along the way

Memory Sixteen

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:35:11 GMT

Clever editing and an iPhone come together to create this unique look at one man's experiences

Spring Revisited

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:58:28 GMT

Shot over a number of weeks in a small cupboard, photographer Mark Rigler captured the life and death of daffodils

Born Into Coal

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:23:06 GMT

Pageant contestant Arianna Bailey competes for the title of Coal Queen and former miner Goose Stewart is haunted by the memories of a mine explosion

One Day in the Country

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:30:05 GMT

Fabio Palmieri introduces the "blur-lapse," a timelapse with a depth of field shifted in time frame by frame

Diving With Great White Sharks

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 08:24:45 GMT

The Pelagic crew travels to shark infested waters and spent five days interacting with the king of the ocean

When I Die: Lessons from the Death Zone

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 07:22:18 GMT

Philip Gould shares his thoughts and insights as he confronts his impending death from oesophageal cancer

Around the World in a Snow Globe

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:33:48 GMT

Filmmaker Colin Mika traveled to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Québec City, Montréal and London to create this stunning holiday timelapse

Decoding Immortality

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:28:47 GMT

Meet the woman behind the amazing scientific breakthrough that may put immortality within our grasp

Behind the Scenes of a Historic Photo Shoot

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:45:43 GMT

What did it take to pull together a draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln's inkwell and his pen?

Climate Change 101 With Bill Nye the Science Guy

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:51:17 GMT

The famous scientist cuts through the global warming noise and lays out the facts

The Science of Santa Claus

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:47:39 GMT

Warning: This video proves whether Santa Claus really exists by using math and science. Not suitable for small children

Video Recap of the 2012 American Ingenuity Awards Dinner

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:53:10 GMT

Highlights from an inspirational evening honoring all of the award winners

Designer Creates Wind-Powered Land Mine Detonator

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:33:09 GMT

With so many injured from land mines in Kabul, Massoud Hassani invented a low cost solution to clear them from the desert

Timelapse: Spider Making a Web

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:10:34 GMT

By taking one photo every four seconds, one photographer was able to capture one of nature's greatest phenomenons

Anne Kelly Knowles Uses GIS Tools to Re-Write History

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:32:11 GMT

The American Ingenuity Award winner is using geographic information systems to map history's most iconic landscapes

Pardis Sabeti's New Look at Infectious Disease

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:21:25 GMT

The American Ingenuity Award winner is on the brink of using the human genome to provide better diagnostics for deadly diseases

Bryan Stevenson: The Legal Crusader

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:47:14 GMT

The American Ingenuity Award winner is giving new hope to thousands of young people in America's prisons

Jack Andraka's Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:31:54 GMT

What was the motivation behind the American Ingenuity Award winner's medical breakthrough that will save thousands of lives

Elon Musk's Journey to Mars

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:21:40 GMT

How the American Ingenuity Award winner plans to build a self-sustaining civilization on Mars

Sebastian Thrun on the Future of Learning

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:05:02 GMT

Why the American Ingenuity Award winner believes higher education should be a basic human right

Benh Zeitlin and the Beasts of the Southern Wild

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:41:54 GMT

The American Ingenuity Award winner describes what it takes to tell a great story

Esperanza Spalding's New Take on Jazz

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:22:28 GMT

The American Ingenuity Award winner on the connection between history and music

Jim Anderson's Quest to Solve Climate Change

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:24:49 GMT

The American Ingenuity Award winner warns that no place on Earth is safe from the dangers of global warming

An Explosive Event with Cai Guo-Qiang

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:19:50 GMT

The world famous Chinese artist uses pyrotechnics to turn a 40-foot-tall pine tree into an optical illusion

Dr. NakaMats: Patently Strange

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:48:00 GMT

The world's most prolific inventor opens up his lab in Tokyo

Bryan Stevenson: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 06:32:59 GMT

The legal crusader who has given thousands of young people in America's prisons a second chance

Pardis Sabeti: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:11:46 GMT

This rock star Harvard professor explains why she believes she has the greatest job in the world

Watch the Trailer for Beasts of the Southern Wild

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:11:07 GMT

Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award winner Benh Zeitlin directed this imaginative film that defies categorization

Bryan Stevenson on the Injustices in America

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award winner for social progress reminisces about what his meeting with Rosa Parks meant for his life's work

Jack Andraka: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

At age 15, this high school sophomore invented a new way to diagnose a deadly form of cancer

Watch the SpaceX Rocket Liftoff

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX, the company founded by Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award winner Elon Musk, takes off from Cape Canaveral, Florida in May 2012

Anne Kelly Knowles: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

By using cutting-edge technology in the field of geography, this Middlebury College professor can see into the past

Esperanza Spalding: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The winner of Best New Artist at the 2011 Grammys describes what it's like to interact with Duke Ellington's musical scores

Sebastian Thrun: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

An expert in artificial intelligence is transforming the way people learn around the world

Jim Anderson: 2012 Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The Harvard chemist who discovered an alarming link between climate change and ozone loss explains his research

How the Clean Cookstove Changes Lives

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Meet Sarah, a Kenyan woman who no longer cooks on an open-fire stove

Watch the Trailer for The Invention of Dr. Nakamats

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Who is the greatest inventor in the world? Watch this preview of the documentary about his life

The Secret to Making Food Look Irresistible on Television

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 04:24:11 GMT

High-speed cameras and special effects help transform watching a commercial into a mouth-watering experience

How One Soccer Team Defeated the Nazis

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 07:47:30 GMT

FC Start, a group of soccer players living in Nazi-occupied Kiev, used the game to find hope and inspire their fellow countrymen.

Caring for Orphaned Walruses

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:53:21 GMT

The two orphaned walruses at the Alaska SeaLife Center require constant care and seek out frequent contact with caregivers.

A Gorilla Family in the Wild

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:50:17 GMT

The World Wildlife Fund films a family of western lowland gorillas in the Dzanga-Sangha reserve

Karen King on the Meaning of Her Discovery

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:30:00 GMT

The divinity professor explains the nuance behind the suggestion in the fragment that Jesus was married

Why Do Humans Blush?

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 03:01:59 GMT

Why does your face turn bright red after an embarrassing moment? The secret behind this uniquely human phenomenon

The History of Coffee Culture in America

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:24:57 GMT

Merry "Corky" White, author of Coffee Life in Japan, traces the history of coffee culture in the United States

Red Hot Kathleen Turner Discusses Molly Ivins

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 03:01:31 GMT

Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner discusses Molly Ivins

Hot Air Balloons Light Up The Sky

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:36:34 GMT

In Albuquerque, New Mexico every Fall season is marked by the start of the Balloon Fiesta

Remembering the Dark Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 02:46:33 GMT

Former CIA analyst Dino Brugioni was one of the first to spot missiles in Cuba in October 1962

Father and Son Send Toy Train to Space

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:14:13 GMT

Father and son send a toy train named "Stanley" into space using a weather balloon, HD camera and an old cell phone for GPS

Save the Last Great Telescope

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 06:12:08 GMT

The Green Bank Telescope is the world's largest fully steerable radio telescope and the world's largest land-based movable structure

The History of April Fools Day

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 05:45:30 GMT

When the French made a change in calendar systems, some found out late and a tradition was born

Historic Newsreel Footage of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Tensions intensified between Cuba and the United States in October 1962 as they appear destined to plunge the planet in global war

First Glimpse of the National Zoo's Panda Cub

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 07:54:12 GMT

Panda Cam captures Mei Xiang as she cradles her newborn

Decoding the National Cryptologic Museum

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Using the Enigma and the Sigaba, world powers encrypted their messages in hopes of catching their opponents by surprise

Stunning Timelapse of the Pacific Northwest

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:10:38 GMT

From stars streaking across the night sky to clouds moving over snow-capped mountains, photographer John Eklund captures the beauty of the region

Epic Hermit Crab Migration Captured on Film

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:01:55 GMT

One morning on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, videographer Steve Simonsen captured hundreds of thousands of hermit crabs crawling up the beach

How Butterfly Wings Inspire Innovation

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:49:15 GMT

Scientists believe the iridescent wings of the morphos butterfly could be used in technology to benefit humans

The First Animal to Survive in Space

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:51:09 GMT

Tardigrades or "Water bears" are the only creatures that can survive the extreme conditions in the vacuum of outer space

Recreating the Discovery Space Shuttle Fly-over With Cans

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:21:57 GMT

Follow team LEO A DALY as they replicate the Discovery space shuttle flight over Washington, D.C. for CANstruction

Thomas Edison's Boxing Cats

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:30:07 GMT

From the inventor's New Jersey film studio, the delight of cats doing things on film was discovered early in 1894

Watch the Eruption of the Bizarre Artificial German Volcano

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:17:41 GMT

When a 18th century German prince visited Mt. Vesuvius in Naples, he insisted on building a replica of it on his estate back home

This Artist Essentially Made a Real Life Iron Man Suit

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:37:21 GMT

Kogoro Kurata, an artist and blacksmith, channeled his inner Tony Stark and created "Kuratas," an armored robot that can be operated by pretty much anyone

Part II — How Many Times Do They Pass the Ball?

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:37:05 GMT

Even after people have seen researcher Daniel Simons’ first video, they still are stunned by the second

How Many Times Do They Pass the Ball?

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:29:07 GMT

Before reading the story, watch Daniel Simons' famous video on selective attention

Monarchy, Empire, and Why Humans Adore Steve Jobs

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:12:02 GMT

We know that technology carries with it all manner of problems, but one of our biggest pickles tends to slip right by us

How does Liu Bolin Make Himself Invisible?

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:58:26 GMT

Watch how the artist directs his team so when a photograph is taken, Bolin is completely camouflaged by his surroundings

Los Texmaniacs perform "Por una mujer casada"

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:00:00 GMT

On July 31, Smithsonian Folkways will release GRAMMY-Award winning conjunto group Los Texmaniacs' 'Texas Towns & Tex-Mex Sounds.'

Extreme Pogo at its Finest

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:55:05 GMT

With air-powered sticks that launch them up to 10 feet in the air, a small community of athletes is boldly pogoing where no one has pogone before

Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:59:54 GMT

Twenty-one years after she won the award, the Burmese leader delivered the Nobel lecture on her fight for human rights in her native country

The History of Keeping Time

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:39:39 GMT

What are time zones and why are there so many of them? Get the answers to these questions and more in this journey through the history of time

A Flight Through the Universe

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:22:11 GMT

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey recently released the largest ever 3-D map of the sky with some 540,000 galaxies

Smithsonian Spotlight: Picture Perfect

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 06:23:14 GMT

See what it takes to win a photo contest, from the lens of the photographers to the scrutinizing eyes of the judges

May Yohe and the Hope Diamond

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 05:46:07 GMT

The classic American tale of a woman who grew up poor, became queen of the stage and even owned the Hope Diamond

What Jurassic Park Got Wrong About Raptors

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 09:41:16 GMT

Forget the scaly skin, real raptors had feathers and, according to one paleontologist, looked a lot more like “prehistoric kickboxing killer turkeys”

Rovers Raise the Bar

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 06:22:57 GMT

Space rovers can see more detailed information and travel further than humans

Curiosity's Journey to Mars

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 06:04:45 GMT

NASA's Curiosity rover traveled 154 million miles and will now begin the search for the ingredients of life on the red planet

Poof! There Goes Perspiration!

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:45:04 GMT

Watch this commercial for Stopette spray deodorant from 1952

The Only Footage of Mark Twain in Existence

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 04:09:33 GMT

Silent film footage taken in 1909 by Thomas Edison at Mark Twain's estate

What is the Future of Energy?

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:27:41 GMT

Three academics look at wind power, carbon capture and storage and material efficiency as examples of how we can cut our C02 emissions

Fishing for Sharks From a Blimp

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:11:58 GMT

Daring anglers hook sharks from the cabin of a huge airship in Fisher Island

The Jersey Shore Shark Attack

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:26:07 GMT

The 1916 shark attack spree began with an unsuspecting young man going for a leisurely swim off the Jersey Shore

Is This NASA's Earliest Timelapse?

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 02:47:35 GMT

One timelapse enthusiast edited footage from Projects Mercury and Gemini to create a stunning look at early space travel

The Real Story of Jaws

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:45:54 GMT

The Steven Spielberg classic terrified millions in 1975, and decades later, the film still has teeth

Rare Baby Crocs Born at the National Zoo

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:09:01 GMT

The two Cuban crocodiles are the first for the zoo since 1988

NASA's Inflatable Spacecraft Heat Shield

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:43:15 GMT

Experts are working on a unique experiment that will use an inflatable aeroshell/heat shield to protect a spacecraft when entering a planet's atmosphere or returning to Earth

Cheetah Cubs Make Their Debut at the National Zoo

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:27:44 GMT

The National Zoo's cheetah cubs will be named after the fastest American athletes in the 100-meter dash at the Olympics

The Secret City of London Inside London

Mon, 23 Jul 2012 05:03:02 GMT

How did the United Kingdom end up with two Londons, one inside of the other? The answer begins with the Romans

The ArtCar Fest

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:02:45 GMT

Take a look at the outrageous automobiles of the San Francisco ArtCar Festival

The Mystery of the Hope Diamond

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:52:06 GMT

The legend is a multifaceted as the gem, spanning one billion years, three continents and leaving a trail of intrigue, envy and death

Rare Apollo 11 Footage, Remixed and in HD

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 07:27:40 GMT

In 1969, three men traveled to the moon and cameras documented their every move

Apollo 11 Moonwalk Montage

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 02:30:54 GMT

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon

Creator of TED Conference: "I Hate Being Spoken To"

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 07:15:18 GMT

Richard Saul Wurman, the founder of the popular speaker series, shares his ideas for how to make learning more interesting

Elephant Training Games

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

For a group of rescued elephants, exercise and training are welcome rewards, the peanuts are great, too!

Nature Inspires Water Resistant Clothes

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

If you've ever seen a lotus leaf, you might have noticed that their leaves are water proof. Designers took note and applied the same principles to clothing to produce a new kind of rain gear

Influential Irish of the Civil War

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

Battle after battle, the men of the Irish Brigade held the front lines. Under the guidance of strong leaders they encouraged a new sense of pride for Irish immigrants living in America

The Genius of Design: Designs for Living

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

The modernist home: a.k.a. "a machine for living in," a perfect example of form following function. But one man's dream house is another man's house of horrors

Design for Good: The World's First Truly Recyclable Product

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

For the last 250 years, designers have labored to create a better everyday life for people

Battle of Fair Oaks

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

In May of 1861, at the Battle of Fair Oaks, the men of the Irish Brigade gave their all to save the Union Army from disaster

The Battle of Port Hudson

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

Five hundred passionate Civil War reenactors gather every year to live in period tents, wear costumes and play out every step of the little-known battle

The Uncivil Beginning of Arlington National Cemetery

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

At the end of the Civil War, both Union and Confederate soldiers were buried in Arlington. This laid the groundwork for a truly national cemetery

The Demo That Changed the World

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

In 1968 Douglas Englebart shared his grocery list with the public and revolutionized the way we use computers

Gladiator School

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

Before the gladiators battled, they were sent to specialized schools where they were fed and groomed for success in the fight

The Frog Derby Queen Pageant

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:59:26 GMT

Pageant contestants trade in the traditional evening gown for galoshes, rubber gloves and the chance to get a little muddy in the bayou

The Incredible Flying Car of the 1950s

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:17:53 GMT

Equipped with wings and a propeller, Moulton Taylor Aerocar aerobile was capable of taking off from a stoplight or the runway

The Endangered Orchids of North America

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 05:45:21 GMT

The North American Orchid Conservation Center is working to ensure the survival of some of the most unique plants in the world

Tractor Square Dancing

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 03:24:49 GMT

Calculating The Odds of Intelligent Alien Life

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 07:53:31 GMT

Explore the answer with Jill Tarter and the Drake Equation—a mathematical formula that calculates the possibility of undiscovered life

Celebrating the Woody Guthrie Centennial

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:07:21 GMT

Deep in the Smithsonian Folkways collections are never before seen artifacts from the life of one of the greatest musicians of all time

How Dogs are Replacing Drugs in the Treatment of PTSD

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 07:25:09 GMT

Paws for Purple Hearts is a unique program that uses dogs to treat soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

A Cycle Opera Rehearsal

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:19:54 GMT

Theater students in Scunthorpe, England, rehearse for their performance celebrating the life of homegrown cyclist Lal White

Ten Natural Wonders You've Never Heard Of

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 02:29:12 GMT

From the Gates of Hell to a forest made from limestone needles, these wonders are lesser known but just as amazing

Curiosity's Seven Minutes of Terror

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 07:15:41 GMT

Team members share the challenges of Curiosity's final minutes to landing on the surface of Mars

Opening Jim Thorpe's Wheaties

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 05:13:07 GMT

Smithsonian conservators go to extreme lengths to prepare an iconic box of cereal for display

What Keeps Alison Gopnik Up at Night?

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 10:26:00 GMT

The professor of psychology worries about children growing up poor

TED Talks: The World Needs All Kinds of Minds

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:51:28 GMT

Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works

How Dolley Madison Saved George Washington

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 04:48:10 GMT

As the British marched towards the White House, the first lady ordered a portrait of George Washington to be saved

Dancing Ice Crystals

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:35:26 GMT

In "Cascades," a music video for British artist Ryan Teague, a homemade machine is used to animate the growth of ice crystals

What Happens When Galaxies Collide?

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 08:06:27 GMT

In about four billion years from now, the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies will crash together

Swim with the Mola Mola

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:48:24 GMT

The ocean sunfish can grow more than 10 feet long and weigh 5,000 pounds but the unusual fish remains a mystery to researchers

The Last Transit of Venus Until 2117

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:44:51 GMT

The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this epic footage of Venus crossing the face of the sun on June 5, 2012

How to View the Transit of Venus

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:43:52 GMT

At sunset on June 5, the planet Venus will pass directly between the sun and earth. This phenomena won't be see again until the year 2117

What Is The Tallest Structure Humans Could Build?

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 03:10:08 GMT

Using materials already known to science, we could potentially build a space elevator 21,747 miles into the sky

The Transit of Venus

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 07:04:56 GMT

On June 5, 2012 at sunset, the planet Venus will make its final trek across the face of the sun as seen from Earth until the year 2117

Is Pluto a Planet?

Tue, 29 May 2012 04:24:18 GMT

Demoted from its planetary status, Pluto is now relegated to the Kuiper Belt. Is the word "planet" to blame?

Oasis of the Seas: The Biggest Cruise Ship in the World

Wed, 23 May 2012 07:38:28 GMT

With twenty-one swimming pools, its own version of New York's Central Park, and room for 5,400 passengers, the Oasis of the Seas is the most massive cruise ship ever built

Where Do Fingerprints Come From?

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:42:18 GMT

From cradle to grave, no matter how much fingers grow, everyone's fingerprints are unique and unchanging

SpaceX Launches the First Commercial Rocket Into Space

Wed, 23 May 2012 03:41:21 GMT

On May 22, 2012, after numerous delays, the unmanned Falcon 9 blasted off towards the International Space Station

The Funeral Parade for the Last Veteran of the War of 1812

Tue, 22 May 2012 06:37:45 GMT

In 1905, New York City hosted a grand procession for the last living soldier of a war that ended 90 years earlier

Borderlands: Wu Man and Master Musicians from the Silk Route

Mon, 21 May 2012 07:19:33 GMT

Music of Central Asia Vol. 10

Bringing Back the Olympia Oysters

Mon, 21 May 2012 05:49:23 GMT

What the tiny shellfish lacks in size, it makes up for in taste. Meet the farmers who are counting on the Olympia's success

Rosanne Cash Sings "September When it Comes"

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:34:25 GMT

This song, originally written as a duet between Rosanne Cash and her father shortly before his death, is on her Rules of Travel album

Rosanne Cash Sings "Blue Moon With Heartache"

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:34:17 GMT

If you only know her as Johnny Cash's daughter, then you are missing out on one of the most gifted musicians of our time

Rosanne Cash Sings "Runaway Train"

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:34:10 GMT

The singer-songwriting musician performs one of her songs

Listen to the Sounds of the Music Box

Mon, 14 May 2012 05:57:03 GMT

The artists behind the most eccentric place in New Orleans present their wacky homemade instruments

Julia Child Makes Crepe Suzette

Fri, 11 May 2012 04:04:37 GMT

Watch the famous chef make the classic French dish, but stay for her inventive use of a blowtorch

In the Kitchen With Top Chef Dale Talde

Mon, 07 May 2012 02:52:42 GMT

From the kitchen of his new restaurant in Brooklyn, the chef talks about what it takes to fuse Asian cuisine with an American twist

3-D Scanning: Bringing History Back to Life

Fri, 04 May 2012 02:51:36 GMT

Specialists are using new technology to unravel a mystery in the Smithsonian collections

Five Common Historical Misconceptions Explained

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:23:52 GMT

Did Viking helmets have horns? Was Napoleon that short? Was the Roman Vomitorium real?

Music in One of the World's Most Violent Cities

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:12:59 GMT

Fifteen-year-old Esteban, a clarinetist from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, uses music to survive his chaotic environment

The History of English in 10 Minutes

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:10:12 GMT

Narrated by Clive Anderson, this animated history lesson sheds light on how the English language came to be

Highly Addicting Live Penguin Cam

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:41:58 GMT

Get up close and personal with SeaWorld San Diego's nearly 300 penguins

Efforts to Save the African Penguin

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

With populations in steep decline, researchers are raising African penguins and releasing them into the wild

The Devastating Decline of the Tasmanian Devil

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:01:36 GMT

An infectious cancer is wiping out this iconic marsupial. Is there hope to stop the infection before it's too late?

The Meaning Behind Hula

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:01:18 GMT

For Hawaiians, both native and those who have made it their adopted home, the Hula is more than just a dance, it is a artistic representation of the islands themselves

The Lost Map of the Hindenburg

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:14:46 GMT

Seventy-five years after the tragedy, a curator at the National Postal Museum made a discovery that shed new light on what happened to the doomed dirigible

Hang Ten With Kelly Slater in Fiji

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:11:02 GMT

In a series of stunning aerial views, watch the world champion surfer's dazzling technique

Footage of the Titanic Days Before the Disaster

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:38:39 GMT

This newsreel was likely shown at the time of the Titanic sinking

Science Meets Art in Space

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:01 GMT

International Space Station Expedition 30 astronaut Don Pettit demonstrates physics in space

A Multimedia Spectacle at the Hirshhorn

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:18:30 GMT

Watch how artist Doug Aitken transforms the outside of the art museum into a panoramic movie screen

Scenes From The 21st Century Prom

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:10:22 GMT

Learn more about the high school students featured in Mary Ellen Mark's photography and about what prom means to them

Behind the Scenes: Making the Monster Snake

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 12:37:41 GMT

See Titanoboa coming to life! The life-size replica is as big and bad as the real boa

How Many Beads Can You Glue to the Outside of a VW Beetle?

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:45:16 GMT

The Huichol people of west-central Mexico have designed the Vochol—a car turned work of art

The Cherry Blossoms in Under a Minute (Timelapse)

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:38:45 GMT

In celebration of the 100 year anniversary of Japan's gift to Washington, D.C., we set out to capture the scenes surrounding the Tidal Basin

What Clemente Meant to Baseball

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:31:18 GMT

Biographer David Maraniss says that in order to truly understand Clemente’s importance to the sport, you have to look beyond his spectacular numbers

Titanoboa vs T-Rex

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:11:46 GMT

It's the ultimate battle of the predators - the monster snake's unbelievable power against the tyrannosaurus' giant bite. They lived in different times and places, but if they ever met, who would win?

Sneak Preview of Titanoboa: Monster Snake

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:11:39 GMT

A new Smithsonian Channel documentary will tell you everything you need to know about the beast that eats crocodiles for breakfast and makes modern anacondas look like a garter snakes

Meet the Scientist: Carlos Jaramillo

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:28:09 GMT

For Carlos Jaramillo, a paleobotanist with Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the excitement of finding a fossil never seems to get old

Titanoboa at the Zoo?

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:18:05 GMT

In the wild, titanoboa probably ate large crocodiles, fish and other snakes—but if there were a titanoboa at the National Zoo today, what would the zoo keepers feed it?

The Savior of the Wild Tiger

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 07:14:55 GMT

Conservation scientist Ullas Karanth is still optimistic about the future of the majestic cats of the south Asian jungle

Space Junk in 3D - D.C. Environmental Film Festival Trailer

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:37:27 GMT

Man has been exploring space for over 50 years. We’ve left a lot behind. A new 3D film takes viewers on a journey through this whirling cloud of trash

Semper Fi: Always Faithful - D.C. Environmental Film Festival Trailer

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:28:58 GMT

After the death of his daughter, a Marine Corps drill instructor uncovers one of the largest water contamination incidents – and cover-ups - in American History

People of a Feather - D.C. Environmental Film Festival Trailer

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:15:42 GMT

An award-winning documentary film examines the impact of ecosystem devastation on the lives and culture of the Sanikiluaq people of the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay

The Man Who Stopped the Desert - D.C. Environmental Film Festival Trailer

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:04:56 GMT

Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer from Burkina Faso, has become a pioneer in the fight against desertification – succeeding where many international agencies have failed

How to Identify a Bird From a Single Feather

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 03:50:46 GMT

Zoologist Carla Dove explains how the microscopic structure of a bird's feather can help identify the species and at the same time, make air travel safer for humans

The Segway of Airplanes

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 06:36:38 GMT

The Hiller Flying Platform had the potential to be a space age personal flying machine. But it didn't quite take off

The Groundbreaking for the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:29:24 GMT

President Barack Obama presided over the milestone moment in Smithsonian history, as ground was broken for the Institution's 19th museum

Shooting Stars: Tamir Ben Kalifa

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:28:02 GMT

Selected by Eli Reed for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: Tomeu Coll

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Donna Ferrato for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: Robin Maddock

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Martin Parr for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: Pilar Belmonte

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Sylvia Plachy for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her work

Shooting Stars: Keith Coleman

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Albert Watson for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: José Antonio Martínez

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Mary Ellen Mark for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: Sirio Magnabosco

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by David Burnett for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: Chris Linder

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Steve Winter for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Shooting Stars: Delphine Diaw Diallo

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by William Coupon for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her work

Shooting Stars: Farzana Wahidy

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Reza for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses her work

Shooting Stars: Jeremy Everett

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Selected by Bruce Weber for our special issue, this up-and-coming photographer discusses his work

Billy Collins Reads "The Unfortunate Traveler"

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Smithsonian magazine's poetry consultant recites his poem commissioned for a special photography issue

How to Stick Your Hand in a Bee Swarm and Not Get Stung

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Dr. Thomas Seeley shows how swarm bees' ability to fly depends on their body temperature

The Art of Video Games

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:27:46 GMT

Chris Melissinos, guest curator of an exhibit about video games at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, explains what makes the genre an art form

Behind the Scenes of the Smithsonian App

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:08:26 GMT

What does it take to bring the award-winning magazine to the iPad?

Behind the Scenes at the World Orchid Convention

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:43:20 GMT

The global orchid community convenes in Singapore to compete for the title of best in show

Playing the Unplayable Records

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:25:22 GMT

Researchers and scientists work together together to find a way to play recordings made by the studio of inventor Alexander Graham Bell

Introducing Ask Smithsonian

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 04:40:44 GMT

Now it's your turn to ask the Institution's experts your questions about science, history, art or culture

Conserving the Jefferson Bible

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Archivists at the Smithsonian Institution detail the painstaking process of preserving the 200-year-old book

Ice Skating on an Iceless Rink

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:14:04 GMT

Winter in Washington, D.C. may be too warm for outdoor ice skating, so organizers at the National Zoo brought in a special kind of rink for their annual "Zoo Lights" celebration

Clyfford Still: The Man in a Long Black Coat

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:35:07 GMT

The painter's appearance and attire was as distinctive as his artwork

The Sounds of the Sperm Whale

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Watch underwater footage of the mammal and hear its strange clicking sounds that are crucial to their survival

Haleakala: A Sacred Place

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:00:00 GMT

The Hawaiian volcano, with its unique vegetation and meditative winds, has a spiritual connection to the native population

Blowing Up the Dam

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Section by section, demolition crews are slowly exploding the Elwha River dam

The Restoration of the Elwha River

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:00:00 GMT

As the dams begin to come down, the National Park Service looks back at the region's history and prepares for the welcome changes to the ecosystem

Clyfford Still: Classic American Man of the West

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Learn about what the "rugged individualist" artist loved about San Francisco and the American landscape