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Epilachna chrysomelina

A macro depiction of a beetle called Epilachna chrysomelina




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Crabeater Seal swimming on a snowy day in Antarctica

A Crabeater Seal (Lobodon carcinophaga) swimming by an iceberg in Antarctica on a snowy day.




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watching the sky

a little is watching the sky




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Havana Queen Story

I imagine the year to be 1957, when Havana was the world's 4th-most-expensive city at the time. Many vintage buildings remain in Havana today, and many of my friends still play and live in such buildings. Today, as the Castro era wanes, Cuba's youth have their doubts, dreams and stories... It is time to make new memories and new histories, while revisiting and reevaluating old ones...1957 is a collection of portraits and stories of my friends in Cuba...This one is called Havana Queen Story, a portrait for the drag Queen Salma. Drag Queens, together with many of the LGBT community are all issues that haven’t been tolerated well at all until recently. In recent years, they are playing to sell-out crowds again every night.




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Eyes Robber Fly

A close-up macro depiction of an insect called Eyes Robberfly




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A Family

A Family




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Feeding Baby

feeding baby 1




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The Birth of a New Community

A new housing community in Northern California. Aerial image (photographed from a plane at sunset).




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Proboscis Monkey

The proboscis monkey is a species endemic to Borneo. I areas where they occur they are quite easy to encounter as they have reddish fur and make strange burping sounds for communication.




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Monument Valley in Winter

Monuments in winter




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A Stormy Sunset for Elephants

A Stormy Sunset for Elephants




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Yosemite Valley Controlled Burn

This photo was taken from the Tunnel View at Yosemite National Park. The photo is of Bridalveil Fall consumed by smoke due to controlled burning on the Yosemite Valley floor.




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Drying Chilli 5

In South Asia, chillis are dried on the ground, before they are preserved or made into spices. The process requires workers (usually ladies) to lay out the chillis in the sun, and flip them every now and then to ensure a consistent drying process.




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Monument Valley at Sunset.

Magenta skies over Monument Valley at sunset.




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Facing Blizzards and Accidents, Iditarod’s First Woman Champion Libby Riddles Persisted

A sled in the Smithsonian collections marks the historic race




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The Myth of 'Bloody Mary'

History remembers the English queen as a murderous monster, but the real story of Mary I is far more nuanced




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The True History Behind 'The Plot Against America'

Philip Roth's classic novel, newly adapted by HBO, envisions a world in which Charles Lindbergh wins the 1940 presidential election




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A Tour of Beauty Industry Pioneer Madam C.J. Walker’s Indianapolis

The hair-care magnate at the center of the new Netflix series 'Self Made' left her imprint on the city where she launched her career




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When the Stanley Cup Final Was Canceled Because of a Pandemic

In 1919, a second wave of cases of the previous year's flu lead to the sudden death of the hockey championship




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The Thorny Road to the 19th Amendment

Historian Ellen Carol DuBois chronicles the twists and turns of the 75-year-path to securing the vote for women in her new book




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How to Virtually Explore the Smithsonian From Your Living Room

Tour a gallery of presidential portraits, print a 3-D model of a fossil or volunteer to transcribe historical documents




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Travel the Globe—and Beyond—From Your Living Room

From virtual museum tours to space exploration, ancient worlds and natural phenomena, this hub has you covered




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Five New Nonfiction Books to Read While You're Stuck at Home

We're highlighting newly released titles may have been lost in the news as the nation endures the coronavirus pandemic




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Crowdsourcing Project Aims to Document the Many U.S. Places Where Women Have Made History

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is looking for 1,000 places tied to women's history, and to share the stories of the figures behind them




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The Long, Fraught History of the Bulletproof Vest

The question of bulletproofing vexed physicians and public figures for years, before pioneering inventors experimented with silk




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Ten Surprising Facts About Everyday Household Objects

While COVID-19 has us homebound, it’s a good time to reflect on the peculiar histories of housewares we take for granted




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The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits, a History of Hell and Other New Books to Read

The second installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 pandemic




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Fifty Years Ago, the Crew of the Damaged Apollo 13 Came Home

Using the lunar module as a lifeboat and employing techniques never before considered, the astronauts' ordeal ended triumphantly




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Recently Discovered Drawings for the Statue of Liberty Hint at a Last-Minute Change

Sketches from the workshop of French engineer Gustave Eiffel suggest a different plan for Lady Liberty’s upraised arm




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The Colorful History of the Troll Doll

With the release of Trolls World Tour, and a new generation entranced by the ugly-but-cute toy, it appears the troll's lucky streak lives on




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Coffee's Dark History, the Sinking of the World's Most Glamorous Ship and Other New Books to Read

The third installment in our weekly series spotlights titles that may have been lost in the news amid the COVID-19 crisis




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The Inside Story of the Beatles' Messy Breakup

Tensions leading to the split, announced 50 years ago today, had been bubbling under the band’s cheery surface for years




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The Enumerated Story of the Census

A new book charts the history of counting the public, from the ancient censuses in Rome to the American version of decennial data collection




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The Charming Story of George Harrison’s Vacation in Small-Town America

The Beatles guitarist visited his sister in southern Illinois just months before he'd become world famous




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The True Story of 'Mrs. America'

In the new miniseries, feminist history, dramatic storytelling and an all-star-cast bring the Equal Rights Amendment back into the spotlight




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The History of the Hawaiian Shirt

From kitsch to cool, ride the waves of undulating popularity of a tropical fashion statement




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This World War II Bomber Took More Enemy Fire Than Most Others and Always Came Home

Seventy-five years after a memorable mission, the B26 bomber 'Flak-Bait' undergoes preservation at the National Air and Space Museum




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Six Online Courses About Europe to Take Before You Can Safely Travel There Again

Sheltering in place doesn’t mean you can’t study up for your next European adventure




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How 13 Seconds Changed Kent State University Forever

The institution took decades to come to grips with the trauma of the killing of four students 50 years ago




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How Do American Indians Celebrate Mother's Day?

In the early 20th century, Native people responded to the proclamation of Mother’s Day with powwows, ceremonies, rodeos, feasts, and songs




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This Pyramid Was Built to Honor a Highly Unusual Occupant

A newly discovered pyramid yields a baffling mystery: A royal tomb, usually reserved for kings, is found to contain a mystery woman. Who was she and why was she given such a great honor?




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How Smithsonian Researchers Are Studying Elephant Behavior

See how researchers at Smithsonian's National Zoo are trying to glean insight into elephant foraging behavior and more.




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How This Brave Young Woman Saved Danish Jews From Nazis

Henny Sundig is a pivotal figure in the history of WWII Danish resistance. In 1943, aged just 19, she risked it all to make a daring journey in her boat, Gerda III, to rescue as many Jews as she could.




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Humboldt's Journey to Cumana Was Packed With Discovery

In 1799, Alexander von Humboldt set foot in the jungles of Cumana, in present-day Venezuela. What ensued was a detailed scientific mission to learn more about the natural world.




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How Henry Ford Went From Pacifist to Major Supplier of WWI

Henry Ford spent the majority of the war as a pacifist. By 1917, however, his state-of-the-art assembly line was churning out vital engine parts to feed the war machine.




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Young Lions Try to Cross Crocodile-Infested Waters

A trio of teenage lions are desperate to cross the shallows of the Luangwa River, in order to reunite with their pride. One problem: The river is infested with crocodiles, waiting for an easy meal.




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How the Medieval Longbow Cut Down a French Army in 1346

The medieval English longbow first came to prominence during the Hundred Years War. In 1346, English forces used it to devastating effect to cut down a superior French army.




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These Ancient Stone Troughs Contained an Unlikely Beverage




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sburke_youtube.rss

Fun things Sean sees at Youtube




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symbols.rss

A Symbol A Day