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The Architect of Notre Dame's Astounding Football Success

Under exuberant coach, Knute Rockne, Notre Dame set the standards for football excellence. But off the field, the Fighting Irish was a PR sensation, capturing the hearts of a riveted nation.




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SmartNews: Apps for Apes

Zookeepers at the National Zoo keep orangutans mentally stimulated with an innovative use of iPads




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MIT's New Water-Powered Artificial Muscles

Scientists have created thin polymer sheets that expand and contract when in contact with water




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The Future Is Bright If More Teens Think About High School the Way Kavya Kopparapu Does

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma talks with the founder of the Girls Computing League about the promise of her generation




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Music for the Masses

Tod Machover, an MIT professor whose classroom produced Guitar Hero and Rock Band, talks about a future in which everyone can make music




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Charles Babbage's Difference Machine No. 2

The first computer is thought to be the invention of a 19th century mathematician




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Ask Smithsonian: How Does Skin Heal?

Our skin is an endlessly complex organ. Luckily, in this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze is here to explain exactly what happens after you get a scrape.




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Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence




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Simon Johnson on Over-the-Counter Derivatives

The MIT professor believes many of the financial products sold today will be rightly regarded as not in the best interest of consumers




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Academy Award Nominee Kathleen Turner Discusses Political Journalist Molly Ivins

More on Kathleen Turner and her show at Arena Stage: http://j.mp/T0IkkZ Before taking the stage in "Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins," Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner discusses the woman who inspired the show.




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This Bandit-Faced Dino Hid From Predators Using Multiple Types of Camouflage

Credit: David Marshall, University of Bristol




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The Invisible Enemy Wiping Out Entire Species of Frogs

To save a species from extinction, scientists scour the Panamanian jungle for the few remaining frogs. But will they be too late?




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Indiana's Secret Parties and Perfect Popcorn

A large portion of Indiana's economy relies on an invaluable crop: corn. Popcorn plants like Pop Weaver have perfected the production of our favorite movie snack down to a science.




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This Pendant Is Britain’s Oldest Piece of Iron Age Art

A small pebble with ornate markings is Britain’s earliest piece of Mesolithic art—but what do the markings denote, and was it worn for cosmetic purposes or spiritual ones?




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The Smithsonian Channel Commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act

Aerial America: Wilderness premieres Sunday, Sept. 7 at 9PM ET/PT




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Ask Smithsonian: How Do Noise-Canceling Headphones Work?

Our host, Eric Schulze explains how 1 + 1 = 0 when it comes to sound




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SmartNews: Why Are These Mice Unafraid of Cats?

Scientists are researching how the rodent can become less susceptible to its feline foe.




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These Famous Names Came Out of Omaha

After his arrival in Omaha in 1892, Tom Dennison - nicknamed the "Grey Wolf" - controlled the city's street's for more than 30 years




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Ask Smithsonian: Have Cats Been Domesticated?

When did we start getting cuddly with cats? And have those tabbies really been tamed? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze investigates the surprising history and science behind today’s house cat.




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Jim Anderson's Quest to Solve Climate Change

The American Ingenuity Award winner warns that no place on Earth is safe from the dangers of global warming




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Assessing Coral Populations

Marine biologist Nancy Knowlton discusses a research trip to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, in Panama, where she and her collaborators collected data on coral reef populations. Reef sustainability is closely tied to coral reproduction. Then director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Knowlton, who has since been hired to lead the Smithsonian's Ocean Initiative, has reservations about the long-term future of corals




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A Civil War Tour: Echoes of the Past




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One of the Strangest, Stealthiest Turtles You've Ever Seen

A mata mata turtle can go 15 minutes between breaths--it's another one of the Smithsonian's National Zoo's many unique animals. Join the Zoo's experts for an inside look at some of its 2,000 rare and extraordinary creatures.




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Ask Smithsonian: Does the Five-Second Rule Really Work?

You might think twice about picking that chip off the carpet and putting it into your mouth.




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Discovering Titanoboa, the World's Largest Snake

Fossils found in Colombia indicate that a giant snake may have roamed the earth 60 million years ago




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Spark!Lab Ignites the Imagination

Interpretive exhibits coordinator Steven Madewells demonstrates a few experiments at Spark!Lab, an interactive exhibit at the National Museum of American History. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/theres-nothing-like-a-sparklab-to-ignite-the-imagination-1-180949007/




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Why Wildfires Are Burning Hotter and Longer

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP28, begins this week in Dubai. A new topic on the agenda this year is how wildfires are emerging as a serious health risk not just to those in their immediate vicinity, but even to people thousands of miles away. Last summer, smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted not only as far south as the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, but even across the Atlantic Ocean. We speak with John Vaillant, whose book Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World recounts a 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, Canada that dislocated tens of thousands of people and caused billions of dollars in damage. That natural disaster seemed like a terrifying outlier when Vaillant began his reporting, but 2023’s unprecedented fire activity suggest that Fort McMurray was merely the shape of things to come. John explains how climate change is making wildfires hotter and harder to contain. Next, we’re joined by photojournalist Andria Hautamaki, who observed a “prescribed burn” in Plumas County, California. Andria shares how these kinds of carefully planned, intentionally set fires can be a useful tool for preventing more destructive blazes. Read an excerpt from John’s book Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-worlds-first-wildfire-tornado-blazed-a-path-of-destruction-through-australia-180982309/) , and learn more about John and his other books here (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/58679/john-vaillant/) . Andria’s reporting for her wildfires story (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/fighting-fire-with-fire-california-180981810/) y from the April/May 2023 issue of Smithsonian was supported by the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (https://www.ijnr.org/) . You can learn more about Andria and her work at her website (https://ahowdyphoto.com/About/1) . Andria recommends these resources for anyone seeking more information about prescribed burns: • Your state’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state) • The Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils (https://www.prescribedfire.net/) • The Great Plains Fire Science Exchange (https://gpfirescience.org/) , which can help you find Prescribed Burn Associations in your area • The National Fire Protection Association, aka Firewise USA (https://www.nfpa.org/) • The Cooperative Extension of any universities in your region Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.




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The National Air and Space Museum Lowers Charles Lindbergh's “Spirit of St. Louis” to the Ground

The first plane to fly nonstop from New York to Paris will reside on the ground level of the National Air and Space Museum for the next five months as it undergoes preservation (Courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum)




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This Millipede is the Leggiest Creature in the World

The newly discovered Lllacme plenipes has up to 750 legs, more than any other known creature




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Smithsonian Magazine Video Contest Highlights 2.0

Five categories (People, Arts, Nature, Travel and Mobile) and a grand prize of $2,000.




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Gene Therapy Experts Look Ahead in Treating Blindness

Two of the preeminent researchers of gene therapy hope to improve their patients' sight in an experimental operation (Stephen Voss/WPN)




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Was a Jamestown Governor the Father of U.S. Democracy?

In 1619, George Yeardley, the newly appointed governor of Jamestown, made history: He convened 22 elected members of a burgeoning commonwealth, creating the first democratic assembly in America.




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Ask Smithsonian: What Does the World Look Like When You're Color Blind?

Learn more about color blindness: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian-how-does-world-look-the-color-blind-180960415/ Have a question in mind? It's your turn to Ask Smithsonian: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian/ask-form/




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Baby Talk From a Rhesus Macaque

Watch how a mother rhesus makes funny faces to her infant child to grab its attention




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Inspiring Questions in the Museum




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The Man Who Stopped the Desert – D.C. Environmental Film Festival Trailer

Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer from Burkina Faso, has become a pioneer in the fight against desertification – succeeding where many international agencies have failed




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The Natural Hair Movement Takes Root

http://j.mp/196BLpQ From her salon in Maryland, Camille Reed sees more black women embracing natural hair




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Tackling Obesity at the National Zoo

After arriving at the zoo obese, Nikki the Bear was put on a strict diet by the zoo nutritionists with great results (Video by: Ryan R. Reed). Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/nikki-the-bear-lost-110-pounds-on-the-national-zoo-diet-46145236/




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These Gentle Giants Would Rather Be Left Alone

Historically feared by humans, brown bears were once aggressively hunted in the contiguous U.S. Because of this, 95% of these majestic creatures live in Alaska.




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Saving a Nest of Baby Rabbits Mauled by a Dog

After a dog digs up a rabbit's nest and leaves a litter exposed, the team at the Toronto Wildlife Center must rehabilitate the malnourished babies before they can be released back into the wild.




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Andy Warhol's Headlines

Ever the media gadfly himself, the pop artist was fascinated by newspapers, especially the tabloids, as explored in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Bringing-Andy-Warhols-Shadows-to-the-Hirshhorn.html




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The Sights and Tastes of Hanoi

In Vietnam's capital city, pho restaurants dot the streets and fill them with the aromas of the flavorful soup. Read more at http://Smithsonian.com/pho




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Ask Smithsonian: What Keeps Satellites From Falling Out of the Sky?

Are you the kind of person who needs to know what keeps satellites from plummeting to the Earth in a big, fiery ball? Then you need to watch this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze gives us the lowdown on what-in-the-name-of-science makes those satellites stay up.




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How Chimpanzees Learn

Primatologist Tetsuro Matsuzawa studies chimps in hopes of uncovering how they learn and communicate




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Music in One of the World's Most Violent Cities

Fifteen-year-old Esteban, a clarinetist from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, uses music to survive his chaotic environment Reporting by Dominic Bracco II / Prime and Susana Seijas




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March on Washington - Eleanor Holmes Norton




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Scanning the Worlds Greatest Violins

In between trips to archaeology digs around the world, scientist Bruno Frohlich uses 3-D imaging to uncover what makes a great stringed instrument. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/scanning-a-stradivarius-13807009/




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What Happened to Henry VIII's Six Wives?

From tumultuous love affairs to violent betrayals, the six wives of Henry VIII all left marks on the Tudor dynasty – and shaped the course of history. READ MORE about these women here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-true-history-behind-six-the-musical-about-henry-viiis-wives-180978781/ --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra Theobald




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Elevating the Forgotten Histories of Black Women Through Folk Music

The power behind the music of Our Native Daughters comes from giving voice to the struggles of those who came before us—and few have struggled to be heard as much as black women.




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Henri Cartier-Bresson's With the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain

Filmed by the famous photographer during the Spanish Civil War, this clip debuted at the 2010 Orphan Film Symposium