Smithsonian Magazine

Scientists May Have Discovered the Origins of the Euphrates River, Which Helped Nurture Some of the Earliest Known Civilizations

The famous waterway began as two rivers, a new study suggests. Tectonic activity around five million years ago probably made ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Fish and Humans Share Surprisingly Similar Sleep Habits, Including Daytime Naps

A recent study suggests that zebrafish have four sleep substates, just like humans do—and one of them is akin to an afternoon ...
Smithsonian Magazine

This Infamous ‘Death Railway’ Station, Built by Forced Labor From Prisoners of War and Civilians in World War II, Was Just Revealed in Thailand

The Nithe Station, usually submerged under a reservoir, will be accessible this summer as officials drain the site to perform ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Scientists Identify Swaths of Coral Reefs That Might Be Able to Withstand Climate Change, Offering New Avenues for Conservation

New research has mapped more than 64,000 square miles where the crucial habitat seems to be somewhat protected from the ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Authorities Investigated Reports of an Illegal Excavation in Rome. Then, They Stumbled Upon an Ancient Villa Adorned With Mosaics

In the second century C.E., Roman emperors such as Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius frequented the area where the residence ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Two Well-Preserved Roman Busts Were Discovered Inside a Wine Vat in Israel Near the Capital City of a Roman Province

One is inscribed with the name "Lycurgus," suggesting the bust may depict the legendary founder of ancient Sparta ...
Smithsonian Magazine

How Angry, Out-of-Work Fishermen Saved the Patriots During the American Revolution

The British punished rebellious New Englanders by depriving them of their livelihood. This led unemployed mariners to enlist ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Marvel at Five Objects that Represent the Beauty of the Nation’s Natural and Cultural History

A companion book to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History brand-new exhibition features incredible objects ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Every American Knows the Declaration of Independence. Almost Nobody Knows the Woman Who Printed It

As Baltimore's postmaster and printer to the Continental Congress, Mary Katharine Goddard produced the first official copy of ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is home to the largest ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Here’s How the Obama Presidential Center Is Different From Other Presidents’ Museums

More than a library and archives, the new Chicago institution is a place for the community to gather, talk and play together ...
Smithsonian Magazine

Scientists Uncover New Clues About the Volcanic Origins of the Giant’s Causeway, an Iconic Geologic Structure in Northern Ireland

The UNESCO World Heritage Site, which features 40,000 near-perfect hexagonal columns, formed roughly 60 million years ago ...