Smithsonian Stories

Building a better frying pan—a complete one-pan breakfast.

In spite of her elevated status in art history, Arbus’ most pivotal work has been largely overlooked until now.

You don’t need to water these dazzling orchids to enjoy them.

Graphic designer Paul Rand plays with the iconography of eye charts to create a clever advertisement for Yale University.

View the American Revolution through a global lens.

Learn about the women astronomers who traveled 2,000 miles to study the July 1878 eclipse.

The dwarf lantern shark (Etmopterus perryi) is the smallest shark, and it can fit in a human hand.

Five new species of snail-eating snake have been discovered by a team working in Ecuador and Peru.

The ocean is home to some of the most incredible creatures on Earth: Learn why the mantis shrimp is one of them.

The natural world is full of color, but who chooses the color for the products we buy?

The stable temperature and microgravity of a space station makes it a perfect place to eat the frozen treat.

This stamp was released by the U.S. Postal Service in 2000 as part of a souvenir sheet “Celebrate The Century: 1990s.”

James Joyce’s novel Ulysses follows the exploits of Dubliner Leopold Bloom during the course of a single day, June 16, 1904.

Forget the reservations, white tablecloth, and mother-of-pearl caviar spoons. Learn about the art of fine dining—zoo style.

These two large, wooden guardian figures once kept watch over the Buddha and his followers outside Ebaradera temple in Sakai, Japan.

Smithsonian Insider talks with volcano expert Richard Fiske, geologist emeritus at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

During the American expansion west, many groups became the targets of racial violence.

In honor of electric guitar icon and innovator Les Paul's birthday, June 9, 1915, a look at guitars in our collections.

Tracing the journey of immigrant food traditions, FORKLIFE talks with Chef Seng about bringing Lao food to Washington, D.C.

According to experts at a recent National Postal Museum forum, a “letter” can take many forms.

Learn about the differences between turtles and a tortoises and some fun facts.

Five facts about the American backyard to ponder with your patio pals.

This poster (detail), depicting a zoomed-in view of a watermelon, was designed by Stephen Frykholm for the Herman Miller Furniture Company.

Millions of Americans rode bicycles at the end of the 1800s. Learn how the craze empowered women and changed fashion.