Human Origins

S4 E1

Feb 06, 2011

Take a tour through the Smithsonian's Hall of Human Origins. More than 285 early-human fossils and artifacts from 48 different countries tell the story our six-million-year-old history. Discover how we came to be the conscious, adaptable species we are today as host Susan Spencer explores how we've evolved in order to survive an era of dramatic climate change. Will our greatest human trait, our adaptability, be enough to ensure our continued survival?

Space: Bots or Bodies

S4 E2

Feb 13, 2011

In 1969, Apollo 11 astronauts and a Russian robot rover raced each other to reach the moon first. More than 40 years later, the debate of man vs. machine rages on: Which is better equipped to handle the rigors and risks of space exploration? Technological advances will allow astronauts to travel farther than ever, and Mars is in our sights. But should Man make that trip? Are we pushing the boundaries, or pushing our luck?

Denying the Moon Landings

S4 E3

Feb 20, 2011

The 1960s were a turbulent decade full of civil unrest and political backlash. The Apollo Moon landing galvanized most of our polarized nation, but to some, the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal created suspicion of the government's motives. These mounting suspicions led some to doubt that America's moon landings were even real. Apollo astronauts and scientific experts reflect on NASA's glorious achievement, and the shock of having their accomplishments questioned 40 years later.

Design Triennial

S4 E4

Mar 01, 2011

Get a behind-the-scenes, firsthand look at good design for great causes. Join host Susan Spencer as we enter the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum, where curators have assembled a remarkable collection of groundbreaking innovations that are making the world safer, more comfortable, and energy efficient. The exhibition asks "Why Design Now?" The inventions we explore answer that question by showing off pioneering, elegant and compassionate solutions to some of the many problems facing today's world.

Picture Perfect

S4 E5

Mar 06, 2011

It's a photo opportunity of a lifetime. Since 2003, Smithsonian Magazine has run an annual contest, offering photographers the chance to have their winning pictures exhibited at the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. and published in the print edition of its Magazine. In that time, hundreds of thousands of shutterbugs from over 90 countries have submitted their best shots, but only a handful can win. We join judges behind the scenes and a winning photographer behind the lens to answer the question: what makes a simple picture a work of art?

Episode Guide