Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

Latest Episodes:

Why Peacocks Have Nothing on the Male Sage Grouse Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

With a fancy fan of tail feathers, bright yellow eye combs and magnificent plumage, male sage grouses bring enough dazzle to their courtship displays to put a peacock to shame.

Who is the Mystery Woman in Benedict Arnold's Secret Letters? Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

An archive of the secret communications between Benedict Arnold and British army officers indirectly reference Arnold's wife, Peggy. It is the strongest clue yet that she may have been a pivotal figure in Arnold's treachery.

The Cause of this Plane Crash Was Shrouded in Mystery Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

When Continental Airlines Flight 1713 crashed on November 15, 1987, it soon became clear to investigators that initial theories could not be backed up by evidence. They would have to wait for the flight data recorders to be analyzed.

These Wolves Are Clever Enough to Con a Group of Bears Apr 01, 2019

Show notes

A pair of hungry wolves come up with a smart plan to swindle the swamp bears away from their carrion. While one wolf distracts the bears, the other goes in and steals her fill.

What Caused Flight 72 to Lose Control in 2008? Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

On October 7, 2008, passengers and crew on Qantas Airlines Flight 72 were pulled up from their seats. Immediately after, the plane went into a dangerous and uncontrolled nosedive.

An Older Brown Bear Exerts His Dominance Over a Younger Rival Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

A dominant brown bear - dubbed the 'Swamp King' - comes across a younger bear feasting on a kill. He immediately moves in - as the biggest and strongest around, he won't take a backseat to any rival.

A 1941 FBI Raid Reveals a Network of Japanese Spies in LA Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

In 1941, Naval Intelligence zero in on a Japanese spy named Itaru Tachibana. Raiding his room at the Olympic Hotel in Los Angeles reveals a stash of documents that outlined the extent of his undercover network.

President Reagan is Stunned by the Scale of Soviet Espionage Mar 11, 2019

Show notes

In 1981, President Mitterrand of France took Ronald Reagan to one side and revealed an extraordinary intelligence operation. It was a revelation that would turn the Cold War on its head.

Why the 1918 Spanish Flu Probably Didn't Originate in Spain Mar 04, 2019

Show notes

Despite its name, the Spanish Flu almost certainly didn't originate in Spain. In fact, it appears to have originated on the Midwestern prairies of Kansas.

A Chance Encounter With a Polar Bear and Her Two Cubs Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

In 2013, a wildlife cameraman from Norway, Asgeir Helgestad, met a polar bear mom whom he names Frost. Over the next few years, their paths would cross again.