Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

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Why Tomb Raiders Treated This Priceless Gem Like Trash Jan 09, 2017

Show notes

Why would grave robbers break into the King of Xuzhou's tomb and leave its most priceless jade treasure behind? The answer may lie in the precious stone's status as currency in ancient China.

A Hungry Snake Finds a Whole Colony of Sociable Weavers Dec 19, 2016

Show notes

Nesting in close proximity to each other has a lot of advantages for sociable weavers. But if a predator like this venomous boomslang discovers the nests, he can wipe out the entire colony's brood in hours.

How Easy Company Incredibly Captured Two German Howitzers Dec 19, 2016

Show notes

During the D-Day invasion, Easy Company took a beating as they moved in on two German howitzers threatening advancing U.S. troops. How they rebounded to capture them is legendary.

What Being in a Submarine Under Attack Would Be Like Dec 12, 2016

Show notes

To evade a Japanese destroyer, the USS Tang goes into a sudden dive in shallow waters. As the depth charges explode around them, the crew know full well their chances of survival are slim.

Were the Women of Petra More Important Than Men? Dec 05, 2016

Show notes

The Nabataeans worshipped powerful female deities and built lavish shrines in their honor. Could this religious order be a clue into the elevated status of women in Petra?

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols on Uhura's Radical Impact Dec 05, 2016

Show notes

Star Trek's decision to cast Nichelle Nichols, an African American woman, as major character on the show was an almost unheard-of move in 1968. But for black women all over the country, it redefined the notions of what was possible.

Two Giant Killer Hornet Colonies Fight to the Death Nov 28, 2016

Show notes

A giant killer hornet war is waged between two colonies, and the resources, territories, and survival of a new generation are at stake. Watch the battle unfold as these huge hornets risk their lives for their kingdoms.

This Paratrooper's Jump Into Enemy Territory Was a Disaster Nov 28, 2016

Show notes

For Easy Company paratrooper Buck Compton, the mission into occupied Normandy started off disastrously. It was his first ever combat jump and he'd lost his equipment bag on the way down, all with thousands of German bullets whizzing by.

What Gladiator School Was Like Nov 21, 2016

Show notes

It's uncertain whether gladiator school was run like a prison or was completely voluntary. However, a reasonable amount of comfort was provided alongside strict training. Spectators wanted to see muscular men, which required a healthy diet and constant exercise.

How the Thinnest Burmese Gold Leaf Is Made Nov 21, 2016

Show notes

In Burma, goldworking skills have been passed down over generations. Here's a look at the painstaking process required to produce the fine gold leaf that's sold near temples for devotional gilding.