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Who Wrote Elizabeth I's Most Scathing Letters?
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Smithsonian Magazine

Who Wrote Elizabeth I's Most Scathing Letters?

Who Wrote Elizabeth I’s Most Scathing Letters? ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source Work on Elizabeth I’s letters has focused on identifying the English queen’s “voice”…

9/28/2026 · 6 min read · 20 views
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How Does a Bilingual Speaker's Brain Process Two Languages? New Research Suggests That Both Rely on the Same Neural Wiring
Smithsonian Magazine

How Does a Bilingual Speaker's Brain Process Two Languages? New Research Suggests That Both Rely on the Same Neural Wiring

How Does a Bilingual Speaker’s Brain Process Two Languages? New Research Suggests That Both Rely on the Same Neural…

7/27/2026 · 4 min read · 34 views
French Customs Detained This Marc Chagall Etching for Two Decades After an Attempted Border Crossing. Now It's Headed for Public Display
Smithsonian Magazine

French Customs Detained This Marc Chagall Etching for Two Decades After an Attempted Border Crossing. Now It's Headed for Public Display

French Customs Detained This Marc Chagall Etching for Two Decades After an Attempted Border Crossing. Now It’s Headed…

7/27/2026 · 4 min read · 36 views
Ancient Fossil Footsteps Found in Kenya May Hint That an Early Human Relative Was Larger Than Previously Thought
Smithsonian Magazine

Ancient Fossil Footsteps Found in Kenya May Hint That an Early Human Relative Was Larger Than Previously Thought

Researchers uncovered a series of 1.4‑million‑year‑old footprints at Kenya’s Koobi Fora site, showing hominin,…

7/27/2026 · 6 min read · 50 views
Predatory Sharks Grew to Enormous Sizes in Prehistoric Times. These Five Strategies Helped Them Get So Big
Smithsonian Magazine

Predatory Sharks Grew to Enormous Sizes in Prehistoric Times. These Five Strategies Helped Them Get So Big

Predatory Sharks Grew to Enormous Sizes in Prehistoric Times. These Five Strategies Helped Them Get So Big By…

7/27/2026 · 9 min read · 42 views
Art Sleuths Discovered a Lost and ‘Enormously Important’ Portrait of an Elite Indian Woman by This Pioneering Scottish Painter
Smithsonian Magazine

Art Sleuths Discovered a Lost and ‘Enormously Important’ Portrait of an Elite Indian Woman by This Pioneering Scottish Painter

Cool Finds Art Sleuths Discovered a Lost and ‘Enormously Important’ Portrait of an Elite Indian Woman by This…

7/27/2026 · 4 min read · 39 views
A.I. Disproves a Decades-Old Mathematical Idea, the 'Biggest Conjecture' That the Tech Has Played a Role in Yet
Smithsonian Magazine

A.I. Disproves a Decades-Old Mathematical Idea, the 'Biggest Conjecture' That the Tech Has Played a Role in Yet

Disproves a Decades-Old Mathematical Idea, the ‘Biggest Conjecture’ That the Tech Has Played a Role in Yet A…

7/27/2026 · 5 min read · 49 views
Chimpanzees and Bonobos Use Hugs, Kisses and Friendly Pats to Keep the Peace, Just Like Humans, a New Study Suggests
Smithsonian Magazine

Chimpanzees and Bonobos Use Hugs, Kisses and Friendly Pats to Keep the Peace, Just Like Humans, a New Study Suggests

ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source Male chimpanzees were more likely to…

7/27/2026 · 5 min read · 53 views
This Ship Sank in the Baltic Sea With Presents Bound for a Romanov Czar. Its Cargo Included Champagne, Luxury Mineral Water and Rare Meteorites
Smithsonian Magazine

This Ship Sank in the Baltic Sea With Presents Bound for a Romanov Czar. Its Cargo Included Champagne, Luxury Mineral Water and Rare Meteorites

Cool Finds This Ship Sank in the Baltic Sea With Presents Bound for a Romanov Czar. ShareCopy…

7/27/2026 · 10 min read · 50 views
Three Millennia Ago, Humans May Have Spoken Thousands More Languages Than We Have Today, During a Linguistic 'Golden Age'
Smithsonian Magazine

Three Millennia Ago, Humans May Have Spoken Thousands More Languages Than We Have Today, During a Linguistic 'Golden Age'

Three Millennia Ago, Humans May Have Spoken Thousands More Languages Than We Have Today, During a Linguistic ‘Golden…

7/24/2026 · 4 min read · 39 views
It's Nature Vs. Culture as Europeans Vote on New Designs for Euro Banknotes That Pit Kingfishers Against Leonardo da Vinci
Smithsonian Magazine

It's Nature Vs. Culture as Europeans Vote on New Designs for Euro Banknotes That Pit Kingfishers Against Leonardo da Vinci

Culture as Europeans Vote on New Designs for Euro Banknotes That Pit Kingfishers Against Leonardo da Vinci The…

7/24/2026 · 4 min read · 41 views
This Robot Can Flap Its Wings to Both Fly and Swim. It Might One Day Help Scientists Study Diving Birds and Survey Ocean Habitats
Smithsonian Magazine

This Robot Can Flap Its Wings to Both Fly and Swim. It Might One Day Help Scientists Study Diving Birds and Survey Ocean Habitats

This Robot Can Flap Its Wings to Both Fly and Swim. It Might One Day Help Scientists Study Diving Birds and Survey…

7/24/2026 · 5 min read · 46 views
Hollywood's Iconic Cinerama Dome, One of the World's Most Famous Movie Theaters, Is Set to Reopen in Early 2028
Smithsonian Magazine

Hollywood's Iconic Cinerama Dome, One of the World's Most Famous Movie Theaters, Is Set to Reopen in Early 2028

Hollywood’s Iconic Cinerama Dome, One of the World’s Most Famous Movie Theaters, Is Set to Reopen in Early 2028…

7/24/2026 · 3 min read · 48 views
Is This Giant Celestial Body a Moon, a Planet or Something in Between? The Strange Object Calls Astronomical Labels Into Question
Smithsonian Magazine

Is This Giant Celestial Body a Moon, a Planet or Something in Between? The Strange Object Calls Astronomical Labels Into Question

Is This Giant Celestial Body a Moon, a Planet or Something in Between? The Strange Object Calls Astronomical Labels…

7/24/2026 · 4 min read · 47 views
A Brief History of Hold Music, From Early Patents to the Soundtrack of Customer-Service Purgatory
Smithsonian Magazine

A Brief History of Hold Music, From Early Patents to the Soundtrack of Customer-Service Purgatory

A Brief History of Hold Music, From Early Patents to the Soundtrack of Customer-Service Purgatory Sixty years ago,…

7/24/2026 · 10 min read · 44 views
Mangroves Are Key to Coastal Ecosystems. See 20 Breathtaking Photos That Reveal How the Trees Support Wildlife and Face Threats
Smithsonian Magazine

Mangroves Are Key to Coastal Ecosystems. See 20 Breathtaking Photos That Reveal How the Trees Support Wildlife and Face Threats

See 20 Breathtaking Photos That Reveal How the Trees Support Wildlife and Face Threats The Mangrove Photography Awards…

7/24/2026 · 6 min read · 46 views
Students in Florida Discovered a 400-Year-Old Intact Pot That Reveals Conflict Among Indigenous, Spanish and English Powers
Smithsonian Magazine

Students in Florida Discovered a 400-Year-Old Intact Pot That Reveals Conflict Among Indigenous, Spanish and English Powers

ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source The pot was unearthed by University…

7/24/2026 · 5 min read · 45 views
Would You Chat With an A.I. 'Ghost' of a Deceased Loved One? New Research Suggests That the Tech Can Provide Comfort and Closure
Smithsonian Magazine

Would You Chat With an A.I. 'Ghost' of a Deceased Loved One? New Research Suggests That the Tech Can Provide Comfort and Closure

Would You Chat With an A.I. ‘Ghost’ of a Deceased Loved One? New Research Suggests That the Tech Can Provide Comfort…

7/23/2026 · 4 min read · 46 views
You Can Soon Build the Sagrada Família Out of 12,060 Legos. Here's Why the Famed Basilica Is an Architectural Marvel
Smithsonian Magazine

You Can Soon Build the Sagrada Família Out of 12,060 Legos. Here's Why the Famed Basilica Is an Architectural Marvel

You Can Soon Build the Sagrada Família Out of 12,060 Legos. ShareCopy…

6/10/2026 · 4 min read · 72 views
This American Submarine Lost During WWII—Along With 83 Crew Members—Has Been Discovered in the Pacific Ocean
Smithsonian Magazine

This American Submarine Lost During WWII—Along With 83 Crew Members—Has Been Discovered in the Pacific Ocean

The USS Herring, an American submarine lost during World War II, has been discovered in the Pacific Ocean after more…

6/3/2026 · 4 min read · 100 views
Google Wants to Release 32 Million Mosquitoes in California and Florida. Here's Why
Smithsonian Magazine

Google Wants to Release 32 Million Mosquitoes in California and Florida. Here's Why

Google, through its parent company Alphabet, is seeking federal approval to release 32 million sterilized mosquitoes…

6/3/2026 · 4 min read · 78 views
Mathematicians Puzzled Over a Famous Problem for 80 Years. Now, They've Used A.I. to Identify a Clever Solution
Smithsonian Magazine

Mathematicians Puzzled Over a Famous Problem for 80 Years. Now, They've Used A.I. to Identify a Clever Solution

Mathematicians have long grappled with the unit distance problem posed by Paul Erdős in 1946. Recently, an artificial…

6/3/2026 · 7 min read · 77 views
Secrets From Centuries of Paris History Are Emerging From Archaeological Digs After the Notre-Dame Cathedral Fire
Smithsonian Magazine

Secrets From Centuries of Paris History Are Emerging From Archaeological Digs After the Notre-Dame Cathedral Fire

Archaeological excavations near Notre-Dame Cathedral are revealing significant historical artifacts as part of a…

6/3/2026 · 4 min read · 80 views
Smithsonian Magazine Presents: America at 250—The Revolutionary Spark
Smithsonian Magazine

Smithsonian Magazine Presents: America at 250—The Revolutionary Spark

On the morning of January 8, 1790, the first president of the United States strode into Federal Hall in New York City…

6/3/2026 · 2 min read · 73 views
The American Revolution’s Overlooked Influence? Physics. How 'Common Sense' Spelled Out Astronomical Expectations for a New Nation
Smithsonian Magazine

The American Revolution’s Overlooked Influence? Physics. How 'Common Sense' Spelled Out Astronomical Expectations for a New Nation

The American Revolution was influenced by physics, particularly Isaac Newton's theories, as seen in Thomas Paine's…

6/3/2026 · 15 min read · 79 views
Archaeologists Excavating a Monastery in Spain Identified the Remains of a 14th-Century Queen—and Multiple Skeletons Buried in the Wrong Graves
Smithsonian Magazine

Archaeologists Excavating a Monastery in Spain Identified the Remains of a 14th-Century Queen—and Multiple Skeletons Buried in the Wrong Graves

Archaeologists in Spain have uncovered the remains of 14th-century Queen Elisenda of Montcada during excavations at…

6/3/2026 · 6 min read · 89 views
Original 'Star Trek' Enterprise Model Resurfaces Decades After It Went Missing
Smithsonian Magazine

Original 'Star Trek' Enterprise Model Resurfaces Decades After It Went Missing

The original model of the USS Starship Enterprise has been returned to Eugene Roddenberry Jr., the son of the show's…

5/30/2026 · 4 min read · 81 views
Four Rare Guam Kingfisher Chicks Hatch at Virginia Facility, Making an 'Incredibly Valuable' Addition to the Small Population of Extinct-in-the-Wild Birds
Smithsonian Magazine

Four Rare Guam Kingfisher Chicks Hatch at Virginia Facility, Making an 'Incredibly Valuable' Addition to the Small Population of Extinct-in-the-Wild Birds

Four Guam kingfisher chicks, also known as sihek, have hatched at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in…

5/29/2026 · 6 min read · 111 views
These 600-Year-Old Chinese Surgical Instruments Are Coated in an Early Local Anesthetic—Carefully Extracted From a Poisonous Plant
Smithsonian Magazine

These 600-Year-Old Chinese Surgical Instruments Are Coated in an Early Local Anesthetic—Carefully Extracted From a Poisonous Plant

Recent research has revealed that 600-year-old Chinese surgical instruments were coated with an early local anesthetic…

5/29/2026 · 4 min read · 74 views
Shakespeare Referenced Dozens of Bird Species in His Work. This Artist Has Made It Her Mission to Paint Them All
Smithsonian Magazine

Shakespeare Referenced Dozens of Bird Species in His Work. This Artist Has Made It Her Mission to Paint Them All

Shakespeare Referenced Dozens of Bird Species in His Work. During the conversation, while trying to quantify the…

5/29/2026 · 7 min read · 71 views
Happy, an Asian Elephant Who Demonstrated That Her Species Might Be Self-Aware, Dies at 55 at the Bronx Zoo
Smithsonian Magazine

Happy, an Asian Elephant Who Demonstrated That Her Species Might Be Self-Aware, Dies at 55 at the Bronx Zoo

Happy, an Asian elephant at the Bronx Zoo, was euthanized at the age of 55 after declining health. She was known for…

5/29/2026 · 5 min read · 72 views
Using Colorful Dog Kibble, Artists Turn 'Mona Lisa,' 'The Scream' and 'The Kiss' Into Museum Masterpieces That Man's Best Friend Can Appreciate
Smithsonian Magazine

Using Colorful Dog Kibble, Artists Turn 'Mona Lisa,' 'The Scream' and 'The Kiss' Into Museum Masterpieces That Man's Best Friend Can Appreciate

Sisters Lauren and Samantha Treadwell have created an exhibition at the AKC Museum of the Dog featuring famous…

5/29/2026 · 3 min read · 72 views
Meet Hilma af Klint, the Occultist Who Believed Otherworldly Spirits Told Her What to Paint. Now, She's Considered One of History's First Abstract Artists
Smithsonian Magazine

Meet Hilma af Klint, the Occultist Who Believed Otherworldly Spirits Told Her What to Paint. Now, She's Considered One of History's First Abstract Artists

Hilma af Klint was a Swedish painter who created abstract works influenced by her belief in communicating with…

5/29/2026 · 6 min read · 75 views
Tyrannosaurus Rex and Other Terrifying Predatory Dinosaurs Had Itty-Bitty Arms. Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out Why
Smithsonian Magazine

Tyrannosaurus Rex and Other Terrifying Predatory Dinosaurs Had Itty-Bitty Arms. Scientists May Have Finally Figured Out Why

A new study has revealed that the tiny arms of theropod dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex may be an evolutionary…

5/29/2026 · 4 min read · 76 views
See the New Quarter Honoring Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence That Enters Circulation Next Week, Ahead of America’s 250th Birthday
Smithsonian Magazine

See the New Quarter Honoring Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence That Enters Circulation Next Week, Ahead of America’s 250th Birthday

A new quarter honoring Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence will enter circulation on June 1, 2026.…

5/29/2026 · 5 min read · 76 views
Pigeon Bones Found at an Ancient Cyprus Settlement Reveal That Our Relationship With These Birds Began Earlier Than We Thought
Smithsonian Magazine

Pigeon Bones Found at an Ancient Cyprus Settlement Reveal That Our Relationship With These Birds Began Earlier Than We Thought

A recent study reveals that humans have been in a relationship with pigeons for at least 3,400 years, pushing back the…

5/29/2026 · 4 min read · 74 views
You’re Guaranteed to Spot at Least One Gorgeous Giraffe in Each of These 15 Stunning and Awe-Inspiring Images
Smithsonian Magazine

You’re Guaranteed to Spot at Least One Gorgeous Giraffe in Each of These 15 Stunning and Awe-Inspiring Images

Koushik Chatterjee, Kenya, 2025 As the tallest land animal in the world, giraffes are one of the most recognizable…

5/29/2026 · 3 min read · 55 views
Ona Judge Escaped From Slavery While George Washington Was Busy Eating Dinner Inside. Now, a New Mural Honors Her Legacy
Smithsonian Magazine

Ona Judge Escaped From Slavery While George Washington Was Busy Eating Dinner Inside. Now, a New Mural Honors Her Legacy

A new mural in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, honors Ona Judge, who escaped from slavery while George Washington dined in…

5/28/2026 · 9 min read · 73 views
A Smaller Than Usual Blue Moon Will End the Month With a Lunar Spectacle. Here's What to Know About the Full Micromoon
Smithsonian Magazine

A Smaller Than Usual Blue Moon Will End the Month With a Lunar Spectacle. Here's What to Know About the Full Micromoon

A blue moon will occur on May 31, marking the second full moon of the month. This particular blue moon will be…

5/28/2026 · 4 min read · 82 views
No Mere Muse, This Influential Surrealist Artist and Feminist Gets Her Due in a New Biopic and Art Exhibitions
Smithsonian Magazine

No Mere Muse, This Influential Surrealist Artist and Feminist Gets Her Due in a New Biopic and Art Exhibitions

Leonora Carrington, a notable Surrealist artist, is being recognized through a new biopic and art exhibitions. The…

5/28/2026 · 5 min read · 75 views
Giant, Destructive Hail Is Becoming More Common with Climate Change, Study Says
Smithsonian Magazine

Giant, Destructive Hail Is Becoming More Common with Climate Change, Study Says

A new study published in the journal Nature finds that giant hailstones will become more common as the climate warms…

5/28/2026 · 4 min read · 69 views
How Do You Honor a Fallen Tree? In England, a Sound Sculpture Will Broadcast the 'Voice' of a Beloved Sycamore Felled Near Hadrian’s Wall
Smithsonian Magazine

How Do You Honor a Fallen Tree? In England, a Sound Sculpture Will Broadcast the 'Voice' of a Beloved Sycamore Felled Near Hadrian’s Wall

A new multimedia artwork titled 'The People’s Tree' will honor the iconic sycamore tree that was illegally felled in…

5/27/2026 · 3 min read · 69 views
NASA Unveils New Details About the Future Moon Base and the Missions Laying the Groundwork to Build It
Smithsonian Magazine

NASA Unveils New Details About the Future Moon Base and the Missions Laying the Groundwork to Build It

NASA has announced new details about its future moon base and the missions that will support its construction. The…

5/27/2026 · 4 min read · 74 views
See the Stunning Medieval Manuscript Telling Tales of King Arthur, in Ink and Polished Gold, That's Headed to Auction
Smithsonian Magazine

See the Stunning Medieval Manuscript Telling Tales of King Arthur, in Ink and Polished Gold, That's Headed to Auction

A medieval manuscript detailing the tales of King Arthur is set to be auctioned in July. Created between 1290 and…

5/27/2026 · 5 min read · 76 views
In 1776, Angry New Yorkers Tore Down a Statue of George III With a Revolutionary Fervor. A New Exhibition Lets You Do It, Too
Smithsonian Magazine

In 1776, Angry New Yorkers Tore Down a Statue of George III With a Revolutionary Fervor. A New Exhibition Lets You Do It, Too

A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York allows visitors to virtually recreate the iconic moment when…

5/27/2026 · 6 min read · 62 views
From Casa Vicens to the Sagrada Familia, Architect Antoni Gaudí Left an Indelible Mark on Barcelona
Smithsonian Magazine

From Casa Vicens to the Sagrada Familia, Architect Antoni Gaudí Left an Indelible Mark on Barcelona

Antoni Gaudí was a pioneering Catalan architect who left a lasting impact on Barcelona with his unique and innovative…

5/27/2026 · 10 min read · 60 views
An Illuminating New Museum Hidden Beneath the Lincoln Memorial Is Set to Open to the Public. Here's What You Can Expect
Smithsonian Magazine

An Illuminating New Museum Hidden Beneath the Lincoln Memorial Is Set to Open to the Public. Here's What You Can Expect

A new museum beneath the Lincoln Memorial is set to open to the public on June 25, 2026. The $69 million project will…

5/27/2026 · 4 min read · 68 views
Scientists Used A.I. to Redesign a Microbe's Machinery to Function Without a Key Ingredient of Life
Smithsonian Magazine

Scientists Used A.I. to Redesign a Microbe's Machinery to Function Without a Key Ingredient of Life

Researchers have utilized artificial intelligence to redesign a bacterium's machinery to function without a crucial…

5/27/2026 · 4 min read · 65 views
Daddy Longlegs Seem to Hunt Frogs in South America, Revealing the Gangly Arachnids as Overlooked Predators
Smithsonian Magazine

Daddy Longlegs Seem to Hunt Frogs in South America, Revealing the Gangly Arachnids as Overlooked Predators

A recent study has revealed that daddy longlegs, or harvestmen, actively hunt frogs in South America, challenging…

5/27/2026 · 6 min read · 67 views
Soviet Cosmonauts Trained at Star City as They Raced to Beat America to the Moon. Now, a New TV Series Imagines What Happened Behind the Base's Walls
Smithsonian Magazine

Soviet Cosmonauts Trained at Star City as They Raced to Beat America to the Moon. Now, a New TV Series Imagines What Happened Behind the Base's Walls

Apple TV’s new series “Star City” is a spinoff of the alternate‑history show “For All Mankind,” focusing on the Soviet…

5/27/2026 · 11 min read · 75 views

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