Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week
529 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★ - 31 ratingsThe latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
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Episodes
The Worst Air Disaster in Romanian History
October 28, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThe crash of TAROM Flight 371 on March 31, 1995 resulted in the death of all 60 people on board. The pressure was on the government to come up with answers.
These Elephants Refuse to Get Into their Transport Boxes
October 28, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoRangers are hoping to relocate a trio of elephants to their new home, in Kafue National Park. But first, they need to draw them into the transport container, and they’re hoping a treat will do the trick.
Baby Indian Rhinos are Serious Milk Guzzlers
October 21, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe sheer numbers involved in raising a rhino calf are staggering: a young rhino can drink up to seven gallons of milk a day – which means the mom needs up to 110 pounds of grass each day to sustain herself.
The Devastation Caused by the 2018 Fuego Eruption
October 21, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe eruption of Fuego on June 3, 2018 is one of the darkest events in the history of Guatemala. It left heartbreaking scenes in its wake, as survivors began a frantic search for family and friends.
Three's a Crowd in this Orangutan Relationship
October 14, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoTwo young orangutans show signs of affection towards each other – much to the chagrin of a third male orangutan who proceeds to disrupt their very public display of affection.
Why Wyoming Takes Women's Rights Seriously
October 14, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoWyoming was the first state to allow women the right to vote in 1870, and when Congress threatened to derail Wyoming's statehood unless the right was revoked, the state refused to back down.
A Plane Crashes After Takeoff in the Heart of Miami
October 14, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoFine Air Flight 101 departs from Miami International Airport on August 7, 1997 en route to the Dominican Republic. Shortly after take-off, the plane loses control and crashes, right in the middle of Miami.
How Science Helps Preserve Longmen Grottoes
September 23, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe Buddhist statues of the Longmen Grottoes are a Chinese heritage - one in urgent need of preservation. To do this, archaeologists use advanced scanning technology to pinpoint the vulnerable areas in need of restoration.
An Unusual Guest Arrives at This Orangutan Rescue Center
September 23, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoDespite its name, the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation also welcomes other animals. The latest addition is a baby orphan sun bear – affectionately named Denny Bear.
How the Common Cold Affected the Crew of Apollo 7
September 16, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoThings were not going well aboard Apollo 7: the astronauts felt stressed by the confines of the command module and to top it off, astronaut Wally Schirra developed a painful head cold.
This Baby Orangutan Needs Treatment for Her Asthma
September 16, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoBaby Wine (pronounced WEE-NAY) is an orphan at the Nyaru Menteng school for orangutans, in Borneo. If she is to be released back into the wild, she’ll need treatment for her asthma.
Apollo 13's Intense Comms Blackout
September 09, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoA damaged Apollo 13 was about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere amid a communications blackout. It would become the longest re-entry blackout in the history of the space program.
How Fast Can Gibbons Swing Through the Forest?
September 09, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoGibbons are incredible tree swingers, thanks to their long forearms, mobile joints and wrists that enhance fluid movement.
Rainy Season Gives Baby Orangutans Their Own Waterpark
September 02, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoBorneo’s rainy season has begun, and overnight, the local stream has become flooded. It doesn’t bother the young orangutans at the rehabilitation center – it’s just another opportunity to play.
A Moon Sample Reveals a Surprising Link to Earth
September 02, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute Video‘Big Bertha’ was one of the moon rocks brought back by the Apollo 14 crew for geological analysis. What it revealed stunned scientists.
How Neil Armstrong Trained to Land the Lunar Module
August 26, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoTo prepare him for landing the lunar module, Neil Armstrong practiced on a training vehicle, right here on Earth. It was designed to replicate flying within a gravitational pull that was 1/6 that of Earth.
Meet Alba, Borneo's Only Albino Orangutan
August 26, 2019 16:00 - 35 seconds VideoAs the only albino orangutan in Borneo, Alba the orangutan stands out among her peers in jungle school. She’s confident, capable, and firmly on schedule for a return to the wild.
The Secret to this Spanish Train’s Powerful Performance
August 12, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThe AVE 103 is a powerful and speedy train between Madrid and Zaragoza, with a top speed of 217 mph – remarkable for a train that operates with no locomotive.
Why Plague Doctors Wore Strange Masks
August 12, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIt’s the beak that lends the attire of the medieval plague doctor its surreal quality, but it wasn’t there just to scare.
Sneaky Raccoon Dog Steals a Bird Egg
August 05, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoRaccoon dogs are the only member of the canine family that hibernate for winter. But in order to do this, they need to find enough food – and what they can’t scavenge, they steal.
People Believe in Witchcraft in this Corner of England
August 05, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoDo you believe in witches? For the good people of Long Compton, it’s part of a longstanding tradition – one that, as recently as 1875, cost a woman named Ann Tennant her life.
Are Dogs Really More Intelligent Than Cats?
July 29, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoMost canines, including these adorable wolf pups, are social animals with brains that have evolved for that purpose. This is why dogs are, on the whole, smarter than some solitary animals.
Incredible African Rock Pythons Hatching
July 29, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoAfter they hatch, young rock pythons have just a few weeks to leave their nest. After that, they must wait to shed their skin before pursuing their first kill.
This Arabian Dog is Fast Enough to Catch a Gazelle
July 22, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoSaluki are a breed of desert dog famed for their speed. In the old days, Bedouins relied on them to hunt for gazelle – today, they are more likely to race for sport.
5 Kitchen Objects Inspired by NASA
July 22, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoDid you know that some of the technologies we take for granted in our kitchens were actually developed by NASA? Here are five of the best, from water filters to freeze-dried food.
A Hungry Bird Brutally Separates a Bee From Its Stinger
July 15, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoCarmine bee-eaters use their long slender bill to pluck bees out of the air. Then, to neutralize their dangerous sting, they’ll smash the bee against the ground, several times.
Why Sand is the Secret Sauce for These Ecuadorian Trains
July 15, 2019 16:00 - 58 seconds VideoTren Crucero trains rely on sand to go up and down steep inclines: on the way up, sand helps provide the wheels with traction on the steel tracks, while during a descent, it aids the electric braking system.
The Stunning Filming location of "The Horse Whisperer"
July 15, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThe Horse Whisperer, shot in Montana and starring Robert Redford, tells the story of a troubled family, a troubled horse, and the horse whisperer who brings them together.
How Giraffe Spots Act Like a Natural Air Conditioner
July 08, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe dark patches on a giraffe’s skin have more blood vessels than the light skin. This can help heat dissipate, allowing them to stay cool.
This New Zealand Train Line is a Panoramic Marvel
July 08, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIf you’re looking for the ideal vantage point to the stunning viaducts and landscapes of the Tongariro National Park in New Zealand, you have only have one option: the miraculous North Island Main Trunk Line.
Why the Apollo 11 Crew Was Quarantined Upon Return
July 01, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe crew of Apollo 11 had made history by landing on the moon and coming back to Earth in one piece. But before the celebrations could begin, they would have to spend some time in quarantine.
Did a Porcupine Kill This Young Lion?
July 01, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWho or what killed this yearling lion? The range of possibilities run from a run-in with a porcupine to a fatal encounter with another adult lion – or was there another explanation?
Surreal Footage of British Life Under Nazi Occupation
June 24, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIt’s 1941 and the Nazis are in full control of the British island of Alderney. They begin to construct fortifications to protect their grip on the Channel Islands – often with slave labor.
The Best Time for a Male Vervet to Join a Troop
June 17, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoA new male has picked the wrong time to join a local troop of vervet monkeys. He’s hoping to be accepted within their ranks – but it’s up to the alpha to make the final call.
This U.S. Spy Satellite Was a Cold War Game Changer
June 17, 2019 16:00In 1963, the CIA debuted the Gambit: an aerial reconnaissance satellite system capable of delivering high-resolution images of ground-based Soviet military targets. The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
These Chicks Have to get Past a Beach of Hostile Seals
June 10, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoA group of common murre chicks on Tyuleny Island, each around three weeks old, must navigate a dangerous obstacle to reach the sea: a beach packed with hostile fur seals, each one at least 40 times heavier than they are.
The Tragic Side Effects of a Baboon Leadership Battle
June 03, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoLeadership challenges in baboon troops are between the alpha male and a rival outsider. But tragically, some of the younger troop members can end up as collateral damage.
This State-of-the-Art Aircraft Carrier Relies on Old Technology
June 03, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoThe USS Vinson is one of the most advanced and sophisticated aircraft carriers around. Yet some of its key functions are powered by a 300-year old technology: steam.
These British Fighter Planes Ruled the Skies of Dunkirk
May 27, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIt’s May 1940, and high above the skies of Dunkirk, a squadron of Spitfires is desperately trying to hold off as many German Messerschmitt as they can. The lives of 300,000 British troops depend on it.
This Magical Train Ride Was Used in a Harry Potter Film
May 20, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoJust a few miles from Ben Nevis mountain is the start of one of the most breathtaking train journeys in the world – so spectacular, in fact, that it was adapted by the Harry Potter movies as the Hogwarts Express.
This Unpleasant Royal Job Came with a Fancy Title
May 20, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIt may sound like an auspicious title; but the ‘groom of the stool’ was anything but. Simply put, it was a role that entailed monitoring and assisting with Henry VIII’s bowel movements.
The Good Looks of These Monkeys May Be Their Downfall
May 13, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoAt just nine inches tall, cotton-top tamarins are among the smallest monkeys in the world. Unfortunately, because of their distinctive look, they’re also in-demand and endangered.
Was This Beloved Queen of Britain a Drug User?
May 13, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWe have this image of Queen Victoria as a highly proper, disciplined monarch. But the Queen was also someone who liked to get high: from opium tinctures to chewing gum laced with cocaine.
Admiring the Power and Innovation of a 747 Engine
May 06, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWhile the science behind the high bypass ratio engine in a 747 plane may seem complicated, the results are striking. It's capable of delivering over 70% more power than a standard engine.
How One Picture Would Prove Black Holes Actually Exist
May 06, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoMany scientists believe that black holes make sense in the realm of theoretical physics, but couldn't really exist in real life. Capturing an image of a black hole would change all that.
The Unique Beauty of Yorkshire Dales Inspires Its Divine Nickname
April 29, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWith 800 miles of stunning hills and dipping valleys, it's clear that the often-cited beauty of the Yorkshire Dales is no exaggeration. It's earned its grandiose nickname: God's Own Country.
How Magic Spells Played a Big Role in Rome's Chariot Races
April 29, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIn ancient Rome, chariot race fandom was serious business - sometimes to ridiculous lengths. For example, it was very common for people to pay money to local magicians to cast curses on rival teams.
Scientists Reveal First-Ever Photograph of a Black Hole
April 22, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoAfter years of planning by over 200 international scientists, the data purported to show the first ever image of a black hole is ready. The team gathers for the big reveal - it's a seismic moment in astrophysics.
The Staggering Number of Staff Needed for This Stately Home
April 22, 2019 16:00 - 1 minute VideoChatsworth House, the historic home of the Cavendish family, is a vast estate that once spanned 35,000 acres. At one point, Chatsworth employed a staff of 40 people to maintain it - including two full-time window cleaners.
Why London Skyscrapers Are Famous for Their Distinctive Looks
April 15, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoOne of the most distinguishing features of the British capital, London, is its many statuesque looking skyscrapers. Even more absorbing are the unique nicknames given to them.