Why Is the Pentagon a Pentagon?
Planners battled to ensure the building kept its unique shape
What Is Dark Matter and More Questions From Our Readers
You asked, we answered
How Big Can a Land Animal Get?
King Kong’s biggest enemy isn’t humans—it’s the laws of physics
How Do New Planets Get Their Names?
Sorry, Planet McPlanetface: Asteroids, moons and other celestial bodies go through a strict set of international naming guidelines
The Beast’s Enchanted Rose Lasted a Decade. How Long Can a Real One Last?
A Smithsonian expert says the film’s was undoubtedly a hybrid tea rose
What’s Really Changed—and What Hasn’t—About Getting Humans to the Moon
NASA’s Orion will combine vintage tech with massive advances in computing power and electronics we’ve made since 1972
Why Is Pennsylvania Ave D.C.’s Main Thoroughfare and More Questions From Our Readers
Your questions answered by our experts
What Do Insects Do in Winter?
When winter comes, most bugs either migrate or time travel. But some get far more creative
Why Do Chinese Restaurants Have Such Similar Names?
Consistency and familiarity is the tradition
When Was the First Inaugural Ball?
Nothing says there’s a new president in town more than the dance party they throw
Can Humans Ever Harness the Power of Hibernation?
Scientists want to know if astronauts can hibernate during long spaceflights. First, they need to understand what hibernation is
Why Were Electric Cars Once Advertised as ‘Ladies’ Cars’?
Your questions answered by our experts
Did Ellis Island Officials Really Change the Names of Immigrants?
On the 125th anniversary of the famous portal to the U.S., history shows inspectors were not the ones changing people’s names
Ask Smithsonian: What’s the Longest You Can Hold Your Breath?
A dive into the science shows it is possible to override the system
When Was the First Map Produced and More Questions From Our Readers
You asked, we answered
Ask Smithsonian: What’s the Point of Earwax?
Earwax has a job to do; but many are not hearing the message
Ask Smithsonian: When Did People Start Keeping Pets?
The human-pet timeline is still being put together, but turns out man’s best friend might also be his oldest
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