Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

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Why the Fastest Male Grizzlies Get the Girl May 11, 2020

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Bear courtship in Yellowstone National Park happens at breakneck speed - literally. The male grizzly sets off after the female, who tries to outrun him reaching speeds of up to 35 miles an hour.

A Former Soviet Agent Becomes a Notorious Weapons Dealer May 11, 2020

Show notes

After 1991, former Soviet agent Viktor Bout set about carving a new career for himself as an arms dealer. His exploits would earn him the nickname the ‘Merchant of Death’.

This FBI Agent Sold Secrets to the KGB for Years May 04, 2020

Show notes

In 1985, an American FBI agent began to sell intelligence to the Russians, under the alias of Ramon Garcia. It would be another 16 years before he was finally arrested by the FBI.

Why Vervet Monkeys Love Zambezi Fig Trees May 04, 2020

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Vervet monkeys find the figs of the Zambezi fig tree to be completely irresistible. And because vervets rarely stay in one place for too long, they spread the tree’s seeds far and wide.

A Shy Orangutan Shares Her Breakfast with a Friend Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

A shy orangutan makes great strides by confidently securing her share of breakfast. But she’s not above sharing her bounty of turnips with another orangutan, whom she’s befriended.

A Navy Warship Goes Down Weeks Before the End of WWII Apr 27, 2020

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In the final days of WWII, Eagle 56 was on a routine assignment in the Gulf of Maine. In an instant, the ship found itself ripped in half, with most of her crew dead – but what happened?

This Salt Lick Doubles as a Reunion Spot for Elephants Apr 20, 2020

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A herd of migrating elephants are acquiring necessary minerals like calcium and potassium from a burnt wood clearing. It’s also an impromptu reunion spot for all traveling elephant herds.

This Gun Was One of the Very First Machine Guns Apr 20, 2020

Show notes

In 1866, Hiram Maxim, an American engineer, tried out a rifle for the first time and found himself wondering how he could make it better. The result was the Maxim gun – the word’s first recoil-operated machine gun.

The FBI Investigates Soviet Deep-Cover Spies in America Apr 13, 2020

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Over the course of a decade, deep-cover Russian spies embedded in America collected intelligence and passed it onto their handlers. The FBI investigation into them became known as Operation Ghost Stories.

Orangutan Creates an Umbrella Hat to Stay Dry Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

Orangutans are adept at improvising and using tools – this experienced female has learnt to make a makeshift umbrella hat – useful in a storm.

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