National Geographic
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Beekeepers Sweeten Solar Sites With the 'Tesla of Honey'
By pairing pollinators with solar farms, Travis and Chiara Bolton are reimagining commercial beekeeping.<p>Transformational ideas can come from anywhere. From anyone. National Geographic’s Chasing Genius is now soliciting ideas around three issues: sustainable planet, global health, and feeding nine …
Clean EnergyCoffin Flies, Corpse-Eating Beetles, and Other Bugs with Gruesome Jobs
From food to forensics, bugs work on our behalf.<p>While some insects spend summer plaguing your picnics, others have more important—and rather creepy—work to do.<p>Pollinators give us staple foods, of course, but what about the working bugs whose jobs go unsung? We recently learned about several tiny …
InsectsCoral Reefs Could Be Gone in 30 Years
World Heritage reefs will die of heat stress unless global warming is curbed, a new UN study finds.<p>The world’s coral reefs, from the Great Barrier Reef off Australia to the Seychelles off East Africa, are in grave danger of dying out completely by mid-century unless carbon emissions are reduced …
OceansDeafening Blasts Kill These Ocean Animals For Miles
A new study found that seismic surveys used to search for off-shore oil and gas deposits devastate the zooplankton in its path.<p>As the Trump Administration puts forth plans to revive off-shore drilling, some of the smallest members of the ocean food chain could be in big trouble.<p>To find oil and gas …
OceansThe Incredible Italian Island You've Never Heard Of
Plan a visit to Ischia, but don't let the secret out.<p>There are places you go to get away from it all. And then there’s Sant’Angelo.<p>To get to this Italian village, you take an hour-long ferry from Naples to the volcanic island of Ischia, nestled a few waves’ breadth from Capri in the heart of the …
EuropeSatellite Images Reveal Mosul's Cultural Destruction
A quirky, crooked minaret dubbed 'the Hunchback' symbolized the Iraqi city for nearly 900 years, until it was blown up by the Islamic State.<p>Like the elegant Eiffel Tower or Seattle's forward-looking Space Needle, Mosul's al-Hadba' minaret not only commanded the city's skyline, but also captured the …
Islamic State (ISIS)Meet the People on the Front Lines of America’s Coal Wars
As the coal industry falters and alternative energy gains steam, hear the voices from all sides of the debate.<p><i>From the Ashes</i> <i>,</i> a feature documentary from award-winning filmmaker Michael Bonfiglio, premieres Sunday, June 25 at 9/8c on National Geographic.<p>In today’s America, coal is a dirty …
ClimateWould Your Dog Eat You if You Died? Get the Facts.
You might not look at your beloved Bella or Buddy the same way after reading this.<p>In 1997, a forensic examiner in Berlin reported one of his more unusual cases in the journal <i>Forensic Science International</i>. A 31-year-old man had retired for the evening to the converted garden shed behind his …
InsectsRemoval of Yellowstone Grizzlies From Endangered List Ignites Controversy
While some conservationists are applauding the return of the bears, others worry that the species is not ready to be managed by states that may promote hunting.<p>To see how far we've come in restoring grizzly bear populations in and around Yellowstone National Park, consider: There are five times …
WildlifeEerie Clouds Glow at Night—How to See Them
An outburst of shining tendrils signals the start of viewing season for these high-flying clouds formed by space dust.<p>In recent weeks, sky-watchers have been reporting nightly outbursts of eerie tendrils glowing in the twilight skies.<p>The hypnotic displays signal the start of viewing season for …
AstronomyHigh Adventure, Hard Data, and a More Sustainable World
Gregg Treinish, Founder of Adventure Scientists, puts crucial data and his own lifestyle choices in action for a more sustainable future.<p>How do you feel after hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, trekking 7,800 miles across the Andes Mountains, and being named National Geographic Adventurer of the …
Sustainability26 Sizzling Photos to Start Your Summer
Things are starting to heat up as the 2017 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest comes to a fiery finish.<p>Most of us crave heat–whether it's in the form of food, weather, or energy. It can rejuvenate our minds or charge our bodies to take action. We travel to hot climates for …
Democratic Republic of the CongoThe Surprising Link Between Egg Shape and Bird Flight
For the first time, scientists have taken a closer look at how bird eggs are shaped—and made some unexpected discoveries.<p>The unusually long, oval egg of the Indonesian maleo may look a lot like a potato, but this bird is no slouch.<p>When the chicks of these anvil-headed animals hatch, they're almost …
BirdsGiant 'Mirror' Planets Found in First-of-Its-Kind Experiment
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California<p>If confirmed, the shiny new worlds may help astronomers better understand how strange planets known as hot Jupiters are created.<p>Planets orbiting other stars are running out of ways to hide.<p>For the first time, astronomers have used reflected starlight to tease out the …
ExoplanetsMedieval Sword Pulled From Polish Bog
Archaeologists believe the well-preserved 600-year-old weapon likely belonged to a knight.<p>Six hundred years ago, an unlucky knight may have fallen into or lost his sword in a bog filled with peat. That's one explanation researchers are putting forth after an incredibly well-preserved sword was …
ArchaeologyA Tick Bite Could Make You Allergic to Meat—and It's Spreading
As people encounter more ticks during the summer months, their chances for getting bitten by the allergy-carrying Lone Star tick increases.<p>Alpha-Gal may sound empowering, but the nickname, short for galactose-alpha-1, 3-galactose, is a sugar molecule that might just cause you to become allergic to …
MedicineSee How Muslims Celebrate the End of Ramadan Around the World
Millions of Muslims across the globe are getting ready to celebrate the conclusion of the Islamic holy month.<p>When the sun sets on June 24, Muslims around the world will look skyward for a crescent of pale white light—the conclusion to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan emblazoned in the night …
IslamDemystifying the Ancient Tangle of London’s Streets
For 81 years, A-Z maps have helped everyone from cabbies to clueless tourists navigate one of the world’s most confusing cities.<p>To earn the right to operate one of London’s iconic black cabs, aspiring drivers must pass one of the hardest tests in the world, known as “The Knowledge.” It requires …
MapsEverything You Need To Know About The Summer Solstice
Here's why the first official day of summer is the longest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.<p>Summer beckons us all year long with the promise of swimming pools, ice cream trucks, and relaxing in the shade. For the Northern Hemisphere, the official summer season starts on June 20 or 21, …
AstronomyChameleon Mummified Alive by the Tropical Sun
Even reptiles adapted to hot environments can succumb to heat stress, a concern as the world warms, experts say.<p>Death by desiccation may be unpleasant, but it makes for a lovely corpse.<p>Such was the fate of an unlucky Indian chameleon that apparently died while trying to drink from a pipe that had …
BirdsStruggling Relationship? Science Says Puppy Pictures May Help.
A new Department of Defense-funded study found that couples who viewed images of cute animals next to photos of their partners developed more positive associations over time.<p>Struggling to stay happy in a long-distance relationship? Here, have some puppy pictures.<p>It may sound like a mere …
U.S. Department of DefenseTwo Rare Black Bear Attacks Show Rise in Conflict With People
After back-to-back black bear maulings in Alaska, officials warn that knowing how to respond to an attack could mean life or death.<p>The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is still on the hunt for a black bear that mauled and killed 16-year-old Patrick Cooper. Meanwhile, experts recommend caution to …
NatureHow a Refrigerator Led to Einstein’s Pleas for Atomic Bomb Research
The great physicist was an avowed pacifist—so why did he urge the U.S. to fund such a devastating weapon?<p>Albert Einstein is perhaps most famous for introducing the world to the equation E=mc2. In essence, he discovered that energy and mass are interchangeable, setting the stage for nuclear …
6 Spiritual Adventures to Challenge the Mind and Body
Adventurous souls and spiritual seekers can find peace, and a challenge, on these spiritual hikes.<p>A quiet walk in the woods can be a spiritual experience, and countless hikers head to redwood groves and high places to find a sense of awe. But if following a dirt track is a kind of prayer—the …
List-WorthyInside the Afghan School Where Girls Can Dress Like Girls
Shabana Basij-Rasikh, a 2014 National Geographic Explorer, wants to bring an end to the “bacha posh” tradition in Afghanistan.<p>Editor’s Note: Watch <i>Explorer</i> on National Geographic Channel on Mondays 10/9c.<p>In Afghanistan, obtaining a formal education can be a near-impossible goal for girls.<p>Having …
EducationThe Ultimate West Virginia Road Trip
Discover 500 miles of stunning vistas, outdoor adventures, and quaint towns on this surprising ride.<p>Ramble through rugged mountains and historic small towns on a roughly 500-mile scenic loop through some of West Virginia’s wildest terrain. Sample some of the best views, outdoor adventures, …
Road TripsNASA Finds 219 Possible Planets, Including 10 'Earths'
The worlds are part of the final census from the Kepler telescope, which found a total of more than 4,000 planet candidates over four years.<p>NASA just added 219 possible planets to its growing catalogue of worlds beyond our solar system, including 10 that are potentially temperate, rocky worlds like …
UniverseHow 2 Million Pounds of Rotting Flesh Helps the Serengeti
The thousands of wildebeest that die during their yearly migration are a critical ecosystem resource.<p>For wildebeest, the yearly migration across the Serengeti can mean life or death.<p>Predators such as crocodiles and big cats lie in wait as the herd of more than one million makes its 1,000-mile loop …
NatureCats Domesticated Themselves, Ancient DNA Shows
A comprehensive survey of cat genes suggests that even after felines wandered into our lives, they remained largely unchanged for thousands of years.<p>In true feline form, cats took their time deciding whether to jump into humans’ laps.<p>In a new comprehensive study of the spread of domesticated cats, …
EvolutionBy 2100, Deadly Heat May Threaten Majority of Humankind
Up to 75 percent of people could face deadly heatwaves by 2100 unless carbon emissions plummet, a new study warns.<p>A new study has found that 30 percent of the world’s population is currently exposed to potentially deadly heat for 20 days per year or more—and like a growing forest fire, climate …
Climate Change