CURRENT ISSUE
May 2013
Features
Patriot Games
Nathaniel Philbrick debunks the myths about one of the American Revolution’s most famous battles
The Next Revolution
The Egyptian-American activist speaks out on the dangers women still face in a changing Mideast
Blowing Up The Art World
The Hirshhorn’s giant balloon is a capital idea—if it floats
The Body Eclectic
You're not just human. There are countless creatures living inside your body—And they govern your health and happiness
Microbe Hunters
Deep in the Amazon Rainforest, scientists search for the micro-organisms that lived inside ancient humans
America by the Numbers
An exclusive poll shows Americans crave stronger mathematics, science schooling for U.S. kids
The Printed World
3-D printing promises a factory in every home — and a whole lot more
Clear as a Bell
After more than a century, the inventor of the telephone speaks to us
Block Party
Inside the secret R&D lab where Lego is constructing the world's next generation of engineers
X and the City
Take a walk with a mathematician and the streets magically turn into equations, from predicting the height of the tallest skyscraper to estimating the crime rate. Welcome to the brave new world of quantitative urbanism
“Stem Cells”
A new poem by Amit Majmudar
Departments
From the Castle
Between smartphone apps and local exhibitions, the Institution is looking for great new ways to connect to our biggest fans
Revolution
The true measure of a successful revolution is the realization that there is no going back
Dreamscapes
Creativity begins after the photo is taken
Playlist
Inhaling the Blues
Spotlight
The latest Smithsonian exhibitions showcase Civil War photography, Buddhist figures and Time magazine cover portraits
Books
Jon Mooallem on our battle against extinction. Plus: history repeats itself in food, the poorest Astors and the roots of psychiatry
Fast Forward
Wave Gliders are about to make scientific exploration a lot cheaper and safer