“There is no intelligence where there is no change and no need of change.” That line comes from The Time Machine, the 1895 classic by H. G. Wells, and it pretty well sums up how stagnant the status quo can be. The intelligent breakthroughs required for better lives—indeed, for survival—are the subject of “Futures,” an exhibition celebrating the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary. This 32,000-square-foot show mixes important historic objects with inventions aimed at the future. An AI-driven rover that could revolutionize agriculture. A spaceship that could sail into unchartered space. North America’s first full-scale geodesic dome. These and much more will awe and inspire. Come glimpse the next chapter of Homo sapiens. —E.C.