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Ask Smithsonian: Why Do Geese Fly in a V?

Geese have known something for millions of years that humans have only recently figured out for themselves.




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Transporting a Live Elephant Is Exactly as Difficult as You Would Imagine

The team at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy needs to transport Kinani, a blind male elephant, to a 4,000-acre compound where he'll be able to roam freely without disturbing other wildlife. Weighing in at nearly eight tons, it'll take careful maneuvering and custom equipment to bring the animal to his new sanctuary.




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Ask Smithsonian: Why Do We Sneeze?

Feel a sneeze coming on? Don’t hold it in! In this one-minute video, our Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze, explains why we sneeze.




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Smithsonian Magazine Video Contest Highlights

Five categories (People, Arts, Nature, Travel and Mobile) and a grand prize of $2,000.




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Ask Smithsonian: What Would Happen if the Yellowstone Volcano Erupted?

Have you ever wondered why Yellowstone is full of hot springs, bubbling mudpots and geysers like Old Faithful? In this one-minute video, Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze explains the supervolcano that lies beneath this national park and answers the life-or-death question: Will it erupt in a fiery inferno anytime soon?




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A Fascinating Structure Inside Ancient Tomb: "False Door" to the Underworld

Archaeologists uncover an exciting find: a tomb that predates most of the others in the area by around 2,000 years. Inside, is a series of perfectly preserved inscriptions on a panel known as a "false door’."




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Smithsonian Curator Explains How Athletes Turn Social & Political Issues into National Conversations

Atlantic staff writer Frank Foer interviews Damion Thomas about athletes moving from a position of apathy to engagement




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How to Sweat Like an Olympian

Have you ever felt embarrassed by the need to carry a towel, or even a fresh shirt, with you during the most sweltering months of the year? You shouldn’t. Sweating is one of the most remarkable ways our bodies protect themselves when the mercury heads north. With summer temperatures spiking around the world as the sweat-filled Olympic Games begin in Paris, we’re joined by Sarah Everts, a Smithsonian contributor and the author a marvelous book called The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration. She explains why the body’s thermostat is so ingenious, and how it cools athletes—and the rest of us. Plus: A series of snack-sized anecdotes about the Olympics! Let us know what you think of our show, and how we can make it better, by completing our There's More to That listener survey here (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfS90zjBZ2oGa9JxVa-R5affKcOHaR2-ib1_KZeWm3HDQXJIA/viewform) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . Read Smithsonian magazine's coverage of the Olympics (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-paris-summer-olympics-smithsonians-guide-to-the-games-2948430/) , past and present, here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-the-olympics-gave-out-medals-for-art-6878965/) , here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-wheaties-became-breakfast-champions-180978246/) , here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/breaking-will-debut-at-the-summer-olympics-180984199/) , and here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-graphic-artists-olympic-pictograms-changed-urban-design-forever-180978256/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Rye Dorsey, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz  Music by APM Music.




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Fronterizo Fandango

Credit: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage




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South African Great Whites

Learn about this often misunderstood creature




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Meet the Grand Prize Winner of the 21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

After reviewing more than 30,000 photos, the editors of Smithsonian Magazine are proud to announce the Grand Prize Winner. #shorts




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Meet the WWII Battalion of Black Women That Inspired an Army Base’s New Name

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was the only unit comprised entirely of Black women to have been deployed overseas during World War II, and it had served a critical function: clearing the backlog of mail that marked the only line of communication between American soldiers in Europe and their loved ones back home. In this episode, we speak with retired Army Colonel Edna Cummings, who made it her business to get the 6888 their belated recognition, and with Smithsonian magazine senior writer Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, who wrote about Col. Cummings' quest (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-all-black-female-WWII-unit-saved-morale-battlefield-180981540/) for the March 2023 issue of Smithsonian. NOTE: In the interval since we recorded our interview with Col. Cummings, another veteran from the 6888 has died. With the passing of Crescencia J. Garcia last month at the age of 103, there are now five women who served in the 6888 during World War II who remain alive. Learn more about the women of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion at the Women of the 6888th site (https://www.womenofthe6888th.org/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.




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Ask Smithsonian: Why Did Ancient Greeks and Romans Lie Down to Eat?

Reclining and dining in the ancient classical world




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Astrophysicist Michelle Thaller On Understanding Our Place in the Universe

Autodesk vice president Brian Mathews talks with the NASA science communicator about the search for life on other planets and why it’s important




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Ask Smithsonian: Can Cats Really Make Rats Into Zombies?

The science behind rat zombies




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Esperanza Spalding's New Take on Jazz

The American Ingenuity Award winner on the connection between history and music




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The Stunningly Clear Features on the Lindow Man Mummy

Lindow Man, believed to be a victim of human sacrifice, remains one of the best preserved ancient bodies in all of Europe. The level of detail on his face is staggering—not bad for a 2,000-year-old mummy




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Music During the American Civil War

The musicians of the Union and Confederate armies provided strong memories of the homes left behind for the battlefield.




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Mysterious Octopus Pranks Its Prey

Rather than pouncing on its prey, the larger Pacific striped octopus extends a tentacle and taps its victim, startling it into the octopus's deadly embrace. (Video courtesy Roy Caldwell, UC Berkeley)




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Colombian Music: Turco Gil's Accordion Academy

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/colombia-dispatches.html In Valledupar, Colombia, Turco Gil operates a school to teach local children how to play vallenato music. Listen to Juan David Atencia, a blind 9-year-old prodigy play the accordion.




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Ask Smithsonian: Is Fire a Solid, Liquid or Gas?

It's been helping humans in myriad ways for over a million years, our host Eric Schulze has more




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10 Enchanting Butterfly Facts Revealed!

Discover astonishing butterfly facts and delight in learning about the superlatives of butterflies, from the largest to the smallest to the fastest. Whether you're a nature enthusiast, an avid butterfly lover, or simply someone looking to expand their knowledge, this video is sure to leave you spellbound. Subscribe to our channel for more exciting videos exploring the wonders of the natural world. Don't miss out on future uploads where we uncover the secrets and hidden beauty of various flora and fauna, aiming to instill a deeper appreciation for the enchanting world we live in. --- Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra Theobald




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Ask Smithsonian: What's the Point of Earwax?

The science of earwax in under a minute




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Meet Neal Cassady as Dean Moriarty

In this clip from the documentary, see how Cassady embodied the spirit of Jack Kerouac's iconic character from On the Road




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The Scurlocks and Black Washington

For over 80 years, the Scurlock photography studio catalogued the lives of the black middle class of Washington, D.C (The exhibit, The Scurlock Studio and Black Washington: Picturing the Promise, is on view at the National Museum of American History through November 15, 2009. Thanks to Lonnie Bunch, Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which co-organized the exhibit). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/The-Scurlock-Studio-Picture-of-Prosperity.html




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The Photography of Timothy O'Sullivan

After his start capturing the horrors of the Civil War for Mathew Brady's studio, 19th century photographer Timothy O'Sullivan uncovered the beauty of the great expanses of the American west




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Can You Learn The Steps to This 18th-Century Dance?

Julie Montagu, the American-born Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, is meeting up with an expert on 18th century dance. Her aim is to learn about the dances performed in that era.




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Space Archaeologist Sarah Parcak Uses Satellites to Uncover Ancient Egyptian Ruins

Sarah Parcak | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winner for History This tech-savvy researcher of our past uses satellites and other remote-sensing tools to discover and explore stunning new evidence of lost cultures—including, just this year, another possible Viking site in North America. In addition, she has located an astonishing number of ancient Egyptian remains—thousands of settlements, lost tombs and hidden pyramids. A Yale- and Cambridge-trained Egyptologist and archaeologist, Parcak is a professor of anthropology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she serves as founding director of the Laboratory for Global Observation. Read more about Parcak’s work: http://smithmag.co/ZuwTGP | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqy




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Scotland's Most Mysterious Stone Age Settlements

The Orkneys, an archipelago of islands off the northern coast of Scotland, are home to some of the greatest neolithic treasures in western Europe: from the settlement of Skara Brae to the Ness of Brodgar.




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Ancient Lizards Revealed in 3D Scans

A short movie explores 3D scans of some of the mid-Cretaceous lizards found trapped in amber. (courtesy of Daza et al., Science Advances)




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3-D Scanning: Bringing History Back to Life

More on 3D scanning: http://j.mp/JM43KD Specialists are using new technology to unravel a mystery in the Smithsonian collections.




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Historic Newsreel Footage of the Cuban Missile Crisis

Tensions intensified between Cuba and the United States in October 1962 as they appear destined to plunge the planet in global war




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Ask Smithsonian: What’s the Difference Between Bacteria and Viruses?

The answer…and why you should care




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The Meaning Behind Hula

Paul Theroux's Quest to Define Hawaii: http://j.mp/HPVhp8 For Hawaiians, both native and those who have made it their adopted home, the Hula is more than just a dance, it is a artistic representation of the islands themselves




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Painter Arcimboldo and His Unique Style of Portraiture

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Arcimboldos-Feast-for-the-Eyes.html The Hapsburg Dynasty's court painter's unique style of portraiture, using fruits, vegetables and animals to compose his faces -- has fascinated artists and the general public for centuries.




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Tony Antonelli Paving the Way for Human Exploration of Deep Space




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In Conversation: The Descendants of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass

The two discussed their ancestors’ legacy more than 150 years after the famous figures both attended the Seneca Falls Convention. (Credit: Drew Gardner)




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A sea lion propels itself through the water at Smithsonian's National Zoo

Credit: Leftwich Lab




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NMNH Turns Into Grand Central Station With Flash Mob

Read more at http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/2011/06/dancing-splash-mob-floods-the-natural-history-museum In an effort to celebrate World Oceans Day, organizers planned a "splash" mob at the National Museum of Natural History's Sant Ocean Hall.




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Remembering the Dark Days of the Cuban Missile Crisis

What did analysts find in the recon photographs from the Cuban Missile Crisis? http://j.mp/RwFMbj Former CIA analyst Dino Brugioni was one of the first to spot missiles in Cuba in October 1962.




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You Can Test Out Life on Mars in This State

Soaring over Utah, it's easy to imagine that you've left Earth and have stepped onto another planet.




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This 1935 Florida Hurricane Had a Devastating Impact

On September 2, 1935, Florida was hit by the most intense hurricane ever recorded—a category 5. Despite early warnings by the weather authorities, a calamitous loss of life shocked the nation




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Ask Smithsonian: Five False ‘Facts’ About the Human Body

Think you know everything about your own body? Test your smarts against this one-minute video, where Ask Smithsonian host Eric Schulze uncovers the facts behind five popular myths about the human body.




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Buzz Aldrin and Thomas Dolby Perform "She Blinded Me With Science"

Some of the brightest minds in the world gathered at Smithsonian's "The Future is Here" conference to discuss the great triumphs and future innovations in science and technology http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ideas-innovations/The-Future-is-Here.html




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Yearlong Migration of the Kirtland's Warbler

Credit: Nathan Cooper




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An Algorithm Predicts the Images in a Dream

A learning simulation, combined with fMRI readings, is able to predict the visualizations seen by a dreamer in real time




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Ask Smithsonian: What’s the Deepest We’ve Ever Dug Into the Earth?

What’s the world record for deepest vertical dig? Go ahead, take a guess. We bet you won’t come close to the surprising answer unearthed in this one-minute video by Ask Smithsonian host, Eric Schulze. Then, stick around to find out what scientists found lurking below.




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Greenland Video: The Daily Life in Niaqornat

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/In-Search-of-the-Mysterious-Narwhal.html Staff writer Abigail Tucker relates her experiences reporting from the small Arctic village of narwhal hunters.




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U.S. Marine Corps Archival Footage: 27th and 28th Marines Embarkation at Iwo Jima

Recently digitized footage showing Marines loading onto LST with supplies on equipment and waiting on the beach, among other things. (U.S. Marine Corps History Division and Moving Image Research Collections, University of South Carolina)




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Ask Smithsonian: What Is the Origin of Applause?

Put your hands together for our host, Eric Schulze, as he dives into history to answer your questions.