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Despite scientific advancements and sophisticated forecasting tools, the local weather that impacts people’s daily lives continues to remain a mystery to many. Gain a better understanding of what weather is and how it works with meteorologist Edward Graham, an atmospheric scientist based at the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland, as he surveys the science behind the operation of Earth's weather and climate systems and how millions of weather observations are gathered to make the forecast for tomorrow.
People of the late 19th century had great hopes that technological innovation 100 years into the future would change human life for the better. Artists of the period offered their visions of this new world—including robot barbers and manicurists, jet-pack-propelled tennis, and a Victorian-era version of Zoom—in colorful illustrations for collector’s cards, postcards, and cartoons. Writer Adam Tanner looks at these depictions to reveal how some futurists were hilariously off-base, while others uncannily predicted the world of today.
Capture Hawai’i’s dramatic skies, shimmering sea, and sunlit essence with expressive, flowing watercolors.
As Britain's survival hung in the balance in 1940 and 1941 against Germany's relentless Blitz air campaign, scrappy defenders on the ground forged a fragile network of radar, telephones, civil defense, and radio communications. It triumphed despite equipment delays, squabbling, and political interference. Historian Marcus Jones of the U.S. Naval Academy examines how the Blitz was both an assault on cities and a test of Britain’s ability to organize knowledge, labor, and machines into an effective defense—one that foreshadowed the information age of warfare.
Fantasy is now an established and lucrative genre with a dizzying array of popular iterations across literature, games, and film. But the story of how hobbits, dungeons, knights, and dragons took over our collective imaginations is a long, complex one. In a fall series, historian Justin M. Jacobs explores the origins of the modern fantasy genre, from the evolution of obscure Gothic novels to the iconic works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons. This session focuses on the cultural impact of the fantasy roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons.
Chef Pyet DeSpain talks with Andi Murphy, producer for NPR’s “Native America Calling,” about her new cookbook and the stories, culture, and philosophies of Indigenous people that flavor each recipe. In the cookbook, she shares how to incorporate an array of key ingredients—including venison, dandelion greens, honey, habanero peppers, and squash—into dishes that invite home cooks to honor the seasons and connect with essential foodways.
Gene Kelly is one of the most engaging and influential dancers to ever set foot in Hollywood. Starting in the 1940s with films like Cover Girl, Anchors Aweigh, and On the Town, Kelly choreographed and performed dozens of classic numbers that helped to define the American movie musical and that continue to delight audiences of all ages. Media historian Brian Rose surveys Kelly’s remarkable achievements and examines his enduring impact on Hollywood dancing.
In popular culture and historical fiction, Louis XVI, the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy in 1792, is typically portrayed as either a feeble puppet manipulated by his glamorous wife Marie Antoinette or a heartless tyrant whose downfall was richly deserved. Historian Alexander Mikaberidze examines these familiar tropes, offering a more nuanced reappraisal of a monarch caught in the violent center of a world in transformation.
Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, brought a unique voice to children’s literature, seizing on classic folk tales and giving them a decidedly American spin. From the landmark 1939 film adaptation to this year’s release of Wicked: For Good, Baum’s fantastical creations continue to shape our cultural landscape. Celebrate the wonderful world of Baum as author Daniel Stashower explores his life and legacy and actor Scott Sedar reads from Baum’s most beloved works.
Founded on June 14, 1775, the United States Army stands as the oldest branch of the U.S. military. Historian Christopher Hamner leads a compelling day exploring the Washington, D.C., area’s collection of memorials and museums dedicated to the nation’s first military branch, including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History; the National Museum of the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia; the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial; and the World War II Memorial.
