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 Do These Monkeys Have Such Outrageous Noses?
September 04, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoProboscis monkeys may look ridiculous to us, but they are in fact perfectly adapted to their swamp surroundings. Their pot-bellied stomachs are able to digest toxic leaves, while their huge noses play a role in attracting mates.
Why Pocahontas May Not Have Rescued John Smith After All
September 04, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoAccording to legend, Pocahontas threw herself between the leader of the Jamestown colony, John Smith, and a warrior's club to save him. But experts have some doubts about whether she was even present.
The Reason This South American Tribe Shrunk Their Enemies' Heads
August 28, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoThe Shuar of South America is the only tribe to have never been conquered by the Spanish Empire. But the thing they're most famous for is a macabre tradition: shrinking the heads of their enemies.
A Checklist That Might Tell If You're a Psychopath
August 28, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWhile studying prisoners in 1980, psychologist Dr. Robert Hare developed the Psychopathy Checklist - a list that evaluates people based on twenty basic traits, including lying and lack of remorse.
Meet the Echidna, an Incredible, Fire-Proof Spiny Anteater
August 21, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoThe echidna, or spiny anteater, is a marvel of defensive self-preservation, from its impenetrable spikes to its amazing ability to breathe through bushfires.
The Egyptian Pharaoh With the Biggest Ego
August 21, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThough little is known about Khufu, the pharaoh who oversaw the Great Pyramid's construction, vicious rumors about him persist today.
Nostradamus May Have Gotten Your Zodiac Sign Wrong
August 15, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoPredicting the future isn't an exact science, but making astrological measurements is. Checking some of Nostradamus' calculations reveals that his astrology skills may not have been up to snuff.
The Ocean Is Running Out of Fish. Here's the Alarming Math.
August 14, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoBased on reporting, the ocean has long appeared to offer an infinite bounty of fish. But recent, more accurate research paints a far grimmer picture, with annual catch on a precipitous and potentially catastrophic decline.
Some Very Compelling Evidence the Tower of Babel Was Real
August 14, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoBiblical scholars have long debated whether the Tower of Babel really existed. Now, a remarkable stone tablet never before shown on film appears to settle that question.
The Real Culprit of an Ancient Egyptian Plague Was... Bread?
August 07, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoAccording to the Bible, the 10th plague to befall ancient Egypt killed the first born child of every family. Now, new scientific evidence suggests that this may have actually occurred - and that a fungal infection was responsible.
How Krispy Kreme Became a National Treasure
August 07, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoWhat's the secret to a perfectly round Krispy Kreme doughnut?
These Cable Cars Transformed Medellin Into a Cultural Mecca
July 31, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIn Medellin, Colombia, a new kind of public transit brings together two neighboring communities that were once worlds apart.
This Vet Went from Admiring Jane Goodall to Working With Her
July 18, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoSuzan Murray, Chief Veterinarian at the National Zoo, describes her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and makes a special trip to visit her favorite elephant, Shanthi.
How Coffee Breaks Became a Staple of American Life
July 17, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoCoffee - it's a staple of American life, and inside the vaults of the National Museum of American History, they know the secret to its wide spread success: packaging.
This Is What 'Moving Day' Means for a Houseboat
July 12, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoCouple Wim and Carin are moving 70 miles north to the Dutch town of Groningen. But this is no ordinary move: their new home will be pulled by boat along narrow waterways the whole time.
In Haiti, One Man's Trash is Another's Art Supplies
July 10, 2017 16:00 - 4 minutes VideoSymbols of Haitian voodoo, nature and Christianity are cut and pounded into oil drums as Haiti's artists transform mundane objects into remarkable art.
Surprise: Gladiators Were Vegetarians
July 10, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoA huge factor in a gladiator's physical fitness was a meatless diet. During training, he primarily ate beans for protein and barley for carbohydrates.
Intense Footage of Fake Towns Used for 1950s Nuclear Tests
July 03, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoTo test the impact of an atomic blast on populated areas, technicians built entire fake towns, with houses, shops, and even mannequin families. These settlements went by an ominous name: doom towns.
The First Step to Shipping a Chopper? Remove the Blades.
July 03, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoWhen a high-tech helicopter like the Sikorsky S-92 needs to be transported on a cargo plane, it's crucial that every rotor blade is dismantled and stowed away with care. That's because each one costs over $200,000.
How the Massive ALMA Antennas Move in Perfect Unison
June 26, 2017 16:00For all 66 ALMA antennas to move in exact unison, the precision of the dish surface must be less than the width of a strand of hair. Witnessing them whirl in the desert is a magnificent sight. The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
Why 10 Daily Tons of Ant Poop Keep This Rainforest Thriving
June 26, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoThe soil in the rainforests of Barro Colorado is packed with nutrients, but where does it come from? The answer lies high up in the canopy, where a remarkable, prolific species of nest-building ants drops its waste.
Lionfish Are a Plague. Can Training Sharks to Eat Them Work?
June 19, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoLionfish, which are native to the Indo-Pacific but were accidentally introduced to the Caribbean, are decimating native fish species. To help limit their damage, scientists are teaching sharks to prey on them.
How 1950s Las Vegas Sold Atomic Bomb Tests as Tourism
June 16, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoBetween 1950 and 1960, the population of Las Vegas grew by 161%--partly due to the burgeoning casino industry. But another reason was a chance to glimpse actual nuclear tests in person.
Unleashing the Historic Gatling Gun on a Watermelon Line-Up
June 12, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoThe rotating-barreled, hand-cranked Gatling gun was invented in 1861-and immediately rewrote the rules of warfare. Now, Weapon Hunter host Paul Shull puts one to the test and demonstrates its impressive firepower.
Letters Reveal Ben Franklin's International Social Network
June 05, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoCaroline Winterer is the principal investigator of the Benjamin Franklin Project. By using social network analysis, she is challenging accepted historical narratives about one of our founding fathers.
What Maximum Security Meant for Ancient Tomb Raiders
May 18, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe Han dynasty tombs were packed with some of the empire's most valuable relics. To guard against theft, colossal stones, each weighing six tons, were cut to block the passageways from relentless tomb raiders.
The Taj Mahal Was Really Built for Love
May 08, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe allure of the Taj Mahal isn't just architectural. Seen as a memorial to true love, the Taj was built out of grief after the death of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan's favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
This Was the Birth of DNA Profiling
May 08, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIn 1983, police in Leicestershire, England struggle to make their case - until they join forces with scientists, who are just discovering the potential of DNA profiling.
The Entire Bay of Santorini Is an Active Volcanic Crater
May 01, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoWhat happened to the giant volcano thought to have destroyed Atlantis? The answer may be the island of Santorini... all of it.
The Extraordinary Life Cycle of a Hornet Colony
April 28, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoAfter a hornet queen lays hundreds of eggs, her workers set about feeding the larvae chewed-up prey. With tiny waists, the workers can't digest solid food; they instead subsist on drops of amino acid from the larvae.
These Are the Three Main Categories of Bloodstain Pattern
April 24, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoToday, bloodstain pattern analysis is routinely used in murder investigations - analysts draw on chemistry, mathematics and physics to determine the area of origin where an injury occurred.
A Coconut Octopus Uses Tools to Snatch a Crab
April 24, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoCoconut octopuses are among the most intelligent invertebrates around: They use tools, carry their shelters around for when they need them, and, fittingly, adopt an underwater walking motion that's very similar to humans.
The Only Live News Report from the Attack on Pearl Harbor
April 17, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoOn December 7, 1941, an NBC radio affiliate in Honolulu made an urgent phone call to New York. In it, he begins to describe what the world would later know as the attack on Pearl Harbor.
World's Biggest Spider Gobbles Down an Unsuspecting Lizard
April 17, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoEverything about the Goliath birdeater is big and terrifying: from an 11-inch leg span to a deadly venom that makes the organs of its victims to shut down and self-digest from the inside. Now see it in action.
Why the Templar Secret Rituals Were So Controversial
April 10, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoFrom spitting on the Christian cross to strange sexual acts, the Knights Templar's secret rituals were controversial. But were they using these ceremonies to praise a different religion entirely?
The Strange Link Between Bats and Tequila
April 10, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoAs a nectar feeder, the lesser long-nosed bat follows the trail of cactus blooms between Mexico and the U.S. One of the plants it also plays a major role in pollinating is agave, which gives us tequila.
The Horrifying True Story Behind the Movie 'Scream'
April 03, 2017 16:00 - 2 minutes VideoThe tragic true story of an innocent man suspected of murder is a classic motif of the Hollywood thriller and is used as a subplot in Scream.
Komodo Dragons Can Taste Their Prey From Miles Away
April 03, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoA Komodo dragon's strongest sensory organ is its deeply forked tongue. It acts as a meal detector that samples the air for dead or dying animals.
Why Humans Still Can't Live on Mars (Yet)
March 28, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoMars is calling. Will we stick with robots or ship off the humans?
How Vampire Bats Suck Blood for 30 Minutes Unnoticed
March 27, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThanks to a local anesthetic in their spit, vampire bats are able to drink blood from their prey without being detected. That way, they can feed undisturbed for up to a half hour at a time.
Incredible: This Underwater Spider Has an Actual Scuba Tank
March 20, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoThe scuba spider is the only arachnid to live exclusively underwater, despite lacking gills. Its secret, like its name suggests, is a makeshift oxygen supply.
Was This Hidden Tunnel Used by the Knights Templar?
March 20, 2017 16:00 - 1 minute VideoIt's unclear if the Knights Templar created the secret tunnel in Acre, Israel, as an escape route or a way to secretly export valuable items. One thing is certain: It's a remarkable showcase of their engineering.
The Vital Message Hank Aaron Took from Jackie Robinson
March 13, 2017 16:00 - 3 minutes VideoIt's unlikely that Hank Aaron would have achieved his baseball milestones were it not for one trailblazing pioneer who led the way: Jackie Robinson. Here, the baseball legend himself talks about Robinson's influence.
The First Female Accordion Player to Win the Vallenato Kings Festival
March 13, 2017 16:00 - 5 minutes VideoYoung accordion phenom Yeime Arrieta Ramos is the first female accordion player to ever win the Vallenato Kings Festival.
What David Hockney's Brilliant Collages Reveal About Photos
March 06, 2017 17:00 - 2 minutes VideoDavid Hockney considered photography a lifeless medium--at least compared to a drawing or painting. But a photographic experiment yielded a completely unexpected, and transformative, result.
Why Black Leopards Need Distractions
February 27, 2017 17:00Along the edge of the 44,000-acre Denikan Reserve, two black leopards will make their way to their newly built enclosure. These expert climbers won't be able to scale the specially built fences that... The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
How Wallis Simpson Infiltrated British Royalty
February 20, 2017 17:00 - 4 minutes VideoThere aren't many rumors that American socialite Wallis Simpson hasn't been subjected to. So here's how she actually infiltrated the British monarchy.
A Lucky Break for a Starving Polar Bear Mom and Her Cub
February 13, 2017 17:00 - 1 minute VideoNear Churchill, Manitoba, a polar bear mom and her cub stumble across a fish carcass washed up on the shore. After a long migration across the wilderness with very little food, this feels like a feast.
The Ultimate Rococo Monument: Dolmabahce Palace
February 13, 2017 17:00 - 1 minute VideoThe Dolmabahce Palace is the ultimate Rococo monument, flaunting the power of the Ottoman Empire. But lavish ornamentation comes at a high cost: the structure propelled the administration toward financial collapse.
Spectacular Footage of a Butterfly Leaving Its Cocoon
February 06, 2017 17:00 - 4 minutes VideoThe transition from caterpillar to butterfly is a process that consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Observe one caterpillar as it developments into a gorgeous winged insect.