Top Stories: January 2025

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    January 2025 News See what your support makes possible.   All of us at the Smithsonian express our deep concern and support as the Los Angeles area faces the ongoing spread of wildfires. Please know that our thoughts are with those who are impacted during this challenging time.   L-R: Emmy Award-winning media sketch artist Freda Reiter recreated the Camp David discussions among U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin for television audiences. 1978, Freda Reiter / National Museum of American History. James Earl Carter, Jr. (detail) by Robert Clark Templeton, 1980. Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, © 1991, Leonore Templeton. The Lasting Legacy of Jimmy Carter Although in office for only one term as the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter was a national and international force for almost 50 years. Remembering Jimmy Carter »     Smithsonian Closures on Monday, January 20 Smithsonian museums on and near the National Mall will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, due to security, road closures, and other restrictions for the Presidential Inauguration. Stay updated on the operational status and visiting hours of your favorite museums and exhibitions.   L-R: Miné Okubo, Wind and Dust, 1943, Smithsonian American Art Museum, © 2023, The Miné Okubo Charitable Corporation. Hisako Hibi, Autumn, ca. 1967, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, © 2024, Ibuki Hibi Lee. Remarkable Paintings by Three Japanese Americans Miki Hayakawa (1899-1953), Hisako Hibi (1907-1991), and Miné Okubo (1912-2001) were three of the most active and visible female American artists of Japanese descent in the years leading up to World War II, yet the full extent of their contributions remains underrecognized within twentieth-century American art history. The Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo spotlights a trio who pushed the boundaries of American art and illustrated the experiences of World War II incarceration. Picture Belonging »     Artwork by Dave Leonard, Smithsonian's Sidedoor podcast How Did You Mark the New Year? New Year's traditions are about marking a transition from old to new. From gulping grapes in Spain to donning yellow underwear in South America and practicing Scotland's ancient "first-footing" tradition, people around the world embrace odd—and oddly meaningful—rituals to ensure good luck in the year ahead. The Smithsonian Sidedoor podcast travels around the Smithsonian to explore how facing the unknown brings us together at New Year's...in the most unusual ways. Midnight Magic »     Concept image of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben Solving Mysteries of the Sun with the Parker Solar Probe Just last month, NASA's Parker Solar Probe made its closest approach yet to the Sun, flying a record-breaking 3.8 million miles above its surface and at a record speed of 430,000 miles per hour. Traveling that fast would get you from New York to Tokyo in less than one minute. Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum curator Dr. Samantha M. Thompson delves into the spacecraft's groundbreaking discoveries. Probe the Solar System »     Did you know that everything in this newsletter is made possible by people like you? Support your Smithsonian and help bring knowledge to life. Donate »   L-R: 10c American Clock single stamp, c. 2008; Railway Mail Service crane with pouch, c. 1890-1977; Smithsonian's National Postal Museum One-Minute Postal Wonders The Smithsonian's National Postal Museum's new "One Minute Wonders" video series brings objects in the museum's collection to life. In each one-minute video, curators and other experts share secrets and little-known backstories of the museum's treasures. Did you know that one way to speed the mail was to simply not stop a moving train? Enjoy a Quick Wonder »     Nhi Linh (foreground) and Spike hang out by the pool in their outdoor habitat. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Conservation Classroom What is conservation? Why is it important? The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's Conservation Classroom is a collection of free online monthly lessons for K-5 students. Each lesson has four elements: wonder (video), engage (live virtual program), act (activities), and connect (video). Learn what happens to a seal who has a toothache, explore the rainforest, and get up close to amphibians. Wonder, Engage, Act, Connect »     James Smithson, c. 1765-1829 (detail), James Roberts, 1753-c.1809, Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery Trivia: Planet Moons Illustration of Venus, Earth and it's Moon, and Mars. Courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum A moon is a planetary body that goes around another planetary body. Usually, there are one or more moons going around a planet. Which planet doesn't have a moon?     We depend on the support of people like you to drive our mission: to discover and share knowledge. Support your Smithsonian today! To learn about the power of a single gift, visit si.edu/support © 2025 Smithsonian Institution 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560 Unsubscribe Privacy Policy