>>> TONIGHT THE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS AFTER THE DEADLY IMPLOSION OF THAT TOURIST SUBMERSIBLE. WHY DID THE SUB WITH FIVE PEOPLE ONBOARD BREAK APART AS IT DESCENDED IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TO SEE THE TITANIC? SOME EXPERTS NOW POINTING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HULL AND A CHEAPER EXPERIMENTAL CARBON FIBER SHELL. DID PREVIOUS DIVES WEAKEN THE HULL? AND WHY WASN'T THERE AN OUTSIDE ENGINEERING REVIEW. THE NEW CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY TONIGHT. >>> THE CRITICAL NEW REPORT ABOUT AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL STAFFING SHORTAGES. THE RISKS IT CITES JUST AS THE BUSIEST SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON IN YEARS GETS UNDER WAY. >>> THE REMARKABLE REOPENING OF A COLLAPSED STRETCH OF ONE OF THE NATION'S BUSIEST HIGHWAYS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT TANKER DISASTER. >>> AFTER A WEEK OF SEVERE STORMS AND BRUTAL HEAT, THE THREAT FAR FROM OVER INTO THE WEEKEND. OUR FORECASTS. >>> A MAJOR WIN FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON IMMIGRATION IN THE SUPREME COURT, A HUGE CLASS ACTION PILLION. >>> THE HOTTEST SENICATION IN THE NBA, THE EXPECTATIONS ON HIM NOW A TALL ORDER. >>> AND THE CELLPHONE EARNS ITS PLACE IN HISTORY. >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. WAS IT AN ELITE TRAVEL ADVENTURE OR RECKLESS EXPERIMENT THAT CHALLENGED THE LAWS OF ENGINEERING? DIFFICULT QUESTIONS BEING ASKED TONIGHT AS OFFICIALS AND DEEP SEA DIVING EXPERTS SPEAK OUT ON THE DEATHS OF FIVE PEOPLE ON A VISIT TO THE TITANIC ABOARD A VESSEL BUILT WITH UNCERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY. TONIGHT OCEANGATE, THE COMPANY BEHIND THAT DEADLY SUBMERSIBLE DIVE, SAYS IT IS CLOSING INDEFINITELY AFTER THE APPARENT IMPLOSION THAT KILLED AMONG OTHERS OCEANGATE'S FOUNDER. MEANWHILE, WE ARE NOW GETTING THE FIRST INFORMATION ON HOW THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION MIGHT TAKE SHAPE AS QUESTIONS CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE DESIGN OF THE MINI-SUB AND WHETHER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DIVING TO SUCH DEPTHS. TOM COSTELLO HAS LATE NEW INFORMATION ON THE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT CANADA'S TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO TITAN'S APPARENT IMPLOSION ON SUNDAY. THE U.S. COAST GUARD AND NTSB EXPECTED TO JOIN SOON. OUTSIDE EXPERTS ARE FOCUSED ON THE MINI' SUB'S UNCERTIFIED CHEAPER CARBON FIBER SHELL NEVER BEFORE USED IN DEEP SEA SUBMERSIBLES. TITANIC MOVIE DIRECTOR AND OCEAN EXPLORER JAMES CAMERON SAYS THAT DECISION MAY HAVE PROVED FATAL. >> YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET GO FEVER BUT YOU SHOULDN'T BE USING AN EXPERIMENTAL VEHICLE FOR PAYING PASSENGERS THAT AREN'T THEMSELVES DEEP OCEAN ENGINEERS. >> Reporter: IN 2018 OCEANGATE FOUNDER STOCKTON RUSH SUBMITTED THIS PATENT APPLICATION DISCLOSING THE CARBON FIBER WAS FOR USE IN EXTREME CONDITIONS SUCH AS HIGH PRESSURE CONDITIONS, HIGH OR LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. >> I'D LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS AN INNOVATOR. I THINK IT WAS GENERAL MacARTHUR WHO SAID YOU'RE REMEMBERED FOR THE RULES YOU MAKE. >> Reporter: BUT DOZENS APPEALED TO RUSH TO SEEK AN OUTSIDE ENGINEERING REVIEW. HE DECLINED. >> HE FELT THAT IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG FOR HIS INNOVATIONS TO BE APPROVED BY OUTSIDERS. >> Reporter: BUT AN ORIGINAL COFOUNDER OF OCEANGATE INSISTS RUSH WAS FOCUSED ON SAFETY. >> HE'S VERY WELL AWARE OF THE RISKS OF OPERATOR AT THESE DEEP DEPTHS, AND HE WAS VERY COMMITTED TO SAFETY. >> Reporter: THE OCEANGATE SUB MADE 13 SUCCESSFUL TRIPS TO TITANIC NEARLY 13,000 FEET DOWN BEFORE SUNDAY'S DISASTER KILLED ALL FIVE MEN ONBOARD. THE QUESTION FOR INVESTIGATORS, DID THOSE DIVES WEAKEN THE CARBON FIBER SHELL? THE NAVY ONLY USES CARBON STEEL FOR ITS SUBS OPERATING MUCH CLOSER TO THE SURFACE. >> SO THEY'RE OPERATING AT TEN TIMES THE FEET, TEN TIMES THE PRESSURE. WE WERE SUPER SCARED OF THE PRESSURE. >> IT'S LIKE CRASHING A CAN OF COCA-COLA I WOULD SAY. THE ENDS ARE GOING TO GET WARPED. AND WHEN THEY WARP, THOSE BOLTS ARE GOING TO COME FREE. >> Reporter: IN 2021 DAVID WONG RODE THE SUB ALL THE WAY TO TITANIC. >> I KNEW WHEN I WENT DOWN IF SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THE SUBMERSIBLE THAT WAS IT. >> Reporter: UNDER AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY TOURISTS ARE ALLOWED TO VISIT THE TITANIC SITE, BUT TONIGHT NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER SUBMERSIBLES NEED GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT. >> SO THERE ARE STANDARDS. THERE ARE INDUSTRY STANDARDS, AND THEY WERE NOT ADHERING TO THEM. >> SO, TOM, HAS THERE BEEN A DECISION YET WHETHER THEY'LL TRY TO RECOVER THE VICTIMS' REMAINS OR RECOVER DEBRIS FROM THE SUB? >> Reporter: NOT YET. MOST EXPERTS I TALK TO SAY THERE MAY NOT BE ANYMORE VICTIMS REMAINS ON THE GROUND THERE, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN. AS FOR RECOVERY OF THE TITAN'S REMAINS, THE SUB'S REMAINS, THAT MAY BE CRITICAL TO THE INVESTIGATION. IT COULD COST A LOT AND NOT CLEAR WHO WOULD PAY FOR IT. >> TOM COSTELLO, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO TONIGHT A GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG REPORT ON STAFFING SHORTAGES IN THE COUNTRY'S AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM JUST AS A RECORD SUMMER OF AIR TRAVEL IS EXPECTED. HERE'S GABE GUTIERREZ. >> Reporter: WITH AIRLINES EXPECTING RECORD SUMMER AIR TRAVEL, TONIGHT A NEW AUDIT FROM THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTOR GENERAL SAYS CRITICAL U.S. AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES FACE STAFFING CHALLENGES AND THE FAA LACKS A PLAN TO ADDRESS THEM. >> IT PAINTS A PICTURE OF AN AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM THAT'S INADEQUATELY STAFFED AND DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH TRAINED CONTROLLERS TO MOVE THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THAT'S OCCURRING RIGHT NOW IN THE UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: THE SCATHING REPORT SAYS MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF CRITICAL AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES ARE STAFFED BELOW THE FAA'S THRESHOLD OF 85%. AT SOME FACILITIES THE REPORT SAYS CONTROLLERS ARE WORKINGMANDATORY OVERTIME AND SIX-DAY WORKWEEKS TO COVER STAFF SHORTAGES. OF THE FAA'S MORE THAN 13,000 EMPLOYEES, 26% ARE TRAINEES. THE AUDIT COMES AFTER A YEAR OF CLOSE CALLS. FROM JFK AIRPORT IN NEW YORK -- >> CANCEL TAKE OFF PLANS. >> Reporter: TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE A FEDEX PLANE WAS CLEARED TO LAND JUST AS A SOUTHWEST PLANE WAS DEPARTING. THE TWO PLANES COMING JUST WITHIN 100 FEET OF EACH OTHER. >> SOUTHWEST ABORT. FEDEX IS ON THE GO. >> Reporter: IN MAY THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SOUGHT $117 MILLION TO HIRE 1,800 AIR-TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS NEXT YEAR IN ADDITION TO 1,500 BEING HIRED THIS YEAR. BUT THE AUDIT SAYS COVID LED TO TRAINING PAUSES, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING CONTROLLER CERTIFICATION TIMES. >> GABE, HAS THE FAA RESPONDED TODAY THE NEW AUDIT? >> Reporter: YES, LESTER. THE FAA SAYS IT RECENTLY SUBMITTED A REPORT TO CONGRESS TO BEEF UP CONTROL AND STAFFING. IT'S ALSO ADDING A COMPUTER SCHEDULE. THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY IS WARNING OF POTENTIAL FLIGHT DELAYS IF AIRLINES DON'T UPGRADE THEIR EQUIPMENT OF A JULY 1st DEADLINE TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE FROM 5G WIRELESS SIGNALS. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, GABE, THANK YOU. >>> IN PHILADELPHIA THAT STRETCH OF I-95 THAT COLLAPSED MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AGO REOPENED TODAY. CREWS CONSTRUCTED A TEMPORARY ROAD NEXT NEXT TO THE COLLAPSED PART OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ROAD COLLAPSED AFTER A FUEL TRUCK CRASHED AND CAUGHT FIRE. >>> NOW TO WHAT COULD BE ANOTHER WEEKEND OF SEVERE AND DANGEROUS STORMS FOR TENS OF MILLIONS AFTER DAYS OF DISASTROUS WEATHER THAT'S INCLUDED TORNADOS IN TEXAS AND COLORADO. MIGUEL ALMAGUER IS FOLLOWING IT ALL. >>> TONIGHT, PELTING HAIL, FLASH FLOODING, AND THE THREAT OF EVEN MORE TORNADOS ARE IN THE FORECAST AFTER MORE THAN 500 REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER THIS WEEK. A SUPER CELL TORNADO CARVED A 6-MILE PATH OF DESTRUCTION OUTSIDE DENVER. >> I JUST SAW THIS WALL COMING AT ME THIS WAY. >> Reporter: WITH MORE DANGEROUS WEATHER ON TAP IN MATADOR, TEXAS, MANY ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE SURVIVED. IF YOU WEREN'T IN THAT BASEMENT WOULD YOU HAVE SURVIVE SND. >> I DON'T THINK SO. >> Reporter: NEIGHBORS DUG ANTHONY BOYD OUT OF HIS BASEMENT AFTER A POWERFUL TORNADO LEVELED HOME AFTER HOME, INCLUDING THE ONE MIKE FOWLER BUILT WITH HIS FAMILY. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SEE IT NOW? >> THAT'S NOT DESCRIBABLE. >> Reporter: AFTER A NIGHT OF MAYHEM HERE COMES DAYS OF MISERY. TENS OF MILLIONS ARE SWELTERING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AS THE HEAT INDEX IS FORECASTED TO RISE UP TO 120 DEGREES. AND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS CITIES LIKE DALLAS AND HOUSTON WILL BE COOKING. BUT BACK IN MATADOR -- >> I SHOULD HAVE DIED. >> Reporter: TIM AND DINA WASHINGTON FOCUS ON WHAT THEY HAVE INSTEAD OF WHAT'S BEEN LOST, THE HOME WHERE THEY CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF MARRIAGE WAS TORN APART WHILE THEY WERE INSIDE. >> IF WE'D HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THAT HOUSE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED. >> Reporter: WITH FOUR LIVES LOST, THE STORIES OF SURVIVAL HERE ARE ONLY MATCHED BY THE UNWAVERING RESILIENCE. BUT JUST AS FAMILIES BEGIN TO PICK UP THE PIECES OF THEIR LIVES, MORE DANGEROUS WEATHER IS ON THE WAY. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT, MIGUEL, THANKS. SOME OF THE SAME AREAS COULD BE HIT AGAIN. >> GOOD EVENING, LESTER. MATADOR TO AUSTIN NEAR LUBBOCK WE'RE ALREADY WATCHING SOME BIG STORMS BREWING THERE. WE'VE SOME HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT STORMS COMING DOWN NEAR THE DALLAS AREA. A LOT OF LARGE HAIL OF THOSE. AND EVEN HAD AN EARLIER TORNADO JUST NORTH OF CASPER, WYOMING. FINALLY WE'RE GOING TO GET IT OUT OF TEXAS BUT HEADING TO IOWA, KANSAS CITY, ST. LOUIS. DAMAGING WIND AND ALSO LARGE HAIL. AND BY THE TIME WE GET TO SUNDAY WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THESE STORMS HEADING INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. SOME OF THESE AREAS NEED THE RAIN BUT WE DON'T WANT THE SEVERE WEATHER. KEEP IN MIND IT'LL BE LATE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS LEXINGTON, CINCINNATI AND NASHVILLE. WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER STORMY WEEKEND AHEAD OF US. >> THANK YOU. >>> THE SUPREME COURT HANDED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION A BIG WIN TODAY ON IMMIGRATION AND WHO CAN BE DEPORTED. SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT IS HERE. THE RULING WAS NEARLY UNANIMOUS. >> AN 8-1 RULING ON A HOT BUTTON ISSUE. HOW TO HANDLE THE MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY. THE DECISION NOW GIVES THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THE GREEN LIGHT TO MAKE THE CALL ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR ARRESTS AND DEPORTATION. NOW, HOMELAND SECURITY HAD SAID IT WOULD DETAIN SUSPECTED TERRORISTS AND PEOPLE CONVICTED OF CRIMES, BUT TEXAS AND LOUISIANA SUED WANTING MORE PEOPLE ARRESTED, CLAIMING NONCITIZENS BRING UNFAIR COSTS TO THEIR STATE. NOT A TYPICAL GROUND TO SUE, AND TODAY WAS NO EXCEPTION AS THE JUSTICES FOUND THEY HAD NO STANDING TO BRING THE CASE. THE MOST ANTICIPATED DECISION FROM THE COURT STILL LEFT TO COME. THE FATE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PLAN AND THE USE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BY SCHOOL. TUESDAY IS THE NEXT POSSIBLE DECISION DAY, LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, LAURA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>> TOMORROW MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED ROE v. WADE DEEPENING DIVIDES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND NOW OHIO IS THE LATEST STATE IN THE FRONT LINES OF THIS FIERCE DEBATE. DASHA BURNS REPORTS. >> Reporter: THE BATTLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS TAKING CENTER STAGE IN OHIO. >> I WANT TO MAKE THIS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN OUR OHIO CONSTITUTION THAT WOMEN DO HAVE THESE REPRODUCTIVE. >> Reporter: HOPING TO GET AN AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. LAST YEAR MICHIGAN AND KANSAS BOTH HELD STATEWIDE VOTES THAT ULTIMATELY PROTECTED ABORTION RIGHTS. HOW HIGH ARE THE STAKES IN OHIO? >> THE STAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH. >> Reporter: BUT FIRST ACTIVISTS WILL HAVE TO GET THROUGH REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WORKING TO MAKE IT HARDER TO AMEND THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION. THEY SCHEDULED AN AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION. ON THE BALLOT WHETHER TO RAISE THE THRESHOLD TO AMEND THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION FROM A SIMPLE MAJORITY, MORE THAN 50%, TO A SUPER MAJORITY, 60%. THE MOVE DRAWING PROTESTS FROM THOSE WHO SAY THE AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION IS DIRECTLY AIMED AT THE EFFORT TO ADD ABORTION RIGHT TUESDAY THE CONSTITUTION, SOMETHING SECRETARY OF STATE AACKNOWLEDGED AT A REPUBLICAN EVENT IPMAY. >> THIS IS 100% ABOUT KEEPING A RAD CAL PRO-ABORTION AMENDMENT OUT OFF OUR CONSTITU CONSTITUTIONAL. >> Reporter: IF THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, WHY PUT IT ON THE BALLOT IN A SPECIAL ELECTION IN AUGUST OF AN OFF-YEAR WHEN YOU KNOW THE VOTER TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY LOW? >> I DON'T KNOW THE TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY LOW SNCH. >> HISTORICALLY THAT'S HOW IT'S BEEN. >> Reporter: WE'VE NOT HAD A STATEWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION IN A VERY LONG TIME. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A STATEWIDE SPECIAL ELECTION IN EVERY SINGLE COMMUNITY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ROBUST CAMPAIGNS ON EACH SIDE. ANYONE WHO WAKES UP ON AUGUST 9th AND SAYS, OH, GOLLY, I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN ELECTION HAS THEIR HEAD BAROIED THURSDAY FAR IN THE SAND. >> Reporter: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SIMPLE MAJORITY AND SUPER MAJORITY COULD BE CRUCIAL. 59% OF OHIOANS SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO MAKE ABORTION A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. AND IN STATES THAT HAVE VOTED TO PROTECT ABORTION ACCESS, PRO-ABORTION RIGHTS MOVEMENTS WON BY JUST SHY OF 60%, A MARGIN OTHER STATES WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON AS THEY WORK TO PASS THEIR OWN BALLOT INITIATIVES. >> OHIO IS THE PLACE THIS BATTLE IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THIS YEAR, BUT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S GOING TO BE IN SO MANY MORE STATES NEXT YEAR DURING THAT ELECTION CYCLE. >> Reporter: A FIGHT WITH AN EVER-MOVING FRONT LINE. DASHA BURNS, NBC NEWS, COLUMBUS, OHIO. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, A >>> WE'RE BACK WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRINKING WATER ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND A $10 BILLION SETTLEMENT OVER SO-CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS. MAGGIE VESPA REPORTS ON THE DANGERS AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT AN ODORLESS TASTELESS THREAT DETECTED IN DRINKING WATER ACROSS THE U.S. NOW THE CENTER OF A MASSIVE SETTLEMENT. MINNESOTA BASED MANUFACTURING PLANT 3M AGREEING TO PAY $10.3 BILLION OVER 13 YEARS TO CLOSE TO 300 CITIES AND COUNTIES WHERE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL COMPENDS CALLED PFAS WERE FOUND IN WATER SUPPLIES. PFAS ARE ALSO KNOWN AS FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN NATURALLY. FOR DECADES THEY'VE BEEN STAPLES IN EVERY DAY PRODUCTS LIKE NONSTICK COOKWARE, WATERPROOF FABRIC AND LAWSUITS HIGHLIGHT FIRE FIGHTING FOAM. >> THEY SOLD THE PRODUCT WITH AN INSTRUCTION YOU SHOULD BE TRAINING WITH IT. AND SO EVERY MONTH THESE AIRPORTS AND FIRE TRAINING FACILITIES WOULD INTENTIONALLY SET A PLANE, AN OLD PLANE OR A CAR ON FIRE AND THEY'D PRACTICE PUTTING IT OUT. THAT FOAM WOULD SEEP INTO THE GROUND, AND IT WOULD GET INTO THE GROUND WATER. >> Reporter: PLAINTIFFS CLAIMS 3M'S IS THE LARGEST DRINKING WATER SETTLEMENT IN U.S. HISTORY TOPPED BY PAYOUTS IN LAWSUITS INCLUDING THE BIG TOBACCO, THE BP OIL SPILL, AND THE VOLKSWAGEN EMISSION SCANDAL. 3M CALLING IT AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD AND VOWING TO STOP MANUFACTURING ALL PFAS BY THE END OF 2025. THIS YEAR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IMPOSED DRINKING WATER STANDARDS AFTER THE CDC SAID PFAS WERE LINKED TO HEALTH PROBLEMS INCLUDING CERTAIN CANCERS. >> PEOPLE AT HOME CAN TAKE MULTIPLE STEPS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. SO THERE'S THE POTENTIAL TO FILTER THEIR WATER OR SWITCH TO BOTTLED WATER, LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF STAIN REPELLENTS OR WATER-REPELLENT PRODUCTS WE'RE USING. WE CAN PHASE-OUT THEIR USE. >> MAGGIE, HOW IS THE MONEY SUPPOSED TO BE USED? >> LEST,ER, THESE PAY OUTS WHICH STILL NEED TO BE APPROVED BY A JUDGE ARE INTENDED S OR NOT, WEMBANYAMA IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF FUN TO WATCH. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS. >>> STILL AHEAD, HOLD THE P >>> YOU MAY WANT TO TURN OFF YOUR RINGERS FOR THIS SEGMENT. FINALLY A LOOK AT JUST HOW FAR CELLPHONES MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. HALLIE JACKSON REPORTS. >> Reporter: THE CELLPHONE IS PART OF OUR CULTURE. >> WHO'S CALLING? >> ZACK MORRIS. >> Reporter: AND NOW -- >> AND WE ARE CALLING IT iPHONE. >> Reporter: -- PART OF OUR HISTORY LITERALLY. THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM HAS DINOSAUR BONES AND RARE JEWELS AND ANCIENT ARTIFACTS. AND NOW THE CELLPHONE? HOW DID THAT FIT? >> RIGHT, SO THE MISSION OF NATURAL HISTORY IS TO UNDERSTAND NATURE AND OUR PLACE IN IT, THINKING ABOUT THE 21st CENTURY AND THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN THIS PRESENT MOMENT THE CELLPHONE PRESENTS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THAT. >> Reporter: DR. JOSHUA BELL'S THE CURATOR OF THIS FIRST OF ITS KIND EXHIBIT AT THE SMITHSONIAN'S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OPEN TO ALL AGES BUT AIMED AT A YOUNGER AUDIENCE THAT MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE THIS -- 750 ITEMS FROM MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES. FROM THE FIRST EVER MOBILE MODEL -- IT WEIGHS 2 POUNDS -- TO CLASSICS LIKE THE RAZZOR, AND THIS OLD NOKIA. >> IT REALLY IS MY FIRST CELLPHONE AND THAT AND THE BLACK BERRY. >> Reporter: YES, THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF NOSTALGIA BUT ALSO ELEMENTS LIKE THE PERIODIC TABLE, 6506 THEM THAT MAKE UP THE AVERAGE SMART PHONE REPRESENTED HERE IN DOZENS OF MINERALS. YOU HAVE ELEMENTS HERE FROM MADAGASCAR, FROM ALASKA. >> IT GOES BACK TO THE TAG LINE WHEN YOU HAVE A CELLPHONE YOU HOLD THE WORLD IN YOUR HAND. >> Reporter: THE HOPE IT'S AN INSPIRATION FOR THE NEXT JEANEJ GENERATION. >> EVERYONE IS PART OF THE STORY OF THE CELLPHONE. >> Reporter: AND IN EDUCATION HELPING US ALL FEEL A LITTLE MORE CONNECTED. >> HE GAVE ME A C' MINUS. >> Reporter: A LITTLE LESS CLUELESS. HALLIE JACKSON, NBC NEWS, WASHINGTON. >> I LOVED MY FLIP PHONE. >>> THAT'S "NIGHTL