Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

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A Pilot Risks His Career to Report a UFO Dec 14, 2015

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For a pilot, filing a UFO report can potentially hurt one's career. That didn't stop the captain of Aurigny Flight 544 from reporting what he saw en route to Alderney.

What's Powerful Enough to Disrupt Evolution? Dec 07, 2015

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The Solomon Islands are an evolutionary scientist's dream, but something has disrupted the way evolution occurs there.

How Was Hitler's Enigma Machine Cracked? Dec 07, 2015

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During WWII, an elite team of British codebreakers, including Alan Turing and Gordon Welchman, were tasked with cracking one of the most complex secret communication systems in existence: Hitler's Enigma.

Was the Krak des Chevaliers Castle Entrance a Lethal Trap? Nov 23, 2015

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Located on a 2,000 foot ridge overlooking the Syrian plains, this medieval fortress combined Eastern and Western architecture to create the ultimate defense.

Amazing Archival Footage of Parachuting Military Dogs Nov 23, 2015

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Since WWII, the U.S. military has trained dogs to become some of their most useful soldiers. Shot in 1948, this incredible footage shows paratroop dogs landing in the Arctic to learn how to rescue plane crash victims.

Is This UFO Photo Real? An Expert Weighs In. Nov 16, 2015

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A photographic negative of what's believed to be UFO activity during the Battle of Los Angeles is sent for forensic analysis. But the expert's verdict raises more question than it answers.

Even Lincoln Jumped Careers Before Choosing Politics Nov 16, 2015

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Lincoln's path to the presidency was beset by uncertainty. He tried his hand at being a soldier, a postmaster and a lawyer, before drifting into politics.

Microdots: The CIA's Tiny Secret-Message Holders Nov 09, 2015

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In 1971, the CIA sent coded messages to the Hanoi Hilton's prisoners of war through powdered-drink packages. How they hid these cryptic messages was quite ingenious.

Hozier on His Biggest Musical Influence Nov 09, 2015

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'Work Song' and 'Take Me to Church' singer Hozier gives a candid interview on how his unique musical style came to be.

Did You Know Assault Drones Were Used in WWII? Nov 02, 2015

Show notes

It's 1944, and the U.S. has a new weapon against the Japanese: a remote-controlled assault drone with a video link and the ability to carry a bomb. Here's what it looks like in action.

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