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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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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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Inside the Epic Artemis Moon Missions

The Artemis program represents the pinnacle of NASA's mind-boggling technological capabilities. Learn about the groundbreaking achievements and breathtaking lunar landscapes that await us in this new era of space exploration. --- For more videos from Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/ Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra Theobald




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How OK Go Has Revolutionized the Music Video

OK Go, Damian Kulash Jr. and Trish Sie | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winners for Visual Arts Specializing in the whimsical and unexpected, these artistic dynamos have collaborated on some of the most arresting music videos ever made. This year’s “Upside Down & Inside Out” showcases the OK Go band members in a gravity-defying gambol shot aboard a Russian jetliner flying parabolas to induce periods of weightlessness. (“Here It Goes Again,” a treadmill ballet released in 2006, won a Grammy Award for best short-form video.) OK Go, formed in Chicago in 1998 and now based in Los Angeles, features Tim Nordwind (bass), Andy Ross (guitar), Dan Konopka (drums) and Damian Kulash Jr. (vocals and guitar). “Upside Down & Inside Out” is the fourth video that Kulash has co-directed with Sie, an acclaimed choreographer and film director who is also his sister. Read more about their work: http://smithmag.co/HZ8vzr | #IngenuityAwards And more about the American Ingenuity Awards: http://smithmag.co/77xPqy




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3D Imaging of the Apollo 11 Capsule - Inside




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The Art of Video Games

Chris Melissinos, guest curator of an exhibit about video games at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, explains what makes the genre an art form




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The Ultimate Skywatching Guide for Every Season

Whether you're a passionate astronomer or a beginner eager to explore the cosmos, join us as we deep-dive into seasonal skywatching. Gain valuable insights into identifying meteors, stars, and fascinating deep-sky objects that grace the night sky. Interested in learning more? Check out this piece from Smithsonian Magazine on the celestial events to watch in 2024: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/nine-dazzling-celestial-events-to-watch-in-2024-180983505/ And don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more exciting videos exploring the wonders of the natural world. --- Digital Editorial Director: Brian Wolly Supervising Producer & Scriptwriter: Michelle Mehrtens Video Editor: Sierra Theobald




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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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Ask Smithsonian: Why Does My Nose Run When It’s Cold Outside?

Host Eric Schulze opens the floodgates of knowledge to reveal the answer.




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The John Marshall Ju/'hoan Bushman Film and Video Collection, 1950-2000

Watch a selection from the Smithsonian Institution's submission for the UNESCO Memory of the World Register of historic artifacts




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Inside American History’s Dollhouse

Curator Larry Bird takes you inside the history of the Bradford dollhouse




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The Freedom Riders History

In the spring of 1961, black and white civil rights activists rode buses to protest the segregationist policies of the Deep South (Marian Holmes, Brian Wolly, Photos courtesy of Corbis, Getty Images and Library of Congress, Audio clips courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways. Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-freedom-riders-then-and-now-45351758/




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Yosemite Slideshow

Carleton Watkins' 19th-Century Photographs of Yosemite Valley (Produced and Narrated by: Brendan McCabe. Text by Bruce Hathaway). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/john-muirs-yosemite-10737/




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Anus-Breathing Animals and Pigeon-Guided Missiles: Ig Nobel Prizes Reward Unusual but Valuable Science

The annual award ceremony featured costumes, songs and paper airplanes as scientists recognized comedic research across ten disciplines




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The Hotel Chelsea's Iconic Neon Sign Will Be Divided Into Pieces and Sold One Letter at a Time

The vertical sign stretched across three stories of the Manhattan hotel, which once welcomed the likes of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Andy Warhol and Janis Joplin




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Did Earth Once Have a Ring Like Saturn? Geologists Find Evidence for a Halo of Orbiting Space Rocks 466 Million Years Ago

A ring could explain a mysterious arrangement of impact craters near the equator and might even have caused an ice age, according to a new study




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DNA Reveals Identity of Officer on the Lost Franklin Expedition—and His Remains Show Signs of Cannibalism

Researchers recently identified James Fitzjames, a captain on the ill-fated HMS Erebus that went looking for the Northwest Passage in 1845




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This Newly Discovered Sunken Warship Served on Both Sides of World War II

The USS Stewart was purposefully sunk off the coast of California after the war




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‘Pride and Prejudice’ Gets a New Adaptation: an Interactive A.I. Avatar

Lizzy, the avatar based on the novel’s Elizabeth Bennet, will hold period-accurate conversations with visitors at Jane Austen’s cottage home




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Two Lions Went on a Man-Eating Spree in 1898. Now, DNA Evidence Reveals Their Diets

The notorious predators, nicknamed the “Man-Eaters of Tsavo,” terrorized railway workers in Kenya for roughly nine months




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New 'Portal' Opens in Philadelphia, Connecting Residents to Cities Around the World With Identical Installations

The looming sculpture features a small camera above an eight-foot-tall screen, which displays live video from Lithuania, Poland and Ireland




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Biden Issues a 'Long Overdue' Formal Apology for Native American Boarding Schools

The president atoned for the federal government's role in forcing Native American children into boarding schools, where many were abused and more than 900 died




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Archaeologists Discover Breathtaking Wall Paintings Frozen in Time Inside a Modest Home in Ancient Pompeii

Despite its unusually small size, the newly unearthed House of Phaedra is covered in elaborate frescos depicting mythological scenes




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This Ancient Paw Print on a Pottery Fragment in Jerusalem Is the Oldest Known Evidence of a Cat Kneading

The deep penetrations suggest that the feline was pressing its claws into the clay, a behavior sometimes known as "making biscuits"




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Jill Biden Unveils a Reimagined White House Tour, Which Invites Visitors to 'Touch, Hear and See' History

The public tours of the historic residence hadn't been overhauled in decades. For two years, the first lady's office has been working to make them more interactive and educational




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Tour Guide at Medieval Manor House Discovers Mysterious Etchings Meant to Repel Evil, Trap Demons and Curse Enemies

A "staggering array" of markings have been hiding in plain sight carved into the walls of Gainsborough Old Hall, a 500-year-old home in Lincolnshire, England




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DNA Evidence Is Rewriting the Stories of Victims Who Perished in Pompeii Nearly 2,000 Years Ago

A new study has shattered historians' long-held assumptions about some of the people who died in Mount Vesuvius' eruption in 79 C.E.




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Video game shines light on Indigenous history and voices

Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) was developed in Montreal by a local studio that collaborated closely with Indigenous designers and consultants.




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Validating Single-Guide RNA for Aedes aegypti Gene Editing

Creating transgenic mosquitoes allows for mechanistic studies of basic mosquito biology and the development of novel vector control strategies. CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing has revolutionized gene editing, including in mosquitoes. This protocol details part of the gene editing process of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes via CRISPR–Cas9, through testing and validating single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs). Gene editing activity varies depending on the sequence of sgRNAs used, so validation of sgRNA activity should be done before large-scale generation of mutants or transgenics. sgRNA is designed using online tools and synthesized in <1 h. Once mutants or transgenics are generated via embryo microinjection, sgRNA activity is validated by quick genotyping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing.




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Amplification and Identification of Vertebrate Host Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I (COI) DNA Barcoding Templates from Mosquito Blood Meals

Mosquitoes take blood meals from a diverse range of host animals and their host associations vary by species. Characterizing these associations is an important element of the transmission dynamics of mosquito-vectored pathogens. To characterize mosquito host associations, various molecular techniques have been developed, which are collectively referred to as blood meal analysis. DNA barcoding has diverse biological applications and is well-suited to mosquito blood meal analysis. The standard DNA barcoding marker for animals is a 5' fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene. A major advantage of this marker is its taxonomic coverage in DNA sequence reference databases, making it feasible to identify a wider range of mosquito host species than with any other gene. However, the COI gene contains high sequence variation at potential priming sites between vertebrate orders. Coupled with the need for primer sequences to be mismatched with mosquito priming sites so that annealing to mosquito DNA is inhibited, it can be difficult to design primers suitable for blood meal analysis applications. Several primers are available that perform well in mosquito blood meal analysis, annealing to priming sites for most vertebrate host taxa, but not to those of mosquitoes. Because priming site sequence variation among vertebrate taxa can cause amplification to fail, a hierarchical approach to DNA barcoding-based blood meal analysis can be applied. In such an approach, no single primer set is expected to be effective for 100% of potential host species. If amplification fails in the initial reaction, a subsequent reaction is attempted with primers that anneal to different priming sites, and so on, until amplification is successful.




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Identification of Mosquito Eggshell Proteins from Aedes aegypti by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Proteomic Analysis

The insect eggshell is a multifunctional structure with several important roles, including generating an entry point for sperm via the micropyle before oviposition, serving as an oviposition substrate attachment surface, and functioning as a protective layer during embryo development. Eggshell proteins play major roles in eggshell tanning and hardening following oviposition and provide molecular cues that define dorsal–ventral axis formation. Precise eggshell formation during ovarian follicle maturation is critical for normal embryo development and the synthesis of a defective eggshell often gives rise to inviable embryos. Therefore, simple and accurate methods for identifying eggshell proteins will facilitate our understanding of the molecular pathways regulating eggshell formation and the mechanisms underlying normal embryo development. This protocol describes how to isolate and enrich eggshells from mature oocytes of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and how to extract their eggshell proteins for liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) proteomic analysis. Although this methodology was developed for studying mosquito eggshells, it may be applicable to eggs from a variety of insects. Mosquitoes are ideal model organisms for this study as their ovarian follicle development and eggshell formation are meticulously regulated by blood feeding and their follicles develop synchronously throughout oogenesis in a time-dependent manner.




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'The anxiety in town is sky-high': Norman Wells residents hold rally over soaring fuel prices

More than 50 Norman Wells residents gathered at the Royal Canadian Legion on Thursday night to voice frustrations over high heating fuel prices.



  • News/Canada/North

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New street outreach, sobering centre in Yellowknife provide safe space for youth

Tammy Roberts, Home Base's executive director, said before these services launched, there was "no place for youth to go" other than the emergency room or to RCMP cells. 



  • News/Canada/North

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Here's what the Trump presidency could mean for the Porcupine caribou herd

With president-elect Donald Trump promising to drill in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Gwich'in are preparing to fight for the Porcupine caribou herd.



  • News/Canada/North

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'I knew I was gonna die': Yukon paraglider recounts terrifying, high-altitude mishap in India

Paraglider Ben Lewis remembers spinning around wildly as he got pulled up higher and higher into the violent storm. That was when he realized, about 6,700 metres up in the sky and still rising, that he was not likely to see his family again.



  • News/Canada/North

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Weekend gun-related incidents in Hay River, N.W.T., believed to be linked to organized crime, RCMP say

Hay River RCMP say they believe two weekend incidents, including one in which a person was shot, are linked to drugs and organized crime.



  • News/Canada/North

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Residents across river from Dawson City, Yukon, stepping up to help neighbours when emergency services limited

A group of volunteers have been providing emergency services to West Dawson residents during the periods of freeze up and break up, when there is no reliable access across the Yukon River to town.



  • News/Canada/North

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This Defeated Presidential Candidate, Once the 'Best-Known Man in America,' Died in a Sanatorium Less Than a Month After Losing the Election

Newspaper editor Horace Greeley unsuccessfully ran against incumbent Ulysses S. Grant in November 1872. Twenty-four days later, he died of unknown causes at a private mental health facility




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Inside Disney's Controversial Plan to Open a Theme Park Inspired by American History

In the early 1990s, historians and the public alike questioned how Disney's America would accurately and sensitively document the nation's thorny past




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Step inside the Saint John batik art studio of Alheri Bingi

Alheri Bingi moved to Canada from Lagos four years ago. Noticing a lack of representation of her Nigerian culture, Bingi started creating batik textile art using authentic African fabric.




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Northwestern Ontario residents share wartime stories through mementos kept for generations

CBC's Superior Morning has been gathering wartime stories from listeners leading up to Remembrance Day based on mementos they have kept for generations. Here's some of the stories residents in northwestern Ontario have shared.



  • News/Canada/Thunder Bay

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Thunder Bay, Ont., cyclist takes on 800-kilometre ride through South Africa

Dave Campbell of Thunder Bay, Ont., is resting his legs after taking the ride of his life through the Western Cape of South Africa in the 800-kilometre bikepacking 'Rhino Run.' Here are some of the photos he shared from his six-day expedition at the end of October.



  • News/Canada/Thunder Bay

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Fire at central P.E.I. roofing supply company Valley Truss deemed accidental

The Prince Edward Island Fire Marshals Office has concluded its investigation into a massive fire at Valley Truss and Metal in Kensington in October.



  • News/Canada/PEI

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Canadian steel industry confident it can avoid potential Trump tariffs

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has promised sweeping global tariffs in his next term, but the Canadian Steel Producers Association remains confident that the industry can come out unscathed.



  • News/Canada/Sudbury

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Wildland firefighters say bill meant to provide workplace health benefits falls short

Wildland firefighters were at Queen’s Park on Wednesday to outline why they feel a new bill that extends protections for cancers, heart injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder linked to their occupation falls short.



  • News/Canada/Sudbury

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Corruption revelations, Trump presidency loom over this year's COP climate conference

The crowning achievement at last year's COP climate conference in Dubai was a global consensus on the need to "transition away from fossil fuels." This year, the conference had not even started yet before BBC News exposed senior organizers of using the event to arrange potential deals for fossil fuel expansion. The recent election of Donald Trump in the U.S. has added an additional layer of uncertainty to this year's meeting.




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Swiss museum exhibit features 1820s Métis saddle alongside modern beaded items

A Métis pad saddle from the early 1800s is on display at the Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History in Lausanne, Switzerland, sitting alongside contemporary beadwork created by other Red River Métis artists. 




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Death of woman, 23, in Norway House, Man., considered suspicious: RCMP

RCMP say a 23-year-old woman was found dead in a residence in central Manitoba on Tuesday. 



  • News/Canada/Manitoba

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Projecting $50M deficit, Mohawk College president warns of layoffs, blames government policies

The president of Mohawk College says a drop in international student enrolment at the Hamilton institution is facing a projected $50 million deficit in the 2025-2026 school year. That’s going to mean layoffs, he said.



  • News/Canada/Hamilton

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6 Saskatoon police officers suspended after 2 separate incidents

Saskatchewan's police watchdog is investigating an incident that led to the suspension of five Saskatoon police officers and a sixth officer is also off work because of an unrelated incident.



  • News/Canada/Saskatoon