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
This Scientist Has Been Studying Monkeys for Over 50 Years
April 15, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoMacaques are the most studied monkeys in the world, thanks to the efforts of scientists like Wolfgang Dittus. He arrived in Sri Lanka 50 years ago and has devoted his life to better understand theirs.
Why Peacocks Have Nothing on the Male Sage Grouse
April 08, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoWith a fancy fan of tail feathers, bright yellow eye combs and magnificent plumage, male sage grouses bring enough dazzle to their courtship displays to put a peacock to shame.
Who is the Mystery Woman in Benedict Arnold's Secret Letters?
April 08, 2019 16:00 - 4 minutes VideoAn archive of the secret communications between Benedict Arnold and British army officers indirectly reference Arnold's wife, Peggy. It is the strongest clue yet that she may have been a pivotal figure in Arnold's treachery.
The Cause of this Plane Crash Was Shrouded in Mystery
April 01, 2019 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWhen Continental Airlines Flight 1713 crashed on November 15, 1987, it soon became clear to investigators that initial theories could not be backed up by evidence. They would have to wait for the flight data recorders to be analyzed.
These Wolves Are Clever Enough to Con a Group of Bears
April 01, 2019 16:00 - 4 minutes VideoA pair of hungry wolves come up with a smart plan to swindle the swamp bears away from their carrion. While one wolf distracts the bears, the other goes in and steals her fill.
What Caused Flight 72 to Lose Control in 2008?
March 25, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoOn October 7, 2008, passengers and crew on Qantas Airlines Flight 72 were pulled up from their seats. Immediately after, the plane went into a dangerous and uncontrolled nosedive.
An Older Brown Bear Exerts His Dominance Over a Younger Rival
March 18, 2019 16:00 - 4 minutes VideoA dominant brown bear - dubbed the 'Swamp King' - comes across a younger bear feasting on a kill. He immediately moves in - as the biggest and strongest around, he won't take a backseat to any rival.
President Reagan is Stunned by the Scale of Soviet Espionage
March 11, 2019 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIn 1981, President Mitterrand of France took Ronald Reagan to one side and revealed an extraordinary intelligence operation. It was a revelation that would turn the Cold War on its head.
A 1941 FBI Raid Reveals a Network of Japanese Spies in LA
March 11, 2019 16:00 - 4 minutes VideoIn 1941, Naval Intelligence zero in on a Japanese spy named Itaru Tachibana. Raiding his room at the Olympic Hotel in Los Angeles reveals a stash of documents that outlined the extent of his undercover network.
Why the 1918 Spanish Flu Probably Didn't Originate in Spain
March 04, 2019 17:00 - 4 minutes VideoDespite its name, the Spanish Flu almost certainly didn't originate in Spain. In fact, it appears to have originated on the Midwestern prairies of Kansas.
A Chance Encounter With a Polar Bear and Her Two Cubs
February 25, 2019 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoIn 2013, a wildlife cameraman from Norway, Asgeir Helgestad, met a polar bear mom whom he names Frost. Over the next few years, their paths would cross again.
How a Slave Girl's Confession Sparked a Witch Hunt in Salem
February 18, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoIn 1692, an Indian slave in Massachusetts admitted to being an agent of Satan, and to casting spells on her master's family. This admission would kick off the horrific events known as the Salem witch trials.
Fascinating Footage of Naked Mole Rat Surviving Without Oxygen
February 18, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoNaked mole rats are able to live on low oxygen and can even survive without it - conditions that would kill most mammals. The big question is how have they evolved to do that?
Was Flight MH17 Hit by a Meteor?
February 11, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoWithout access to the crash sites of MH17, which went down on July 17, 2014, investigators can't definitively say why the crash happened. So they begin to consider all kinds of theories - including a meteor strike.
These Swimming Pigs Live a Cushy Lifestyle in the Bahamas
February 11, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoBahama feral pigs were once domestic pigs let loose by local farms. Through cunning and resourcefulness, they've continued to thrive in the wild - and fuel Bahaman tourism along the way.
A Surprisingly Tense Battle Between a U.S. Sub and a Fishing Boat
February 04, 2019 17:00 - 4 minutes VideoA fishing trawler may seem like an easy target for a powerful U.S. submarine - but these were the early days of the Pacific War, and even Japanese civilian boats were armed to the teeth.
Data Reveals When Birds Are Most Likely to Hit a Plane
February 04, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoSince 1990, the National Wildlife Strike Database has reported more than 200,000 bird strikes on commercial planes. This data tells us when planes are most vulnerable to these types of collisions.
Finding Out Why TransAsia Flight 222 Crashed
January 28, 2019 17:00 - 1 minute VideoWhy did TransAsia Flight 222 veer off course and crash a mile short of Magong Airport? An examination of the wreckage doesn't provide the answer - but it does convince investigators to rule one theory out.
Stunning Artifacts Found in a Charred Roman Temple
January 28, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoWhen Boudica's forces destroyed the Temple of Claudius, the devastation was ruinous. Ironically, the fire actually helped preserve many of the contents - often to a level that astonishes modern archaeologists.
This Marilyn Monroe Dress Stole the Show at JFK's Birthday Party
January 21, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoMarilyn Monroe's breathless rendition of 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' in 1962, has passed into legend. But it was her silk dress that would go on to become a priceless piece of Marilyn memorabilia.
What Caused This 1980 Shipwreck to Tear Apart?
January 21, 2019 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoOn September 9, 1980, the MV Derbyshire went down in the Pacific Ocean - the largest British ship ever lost at sea. A team of investigators send down a remote vehicle camera to find out what happened.
The Origins of Modern-Day Yoga
January 14, 2019 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoControversy surrounds the exact origins of yoga, but Dr. Jim Mallinson has been studying the practice for years and he has some interesting insight on the true origins.
Is a Natural Birth Better For Your Baby?
January 14, 2019 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoWhen a baby is born surgically via C-section, it may miss out on the health benefits of passing through the birth canal.
Sloths are Harder to Chase Than You Think
January 07, 2019 17:00 - 1 minute VideoCatching a sloth is no mean feat, as sloth researcher Bryson Voirin will attest as he chases Blaze the sloth through the canopy.
The Horrifying Way Rome Dealt With Wartime Loss
January 07, 2019 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoAfter the defeat in Cannae, Rome was in a state of panic and social disorder. To restore calm, Rome's ruler, Quintus Fabius Maximus, resorted to drastic and cruel measures.
Was Jack the Ripper Hiding in Plain Sight?
December 24, 2018 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoJack the Ripper managed to commit his violent murders and escape without ever once being seen. Actually, he may have been spotted at one of his crime scenes.
Was This Egyptian Pharaoh More Important Than We Thought?
December 17, 2018 17:00 - 4 minutes VideoPsamtik I was believed to be a minor Egyptian pharaoh. But in 2017, an exquisite statue of him was uncovered, suggesting his status and importance in history may need to be revisited.
USS Indianapolis Crew Battled Sharks and Hallucinations
December 17, 2018 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoA Japanese torpedo attack against the USS Indianapolis leaves the men with no time to launch lifeboats. For four grueling days, the survivors float helplessly in the Pacific Ocean.
What Hieroglyphics Say About the Women of Ancient Egypt
December 10, 2018 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoThe priests of Amun held an elevated position in ancient Egypt. But modern archaeologists were stunned to discover that a group of women were even more important - they were dubbed 'The Wives of Amun.'
This Third Officer Docks His First MSC Oscar in Harsh Conditions
December 10, 2018 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoIt's a big day for the 23-year-old junior officer of the MSC Oscar: he's bringing in the giant vessel to port for the first time in his career - a tricky maneuver in a narrow waterway known for its strong currents.
Meet the 24-Hour Code Crackers of World War II
December 03, 2018 17:00 - 1 minute VideoThe success of Operation Hydra in decoding enemy messages handed the Allies a key advantage in the fight against deadly German U-boats. The hunted had become the hunters.
A Honey Badger Barrels Through a Sharp Thorn Tree for Lunch
December 03, 2018 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoA rock rat is hiding from his predator, a honey badger, in the midst of a Namibian sweet thorn tree. But he doesn't count on his opponent's determination to get lunch, even at the price of a few cuts.
The Hagfish Is the Slimy Sea Creature of Your Nightmares
November 19, 2018 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe hagfish is a slime-emitting ocean-dweller that's remained unchanged for 300 million years--and it shows. It has a skull (but no spine), velvet smooth skin, and a terrifying pit of a mouth that's lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth.
The F-4 Phantom Gets Put to the Test In Vietnam
November 19, 2018 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoIt's December 1966, and a U.S. pilot is leading a squadron of six F-4 Phantoms on a dangerous bombing mission over North Vietnam. Every mile of their 100 mile route is dotted with North Vietnam's lethal defenses.
A Honey Badger Cracks Open a Thick Ostrich Egg
November 12, 2018 17:00 - 1 minute VideoOstrich eggs can weigh up to three pounds and have some of the hardest shells around. This honey badger, however, isn't about to let any of that get in the way of a tasty, protein-filled snack.
Pocahontas Redefined How Europeans Saw Native Americans
November 12, 2018 17:00 - 3 minutes VideoPrior to the arrival of Pocahontas in England, indigenous people of the Americas were viewed as cannibals, brutish, and non-Christian. Enter Pocahontas, who arrived in London, baptized and speaking English.
The First Submarine to Launch Rockets from its Deck
November 05, 2018 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoIt's June 1945 and the USS Barb has just launched an unprecedented attack on the factories of the Japanese island of Shari. It's the first time that rockets have ever been launched from a submarine.
Why the A400M is the Most Advanced Military Transport Plane
November 05, 2018 17:00 - 1 minute VideoWhen it comes to military transport, the A400M is in a class of its own: it has a 37 ton maximum payload, a fuel capacity of 16,000 gallons and the capacity to fly 5,500 miles without refueling.
Gelada Baboon Reacts to Being Cheated on With Fury
October 29, 2018 16:00 - 4 minutes VideoIf a gelada queen doubts her king's influence, she'll happily play the field. But when she gets caught, it's up to the alpha to fight for what's his.
This Swedish King Built a Warship That Redefined Naval Combat
October 29, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIn the 1560s, Eric XIV of Sweden was determined to change the way naval battles were fought. The result was Mars: a giant of a warship that would rely on artillery and firepower to devastate her rivals.
This Giraffe Risks Everything by Drinking in Lion Territory
October 22, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoA giraffe takes a long drink from a local watering hole, with watchful lions in close proximity. The giraffe isn't brave, just desperately thirsty, while the lions aren't lazy, they're just waiting for nightfall.
The Volcanoes That Still Threaten New Zealand's Safety
October 22, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoEver since the deadly eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, New Zealand has invested heavily in a sophisticated warning system - all in an effort to prevent another major tragedy.
Rare Vintage Footage Captures Innocence of Pre-War Hawaii
October 15, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIn a remarkable series of color films capturing pre-war Hawaii, an idyllic paradise is revealed. A few short years later, that illusion of paradise would be shattered by the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Do Naked Mole Rats Have Hair?
October 15, 2018 16:00 - 54 seconds VideoAll mammals have hair--but is the naked mole rat an exception to the rule? A caretaker at Smithsonian's National Zoo gives us a closer look. #ZooQs
This Badly Damaged German U-Boat Can't Dive for Cover
October 08, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIt's November 1943 and a German U-boat has been brutally damaged in a fight with British warships and is limping its way to port. But the sub's onboard batteries are impaired - which means it can't dive to evade enemy ships.
Watch This Intense Hyena Hazing Ritual
October 08, 2018 16:00Hyena clans have a very strict social hierarchy. When two 18-month-old hyena brothers join a new clan, alpha male Bongo shows us how he establishes dominance. The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
The Trick to Finding a Partner as a Peacock
October 02, 2018 16:00 - 49 seconds VideoEver wonder why only male peacocks have such extravagant plumage? We ask a caretaker at Smithsonian's National Zoo to explain. #ZooQs
Why Are Male Peacock Feathers More Colorful?
October 01, 2018 16:00Ever wonder why only male peacocks have such extravagant plumage? We ask a caretaker at Smithsonian's National Zoo to explain. #ZooQs The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
How Napalm Bombs Intensified U.S. Attacks During WWII
October 01, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoBombing ground targets from the air is tricky and not always accurate. But a new type of bomb creates an unimaginable level of destruction - and strengthens U.S. attacks in the Pacific.
The Most Powerful Tornado Recorded on Earth
September 24, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoFor Oklahoma City and its surrounding suburbs, May 3, 1999 began like any other spring day. By the evening, a deadly tornado of unprecedented ferocity had wreaked havoc, claiming a total of 36 lives.