Nov 19 Smithsonian closing museums and zoo again amid COVID-19 spike By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press In response to rising COVID-19 infection numbers, the Smithsonian Institution is indefinitely shutting down operations at all its facilities, effective Monday and affecting seven museums, plus the National Zoo. Continue reading
Jun 11 Volunteers, Smithsonian want to save White House protest art By Ashraf Khalil, Nathan Ellgren, Associated Press With much of the temporary fencing around the White House coming down, there’s an effort to preserve the hundreds of pieces of instant American history. Continue reading
Jul 18 Watch 9:34 Lonnie Bunch on how the Smithsonian can help America understand its identity By Judy Woodruff, Anne Azzi Davenport Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, has just become the 14th head of the Smithsonian Institution -- and its first black leader. He sits down with Judy Woodruff to discuss the challenges… Continue watching
May 31 Watch 7:04 At Smithsonian’s renovated Hall of Fossils, dinosaurs are just the beginning By William Brangham, Kira Wakeam The dinosaur bones at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History now boast new accommodations. After a four-year, $125 million renovation, the Hall of Fossils now features state-of-the-art technology and new exhibits housing more than 700 specimens. As William… Continue watching
May 31 Dinosaurs are back with a climate change warning at the Smithsonian By Vicky Stein Sneak a peek at the Smithsonian's new Hall of Fossils. After a four-year renovation, the hall brings back old favorites and introduces lessons for humanity's future. Continue reading
Oct 19 How the Smithsonian helped the FBI in the case of stolen ruby slippers By Julia Griffin Conservators put the FBI’s slippers through a battery of scientific tests. Their conclusion? These weren’t just any pair of heels. Continue reading
Aug 12 Skin poaching of Asian elephants, a crisis unfolding in Myanmar, could crush the species By Nsikan Akpan Asian elephants are 10 times more endangered than African savanna elephant and facing a new serious threat. Poachers are taking the skin of Asian elephants in Myanmar and turning it into ruby red jewelry. Continue reading
Oct 20 Watch 3:51 Keeping priceless pieces of space history safe By PBS News Hour In our NewsHour Shares moment of the day, nearly five decades after the historic Apollo 11 Command Module brought man to the moon and back, the spacecraft is part of a new adventure in a four-stop traveling exhibition across America. Continue watching
Oct 17 Apollo 11’s capsule went to the moon. Here’s how the Smithsonian prepares it for a shorter trip By Julia Griffin The Smithsonian Institution is prepping the 9,000-pound capsule used during Apollo 11 for a two-year road trip. Continue reading
May 24 Thar she grows! How whales got so big By Andrew Wagner Using computer models based on a Smithsonian's fossil collection, evolutionary biologists now believe whales' gigantic size was driven by climate change. Continue reading