Smart News | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/smart-news/RSS feed for Smart NewsenWed, 06 Nov 2024 21:08:00 +0000A Cloned Ferret Has Given Birth for the First Time in History, Marking a Win for Her Endangered Specieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-cloned-ferret-has-given-birth-for-the-first-time-in-history-marking-a-win-for-her-endangered-species-180985411/Antonia, a cloned black-footed ferret at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, has produced two healthy offspring that will help build genetic diversity in their recovering populationWed, 06 Nov 2024 21:08:00 +0000A Nazi-Looted Painting Recovered by the Monuments Men During World War II Is Going on Salehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-nazi-looted-painting-recovered-by-the-monuments-men-during-world-war-ii-is-going-on-sale-180985398/When the war ended, Allied soldiers tracked down Nicolas de Largillierre's "Portrait de femme à mi-corps" with the help of a savvy French curator who had been working for the resistanceWed, 06 Nov 2024 20:58:54 +0000What Makes the Dark, Whimsical World of Tim Burton So Compelling?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-makes-the-dark-whimsical-world-of-tim-burton-so-compelling-180985370/An exhibition in London is showcasing more than 600 artworks and artifacts—including costumes, props and sketches—from the famous filmmaker’s careerWed, 06 Nov 2024 19:12:25 +0000Meet Haggis, the Latest Baby Pygmy Hippo to Win Over the Internethttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-haggis-the-latest-baby-pygmy-hippo-to-win-over-the-internet-180985413/Born October 30 to parents Gloria and Otto at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, the hippo is already gaining popularity, following in the footsteps of viral sensation Moo DengWed, 06 Nov 2024 18:45:11 +0000The World's Earliest Writing System May Have Been Influenced by Older Symbols Found on Stone 'Cylinder Seals'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-worlds-earliest-writing-system-may-have-been-influenced-by-older-symbols-found-on-stone-cylinder-seals-180985406/Thousands of years ago, our ancestors used symbols to track the sale of textile and agricultural products. New research suggests that these markings informed the development of writingWed, 06 Nov 2024 17:56:01 +0000Voyager 1 Breaks Its Silence With NASA via a Radio Transmitter Not Used Since 1981https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/voyager-1-breaks-its-silence-with-nasa-via-a-radio-transmitter-not-used-since-1981-180985399/The farthest spacecraft in the universe went momentarily rogue, but scientists breathed a sigh of relief when it reconnected at an unexpected radio frequencyWed, 06 Nov 2024 17:55:20 +0000A Prominent Italian Dealer Has Been Charged With Trafficking Thousands of Looted Artifactshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-prominent-italian-dealer-has-been-charged-with-trafficking-thousands-of-looted-artifacts-180985392/The Manhattan district attorney's office has obtained an arrest warrant for Edoardo Almagià, who has been accused of working with looters and dealing stolen artifacts for yearsTue, 05 Nov 2024 21:22:19 +0000How Sugar Rationing During World War II Fended Off Diabetes and High Blood Pressure Later in Lifehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-sugar-rationing-during-world-war-ii-fended-off-diabetes-and-high-blood-pressure-later-in-life-180985404/Babies who were conceived and born during the period of rationing in the United Kingdom were less likely to develop certain diseases as adults, a new study findsTue, 05 Nov 2024 21:00:15 +0000See How René Magritte’s Dreamlike Paintings Evolved Over Four Decades at a New Exhibition in Australiahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-how-rene-magrittes-dreamlike-paintings-evolved-over-four-decades-at-a-new-exhibition-in-australia-180985372/The Art Gallery of New South Wales is showcasing works full of the Surrealist artist's signature motifs—such as apples, pipes and bowler hats—in addition to lesser-known piecesTue, 05 Nov 2024 19:51:18 +0000A Rare Triassic Fossil Found in Brazil Could Shed Light on the Origin of Dinosaurshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-rare-triassic-fossil-found-in-brazil-could-shed-light-on-the-origin-of-dinosaurs-180985312/The 237-million-year-old remains are among the oldest silesaurid fossils ever found, adding to paleontologists' understanding of this still-mysterious group of prehistoric reptilesTue, 05 Nov 2024 19:06:28 +0000Archaeologists Discover Engraved Gold Offering to Jupiter Dolichenu, a War God Revered by Roman Soldiershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-engraved-gold-offering-to-jupiter-dolichenu-a-war-god-revered-by-roman-soldiers-180985387/The votive plaque was found amid the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress. Researchers think a temple dedicated to the mysterious deity may have stood nearbyTue, 05 Nov 2024 15:51:18 +0000Coal Recovered From the Titanic and Thousands of Other Historic Shipwreck Artifacts Are Going to Auctionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/coal-recovered-from-the-titanic-and-thousands-of-other-historic-shipwreck-artifacts-are-going-to-auction-180985384/The Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Cornwall, England, is selling its collection, which includes items connected to nearly 150 shipwrecksMon, 04 Nov 2024 21:31:07 +0000See the Breathtaking 14th-Century Sienese Artworks That Helped Set the Italian Renaissance in Motionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-breathtaking-14th-century-sienese-artworks-that-helped-set-the-italian-renaissance-in-motion-180985381/This brief chapter of art history is often overlooked. Now, an exhibition in New York City makes a strong argument for the integral role played by four artists in the city of SienaMon, 04 Nov 2024 20:18:17 +0000At the Age of 50, an Elderly Female Elephant Dies at the Smithsonian's National Zoohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/elderly-female-elephant-dies-at-the-smithsonian-zoo-180985389/The pachyderm, named Kamala, was suffering from osteoarthritis when zoo staff chose to euthanize herMon, 04 Nov 2024 19:55:14 +0000Invasive Mussels Recently Spotted in California Mark a First for North Americahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/invasive-golden-mussels-recently-spotted-in-california-mark-the-first-for-north-america-180985388/The species may have been carried to the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta in ballast water on shipsMon, 04 Nov 2024 19:21:16 +0000After Months of Rehab, Moira the Cold-Stunned Sea Turtle Has Been Returned to the Wildhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-months-of-rehab-moira-the-cold-stunned-sea-turtle-has-been-returned-to-the-wild-180985391/When fishermen found the endangered loggerhead sea turtle off Vancouver Island in February, she was listlessly floating in a bed of kelpMon, 04 Nov 2024 18:55:15 +0000Tour Guide at Medieval Manor House Discovers Mysterious Etchings Meant to Repel Evil, Trap Demons and Curse Enemieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tour-guide-at-medieval-manor-house-discovers-mysterious-etchings-meant-to-repel-evil-trap-demons-and-curse-enemies-180985377/A "staggering array" of markings have been hiding in plain sight carved into the walls of Gainsborough Old Hall, a 500-year-old home in Lincolnshire, EnglandMon, 04 Nov 2024 16:30:34 +0000See Picasso's Lesser-Known Print Works, Which He Continued Experimenting With Into His 80shttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-picassos-lesser-known-print-works-which-he-continued-experimenting-with-into-his-80s-180985323/A new exhibition spotlights the Spanish artist's printmaking talents, which he began honing in his 20s. In the decades that followed, he produced thousands of breathtaking creationsFri, 01 Nov 2024 20:14:38 +0000Archaeologists Stumble Upon 900-Year-Old Door Guardian Statues in Cambodiahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-stumble-upon-900-year-old-door-guardian-statues-in-cambodia-180985378/The team was analyzing the structure of a royal palace’s gate when they discovered 12 statues made out of sandstoneFri, 01 Nov 2024 19:57:50 +0000Jill Biden Unveils a Reimagined White House Tour, Which Invites Visitors to 'Touch, Hear and See' Historyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/jill-biden-unveils-a-reimagined-white-house-tour-which-invites-visitors-to-touch-hear-and-see-history-180985375/The public tours of the historic residence hadn't been overhauled in decades. For two years, the first lady's office has been working to make them more interactive and educationalFri, 01 Nov 2024 18:36:06 +0000A Simple Chemical Shift Explains Why Parrots Are So Colorful, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-simple-chemical-shift-explains-why-parrots-are-so-colorful-study-suggests-180985380/Unlike other birds, which get pigments from their diets, parrots produce their own—but scientists never fully understood the underlying mechanisms, until nowFri, 01 Nov 2024 18:33:21 +0000This Ancient Paw Print on a Pottery Fragment in Jerusalem Is the Oldest Known Evidence of a Cat Kneadinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-ancient-paw-print-on-a-pottery-fragment-in-jerusalem-is-the-oldest-known-evidence-of-a-cat-kneading-180985360/The deep penetrations suggest that the feline was pressing its claws into the clay, a behavior sometimes known as "making biscuits"Fri, 01 Nov 2024 16:46:17 +0000Pesto, Australia's Enormous, Beloved Baby Penguin, Is Growing Up and Losing His Downy Feathershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pesto-australias-enormous-beloved-baby-penguin-is-growing-up-and-losing-his-downy-feathers-180985373/The viral king penguin chick at Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium is beginning to molt, a process that will give him his distinctive adult plumageFri, 01 Nov 2024 11:58:09 +0000Scientists Reveal Rare 450-Million-Year-Old Arthropod Fossil Preserved in Glittering Fool’s Goldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-reveal-rare-450-million-year-old-arthropod-fossil-preserved-in-glittering-fools-gold-180985369/The critter found in New York represents a new, extinct species of arthropod that could shed light on the evolution of today's insects, crustaceans and spidersThu, 31 Oct 2024 21:08:02 +0000The Nation's Oldest Schoolhouse for Black Children Will Open to the Public Next Yearhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-nations-oldest-schoolhouse-for-black-children-will-open-to-the-public-next-year-180985368/Work is underway to restore the Bray School, which will be dedicated in a ceremony on Friday. The historic building in Colonial Williamsburg will open its doors in the spring of 2025Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:30:07 +0000Scientists Unearth the Oldest Tadpole Fossil Ever Found, and It's a 161-Million-Year-Old 'Giant'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-unearth-the-oldest-tadpole-fossil-ever-found-and-its-a-161-million-year-old-giant-180985371/Found in a rock in Argentina, the six-inch-long tadpole sheds light on the history of frog metamorphosisThu, 31 Oct 2024 19:37:00 +0000The 'Super Bowl of Wildlife Art' Is All About Ducks, and It Has Protected America's Wetlands for 90 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-super-bowl-of-wildlife-art-is-all-about-ducks-and-it-has-protected-americas-wetlands-for-90-years-180985345/Introduced in 1934, the federal duck stamp contest has raised more than $1.2 billion and protected at least 6.5 million acres across the nation. Now, an art exhibition at Connecticut’s Bruce Museum honors the competition’s historyThu, 31 Oct 2024 18:14:32 +0000Divers Recover 300-Year-Old Glass Onion Bottles From a Shipwreck Off the Coast of Floridahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/divers-recover-300-year-old-glass-onion-bottles-from-a-shipwreck-off-the-coast-of-florida-180985358/The fragile 18th-century containers, which likely held alcoholic beverages that were shared among passengers and crew members, survived for centuries at the bottom of the Atlantic OceanThu, 31 Oct 2024 17:42:40 +0000Geologists Finally Explain New Jersey's Strange Earthquake That Rocked the Northeast in Aprilhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/geologists-finally-explain-new-jerseys-strange-earthquake-that-rocked-the-northeast-in-april-180985361/A new study suggests the seismic energy traveled outward from a previously unmapped fault, emanating from the hypocenter in bouncing waves that shook distant areasThu, 31 Oct 2024 16:42:11 +0000You Can Listen to a Lost Chopin Waltz That Hasn't Been Heard for Nearly Two Centurieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-listen-to-a-lost-chopin-waltz-that-hasnt-been-heard-for-nearly-two-centuries-180985363/The one-minute composition, which dates to the 1830s, was found on a piece of paper about the size of an index card at a museum in New York CityThu, 31 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000Japan's Mount Fuji Has Now Remained Snowless for the Longest Time in Its 130-Year Recordhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/japans-mount-fuji-has-now-remained-snowless-for-the-longest-time-in-its-130-year-record-180985366/After a summer that tied for the country's hottest, meteorologists say an unusually warm autumn is delaying snowfallWed, 30 Oct 2024 21:09:30 +0000Three Sisters in Ohio Just Sold a Rare 1975 Dime With a Missing 'S' Mint Mark for $500,000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-sisters-in-ohio-just-sold-a-rare-1975-dime-with-a-missing-s-mint-mark-for-500000-180985365/The owners inherited the valuable coin from their brother, who kept it locked in a bank vault for decades. He purchased it with his mother in 1978 to provide financial security for the family farmWed, 30 Oct 2024 21:01:42 +0000These Giant, Vest-Wearing Sniffer Rats Could Help Combat the Illegal Wildlife Trade, Scientists Sayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-giant-vest-wearing-sniffer-rats-could-help-combat-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-scientists-say-180985364/Researchers trained African giant pouched rats to detect commonly smuggled items, including rhino horns and elephant tusksWed, 30 Oct 2024 19:41:34 +0000Paleontologists Discover Dinosaur Fossils in Hong Kong for the First Timehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paleontologists-discover-dinosaur-fossils-in-hong-kong-for-the-first-time-180985352/The metropolis is an important center for paleontological research, but until now, fossils of plants and fish were the only remains of dinosaur-era life found thereWed, 30 Oct 2024 18:10:33 +0000Surrealism Is Turning 100. See the Dreamlike Paintings That Made the Movement So Revolutionaryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/surrealism-is-turning-100-see-the-dreamlike-paintings-that-made-the-movement-so-revolutionary-180985350/A blockbuster exhibition in Paris is showcasing 500 artifacts and artworks in honor of the Surrealist Manifesto, which sparked a new artistic style that spread around the worldWed, 30 Oct 2024 17:55:05 +0000A Portrait of Alan Turing Made by an A.I.-Powered Robot Could Sell for Up to $180,000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-portrait-of-alan-turing-made-by-an-ai-powered-robot-could-sell-for-up-to-180000-180985356/Ai-Da creates art using A.I. algorithms, cameras and robotic arms. Her abstract painting will be the first-ever artwork made by a humanoid robot to be sold at Sotheby'sWed, 30 Oct 2024 17:17:32 +0000Two High Schoolers Found an 'Impossible' Proof for a 2,000-Year-Old Math Rule—Then, They Discovered Nine Morehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-high-schoolers-found-an-impossible-proof-for-a-2000-year-old-math-rule-then-they-discovered-nine-more-180985357/Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson of Louisiana published a new study proving the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, a feat mathematicians long thought could not be doneWed, 30 Oct 2024 15:13:33 +0000You Can Buy the Recording Console the Beatles Used to Make Their Iconic Album 'Abbey Road'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-buy-the-recording-console-the-beatles-used-to-make-their-iconic-album-abbey-road-180985346/After a years-long restoration, the unique device that recorded hits like "Come Together" and "Here Comes the Sun" is now fully functionalTue, 29 Oct 2024 19:37:55 +0000More Than One in Three Tree Species Around the Globe Are at Risk of Disappearing, New Report Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-one-in-three-tree-species-around-the-globe-are-at-risk-of-disappearing-new-report-finds-180985355/An assessment from the International Union for Conservation of Nature paints a grim picture of the extinction risk of the world's treesTue, 29 Oct 2024 19:14:02 +0000'Found' Dataset Reveals Lost Maya City Full of Pyramids and Plazas, Hiding in Plain Sight Beneath a Mexican Foresthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/found-dataset-reveals-lost-maya-city-hiding-in-plain-sight-beneath-a-mexican-forest-180985354/By analyzing an old lidar survey, researchers found evidence of more than 6,500 ancient structures in a previously unexplored area of CampecheTue, 29 Oct 2024 18:01:52 +0000New 'Paleo-Robots' Could Shed Light on Animal Evolution, Revealing How Some Fish Evolved to 'Walk' on Landhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-paleo-robots-could-shed-light-on-animal-evolution-revealing-how-some-fish-evolved-to-walk-on-land-180985342/A team of roboticists, paleontologists and biologists are building robots to simulate crucial evolutionary developments that can’t be tested with static fossilsTue, 29 Oct 2024 16:42:31 +0000Scientists Think a Skeleton Found in a Well Is the Same Man Described in an 800-Year-Old Norse Texthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-think-a-skeleton-found-in-a-well-is-the-same-man-described-in-an-800-year-old-norse-text-180985343/The remains were discovered during excavations in 1938. Now, researchers have learned new information about his identity by analyzing DNA from his toothTue, 29 Oct 2024 15:56:38 +0000Archaeologists Unearth 'Astonishing' Wooden Spade, Preserved in an English Trench for 3,500 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologist-unearth-astonishing-wooden-spade-preserved-in-an-english-trench-for-3500-years-180985332/While most wooden artifacts disintegrate after thousands of years, the newly unearthed oak tool has remained in remarkable conditionMon, 28 Oct 2024 20:49:15 +0000The 'World's Most Famous Grizzly' Was Killed by a Car. Was Her Death Preventable?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-worlds-most-famous-grizzly-was-killed-by-a-car-was-her-death-preventable-180985344/Grizzly 399 became a celebrity of Grand Teton National Park in her lifetime. Now, her death has drawn attention to wildlife-vehicle collisions and how they might be reducedMon, 28 Oct 2024 19:32:40 +0000Maurizio Cattelan's Perishable Sculpture Drove Some Critics Bananas. Now, It Could Sell for $1.5 Millionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/maurizio-cattelan-perishable-sculpture-drove-some-critics-bananas-now-it-could-sell-for-1-5-million-180985338/The banana duct-taped to a wall was created to be a "reflection on what we value." An upcoming auction may deliver an answerMon, 28 Oct 2024 18:36:10 +0000America's Oldest Living Person, Elizabeth Francis, Dies at 115. She Was a Supercentenarian and 'Houstonian Icon'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/americas-oldest-living-person-elizabeth-francis-dies-at-115-she-was-a-supercentenarian-and-houstonian-icon-180985340/Since her birth in 1909, Francis lived through two world wars, segregation, the fall of the Soviet Union, multiple pandemics and the invention of the cellphoneMon, 28 Oct 2024 17:49:07 +0000Archaeologists Discover Breathtaking Wall Paintings Frozen in Time Inside a Modest Home in Ancient Pompeiihttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-breathtaking-wall-paintings-frozen-in-time-inside-a-modest-home-in-ancient-pompeii-180985337/Despite its unusually small size, the newly unearthed House of Phaedra is covered in elaborate frescos depicting mythological scenesMon, 28 Oct 2024 16:35:35 +0000A 110-Year-Old Pickled Thylacine Head Helped Build the Most Complete Ancient Genome to Date, Says 'De-Extinction' Companyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-110-year-old-pickled-thylacine-head-helped-build-the-most-complete-ancient-genome-to-date-says-de-extinction-company-180985308/Colossal Biosciences reports it extracted DNA and RNA from the Tasmanian tiger specimen, a key step forward in its effort to create a modern proxy of the extinct species. Other scientists are calling for data to back up the claimMon, 28 Oct 2024 16:01:37 +0000Biden Issues a 'Long Overdue' Formal Apology for Native American Boarding Schoolshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/biden-issues-a-long-overdue-biden-formally-apologizes-for-native-american-boarding-schools-180985341/The president atoned for the federal government's role in forcing Native American children into boarding schools, where many were abused and more than 900 diedFri, 25 Oct 2024 21:01:12 +0000These Are Americans' Biggest Fears in 2024, as the Country Is 'Becoming More Afraid'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-are-americans-biggest-fears-in-2024-as-the-country-is-becoming-more-afraid-180985339/Government corruption, loved ones becoming ill or dying, cyberterrorism and nuclear weapons topped the list of Chapman University's annual surveyFri, 25 Oct 2024 20:50:33 +0000These Tiny Doodles May Be William Blake's Earliest Engravings, Overlooked for Nearly 250 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-tiny-doodles-may-be-william-blakes-earliest-engravings-overlooked-for-nearly-250-years-180985331/Using high-res scans, a researcher uncovered scribbled etchings likely made by the British poet and artist while working as a teenage apprentice engraver in the 1770sFri, 25 Oct 2024 19:14:02 +0000A Giant Meteorite Ripped Up the Seafloor and Boiled Earth's Oceans 3.26 Billion Years Ago. Then, Life Blossomed in Its Wakehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-giant-meteorite-boiled-earths-oceans-and-ripped-up-the-seafloor-326-billion-years-ago-then-life-blossomed-in-its-wake-180985336/Geologists suggest the catastrophic impact of "S2" delivered key nutrients to the oceans, prompting microorganisms to thriveFri, 25 Oct 2024 19:01:49 +0000New 'Portal' Opens in Philadelphia, Connecting Residents to Cities Around the World With Identical Installationshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-portal-opens-in-philadelphia-connecting-residents-to-cities-around-the-world-with-identical-installations-180985335/The looming sculpture features a small camera above an eight-foot-tall screen, which displays live video from Lithuania, Poland and IrelandFri, 25 Oct 2024 18:31:52 +0000People Born Without a Sense of Smell Have Different Breathing Patterns, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-born-without-a-sense-of-smell-have-different-breathing-patterns-study-finds-180985327/Study participants with lifelong anosmia sniffed less than those with a normal sense of smell. Future research could shed light on whether this has negative implications for their healthFri, 25 Oct 2024 16:04:02 +0000Archaeologists Map Two Forgotten Medieval Cities That Flourished Along the Silk Road in the Mountains of Central Asiahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-map-two-forgotten-medieval-cities-that-flourished-along-the-silk-road-in-the-mountains-of-central-asia-180985328/The new research could change history's understanding of the sprawling trade network that connected Europe and the Middle East to East AsiaFri, 25 Oct 2024 14:07:05 +0000An Astonishing Trove of Coins Dating to the Norman Conquest Just Became the Most Valuable Treasure Ever Found in Britainhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-astonishing-trove-of-coins-dating-to-the-norman-conquest-just-became-the-most-valuable-treasure-ever-found-in-britain-180985313/The so-called Chew Valley Hoard, which just sold for a record $5.6 million, includes 2,584 coins featuring the likenesses of Harold II, William the Conqueror and Edward the ConfessorThu, 24 Oct 2024 20:15:04 +0000Polar Bears Are Exposed to More Parasites, Viruses and Bacteria as the Arctic Heats Uphttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/polar-bears-are-exposed-to-more-parasites-viruses-and-bacteria-as-the-arctic-heats-up-180985330/Pathogens are more common in polar bears living in the Chukchi Sea now than they were three decades ago, a new study suggests—but it's not yet clear what that means for the mammals' healthThu, 24 Oct 2024 19:54:18 +0000He Escaped Slavery and Became a Civil War Hero. Now, Robert Smalls Is Getting a Statue in South Carolinahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/he-escaped-slavery-and-became-a-civil-war-hero-now-robert-smalls-is-getting-a-statue-in-south-carolina-180985324/A special committee has until January 15 to finalize the design, location and funding for a monument that will be erected on the lawn of the South Carolina State HouseThu, 24 Oct 2024 19:19:48 +0000A Massive, Mysterious 'Ghost' Fish, Feared Extinct for Nearly 20 Years, Has Been Rediscovered in Cambodiahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-massive-mysterious-ghost-fish-feared-extinct-for-nearly-20-years-has-been-rediscovered-in-cambodia-180985326/The giant salmon carp was formally identified in 1991, and since then, fewer than 30 individuals had been documentedThu, 24 Oct 2024 17:42:12 +0000The Creepy Doll Contest Is Back—and It's Time to Cast Your Vote for the Most Terrifying Toyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-creepy-doll-contest-is-back-and-its-time-to-cast-your-vote-for-the-most-terrifying-toy-180985315/Step right up and see the spooky circus dolls—from creepy clowns to frightening fortune-tellers—in a Minnesota museum's vintage toy collectionThu, 24 Oct 2024 17:08:49 +0000Salmon Make a Long-Awaited Return to the Klamath River for the First Time in 112 Years, After Largest Dam Removal in U.S.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/salmon-make-a-long-awaited-return-to-the-klamath-river-for-the-first-time-in-112-years-after-largest-dam-removal-in-us-180985319/Chinook salmon spark excitement among local Klamath Tribes, who have advocated for decades to restore the flow of the river in California and OregonThu, 24 Oct 2024 16:26:40 +0000Amateur Historian Discovers Lost Story by 'Dracula' Author Bram Stoker Hiding in Plain Sight at a Dublin Libraryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/amateur-historian-discovers-lost-story-by-dracula-author-bram-stoker-hiding-in-plain-sight-at-a-dublin-library-180985320/History forgot about "Gibbet Hill" for more than a century—until a fan of the Gothic horror writer stumbled upon the haunting tale at the National Library of IrelandThu, 24 Oct 2024 15:56:43 +0000Amateur Mathematician Discovers the Largest Known Prime Number, With More Than 41 Million Digitshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/amateur-mathematician-discovers-the-largest-known-prime-number-with-more-than-41-million-digits-180985321/Called M136279841, the value belongs to a rare class of prime numbers called Mersenne primes and was found using a supercomputer system spread across 17 countriesWed, 23 Oct 2024 20:33:42 +0000Before He Created His Vibrant Drip Paintings, Jackson Pollock Took Inspiration From Pablo Picassohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/before-he-created-his-vibrant-drip-paintings-jackson-pollock-took-inspiration-from-pablo-picasso-180985296/A new exhibition in Paris demonstrates the influence that the Spanish artist had on the young American painter who would help usher in the Abstract Expressionist movementWed, 23 Oct 2024 20:14:00 +0000Four Unreleased Jimi Hendrix Demo Recordings Billed as 'Better Than the Originals' Are Going Up for Salehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/four-unreleased-jimi-hendrix-demo-tapes-billed-as-better-than-the-originals-are-going-up-for-sale-180985291/Created in London in the 1960s, the tracks are heading to auction as part of a larger collection of memorabilia connected to the famous American guitaristWed, 23 Oct 2024 19:48:35 +0000Is Scurvy Making a Comeback? Two Recent Cases Highlight How the Illness Can Appear in the Modern Worldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/is-scurvy-making-a-comeback-two-recent-cases-highlight-how-the-illness-can-appear-in-the-modern-world-180985322/Scurvy diagnoses in Australia and Canada suggest doctors should consider testing for vitamin C deficiency in patients experiencing poverty, food insecurity and social isolationWed, 23 Oct 2024 19:17:00 +0000In a First, Scientists Find Animals Thriving Beneath the Ocean Floor in Hidden Habitats Near Deep-Sea Ventshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-scientists-find-animals-thriving-beneath-the-ocean-floor-in-hidden-habitats-near-deep-sea-vents-180985316/The discovery of worms and snails confirms that these still-mysterious, dark hotspots of life extend beyond what’s visible above the crustWed, 23 Oct 2024 18:18:15 +0000Asheville's Biltmore Estate Will Reopen for the Holidays After Sustaining Damage From Hurricane Helenehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ashevilles-biltmore-estate-will-reopen-for-the-holidays-after-sustaining-damage-from-hurricane-helene-180985311/The sprawling estate, which is the largest privately owned home in the country, will open its doors in November after a month-long closureWed, 23 Oct 2024 16:42:06 +0000Fossils Reveal the Face of an Extinct Nine-Foot-Long 'Millipede,' the Largest Arthropod to Ever Livehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fossils-reveal-the-face-of-an-extinct-nine-foot-long-millipede-the-largest-arthropod-to-ever-live-180985293/Scientists in France solved the evolutionary mystery of this prehistoric monster, which resembles both the centipedes and millipedes of todayTue, 22 Oct 2024 20:27:12 +0000Walk Through a Full-Scale Replica of the Secret Annex Where Anne Frank's Family Took Shelter During the Holocausthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/walk-through-a-full-scale-replica-of-the-secret-annex-where-anne-franks-family-took-shelter-during-the-holocaust-180985292/Featuring more than 100 original artifacts, a new immersive exhibition in New York City will explore the young Jewish diarist's life and legacyTue, 22 Oct 2024 19:19:15 +0000This Art Dealer Paved the Way for Picasso, Matisse and Modigliani. So Why Haven't You Heard of Her?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/art-dealer-berthe-weill-discovered-picasso-matisse-and-more-so-why-havent-you-heard-of-her-180985261/A new exhibition in New York celebrates Berthe Weill, an often overlooked but visionary figure who jumpstarted the careers of many of modern art's giantsTue, 22 Oct 2024 17:49:10 +0000Admire the World's Largest Collection of Fossilized Poop at the New 'Poozeum' in Arizonahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/admire-the-worlds-largest-collection-of-fossilized-poop-at-the-new-poozeum-in-arizona-180985309/Owner George Frandsen has some 8,000 coprolites from dinosaurs, sharks and other creaturesTue, 22 Oct 2024 17:39:21 +0000This Pup Is Going Viral for Climbing to the Top of an Egyptian Pyramidhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-pup-is-going-viral-for-climbing-to-the-top-of-an-egyptian-pyramid-180985306/Paramotorists spotted the dog while soaring above one of Giza's pyramids last weekTue, 22 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000A New Marine Sanctuary Off California Will Be Co-Managed by Indigenous Peopleshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-marine-sanctuary-off-california-will-be-co-managed-by-indigenous-peoples-180985301/NOAA designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary this month, following a decade of advocacy by supporters. The protected site will be finalized after a 45-day review periodMon, 21 Oct 2024 20:39:16 +0000The Top 25 Trending Halloween Costumes of 2024, According to Googlehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-top-25-trending-halloween-costumes-of-2024-according-to-google-180985304/This year, celebrants will likely be channeling characters from hit franchises like "Beetlejuice," "Inside Out" and "Deadpool"Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:35:51 +0000An Ice Age Infant’s 17,000-Year-Old DNA Reveals He Had Dark Skin and Blue Eyeshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-ice-age-infants-17000-year-old-dna-has-revealed-he-had-dark-skin-and-blue-eyes-180985305/The baby boy’s recovered genome suggests he’s related to a famous Ice Age populationMon, 21 Oct 2024 18:50:24 +0000See 15 Mesmerizing Photos of Hidden Scenes Only Visible Through a Microscopehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-mesmerizing-photos-of-hidden-scenes-only-visible-through-a-microscope-180985303/Winners of the Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition captured insects, cancer cells, cat claws and moreMon, 21 Oct 2024 18:16:11 +0000Scientists Have Found Microplastics in Dolphin Breath for the First Timehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-have-found-microplastics-in-dolphin-breath-for-the-first-time-180985287/Each of the 11 dolphins sampled exhaled at least one suspected particle of microplastic, which researchers say “highlights how extensive environmental microplastic pollution is”Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:17:01 +0000The World's First Barbecue Museum Is Coming to Kansas Cityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-worlds-first-barbecue-museum-is-coming-to-kansas-city-180985298/Opening next spring, the new venue will have exhibits and a barbecue bean-themed ball pit play area for kidsFri, 18 Oct 2024 21:13:58 +0000A Great White Shark Mysteriously Washed Ashore in Cape Cod, and Researchers Don't Know Whyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-great-white-shark-mysteriously-washed-ashore-in-cape-cod-and-researchers-dont-know-why-180985299/Authorities have not yet identified the cause of death for the 12.5-foot-long shark, which was named KoalaFri, 18 Oct 2024 20:54:39 +0000Can't Get Enough Carbs? That Craving Might Have Started More Than 800,000 Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cant-get-enough-carbs-that-craving-might-have-started-more-than-800000-years-ago-180985297/New research traces the genetic underpinnings of the enzyme amylase, which helps humans digest starches and sugarsFri, 18 Oct 2024 19:18:10 +0000This Newly Discovered, Octagonal Building in Armenia Is One of the World's Oldest Christian Churcheshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-newly-discovered-octagonal-building-armenia-one-worlds-oldest-christian-churches-180985294/The structure—also the earliest of its kind in the Asian country—dates to around 350 C.E.Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:39:42 +0000Astronomers Uncover the Origin of Most of Earth's Meteorites, Shedding Light on Our Solar System's Pasthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-uncover-the-origin-of-most-of-earths-meteorites-shedding-light-on-our-solar-systems-past-180985295/Prior to the new research, scientists had traced the source of just 6 percent of the known meteorites that fell on our planetFri, 18 Oct 2024 18:25:51 +0000See the Wreck of Ernest Shackleton's 'Endurance' in Astonishing Detail With This New 3D Scanhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-wreck-of-ernest-shackletons-endurance-in-astonishing-detail-with-this-new-3d-scan-180985274/Created from more than 25,000 high-resolution images, the digital model shows artifacts from the ill-fated expedition, including a boot, dishes and a flare gunFri, 18 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000Archaeologists Discover Mysterious Jade Dragon Artifact at a 5,000-Year-Old Tomb in Chinahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-mysterious-jade-dragon-artifact-at-a-5000-year-old-tomb-in-china-180985288/Hundreds of artifacts have been unearthed at a burial mound in the city of Chifeng, but researchers are particularly intrigued by the six-inch-long objectFri, 18 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000Shipwreck Hunters Find Lost World War II-Era Submarine That Vanished With 64 Crew Members Onboardhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-hunters-find-lost-world-war-ii-era-submarine-that-vanished-with-64-crew-members-onboard-180985285/The HMS "Trooper" likely sank after hitting an underwater German mine off the coast of an island in the Aegean Sea in 1943Thu, 17 Oct 2024 20:55:57 +0000Experts Don't Know How This Mysterious White Fox Ended Up in Oregon, More Than 1,000 Miles Away From Homehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/experts-dont-know-how-this-mysterious-white-fox-ended-up-in-oregon-more-than-1000-miles-away-from-home-180985286/Identified as an Arctic fox, the animal is believed to have been kept in captivity far from its native habitat in the tundra. Now, it's receiving care from wildlife officialsThu, 17 Oct 2024 20:47:37 +0000How to Watch the Bright and Speedy Orionid Meteor Showerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-watch-the-bright-and-speedy-orionid-meteor-shower-180985290/While the Orionids, peaking early Sunday and Monday, might be hard to see because of the waning gibbous moon, these zippy meteors can produce long "trains" that last up to several minutesThu, 17 Oct 2024 18:57:50 +0000Cats May Be Aware of Their Body Size, Suggests Study of Their Famously 'Liquid' Behaviorhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cats-may-be-aware-of-their-body-size-suggests-study-of-their-famously-liquid-behavior-180985282/A scientist used at-home experiments to test whether cats hesitated when moving through increasingly shorter or narrower openingsThu, 17 Oct 2024 17:26:42 +0000Minnesota Teacher's 2,471-Pound Gourd Triumphs in Annual Pumpkin-Weighing Competitionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/minnesota-teachers-2471-pound-gourd-triumphs-in-annual-pumpkin-weighing-competition-180985278/Travis Gienger, who nicknamed his prize-winning pumpkin "Rudy," has been growing gourds for nearly 30 yearsThu, 17 Oct 2024 17:07:50 +0000These Frankenstein-Like Sea Creatures Can Actually Fuse Their Bodies Togetherhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-frankenstein-like-sea-creatures-can-actually-fuse-their-bodies-together-180985218/Two comb jellies can merge their digestive and nervous systems and even sync their bodily functions, according to new research. The discovery could have implications for human medicineThu, 17 Oct 2024 15:16:25 +0000See the First Section of the Largest-Ever Cosmic Map, Revealed in Stunning Detail by the Euclid Space Telescopehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-first-section-of-the-largest-ever-cosmic-map-revealed-in-stunning-detail-by-the-euclid-space-telescope-180985281/The final 3D atlas of the sky will help scientists study dark matter and dark energy, which make up 96 percent of the universe but remain mysteriousWed, 16 Oct 2024 20:42:29 +0000See the Vatican's Magnificent Marble Statue of the Greek God Apollo Restored to Its Former Gloryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-vaticans-magnificent-marble-statue-of-the-greek-god-apollo-restored-to-its-former-glory-180985283/Experts added a carbon fiber pole to help anchor the "Apollo Belvedere," which had developed cracks along the legs and knees. Now, the looming Roman sculpture is finally back on displayWed, 16 Oct 2024 20:25:08 +0000Mysterious Craters Discovered on the Bottom of Lake Michigan Could Hold Lessons About Early Life on Earthhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-craters-discovered-on-the-bottom-of-lake-michigan-could-hold-lessons-about-early-life-on-earth-180985258/Scientists aren't sure how the circular indentations some 450 feet below the surface formed, but they hope to investigate furtherWed, 16 Oct 2024 19:15:00 +0000These Iron Age Swords Were Smuggled Out of Iran and Modified to Increase Their Value on the Black Markethttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-iron-age-swords-were-smuggled-out-of-iran-and-modified-to-increase-their-value-on-the-black-market-180985266/Using advanced imaging techniques, researchers discovered modern glue, drill holes and even a fragment of a drill bit in the pastichesWed, 16 Oct 2024 19:11:49 +0000See the Super Hunter's Moon Tonight, the Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of the Yearhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-super-hunters-moon-tonight-the-biggest-and-brightest-full-moon-of-the-year-180985277/This week's supermoon is closer to Earth than any other in 2024Wed, 16 Oct 2024 17:11:20 +0000This Park Recreates Vincent van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' With a Dazzling Display of Plants, Trees and Winding Pathwayshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-park-recreates-vincent-van-goghs-the-starry-night-with-a-dazzling-display-of-plants-trees-and-winding-pathways-180985270/At a new park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, two dozen gardeners have spent years replicating the Dutch artist's masterpiece using the land as their canvasWed, 16 Oct 2024 16:35:59 +0000Two Lions Went on a Man-Eating Spree in 1898. Now, DNA Evidence Reveals Their Dietshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-lions-went-on-a-man-eating-spree-in-1898-now-dna-evidence-reveals-their-diets-180985269/The notorious predators, nicknamed the “Man-Eaters of Tsavo,” terrorized railway workers in Kenya for roughly nine monthsTue, 15 Oct 2024 21:20:25 +0000Famous Explorer's Remains Discovered on Mount Everest Offer Clues in a Century-Long Mysteryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/famous-explorers-remains-discovered-on-mount-everest-offer-clues-in-a-century-long-mystery-180985267/In 1924, Andrew "Sandy" Irvine joined George Mallory’s expedition to the world’s highest peak. Now, Irvine’s recently found foot and boot hint at what might have happened on that ill-fated undertakingTue, 15 Oct 2024 20:17:06 +0000Archaeologists in Petra Discover Secret Tomb Hiding Beneath a Mysterious Structure Featured in 'Indiana Jones'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-in-petra-discover-secret-tomb-hiding-beneath-a-mysterious-structure-featured-in-indiana-jones-180985275/The recent excavation beneath the Treasury has revealed 12 complete human skeletons and a trove of grave goods dating back 2,000 yearsTue, 15 Oct 2024 20:11:35 +0000SpaceX Launches Starship Mega-Rocket and Catches Its Booster in Midair on First Tryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/spacex-launches-starship-mega-rocket-and-catches-its-booster-in-midair-on-first-try-180985268/The success is a giant leap toward the company's goal to take humans and cargo all the way to Mars on the world's biggest and most powerful launch vehicleTue, 15 Oct 2024 18:29:39 +0000The Smithsonian National Zoo's New Giant Pandas Will Make Their Public Debut on January 24https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smithsonian-national-zoo-giant-panda-make-public-debut-january-24-180985263/A pair of 3-year-old giant pandas—a male named Bao Li and a female called Qing Bao—have officially arrived at the Zoo, where they will first acclimate to their new homeMon, 14 Oct 2024 20:55:01 +0000Nearly 40 Years After She Walked the Great Wall of China, Marina Abramović Returns to the Country With a New Exhibitionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nearly-40-years-after-she-walked-the-great-wall-of-china-marina-abramovic-returns-to-the-country-with-a-new-exhibition-180985260/"Transforming Energy," the artist's first museum show in China, focuses on "artworks and objects that actively engage the audience"Tue, 15 Oct 2024 17:35:04 +0000Why Are Witches and Warlocks Going Stand-Up Paddleboarding to Celebrate Halloween?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-are-witches-and-warlocks-going-stand-up-paddleboarding-to-celebrate-halloween-180985244/Across the country, revelers are dressing in costumes and gliding across bodies of water on stand-up paddleboards to ring in the spooky seasonTue, 15 Oct 2024 16:22:29 +0000Historic New Shepard Rocket Booster and Crew Capsule Will Go on Display at the Air and Space Museumhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-new-shepard-rocket-booster-and-crew-capsule-will-go-on-display-at-the-air-and-space-museum-180985265/The two artifacts donated by Blue Origin achieved record-breaking feats and will extend the museum's story of trailblazing space travel into the presentTue, 15 Oct 2024 16:07:01 +0000Human Lifespan Might Be About to Hit a Ceiling, Experts Sayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-lifespan-might-be-about-to-hit-a-ceiling-experts-say-180985259/In the ’90s, many scientists disputed an epidemiologist’s warning that the fast-paced life extension of the 20th century would plateau. Now, a new study suggests he was rightFri, 11 Oct 2024 20:48:21 +0000A Treasure Hunt for an Ornate Golden Owl Buried in France Has Ended After 31 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-treasure-hunt-for-an-ornate-golden-owl-buried-in-france-has-ended-after-31-years-180985207/The quest drew thousands of curious participants hoping to solve a series of elaborate riddles—and win a bejeweled statue worth an estimated $165,000Fri, 11 Oct 2024 20:36:36 +0000How an Elephant's Wrinkles Reveal Whether It Is Right- or Left-Trunkedhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-an-elephants-wrinkles-reveal-whether-it-is-right-or-left-trunked-180985247/A new study sheds light on the muscular, dexterous appendage, suggesting trunk wrinkles are more important than many people realizeFri, 11 Oct 2024 19:42:00 +0000Museum Workers Have Rescued an Artwork From the Trash After a Mechanic Mistook It for Garbagehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/museum-workers-have-rescued-an-artwork-from-the-trash-after-a-mechanic-mistook-it-for-garbage-180985240/A Dutch museum famous for displaying art in unconventional locations had placed a pair of painted beer cans in a glass elevator shaftFri, 11 Oct 2024 19:22:54 +0000Nobel Peace Prize Goes to Japanese Atomic Bomb Survivors Who Fight for Nuclear Disarmamenthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nobel-peace-prize-goes-to-japanese-atomic-bomb-survivors-who-fight-for-nuclear-disarmament-180985256/The grassroots organization, Nihon Hidankyo, was lauded for "demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again"Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:46:59 +0000See 15 Winning Images From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contesthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-15-winning-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-contest-180985257/Breathtaking shots shine a light on the wonders of wildlife and the threats that human activities pose to the natural worldFri, 11 Oct 2024 18:32:50 +0000Seeing Vermeer’s 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' in Person Stimulates the Brain More Than Looking at Reprints, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/seeing-vermeers-girl-with-a-pearl-earring-in-person-stimulates-the-brain-more-than-looking-at-reprints-study-suggests-180985254/Scientists used EEG headsets, MRI machines and eye trackers to study volunteers' responses to five paintings housed at the Mauritshuis museum in the NetherlandsFri, 11 Oct 2024 16:24:47 +0000A Rare Monet Painting Has Been Returned to the Family of Its Rightful Owners—Eight Decades After It Was Stolen by the Nazishttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-rare-monet-painting-has-been-returned-to-the-family-of-its-rightful-owners-eight-decades-after-it-was-stolen-by-the-nazis-180985250/The Gestapo seized the Impressionist painting from storage after its owners fled from their home in Vienna. Now, the piece has been returned to their granddaughtersThu, 10 Oct 2024 21:07:42 +0000Meet Milagra, a Rare Condor Rescued as an Egg and Newly Released Back Into the Wildhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-milagra-a-rare-condor-rescued-as-an-egg-and-newly-released-back-into-the-wild-180985249/Milagra, Spanish for “miracle,” was hatched and raised in captivity by foster condor parents after her mother died of avian flu in April 2023Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:32:02 +0000World-First Stem Cell Treatment Reverses Diabetes for a Patient in China, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-first-stem-cell-treatment-reverses-diabetes-for-a-patient-in-china-study-suggests-180985198/Scientists converted the patient’s own cells into blood sugar-regulating cell clusters before injecting them back into her abdomen—and one year later, she still doesn't need insulin injectionsThu, 10 Oct 2024 19:16:50 +0000Han Kang Becomes the First South Korean Author to Win the Nobel Prize in Literaturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/han-kang-becomes-the-first-south-korean-author-to-win-the-nobel-prize-in-literature-180985248/Best known for "The Vegetarian," the novelist and poet was praised for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life"Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:51:10 +0000You Could See Dazzling Auroras Tonight as 'Strong' Solar Storm Hits. Here's What to Knowhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-could-see-dazzling-auroras-tonight-as-strong-solar-storm-hits-heres-what-to-know-180985251/Predicted to bring the northern lights as far south as parts of California and Alabama, a large coronal mass ejection from the sun collided with our planet Thursday morningThu, 10 Oct 2024 17:22:52 +0000Rome's Trevi Fountain Will Get a Much-Needed Cleaning—and a Controversial New Entry Feehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romes-trevi-fountain-will-get-a-much-needed-cleaning-and-a-controversial-new-entry-fee-180985243/During the restorations, visitors will be able to see the famous site via a temporary walkway, which officials will use to study the flow of foot trafficThu, 10 Oct 2024 15:48:39 +0000This Exhibition Is Betting That You Don't Know Frida Kahlo as Well as You May Thinkhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-exhibition-is-betting-that-you-dont-know-frida-kahlo-as-well-as-you-may-think-180985214/"Frida: Beyond the Myth" aims to paint an intimate portrait of the artist through dozens of works created by Kahlo and photographs taken by her loved onesWed, 09 Oct 2024 21:13:13 +0000Scientists' Work on Protein Structure, Which Governs All Aspects of Life, Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-work-on-protein-structure-which-governs-all-aspects-of-life-wins-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-180985239/David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper revealed how amino acids shape protein structure, a finding that could aid in drug discoveryWed, 09 Oct 2024 20:57:49 +0000How to See the Bright Comet Flaring Up in the Night Sky This Weekhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-see-the-bright-comet-flaring-up-in-the-night-sky-this-week-180985242/Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS should be visible to the naked eye as it passes Earth on its way out of our solar systemWed, 09 Oct 2024 19:32:17 +0000Archaeologists Discover Intricately Decorated Coffins Belonging to the Only Daughter of an Ancient Egyptian Governorhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-intricately-decorated-coffins-belonging-to-the-only-daughter-of-an-ancient-egyptian-governor-180985217/The 4,000-year-old burial chamber featured hieroglyphs referring to the woman, known as Idi, as the "lady of the house"Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:44:54 +0000'Highly Defensive' Mother Bear Grazer Defeats Male That Killed Her Cub to Win Fat Bear Weekhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/highly-defensive-mother-bear-grazer-defeats-male-that-killed-her-cub-to-win-fat-bear-week-180985241/For the second year in a row, Grazer bested the massive male named Chunk to take the crown in the single elimination online popularity contest at Katmai National Park and PreserveWed, 09 Oct 2024 18:04:20 +0000An American Bomb Left Over From World War II Explodes at an Airport Taxiway in Japanhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-american-bomb-left-over-from-world-war-ii-explodes-at-an-airport-taxiway-in-japan-180985232/No one was injured in the blast, and authorities are investigating why the ordnance detonated after so many years undergroundWed, 09 Oct 2024 14:01:20 +0000The FBI Recovers an Andy Warhol Print Worth $175,000 That Vanished From a Private Home in 2021https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-fbi-recovers-an-andy-warhol-print-worth-175000-that-vanished-from-a-private-home-in-2021-180985210/A man is expected to plead guilty for trafficking the print, which reappeared at a Dallas auction house shortly after it went missing from a California residenceTue, 08 Oct 2024 21:25:28 +0000Immerse Yourself in the 'Hyperwall,' NASA's New Visual Showcase of a Changing Earthhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/immerse-yourself-in-the-hyperwall-nasas-new-visual-showcase-of-a-changing-earth-180985211/A new exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History combines satellite observations and historical data to offer a "larger-than-life look" at our planet's climate todayTue, 08 Oct 2024 21:19:14 +0000Scientists Who Developed the Building Blocks of Artificial Intelligence Win Nobel Prize in Physicshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-who-developed-the-building-blocks-of-artificial-intelligence-win-nobel-prize-in-physics-180985219/John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton shared the award for their work on artificial neural networks and machine learningTue, 08 Oct 2024 19:38:22 +0000An Art Dealer Bought This Painting at a Barn Sale for $50. It Turned Out to Be an Emily Carr Worth Nearly $150,000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-art-dealer-bought-this-painting-at-a-barn-sale-for-50-it-turned-out-to-be-an-emily-carr-worth-nearly-150000-180985204/The Canadian Post-Impressionist artist was famous for her evocative landscapes and paintings incorporating motifs from First Nations groupsTue, 08 Oct 2024 18:08:48 +0000Hurricane Helene's Floodwaters Damaged 80 Percent of Buildings in Asheville's River Arts Districthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hurricane-helenes-floodwaters-damaged-80-percent-of-buildings-in-ashevilles-river-arts-district-180985209/Home to more than 300 artists, the neighborhood was submerged under the record-high waters of the French Broad RiverTue, 08 Oct 2024 13:55:18 +0000American Scientists Win Nobel Prize in Medicine for 'Groundbreaking' Gene Discovery Made by Studying Wormshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/american-scientists-win-nobel-prize-in-medicine-for-groundbreaking-gene-discovery-made-by-studying-worms-180985206/Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA, tiny molecules that play a crucial role in how cells develop, paving the way for new treatments for diseasesMon, 07 Oct 2024 20:50:44 +0000This Painting Was Thought to Be a Botticelli Copy. Now, Researchers Say It Was Made in His Studiohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-painting-was-thought-to-be-a-botticelli-copy-now-researchers-think-it-was-made-in-his-studio-180985179/A new analysis suggests that the piece was created by several artists working in the Italian Renaissance painter's studio—and that Botticelli himself may have worked on important detailsMon, 07 Oct 2024 18:44:18 +0000Bottlenose Dolphins 'Smile' at Each Other During Playtime, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bottlenose-dolphins-smile-at-each-other-during-playtime-study-finds-180985205/Researchers still don't know what the open-mouth facial expression means or whether it's akin to smiling in humans—but several animals make a similar face during playMon, 07 Oct 2024 18:26:03 +0000Astronomers Are Watching for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Nova Explosion. When Will We See It?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-are-watching-for-a-once-in-a-lifetime-nova-explosion-when-will-we-see-it-180985120/A recurrent nova, known as the Blaze Star or T Coronae Borealis, is predicted to soon appear in the night sky. But the exact timing of the rare eruption remains unknownMon, 07 Oct 2024 17:35:00 +0000A Monet Masterpiece That Hung in Churchill's Home Is Now Free of Grime From Cigar Smokehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-monet-masterpiece-that-hung-in-churchills-home-is-now-free-of-grime-from-cigar-smoke-180985147/The newly restored "Charing Cross Bridge," which once hung in the politician's drawing room, is now on display at London's Courtauld GalleryMon, 07 Oct 2024 16:38:11 +0000How to Catch a Glimpse of the Draconid Meteor Showerhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-catch-a-glimpse-of-the-draconid-meteor-shower-180985202/While the annual shower usually makes for a sleepy showing, it has been known to produce fantastic outbursts in the pastFri, 04 Oct 2024 20:54:25 +0000Metal Detectorists Unearth 1,000-Year-Old Viking Coins on a Small Island in the Irish Seahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metal-detectorists-unearth-1000-year-old-viking-coins-on-a-small-island-in-the-irish-sea-180985197/Experts say that the trove of silver currency is official treasure and includes coins from England and IrelandFri, 04 Oct 2024 18:37:11 +0000Two and a Half Years After the Russian Invasion, Ukraine's Cultural Heritage Remains at Riskhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-and-a-half-years-after-the-russian-invasion-ukraines-cultural-heritage-remains-at-risk-180985201/A $1 million grant from the U.S. is the latest effort to support Ukraine's fight to preserve its rich pastFri, 04 Oct 2024 18:36:49 +0000Scientists Use Cold War-Era Spy Plane to Find Unexpected Gamma Rays in Thunderstormshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-use-cold-war-era-spy-plane-to-find-unexpected-gamma-rays-in-thunderstorms-180985189/The new findings bring storm researchers one step closer to solving the mystery of how lightning formsFri, 04 Oct 2024 18:30:38 +0000‘Pride and Prejudice’ Gets a New Adaptation: an Interactive A.I. Avatarhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pride-and-prejudice-gets-a-new-adaptation-an-interactive-ai-avatar-180985196/Lizzy, the avatar based on the novel’s Elizabeth Bennet, will hold period-accurate conversations with visitors at Jane Austen’s cottage homeFri, 04 Oct 2024 16:14:18 +0000Scientists Unveil the First-Ever Complete Map of an Adult Fruit Fly's Brain, Captured in Stunning Detailhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-unveil-the-first-ever-complete-map-of-an-adult-fruit-flys-brain-captured-in-stunning-detail-180985191/The brain diagram, called a connectome, could revolutionize researchers' understanding of the human brain, which has many parallels with a fruit fly'sFri, 04 Oct 2024 15:40:00 +0000The Discovery of a 5,000-Year-Old Society in Morocco Reveals an Ancient Farming Culturehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-discovery-of-a-5000-year-old-society-in-morocco-reveals-an-ancient-farming-culture-180985190/At the site known as Oued Beht, archaeologists uncovered evidence of a large farming settlement where people used advanced techniquesThu, 03 Oct 2024 20:07:26 +0000Montana Rancher Who Created Giant, Hybrid Sheep Sentenced to Six Months in Prisonhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/montana-rancher-who-created-giant-hybrid-sheep-sentenced-to-six-months-in-prison-180985194/Arthur “Jack” Schubarth cloned illegally imported genetic material from the Marco Polo argali to create hybrid sheep that would draw higher prices from hunting preservesThu, 03 Oct 2024 19:30:00 +0000This Newly Discovered Sunken Warship Served on Both Sides of World War IIhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-newly-discovered-sunken-warship-served-on-both-sides-of-world-war-ii-180985192/The USS <em>Stewart</em> was purposefully sunk off the coast of California after the warThu, 03 Oct 2024 17:54:38 +0000Breast Cancer Cases Are Rising Among Younger Women, Report Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/breast-cancer-cases-are-rising-among-younger-women-report-finds-180985188/Though breast cancer mortality is declining overall, Asian American women and women under 50 have experienced an uptick in diagnoses of the diseaseThu, 03 Oct 2024 17:53:27 +0000Astronomers Discover a Small Exoplanet That's Our Cosmic Neighbor at Just Six Light-Years Awayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-discover-a-small-exoplanet-thats-our-cosmic-neighbor-at-just-six-light-years-away-180985180/Orbiting Barnard's star, the nearest solo star to Earth, the world is too hot to be habitable—a scorching 257 degrees FahrenheitThu, 03 Oct 2024 15:33:44 +0000A Junk Dealer Discovered a 'Horrible' Painting in a Cellar 60 Years Ago. It Might Be a $6.6 Million Picassohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-junk-dealer-discovered-a-horrible-painting-in-a-cellar-60-years-ago-it-might-be-a-66-million-picasso-180985183/For years, the owner's son had wondered about the artwork, which features the Spanish painter's signature. Now, some experts think it's the real dealThu, 03 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000Hurricane Helene Shutters 'Critical' Quartz Mines That Power the World's Electronics, Solar Panels and A.I.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hurricane-helene-shutters-critical-quartz-mines-that-power-the-worlds-electronics-solar-panels-and-ai-180985187/The small town of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, is one of the only sources of high-purity quartz on Earth, but it has been left battered by the storm's heavy rainsThu, 03 Oct 2024 11:30:00 +0000A Treasure Hunter Just Uncovered the $100,000 Prize Hidden in the Massachusetts Woodshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-treasure-hunter-just-uncovered-the-100000-prize-hidden-in-the-massachusetts-woods-180985181/Two weeks ago, organizers of Project Skydrop stashed a golden statuette in a secret location somewhere in the northeastern United StatesWed, 02 Oct 2024 20:34:24 +0000Coyotes Might Make 'Puppy Eyes,' Suggesting the Facial Expression Evolved for More Than Just Cutenesshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/coyotes-might-make-puppy-eyes-suggesting-the-facial-expression-evolved-for-more-than-just-cuteness-180985182/The wild canines have the same muscles used by domestic dogs to create the wide-eyed, pleading look that captures humans' heartsWed, 02 Oct 2024 19:22:16 +0000Two Comets Could Be Visible to the Naked Eye This Fall. Here's How to Get the Best Viewhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-comets-could-be-visible-to-the-naked-eye-this-fall-heres-how-to-get-the-best-view-180985174/While expectations are high for some special sightings, experts warn that comets are notoriously fickle and unpredictableWed, 02 Oct 2024 17:50:04 +0000The Roman Republic Quashed a Rebellion So Completely That This City Became a Landfillhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-roman-republic-quashed-a-rebellion-so-completely-this-city-became-a-landfill-180985177/Researchers studying the ancient site of Fregellae reveal the consequences of challenging the Roman armyWed, 02 Oct 2024 17:45:39 +0000One Year After England's Famous Sycamore Gap Tree Was Illegally Felled, a New Exhibition Honors Its Legacyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-year-after-englands-famous-sycamore-gap-tree-was-illegally-felled-a-new-exhibition-honors-its-legacy-180985169/The show coincides with an initiative that will give away 49 of the tree's saplings to individuals and communities across the countryWed, 02 Oct 2024 16:30:59 +0000Geologists Reveal a Surprising Reason Why Mount Everest Grows Taller Each Yearhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/geologists-reveal-a-surprising-reason-why-mount-everest-grows-taller-each-year-180985175/Earth's highest peak has gained as much as an extra 165 feet in elevation as the planet's crust adjusts due to erosion from a river, according to a new studyTue, 01 Oct 2024 20:18:39 +0000This Green-Flashing Firefly Could Become the First Ever Listed as Endangered in the U.S.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-green-flashing-firefly-could-become-the-first-ever-listed-as-endangered-in-the-us-180985176/The Fish and Wildlife Service will consider granting federal protections to the Bethany Beach firefly, which is rapidly losing its coastal habitat to development and climate changeTue, 01 Oct 2024 18:51:35 +0000Ancient Statues Recently Returned to Yemen Are Now on Loan at the Methttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-statues-recently-returned-to-yemen-are-now-on-loan-at-the-met-180985178/The long-term loan is the latest agreement Yemen has made with a museum in order to protect its cultural heritage amid ongoing civil warTue, 01 Oct 2024 18:06:41 +0000See a Newly Uncovered Throne Room in Peru That May Have Belonged to an Ancient Queenhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-newly-uncovered-throne-room-peru-may-have-belonged-ancient-queen-180985173/Built by the Moche people in the seventh century, the stunningly painted space shows signs of heavy use, including an eroded throne and traces of human hairTue, 01 Oct 2024 16:58:12 +0000Nintendo Switches Things Up With a New Museum That Embraces Nostalgia and Celebrates Gaming Historyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nintendo-switches-things-up-with-a-new-museum-that-embraces-nostalgia-and-celebrates-gaming-history-180985162/The Kyoto museum will feature interactive exhibits, gaming artifacts, workshop spaces and oversized controllers inspired by iconic video gamesTue, 01 Oct 2024 14:03:18 +0000Astronauts Stranded in Space Are Now One Step Closer to Returning Homehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronauts-stranded-space-one-step-closer-returning-home-180985167/A SpaceX mission arrived at the International Space Station with two astronauts instead of four to leave room for NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore on the return trip in early 2025Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:00:00 +0000This Shipwreck's Location Was a Mystery for 129 Years. Then, Two Men Found It Just Minutes Into a Three-Day Searchhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-shipwrecks-location-was-a-mystery-for-129-years-then-two-men-found-it-just-minutes-into-a-three-day-search-180985165/The "John Evenson" tugboat was helping another ship enter the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in Wisconsin when it sank to the bottom of Lake Michigan in 1895Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:26:07 +0000Amid Rising Temperatures, Sloths' Slowness May Put Their Survival at Riskhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/amid-rising-temperatures-sloths-slowness-puts-their-survival-at-risk-180985168/The world’s slowest mammal is at risk of extinction by the end of the century due to their low metabolic rate and climate changeMon, 30 Sep 2024 19:26:32 +0000Rare Drone Footage Captures Orcas Feeding on Dusky Dolphinshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-footage-captures-orcas-feeding-on-dusky-dolphins-180985170/The predatory pod hunts off the coast of Chile and is led by a matriarch called DakotaMon, 30 Sep 2024 18:34:33 +0000Workers Just Started Building the World's First 3D-Printed Hotel in the Texas Deserthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/workers-just-started-building-the-worlds-first-3d-printed-hotel-in-the-texas-desert-180985166/In the dusty landscape surrounding the city of Marfa, a huge 3D printer is constructing 43 new rooms and 18 residential homes as part of an expansion of El CosmicoMon, 30 Sep 2024 17:06:40 +0000Hours After the Protesters Who Threw Soup at a van Gogh Were Sentenced, Three More Activists Repeated the Stunthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hours-after-the-protesters-who-thew-soup-at-a-van-gogh-were-sentenced-three-more-activists-repeated-the-stunt-180985160/Two members of Just Stop Oil staged the original demonstration in late 2022. Group members say the harsh penalties will not deter their effortsFri, 27 Sep 2024 19:35:18 +0000This 3,775-Year-Old Log May Hold the Secret to a Low-Cost Climate Solutionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-3775-year-old-log-of-wood-may-hold-the-secret-to-an-innovative-and-low-cost-climate-solution-180985161/Researchers say burying wood could be a viable method to prevent carbon from reaching the atmosphereFri, 27 Sep 2024 18:31:29 +0000These Fish Have Legs—and They Can Use Them to Taste Preyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-fish-have-legsand-they-can-use-them-to-taste-prey-180985163/Sea robins have "the body of a fish, the wings of a bird and multiple legs like a crab"Fri, 27 Sep 2024 18:23:36 +0000Explore Abraham Lincoln's Life and Legacy Through Rare Copies of Historic Books and Documentshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/explore-abraham-lincolns-life-and-legacy-through-rare-copies-of-historic-books-and-documents-180985156/A new exhibition in New York City uses more than 200 texts and artifacts to contemplate Lincoln's rise to the nation's highest officeFri, 27 Sep 2024 17:40:58 +0000The Netherlands Has Returned 288 Stolen Artifacts to Indonesiahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-netherlands-returned-288-stolen-artifacts-to-indonesia-180985137/The Dutch seized the majority of the items in the aftermath of a brutal 1906 conflict that killed an estimated 1,000 BalineseFri, 27 Sep 2024 16:12:46 +0000Extinct Volcanoes May Be an Untapped Source of Rare Metalshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/extinct-volcanoes-may-be-an-untapped-source-of-rare-metals-180985153/Unexplored iron-rich magma could help power current and future technologiesFri, 27 Sep 2024 15:36:54 +0000The World's Oldest Cheese Was Buried in a Chinese Tomb 3,600 Years Ago. Now, Scientists Have Sequenced Its DNAhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-worlds-oldest-cheese-was-buried-in-a-chinese-tomb-3600-years-ago-now-scientists-have-sequenced-its-dna-180985152/New research has revealed that the mysterious white substance found alongside three ancient mummies was once a soft cheese called kefirFri, 27 Sep 2024 15:23:17 +0000Scientists Have Found Bacteria and Fungi 10,000 Feet Up in the Airhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-have-found-bacteria-and-fungi-10000-feet-up-in-the-air-180985057/The discovery has implications for human health, since the microbes included some that were still viable, some that could be infectious to humans and others that carried drug-resistant genesFri, 27 Sep 2024 13:21:53 +0000Off-Road Drivers Are Destroying Ancient Artworks Stretching Across Chile's Desertshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/off-road-drivers-are-destroying-ancient-artworks-stretching-across-chiles-deserts-180985155/As hundreds of motorists take to the desert, their tracks damage the massive geoglyphs made by Indigenous groups in northern ChileThu, 26 Sep 2024 21:40:04 +0000Heart Tissue Shows Signs of Aging After Just One Month in Space, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heart-tissue-shows-signs-of-aging-after-just-one-month-in-space-study-finds-180985151/Scientists sent bioengineered heart tissue samples to the ISS to study how to keep astronauts safe during future long-term space travelThu, 26 Sep 2024 21:35:17 +0000DNA Reveals Identity of Officer on the Lost Franklin Expedition—and His Remains Show Signs of Cannibalismhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dna-reveals-identity-of-officer-on-the-lost-franklin-expedition-and-his-remains-show-signs-of-cannibalism-180985154/Researchers recently identified James Fitzjames, a captain on the ill-fated HMS Erebus that went looking for the Northwest Passage in 1845Thu, 26 Sep 2024 20:08:48 +0000Meet Pesto, the Biggest Baby Penguin This Australian Aquarium Has Ever Seenhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-pesto-the-biggest-baby-penguin-this-australian-aquarium-has-ever-seen-180985149/Most adult king penguins weigh between 31 and 37 pounds. At nine months old, a 51.8-pound Pesto is already looming over his parentsThu, 26 Sep 2024 19:39:04 +0000Earth Is on the Brink of Breaching a Seventh of Nine 'Planetary Boundaries' That Support Lifehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/earth-is-on-the-brink-of-breaching-a-seventh-of-nine-planetary-boundaries-that-support-life-180985144/A new “health check” for our planet sounds an alarm bell on rising ocean acidification, which is driven by carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphereThu, 26 Sep 2024 18:46:50 +0000These 3,000-Year-Old Arrowheads Are Pivotal Clues in the Mystery of 'Europe's Oldest Known Battlefield'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-3000-year-old-arrowheads-are-pivotal-clues-in-the-mystery-of-europes-oldest-known-battlefield-180985142/While no written records exist, new research has illuminated key details of the battle fought in northern Germany during the 13th century B.C.E.Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:58:45 +0000Rare and Elusive Australian Bird, Once Thought Extinct for 100 Years, Discovered by Indigenous Rangers and Scientistshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-and-elusive-australian-bird-once-thought-extinct-for-100-years-discovered-by-indigenous-rangers-and-scientists-180985143/Using sound recordings, the team identified the largest known population of the night parrot, a secretive species known as the "Holy Grail of birdwatching"Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:30:09 +0000Students Stumble Upon a Message in a Bottle Written by a French Archaeologist 200 Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/students-discover-french-archaeologists-200-year-old-message-in-a-bottle-just-in-time-on-an-eroding-coast-180985129/The mysterious missive was written by P.J. Féret, who conducted an archaeological dig at the same site in northern France in 1825Wed, 25 Sep 2024 19:52:11 +0000Scientists Discover a New Species of Elusive Ghost Sharkhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-discover-a-new-species-of-elusive-ghost-shark-180985145/Called the Australasian narrow-nosed spookfish, the cryptic species lives deep in the ocean off the coasts of New Zealand and AustraliaWed, 25 Sep 2024 18:48:03 +0000The Highest Peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Will Now Be Called by Its Cherokee Namehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-highest-peak-in-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-will-now-be-called-by-its-cherokee-name-180985130/In 1858, the mountain was named for a Confederate general. Now, it will once again be known as "Kuwohi"Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:19:56 +0000Mysterious 'Mechanical-Sounding' Noise Near the Mariana Trench May Now Have an Explanationhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-mechanical-sounding-noise-near-the-mariana-trench-may-now-have-an-explanation-180985135/An acoustic survey in 2018 and new analysis with A.I. suggest the sounds are vocalizations from the elusive Bryde’s whaleWed, 25 Sep 2024 17:09:50 +0000America's Oldest Surviving Tombstone Probably Came From Belgiumhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/americas-oldest-surviving-tombstone-probably-came-from-belgium-180985141/Researchers analyzed tiny fossils embedded in the limestone to determine the age and origins of the grave maker, which marked the final resting place of a prominent Jamestown colonistWed, 25 Sep 2024 16:50:10 +0000Watch Octopuses Team Up With Fish to Hunt—and Punch Those That Don't Contributehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-octopuses-team-up-with-fish-to-hunt-and-punch-those-that-dont-contribute-180985134/The collaboration across species reveals a surprising social behavior of octopuses, researchers sayWed, 25 Sep 2024 12:16:15 +0000Why the Debut Issue of America's First Newspaper Was Also the Publication's Lasthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-debut-issue-americas-first-newspaper-also-publications-last-180985122/On this day in 1690, "Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick" attracted colonial officials' ire by repeating a scandalous rumor and condemning a British alliance with the MohawkWed, 25 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000Rare Jaw Fossils Discovered in Texas Shed Light on a 20-Foot-Long Mosasaurhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-jaw-fossils-discovered-in-texas-shed-light-on-a-20-foot-long-mosasaur-180985136/Unearthed last year, the remains could reveal new information on the extinct sea reptile, which crushed mollusks and shelled creatures with its large, round teethTue, 24 Sep 2024 20:09:39 +0000See Newly Discovered Nazca Drawings That Depict Llamas, Human Sacrifices and Morehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-newly-discovered-nazca-drawings-depict-llamas-human-sacrifices-more-180985133/An A.I.-assisted study identified 303 previously unknown geoglyphs in the Peruvian desert. The art features surprising figures, like orcas holding knivesTue, 24 Sep 2024 19:09:05 +0000Mathematicians Discover a New Class of Shape: the 'Soft Cell'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mathematicians-discover-a-new-class-of-shape-the-soft-cell-180985124/If the structures look familiar, it's probably because nature has been using them for a long time in places like nautilus shells, zebra stripes and onionsTue, 24 Sep 2024 18:57:00 +0000This Lost Mozart Composition Hasn't Been Heard for Centuries. Now, You Can Listen to Ithttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-lost-mozart-composition-hasnt-been-heard-for-centuries-now-you-can-listen-to-it-180985123/More than 250 years after a teenage Mozart wrote "Serenade in C," a copy of the piece has surfaced in the collections of a German libraryTue, 24 Sep 2024 14:31:27 +0000See Ten Striking Images From the Bird Photographer of the Year Awardshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-ten-striking-images-from-the-bird-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180985126/The annual contest unveiled its winners, highlighting avian photos that focus on conservation issues, the beauty of birds and their sometimes hilarious behaviorMon, 23 Sep 2024 23:01:00 +0000Virginia State Parks Install Viewfinders for People With Colorblindness, Just in Time for Leaf-Peeping Seasonhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/virginia-state-parks-install-viewfinders-for-people-with-colorblindness-just-in-time-for-leaf-peeping-season-180985105/The viewfinders are outfitted with special lenses that help people with red-green colorblindness distinguish between huesMon, 23 Sep 2024 20:40:01 +0000'Adorable' Baby Hippo Moo Deng Is More Than a Viral Sensation. She Offers a Rare Glimpse of an Endangered Specieshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/adorable-baby-hippo-moo-deng-is-more-than-a-viral-sensation-she-offers-a-rare-glimpse-of-an-endangered-species-180985125/The baby pygmy hippopotamus in a Thailand zoo has taken the internet by storm, and keepers hope she will help gain momentum for conservation effortsMon, 23 Sep 2024 19:43:27 +0000A Japanese Soldier's Son Receives a Memento of His Father, Who Was Killed During World War IIhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-japanese-soldiers-son-receives-a-memento-of-his-father-who-was-killed-during-world-war-ii-180985121/The so-called good-luck flag, which hung on an American veteran's wall for many years, returned home last month after nearly eight decadesMon, 23 Sep 2024 17:53:11 +0000World's First Ultra-Precise Nuclear Clock Is Within Reach After Major Breakthrough, Researchers Sayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-first-ultra-precise-nuclear-clock-is-within-reach-after-major-breakthrough-researchers-say-180985048/The technology, enabled by thorium atoms, could keep time more accurately than atomic clocks and enable new discoveries about gravity, gravitational waves and dark matterMon, 23 Sep 2024 16:53:18 +0000Heat Waves Can Make Bumblebees Lose Their Sense of Smell, Study Finds. Here's Why That's a Problemhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heat-waves-can-make-bumblebees-lose-their-sense-of-smell-study-finds-heres-why-thats-a-problem-180985119/Female worker bees, which forage for the whole colony, struggle more to detect scents in the heat than males do, per the recent researchMon, 23 Sep 2024 14:37:46 +0000You Can Climb Aboard a Massive Reproduction of a 17th-Century Spanish Galleon That's Sailing Around the Worldhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-climb-aboard-a-massive-reproduction-of-a-17th-century-spanish-galleon-thats-sailing-around-the-world-180985115/The Galeón Andalucía, which is now making its way to London, was designed to resemble the armed merchant vessels manufactured by Spain and Portugal between the 16th and 18th centuriesMon, 23 Sep 2024 13:56:00 +0000Earth Is Getting a New 'Mini Moon' for the Next Two Months, Astronomers Sayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/earth-is-getting-a-new-mini-moon-for-the-next-two-months-astronomers-say-180985118/A roughly 33-foot-long asteroid called 2024 PT5 will chart a horseshoe-like path around our planetFri, 20 Sep 2024 21:21:39 +0000'The Starry Night' Accurately Depicts a Scientific Theory That Wasn't Described Until Years After van Gogh's Deathhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-starry-night-accurately-depicts-a-scientific-theory-that-wasnt-described-until-years-after-van-goghs-death-180985116/Researchers say that the iconic painting's swirling sky lines up with Kolmogorov's theory of turbulence, suggesting that the artist was a careful observer of the world around himFri, 20 Sep 2024 21:08:06 +0000Remarkable 200-Year-Old Rock Painting May Depict a Strange Animal That Went Extinct 250 Million Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/remarkable-200-year-old-rock-painting-may-depict-a-strange-animal-that-went-extinct-250-million-years-ago-180985106/The Horned Serpent Panel from southern Africa predates the first Western scientific description of the dicynodont, a large mammal ancestor with tusks, by at least a decadeFri, 20 Sep 2024 19:18:29 +0000The World's Best Pizza Is in New York City, According to Italy-Based Rankingshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-worlds-best-pizza-is-in-new-york-city-according-to-italy-based-rankings-180985109/Una Pizza Napoletana on the Lower East Side has claimed the top spot in an annual ranking of pizzerias around the globeFri, 20 Sep 2024 18:23:43 +0000In Case Humans Go Extinct, This Memory Crystal Will Store Our Genome for Billions of Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-case-humans-go-extinct-this-memory-crystal-will-store-our-genome-for-billions-of-years-180985114/Scientists have created "a form of information immortality" meant to instruct future species on how to recreate humans. But who, or what, will find it?Fri, 20 Sep 2024 17:47:45 +0000Astronomers Discover Record-Breaking Jets Escaping a Black Hole, the Longest Ever Seenhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-discover-record-breaking-jets-escaping-a-black-hole-the-longest-ever-seen-180985111/The energetic streams are together 23 million light-years in length—roughly as long as 140 Milky Way galaxies lined end to endFri, 20 Sep 2024 16:20:18 +0000See an Ancient Egyptian Temple's Brilliant Colors, Newly Revealed Beneath Layers of Dust and Soothttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-an-ancient-egyptian-temples-brilliant-colors-newly-revealed-beneath-layers-of-dust-and-soot-180985108/Experts are carefully uncovering traces of the original paint and fragments of gold leaf that once adorned the 2,000-year-old Temple of EdfuFri, 20 Sep 2024 14:12:12 +0000Van Gogh Painted Some of His Most Breathtaking Works During His Two Years in the South of Francehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/van-gogh-painted-some-of-his-most-breathtaking-works-during-his-two-years-in-the-south-of-france-180985101/A blockbuster exhibition in London examines the Dutch Post-Impressionist's creative output between 1888 and 1890, which was one of the most productive periods of his careerThu, 19 Sep 2024 21:21:45 +0000A Runaway Capybara Is Evading Capture and 'Living Her Best Life' in Englandhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-runaway-capybara-is-evading-capture-and-living-her-best-life-in-england-180985107/The “beloved” rodent named Cinnamon was spotted this week with help from drones. She has been wandering and eating grass after escaping her zoo enclosure last FridayThu, 19 Sep 2024 19:27:23 +0000Did Earth Once Have a Ring Like Saturn? Geologists Find Evidence for a Halo of Orbiting Space Rocks 466 Million Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-earth-once-have-a-ring-like-saturn-geologists-find-evidence-for-a-halo-of-orbiting-space-rocks-466-million-years-ago-180985098/A ring could explain a mysterious arrangement of impact craters near the equator and might even have caused an ice age, according to a new studyThu, 19 Sep 2024 17:54:00 +0000Low Water Levels Reveal Sunken Nazi Ships Full of Unexploded Munitions in the Danube Riverhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/low-water-levels-reveal-sunken-nazi-ships-full-of-unexploded-munitions-in-the-danube-river-180985097/Due to a drought in Eastern Europe, the scuttled German vessels are reemerging 80 years after they disappeared beneath the river's surfaceThu, 19 Sep 2024 15:13:45 +0000Scientists Play Matchmaker for Beloved Sea Snails in the Florida Keyshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-play-matchmaker-for-beloved-sea-snails-in-the-florida-keys-180985102/To boost the iconic queen conch's population, researchers are relocating the heat-stressed creatures to cooler, deeper waters to help them find matesThu, 19 Sep 2024 15:10:43 +0000Scientists Find Microplastics in Human Brain Tissue Above the Nosehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-find-microplastics-in-human-brain-tissue-above-the-nose-180985100/A new study identified the tiny pollutants in the olfactory bulbs of eight cadavers, suggesting microplastics can travel through the nose to the brainWed, 18 Sep 2024 20:28:00 +0000Archaeologists Say They've Solved the Mystery of a Lead Coffin Discovered Beneath Notre-Damehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-say-theyve-solved-the-mystery-of-a-lead-coffin-discovered-beneath-notre-dame-180985103/New research suggests the sarcophagus' occupant, previously known only as "the horseman," is Joachim du Bellay, a French Renaissance poet who died in 1560Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:03:01 +0000The Hotel Chelsea's Iconic Neon Sign Will Be Divided Into Pieces and Sold One Letter at a Timehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-hotel-chelseas-iconic-neon-sign-will-be-divided-into-pieces-and-sold-one-letter-at-a-time-180985091/The vertical sign stretched across three stories of the Manhattan hotel, which once welcomed the likes of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol and Janis JoplinWed, 18 Sep 2024 18:28:41 +0000Construction Project Unearths Millions of Fossils Beneath a Los Angeles High Schoolhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/construction-project-unearths-millions-of-fossils-beneath-a-los-angeles-high-school-180985080/The discoveries include sharks, shorebirds, mammals and saber-toothed salmon, with the oldest remains dating to almost nine million years agoWed, 18 Sep 2024 18:25:55 +0000Georgia O'Keeffe's Breathtaking New York City Paintings Are Finally Getting the Attention They Deservehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/georgia-okeeffes-breathtaking-new-york-city-paintings-are-finally-getting-the-attention-they-deserve-180985094/The artist's cityscapes, once dismissed as too masculine, would later influence the floral artworks that became central to her iconic styleWed, 18 Sep 2024 16:49:51 +0000Europeans Were Using Cocaine in the 17th Century—Hundreds of Years Earlier Than Historians Thoughthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/europeans-were-using-cocaine-in-the-17th-century-hundreds-of-years-earlier-than-historians-thought-180985099/Scientists identified traces of the drug in the brain tissue of two individuals buried in the crypt of a hospital in MilanWed, 18 Sep 2024 15:43:28 +0000'Pirate Seabirds' Could Become a Pathway for Deadly Avian Flu to Spread to Australia, Study Findshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pirate-seabirds-could-become-a-pathway-for-deadly-avian-flu-to-spread-to-australia-study-finds-180985092/Kleptoparasitism, in which a bird harasses another to steal its food, might introduce avian flu to the continent, currently the only one without the severe H5N1 strainWed, 18 Sep 2024 15:26:17 +0000Anus-Breathing Animals and Pigeon-Guided Missiles: Ig Nobel Prizes Reward Unusual but Valuable Sciencehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/anus-breathing-animals-and-pigeon-guided-missiles-ig-nobel-prizes-reward-unusual-but-valuable-science-180985090/The annual award ceremony featured costumes, songs and paper airplanes as scientists recognized comedic research across ten disciplinesWed, 18 Sep 2024 13:30:00 +0000To Strike Fear Into Napoleon's Occupying Army, These Retreating Soldiers Burned Down Their Own Cityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-strike-fear-into-napoleons-occupying-army-these-retreating-soldiers-burned-down-their-own-city-180985096/When the blaze in Moscow subsided on September 18, 1812, the French—who had traveled hundreds of miles into Russia—were left without vital resources as a brutal winter approachedWed, 18 Sep 2024 09:00:00 +0000These Ancient Egyptian Barracks Paint a Vivid Picture of Military Life During the Reign of Ramses IIhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-ancient-egyptian-barracks-paint-a-vivid-picture-of-military-life-during-the-reign-of-Ramses-ii-180985082/Archaeologists unearthed a series of mudbrick rooms filled with religious tributes, soldiers' personal effects, engraved weaponry and animal bonesTue, 17 Sep 2024 20:11:37 +0000Deaths From Antibiotic-Resistant Infections Could Reach 39 Million by 2050, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/deaths-from-antibiotic-resistant-infections-could-reach-39-million-by-2050-study-suggests-180985095/A new paper analyzes three decades of fatalities around the world and predicts how "superbugs" will affect human health in the futureTue, 17 Sep 2024 19:30:08 +0000An 11-Year-Old Boy Rescued a Mysterious Artwork From the Dump. It Turned Out to Be a 500-Year-Old Renaissance Printhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-11-year-old-boy-rescued-a-mysterious-artwork-from-the-dump-it-turned-out-to-be-a-500-year-old-renaissance-print-180985074/Experts have confirmed that the image of "Knight, Death and the Devil" is a real master engraving by the renowned German artist Albrecht DürerTue, 17 Sep 2024 16:55:50 +0000The Sprawling Sculpture at the Center of the National World War I Memorial Has Been Unveiled in Washington, D.C.https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-sprawling-sculpture-at-the-center-of-the-national-world-war-i-memorial-has-been-unveiled-in-washington-dc-180985087/"A Soldier's Journey," a 58-foot-long bronze artwork depicting vivid scenes from the war, was illuminated for the first time at a ceremony on September 13Tue, 17 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000See Footage of a Thief Breaking Into a London Gallery and Stealing Banksy's Iconic 'Girl With Balloon'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-footage-of-a-thief-breaking-into-a-london-gallery-and-stealing-banksys-iconic-girl-with-balloon-180985084/Officials launched an investigation and recovered the $360,000 print less than a week after it vanished from Grove Gallery. Two men have been charged for the crimeMon, 16 Sep 2024 20:32:20 +0000Rare Yellow-Eyed Penguin Wins New Zealand's Bird of the Year Contesthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-yellow-eyed-penguin-wins-new-zealands-bird-of-the-year-contest-180985081/The noisy-but-shy bird, known as the hoiho, has earned the most votes for a second time amid threats to its survivalMon, 16 Sep 2024 20:18:13 +0000Divers Discover the Long-Lost Wreckage of a Passenger Steamship That Sank in a Hit-and-Run in 1856https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/divers-discover-the-long-lost-wreckage-of-a-passenger-steamship-that-sank-in-a-hit-and-run-in-1856-180985071/"Le Lyonnais" descended into the depths off the coast of Massachusetts after colliding with the "Adriatic," a sailing vessel that left the floundering steamship to fend for itselfMon, 16 Sep 2024 20:01:55 +0000No Longer Full of Commuters, Atlanta's Old Subway Cars Are Now Filled With Fishhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/no-longer-full-of-commuters-atlantas-old-subway-cars-are-now-filled-with-fish-180985085/Two Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority railcars were added to an artificial reef off the coast of Georgia to create more wildlife habitatMon, 16 Sep 2024 19:05:33 +0000A Mysterious Seismic Signal Lasted Nine Days Last Year. It Was a Mega-Tsunami Caused by Climate Change, Researchers Sayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-mysterious-seismic-signal-lasted-nine-days-last-year-it-was-a-mega-tsunami-caused-by-climate-change-researchers-say-180985073/A melting glacier caused a mountain in Greenland to collapse into a narrow fjord, setting off an oscillating wave that rattled seismic detectors around the worldMon, 16 Sep 2024 17:45:43 +0000A Thief Replaced This Iconic Churchill Portrait With a Fake. Two Years Later, the Original Has Been Recoveredhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-thief-replaced-this-iconic-churchill-portrait-with-a-fake-two-years-later-the-original-has-been-recovered-180985075/Investigators discovered that the original print of "The Roaring Lion" had been sold to a buyer in ItalyMon, 16 Sep 2024 17:03:15 +0000This Remote Region in Spain Could Pay You Up to $16,000 to Move Therehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-remote-region-in-spain-could-pay-you-up-to-16000-to-move-there-180985062/Officials in Extremadura are hoping to attract digital nomads and tech workers in a bid to boost the region's shrinking populationMon, 16 Sep 2024 15:37:25 +0000Easter Island's Ancient Population Never Faced Ecological Collapse, Suggests Another Studyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/easter-islands-ancient-population-never-faced-ecological-collapse-suggests-another-study-180985069/New DNA analysis adds to growing research indicating the famous Pacific island did not collapse from overuse of resources before the arrival of EuropeansMon, 16 Sep 2024 13:57:50 +0000How to See a Stunning Supermoon and Partial Lunar Eclipse on Tuesdayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-see-a-stunning-supermoon-and-partial-lunar-eclipse-on-tuesday-180985078/September’s full moon delivers a rare trifecta for lunar enthusiasts: a supermoon, a partial eclipse and a harvest moonFri, 13 Sep 2024 20:37:25 +0000This Forgotten Copy of the Constitution Discovered in a Filing Cabinet Could Sell for Millionshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-forgotten-copy-of-the-constitution-discovered-in-a-filing-cabinet-could-sell-for-millions-180985060/The historic text, which bears the signature of Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson, was one of 100 copies ordered on September 28, 1787Fri, 13 Sep 2024 20:23:42 +0000See 11 Breathtaking Space Images From the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contesthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-11-breathtaking-space-images-from-the-astronomy-photographer-of-the-year-contest-180985072/From a solar eclipse to a dolphin-like nebula, these winning shots by astrophotographers from around the world depict the cosmos in sharp detailFri, 13 Sep 2024 19:26:51 +0000Basquiat and Banksy Take Center Stage at the Hirshhornhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/basquiat-and-banksy-take-center-stage-at-the-hirshhorn-180985077/At an upcoming exhibition, the Smithsonian museum will display works by the two boundary-breaking artists for the first timeFri, 13 Sep 2024 19:24:52 +0000Frank Lloyd Wright Designed His First Prairie-Style House When He Was 26. Now, It's for Salehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/frank-lloyd-wright-designed-his-first-prairie-style-house-when-he-was-26-now-its-for-sale-180985058/The young architect created the Winslow house for a couple living in a suburb of Chicago in 1893. The project would help launch his independent careerFri, 13 Sep 2024 17:07:26 +0000Birds Form Surprising Relationships With Other Avian Species During Migration, Study Suggestshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/birds-form-surprising-relationships-with-other-avian-species-during-migration-study-suggests-180985059/New research indicates that birds are not alone while migrating—and sharing space with other species may even help them on the journeyFri, 13 Sep 2024 15:07:07 +0000Plans to Modernize Notre-Dame’s Stained-Glass Windows Move Ahead Despite Heritage Experts' Rejectionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/plans-to-modernize-notre-dames-stained-glass-windows-move-ahead-despite-heritage-experts-rejection-180985070/The French Ministry of Culture has selected eight finalists to design replacement windows for the celebrated cathedral—and not everyone is happyFri, 13 Sep 2024 11:00:00 +0000Ancient DNA Reveals Neanderthal Group Was Isolated for 50,000 Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-dna-reveals-neanderthal-group-was-isolated-for-50000-years-180985068/A new study, based on the remains of a Neanderthal nicknamed Thorin, is shaking up what archaeologists long thought about these early humans in EuropeThu, 12 Sep 2024 21:11:01 +0000Astronauts Achieve First-Ever Private Spacewalk on Polaris Dawn Missionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronauts-achieve-first-ever-private-spacewalk-on-polaris-dawn-mission-180985066/This morning, tech billionaire Jared Isaacman opened the hatch on a SpaceX Dragon capsule in Earth orbit, as cheering erupted on a livestreamThu, 12 Sep 2024 19:30:30 +0000See 15 Stunning Images From the Ocean Photographer of the Year Awardshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-15-stunning-images-from-the-ocean-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180985064/The winning and highly commended underwater photography spotlights breathtaking animal behavior, conservation needs and the otherworldly environment of Earth's oceansThu, 12 Sep 2024 18:45:00 +0000This Ancient Celtic Helmet Is the Oldest Ever Found in Polandhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-ancient-celtic-helmet-is-the-oldest-ever-found-in-poland-180985065/Unearthed at the Łysa Góra archaeological site, the artifact, some 2,300 years old, is a prime example of Celtic metalworkingThu, 12 Sep 2024 17:46:35 +0000This Map Lets You See When Magnificent Fall Foliage Will Peak in Your Areahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-map-lets-you-see-when-magnificent-fall-foliage-will-peak-in-your-area-180985047/Use the interactive tool's week-by-week, county-by-county predictions to start planning your leaf-peeping trips across the United StatesThu, 12 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000See Rare Footage of a Young Wombat Caught on a Wildlife Camera in Australiahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-rare-footage-of-a-young-wombat-caught-on-a-wildlife-camera-in-australia-180985056/Just 400 northern hairy-nosed wombats remain in the wild, and conservationists say the new videos signal the critically endangered species’ breeding successWed, 11 Sep 2024 21:06:18 +0000You Can Own a Rare Nuclear Bunker Built in England in the 1950shttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-own-a-rare-nuclear-bunker-built-in-england-in-the-1950s-180985051/The underground hideout, which will go to auction this month, was designed to shelter three people for two weeks in the event of an attackWed, 11 Sep 2024 20:40:30 +0000These Tiny Fish Will Assess Themselves in a Mirror Before Taking on a Foehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-tiny-fish-check-themselves-out-in-a-mirror-before-deciding-whether-to-fight-180985061/New findings suggest bluestreak cleaner wrasse understand how their body size stacks up against a rivalWed, 11 Sep 2024 17:53:29 +0000Volunteer Discovers 1,000-Year-Old Ring on the Last Day of an Excavation in Scotlandhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/volunteer-discovers-1000-year-old-ring-on-the-last-day-of-an-excavation-in-scotland-180985053/The artifact likely belonged to the Picts, who occupied a large settlement in what is now the town of BurgheadWed, 11 Sep 2024 17:32:35 +0000Man Discovers 900-Year-Old Stone Carving Beneath His House in Germanyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-discovers-900-year-old-stone-carving-beneath-his-house-in-germany-180985043/The rare picture stone may depict Otto of Bamberg, the bishop who helped spread Christianity throughout the regionWed, 11 Sep 2024 15:05:43 +0000How William Wallace of 'Braveheart' Fame Defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridgehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/william-wallace-braveheart-fame-defeated-english-battle-stirling-bridge-180985035/On September 11, 1297, the warrior vanquished the superior armies of Edward I, cementing his status as one of Scotland's most iconic heroesWed, 11 Sep 2024 09:15:00 +0000Watch Eels Make a Great Escape From a Fish's Stomach After Being Swallowed Alivehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-eels-make-a-great-escape-from-a-fishs-stomach-after-being-swallowed-alive-180985055/For the first time, scientists witnessed Japanese eels free themselves from the stomach of a predatory fish in X-ray video footageTue, 10 Sep 2024 21:05:58 +0000How to Spot NASA's Solar Sail Demonstration Streaking Through the Night Skyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-spot-nasas-solar-sail-demonstration-streaking-through-the-night-sky-180985052/Amateur astronomers can use NASA's mobile app to find the ACS3 for themselves—a reflective satellite that could appear as bright as the star SiriusTue, 10 Sep 2024 19:33:09 +0000Darth Vader Didn't Come Alive Until James Earl Jones Gave Him a Voicehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/darth-vader-didnt-come-alive-until-james-earl-jones-gave-him-a-voice-180985054/The prolific American actor, who died on September 9, recorded his dialogue for the first "Star Wars" film in less than three hoursTue, 10 Sep 2024 18:57:16 +0000The National Museum of American History Collects Mariska Hargitay's Costume From 'Law & Order: SVU'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-national-museum-of-american-history-collects-mariska-hargitays-costume-from-law-order-svu-180985049/The Smithsonian museum accepted a detective suit and badge worn by the actress' character, Olivia Benson, on the long-running proceduralTue, 10 Sep 2024 18:09:46 +0000The Painting That Inspired the Term 'Impressionism' Debuts in Americahttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-painting-that-inspired-the-term-impressionism-debuts-in-america-180985041/Monet's "Impression, Sunrise" anchors an exhibition commemorating the birth of the artistic movement 150 years agoTue, 10 Sep 2024 17:01:25 +0000Boeing's Starliner Lands Successfully, but Without Its Astronauts on Boardhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/boeings-starliner-lands-successfully-but-without-its-astronauts-on-board-180985039/The troubled spacecraft conducted a “bull's-eye landing,” but NASA officials still say they made the right decision to leave its astronauts on the ISS out of an abundance of cautionMon, 09 Sep 2024 20:36:06 +0000Boston Museum Returns Looted 2,700-Year-Old Necklace to Turkeyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/boston-museum-returns-looted-2700-year-old-necklace-to-turkey-180985032/The gold and carnelian artifact is nearly identical to other jewelry found at an archaeological site in western TurkeyMon, 09 Sep 2024 20:35:47 +0000See New Detailed Photos of Mercury From a Spacecraft's Closest Flyby Yethttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-new-detailed-photos-of-mercury-from-a-spacecrafts-closest-flyby-yet-180985040/BepiColombo, a joint European-Japanese mission, completed its fourth close pass of the innermost planet last week, and it will enter Mercury’s orbit in 2026 to learn more about its mysteriesMon, 09 Sep 2024 19:33:07 +0000Archaeologists Unearth Rare Trove of Silver Coins on Mediterranean Islandhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-rare-trove-of-silver-coins-on-mediterranean-island-180985037/The 27 Roman denarii found on the island of Pantelleria date back more than 2,000 yearsMon, 09 Sep 2024 18:10:10 +0000How Large Gold Nuggets Form in Quartz Crystals During Earthquakeshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-large-gold-nuggets-form-in-quartz-crystals-during-earthquakes-180985014/Quartz, which can generate electricity, attracts large chunks of gold when stressed and squeezed by seismic shaking, according to a new studyMon, 09 Sep 2024 17:54:23 +0000The Roman Siege of Masada May Have Lasted Weeks, Not Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-roman-siege-of-masada-may-have-lasted-weeks-not-years-180985038/New research suggests that the Romans defeated the Jewish rebels at Masada much more quickly than scholars previously assumedMon, 09 Sep 2024 15:28:49 +0000