Smithsonian magazine covers history, science and culture in the way only it can — through a lens on the world that is insightful and grounded in richly reported stories. On There's More to That, meet the magazine's journalists and hear how they discover the forces behind the biggest issues of our time. 

It looks like a fairly nondescript plank of wood, found in the fields of Star Carr. But from an archaeological perspective, it’s far more significant: It’s the oldest piece of carpentry found anywhere in Europe.

So what exactly factors into how we end up being right or left-handed? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze breaks down the science of being a southpaw.

A. Aubrey Bodine's daughter reflects on her father's trained eye toward capturing the people of Charm City. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/photographing-baltimores-working-class-9338157/

In 1918, Lulu Hunt Peters—one of the first women in America to earn a medical doctorate—published the best seller Diet and Health With Key to the Calories, making a name for herself as an apostle for weight reduction in an era when malnutrition was a far greater public health threat than obesity. She pioneered the idea of measuring food intake via the calorie, which at the time was an obscure unit of measurement familiar only to chemists.  A century later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db360.htm) that 42 percent of American adults are clinically obese and that Type 2 diabetes is on the rise (https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1229-future-diabetes-surge.html) . With those who can afford it now turning to pharmaceuticals to help them lose weight, we’ll examine why and how calorie counting has failed to help Americans maintain a “healthy” weight.  In this episode of “There’s More to That,” we hear from food historian Michelle Stacey about Peters’ legacy—and from Ronald Young Jr., creator and host of the critically acclaimed podcast “Weight For It (https://www.radiotopia.fm/podcasts/weight-for-it) ,” about how American society continues to stigmatize what he calls “fat folks” for reasons that have nothing to do with public, or even individual, health. A transcript is below. To subscribe to “There’s More to That,” and to listen to past episodes on the complex legacy of Sojourner Truth (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-to-separate-fact-from-myth-in-the-extraordinary-story-of-sojourner-truth-180983820/) , how Joan Baez opened the door for Taylor Swift (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/before-beyonce-taylor-swift-ran-world-joan-baez-180983893/) , how machine learning is helping archeologists to read scrolls (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-artificial-intelligence-is-making-2000-year-old-scrolls-readable-again-180984264/) buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago and more, find us on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theres-more-to-that/id1694965155?ign-itscg=30200&ign-itsct=podcast_box_player) , Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/4NYRCRxkYJTLjW71sqYOFv?si=08fa62c3e59d450f&nd=1) or wherever you get your podcasts. Read Michelle Stacey's story about Dr. Lulu Hunt Peters in the June 2024 issue of Smithsonian here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/doctor-pioneered-counting-calories-century-ago-were-still-dealing-with-consequences-180984282/) . Listen to Ronald Young, Jr.'s podcast "Weight For It" here (https://www.radiotopia.fm/podcasts/weight-for-it) . 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.

The baby pygmy hippopotamus in a Thailand zoo has taken the internet by storm, and keepers hope she will help gain momentum for conservation efforts

An A.I.-assisted study identified 303 previously unknown geoglyphs in the Peruvian desert. The art features surprising figures, like orcas holding knives

Two members of Just Stop Oil staged the original demonstration in late 2022. Group members say the harsh penalties will not deter their efforts

The show coincides with an initiative that will give away 49 of the tree's saplings to individuals and communities across the country

The wild canines have the same muscles used by domestic dogs to create the wide-eyed, pleading look that captures humans' hearts

Scientists used EEG headsets, MRI machines and eye trackers to study volunteers' responses to five paintings housed at the Mauritshuis museum in the Netherlands

Identified as an Arctic fox, the animal is believed to have been kept in captivity far from its native habitat in the tundra. Now, it's receiving care from wildlife officials

New research traces the genetic underpinnings of the enzyme amylase, which helps humans digest starches and sugars

The sprawling estate, which is the largest privately owned home in the country, will open its doors in November after a month-long closure

Called M136279841, the value belongs to a rare class of prime numbers called Mersenne primes and was found using a supercomputer system spread across 17 countries

Pathogens are more common in polar bears living in the Chukchi Sea now than they were three decades ago, a new study suggests—but it's not yet clear what that means for the mammals' health

Government corruption, loved ones becoming ill or dying, cyberterrorism and nuclear weapons topped the list of Chapman University's annual survey

An assessment from the International Union for Conservation of Nature paints a grim picture of the extinction risk of the world's trees

Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson of Louisiana published a new study proving the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, a feat mathematicians long thought could not be done

The actress becomes the first wheelchair user ever to take home the coveted prize at the 73rd annual award show

You asked, we answered

Building highways isn't the only solution to the growing problem of traffic congestion in and around the Halifax Regional Municipality, says the head of an organization that advocates for rail-based public transit.

Families of Norton Elementary School won’t be seeing their kids return anytime soon. Repairs are going to take longer than expected and students are expected to be back in the school by the start of the next school year.

Wildlife photographer Jason Leo Bantle recounts the moment he came across Banff’s most famous grizzly ‘The Boss,’ during the bear’s surprise visit to Canmore, Alta.

Host Craig Norris plays a whole bunch of music in this week's show. Hear tunes from Danny Michel, Chastity, Fred Penner, Tragically Hip, Angela Saini, Laila and a lot more.

The Regina Rams won the Hardy Cup showdown against the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday, in the first finals clash between the two teams in 22 years.

A Penticton city councillor who was arrested and charged with historical sexual offences this summer is facing new charges after more victims were identified, say police in Sarnia, Ont.

A group of residential school survivors and their supporters are asking the federal government to reverse what they're calling a funding cut and come up with more money to help find the unmarked graves of students who went to these institutions.

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 46 people in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours — including 11 in an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone, medics said — as the country missed a deadline set by Washington to allow more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave. 

The high cost of pet care can be an unfair burden to place on your family when you’re gone. Experts say you should set aside cash pet care expenses, and make sure you have a trusted beneficiary in your will.

Newest Version of Leading 3D CAD Software Eliminates Traditional Performance/Functionality Tradeoffs

Space tourism pioneer Burt Rutan, developer of the world's first privately manned spacecraft, to discuss the role of 3D design tools in shaping the future

North American door control system leader's engineering work is critical for passenger safety

Faced with soaring material costs, LeBARON Foundry streamlined designs, lightening manhole covers and frames by as much as 50 pounds

Schools combine SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software with 3D scanning and printing to enrich student learning

Nearly 100,000 visitors experimented with forward-looking tools and services in first year

Fast Deployment Makes it Easy to Focus on Core Business Rather Than Managing Technology

There's not much new to talk about regarding the iPad mini 7 beyond the chipset upgrade that provides a much-needed mid-life upgrade.

In a major update to the camera system, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the iPhone 18 Pro's wide angle lens will be upgraded to have a variable aperture.

On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast we talk about Apple's new betas, discuss the major Matter 1.4 release which adds new categories and other improvements, and more!

The third developer beta of iOS 18.2 is now available for all compatible iPhone models, as Apple Intelligence testing continues. Here's everything you need to know about the update.

Perla is a Freedom Challenge project in Madagascar that is empowering women through skills training.

Volunteers from OM Panama build a roof on a dumping place to be able to minister during raining season.

Every time they talked, Maria cried when she shared her problems with an OM Guatemala team member. Now, she is free of suffering and abuse.

OM Ships is in final preparations for the Power Up Logos Hope technical project as the four millionth visitor comes aboard in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

When the OM Malawi team met Sarah she quickly became Abaku or 'Grandma,' being an example of Christ to many in her community.

Coatzacoalcos, Mexico :: The local mayor boards Logos Hope for a unique arrival and welcomes crew as they settle into a new city.

Lila from Argentina wanted to go on a mission trip, but always had a reason not to. Then she found the opportunity to serve refugees.

MAP Australia hosts Bound for Paradise, a week-long outreach to Muslims from the Persian Gulf in Queensland, Australia, from 25-29 August.

A new surveys shows that many of this year's high school upperclassmen are behind in their efforts to prepare for post-secondary education.