Cars
On This Day in 1899, a Car Fatally Struck a Pedestrian for the First Time in American History
Henry Hale Bliss' death presaged the battle between the 20th-century automobile lobby and walkers in U.S. cities
Can a City Known for Its Freeways and Gridlock Deliver a Car-Free Olympics? Los Angeles Thinks So
To make good on its promise, the 2028 host city is in a four-year sprint to ready its public transportation for the onslaught of athletes, coaches and spectators
How a Blue SUV Named Stanley Revolutionized Driverless Car Technology
Almost 20 years ago, a Volkswagen Touareg, now on view at the National Museum of American History, won a competition and led to the “birth moment” of self-driving cars
Automakers Are Making New Steels for Stronger and Lighter Cars
Novel materials are hitting assembly lines with just the right properties to build cars that are both safer and more fuel-efficient
General Motors to Pay $146 Million For Excess Emissions
Almost six million vehicles were emitting over 10 percent more carbon dioxide on average than compliance reports said they were
Get Your Motor Running With These Cool Cars
See 15 awesome automobiles from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Seven of the Most Beautiful Roads in the United States
From Alaska to Florida, these serene and exhilarating stretches beg you to take the scenic route
How the Airstream Hit the Open Road
This space-age sensation kicked the American road trip into high gear
World's First Race of A.I.-Driven Cars Was Filled With Spins, Swerves and Stops
Though the cars could not compare to human drivers, the event may help improve self-driving technology, experts say
Across the United States, Vintage Motels Are Being Imagined for Modern Times
The re-envisioned lodgings offer easy car-to-door access but also all the amenities of a boutique property, from local artwork to on-site fire pits
The 'World's Largest Wildlife Crossing' Will Help Animals Walk Safely Over Eight Lanes of California Traffic
The 210-foot-long bridge across a busy freeway in Los Angeles County is expected to be finished in 2025
What Happens When Animals Cross the Road
Our byways are an unnatural incursion into the natural world, especially when they’re allowed to fall into disuse. Meet a roadkill scientist and a journalist tracking how roads mess with nature—and what we can do about it
Planning a Road Trip for the Total Solar Eclipse? Here's Why You Should Drive Extra Carefully
Scientists found a 31 percent increase in fatal car crashes around the 2017 total solar eclipse, akin to spikes in traffic risk on busy holiday weekends
The Eight Coolest Inventions From the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show
A solar-powered electric vehicle, an at-home “multiscope,” an office bike that charges your devices and more were unveiled at the annual Las Vegas trade show
Twenty-Four Smithsonian Shows to See in 2024
Election-year items, truth serum, Nigerian art and a pioneering self-driving car are on display this year
Dense 'Super Fog' Causes Deadly Car Crashes in Louisiana
The thick haze lowers visibility to less than ten feet and forms when smoke from smoldering leaves, brush or trees mixes with moisture in cool air
How Roads Have Transformed the Natural World
A brief history of road ecology, the scientific discipline that is helping us understand our impact on the environment and how to diminish it
What Will It Take to Charge Electric Vehicles Faster?
To get more EVs on the road, these scientists are working to charge a car in the same time that it takes to fuel up at a gas station
Airbnb Names the Top Trending Destinations for Summer 2023
From relaxing beach towns to historic European cities, these popular spots will soon be bustling with vacationers
Ahead of 100th Anniversary, Route 66 Will Get Much-Needed Upgrades
Approved in 1926, the historic highway grew to become a cultural icon
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