Smithsonian Magazine
A Photographer's Glimpse Into the Dwindling World of the Cascade Red Fox
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- A Photographer's Glimpse Into the Dwindling World of the Cascade Red Fox
- Date posted
- 5 days ago
- Description
- Gretchen Kay Stuart (https://gretchenkaystuart.com/) is a wildlife photographer who has cultivated a special relationship with the Cascade red fox. She first spotted the rare animal in 2020 on the slope of Mount Rainier in Washington State. “I instantly fell in love,” she recalls.
So Stuart started documenting the foxes wherever she could. Sometimes she’s witnessed tragic endings, but other times, the outcome has been more rewarding. For instance, she received exclusive access to photograph a family of these foxes, and her documentation is helping bring awareness to this subspecies (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/cascade-red-foxes-notoriously-reclusive-how-photographer-captured-stunning-images-endangered-species-180988419/?preview) that has only 50-some individuals remaining.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel talks to Stuart and Jocelyn Akins of the Cascades Carnivore Project (https://www.cascadescarnivore.org/team) about w...
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- 10 Incredible Facts About Honeybees
- Date posted
- 7 days ago
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- Amazingly, bees have existed for over 100 million years—and today, they are one of the most important insects on Earth. Through pollination and food production, they play a critical role in ecosystems. They are known not only for making honey, but for their complex biology, advanced communication and finely tuned social systems.
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Found on every continent except Antarctica, bees work as a highly organized group that supports ecosystems, agriculture and food production on a massive scale.
Modern science shows that their success is the result of precise coordination.
Inside a beehive, thousands of individual bees function as a single colony. Each bee has a specialized role—worker, drone or queen—and their actions are regulated by chemical signals called pheromones. These invisible messages control everything from reproduction to defense, allowing the colony to respond instantly to changes in it...
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- Why Do We Laugh? The Science Behind Humor and Human Connection
- Date posted
- 15 days ago
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- Why do we laugh? It might feel simple, but laughter is actually a full-body experience—one powered by complex neural circuits and ancient social instincts. And, it turns out, it can even be good for us.
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With early humans, laughter likely evolved as a social bonding signal. It was a nonthreatening vocal cue that promoted trust, cooperation and group cohesion. Similar vocalizations are seen in other primates, suggesting deep evolutionary roots. By signaling safety and shared understanding, laughter strengthened alliances and improved group survival.
It’s also fueled by a surprisingly complex network in the brain and body.
Laughter often begins with humor, like a funny joke. Several regions of the brain work together in this process. Areas involved in language and reasoning help you “get” the joke, while the brain’s reward system releases pleasure chemicals like dopamine.
That...
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- The Real Story Behind Abigail Adams' 'Remember the Ladies' Letter
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
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- In March of 1776, Abigail Adams — who would go on to become the nation’s second first lady — wrote a letter to her husband, John Adams, as he and the other founders were debating independence. She wrote, "I desire you would remember the ladies (https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0241) and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands."
A common contemporary interpretation is that Abigail Adams was advocating for women’s suffrage and rights more broadly. But most historians offer an alternative understanding. They believe that she was condemning husbands who had unchecked power over their wives.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with historian Cassandra Good (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/cassandra-good/) about the role of women in revolutionary America, the importance of this letter at the time, and how it has been interpreted ...
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- Venomous Snakes Represent a Serious Public Health Problem. Scientists Are Biting Back With a Grou...
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Snakes bite five million people each year, killing some 125,000 and disfiguring or blinding three times as many. Antivenoms aren’t always readily available where the problematic snakes live. They also can be deadly themselves, as they could induce life-threatening allergic reactions.
Within the last couple years, however, researchers have made substantial progress toward creating safer antivenoms, reducing the chance of anaphylaxis. Some dream of a universal remedy, but venom is a complex brew, and many of its most dangerous components remain unknown to science.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with journalist Victoria Malloy, who wrote a story for Smithsonian magazine about antivenoms (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-high-stakes-quest-to-make-snakebites-survivable-took-leaps-forward-this-year-with-promising-new-avenues-to-safer-antivenoms-180987876/) , and researcher Irene Khalek. They discuss the danger of snakebites...
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- You can watch four cheetah cubs grow up
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Four adorable cheetah cubs were recently born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. See where you can catch a glimpse of these cute cats.
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- What is Holi?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Happy Holi! What's the meaning behind this colorful celebration?
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- Can you identify a lion by its roar?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Researchers have discovered a second type of lion roar. How might it help scientists and conservationists better monitor African lion populations?
Acknowledgements: Study led by Jonathan Growcott (University of Exeter and WildCRU) and published in Ecology and Evolution. The research was a collaborative effort between the University of Exeter, Wildlife Conservation Unit at the University of Oxford, Lion Landscapes, Frankfurt Zoological Society, TAWIRI (Tanzania Wildlife Institute for Research) and TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority).
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- Meet the man who sold the Eiffel Tower...twice
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Would you fall for a scam to buy the Eiffel Tower? How one man pulled it off in the 1920s.
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- A tattered logbook offers a rare account of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- The logbook was first found in the trash. Stored away for half a century, it includes records from before, during and after the attack on December 7, 1941.
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- Where you can see more than 1 million albatrosses
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- A 24-hour camera on Midway Atoll shows the birds dancing, preening, feeding and more.
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- Could life be found on an exoplanet?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Astronomers have officially identified more than 6,000 planets outside our solar system. Could one of them have the conditions to support life?
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- Are any animals actually immortal?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Do any animals really live forever?
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- Why does a corpse flower smell so pungent?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- What’s the reason behind the aggressive aroma of a corpse flower? The answer lies in the type of pollinators it attracts. These flowers don't bloom very often, once every few years and only for a few days at a time.
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- What do snowflakes look like up close?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Farmer Wilson Bentley was the first to photograph the tiny snow crystals individually. What did his images reveal?
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- Untangling the history of Christmas lights
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- Christmas lights are one of the most magical parts of the season. Who was the brains behind this bright idea?
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- How old are haunted houses?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- The idea behind haunted houses is not new—people have entertained themselves with spooky stories for centuries.
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- Why are clowns so creepy?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- The fear of clowns isn't new—we've been scared of them for centuries.
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- Which bird best imitates R2-D2?
- Date posted
- 1 month ago
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- These birds are beeping and booping like R2-D2. Which one did it best?
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- How to Fit 250 Years of American History and Culture Into One Map
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In honor of the United States’ 250th birthday this year, Smithsonian magazine has curated an interactive map, “250 Places to Celebrate America (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/250-places-to-celebrate-america-180987824/) .” The map features 250 of the most dramatic, intriguing, and surprising places to visit across the country, spanning ten categories including food, film and oddball Americana.
In this episode, we speak with one of the editors behind the map project. In addition, we interview a preeminent historian and co-host of the podcast “This Day” to discuss the significance of the 250th anniversary, how other national birthdays have been celebrated in the past and the larger context of this moment in American history.
To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes about the growing concerns around human-made objects in orbit hurtling back toward Earth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/serie...
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- National Treasure: How Nicole Malachowski Became the First Woman Thunderbird
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
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- Women in aviation have long had to fight for space in the cockpit, beginning with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II. They proved their skill and courage even as they were denied military status and recognition. In the decades that followed, progress came slowly. By the late 1990s and 2000s, that persistence reshaped what was possible in military aviation. Nicole Malachowski’s selection as the first woman to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds marked a powerful culmination of that journey—and a visible breakthrough for women in the skies.
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The WASPs of World War II laid the groundwork for every woman who would later fly in the U.S. military. Formed in 1943, the WASPs were civilian pilots who moved aircraft and tested new planes. Flying nearly every type of military aircraft, they proved that women could handle demanding, high-risk aviation roles. When the war ended, their program was quietly ...
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- The Tragedy of the Alps’ Disappearing Glaciers for Those That Live, Visit and Ski There
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
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- Some 2,500 huts dot the landscape across the Alps. For more than two centuries, hikers and climbers have sought out these refuges as they’ve navigated the snowy, high elevations. But the mountain glaciers that have defined this region are melting, putting these huts, the entire culture of alpine hiking, and nearby towns and communities in danger.
Avalanches, rockfalls, mudslides and flooding—brought on by a changing climate—are happening at a time when the Alps are more popular than ever. And the subject of an altered alpine habitat takes on additional importance amid the Winter Olympics in Italy.
In this episode, we speak with Smithsonian magazine’s Megan Gambino, who edited a story on this topic (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-race-is-on-to-save-the-alps-famous-huts-and-trails-as-melting-permafrost-threatens-to-destroy-them-180987994/) , and environmental scientist Markus Stoffel, who studies how climate change is impacting h...
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- A Stunning Escape From Slavery Told on Tattered Pages
- Date posted
- 2 months ago
- Description
- In the mid-1800s, before the Civil War, Thomas White fled his enslavement in Maryland for freedom. It was a risky escape, one that involved a horseback ride under the cover of darkness, abolitionists helping to hide him, and a northward journey through Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Ultimately, he arrived—safe and free—in Massachusetts. The details of White’s flight are chronicled on 40-odd sheets of paper and were written most probably by other people who heard his story. Such slave narratives are exceedingly rare, and this one’s length made it especially unique. Smithsonian magazine wrote about the discovery (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/tattered-pages-discovered-in-storage-reveal-an-enslaved-mans-daring-bid-for-freedom-and-his-second-life-at-sea-180986838/) last year.
In this episode, we speak with Rachel Fortuna Cabral, the Roger Williams University undergraduate who helped study the manuscript, and scholar Deborah Plant to lea...
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- Exoplanets: The Mind-Blowing Worlds Beyond Our Solar System
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Have you ever wondered if there is life on another planet? Exoplanets may hold the key to this question. They’re planets that orbit stars beyond our solar system, and scientists find them by observing subtle changes in starlight. With this technique, they have discovered an incredible number of worlds, from giant gas planets to rocky Earth-like ones. Studying them helps scientists understand how planetary systems form—and whether life might exist beyond our galaxy.
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The study of exoplanets helps scientists learn more about how planets form, evolve and interact with their stars. To detect them, scientists rely on techniques like the transit method, which measures tiny dips in a star’s brightness when a planet passes in front of it.
There’s also the radial velocity method, which detects small wobbles in a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet.
This research has uncovere...
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- What celestial events will you see this year?
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
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- Look up this year, and you could be rewarded with any of these cosmic sights—and mark your calendars, as they’re likely to be among the year’s best skywatching spectacles.
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- From Cloud to Crystallization: The Science of Snowflake Formation
- Date posted
- 3 months ago
- Description
- Surprisingly, the magic of snowflakes often begins with dust in the air. All it takes is for a cold drop of water to freeze on one of these particles, creating an ice crystal. Because every crystal takes a unique journey through the atmosphere, no two snowflakes are alike.
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As an ice crystal begins to grow, temperature and humidity affect its shape. Slight changes in these conditions—sometimes within fractions of a second—cause the crystal to shift direction, split, or stretch, creating the intricate six-sided structures we see in the sky.
The study of snowflake science was transformed by Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley, a Vermont farmer who, in 1885, became the first person to photograph ice crystals. Using a bellows camera attached to a microscope, Bentley captured more than 5,000 flakes during his lifetime. He later donated 500 prints to the Smithsonian collection: https://www.si.edu/spotlight/snow-crysta...
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- The Foods and Flavors That Make Our Holidays Delicious
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Cherished recipes are often passed down from generation to generation, but how much do we know about the stories that shaped those foods? Whether a tasty cookie, a flavorful side, a resplendent showstopping entree, these dishes have a strong association with the holiday season. To celebrate, we’re honoring the origins of traditional foods lovingly prepared by two of our correspondents.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel drops into two homes to explore two holiday traditions. We start with Elisa Hough, an editor at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and the Filipino torta recipe that her mother prepared every Christmas (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-center-folklife-cultural-heritage/2021/12/16/torta-filipino-christmas-cake/) . Now during the holidays, Elisa is the one making torta. And it’s the time of the year when she connects most closely to her Filipino heritage.
Then we head to Jamaica where we mee...
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- What makes Christmas markets so nostalgic?
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- Christmas markets evoke a sense of nostalgia, with their glowing lights, sugary smells and joyful sounds. But did you know the holiday market can trace its roots to medieval Europe?
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- National Treasure: When Gemini VI Got Into the Christmas Spirit
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- During the 1965 Gemini VI space mission, astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford pulled off one of NASA’s most memorable pranks. After radioing Mission Control about a mysterious unidentified spacecraft flown by someone in a red suit, they played “Jingle Bells” on a smuggled harmonica and bells—the first live musical performance from space.
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The Soviet Union had scored early victories in the space race with Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin, but by late 1965, the United States was gaining momentum on its path to putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. NASA’s Gemini missions focused on the technological advances and skills needed to reach that goal: rendezvous, docking, long-duration flight and precise re-entry.
Led by astronauts Wally Schirra and Tom Stafford, Gemini VI successfully launched on December 15, 1965—and met its counterpart, Gemini VII, in orbit. It was the first true space rende...
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- The Secret Life of Mistletoe: Love, Legends and … Parasites
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- We often think of holiday rom-coms and romantic kisses when we see mistletoe. But did you know this festive plant is actually a parasite, stealing nutrients from its host? Its curious biology, mixed with centuries of folklore, reveals a surprising story behind one of the season’s most enduring romantic rituals.
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While mistletoe may look like an innocent seasonal decoration, it is actually a kind of parasite. It latches onto tree branches and steals water and nutrients from its host. Despite this sneaky behavior, mistletoe isn’t all bad: It still performs photosynthesis and even supports wildlife. Birds feast on its sticky berries and spread its seeds to new trees, continuing the plant’s peculiar life cycle.
Mistletoe also produces chemicals that may have medicinal properties, and some species even glow slightly under certain light conditions. Its seeds can’t germinate in soil—they only grow when stu...
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- The Astronomical Problem of Space Junk
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- We have launched all manner of satellite and machinery into low-Earth orbit. But what goes up must come down. Most often, these items burn up in the atmosphere upon re-entry, which isn’t good for air quality or the ozone layer.
But not everything incinerates — and increasing amounts of debris are hurtling back toward Earth and landing in backyards and farm fields. Falling detritus disrupts air travel and risks collision with infrastructure and people on the ground. There are those who argue that additional regulation is required around the launching and de-orbiting of these materials.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with astronomer Samantha Lawler (https://campioncollege.ca/resources/dr-samantha-lawler/) and Smithsonian contributing writer Dan Falk (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/author/dan-falk/) about space junk (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/with-space-junk-on-the-rise-is-a-catastrophic-event-inevitable-180986907/...
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- What did archaeologists find when excavating this historic tavern?
- Date posted
- 4 months ago
- Description
- When a fire devastated the Overfield Tavern Museum in 2024, archaeologists got to work excavating the site. What they found was a treasure trove of artifacts that tell a story about American history.
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- Why do we pardon turkeys at Thanksgiving?
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Did you know pardoning turkeys started with the Lincolns? The official tradition wouldn't come until a century later.
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- Why Are There So Many Shipwrecks in the Great Lakes?
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Beneath the waters of the Great Lakes, thousands of shipwrecks, hulking carcasses of a bygone era, have been hiding for generations, just waiting to be revealed. Once someone stumbles upon one of these sunken treasures in Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, Tamara Thomsen gets a call (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/archaeologists-using-sunken-dugout-canoes-learn-indigenous-history-america-180985638/) .
Thomsen is a maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Maritime Preservation and Archaeology program. Her job is to investigate and survey shipwreck sites. Over the years, Thomsen has added some of these ships to the National Register of Historic Places. And she and her colleagues have also unearthed dugout canoes that were fashioned thousands of years old by the Indigenous people who lived on this land.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with Thomsen about how she took up this profession, why she views shipwre...
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- How are rats snatching bats from the sky?
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
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- In Germany, rats have been spotted grabbing bats out of the air. How are they doing it? Take a look.
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- Stonehenge, a Monument of Mystery: Unearthing Its Ancient Purpose and Power
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Stonehenge is a mysterious prehistoric monument in England, known for its massive stone circles. It was built around 5,000 years ago, and its purpose remains a topic of debate—possibly a site for astronomical observations or religious rituals. The sheer scale and precision of its construction continue to awe researchers and visitors alike.
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Stonehenge, one of the world’s most iconic and enigmatic ancient wonders, stands on Salisbury Plain in southern England. Its history stretches back over 5,000 years, with construction occurring in several phases between 3000 B.C.E. and 1600 B.C.E. Despite extensive research, its exact purpose remains a mystery, but theories abound, ranging from an astronomical observatory to a site for religious rituals.
The earliest phase of Stonehenge was built around 3000 B.C.E. as a circular earthwork. During this period, the site was already aligned with the movements of the sun,...
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- What really happens when snakes bite?
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Different snakes put their own spin on striking their prey. Scientists captured the powerful attacks on camera. Take a look.
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- The ‘Edmund Fitzgerald’ Sank Half a Century Ago. We’re Still Fascinated.
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Half a century ago, on an unseasonably warm fall day, the freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald set off from the western edge of Lake Superior with a cargo full of iron ore. Within hours, a ferocious storm gathered in strength, ultimately producing 50-foot waves and sinking the prized vessel. There were no survivors. The exact cause of its demise remains unknown.
Over the decades, many ships have faced a similar fate on the Great Lakes, a part of the world that some say is more dangerous than the open ocean. But the tragedy of the Edmund Fitzgerald looms the largest in our collective national memory — and it led to changes in the maritime industry that dramatically improved the safety of shipping.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with author John U. Bacon (https://johnubacon.com/) about what made the Edmund Fitzgerald famous even before it sank, what we know and don’t know about the crew’s final moments, and the ship’s lasting legacy.<...
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- Uncovering the Secrets of the Great Sphinx of Giza
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- The Great Sphinx of Giza, a massive limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a human, has long represented the power of ancient Egypt. Sitting near the pyramids, it has watched over the desert for more than 4,500 years, shrouded in mystery—and we’re uncovering some of those secrets now.
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The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most iconic monuments in the world. Carved from a single block of limestone, it stands 66 feet tall and 240 feet long, with the body of a lion and the head of a man—likely the pharaoh Khafre, who ruled during Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty around 2500 B.C.E.
It sits on the Giza Plateau, not far from the famous pyramids, guarding the ancient tombs like a silent sentinel.
The Sphinx has fascinated historians, travelers and dreamers for thousands of years. During this time, it has been buried by sand, uncovered, restored and studied, yet it still holds many secret...
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- What do you know about Día de los Muertos?
- Date posted
- 5 months ago
- Description
- Far from being spooky, this holiday is a cheerful way to remember and celebrate the deceased loved ones.
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- Why this calico lobster is in a league of her own
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
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- Just in time for Halloween, meet Jack-O’-Lantern, or Jackie for short. What makes this lobster so rare?
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- National Treasure: Audie Murphy, The World War II Hero Who Became Hollywood’s Leading Man
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers of World War II, earning every major U.S. military honor by age 20. After the war, he became a Hollywood actor and used his fame to advocate for veterans' mental health.
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Audie Murphy is a true American hero – one of the most decorated soldiers in U.S. history and a symbol of courage under fire. Born in Texas in 1925, he lied about his age to join the military at just 16. During World War II, he fought bravely across Europe and earned many awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, plus decorations from France and Belgium.
His most famous act of heroism came in 1945, when he held off an entire German company – alone and wounded – by firing from a burning tank.
After the war, he turned to Hollywood, starring in over 40 films, including "To Hell and Back," which was based on his own war memoir. At the same time, he private...
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- Birds, Bats and Bugs: The Teeming World Above Our Heads
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- The skies above us are filled with legions of migrating birds, bats, bugs and microbes. And yet we know little about their movements and intentions, mostly because this ethereal world has largely been inaccessible for research. But new technologies are providing a window into how animals use their aerial habitat to travel and hunt.
The burgeoning field is called “aeroecology,” and researchers are revealing just how substantially humans are altering the world overhead—with deadly consequences for flying animals. The new insights are giving us ways to make the air safer for these creatures.
In this episode, host Ari Daniel speaks with Dustin Partridge of the New York City Bird Alliance as he directs the intermittent shutdown of the iconic Tribute in Light to protect disoriented birds during 9/11 this year. And we hear from Smithsonian contributing writer Jim Robbins about what aeroecology is telling us about the ecosystem above (https://www.s...
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- National Treasure: The Life and Legacy of Evel Knievel, America’s Most Famous Daredevil
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- On the 50th anniversary of his iconic jump at Kings Island theme park, we’re celebrating Evel Knievel—a daredevil stuntman famous for his daring motorcycle jumps. Clad in red, white and blue, he became a 1970s icon of fearless showmanship. His legendary, gravity-defying stunts thrilled millions and inspired generations to chase the impossible.
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Born Robert Craig Knievel in 1938, Evel Knievel mastered the art of turning danger into entertainment. With his patriotic jumpsuit and signature swagger, he jumped over cars and buses, and he even attempted to hurtle across the Snake River Canyon.
Crashes were frequent—Knievel allegedly broke over 400 bones in his lifetime—but that only added to his allure. He knew how to deliver a spectacle, whether it ended in success or fiery failure.
On October 25, 1975, Knievel set out to accomplish his most daring feat yet at Kings Island theme park outside Cin...
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- How to watch the Orionid meteor shower this month
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Not only can you catch the Orionid meteor shower in the coming days, but keep your eyes to the sky for two comets that will blaze through our solar system this month.
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- A Chance for Healing, 170 Years After a Lakota Massacre
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- This fall, 69 belongings made their way home to the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. These items, which included buffalo robes, blankets, moccasins and a doll, had been taken from the Lakota community after the Blue Water Massacre in 1855 (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-recovering-history-little-known-lakota-massacre-could-heal-generation-pain-180985226/) , the first major ambush on a Native American community by the U.S. Army. It would become the start of a decades-long campaign against the Plains tribes that would end with the death and displacement of numerous Native Americans.
The return of the belongings offers a modicum of closure, but the pain of the massacre lives on among those on the reservation today. In this episode of Smithsonian magazine’s podcast “There’s More to That,” host Ari Daniel speaks with Ione Quigley and Karen Little Thunder, two members of...
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- Marie Antoinette: The Queen Behind the Revolution
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Marie Antoinette, born an Austrian archduchess, became Queen of France at just 19. Known for her extravagant lifestyle, she faced harsh criticism amid France’s growing financial crisis. Her fate was sealed during the French Revolution, ending with her execution in 1793.
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Born November 2, 1755, Marie Antoinette was an Austrian archduchess destined to play a pivotal role in European history. At just 14, she was married to Louis-Auguste, Duc de Berry, the future king of France. Following the death of Louis XV, her husband became king and she – not yet 20 – assumed the role of queen. Her marriage was meant to solidify peace between Austria and France, but her life in the French court was anything but peaceful.
Known for her extravagant tastes, Marie Antoinette quickly became a symbol of royal excess at a time when many French citizens endured poverty and hunger. Despite her charm and efforts to engage in chari...
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- What is a pygmy seahorse?
- Date posted
- 6 months ago
- Description
- Can you spot the pygmy seahorses is this video? How many do you see?
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- How much do you really know about red pandas?
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Did you know that red pandas are carnivores, but that they rarely eat meat? The term carnivore refers to their biological order, not their dietary preference. What other red panda facts do you know?
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- The Wildest Reality Show in Alaska Is Fat Bear Week
- Date posted
- 7 months ago
- Description
- Fat Bear Week, hosted by Katmai National Park in Alaska, draws bated breath from viewers every year. It’s an annual online tournament where people vote to crown the bear that’s best bulked up for hibernation. And the real question is…who’s your favorite?
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Fat Bear Week takes place every fall at Alaska’s Katmai National Park, where brown bears prepare for hibernation by doing their favorite activity: eating. This event invites the public to vote for the bear that has most successfully gained weight over the summer.
Featuring before and after photos of the park’s brown bears as they gorge on salmon, the event highlights their survival skills—and the importance of a healthy ecosystem.
As winter approaches, these bears consume vast quantities of salmon, sometimes gaining hundreds of pounds in just a few months. This fat helps them survive the long winter months without food while they rem...
