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In The Magazine

  1. The First Americans
  2. See for Yourself
  3. The Dragon King
  4. America’s Dinosaur Playground
  5. Darwin In The House

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Collage of Arts and Sciences Blog

A Valentine for Sci-Art Lovers

A clever print by designer Jacqueline Schmidt pays homage to 12 different species with one thing in common—they mate for life
2:46 PM ET | By Megan Gambino

Off the Road Blog

When Cane Juice Meets Yeast: Brewing in Ecuador

The sugarcane trail takes the author across the Andes, into home liquor distilleries and from juice shack to juice shack as he pursues fermented sugarcane wine
2:06 PM ET | By Alastair Bland

Surprising Science Blog

Flushing Your Anti-Anxiety Pills Down the Toilet Could Affect the Behavior of Wild Fish

A study shows that wild perch are less fearful, eat faster and are more anti-social when exposed to a common pharmaceutical pollutant
2:01 PM ET | By Joseph Stromberg

Paleofuture Blog

Jane Jetson and the Origins of the “Women Are Bad Drivers” Joke

What happens when a comedy staple of mid-century sitcoms reappears as a late-century Saturday morning tradition?
11:24 AM ET | By Matt Novak

Arts & Culture

Are Punch and Judy Shows Finally Outdated?

For a wife-beating, baby-squashing scofflaw, Mr. Punch has done pretty well for himself
February 04, 2013 | By Linda Rodriguez McRobbie

Surprising Science Blog

Study Predicts Political Beliefs With 83 Percent Accuracy

Scans show that liberals and conservatives use different parts of the brain when they take risks, helping to pinpoint the political party a person prefers
10:44 AM ET | By Marina Koren

Threaded Blog

The Origins of Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve

Valentine's Day can be an occasion for quirky expressions of love
10:46 AM ET | By Emily Spivack

Ideas & Innovations

How Big Data Has Changed Dating

What it means to be single and looking for love in the time of algorithms
January 29, 2013 | By Megan Gambino

Collage of Arts and Sciences Blog

Outrageous Taxidermy, the Subject of a New Show on AMC

Former Smithsonian taxidermist Paul Rhymer is a judge on "Immortalized," a TV competition that pits up-and-comers against superstars in the field
10:49 AM ET | By Megan Gambino

Surprising Science Blog

Meet Indonesia’s New Owl Species

The new species of owl makes a distinctive "pwok" call and is unique to just one island in Indonesia
February 13, 2013 | By Rachel Nuwer

Travel

Louis Armstrong’s New Orleans

Jazz is synonymous with the Big Easy, and there’s no bigger name in the history of the genre than Satchmo
January 31, 2013 | By Nina Fedrizzi

Surprising Science Blog

Is It Love? Why Some Ocean Animals (Sort Of) Mate For Life

A look at the mating systems of some monogamous ocean animals show that finding life partners helps species protect themselves and their young
February 13, 2013 | By Emily Frost

Arts & Culture

The Story Behind Banksy

On his way to becoming an international icon, the subversive and secretive street artist turned the art world upside-down
February 2013 Issue | By Will Ellsworth-Jones

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AT THE SMITHSONIAN
Scenes and Sightings from the Museums

  • Around the Mall
  • Visitor's Guide

Events February 15-17: Sketching Lessons, Arabian Jazz and Lincoln’s Dream

This week, indulge your creative side, hear Arab music, and meet a children's book author.
By Paul Bisceglio

Poetry Matters: Phillis Wheatley, The Slave Girl Who Became a Literary Sensation

Enslaved at age 8, America's First Black Woman Poet Won Her Freedom with Verse
By David C. Ward

Critter Cupids: Animals in Love

Ever wonder how a giant panda says I love you? Or how a sea lion bonds with a best friend?
By Leah Binkovitz



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