Innovation / Video
Apollo 11 Launch: Photographed
Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/We-Have-Liftoff.html Photographer David Burnett focused his camera on the many tourists who flocked to Florida in 1969 to watch the launch of Apollo 11 (Produced by Molly …
Manufacturing of bitumen-lined water bottles
Manufacturing of bitumen-lined water bottles in the traditional method of Native Californian Indians. Credit: Nicholas Radtkey, UC Davis & Sabrina Sholts
Smithsonian Second Opinion: Forging the Future
Smithsonian Institution Secretary Dr. David Skorton joins some of the world’s leading thinkers in a spirited discussion about our ever changing planet
National Treasure: The History of the Lie Detector
Have you ever wondered whether lie detectors actually…work? Join us as we delve into the history and science behind these devices - from how they measure “deception” to the controversies …
Inside the Epic Artemis Moon Missions
The Artemis program represents the pinnacle of NASA’s mind-boggling technological capabilities. Learn about the groundbreaking achievements and breathtaking lunar landscapes that await us in this new era of space exploration. …
This Lithuanian Depot Has an Innovative Approach to Train Repair
When Lithuanian Railway’s aging, Soviet-era trains need repair, there’s no option but to manufacture new parts. Watch as one of these trains gets fitted with a new set of bogeys—the …
This Sustainable Offshore Cobia Fish Farm Sells Millions
In the coastal waters of Panama, a multi-million dollar operation is revolutionizing sustainable fish farms by growing Cobia white fish in a 1,000-hectare enclosure of deep ocean, seven miles off …
The Art Supreme: Hip-Hop & Fashion
Today, the influence of hip-hop seems intertwined with the fashion industry, to the point where we can barely imagine one without the other. But, in the early 1980s, fashion brands …
With his bright red coat, big orange nose, and wide eyes, Elmo is now arguably the most famous of the Sesame Street muppets. Elmo began as an “Anything Muppet”—an extra, …
This Object in History: Nintendo
The mid-1980s were a wasteland for the American video game market, with consumers torn between quarter-guzzling arcade machines and sub-par home consoles, such as the Atari 2600. Enter the NES …
What Made the Viking Longship So Terrifyingly Effective
The Vikings had dreams of exploration and conquest, and the longship was ideal for that purpose. Soon, they were able to venture as far as the Mediterranean and the Middle …
This British Castle Still Has a Functioning Flour Mill
In the 19th century, there was a watermill almost every mile of the river, such was the huge demand for flour and bread. Today, Eastnor castle’s own mill is still …
This ‘Health Mirror’ Teaches Proper Handwashing
The smart tool gives users step-by-step instructions based on WHO’s handwashing protocol
Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2019: Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X explains the origins of his diamond-certified crossover hit, ‘Old Town Road.’
Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2019: Ewelina Mamcarz and Stephen Gottschalk
Medical researchers Ewelina Mamcarz and Stephen Gottschalk detail the science behind the gene therapy they invented to help children with “bubble boy disease,” or severe combined immunodeficiency. Video by Adam …
Smithsonian American Ingenuity Awards 2019: Alex Kipman
“In our world, nothing really is impossible. Everything at best is improbable,” says Alex Kipman, as he discusses the holographic, augmented reality technology his team at Microsoft is pioneering.
Capturing a Photograph of an Atomic Bomb Blast
In 1946, on a remote Pacific Island, the military began a program known as ‘Operation Crossroads.’ Its aim was to capture, on film, the actual moment of an atomic bomb …
The Riskiest Maneuver in the History of the Space Program
The success of the Apollo 8 mission hinged on a unique and terrifying maneuver: slowing the spacecraft enough to enter lunar orbit. Even the slightest mistake would have meant certain …
Take a Look Inside One of the Most Unusual Vehicles Ever
Climb into the guts of a hovercraft, as a team of salvage experts, led by a former NASA engineer, disassemble and cut through this iconic and unique vehicle.
This Ingenious System Brings Water to the Chinese Desert
The Karez is a modern-day engineering marvel and a prime example of people working with, not against, the forces of nature to deliver their needs—in this case, water.
Admiring the Power and Innovation of a 747 Engine
While the science behind the high bypass ratio engine in a 747 plane may seem complicated, the results are striking. It’s capable of delivering over 70 percent more power than …
The Long Conversation 2018: Mercedes Lopez-Morales Interviews Bei Yang
The Smithsonian astrophysicist talks with the Disney imagineer about leveraging technology as a tool to help us understand each other
The Long Conversation 2018: Liz Cottrell Interviews Carla Hayden
The Smithsonian geologist talks with the Librarian of Congress about how young people’s growing interest in civics will lead to an informed citizenry
The Long Conversation 2018: Danny Hillis Interviews Liz Cottrell
The inventor talks with the Smithsonian geologist about the resiliency of life on Earth
The Long Conversation 2018: Scott Bolton Interviews Jessica Matthews
The principal investigator for NASA’s Juno spacecraft talks with the founder of Uncharted Power about the pursuit of technology that could allow everyone affordable access to clean electricity
The Long Conversation 2018: Naomi Wadler Interviews Alfre Woodard
The 12-year-old activist talks with the award-winning actress about how an increasingly diverse body of storytellers sharing their experiences is breaking down artificial barriers
The Long Conversation 2018: Obi Felten Interviews Danny Hillis
The technologist talks with the inventor about humankind’s amazing capacity to solve problems
The Long Conversation 2018: Michael Govan Intervies Obi Felten
The director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art talks with the technologist about how to systematize the creation of radical solutions to the world’s biggest problems
The Long Conversation 2018: Malak Wazne Interviews David Brooks
The filmmaker talks with The New York Times columnist about how to improve our social relationships in this country
The Long Conversation 2018: Jessica Matthews Interviews Roy Wood, Jr.
The founder of Uncharted Power talks with the comedian about pockets of political change in America’s South
The Long Conversation 2018: Larisa Martinez Interviews Michael Govan
The opera singer and the director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art talk about fostering inclusivity in the arts
The Long Conversation 2018: David Rubenstein Interviews Scott Bolton
The co-founder of the Carlyle Group talks with the principal investigator for NASA’s Juno spacecraft about Jupiter and what humans could learn from exploring it
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