Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

Latest Episodes:

Were Lithium Batteries the Cause of This Plane Crash? Sep 10, 2018

Show notes

UPS Airlines Flight 6 crashed into a military base 10 miles from Dubai Airport on September 3, 2010. Investigators seeking answers zero in on the plane's cargo: highly flammable lithium batteries.

Why Al Capone Wasn't Your Typical Discreet Gangster Sep 03, 2018

Show notes

Al Capone wasn't just one of the biggest distributers of bootleg alcohol during Prohibition, he also embraced his notoriety in some flamboyant ways.

How FDR Took the First Steps Towards Ending Prohibition Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

In 1932, nine days after his inauguration, President Roosevelt signed an order authorizing the sale of beer. It would soon be followed by the 21st amendment: the full repeal of Prohibition.

A Submarine Dangerously Tests How Deep It Can Go Aug 27, 2018

Show notes

The USS Tang was a state-of-the-art Balao class submarine, certified by the Navy to dive up to 400 feet. But in order to test her for battle, commander Dick O'Kane decides to take her even deeper.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana's Bitter Press Feud Aug 20, 2018

Show notes

By 1994, the marriage of Princes Charles and Princess Diana was falling apart. What followed was a remarkably bitter sequence of recriminations played out in the pages of the popular press.

This Interview Strategy Led a Serial Killer to Confess Aug 13, 2018

Show notes

When the Green River Killer is convicted of murder, the FBI brings in Dr. Mary Ellen O'Toole, leading expert in psychopathy, to get the killer to confess to 44 unsolved homicides.

This Chinese Emperor Was Betrayed by His Mother's Lover Aug 13, 2018

Show notes

China's young emperor, Qin Shi Huang, faced a serious threat to his reign in 238 BC. At the heart of it was his mother, Queen Zhao, and her ambitious lover, Lao Ai.

The Moment Lincoln Realized the Military Power of Railroads Aug 06, 2018

Show notes

Following victory for the South in the battle of Bull Run, President Lincoln reached an inescapable conclusion. Without an effective railway network to transport troops quickly, the North couldn't win.

Why Is This Lizard Doing Push-Ups? Aug 06, 2018

Show notes

It can be challenging to engage someone from a distance. Draco lizards, however, have an interesting technique of performing upper body workouts to get the attention of their potential mates.

The Deadly Attempt to Assassinate Qin Shi Huang Jul 30, 2018

Show notes

In 230 BC, the armies of the powerful Qin Shi Huang looked set to conquer all before them. But one neighboring kingdom, Yan, had other ideas and hatched a devious plan to assassinate him.