Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week - podcast cover

Smithsonian Channel Pick of the Week

Smithsonian Channelwww.smithsonianchannel.com
The latest in science, culture, and history from Smithsonian Channel.
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Episodes

The Terrifying Physics of WWII Dive Bombing

The act of dive bombing during World War II was a death defying trial of skill and nerve. You aimed your plane down, four miles above the ocean, and plummeted at speeds of up to 275 miles per hour.

Jan 20, 20204 min

A Passenger Faces Terrifying Choices on a Burning Ship

A man finds himself trapped in the cargo deck of the Norman Atlantic on December 28, 2014, with a fire bearing down on him. He has to make a decision: stay and evade the flames or jump into the sea.

Jan 13, 20203 min

A Biologist Studies a New Species of Baboon

An American biologist sets out to study the little-known Kinda baboon species - and this involves getting close to them in their natural habitat. Everything is of interest, from their fur patterns to their mannerisms.

Dec 30, 20194 min

A Mystery Substance Wreaks Havoc on Flight 780

Lab analysis reveals that a faulty valve on Cathay Pacific Flight 780 is an absorbent polymer, used in refueling trucks to prevent water from getting into the aircraft fuel tanks. So how did it end up in the aircraft?

Dec 09, 20193 min

Oxpeckers Take Advantage of Their Hippo Hosts

Oxpeckers perform a valuable service to hippos, keeping their skin free of ticks and dead skin. But they've also been known to keep host wounds open, so they can feed off the flesh.

Dec 02, 20192 min

The F-35 and HMS Queen Elizabeth Were Made for Each Other

The F-35 Lightning, capable of speeds of up to a 1,000 miles per hour, and packed with advanced stealth characteristics, is the ideal jet fighter for the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Together, they form a formidable team.

Dec 02, 20193 min

The Intricate Skill That Goes Into Tracking a Rhino

A team of researchers are on the trail of a black rhino bull whose transmitter has failed. To find him, they’ll rely on his spoor: clues such as urine trails, footprints and food he may have grazed on.

Nov 18, 20194 min

Investigators of Flight 821 Run into Multiple Dead Ends

Investigators looking into the crash of Aeroflot-Nord Flight 821, which crashed on September 14, 2008, ran into a lot of dead ends: from a totally destroyed engine to a badly damaged flight data recorder.

Nov 11, 20192 min

The Worst Air Disaster in Romanian History

The crash of TAROM Flight 371 on March 31, 1995 resulted in the death of all 60 people on board. The pressure was on the government to come up with answers.

Oct 28, 20192 min

These Elephants Refuse to Get Into their Transport Boxes

Rangers are hoping to relocate a trio of elephants to their new home, in Kafue National Park. But first, they need to draw them into the transport container, and they’re hoping a treat will do the trick.

Oct 28, 20193 min

Baby Indian Rhinos are Serious Milk Guzzlers

The sheer numbers involved in raising a rhino calf are staggering: a young rhino can drink up to seven gallons of milk a day – which means the mom needs up to 110 pounds of grass each day to sustain herself.

Oct 21, 20192 min

The Devastation Caused by the 2018 Fuego Eruption

The eruption of Fuego on June 3, 2018 is one of the darkest events in the history of Guatemala. It left heartbreaking scenes in its wake, as survivors began a frantic search for family and friends.

Oct 21, 20193 min

A Plane Crashes After Takeoff in the Heart of Miami

Fine Air Flight 101 departs from Miami International Airport on August 7, 1997 en route to the Dominican Republic. Shortly after take-off, the plane loses control and crashes, right in the middle of Miami.

Oct 14, 20193 min

Why Wyoming Takes Women's Rights Seriously

Wyoming was the first state to allow women the right to vote in 1870, and when Congress threatened to derail Wyoming's statehood unless the right was revoked, the state refused to back down.

Oct 14, 20191 min

Three's a Crowd in this Orangutan Relationship

Two young orangutans show signs of affection towards each other – much to the chagrin of a third male orangutan who proceeds to disrupt their very public display of affection.

Oct 14, 20193 min

How Science Helps Preserve Longmen Grottoes

The Buddhist statues of the Longmen Grottoes are a Chinese heritage - one in urgent need of preservation. To do this, archaeologists use advanced scanning technology to pinpoint the vulnerable areas in need of restoration.

Sep 23, 20192 min

How the Common Cold Affected the Crew of Apollo 7

Things were not going well aboard Apollo 7: the astronauts felt stressed by the confines of the command module and to top it off, astronaut Wally Schirra developed a painful head cold.

Sep 16, 20193 min
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