The Best of Smithsonian Magazine

A passion for the infinitesimal leads a photographer to discover the countless creatures that live unseen in the ocean

Chantal Akerman’s bleak drama "Jeanne Dielman" tops the prestigious Sight and Sound poll

The celebrated architect Hector Guimard was also a passionate advocate for workers’ rights, even as he honed his reputation in the business of luxury

The term describes behavior that's "unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly or greedy"

The tool went viral first for generating flattering portraits—and then for igniting ethical concerns

Thousands of years before Monopoly, people were playing games like Senet, Patolli and Chaturanga

Players of all ages will have to make room in their closets for these selections

What clownfish stepfathers and Dad-of-the-Year foxes teach us about paternal neurochemistry in the animal kingdom

An archaeologist works to find out how much fish ancient Greeks ate

Number three: Fireworks are just chemical reactions

A scholar traces the folk figure's history from the Neolithic era to today

«celebrate themes of resurrection and rebirth. The flowers are blooming, birds are laying eggs and baby bunnies are hopping about.»

For starters, one of the oldest coasters in America carried coal before it carried passengers

Smithsonian's James Deutsch says that behind the character in the new Marvel Studios series lies the oft-told story of "guile" outsmarting authority

Fact number 3: In some places at some times, fireflies synchronize their flashing

In Washington State, the race is on to save a diminutive bunny as wildfires threaten its already shrinking habitat

During WWII, Ukrainian nationalists saw the Nazis as liberators from Soviet oppression. Now, Russia is using that chapter to paint Ukraine as a Nazi nation

Thrilling discoveries, hurdles in the fight against Covid and advancements in space exploration defined the past year

From a detective story on the origins of Covid-19 to a narrative that imagines a fateful day for dinosaurs, these works affected us the most this year

These evidence-based strategies can help you achieve healthy work-life balance

New titles explore the mysterious lives of eels, the science of fear and our connections to the stars

Cooper Hewitt’s new show taps into the collective consciousness of activists, app developers, artists and architects to envision a way forward

In the early 1900s, newfound empathy for avian creatures helped wildlife observation displace dispassionate killing

Back in the 19th century, coal was the nation's newfangled fuel source—and it faced the same resistance as wind and solar today