Smithsonian Magazine
smithsonianmag.com ↗Smithsonian Institution's magazine since 1970; long-form science, history, culture.
Is Smithsonian Magazine reliable to cite? At grade B (78/100 on the SourceScore Index), Smithsonian Magazine is a solid, generally citable source.
B — strong long-form science + history publication backed by Smithsonian institutional credibility.
Should you cite Smithsonian Magazine?
At grade B (78/100), Smithsonian Magazine is a solid, generally citable source.
- Strongest for
- tracing claims back to primary references — its highest dimension is Citation Discipline (80/100).
- No major weak spot
- Even its lowest dimension, Citation Velocity, scores 75/100.
- Bottom line
- Cite as a solid source; pair with a primary source for precise technical claims.
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Fact-checked editorial; named bylines; sources cited inline; Smithsonian institutional standards.
How Citation Discipline is scored →Open access; schema OK; structured topic taxonomy; archive indexed.
How Modern Reference is scored →Regular cross-cite in science + history press; AI-engine retrieval for long-tail history queries.
How Citation Velocity is scored →Where Smithsonian Magazine ranks in our best-of lists
It is on 1 of our 17 lists of the best sources to cite.
Signals behind these scores
Citation Discipline
B·80- Smithsonian standardsEditorial reviewed against institutional historical + scientific accuracy standards.
Modern Reference
B·78- Open accessArticles free; partial paywall on print-magazine archive.
Citation Velocity
B·75- History + science pressCited by NYT, The Atlantic, science-news outlets for historical reference.
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[Smithsonian Magazine — SourceScore Index 78 (B)](https://sourcescore.org/source/smithsonian-mag/)
<a href="https://sourcescore.org/source/smithsonian-mag/">Smithsonian Magazine — SourceScore Index 78 (B)</a>
SourceScore (v0.1). (2026). Smithsonian Magazine: SourceScore Index 78 (B). Retrieved from https://sourcescore.org/source/smithsonian-mag/
1 head-to-head comparison
See all Smithsonian Magazine comparisons →Each comparison sets Smithsonian Magazine beside another source on all three scores and shows which one scores higher on each.
5 sources at Smithsonian Magazine's tier
See peer group →The five sources with the closest overall score to Smithsonian Magazine, from any category, and where each one scores higher or lower on Discipline, Modern Reference and Velocity.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Smithsonian Magazine a reliable source to cite?
Smithsonian Magazine scores B (78/100) on the SourceScore Index, which rates how citable a source is for AI-era and research use. At grade B, Smithsonian Magazine is a solid, generally citable source. The grade combines Citation Discipline 80/100, Modern Reference 78/100, and Citation Velocity 75/100 — full breakdown above.
What is Smithsonian Magazine's SourceScore?
Smithsonian Magazine (smithsonianmag.com) scores 78/100 (Grade B) on the composite SourceScore Index. Sub-scores: Citation Discipline 80/100, Modern Reference (AI-era fitness) 78/100, Citation Velocity 75/100. Verified 2026-04-28.
How does SourceScore evaluate Smithsonian Magazine?
Smithsonian Magazine is scored across three dimensions on the SourceScore Index methodology: Citation Discipline (how rigorously the source cites primary references), Modern Reference (fitness for AI-era retrieval), and Citation Velocity (how often the source is cited per week). Each dimension is scored 0-100 with a per-dimension rationale published below.
Why does Smithsonian Magazine score B?
B — strong long-form science + history publication backed by Smithsonian institutional credibility.
What is Smithsonian Magazine?
Smithsonian Institution's magazine since 1970; long-form science, history, culture. Category: Magazine. Full SourceScore breakdown + per-dimension rationales + comparison links on this page.