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SMITHSONIAN
Alfred Cralle, a Pittsburgh porter, patented his ice-cream mold and disher in 1897; its thumb-operated scraper let servers dish 40 to 50 plates a minute- At 18, this Irish student invented plant-based plastic that doesn't just biodegrade; it is designed to break down microplastics too
- Science says flamingos don’t start out pink: Here’s how their food changes the color of their feathers
- In 1813, iconic newspaper first used term 'Uncle Sam' to refer to the United States, the nickname was linked to local meatpacker, after over 200 years later President Donald Trump is on name-changing spreeSamuel Wilson supplied meat to the U.S. Army in barrels marked "U.S.", meaning United States. According to the traditional story, workers a...07 Sep, 2026, 06.27 PM IST
- Indonesia's 'Ring of Fire': Key facts about the world's most volcanic nationMount Anak Krakatau's latest eruptions have caused major air travel interruptions, impacting numerous passengers in Indonesia. With a stagg...07 Sep, 2026, 04.09 PM IST
- In 1957, Vanguard TV3 rose about 4 feet before its rocket exploded; the 3-pound satellite was thrown clear, recovered, and now sits in the Smithsonian's Air and Space MuseumIn 1957, an American satellite launch ended in disaster when the rocket exploded on the launchpad. The salvaged satellite ultimately became...05 Sep, 2026, 01.30 PM IST
- A forested island appeared out of nowhere on a Canadian lake, disappeared weeks later and returned miles away, revealing a strange natural phenomenon officials still cannot fully explainA floating forest island appeared on Williston Lake in British Columbia this summer. Boaters discovered the unusual landmass, which was not...04 Sep, 2026, 03.33 PM IST
- In 1993, Miami lowered a retired Boeing 727 called Spirit of Miami into the sea; a storm split it apart a year later, and coral, oysters, and fish moved inThe Spirit of Miami, a retired Boeing 727, now lies submerged beneath the waves, purposefully sunk to provide an ecological haven. The deva...03 Sep, 2026, 06.12 PM IST
- How did insects conquer land? A 324-million-year-old fossil with 24 legs and paddle-like abdominal limbs suggests some of their earliest ancestors may have lived in water before becoming terrestrialA 324-million-year-old fossil from Texas offers new insights into early insect evolution. This ancient creature possessed an unusual 24-leg...03 Sep, 2026, 12.15 PM IST
- In 1967, Biosatellite II irradiated parasitic wasps for 2 days in orbit; females later laid as many eggs as controls, and hatchability remained excellentA 1967 NASA mission sent parasitic wasps into orbit around Earth. These wasps showed surprising resistance to radiation damage while in spa...02 Sep, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
- In 1914 passenger pigeon went extinct following the death of Martha in Cincinnati Zoo, over 100 years later more than 500 bird species are facing risk of extinction, finds research studyScientists found that even with complete protection from human-caused threats like habitat loss, hunting, and climate change, about 250 bir...01 Sep, 2026, 11.23 PM IST
- In 1966, Marlon Brando bought a remote Pacific atoll after filming ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’; today, its protected beaches are a major nesting site where 15,614 green turtle hatchlings were recorded in one seasonMarlon Brando bought a Polynesian atoll named Tetiaroa after discovering it while filming Mutiny on the Bounty. More than five decades late...31 Aug, 2026, 07.26 AM IST
- In 2026, scientists tracked 4,581 animals across 37 species; more than 65% changed their behaviour simply when humans were nearbyResearchers tracking 4,581 animals across 37 species in the US found that more than 65% changed how they used space when humans were nearby...31 Aug, 2026, 12.08 AM IST
- COVID lockdowns accidentally created an experiment scientists could never have deliberately run: What happens when the roads and buildings stay, but the people disappear?The COVID-19 lockdowns accidentally created a rare real-world experiment for scientists, as human activity suddenly dropped while roads, bu...29 Aug, 2026, 07.59 PM IST
- In 1959, Able and Baker survived a 300-mile Jupiter rocket flight; Able died during surgery four days later, while Baker lived to 27In 1959, two brave monkeys named Able and Baker embarked on a historic space mission. Tragically, Able passed away just four days post-miss...29 Aug, 2026, 07.20 PM IST
- In 1961, NASA sent Ham the chimpanzee 157 miles above Earth to test whether a primate could work in space; he completed a 16-minute flight and returned safelyChimpanzee Ham made history in 1961 when he soared into space aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket. His mission aimed to assess the capabilitie...28 Aug, 2026, 01.30 PM IST
- In 2016, researchers restored 452 meters of Maryland's Muddy Creek with woodchips, sand and gravel. 2 years later, monitoring found suspended sediment fell 73.8%, improving stream functionMuddy Creek is a tributary of the Rhode River and flows through the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, an important site for ecolog...28 Aug, 2026, 03.07 AM IST
- In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts tore a rover fender on the Moon; they rebuilt it with four spare maps, duct tape, and clamps, and the fix lasted through 9.1 km of drivingDuring Apollo seventeen, Commander Eugene Cernan broke the rover's rear fender extension. Astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt rep...26 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
- In 1942, a US Navy aircraft became a ‘ghost ship’ after landing in California with no one inside. Its crew was missing, their parachutes were untouched and the radio still workedIn 1942, two experienced US Navy officers disappeared during a routine antisubmarine patrol off the California coast. Their blimp, L-8, was...24 Aug, 2026, 06.53 PM IST
- In 1926, Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fuel rocket from a snowy Massachusetts field; 35 years later, NASA formally dedicated Goddard Space Flight CenterOn March 16, 1926, Robert Goddard made history by launching the first liquid-propellant rocket from a serene farm in Worcester, Massachuset...23 Aug, 2026, 02.30 PM IST
Load More- In 1813, iconic newspaper first used term 'Uncle Sam' to refer to the United States, the nickname was linked to local meatpacker, after over 200 years later President Donald Trump is on name-changing spree
