Dec
06
Welcome Back, Otter!
Follow a trail of fish heads and poop splats as we investigate why river otters are showing up where they’ve never been before. Continue reading Welcome Back, Otter!
Nov
08
The end of a beara: Farewell Giant Pandas
All three Giant Pandas are leaving the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for China this week. Why now? Pandas have lived and thrived at the Zoo for more than 50 years, since the first Giant Panda arrived as a gift from China during the Nixon administration. Continue reading The end of a beara: Farewell Giant Pandas
Apr
12
In space, no one can hear you scream…in frustration.
In space, no one can hear you scream…in frustration that sexism has kept women running in place. Continue reading In space, no one can hear you scream…in frustration.
Mar
30
Monsoon Mood
We think of paintings as art, but can they also be a source of historical and scientific data? Three centuries ago, a young prince inherited the throne in Udaipur, India, and brought with him some newfangled ideas about art. Continue reading Monsoon Mood
Mar
01
The Phantom Violins
When Sidedoor listener Cliff Hall bought a used violin, he found a tattered note tucked alongside the century-old instrument. Obsessed with this cryptic piece of paper, Cliff’s quest to find the owner of the violin unlocked a tale of subterfuge, scandal, and the Smithsonian’s first donation of rare instruments. Continue reading The Phantom Violins
Jan
01
The monumental imagination of Augusta Savage
The monuments a Black sculptor created to honor Black Americans may not be what you’d expect. Continue reading The monumental imagination of Augusta Savage
Dec
21
A very merry Sidedoor!
What is it about a mistletoe that says “smooch?” And what the heck is figgy pudding anyway? In this holiday special, we track down the origins of some puzzling Christmastime traditions, jingling all the way from Norse mythology to Victorian home cooking, the Emancipation Proclamation, and even out of this world. Continue reading A very merry Sidedoor!
Nov
30
Lucy Hicks Anderson: Fearlessly Female
Lucy Hicks Anderson never let anyone tell her how to live her life – not even the courts Continue reading Lucy Hicks Anderson: Fearlessly Female
Nov
16
Reservation Math: Navigating Love in Native America
Today, we abhor the idea that one’s lineage is one’s identity. But Native Americans are still defined by “blood quantum.” Continue reading Reservation Math: Navigating Love in Native America
Sep
26
Did meat make us human?
Eating meat is what made us human. At least, that’s one of the leading theories to explain how our brains got so big. Continue reading Did meat make us human?
