We're back with another epic season of Sidedoor!
Whether you're new to Sidedoor or have been a listener from the start, watch our fully animated trailer and discover more about Sidedoor!
Turning “mold juice” into the world’s first antibiotic would take a sick policeman, a market cantaloupe, and an extraordinary wartime collaboration between scientists, governments, and industry. This is the story of how penicillin changed the world.
🔊: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT A sepia-toned, cartoon-style illustration of a laboratory table. In the foreground, a single, illuminated Petri dish sits on the right, showing a bright, light-green mold (representing Penicillium mold) growing on a dark medium. To the left are a rack of four test tubes and the base of a vintage microscope. The background shows the shadowy outlines of a messy lab bench with various glassware and bottles. The scene evokes the accidental discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming.
A mystery hidden in time. Wrapped in gold. Stowed secretly in Lincoln's pocket. Join us as we dive into this incredible tale of family lore, historical detective work, and the Smithsonian's decision to open a priceless artifact.
🎧 on @spotifypodcasts: spti.fi/K26Jz7B
ALT A color illustration shows four people leaning over a table to look at a glowing golden pocket watch. A man in a suit in the center holds the watch, which emits a bright yellow light. To his left, another man in a suit looks on with a hand to his chin. To the right of the central figure, a woman with red hair and a man with gray hair and glasses peer at the watch. A large, dark blue logo with a yellow sunburst is visible on the wall behind them.
The U.S. has more martial arts schools than any other country—one man helped make that happen. Meet Jhoon Rhee, the “Father of American Taekwondo,” who taught Bruce Lee how to kick and Muhammad Ali how to punch. Listen to @SidedoorPod from @Smithsonian: bit.ly/3A4WxI9
Known as the Father of American Taekwondo, meet Jhoon Rhee, the man who famously taught Bruce Lee how to kick and Muhammad Ali how to punch.
Hear his sons tell his story with @SmithsonianAPA on @ApplePodcasts: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT A digital illustration depicts a muscular man performing a dynamic martial arts kick against a bright, gradient-colored sky. He is captured mid-air, leaping with his right leg extended forward in a powerful kick, while his arms are bent at the elbows, fists clenched, as if executing a strike or block. The man's torso is bare, revealing his well-defined physique, and he wears dark, loose-fitting pants that appear torn at the knee. Behind him, silhouetted against the vibrant sky, is the United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C., rendered in a stylized, simplified manner. The sky transitions from a deep blue at the bottom to a lighter, almost white shade at the top, with a bright, sun-like burst of light emanating from behind the man, creating a halo effect around his form. The overall style of the image is illustrative and painterly, with smooth gradients and soft edges, giving it a dreamlike or heroic quality.
When we think of serial killers, we tend to think of men, but in the 1800s, the deadliest killers were women. In fact, so many women were arrested for serial poisoning that the era became known as the “Golden Age of Arsenic.” w/ @amhistorymuseum.
🎧: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT A digital illustration depicts a woman in a red outfit hugging a person with curly black hair. She wears a red hat adorned with pink roses and has a sly smile on her face. Her eyes are focused beyond the person she is embracing. In her hand, hidden from the person she is hugging, she holds a small glass bottle with a skull and crossbones symbol, suggesting poison. The background has a dark, swirling teal hue, adding to the ominous and suspenseful mood of the image.
Before Armstrong walked on the moon, some thought women were better suited for space. In 1961, the Mercury 13 female pilots aced NASA's astronaut tests, but their mission was grounded. Hear what happened to America's first female astronaut candidates.
🎧: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT In the foreground, a woman in a spacesuit stares at the moon. In the background is NASA’s Mercury capsule, faded NASA blueprints, and a tilt table with a scientist recording test results.
In honor of the retrun of giant pandas to the @nationalzoo, we look into their sex lives. We answer why it's so hard for them to mate and how the once-endangered species is making a comeback with the help of vets and scientists.
🎧 on @ApplePodcasts: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT An illustrated depiction of a giant panda in it's natural habitat looking at another panda before mating.
Children say it every day in school, but have you ever wondered why we recite the pledge of allegiance? We journey back to the late 1800s to understand how this vow of patriotism came to be.
Listen on @ApplePodcasts: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT A close-up illustration of school aged children in a classroom reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge is printed on the chalkboard with edits applied showing where there have been changes made over the years. An American Flag is hanging above the children off to the left of the illustration.
From gulping grapes in Spain to Scotland’s ancient “first-footing” tradition, people around the world embrace odd, yet meaningful, rituals to ensure good luck in the new year. Join us as we travel around the @Smithsonian exploring how facing the unknown brings us together.
ALT A colorful illustration depicting a bustling New Year’s Eve scene. A woman in the foreground cheerfully plucks grapes from a vine and eats them, while a bowl of black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread sit on a counter. On the other end of the table, a woman and two children enthusiastically make dumplings. A large window and a door offer glimpses into different activities outside the home and in the foreground: a woman is shaking a peach tree, a man is running while carrying a packed suitcase, under a starry nightscape. There is also a man in a diving suit who stands precariously on a ladder ready to dive in a frozen pond, while a snowman, and a clothes line emphasizing red and yellow women’s panties are visible in the distance.
In the event of a government shutdown, our museums, research centers, and the National Zoo will remain OPEN through at least Thursday, Dec. 26. Please note that we are closed on Dec. 25. Visit si.edu for updates.
Image: Richard Lippold’s “Ad Astra” on view outside our @airandspace.
ALT Sunset view of the National Air and Space Museum, featuring a tall, stainless-steel sculpture with a pointed tip, that almost looks like it's penetrating a triple star-like cluster near its apex.
Sojourner Truth was a women's rights advocate known best for her famous speech "Ain't I a Woman?" But Truth never actually said these words. In fact, much of the Truth we know…is fiction.
Find out The Whole Truth on @amazonmusic: amzn.to/48swx9I
ALT A large slide puzzle featuring Sojourner Truth's face. A small, determined figure, a suffragette, is busy moving the puzzle pieces around. The suffragette is holding a sign that reads, "Votes for Women."
This week, we take you to @americanart where we discuss the life and art of Edmonia Lewis, a free-born African-American and Native-American sculptor during the Civil War-era. #SmithsonianNAHM
Listen on @ApplePodcasts: apple.co/342vBGy
ALT A snowman with a top hat and a candy cane stands to the left of a large, reclining statue. The snowman is decorated with a string of Christmas lights. The statue, which appears to be a depiction of a reclining woman, is completely wrapped in Christmas lights, with only her face visible. The background is dark with a spotlight shining on the snowman.
Learn the ins and outs of the “Bitcoin Bank Heist” 💸 in the @smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast — featuring Judge Zia Faruqui, @ARedbord, and @chrisjanczewski. Stream the episode now ➡️ hubs.la/Q02ZnzMt0
In 2016, mystery hackers made out with over $70 million in Bitcoin. By 2020, their loot grew to over $4 billion. With only digital footprints to follow, federal agents tracked the criminals through the blockchain, in a sleuthing story that ends at the @amhistorymuseum.
ALT A dark, stylized illustration depicts a thief breaking through a computer screen. The thief is wearing a black mask and is holding a bag of Bitcoin. Another thief is running away from the computer, also carrying a bag of Bitcoin.
They called themselves The Wide Awakes. Their goal: defend free speech in America. What started as a small group of young men demonstrating in 1860 snowballed into a movement to end slavery.
Learn more with Sidedoor @amhistorymuseum on @amazonmusic: amzn.to/48swx9I
ALT A large crowd of Wide Awakes, a Republican youth movement during the 1860 presidential election, marched wearing capes and with lanterns and torches on a dark, foggy night in support of Abraham Lincoln. The lanterns cast a warm glow, illuminating the marchers' faces. In the center of the crowd, a banner reads "LINCOLN," and another banner reads "WIDE AWAKE." The American flag is visible in the background.
ALT A haunting image depicting a man playing a piano. In the background, a ghostly figure resembling Death sits in a boat with two other spectral figures, seemingly approaching the musician. The scene is filled with a sense of mystery and foreboding.
Want to see this movie for yourself? Don’t miss our live screening of The Devil’s Assistant at the @amhistorymuseum.
Join Lizzie, Andrew, and Ryan on Wednesday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m.
Reserve your spot here: s.si.edu/spookyfilms