Description: [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="293" caption="A narrow section, done in wood, of the of south front of new National Museum building, the Natural History Building, erected by the superintendent of construction, The Old Post Office is in the background on the left, 1904, by Unidentified photographer, Smithsonian Institution Archives Record Unit 79, Box 9, Folder 4,
Description: “Can a Rattlesnake hypnotize a Pine Mouse to death”? Questions from a typical day of treatment for a Pre-Program Paper Conservation Intern.
Description: The term “personal equation” came into use in the 19th century as scientists found that observers have inherent biases: some anticipate events, and some report events after they have occurred. Recognition of the problem led to a spate of personal equation instruments: some measured biases of this sort, and some reduced the effect of personal errors. Most of these
Description: Couldn’t we all use a little more warmth and kindness in the world? For World Kindness Day, we’re highlighting acts of kindness by Smithsonian employees that were featured in the staff newsletter, "The Torch."
Description: The Smithsonian Institution Archives continually strives to add more collections to its website. This is a periodic post highlighting new acquisitions and individual collection items.New Finding Aids Online: A group of collections documenting the field work of scientists who worked at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Department of Invertebrate Zoology:
Description: On the evening of October 1, 1847, while using a small telescope on the roof of the family home, Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) spotted a comet where one had not been before. Word of this achievement spread quickly through the scientific community. The American Journal of Science declared her “the first American entitled to the honor of the original discovery of a comet.” Some
Description: As Summer 2021 winds down, we'll take a look at some examples of the breadth of work and collections that are represented at the Smithsonian Institution.