Monday, August 26, marks 20 years to the day since we received the “First Light” image from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, of an exploded star 11,000 light-years away called Cassiopeia Continue reading Twenty years later, “First Light” continues to glow
On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined “planet” and reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. The demotion caused an uproar. After all, in the words of one esteemed scientist, “A dwarf hamster is still a hamster.” We revisited the debate a decade later. Continue reading Is Pluto a planet? The votes are in!
The Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System must be be very energetic indeed to capture 300 images a second. On Feb. 22, 2018, as the asteroid Imprinetta passed between the Earth and a distant star known as TYC 5517-227-1, a team of astronomers who had predicted the event captured it with a camera shooting… Continue reading Visiting asteroids help scientists measure the size of distant stars
Kidwell was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society at its September meeting. Continue reading Peggy Kidwell recognized for her distinguished contributions to the history of women in the sciences
Art, Oprah and a possible panda pregnancy made the news this week. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was June 3 – June 9, 2018
If the past informs the present, the present predicts the future, so we took a look at the future of food, the fate of family heirlooms and whether philanthropy can cleanse a questionable past. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was Oct. 22 – Oct. 28, 2017
It was a tough week for everyone as we focused on healing both the human damage from natural disasters and devastation to the natural world caused by human action. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was Oct. 1 – Oct. 7, 2017
No matter where you are, you can experience the rare total eclipse of our local star in August with the help of a free app from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Continue reading You don’t have to be emo to have a dark night of the Sol
This week, we pondered the cost of art: Who pays? How much is too much? Who owns a culture’s heritage? How much should a bag of dust cost? Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was July 16 – July 22, 2017
We looked at the past, envisioned the future and gazed at the stars for some cosmic insight this week. Plus, zombie crabs! And we’re relieved that Bei Bei’s okay-kay. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was Nov. 20 – Nov. 26, 2016
In Memorian: Nancy A. Pope, the founding historian of the National Postal Museum, on August 30. Continue reading In Memoriam: Nancy A. Pope
We do our best work when efforts and ideas can flow across positions, titles, offices, and departments, when we value the work of every hand, when each person recognizes how their labor contributes to our larger mission. Continue reading The work of many hands
Ken Wang explains how Apollo 11 represents the best of the American spirit and why we need to revive that spirit to tackle to complex issues we face today. Continue reading Why space travel should still be a national priority
Bug smuggling and cuddle-bug baby red pandas made the news this week. Oh, and they love Donald Trump in the Netherlands. Continue reading ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was Sept. 1 – Sept 7
September 10, 1993. The renovated Insect Zoo opens at Natural History, bigger and buggier than ever. Continue reading Today in Smithsonian History: September 10, 1993
