Smithsonian Channel
This Scottish Pedestal Was Stolen from Westminster Abbey
- Title
- This Scottish Pedestal Was Stolen from Westminster Abbey
- Runtime
- 3:17
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- On Christmas day in 1950, the original stone pedestal of Scone mysteriously vanished from Westminster Abbey. Months later, it turned up in Arbroath Abbey, wrapped in a Scottish flag.
From the Series: Aerial Britain: Scotland http://bit.ly/30mYXyv
- Title
- Baby Hedgehog Quills Don’t Harden Right Away
- Runtime
- 1:33
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Baby hedgehogs, known as hoglets, are born blind and completely reliant on their mothers. Even their famed spines start out soft and hair-like, taking a couple of weeks to harden.
From the Series: Wild Castles: Alhambra http://bit.ly/2SRqKXb
- Title
- The Sexual Identity of These Snails is Complicated
- Runtime
- 2:37
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Snails are hermaphrodites, so they’re capable of producing both eggs and sperm. Interestingly, their genitals aren’t where you’d expect.
From the Series: Wild Castles: Carcassonne http://bit.ly/2SRqKXb
- Title
- This Dormouse is Too Busy Eating to Watch for Predators
- Runtime
- 1:30
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A dormouse is so fixated on stuffing itself with fruit that it neglects the first rule of nature: always be aware of your surroundings.
From the Series: Wild Castles: Alhambra http://bit.ly/2SRqKXb
- Title
- This Eagle Owl Will Square Up to Anyone Who Gets Too Close
- Runtime
- 1:33
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- An eagle owl has spotted a wild boar that’s crept too close to her nest. She doesn’t hesitate in confronting him – despite a clear size disadvantage.
From the Series: Wild Castles: Carcassonne http://bit.ly/2SRqKXb
- Title
- Why Hyenas Are One of Africa’s Most Efficient Predators
- Runtime
- 2:15
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Hyenas are one of Africa's most abundant and efficient predators. They’ll eat the entire carcass of a wildebeest in less than an hour – leaving only hair and horns.
From the Series: Tales From Zambia: Life and Death on the Plains http://bit.ly/2vZCeKX
- Title
- A Young Capuchin Monkey Ventures Alone for the First Time
- Runtime
- 3:26
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A young capuchin monkey takes his first steps towards adulthood: he’s six months old and it’s the first time he’s left his mother to venture out alone onto the nearby branches.
From the Series: Into the Wild Colombia: A Capuchin's Tale http://bit.ly/2VzMlEU
- Title
- Beloved Queen Victoria Was a Drug User? 🤔 Historic Royal Palaces | Smithsonian Channel
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- We have this image of Queen Victoria as a highly proper, disciplined monarch. But the Queen was also someone who liked to get high: from opium tinctures to chewing gum laced with cocaine.
#PrivateLivesOfTheMonarchs #QueenVictoria #SmithsonianChannel
From Private Lives of Monarchs: Queen Victoria http://bit.ly/2HvbpDR
Subscribe to The Smithsonian Channel: https://bit.ly/2FE6OSh
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- Title
- How the Enormous Potential of Natural Gas was Unlocked
- Runtime
- 3:48
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Natural gas wasn’t always the valuable power source that it is today. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1990s that its potential was unlocked, thanks to an ingenious engineering innovation: the power generation module.
From the Series: Inside Mighty Machines: Deep Sea Oil Rig http://bit.ly/2VrvzDs
- Title
- This 110-Foot-High Precipitator is About to be Broken Down
- Runtime
- 3:18
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A power plant is aiming to recycle a giant precipitator – a cool piece of engineering that helps remove dangerous particles from exhaust air. But how do you break down such a massive machine?
From the Series: Inside Mighty Machines: Power Plant http://bit.ly/2XQnn1t
- Title
- A Young Crocodile Has Red-Billed Quelea in his Sights
- Runtime
- 2:14
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A flock of red-billed quelea settle down near the banks of the Luangwa to quench their thirst. Suddenly, a young crocodile emerges from the depths, eager for a feathery snack.
From the Series: Tales From Zambia: Wild Heavyweights http://bit.ly/2DFQqNC
- Title
- Who Said the Victorians Were Prudish About Sex?
- Runtime
- 2:04
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The Victorian era was famously uptight about all things sexual; but you wouldn’t have guessed it based on the life on Queen Victoria’s second son, Albert "Bertie" Edward – a man of prodigious sexual appetites.
From the Series: Private Lives of Monarchs: http://bit.ly/2HvbpDR
- Title
- A Rare Look Inside a Power Plant’s Giant Steam Turbine
- Runtime
- 2:24
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A power plant’s plans to cut up and recycle a giant steam turbine is a rare opportunity to take a peek into the clever engineering inside: from the casing to the boiler to the fan blades.
From the Series: Inside Mighty Machines: Power Plant http://bit.ly/2XQnn1t
- Title
- A Wildebeest Bull Stands Up to Two Cheetahs
- Runtime
- 2:15
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A wildebeest bull takes exception to a couple of cheetahs who are feeding too close to his herd. Amazingly, he decides to take a direct stand against them, forcing them out of his territory.
From the Series: Tales From Zambia: Life and Death on the Plains http://bit.ly/2vZCeKX
- Title
- This Female Leopard is About to Lose Her Hard-Earned Kill
- Runtime
- 2:03
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A female leopard has succeeded in catching and killing an impala – she should be set for at least a week. Unfortunately, she’s been spotted by a lioness who is not above stealing her kill.
From the Series: Africa's Hunters: Leopard's Last Stand http://bit.ly/2DFS6q6
- Title
- Newborn Lion Cubs Are Introduced to Their Cousins
- Runtime
- 2:05
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A lioness returns to her pride with four new cubs, all male. She will take her place among her sisters, who have their own cubs, and together they’ll share suckling duty.
From the Series: Africa's Hunters: Bound by Blood http://bit.ly/2DFS6q6
- Title
- These Toads Are Trying to Mate with the Wrong Species
- Runtime
- 1:32
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Female fire salamanders rely on a castle’s fountain to give birth to their larvae. That’s if they can evade the amorous male toads who latch onto anything that moves.
From the Series: Wild Castles: Heidelberg http://bit.ly/2SRqKXb
- Title
- Why Female Kangaroos Are Nearly Always Pregnant
- Runtime
- 2:18
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- With three separate vaginal canals and two uteruses, female kangaroos are usually pregnant – often with embryos at different stages of development.
From the Series: Animal Empires: Sanctuary http://bit.ly/2Gnxfdu
- Title
- The Only Way to Really Understand a Hovercraft is to Drive One
- Runtime
- 3:16
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- What’s it like to operate a giant hovercraft? There’s no better person to ask than a U.S. Navy pilot who’s driven the LCAC on tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti.
From the Series: Inside Mighty Machines: Hovercraft http://bit.ly/2PFfqsW
- Title
- Why These Capybaras Aren’t Acting Territorial
- Runtime
- 2:12
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- It’s the dry season and these capybaras are on the hunt for fresh water. When they do find a small lagoon, they pack into it – abandoning their territorial instincts.
From the Series: Into the Wild Colombia: http://bit.ly/2V6BRND
- Title
- This Powerful African Beast is a Lion’s Favorite Meal
- Runtime
- 3:00
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Buffalos are lion’s favorite meal. But if they want to take down an adult buffalo, they’ll need three things: the cover of darkness, teamwork, and a way to isolate the bull away from his herd.
From the Series: Tales From Zambia: Wild Heavyweights http://bit.ly/2DFQqNC
- Title
- The Dating Strategy of the Male Burying Beetle Will Baffle You
- Runtime
- 3:06
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A male burying beetle can bury an animal up to 150 times its own size – such as a field mouse. They use this technique to lure potential females, inviting them to lay their eggs inside the dead animal.
From the Series: Macro Worlds: God's Darlings: Beetles http://bit.ly/2LhXfuY
- Title
- The Many Uses of Mud for Elephants
- Runtime
- 2:26
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- For an elephant, mud baths play many important roles: mud is cooling, it blocks the sun and prevents the skin from being damaged, and it can help dislodge parasites.
From the Series: Tales From Zambia: Elephant Valley http://bit.ly/2ZCcTEz
- Title
- Take A Look Inside One of the Most Unusual Vehicles Ever
- Runtime
- 2:44
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Climb into the guts of a hovercraft, as a team of salvage experts, led by a former NASA engineer, disassemble and cut through this iconic and unique vehicle.
From the Series: Inside Mighty Machines: Hovercraft http://bit.ly/2PFfqsW
- Title
- You’ve Never Seen an Owl Species That Does This
- Runtime
- 2:15
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- On the open plains of Columbia, a species of owl lives without trees or nests. They are burrowing owls – the only owl species in the world to live underground.
From the Series: Into the Wild Colombia: Warriors of the Llanos http://bit.ly/2V6BRND
- Title
- Why Beetles Are Such an Evolutionary Success
- Runtime
- 2:09
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- May bugs are an evolutionary window into why beetles are considered so successful. From their armor-plated bodies to protect vital organs, to their highly specialized front and back wings, that help them fly.
From the Series: Macro Worlds: Beetles: God's Darlings http://bit.ly/2LhXfuY
- Title
- Is Sibling Rivalry an Important Survival Tool for Lion Cubs?
- Runtime
- 2:03
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- This pair of lion cub siblings have dramatically different personalities – and some scientists believe the sibling rivalry it generates may be an important evolutionary tool.
From the Series: Africa's Hunters: Bound By Blood http://bit.ly/2DFS6q6
- Title
- These Lions Think They’re in Charge (But They’re Really Not)
- Runtime
- 1:35
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Lions are the rulers of the pride – but evidence is piling up that lionesses may be the real power behind the throne. And they’re not above using flirtation and sex to manipulate the males.
From the Series: Africa's Hunters: Bound By Blood http://bit.ly/2DFS6q6
- Title
- The Giant’s Causeway Doesn’t Look Like a Natural Monument
- Runtime
- 2:19
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- When you stare at the over 40,000 basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway, it’s easy to understand why early Irish inhabitants decided it must have been the work of a mythical being.
From the Series: Undiscovered Vistas: Ireland: Clash of the Coasts http://bit.ly/2L1Fksf
- Title
- The Hydrothermal Process That Powers Geysers
- Runtime
- 2:00
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Geysers, such as Iceland’s impressive Strokkur Geysir, are often the result of trapped water hitting hot volcanic rock. The resulting vapor creates immense pressure, forcing water out through vents in the surface.
From the Series: Undiscovered Vistas: Iceland: Land of Fire http://bit.ly/2L1Fksf
- Title
- A Tall Fig Tree Poses a Challenge for a Young Monkey
- Runtime
- 3:00
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- An alpha male tufted langur has led his troop to a huge tree packed with figs – a nutritional bonanza for these hungry monkeys. But can the youngest member of the troop make it up as well?
From the Series: Monkey Island: Trouble in Paradise http://bit.ly/2DBT4Ut
- Title
- Wart-Biter vs. Praying Mantis
- Runtime
- 2:28
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A wart-biter is in the middle of devouring a grasshopper when it’s attacked by a praying mantis. As a fierce battle ensues, the wounded grasshopper attempts to make a break.
From the Series: Macro Worlds: The Meadow of Horror http://bit.ly/2PvjPi5
- Title
- This Young Male Puku Gets a Dating Reality Check
- Runtime
- 2:30
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A young male puku thinks he’s hit the jackpot: a female in estrus. Just as he’s about to put on his best moves, an older rival shows up – and proceeds to put him in his place.
From the Series: Tales From Zambia: Elephant Valley http://bit.ly/2ZCcTEz
- Title
- Why Wales is the Place to See Amazing Roman Forts
- Runtime
- 1:50
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Wales is home to one of the most perfectly-preserved Roman fortifications in all of northern Europe. In Caerwent, near the southern city of Newport, sections of the original first century Roman wall still remain.
From the Series: Aerial Britain: Wales http://bit.ly/2PviesB
- Title
- This Tufted Langur Troop is More Like a Nursery These Days
- Runtime
- 2:23
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The tufted langur troop is made up of an eight-year-old alpha male and nine adult females. Given this dynamic, it’s no surprise that the troop has experienced something of a baby boom lately.
From the Series: Monkey Island: Trouble in Paradise http://bit.ly/2DBT4Ut
- Title
- A Baby Capuchin is Caught in the Middle of a Vicious Battle
- Runtime
- 2:34
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A baby capuchin finds himself in the middle of a battlefield, as two adult males clash for supremacy. If he isn’t careful, he could find himself with a serious injury – or worse.
From the Series: Into the Wild Colombia: A Capunchin's Tale http://bit.ly/2VzMlEU
- Title
- This Antlion is a Devious, Cold-Blooded Killer
- Runtime
- 2:44
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Antlions will hide under the sand, undetected, and then emerge to ambush a nearby insect. But it’s the sheer nonchalance with which they discard the corpse afterwards that is especially chilling.
Watch the Full Episode with your FREE trial for Smithsonian Channel Plus by signing up today at https://watch.smithsonianchannel.com/
From the Series: Macro Worlds: The Meadow of Horror http://bit.ly/2PvjPi5
- Title
- This Magnificent Arena is Home to Welsh Rugby
- Runtime
- 2:21
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The Welsh are obsessed with one particular type of game: rugby. And if you’re a Welsh schoolboy, it’s probably your dream to someday play in the nation’s showcase arena: Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
From the Series: Aerial Britain: Wales http://bit.ly/2PviesB
- Title
- Why ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ Trope Isn’t an Exaggeration (4K)
- Runtime
- 1:29
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Caterpillars shed their skin at least four times before they become butterflies. To fuel this transformation, they need to eat constantly – and they certainly do.
From the Series: Secrets of Wild Australia: Bugs and Butterflies http://bit.ly/2t9Wl7C
- Title
- The Spectacular Emergence of a Cairns Birdwing Butterfly (4K)
- Runtime
- 1:27
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The arrival of a Cairns birdwing butterfly from its chrysalis is one of the most extraordinary and awe-inspiring sights in nature.
From the Series: Secrets of Wild Australia: Bugs and Butterflies http://bit.ly/2t9Wl7C
- Title
- Why Flying Foxes Also Happen to be Expert Tree Climbers (4K)
- Runtime
- 1:22
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Just like humans, flying foxes have thumbs. These thumbs act as hooks, which enable the bats to climb up trees to reach better spots.
From the Series: Secrets of Wild Australia: The Flying Fox http://bit.ly/2t9Wl7C
- Title
- The Glaciers of Vancouver Island May Disappear Within Our Lifetime (4K)
- Runtime
- 1:55
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- In the 1970s, Vancouver Island was home to more than 170 glaciers. Rising global temperatures have reduced that number to five – with some scientists predicting they could all be gone within 25 years.
From the Series: Undiscovered Vistas: Canadian Rainforest http://bit.ly/2L1Fksf
- Title
- Young Monkeys See a Tortoise for the First Time
- Runtime
- 2:34
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- A troop of toque macaques are grazing on grass when they encounter an unexpected visitor: an Indian star tortoise. Naturally, the adolescents of the group are intrigued.
From the Series: Monkey Island: Leaving Home http://bit.ly/2L9H4Qq
- Title
- This Giant Buddha Was Built to Protect Passing Boats
- Runtime
- 2:11
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- One of the most revered ancient sites in China is carved out of the side of Mount Emei. It's known as the Leshan Giant Buddha, and took 90 years to build until it was completed in 803 AD.
From the Series: China From Above: The Living Past http://bit.ly/2AEya5O
- Title
- This Ingenious System Brings Water to the Chinese Desert
- Runtime
- 3:26
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The Karez is a modern-day engineering marvel and a prime example of a native people working with, not against, the forces of nature to deliver their needs - in this case, water.
From the Series: China From Above: The Living Past http://bit.ly/2AEya5O
- Title
- It's Fly or Die for This Hummingbird Chick
- Runtime
- 2:40
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- This emerald hummingbird chick isn't quite ready to spread its wings, but it may not have a choice as a chicken snake slithers closer to its nest - a real moment of truth.
From the Series: Into the Wild Colombia: A Hummingbird's Quest http://bit.ly/2Pvi9Fh
- Title
- Massive Power Plant Gets Demolished in Seconds
- Runtime
- 1:11
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- An outdated North Carolina power plant is scheduled for controlled demolition by explosives. Watch jaw-dropping video of the process, from all angles.
From the Series: Mighty Machines Power Plant http://bit.ly/2XQnn1t
- Title
- The Diet of the Neotropical Otter is Amazingly Broad
- Runtime
- 2:03
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- Neotropical river otters are expert swimmers and unfussy eaters. They'll eat almost anything: from fish to insects to small mammals, and even birds.
From the Series: Into the Wild Colombia: Romeo and Julieta http://bit.ly/2PjbSML
- Title
- The Carefree Days Are Over for These Adolescent Monkeys
- Runtime
- 3:31
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- The King troop, made up of over 40 toque macaques, is one of the largest in Sri Lanka. And now that the adolescents of the group are on the cusp of adulthood, they'll soon be forced to leave.
From the Series: Monkey Island: Leaving Home http://bit.ly/2L9H4Qq
- Title
- Why Sibling Rivalry is a Deadly Game for Baby Earwigs
- Runtime
- 2:21
- Date posted
- 8 years ago
- Description
- For baby earwigs, known as nymphs, how quickly they hatch from their eggs is the difference between life and death.
From the Series: Macro Worlds: Winter is Coming http://bit.ly/2KJ2naZ
