At the Smithsonian | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/smithsonian-institution/RSS feed for At the SmithsonianenTue, 13 Aug 2024 16:43:36 +0000How a Blue SUV Named Stanley Revolutionized Driverless Car Technologyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-a-blue-suv-named-stanley-revolutionized-driverless-car-technology-180984882/Almost 20 years ago, a Volkswagen Touareg, now on view at the National Museum of American History, won a competition and led to the “birth moment” of self-driving carsTue, 13 Aug 2024 16:43:36 +0000How the Olympic Village Evolved From Makeshift Cabins to a City Within a Cityhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-the-olympic-village-evolved-from-makeshift-cabins-to-a-city-within-a-city-180984852/The athletes' accommodations have come a long way in the last 100 years, expanding into modern global hubsThu, 08 Aug 2024 13:39:28 +0000Why Are Giant, Ancient Tropical Trees Dying?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-are-giant-ancient-tropical-trees-dying-180984812/Scientists from an international project are racing to figure out what kills these anchors of their ecosystems—before it's too late to save themFri, 02 Aug 2024 13:46:51 +0000Why the Eiffel Tower Has So Many Copycatshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-the-eiffel-tower-has-so-many-copycats-180984787/Replicas have popped up around the globe for decades, showcasing the design power and cultural significance of the world-famous French landmarkTue, 30 Jul 2024 17:11:19 +0000Tommie Smith’s Raised Fist at the 1968 Olympics Inspired a Massive Golden Sculpture That Signifies the Art of His Protesthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/tommie-smiths-raised-fist-at-the-1968-olympics-inspired-a-massive-golden-sculpture-that-signifies-the-art-of-his-protest-180984775/At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, an installation by artist Glenn Kaino made in collaboration with Smith reclaims the Olympian’s iconic gestureFri, 26 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000Geologists Uncover Remnants of Earth’s Mantle That Have Lasted Over 2.5 Billion Yearshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/geologists-uncover-remnants-of-earths-mantle-that-have-lasted-over-25-billion-years-180984761/New research suggests that a discrepancy in rocks shows they endured extreme heat, and reveals more about an ancient part of our planet’s historyWed, 24 Jul 2024 15:00:00 +0000Apollo Astronauts Left American Flags, Boots and Even Poop on the Moon. Here's Why These Artifacts Matterhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/apollo-astronauts-left-american-flags-boots-and-even-poop-on-the-moon-heres-why-these-artifacts-matter-180984736/Fifty-five years after the first human lunar landing, scholars and experts are looking to preserve the past as more nations and companies undertake moon missionsFri, 19 Jul 2024 16:29:37 +0000How Golden Peacocks on a Dining Room Wall Destroyed a Longstanding Friendship in Victorian Societyhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-golden-peacocks-on-a-dining-room-wall-destroyed-a-longstanding-friendship-in-victorian-society-180984735/Paintings, sketches and correspondence shed light on the drama surrounding the famed “Peacock Room”Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:08:25 +0000Explore James Baldwin Alongside His Friends, His Contemporaries and the Queer Artists Inspired by His Writinghttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/explore-james-baldwin-alongside-his-friends-his-contemporaries-and-the-queer-artists-inspired-by-his-writing-180984700/A new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery honors the iconic writer while also celebrating the communities that influenced himMon, 15 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000Here’s What We’ve Learned About Saturn Since Cassini Entered Its Orbit 20 Years Agohttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/heres-what-weve-learned-about-saturn-since-cassini-entered-its-orbit-20-years-ago-180984654/The Cassini-Huygens mission increased our understanding of the planet’s rings and moonsMon, 08 Jul 2024 15:46:07 +0000From Powwows to Smartphones, See the Past and Present of Indigenous Plains Life in Narrative Arthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/from-powwows-to-smartphones-see-the-past-and-present-of-indigenous-plains-life-in-narrative-art-180984641/The National Museum of the American Indian showcases centuries-old narrative art traditions that a new generation of artists is embracingWed, 03 Jul 2024 18:26:17 +0000Could a Robin and a Bluebird Have Babies? And More Questions From Our Readershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/could-a-robin-and-a-bluebird-have-babies-and-more-questions-from-our-readers-180984495/You’ve got questions. We’ve got expertsTue, 02 Jul 2024 11:00:00 +0000What Disney's Changes to the Controversial Splash Mountain Ride Reveal About How Americans See Themselveshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/what-disneys-changes-controversial-splash-mountain-ride-reveal-about-how-americans-see-themselves-180984630/Originally based on themes from the 1946 film "Song of the South," the attraction in Florida was just reimagined as Tiana's Bayou Adventure. The Disneyland version will be unveiled in California later this yearFri, 28 Jun 2024 19:15:52 +0000What a 100-Year-Old Lie Detector and 150-Year-Old Arsenic Tests Tell Us About Forensic Science Todayhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/what-a-100-year-old-lie-detector-and-150-year-old-arsenic-tests-tell-us-about-forensic-science-today-180984623/An exhibition at the National Museum of American History examines how humans influence and judge investigation techniquesThu, 27 Jun 2024 19:00:00 +0000How Indigenous Communities Preserve and Practice Heritage at the 2024 Smithsonian Folklife Festivalhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-indigenous-communities-preserve-and-practice-heritage-at-the-2024-smithsonian-folklife-festival-180984598/The annual festival returns to the National Mall to celebrate Indigenous traditions that span continents and generationsTue, 25 Jun 2024 14:17:44 +0000How This Self-Taught Guitarist Became a Music Legendhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-self-taught-guitarist-became-music-legend-libba-cotten-180984504/For decades, Libba Cotten was one of the most distinctive folk musicians in AmericaMon, 24 Jun 2024 11:00:00 +0000How the First Black Barbie Was Bornhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-the-first-black-barbie-was-born-180984587/A new documentary tells the story of Black Barbie, and why she has meant so much to so manyFri, 21 Jun 2024 18:16:09 +0000