Community leaders working at the Quirimbas National Park in Mozambique have been awarded the 2003 edition of the National Geographic Society/Howard Buffett Award for Leadership in African Conservation.
Mars has less gravity than Earth, which partly explains why April Fools' Day is more intense on the red planet. The tongue-in-cheek announcement was made today by the astrophysicists behind the popular Astronomy Picture of the Day Web site.
Researchers announced today they've unearthed a 365-million-year-old fossil limb bone of an ancient tetrapod (four-limbed, backboned animal) in Pennsylvania. Scientists say the find—revealed during road construction—will help shed light on how ancient animals evolved limbs from fins.
The critically endangered Pacific leatherback is the world's largest turtle, and it could face extinction within a decade. Reopening a Hawaiian swordfish fishery could undermine conservation efforts to save this species. (Related stories air Friday, April 2, on our U.S. cable television program Crittercam.)
Students participating at the state level of the National Geographic Bee today have quite a challenge ahead of them. For the local teachers, state Bee coordinators, and the Geography Competitions staff at National Geographic, working to insure the continued success of the competition presents challenges all its own.
In the latest TravelWatch update, National Geographic Traveler geotourism editor Jonathan B. Tourtellot reports on how one beachside Brazilian fishing village-turned-resort retains its charm—and its fishermen. Plus, a New Mexico mountain lodge spotlights conservation.
New technology allows scientists to eavesdrop on conversations of killer whales. They are able listen to a group of whales and figure out which one is talking. A related story airs Sunday, April 4, on our U.S. cable television program National Geographic Channel Presents: Killer Whales, Wolves of the Sea.
National Geographic Ultimate Explorer guest correspondent Adam Ravetch has spent his career pursuing one of the high Arctic's massive and misunderstood animals—the walrus.
Argentine paleontologists have discovered a 13-foot (4-meter) plant-eating dinosaur with a long neck and small head that roamed the southern tip of South America about 70 million years ago.
The winners of the state-level competitions of the National Geographic Bee will be moving on to the finals at National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 25 and 26. Find out who they are, and test your geographic knowledge with ten questions from the state competitions.
Unable to conceive a child, Angela Leony visited a healer in Brazil. The healer, an Afro-Brazilian woman whose ancestors descended from African slaves, told Leony the problem might be solved by drinking tea made from a local pea plant.
Recent U.S. government action against a circus reignited the debate over performing elephants. Does the use of these and other exotic animals for entertainment help the conservation of the species in the wild? Or are circuses making money out of cruelty?
Ten years ago today the assassination of Rwanda president Juvenal Habyarimana triggered a genocide that left 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead. A former Africa-based reporter examines Rwanda today and recalls his past encounters with survivors of the tragedy.
While 11.5 percent of the planet's land surface is now officially protected for nature conservation, a new study reveals that hundreds of critically endangered species range completely outside those sanctuaries. Conservationists question whether the world's governments have protected the wrong places.
A microorganism too small to see with the naked eye may be the answer to one of the U.S. Department of Energy's largest environmental problems: hundreds of billions of gallons of groundwater contaminated with uranium and other toxic chemicals—the byproducts of nuclear bombs made during the Cold War.
Greenland's ice sheet could disappear within a thousand years if global warming continues at its present rate, according to a new study. Scientists predict the thaw could raise sea levels and swamp coastal cities, including London and Los Angeles.
Archaeologists in Cyprus have excavated the 9,500-year-old remains of a cat found buried with a human and decorative artifacts. The ancient feline—which predates early Egyptian evidence of domestic cats by some 4,000 years—may be the world's oldest known pet cat.
Manhattan's gridlocked streets were a proving ground this week for the first production gas-electric hybrid sport-utility vehicle. As fuel prices rise, more automakers are getting into the hybrid game—promising dozens of the fuel efficient, low-emission vehicles over the next few years.
The Shroud of Turin, once thought to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ, was declared a medieval fake—produced between 1260 and 1390. But one scientist believes that the samples used for dating were flawed. (A related story airs this weekend on the National Geographic Channel.)
Through the expertise of a forensic anthropologist, an underwater archaeologist, a forensic artist, and a genealogist, the eight men who were found in the Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley have been identified and their stories revealed. The Confederate Hunley sank in 1864 and was raised from a South Carolina harbor four years ago. The crew's remains are to be buried next weekend in what's been touted as the "last funeral of the Civil War."
Long before the battle cry "Remember the Alamo" was heard, the Tejanos—Mexicans who had lived in Texas for generations—began the fight for Texas independence. But popular history has often ignored Tejanos' role in shaping the Lone Star State.
They breathe rust, clean up polluted groundwater, generate electricity, and may harbor clues to life's origins. That's a lot for one family of microbes. But Derek Lovely, the researcher who discovered the first Geobacter bacteria species 17 years ago, says the wonder bugs continue to amaze.
To train the soldiers of tomorrow, the U.S. Army has recruited the online gaming industry to develop an Internet-based virtual combat simulator accessible to thousands. The nascent project could one day immerse soldiers in a virtual environment that mimics the real-time, real-world scale of Earth.
The narwhal, an Arctic whale known for its unicorn-horn-like tusk, may be in trouble. Hunting, fisheries, and global warming may all be contributing to the species' decline, says one marine biologist.
As a woman matures, so does her taste in men. What attracts her at 20 will most likely differ when she's 30. Female bowerbirds, it seems, share these age-specific preferences when choosing a mate. New research suggests that appealing to feminine tastes throughout the animal kingdom is more complicated than anyone anticipated.
In the 1930s Animal Farm author George Orwell feared the unique and often baffling rhyming slang spoken by the Cockneys of inner London would soon disappear. Yet today it's used more widely than ever in Britain, with new, celebrity-inspired expressions joining those from the past.
Astronomers believe they have already identified some 700 of the 1,100 "Earth-killer" asteroids in the solar system—and none of them is on a collision course with our planet. But what's not known is how many smaller rocks are out there. Smaller asteroids might slam into Earth with only a few hours' notice, devastating a city or generating giant tidal waves.
For hundreds of years, Nepalese men in the Himalayan foothills have risked life and limb to harvest the honey of a native, cliff-dwelling bee. Now a team of scientists is racing to keep the bees and the honey hunter's traditional livelihood alive.
Humans may have been wearing jewelry as far back as 75,000 years ago, about 30,000 years earlier than previously thought, suggests a find in South Africa. The discovery is stoking the debate over when and where modern thinking first emerged—in Europe 45,000 years ago or in Africa thousands of years earlier.
Like other songbirds, certain thrushes track Earth's magnetic field to stay on course during their migrations. In a surprising discovery, researchers say the birds use sunset to reset their internal compasses each day.
In North America, avalanches have claimed the lives of at least 29 skiers, snowboarders, and other backcountry users this year. In an interview with National Geographic News, avalanche expert Janet Kellam describes the risks posed by snow slides—and recalls her own near miss.
Cicada mania is breaking out in a large part of the United States. In the great tradition of U.S. entrepreneurship, restaurants, bars, hotels, and others are preparing for the tourists who will swarm to see the insects. National Geographic Traveler magazine reports on the best things to see and do during the great cicada invasion.
The emergence of billions of cicadas in the U.S. next month has some people drooling in anticipation of snacking on the insects. While most Americans balk at dining on bugs, few realize that they unknowingly eat insect eggs, larvae, and body parts in their everyday food. Most of the world's people eagerly munch on insects, which are low in fat, high in protein—and available in great supply.
The crewmen of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley will be buried with full military honors tomorrow in Charleston, South Carolina—139 years after the Civil War. Their remains were in the submarine when it was raised from Charleston harbor four years ago. All eight submariners have been identified (see photo gallery).
Pyramids, mummies, tombs, and other icons of aristocracy and the afterlife dominate our images of ancient Egypt. But love poems composed thousands of years ago may provide a more intimate glimpse of the lives of everyday ancient Egyptians.
This June National Geographic Traveler and Conservation International will present the World Legacy Awards in sustainable tourism. Today's TravelWatch profiles last year's Nature Travel category winner, an African safari outfitter that works to support local communities while protecting natural and cultural resources.
The expected emergence of billions of cicadas in more than a dozen U.S. states has gardeners worried. Nursery attendants, entomologists, and horticulturists are united in their advice: Don't panic; think of the flying insects as nature's own pruning shears. But to protect young trees from damage, wrap them.
An upstart Los Angeles-based limo service has earned rave reviews from the rich, eco-friendly Hollywood set for its fleet of "green" SUVs. The swanky rides feature bars stocked with organic snacks and soy vodka and, perhaps better still, engines powered by natural gas.
Beginning late tonight and stretching into the predawn hours of Thursday morning, more than 20 meteors an hour will streak across the sky during the first notable meteor shower of the year, known as the Lyrids.
William Shakespeare died 388 years ago this week. With words like "sanctimonious" and "fashionable" to his credit, among others, the playwright exerted a lasting influence on the English language.
Fancy a dish of poisonous fugu fish? How about ram-testicle pâté? Or if it's an aphrodisiac you seek—why not try a carefully prepared bull penis? All of these foods are delicacies on menus around the world. A related story airs Thursday on our U.S. cable television program Taboo: Delicacies.
Most scientists agree that global warming presents the greatest threat to the environment. If our planet's ice caps and glaciers continue to melt the sea level will rise and submerge vast territories, from entire countries to large parts of the United States.
Last year, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures increased 32 percent. According to one Beverly Hills clinic, Nicole Kidman's nose, Catherine Zeta-Jones' eyes, and Angelina Jolie's lips topped patient requests. Related stories air Wednesday on our U.S. cable television channel.
Researchers have learned humpback whales regularly break into "song" much later in the year than expected. The chance findings contradict the idea that the species' mating and feeding activities occur in completely separate time periods.
How might the emergence of billions of cicadas in mid-May affect U.S. wedding plans? Outdoor weddings could experience dive-bombing cicadas looking for mates, guests flailing their arms at the flying insects, and vows lost in the cacophony of "singing" males.
Among mammals, dads are often out of the loop when it comes to producing progeny. After that initial contribution of sperm, they are excluded from pregnancy and are all but superfluous even after birth, when nurturing falls to Mom. Now Japanese scientists have streamlined reproduction even further—they have eliminated fathers entirely.
Geologists have found fresh evidence that early life on Earth may have been linked to volcanic environments. New fossils reveal that bacteria tunneled their way into lava that solidified on the primordial seafloor 3.5 billion years ago.
When Patrick Orozco, a Native American faith keeper, began collecting songs from tribal elders throughout California, he found that many of the songs were only partially known and their meaning lost. But through painstaking work, Orozco has pieced this rich cultural heritage back together.
Sacred Planet, a new giant-screen movie that pays homage to nature's harmony and indigenous cultures around the world, opens today, Earth Day. The film's director says he wanted to raise public awareness about the environment by focusing not on Earth's destruction, but on its splendor.
Nationalgeographic.com has been nominated for Webby Awards in three categories. The awards are presented by peer-judges and are considered the Oscars of the online world. One of the nominees is National Geographic News.
Flea-sized crustaceans with seven sets of legs, four moving mouth parts, and a voracious appetite for wood-borne bacteria could cause the edge of downtown Seattle, Washington, to slip into the Puget Sound.
Never mind its chilly name—as a travel destination, Iceland is hot.
Visitors to the North Atlantic island, known as Europe's "land of fire and ice," topped 300,000 last year, more than Iceland's entire population.
Archaeologists working in Guatemala's rain forest under the protection of armed guards say they have unearthed one of the greatest Maya art masterpieces ever found. The excavation's co-leader, meanwhile, said he has received death threats tied to an upcoming trial of alleged Maya antiquities thieves.
Robots armed with cameras and scientific instruments will descend the 2.2 miles (3.6 kilometers) to the wreck of the Titanic on a National Geographic-supported expedition next month. The mission: to assess the impact of treasure-hunters and thrill-seeking tourists on the famous ship, which is already succumbing to the natural forces of worms, rusticles, pressure, salinity, and currents.
M. Lee Goff loves bugs. He's also partial to dead bodies. But what really excites him is a combination of the two. Goff, a forensic entomologist, studies how insects infest a body after death. A related story airs Monday, April 26, on our U.S. cable television program Biography of a Corpse.
Eighteen years ago today (2004), reactor number four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. The accident killed at least 30 plant workers, caused the hospitalization of hundreds of others, and exposed millions of people to harmful radiation. Yet today the true health costs of the nuclear disaster are still unknown.
For comet enthusiasts, the potential to glimpse three different "naked eye" comets within a span of a few weeks is rare. On average, a comet visible to the unaided eye appears about once every five years. Over the next few weeks three comets should be in view for those who know how to spot them.
In Arizona lies a nondescript ranch house that is no less than one of the most famous bird-watching sites in the world. Birding columnist Mathew Tekulsky reports from Marion Paton's backyard.
This Arbor Day—Friday, April 30, 2004—a clone of a tree planted by George Washington will be planted at a historic New York State farm. That same day, a clone of Washington State's tallest sycamore will be planted at George Washington's Virginia home, Mount Vernon.
Satellite pictures taken last summer of Mount Ararat in Turkey may reveal the final resting place of Noah's ark, according to Daniel McGivern, the businessman and Christian activist behind a planned summer 2004 expedition to investigate the site.
Last month, an aircraft with a largely oxygen-fueled engine hit a velocity of 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) an hour—more than seven times the speed of sound. But one thing was missing during the milestone: the pilot. (A related story airs Wednesday on our U.S. cable TV program Dangerous Jobs.)
Dental studies hint that Neandertals may have matured much earlier than modern humans—perhaps by as young as 15 years old, as opposed to 18 to 20 for modern humans, a team of scientists reports. Could this be why they may have been less smart than us?
For four days this past February, approximately a hundred thousand people all over North America braved the winter chill to tally birds in their backyards. They reported their more than four million sightings online as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Paris's Louvre Museum announced this week that the wood on which the Mona Lisa is painted is bending. Experts say the da Vinci painting's deterioration has aroused "some worry."
This week's TravelWatch column profiles an English walking tour company that leads clients along age-old pilgrim paths, farm tracks, and hunting trails in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The sustainable tourism prizewinner provides authentic experiences not found on package tours.
