Smithsonian Magazine

From the archive: Archaeologists excavating the ancient Egyptian Temple of Esna restored a series of ceiling paintings depicting the zodiac, a belt-shaped region of the sky traditionally divided into 12 astrological signs. #InternationalAstrologyDay bit.ly/40Vq58a

The NASA Art Program was conceived in 1962, under the leadership of NASA Administrator James Webb, and aimed to give artists unprecedented access to document the achievements of the space program. bit.ly/4uaiYpW

Charles Darwin first proposed that chickens may have descended from the red jungle fowl because of their similar appearances. #NationalPoultryDay bit.ly/4uczAxg

The DeLorean has become an easily recognizable symbol of 1980s futurism thanks to its use in the "Back to the Future" movies. Its creator, John Z. DeLorean, died #OTD in 2005. bit.ly/4sHX7op

The lazy days of summer will be here before you know it. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for DIY pools. #NationalBackyardDay #archive bit.ly/4dbRHxc

"This is an important technical advance that brings brain-computer typing much closer to practical communication speeds for people with paralysis." bit.ly/4blXCyx

The artwork, which depicts the changing seasons in Normandy, is the centerpiece of “A Year in Normandie and Some Other Thoughts About Painting,” a new exhibition in London. bit.ly/3NPa4hc

While rodents generally gnaw to help file down their constantly growing front teeth, researchers have just uncovered another reason for the behavior: It feels good. bit.ly/4rDifeB

A fiery streak across the sky and a loud boom greeted many residents of northeast Ohio on the morning of March 17. bit.ly/4bjEm4K

British soldiers met at Lydia Darragh's house in Philadelphia, presenting the perfect opportunity for the Quaker woman to eavesdrop on their battle plans. bit.ly/47WfuxI

In 2021, a man diving off the coast of Israel discovered a 900-year-old sword resting on the seafloor. It was a lucky find for the diver, and now his luck has returned. bit.ly/4sWsawN

Researchers have estimated how much the home’s owners may have paid to paint the small sacrarium, calculating the price of the Egyptian blue pigment and the hours of labor required to prepare it. bit.ly/4bR4dkI

Young blue crabs find refuge from many predators in the mid-salinity waters of some spots along the Chesapeake Bay. But there, they face another threat: Getting eaten by their older peers. bit.ly/4rILhtg

#OTD in 1962, Bob Dylan released his first album. What's your favorite Bob Dylan song? bit.ly/3P3TnyU

The only exceptions to the Ayam Cemani's black coloring are its cream-colored eggs and red blood. #NationalPoultryDay bit.ly/4sE7UzP

Fed up with invasive species and sterile landscapes, Douglas Tallamy urges Americans to go native and go natural. #NationalBackyardDay bit.ly/4bfeKEP

The epic begins 10,000 years ago in an Asian jungle and ends today in kitchens all over the world. #NationalPoultryDay bit.ly/4cDWSWH

Thieves crushed the crown while attempting to extract it from a too-small hole in its glass case—and then, as they fled the scene, they dropped it on the sidewalk. bit.ly/3O4gWY1

Nigel Peverett had worked at the British Museum in London since the early 1970s, but in April, 1992, he was caught leaving with around thousands of dollars worth of prints. bit.ly/4b3Lalz

Text from ancient Greek and Roman writers describes how statues of deities—including Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals—were anointed with perfumes. #NationalFragranceWeek bit.ly/4b34DnS