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Part of a radius, a forearm bone, from a Denisovan, the first ever identified.

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Scientists Find a Trove of Denisovan Fossils and Tools in Southwest China, Giving an Unprecedented Glimpse Into Our Extinct Cousins’ Lives

Relatively few fossils belonging to the enigmatic early human have been unearthed in the past. Two new studies describe seven Denisovan fossils and more than 1,300 stone and bone tools

Margherita Bassi

Diego Rivera’s private collection of pre-Columbian art at the Anahuacalli Museum, which expanded and reopened in 2021.

Travel

Stunning Antiquities and Frida Kahlo’s Home Are Just Some of the Offerings That Have Bolstered Mexico City’s Fantastic Array of Museums

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Smithsonian magazine September/October 2026 issue cover
Anahuacalli Museum-Opener
Travel The Marvelous Museums of Mexico City
The ancient capital has plenty of artwork and fossils, if that’s what you like. Or tour the writing rooms of a Nobel winner, the fortified home of an exiled Russian revolutionary and towers of skulls
OPENER - A giant Atlantic cockle lies open on the beach in Fort Myers, Florida, while a beachcomber searches for shells in the background.
Science Who Dwells in a Shell?
Before they become sandy souvenirs, the baubles in the bubbles of the shoreline serve as a veritable fortress for creatures like clams, mussels and conchs
A sample of cerebrospinal fluid
Innovation Solving the Long Covid Puzzle
Long Covid saps the strength and vitality of patients, who have little recourse to fight it. A team of specialists—including an afflicted researcher working mostly from her bed—is looking for answers
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Thirty-Seven Smithsonian Artifacts That Tell the Story of 9/11, From a Flight 93 Logbook to a Squeegee Handle Used While Escaping From the World Trade Center

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Archaeologists Excavating a Roman-Era Cemetery in Poland Were Surprised to Stumble Upon a 5,000-Year-Old Necklace Made of 42 Teeth

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Ancient Rome’s Largest Fresco and Mosaic Complex, Featuring Depictions of a Mysterious Maritime City, Opens to the Public After 2,000 Years

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For Decades, Scientists Thought an ‘American Cheetah’ Once Roamed North America. Turns Out the Extinct Cat Wasn’t a Cheetah

Photo of the Day

Lopit tribesmen at sunset (South Sudan). The Lopit are an ethnic group from Eastern Equatoria in South Sudan. They are traditionally agro-pastoralists who engage in farming and cattle herding. Their homeland consists of hilly and mountainous terrain, which influences their way of life. Despite modern influences, they continue to preserve their traditional beliefs, customs and social structures. The Lopit have a rich cultural heritage with distinct traditions in music and dance. Drumming and communal dances play an essential role in their social gatherings. But mostly, the Lopit are known for the distinctive headdresses which are integral to their cultural attire. These headdresses are adorned with ostrich feathers are worn during significant ceremonies and dances, reflecting the community's values and social structures. They not only serve as decorative elements but also embody the wearer's status and role within the society, reinforcing cultural identity and continuity.

Lopit Tribesmen

By Roberto Pazzi

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At its peak, the movement grew to include more than 130 participating restaurants. Today, 111 authentic trattorias still promote regional cuisine in this special way.

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