Technology & Innovation

Explore Technology & Innovation across the Smithsonian through stories, events, and exhibitions. Use the filters to browse by format, then bookmark events and exhibitions to keep track of what you want to visit or attend.

476 results
A grid of twelve colorful photos of collection objects, including a lamp, pot, stool and tureen.
Design has long shaped America’s identity—enhancing daily life, driving innovation, and reflecting shared values. Cooper Hewitt marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a major, multi-year installation of the museum’s permanent collection—. Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
Location
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
– Ongoing
slide of double image open classic hall with storage shelves. on edges of slide is test identifying Interior of Patent Office
Timed with the U.S. semiquincentennial, the National Portrait Gallery commemorates the founding of its historic home with The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees. This exhibition sketches the early history of the Patent Office—the . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
Location
National Portrait Gallery
–
It might not be the most glamorous job, but the scientists at our National Museum of Natural History who are working to identify bird snarge (short for snot and garbage) are saving lives by preventing bird strikes and air disasters.
6 jet aircraft fly in a triangle formation, with contrails behind them. The white National Air and Space Museum logos are in the top of the image, with pink text reading "50 years" at the bottom.
On July 1, 1976, the National Air and Space Museum opened its doors to the public. In the first episode of our new limited series, we go behind the scenes at the opening ceremony.
A rectangular camera on a ship with the title "Whalespotter" on the side.
The recently launched system involves two thermal cameras that can detect gray whales up to four miles away, giving ships enough time to slow down or change course—and avoid running into the marine mammals.
The “50 for 50” artifact for Maryland is the Hubble Space Telescope, operated out of NASA Goddard. Maryland native Reid Wiseman reflects on Hubble's legacy.
Metal pole with a cylindrical crystal illuminated in blue light.
Two independent teams of scientists have created the first functional clocks that can keep ultraprecise time using the nuclei of a radioactive element.
Trays of insect specimens from the museum’s collection waiting to be digitized on a custom conveyor belt.
The ongoing effort captures high-quality images and collection data in seconds, creating an online database of bees, beetles, butterflies and flies.