Experts may not agree on all the specifics, but here's what we do know.

The science behind going belly up

Eclipses have been a subject of fascination throughout human history, and the fact that we now have a clearer understanding of what they actually are—at least in the celestial mechanics sense—than we did in centuries past has not made them any less exciting. With the North American total solar eclipse (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/prepare-for-2024s-solar-eclipse-now-with-these-four-key-steps-180981933/) just days away as we’re releasing this episode, and the next one visible from the contiguous United States not due until 2044, we’ll learn about the eclipses from astronomy obsessive (and Smithsonian science correspondent) Dan Falk and hear from Indigenous astronomer Samantha Doxtator about how the Haudenosaunee people have observed and interpreted these mysterious daylight darkenings of the skies over many centuries. You can read Dan’s Smithsonian story about how ancient civilizations responded to eclipses here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-ancient-civilizations-reacted-to-eclipses-180983894/) . 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, Rye Dorsey, 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.

It’s a tradition that dates back more than 100 years, but have you ever wondered why? Learn more about why we cast our votes on a seemingly random weekday - and its roots in past customs. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Producer: Nicki Marko Video Editor: Sierra Theobald

Have you ever wondered why these birds strike this peculiar pose? Find out in this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze walks us through the reasons behind the majestic bird’s one-legged stance.

Geese have known something for millions of years that humans have only recently figured out for themselves.

Feel a sneeze coming on? Don’t hold it in! In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, explains why we sneeze.

Reclining and dining in the ancient classical world

Used more for grasping than locomotion, seahorse tails are both flexible and uniquely strong. (Video courtesy Dominique Adriaens, UGent)

Host Eric Schulze opens the floodgates of knowledge to reveal the answer.

The answer has everything to do with falling flat on your face

Eric Schulze delves into little Rover's mind to see what all that racket is about

Female worker bees, which forage for the whole colony, struggle more to detect scents in the heat than males do, per the recent research

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 Mohawk

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 study

Across the country, revelers are dressing in costumes and gliding across bodies of water on stand-up paddleboards to ring in the spooky season

Authorities have not yet identified the cause of death for the 12.5-foot-long shark, which was named Koala

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 giants

Unlike other birds, which get pigments from their diets, parrots produce their own—but scientists never fully understood the underlying mechanisms, until now

You asked, we answered

A new book charts the history of pet cemeteries and honors the universal experience of grieving an animal companion

Fifty years ago, on October 5, 1974, David Kunst completed the first verified circumnavigation of the globe on foot. Along the way, he met Princess Grace of Monaco, raised money for UNICEF and lost a brother to bandits

Virginia Tech Students Advancing the Possibilities with SolidWorks 3D CAD Software

Read about the strengths of Cushing as a crude oil trading and storage hub and, in turn, for hedging crude price risk as storage utilization levels rise.

Read about the strengths of Cushing as a crude oil trading and storage hub and, in turn, for hedging crude price risk as storage utilization levels rise.

A kill switch can help prevent your privacy from being breached when your encrypted VPN connection stops working. This is why your VPN needs it.

In the everyday relationships of life, an OM worker finds God working to make His name known.

A Jewish woman asks a pastor why is there suffering, if they are God's chosen people.

Three brokers discuss some of the common misunderstandings about gap cover.

Many teachers who will be leading classes remotely are building colorful virtual environments for their students featuring avatar versions of themselves. Some districts are even mandating trainings on how to create them.

Schools are not preparing students to enter an increasingly diverse world, writes high school senior Zoë Jenkins.

Most school boards don’t look the students they serve, but new research suggests that must change.

Concerningly for South Africa, the question of whether our laws and regulations provide sanctions and penalties that are commensurate to the harm caused by white-collar criminals remains a matter of contested viewpoints, writes Khaya Sithole.

Most time management strategies are dropped as quickly as they are picked up for one key reason: insight is so much more important than theory, says Ian Mann. And this author's insight is invaluable.

Scholars have identified several reasons why cities want to host the Games, and there's little evidence to support some of the claims. But that doesn't mean it's not worth doing, says Johan Fourie.

A recent study found that one organization's instructional-leadership professional development had no impact. Could it be because the topic of instructional leadership needs to be expanded?

The recent wave of teacher strikes reflects a broader phenomenon, blurring the boundaries between national and local school politics, write three education professors.

New research shows that teacher mindsets matter when it comes to racial inequities. Here's how to build a classroom culture that makes a difference.

Harvard's Richard Elmore has pointed out the "catastrophe" that is educational leadership preparation. We can all look to practice communities like Peloton to develop our skills, practice, and mindsets to help remedy that.

Many medical scheme members mistakenly believe obtaining pre-authorisation for a procedure or treatment means their claims will be paid in full.

Legislation that could assist a rapidly growing number of South African families deal with relatives living with dementia who have lost the mental capacity to manage their finances is missing in parliament.

Gold remains at record highs, but there are various ways to get exposure to the metal that are less cumbersome and more investor-friendly than holding physical gold.

Early withdrawals reduce the overall value of your retirement savings, which will have a significant impact on future retirement income.

Managers are taking different views on their exposure to offshore equity, to credit and to private equity.

This week, you'll hear from guest blogger and longtime reader favorite Heather Harding. Heather kicks off the week by discussing reforms to identify, retain, and prepare high-quality teachers—and why it's still important that we pay attention to these things.

The latest investment insights and market developments.

In the United States, we lament the lack of diversity in STEM fields and in teacher education, but many of our actions as educators continue to "weed out" students from nondominant communities and those who are differently abled.

Most school boards don’t look the students they serve, but new research suggests that must change.