National Geographic News

Playing Russian Roulette With a Volcano

Michael Jourdan — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:09:29 -0400

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens exploded with the force of 500 Hiroshimas. National Geographic’s Rowe Findley was on the scene.

Pictures We Love: May

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:15:46 -0400

A desert oasis, nano flowers, and a "jet artist" feature among our photo editors' picks of the most interesting news pictures from May.

Space Pictures This Week: Martian Dust Devils, Weekend Spacewalk

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:01:21 -0400

Astronauts parachute to Earth and the sun goes loopy in this week's best new space pictures.

Billion-Year-Old Water Preserved in Canadian Mine

Ker Than — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:06:33 -0400

The primordial water contains chemicals that could support life without sunlight.

Louisiana's Bayou Is Sinking: Can $50 Billion Save It?

Tim Folger — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:23:02 -0400

With rising seas and sinking land, large swaths of Louisiana are disappearing. But will $50 billion reverse the trend?

Q&A: The Future of the Kepler Spacecraft

Andrew Fazekas — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:26:28 -0400

The principal investigator of NASA's Kepler mission says even if the spacecraft can't be put back on track, data it has already gathered may reveal more Earth-like planets.

Opinion: Despite Changes, Mount Everest Is Changeless

David Breashears — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:18:49 -0400

A climber who first scaled Everest 30 years ago sees continuity and change on the world's highest peak.

Pictures: Nano "Flowers" Created in Lab

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:26:22 -0400

Scientists can control the self-assembly of molecules to build nano-size flowers in the lab, a new study says.

Everest Ice Shrinking Fast, Scientists and Climbers Say

Brian Handwerk — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:34:59 -0400

The world's highest peak has been shedding snow and ice for the past 50 years, possibly due in part to global warming, new research shows.

Wind Energy’s Shadow: Turbines Drag Down Power Potential

David LaGesse — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:53:49 -0400

Wind turbines rob each other of energy if installed too closely together. But the world's fastest-growing source of renewable power still has plenty of room for expansion.

The Astronauts You Should Start Following on Twitter

Melody Kramer — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:19:04 -0400

What's the best way to find out what's going on in space? Follow one of these astronauts on Twitter or Facebook.

What Gives Elite Everest Climbers Their Edge?

Christy Ullrich — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:49:50 -0400

Researchers studying Everest climbers want to take what they learn from the elite athletes back to medical patients living at sea level.

African Clawed Frog Spreads Deadly Amphibian Fungus

Jane J. Lee — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:33:03 -0400

A frog historically used in human pregnancy tests likely spread a deadly amphibian fungus around the world, says a new study.

The Spies Who Blundered

Anna Kordunsky and Michael Lokesson — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:30:22 -0400

Alleged undercover CIA agent Ryan Fogle is only the latest in a string of international spies to bungle the job.

Q&A: Buzz Aldrin Discusses His Vision for Mars

Bill Douthitt — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:11:42 -0400

Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin talks about his new book—and his comprehensive plan for permanent human settlements on Mars.

Cicada Recipes: Bugs Are Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Food

John Roach — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:02:57 -0400

Cicadas bugging you? See our recipe ideas for the low-fat critters, including the new candied cicada cocktail.

Ancient Mayan Pyramid Destroyed in Belize

Elizabeth Snodgrass — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:45:50 -0400

An archeological group says it plans to take legal action after road crews destroyed a pyramid at a site called Nohmul.

On Mount Everest, Seeking Biogas Energy in a Mountain of Waste

Will Ferguson — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:58:26 -0400

Work is under way on the world's highest-elevation biogas reactor, in an effort to transform a surplus of human waste on Mount Everest into a sustainable energy source.

Angelina Jolie's News: Docs Talk About Breast Cancer

Marc Silver — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:08:52 -0400

Angelina Jolie carries a gene putting her at high risk for breast cancer—and had a double mastectomy. Two doctors talk about what the gene means.

New Sea Monster Found, Rewrites Evolution?

Christine Dell'Amore — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:11:21 -0400

A new species of dinosaur-era reptile is rewriting the books on the evolution of so-called sea monsters, a new study claims.

Boys Killed Pets to Become Warriors in Early Russia

Heather Pringle — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:26:53 -0400

Archaeologists have dug up evidence that boys in Bronze Age Russia had to slay their own dogs to prove their readiness to become warriors.

Best Night-Sky Photos of 2013 Named

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:03:28 -0400

Winners of the 2013 Earth & Sky photo contest capture the beauty of the night sky and highlight the issue of light pollution.

Dog And Human Genomes Evolved Together

Jane J. Lee — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:12:49 -0400

A new study finds that genes for diet, behavior, and disease in dogs and humans have evolved together.

U.N. Urges Eating Insects; 8 Popular Bugs to Try

Jennifer Holland — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:17:47 -0400

From beetles to butterflies and from ants to stinkbugs, people in dozens of countries regularly eat insects. Here are the most popular types of edible critters.

Fossil Amber Challenges Theories About Glass

Ker Than — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:17:24 -0400

New findings about the properties of fossil amber could shed light on glass and glass-like materials.