News
Enjoy articles from Time and Smithsonian from the last 30 days.
The True Story of the Aberfan Disaster
The 1966 Welsh mining tragedy claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults and features heavily in the third season of Netflix’s “The Crown”
Three Portraits of Victorious Elizabeth I to Be Displayed Together for the First Time
The paintings were created in the wake of England’s defeat of the Spanish Armada
Smithsonian Elevates the Frequently Ignored Histories of Women
For many, the personal—tea cups, dresses, needlework and charm bracelets—really was political. A new book tells why
Designers Are Selling Expensive Clothes That Don’t Exist—and People Are Actually Buying Them
Earlier this year, a digital-only dress sold at auction for $9,500
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The Genre-Bending, Death-Defying Triumph of Charlotte Salomon’s Art
Prior to her murder in Auschwitz, the Jewish-German artist created a monumental visual narrative centered on her family history
Rare Portrait of Teenage Mozart Heads to Auction
“This charming likeness of him is my solace,” wrote Pietro Lugiati, the Italian nobleman who commissioned the artwork, in a letter to Mozart’s mother
Six Spots Around the World Where You Can Try Your Hand at Falconry
From castles to vineyards to bird parks, these sites will introduce you to the ancient sport
This Bioplastic Made From Fish Scales Just Won the James Dyson Award
British product designer Lucy Hughes has invented a biodegradable plastic made from fish offcuts
The Equal Rights Amendment Is 96 Years Old and Still Not Part of the Constitution. Here’s Why
A brief history of the long battle to pass what would now be the 28th Amendment
A ‘Ghost Forest’ Destroyed by Hurricane Sandy Will Be Resurrected in New York
Artist Maya Lin hopes to call attention to one of the dire effects of climate change with an installation in Madison Square Park
Venice Declares State of Emergency as City Battles Worst Floods in 50 Years
The Italian city’s high-water mark reached 74 inches on Tuesday
For Sale: Trove of Tempestuous Letters Exchanged by Ian Fleming and His Wife, Ann
“In the present twilight, we are hurting each other to an extent that makes life hardly bearable,” wrote the James Bond author in one missive
The Dutch Golden Age’s Female Painters Finally Receive a Show of Their Own
A new exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts spotlights eight unheralded 17th- and 18th-century artists
The Accidental Invention of Play-Doh
The much-loved children’s toy was a desperate spinoff of a putty used to clean soot off of wallpaper
Lin-Manuel Miranda Teams Up With Google to Digitize Puerto Rico’s Art
The devastation of Hurricane Maria highlighted the importance of preserving the island’s cultural treasures
Jim Crow Compounded the Grief of African American Mothers Whose Sons Were Killed in World War I
Smithsonian Books presents ‘We Return Fighting,’ a groundbreaking exploration of African American involvement in World War I
The Controversial Resurrection of James Dean
In a move broadly decried as distasteful, filmmakers plan on digitally resurrecting the actor for a new role on the silver screen
The True Story of the Battle of Midway
The new film “Midway” revisits the pivotal WWII battle from the perspectives of pilots, codebreakers and naval officers on both sides of the conflict
See Surreal Tarot Cards Designed by Salvador Dalí for a James Bond Movie
The spooky deck features images of classic art and Christian symbolism with a signature Dalí twist
Texas’ Retired Police Dogs No Longer Have to Be Sold or Euthanized
A new state amendment allows handlers and other qualified caretakers to adopt retired police pups at no cost
A Victorian Property Featured in an Iconic Norman Rockwell Painting Is Now on Sale
The building is depicted in “Home for Christmas,” which captures the holiday season in Rockwell’s hometown
The Unmistakable Black Roots of ‘Sesame Street’
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the beloved children’s television show was shaped by the African-American communities in Harlem and beyond
Fifty U.S. Museums Champion Feminist Art Ahead of 2020 Election
Curators are banding together to organize feminism-inspired exhibitions and events in fall 2020
The Sleek History of Airline Maps
A new book explores the evolution of cartography throughout more than a century of commercial air travel
Thieves Ram Into Medieval French Cathedral, Making Off With Trove of Relics
The suspects reportedly battered down the door of the Unesco World Heritage Site using a tree trunk strapped to a car
‘The Little Mermaid’ Was Way More Subversive Than You Realized
The 1989 Disney movie musical may have saved the Disney corporation, but it also sent important messages about identity to its young audiences
Why New Restrictions on Library E-Book Access Are Generating Controversy
Macmillan Publishers will only allow libraries to purchase one copy of an e-book during the first eight weeks following publication
At the Anacostia Community Museum, a Sleek New Look Comes with a New Director
With a hyper-local focus on neighborhood concerns, this Smithsonian museum is a mighty influencer
Alicja Kwade’s Installation at the Hirshhorn Invites Viewers to Question the World as We Know It
The visually immersive artwork is a recent acquisition now on view in a new exhibition
Philanthropist Donates $10 Million to Jefferson Memorial Museum
David Rubenstein’s donation will fund the creation of a new education center at the D.C. monument
A Conversation With Katie Couric and 23 Other Smithsonian Associates Events in November
A Conversation with Katie Couric and 23 Other Things to Do at the Smithsonian in November
The Meaning Behind Six Objects on Día de los Muertos Altars
From marigolds to sugar skulls, the traditional Mexican holiday is full of symbols
The True Story of Henry V, England’s Warrior King
The new biopic “The King” finds Timothée Chalamet tracing Henry’s evolution from wayward prince to heroic warrior
You Could Own an Amputated Arm From the George III Statue Toppled at Bowling Green
The 18th-century lead fragment was unearthed in a Connecticut resident’s garden in 1991
NASA Celebrates Halloween With These Interstellar Horror Posters
The artwork highlights the weird world of exoplanets where it rains glass and planets circle zombie stars
A Minnesota Museum’s Creepy Doll Contest Is Here to Haunt Your Dreams
“The doll I disdain handling is the one with human hair,” says curator Dan Nowakowski
How Syndicated Columns, Comics and Stories Forever Changed the News Media
For many Americans, their “local” paper would soon look much like the paper read halfway across the country
The True Story Behind the Harriet Tubman Movie
“Harriet,” a new film starring Cynthia Erivo, is the first feature film dedicated solely to the American icon
Edward Norton on Why He Placed ‘Motherless Brooklyn’ in Robert Moses’ New York
The actor, director and screenwriter brings Jonathan Lethem’s acclaimed novel to the screen—with a few unsubtle changes
10 Lessons From History About What Makes a Truly Great Leader
With the 2020 presidential election approaching, America is bracing to choose its next leader in a time of incredible change and upheaval. How can we recognize the kind of person we’ll need to lead us through these turbulent times? What are the qualities that a truly great American president needs? What can this person, regardless…