Fifty years ago this week, the first human being ventured outside a spaceship and floated in the vacuum of space. Cathleen Lewis, curator in the Space History Department at the National Air and Space Museum takes a look at the differences in Soviet and American spacesuits. Continue reading In space, no one can see you sweat
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, staff have selected four objects from the collections of the National Museum of American History that reveal facets of the Irish American experience. Continue reading When Irish American eyes are smilin’
The 23rd Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital will showcase almost 200 award-winning, provocative and poignant films that focus on the human connection to our climate at venues around the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Most programs are free. Continue reading Climate Connections: We’re all in this together
In a triumph for amphibian conservationists, a newly described Panamanian dart frog has been successfully bred in captivity for the first time. Continue reading Froggie went a courtin’ and he did breed–in the lab
The exhibition “Artists at Work’ features the work of our talented Smithsonian colleagues. The subjects of these works and the materials from which they are made are as diverse as the collections of the Institution itself. We’ve created a slideshow of the exhibition for those of you who can’t visit in person. Continue reading Artists at Work
From the bamboo sheets he sleeps on to the the bike he commutes on, Jim Di Loreto’s commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle permeates everything he does. Continue reading Sustainable and inspirational
A Smithsonian curator reflects on Leonard Nimoy’s passing and why “Star Trek” fans loved him.
*Live long and prosper, Spock. Yes, we speak Vulcan. What of it? Continue reading Dif-tor heh smusma, Spohkh*
With the resurgence of measles infections on the rise across the country, Dr. Alexandra M. Lord, chair of the History of Medicine and Science Division at the National Museum of American History, reminds us of the historic threat from this disease. Continue reading Outbreak! On the front lines of a measles epidemic
The list of invasive species that threaten our waterways ranges from Asian oysters to zebra mussels, with hundreds of other animal and plant species in between. In this post marking National Invasive Species Awareness Week, Smithsonian photographer and diving officer Laurie Penland describes the exhausting, dangerous and oddly beautiful work of scraping invasive species off the hull of a giant cargo ship. Continue reading Getting down and dirty in the fight against invasive species
If this winter’s snow is making you feel a little flaky, imagine the dedication it takes to photograph thousands of individual snowflakes. Continue reading Wilson A. Bentley: Pioneering photographer of snowflakes
Vote now for the Autumn 2025 Windows Lock Screen. Voting ends Sunday, September 21st! Continue reading Vote now for the Autumn 2025 Windows Lock Screen
(Ed. note: We should note that it's never wise to stand behind a cow, even a buttery one. Cow pies never win blue ribbons.) Continue reading Behind the Butter Cow: A Look at the Renwick’s new State Fair exhibition
More than $2.5 million in grants has been awarded to fund projects ranging from exposing little kids to nature, the link between movement and emotional wellbeing and building a robotic telescope. Continue reading 2025 Together we Thrive
Melanie Adams will serve as interim director beginning August 26. Continue reading Director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is stepping down
