Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

Latest Episodes:

How Coffee Breaks Became a Staple of American Life Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

Coffee - it's a staple of American life, and inside the vaults of the National Museum of American History, they know the secret to its wide spread success: packaging.

This Is What 'Moving Day' Means for a Houseboat Jul 12, 2017

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Couple Wim and Carin are moving 70 miles north to the Dutch town of Groningen. But this is no ordinary move: their new home will be pulled by boat along narrow waterways the whole time.

In Haiti, One Man's Trash is Another's Art Supplies Jul 10, 2017

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Symbols of Haitian voodoo, nature and Christianity are cut and pounded into oil drums as Haiti's artists transform mundane objects into remarkable art.

Surprise: Gladiators Were Vegetarians Jul 10, 2017

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A huge factor in a gladiator's physical fitness was a meatless diet. During training, he primarily ate beans for protein and barley for carbohydrates.

Intense Footage of Fake Towns Used for 1950s Nuclear Tests Jul 03, 2017

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To test the impact of an atomic blast on populated areas, technicians built entire fake towns, with houses, shops, and even mannequin families. These settlements went by an ominous name: doom towns.

The First Step to Shipping a Chopper? Remove the Blades. Jul 03, 2017

Show notes

When a high-tech helicopter like the Sikorsky S-92 needs to be transported on a cargo plane, it's crucial that every rotor blade is dismantled and stowed away with care. That's because each one costs over $200,000.

Why 10 Daily Tons of Ant Poop Keep This Rainforest Thriving Jun 26, 2017

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The soil in the rainforests of Barro Colorado is packed with nutrients, but where does it come from? The answer lies high up in the canopy, where a remarkable, prolific species of nest-building ants drops its waste.

Lionfish Are a Plague. Can Training Sharks to Eat Them Work? Jun 19, 2017

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Lionfish, which are native to the Indo-Pacific but were accidentally introduced to the Caribbean, are decimating native fish species. To help limit their damage, scientists are teaching sharks to prey on them.

How 1950s Las Vegas Sold Atomic Bomb Tests as Tourism Jun 16, 2017

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Between 1950 and 1960, the population of Las Vegas grew by 161%--partly due to the burgeoning casino industry. But another reason was a chance to glimpse actual nuclear tests in person.

Unleashing the Historic Gatling Gun on a Watermelon Line-Up Jun 12, 2017

Show notes

The rotating-barreled, hand-cranked Gatling gun was invented in 1861-and immediately rewrote the rules of warfare. Now, Weapon Hunter host Paul Shull puts one to the test and demonstrates its impressive firepower.