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
Why Los Angeles Is One of the Best Places to Film
September 24, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThe San Gabriel Mountains lure lots of Angelenos looking for some quiet seclusion. One of the more famous was Leonard Cohen who spent five years there, searching for peace of mind.
Why the U.S. Military Pushed $10 Million Worth of Helicopters Overboard
September 17, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIt's 1975, and a small Vietnamese civilian aircraft is desperate to land on the flight deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier. It becomes a dramatic race against time to clear the deck before the plane runs out of fuel.
Two Cheetah Clans Fight to the Death
September 17, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoTwo rival cheetah clans battle under the cover of night. The outcome is fatal and will alter the lives of the warriors forever.
These Hidden Heroes Protect Your Flight from Lethal Weather
September 10, 2018 16:00Deadly storms are a pilot's worst nightmare. Luckily, they can depend on their first line of defense - the meteorologists at the federal government's aviation weather center in Kansas City, MO. The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
Were Lithium Batteries the Cause of This Plane Crash?
September 10, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoUPS Airlines Flight 6 crashed into a military base 10 miles from Dubai Airport on September 3, 2010. Investigators seeking answers zero in on the plane's cargo: highly flammable lithium batteries.
Why Al Capone Wasn't Your Typical Discreet Gangster
September 03, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoAl Capone wasn't just one of the biggest distributers of bootleg alcohol during Prohibition, he also embraced his notoriety in some flamboyant ways.
A Submarine Dangerously Tests How Deep It Can Go
August 27, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThe USS Tang was a state-of-the-art Balao class submarine, certified by the Navy to dive up to 400 feet. But in order to test her for battle, commander Dick O'Kane decides to take her even deeper.
How FDR Took the First Steps Towards Ending Prohibition
August 27, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIn 1932, nine days after his inauguration, President Roosevelt signed an order authorizing the sale of beer. It would soon be followed by the 21st amendment: the full repeal of Prohibition.
Why Are South African Lionesses Given Birth Control?
August 20, 2018 16:00While wild lions are still under threat, captive lions in South Africa are in abundance. In order for Kevin Richardson to avoid overcrowding and abuse, he gives each of his female lions contraceptive... The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana's Bitter Press Feud
August 20, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoBy 1994, the marriage of Princes Charles and Princess Diana was falling apart. What followed was a remarkably bitter sequence of recriminations played out in the pages of the popular press.
This Interview Strategy Led a Serial Killer to Confess
August 13, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoWhen the Green River Killer is convicted of murder, the FBI brings in Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, leading expert in psychopathy, to get the killer to confess to 44 unsolved homicides.
This Chinese Emperor Was Betrayed by His Mother's Lover
August 13, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoChina's young emperor, Qin Shi Huang, faced a serious threat to his reign in 238 BC. At the heart of it was his mother, Queen Zhao, and her ambitious lover, Lao Ai.
The Moment Lincoln Realized the Military Power of Railroads
August 06, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoFollowing victory for the South in the battle of Bull Run, President Lincoln reached an inescapable conclusion. Without an effective railway network to transport troops quickly, the North couldn't win.
Why Is This Lizard Doing Push-Ups?
August 06, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIt can be challenging to engage someone from a distance. Draco lizards, however, have an interesting technique of performing upper body workouts to get the attention of their potential mates.
The Deadly Attempt to Assassinate Qin Shi Huang
July 30, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIn 230 BC, the armies of the powerful Qin Shi Huang looked set to conquer all before them. But one neighboring kingdom, Yan, had other ideas and hatched a devious plan to assassinate him.
Does China's Only Female Emperor Deserve Her Bad Rap?
July 23, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWu Zetian, empress of the Tang Dynasty, was believed to be a cunning and ruthless ruler. But new evidence unearthed by archaeologists has challenged this version of her story.
The Incredible Reptiles That Flew 200 Million Years Ago
July 16, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoA 200-million-year-old fossil reveals the amazing body structure of a reptilian creature known as the dimorphodon. Not only did it possess wings, it was one of the first large vertebrates to travel by air.
Watch Two King Cobras Romance Each Other
July 16, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoKing cobra mating techniques aren't subtle. To indicate his interest, the male will engage in frequent headbutting with the female, while she dances provocatively around him.
How Yellowstone Scientists Really Combat Invasive Species
July 09, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoYellowstone cutthroat trout are on the brink of extinction as invasive lake trout continue to eat them. With the park's ecosystem at risk, it's up to scientists to figure out where these predators came from and how to contain them.
What's the Waggle Dance? And Why Do Honey Bees Do It?
July 02, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoHoneybees search high and wide for the best flowers. And when they find them, they go back to the hive and "tell" the other bees how to get there.
Footage of the Alarming Moments Before the Everest Avalanche
July 02, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoAn earthquake in Nepal fills hikers on Everest with fear. Once the tremors subside, however, a new threat begins to loom on the horizon: an avalanche.
What's the Waggle Dance? And Why Do Honeybees Do It?
July 02, 2018 16:00Honeybees search high and wide for the best flowers. And when they find them, they go back to the hive and "tell" the other bees how to get there. The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
This Forensics Test Brought a Serial Killer to Justice
June 25, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoWith Michael Swango in custody for fraud, it's up to the scientists to figure out how he killed his patients - before his sentence is up and he gets another chance to escape.
Why the Assassin Bug More Than Lives Up to Its Name
June 18, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe assassin bug's deadly proboscis is both sword and siphon. It uses its sharp nose to pierce and inject toxins into its victims, and then to suck out their liquified insides.
Aerial Views of Eco-Friendly Homes in New Mexico
June 18, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIn an unwelcome environment, building an eco-friendly house is a major challenge. But architect Mike Reynolds thinks he's found a design solution in his innovative "Earthships."
This African Warrior Ceremony Was Highly Intimidating
June 18, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoWhen France sent ambassador Jean-Marie Bayol to Dahomey to secure a deal for the kingdom's rich natural resources, he was greeted by an elite force of all-women warriors known as the Agooji. Their ferocity set the tone for negotiations.
Gladiators Didn't Die As Often As You Think
June 11, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoContrary to popular opinion, the chances of survival in gladiatorial games were higher than originally thought. In fact, only 1 in 9 fights ended in death.
This Is Why France Invaded Mexico
June 04, 2018 16:00In 1861, Mexico refused to pay back the sizable debt it owed to countries like France. It was a decision that would prompt France, under Napoleon III, to launch a full-scale invasion. The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
Photographer Witnesses Final Moments Before Plane Crash
June 04, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoNational Airlines Flight 102 took off from an airfield in northeastern Afghanistan on April 29, 2013. Minutes later, it would stall in midair before crashing to the ground.
The Meaning Behind Indian Henna Designs
May 28, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe henna tradition at Indian weddings is rooted in Indian folklore and is both decorative and symbolic. Many of the elaborate floral patterns signify new beginnings, as well as a sense of purity.
This Mountain Lion Hides Her Kills in Abandoned Ranches
May 28, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoAdventurer Casey Anderson has tracked a female mountain lion to her unlikely den: an abandoned ranch close to his home. He ventures inside, camera in hand, for a closer look.
Watch a Man Snatch an Angry Cobra With His Bare Hands
May 21, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoHow do you deal with a king cobra that's holed up in a busy village in India? If you're Gowri Shankar, world famous snake handler, it's a simple matter of grabbing the snake by the tail and putting it in a bag.
Runaway Slaves Built This Fort to Defend Their Freedom
May 14, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoAn archaeological expedition into the wilderness of North Carolina uncovers evidence of a remarkable settlement once filled with runaway slaves determined to evade capture.
How Yosemite Became the Setting of a Chaotic 1970 Riot
May 14, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIndependence Day in 1970 at Yosemite National Park should have been an occasion for celebration. Instead, it became a day of violence between park rangers and young campers.
Princess Diana Knew Exactly How to Be Photographed
May 07, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoPrincess Diana demonstrated a remarkable savviness for bending the press coverage in her favor, from her iconic wardrobe to instinctively knowing what made a great photo.
Why This Rolls-Royce Starlight Feature Costs $12,000
April 30, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIf you're a fan of driving under a starry sky, Rolls-Royce has you covered with its unique 'starlight' option adorning the ceilings of its luxury car. But that twinkle will set you back an additional $12,000.
Lioness Underestimates the Strength of an Impala
April 30, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoA solitary lioness in her new home of Akagera, Rwanda, is tracking a herd of impala. Two problems: The impala here are stronger than the ones back home, and their horns can be lethal.
Queen Elizabeth II on the Ride to the Coronation
April 23, 2018 16:00 - 51 seconds VideoOn June 2, 1953, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II set out for Westminster Abbey for the Coronation. Hear Her Majesty describe the uncomfortable miles-long ride in a golden four-ton coach.
A Honey Badger and Mole Snake Fight to the Death
April 23, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoA hungry honey badger and a fearless mole snake are locked in a deadly battle, with survival at stake. Both animals know enough to target each other's weak spot: the head.
Turtle Hatchlings Face Death While Dashing to Ocean
April 16, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoOn the beaches of the Great Barrier Reef, the first turtle hatchlings emerge from their shells and make a run for the ocean. Almost immediately, aerial and aquatic predators appear, hoping for an easy meal.
How Americans Found a Clever Loophole in the Prohibition Act
April 09, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoJust because the country had voted to outlaw alcohol, didn't mean that people would comply. The legal case wasn't much helped by a quirky loophole which allowed people to drink existing supplies at home.
Don't Be Jealous of These Oyster-Slurping Beach Monkeys
April 09, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoLong-tailed macaques spend much of the day frolicking on tropical sands and taking a dip in the ocean to cool off. And when it's time to eat, they prove surprisingly adept at cracking open the clams and oysters nearby.
One of the Worst Man-Made Disasters in History
April 02, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoResidents of the valley of Vajont in Italy had reservations about a new hydroelectric dam--especially when cracks began to appear in the nearby mountain. Their worst fears were soon to be confirmed.
Could Lab-Bred Super Coral Save Our Reefs?
April 02, 2018 16:00 - 1 minute VideoScientists are exploring a bold new plan that could help protect the world's coral reefs. Using selective breeding, they aim to produce a new strain of coral that can withstand climate change.
Never-Before-Seen Footage of Clownfish Hatching
March 26, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThanks to the use of a specialized infrared camera, we're now able to witness a never-before-seen phase of clownfish development: the nighttime hatching of larva from their eggs.
Intense Footage of Kamikaze Attacks During WWII
March 26, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoOn April 6, 1944, U.S. marines faced a battle unlike any they had faced before: the Japanese intentionally crashed over 1,900 planes in suicide kamikaze dives on them.
These Men Risked Their Lives to Build 1920s New York Skyscrapers
March 19, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe skyscrapers of Manhattan needed a new, bolder type of construction worker. They got them in 'roughnecks' - hardened men who worked without safety harnesses, hard hats or even bathroom breaks.
Is This the Reason Ireland Converted to Christianity?
March 19, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoMany attribute the spread of Christianity in Ireland to St. Patrick. But Medieval history and scientific evidence dating back to 540 A.D. hint at a more cosmic reason.
Incredible Timelapse of Dry Badlands Thunderstorm
March 12, 2018 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoIn South Dakota, thousands of fireflies, in the midst of a mating ritual, compete against the bright stars that light up the dark skies of the Badlands. Often, it's hard to tell one from the other.
Why Nancy Reagan's Sense of Style Wasn't Appreciated
March 12, 2018 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoLike Jackie and Dolley before her, Nancy Reagan brought her own unique style to the White House. But economic times were tough, and what was seen as stylish in one era was now viewed as extravagant.