Cultures News
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Pictures: Bird Mummies "Fed" After Death, Stuffed With Snails
February 7, 2012
Some of the millions of ancient Egyptian ibis mummies were "fed" after death, scans reveal—the better to live the afterlife.
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Guinea Pigs Were Widespread as Elizabethan Pets
February 7, 2012
The tiny South American rodents were bred as pets throughout 16th- and 17th-century Europe, a new study suggests.
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Is This Russian Landscape the Birthplace of Native Americans?
February 3, 2012
The genetic homeland of Native Americans is a small mountainous region in southern Siberia, a new study suggests.
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Groundhog Day 2012: Punxsutawney Phil's Forecast Is In
February 2, 2012
Early spring or long winter? "Immortal" rodent Punxsutawney Phil has made his forecast. Get the odd facts behind Groundhog Day 2012.
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Groundhog Day 2012: Behind Phil's Immortal Allure
February 1, 2012
With ancient origins, "immortal" rodent Punxsutawney Phil rules Groundhog Day 2012. Get the surprising facts behind winter's wackiest U.S. weather prediction.
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Pictures We Love: Best of January
February 1, 2012
See the pictures we love, as chosen by National Geographic photo editors—from a too plush penguin to a pantsless pedestrian.<p> </p>
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Stonehenge Precursor Found? Island Complex Predates Famous Site
January 27, 2012
Not only that, the Scottish island complex may have been the model for England's famous stone-circle site, new data suggest.
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Rare Pictures From the Dawn of NASA Spaceflight
January 23, 2012
Newly released digital scans offer a rare high-resolution glimpse into NASA's Project Gemini, the precursor to the Apollo moon missions.
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Pictures: America's "Lost" National Parks
January 20, 2012
See U.S. national parks that are no more, including the second national park, a Trump pleasure palace, and more.
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Kodachrome: First Great Color Film Remembered
January 20, 2012
Called a "photographer's liberation," Kodachrome produced clear, vivid color photographs that drastically changed <em>National Geographic</em> magazine. Kodak announced Monday it will cease production of the iconic medium.
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Ancient Popcorn Found—Made 2,000 Years Earlier Than Thought in Peru
January 19, 2012
Just in time for National Popcorn Day, a new study says that Peruvians were eating the snack thousands of years earlier than thought.
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Injections Could Lift Venice 12 Inches, Study Suggests
January 19, 2012
Pumping billions of gallons of water under the sinking Italian city could save it from worsening floods as seas rise, a new study says.
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New Island Born—Future Tourism Hot Spot?
January 19, 2012
A volcano beneath the Red Sea has given Earth a New Year's gift: a new island off the coast of Yemen.
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Pictures: 5 Cruise Ship Disasters That Changed Travel
January 18, 2012
Some good may yet come of Italy's Costa Concordia wreck. At least since Titanic, cruise accidents have sparked new safety standards.
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New Calendar Would Add Extra Week to December
January 17, 2012
If a new annual calendar is adopted, you'd get an extra week off at the end of 2017, experts say.
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Rare Pictures: Scott's South Pole Expedition, 100 Years Later
January 17, 2012
A century after British explorer Robert Scott reached the South Pole, "incredibly rich," rarely seen pictures give an inside look at the ill-fated expedition.
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U.S. National Parks Free for Martin Luther King Day Weekend
January 12, 2012
More than a hundred U.S. national parks and historic sites are waiving their entrance fees in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Nuclear-Resort Pictures: Come for the Reactor, Stay for the Beach
January 5, 2012
A new Philippine destination has something for everyone: beach, karaoke, wildlife—and a real nuclear power plant (uranium not included).
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2012 Pictures: 6 Maya Apocalypse Myths Debunked
January 3, 2012
See six good reasons why the world (probably) won't end in the new year, despite supposed warnings in the Maya calendar.
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Pictures We Love: Best of December
December 29, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month—a winter swimmer, burned Egyptian treasures, and more.
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Wild Gorillas Groom U.S. Tourist in Uganda
December 28, 2011
A tourist's encounter with gorillas in Uganda has become an Internet sensation—and a reminder of the pros and cons of wildlife tourism.
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Mysterious Mass Sacrifice Found Near Ancient Peru Pyramid
December 28, 2011
An apparent ritual mass sacrifice—including decapitations and a royal beer bash—is coming to light near a pre-Inca pyramid, experts say.
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Evolution of Angels: From Disembodied Minds to Winged Guardians
December 23, 2011
From disembodied minds to winged guardians, heavenly messengers haven't always looked like the familiar Christmas tree toppers.
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Best Travel Pictures of 2011 Named
December 23, 2011
Playful wolves, an iceberg climber, and a curious beluga are highlights of the 2011 Travel Photographer of the Year competition.
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It's Official: Stonehenge Stones Were Moved 160 Miles
December 22, 2011
Some of the volcanic bluestones in the inner ring of Stonehenge match an outcrop in Wales 160 miles from the site, geologists show.
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Pictures: China's Fake Disneyland, Overgrown and Ghostly
December 22, 2011
New pictures take you inside the abandoned Wonderland outside Beijing—half-built castles, overgrown "villages," and reclaimed cornfields.
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"Golden Chief" Tomb Treasure Yields Clues to Unnamed Civilization
December 21, 2011
"Golden chief" graves in Panama are yielding thousand-year-old gold, gems, and clues to an unnamed civilization.
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Winter Solstice 2011: Facts on Shortest Day of the Year
December 21, 2011
Find out why the first day of winter always falls around December 21 and how the shortest day of the year is marked by cultures worldwide.
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Pictures: Fire Destroys "Temple of Knowledge" in Egypt
December 20, 2011
Ancient manuscripts were lost to the ages this weekend as fire consumed Cairo's "Temple of Knowledge"—a "huge shock" to Egyptologists.
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End of World in 2012? Maya "Doomsday" Calendar Explained
December 20, 2011
Even if the world does end in 2012, the Maya calendar deserves no credit for predicting it, experts say.
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Before Kim Jong-Il Died: Inside North Korea
December 19, 2011
Go inside Kim Jong-Il's North Korea with Nat Geo: streaming video of a groundbreaking documentary, rare interviews with escapees, and more.
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Best Pictures: Nat Geo Photo Contest Winners, 2011
December 19, 2011
From a rain-pelted dragonfly to a double rainbow over Indonesia, see the winning shots of the 2011 National Geographic Photo Contest.
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Japan Tsunami-Debris Cruise Attracts Travelers to Ocean Garbage Patch
December 15, 2011
Tourists can pay thousands to sail through a floating field of debris from the Japanese tsunami that could be the size of California.
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South Pole Travel Heats Up on 100th Anniversary of "Discovery"
December 14, 2011
You too can visit the South Pole, a hundred years after explorers first reached the southernmost point on Earth.
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"Contagious" Yawning Occurs More Among Loved Ones
December 13, 2011
People yawn more in response to other yawns when they're around those they care about most, a new study shows.
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4 Ways Your Phone Could Change How You Travel in 2012
December 9, 2011
From augmented reality to a handheld translator, see how the smart phone will become an even more vital traveling companion.
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Pictures: National Geographic's Top Ten Discoveries
December 8, 2011
To mark the National Geographic Society's 10,000th grant, Society experts have named Nat Geo's top grant projects since 1890.
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Massive Population Drop Found for Native Americans, DNA Shows
December 5, 2011
Indigenous populations quickly dropped by roughly half following European contact about 500 years ago, a new DNA study says.
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Pictures: World's 7 Most Extreme Airports
December 2, 2011
From cliffside strips to sea ice runways—these breathtaking, heart-stopping, runways may render your holiday flights cushy by comparison.
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Wasps Can Recognize Faces
December 2, 2011
Paper wasps may discern faces to keep the peace in complex colonies, a new study suggests.
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Pictures: 7 Volcanoes Erupting Right Now
November 30, 2011
If you've ever wanted to see a fire-breathing volcano in person, now might be the time—as shown in our new survey of accessible eruptions.
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Pictures: World's Largest Marine Reserve Announced
November 29, 2011
See the ocean wonders of the Coral Sea, where Australia plans to establish a marine park bigger than Germany and France combined.
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World's Tallest Tower Rises in Tokyo
November 28, 2011
Set to open to visitors next year, Japan's Tokyo Sky Tree already has a lofty reputation. But how can it withstand seismic activity?
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Bashed Skull Is Earliest Evidence of Human Aggression?
November 22, 2011
A bashed skull offers some of the earliest known evidence for violence between ancient humans—but also hints at their caring side.
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Thanksgiving 2011 Myths and Facts
November 22, 2011
Before the big dinner, debunk the myths—for starters, the first "real" Thanksgiving wasn't until the 1800s—and get to the roots of Thanksgiving 2011.
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Was "Stereo" Born 400 Years Ago in Venice"?
November 18, 2011
Landmark churches—including tourist staples such as the Basilica of San Marco—may have been designed in part for a two-speaker effect, experts say.
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Louis Daguerre: Pictures Illuminate Google's Man of the Day
November 18, 2011
Go behind the lens of Louis Daguerre—honored today, his 224th birthday, with a Google doodle.
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Photos: 65-Story Eruption Spurs Explosive New Adventure
November 16, 2011
New, 65-story lava fountains are a big draw in the Congo. But travel at your own risk, officials say—despite the armed guards.
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Pictures: Are These the Seven Wonders of Nature?
November 14, 2011
If the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest aren't among the "New 7 Wonders of Nature," what is? See—and judge—for yourself.
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"Lost" Fortresses of Sahara Revealed by Satellites
November 11, 2011
New satellite pictures have uncovered scores of ancient settlements that belonged to a mysterious African civilization.
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Vikings Navigated With Translucent Crystals?
November 11, 2011
Vikings may have navigated by looking through a "sunstone" made of Icelandic spar, a new study suggests.
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Veterans Day 2011: Why It's Today, How It's Changed, More
November 11, 2011
As the U.S. honors Veterans Day, find out why it happens in November, why it doesn't fall on a Monday, and some simple ways to mark the day.
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Pictures: Five Future Techs for Passenger Air Travel
November 10, 2011
Supersonic planes, flying in formation, and mid-air refueling are some of the concepts that could reshape air travel, a new report says.
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Pompeii Is Crumbling—Can It Be Saved?
November 8, 2011
Recent collapses highlight "critical" situation, but the site is safe for tourists, experts say. Can new funds stop the decay?
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Permanent Daylight Saving Time? Might Boost Tourism, Efficiency
November 4, 2011
As much of the U.S. and Europe falls back an hour, supporters of permanent daylight saving tout energy saving—and more tourism.
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Where Did Fall Color Go? Predicting Foliage's Final Hideouts
November 4, 2011
Experts predict foliage's final hideouts—places where the Halloween blizzard was just a headline and the leaves blaze deep into November.
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Daylight Saving Time 2011: Why and When Does It End?
November 3, 2011
Why do we fall back? Should daylight savings be abolished? Get the facts—and a few controversial takes on turning back the clock.
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Conquistador Was Deep in U.S.: "Stunning" Jewelry Find Redraws Route?
November 1, 2011
The "stunning" discovery of 16th-century Spanish artifacts in a strange spot could redraw the map of Hernando de Soto's expedition.
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Pictures: Ten Least Crowded Places in the World
October 31, 2011
With humanity now at seven billion, is elbowroom becoming endangered? Escape to ten spacious places—and find out how they got that way.
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Pictures We Love: Best of October
October 31, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month—a lightning-filled eruption, a bubbly beluga, and more.
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Quiz: Population 7 Billion—Could We All Fit in One City?
October 31, 2011
Could all humans fit in one city? Is the most typical person a woman? Get answers in our quiz on the human population reaching seven billion.
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7 Billion: Will Earth Really Hit Population Milestone Monday?
October 28, 2011
The seventh-billion person will be born on October 31, according to the UN—but how do they know?
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Human Waste to Revive Haitian Farmland?
October 26, 2011
A new type of public toilet is helping Haitians make fertilizer from human waste, which may someday revive the country's degraded soil.
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Photos: Speared Mastodon Bone Hints at Earlier Americans
October 21, 2011
A spear tip in a mastodon rib hints that an unknown North American culture was killing big game a thousand years before the famed Clovis culture.
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Pictures: 12 World Monuments at Risk
October 18, 2011
Gingerbread Houses, giant glyphs, and brutalist buildings are among the endangered sites on the 2012 World Monuments Watch list. See why.
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Oldest "Art Studio" Found; Evidence of Early Chemistry
October 13, 2011
About a hundred thousand years ago, early artists made ochre paint inside a South African cave, a new study says.
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120 Roman Shoes Found in U.K.; "Substantial" Fort Find
October 10, 2011
A pile of 2,000-year-old Roman sandals and shoes has been found at a supermarket construction site in Scotland, archaeologists say.
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Photos: Life-Changing Nobel Chemistry Breakthroughs
October 5, 2011
Quasicrystals today joined scores of Nobel prize-winning chemistry advances that have changed how we live—from radiology to neon signs.
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Little Ice Age Shrank Europeans, Sparked Wars
October 4, 2011
The Little Ice Age's coldest snap, around 1600, eventually sparked upheavals across the Northern Hemisphere, a new study says.
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Cannibalism Confirmed Among Ancient Mexican Group
September 30, 2011
Bones found in cave houses prove that eating humans was "crucial" to the spiritual life of an ancient people, experts say.
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Pictures: Ancient Chariot Fleet, Horses Unearthed in China
September 27, 2011
Hailing from China's "heyday of chariot warfare," five well-preserved chariots and accompanying horses have emerged from an urban tomb.
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Pictures: Mass Grave of Children, Llamas Found in Dune
September 26, 2011
The remains of 42 ancient sacrifice victims—their torn-out hearts replaced with fabric—have emerged from a seaside sand dune in Peru.
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Pictures: Maya Royal Tombs Found With Rare Woman Ruler
September 22, 2011
Two royal tombs—one containing a rare female ruler—have been discovered at Maya ruins in Guatemala, a new study says.
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"Talk Like a Pirate Day" Busted: Not Even Pirates Spoke Pirate
September 19, 2011
International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2011: Arr you kidding me? "Walk the plank," other buccaneer bon mots are pure pop culture.
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Huge Gladiator School Found Buried in Austria
September 13, 2011
Nearly as big as two Walmarts, the "important" find boasted its own cemetery and amphitheater—and rivaled its counterparts in Rome, experts say.
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One World Trade Center: Virtual View From the Top
September 9, 2011
An exclusive panoramic picture shows the New York skyline from above as it will be seen from the One World Trade Center tower in 2013.
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9/11: 25 Indelible Pictures
September 8, 2011
Ten years after 9/11, see iconic images of the tragedy as chosen by National Geographic photo editors. <em>Warning: graphic content.</em>
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Pictures We Love: Best of August
September 1, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the month—an invisible man, sardine "storm," Swiss daredevil, and more.
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Pictures: 18th-Century Ship Found Under 9/11 Site
August 30, 2011
With 9/11's tenth anniversary approaching, the remains of an 18th-century ship have been excavated at New York's World Trade Center.
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Blackbeard's Ship Confirmed off North Carolina
August 30, 2011
A shipwreck off the North Carolina coast is definitely that of the infamous 18th-century pirate Blackbeard, state officials say.
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Shipwreck Pictures: Civil War-era Wine, Cologne Found
August 17, 2011
After storms uncovered parts of a Civil War-era wreck, divers found intriguing artifacts, including unopened wine with a "strong odor."
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Best Travel Pictures of 2011 Named
August 2, 2011
A starry night and a giraffe hotel feature among the winners of the 2011 <em>National Geographic Traveler</em> Photo Contest. Find out why they won.
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"Spectacular" Three-Cat Monolith Unearthed in Mexico
August 1, 2011
The "spectacular" monolith may have been part of an ancient monumental wall crawling with felines.
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Pictures We Love: Best of July
July 28, 2011
Slimy seas, stormy skies, a bull's ear—National Geographic photo editors eye the month's best new pictures and find ten favorites.
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Russia Wins Geographic World Championship
July 28, 2011
For the first time, a team of Russian students won the National Geographic World Championship, which is hosted by Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek. Video.
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Ancient Sacrificer Found With Blades in Peru Tomb?
July 28, 2011
With ceremonial knives at his side, an elite 14th-century executioner has been uncovered in a Peruvian tomb, archeologists suggest.
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Pictures: Machu Picchu, Before and After Excavation
July 22, 2011
See how the 15th-century Inca city has changed in the century since the ruins were "rediscovered" in Peru.
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What Was Machu Picchu For? Top Five Theories Explained
July 21, 2011
Were the 15th-century Inca ruins a royal retreat, a sacred memorial, or something else entirely?
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Afghanistan Bright Spot: Wildlife Thriving in War Zones
July 12, 2011
Surprisingly, Afghanistan's bears, wolves, and big cats have survived decades of war—but they're not out of the woods yet, conservationists say.
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Space Shuttle Pictures: NASA's Last Launch a Success
July 8, 2011
See <em>Atlantis</em>'s Friday launch—the final time a NASA space shuttle will rocket to the International Space Station, or anywhere else.
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"Tomb of the Otters" Filled With Stone Age Human Bones
July 7, 2011
Stumbled upon by a homeowner, a 5,000-year-old chamber crammed with human bones and otter remains has been found on a Scottish island.
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Pictures: Human Sacrifice Found in Maya City Sinkhole
July 6, 2011
The submerged remains of six humans, jade beads, and ceramic vessels are among Maya objects discovered in a giant hole in Chichén Itzá.
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Pictures: New "Uncontacted" Tribe Found in Amazon
July 5, 2011
Photographed deep in the Brazilian Amazon, two new buildings help confirm the existence of a new isolated tribe, authorities say.
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Fourth of July Facts: 1st Fests, Number of Fireworks, More
July 4, 2011
How did U.S. Founding Fathers Celebrate Independence Day? How many Fourth of July fireworks explode each year? Answers and more.
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Fourth of July Myths Debunked
June 30, 2011
Many stories of U.S. independence turn out to be more fiction than fact—and National Treasure isn't the only culprit.
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Pictures We Love: Best of June
June 30, 2011
So good we had to share—ten new images that gripped Nat Geo photo editors: "supertrees," an upside-down horse, a surfer on ice, and more.
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Pictures: Blood-Red Pyramid Tomb Revealed by Tiny Camera
June 29, 2011
Fed through a hole, a tiny camera exposed a Maya tomb to its first light in centuries, revealing a blood-red chamber, jade, and more.
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Pictures: First True Cocaine Submarine
June 24, 2011
See the first fully submersible drug sub captured by the U.S. in Colombia—a swamp-built vehicle that can carry six underwater for a week.
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Iceman's Stomach Sampled—Filled With Goat Meat
June 23, 2011
Hours before he died, "Ötzi" the Iceman gorged on the fatty meat of a wild goat, according to a new analysis of his stomach contents.
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Pictures: 11 Most Endangered U.S. Historic Sites Named
June 23, 2011
From the ranch house where John Coltrane wrote <em>A Love Supreme</em> to a giant Pillsbury mill—see historic sites said to be on the edge of ruin.
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Summer Solstice Pictures: Fire, Druids, Lasers, Llamas
June 22, 2011
See how the world welcomed the first day of summer 2011: lasers strafed Paris dancers, burned llama fetuses were borne aloft, and more.
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Pictures: Celtic Princess Tomb Yields Gold, Amber Riches
June 21, 2011
Ornate gold and amber jewelry are among treasures found in an Iron Age noblewoman’s grave, which was recently excavated whole.
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Father's Day Shortchanged? Humble History, Fewer Gifts
June 16, 2011
With Father's Day 2011 here, find out how the holiday started, why Dad doesn't mind being shortchanged on gifts, and more.
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Sleep Preferences Predict Baseball Success, Study Says
June 15, 2011
What times major league baseball players hit the hay can predict when they'll hit it out of the park, new research shows.
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Pictures: Nat Geo Picks of the Week
June 10, 2011
See National Geographic photo editors' favorite news pictures of the week, including a cross-eyed opossum, an epic ashfall, and more.
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National Geographic Bee Won on Everest Stumper
May 25, 2011
One of the longest Bees yet resulted in a Texas-size victory when a Lone Star State 13-year-old aced a question about Mount Everest.
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Pirate Pictures: Captain Morgan's Cannons Found?
May 24, 2011
Six cannons said to have belonged to 17th-century buccaneer Henry Morgan have been recovered from shipwrecks in Panama.
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Space Pictures This Week: Shuttle Seen From Plane, More
May 23, 2011
A plane view of the shuttle, an enormous nebula, and dust devils on Mars feature among our editors' picks of the best new space pictures.
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Exclusive Area 51 Pictures: Secret Plane Crash Revealed
May 20, 2011
In 1963 a prototype rocketed out of the secret base—and never returned. See the crash for the first time, and get closer to the truth about Area 51.
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May 21 Doomsday Pictures: 11 End-of-the-World Predictions
May 20, 2011
Preacher Harold Camping isn't first to forecast the end of the world. His prophecy—that May 21 is doomsday—is part of an age-old tradition.
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Neanderthals Made a Last Stand at Subarctic Outpost?
May 13, 2011
A prehistoric "tool kit" suggests Neanderthals hung on longer than expected—and farther north, in a subarctic refuge, a new study says.
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Friday the 13th Superstitions Rooted in Bible and More
May 13, 2011
They date back at least to ancient Roman times, but Friday the 13th superstitions won't be getting much of a workout this year. Luckily for triskaidekaphobia sufferers, today is 2011's only Friday the 13th.
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Best Pictures: World Photography Awards 2011
May 11, 2011
From the unforgettable eyes of a child in Bangladesh to leaflike bugs in Tokyo, see our favorite winners of the 2011 World Photography Awards.
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Why Mother's Day Horrified, Ruined Its Own Mother
May 8, 2011
Born of war, Mother's Day grew to horrify its own mother, whose fight to fix the holiday "cost her everything, financially and physically."
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Your Heart Can Sync With a Loved One's
May 5, 2011
Watching those close to your heart perform in stressful situations can harmonize both of your heart rates, a new study says.
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Osama bin Laden Dead: Unlikely Last Hideout in Pictures
May 2, 2011
See the surprising, ''scenic'' spot where Osama bin Laden was killed Monday in a Pakistani military center.
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Pictures: Royal Wedding Dresses, and What They Meant
April 28, 2011
Many are wondering who designed Kate Middleton's wedding dress, but for centuries British royal gowns were about a lot more than fashion.
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John James Audubon: Why Birds Flock Around Google's Doodle
April 26, 2011
Honored today with a Google doodle, the painter was a game changer in studying birds who was also "not shy in the ego department," experts say.
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Lost City Revealed Under Centuries of Jungle Growth
April 26, 2011
The ancient Maya city of Head of Stone—a hundred buildings buried under rain forest—has emerged via 3-D mapping.
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A Year After the Spill, "Unusual" Rise in Health Problems
April 19, 2011
Health issues that continue to plague Gulf Coast communities may be connected to the Gulf oil spill, experts say.
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Pictures: 20 Surprising Species of the Past 20 Years
April 18, 2011
From the "Yoda bat" to a "walking" shark—see 20 new and rare species spotted during two decades of "ecological SWAT team" expeditions.
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Legendary Saints Were Real, Buried Alive, Study Hints
April 15, 2011
The skeletons of two married, early-Christian saints—buried alive nearly 2,000 years ago—may have been ID'd via forensic analysis in Italy.
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Fort Sumter Pictures: Destruction of 1st Civil War Battlefield
April 12, 2011
Famous as the site of the first shots of the Civil War, Fort Sumter actually faced its toughest tests years into the conflict.
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Fort Sumter in Pictures: The Civil War's First Battle
April 12, 2011
See how Fort Sumter—designed against sea attacks—was explosively done in by its own neighbors, sparking the Civil War 150 years ago.
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Civil War at 150: How a Bloodless Battle Started It All
April 11, 2011
A mule was its only fatality, but the Battle of Fort Sumter nevertheless led to the United States' deadliest war, as historian Mark Jenkins recounts.
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Will Government Shutdown Halt Civil War Commemorations?
April 8, 2011
In the event of a government shutdown, Fort Sumter and other historic sites may be shuttered on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
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Civil War at 150: Expect Subdued Salutes, Rising Voices
April 7, 2011
Battered budgets and rising voices should make this Civil War anniversary like none before, historian Mark Collins Jenkins says.
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Pictures: Gold Treasure, Roman Coins Revealed in U.K.
April 4, 2011
A newfound hoard of prehistoric golden neck ornaments and a huge haul of Roman-era British coins are headed for display in Britain.
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April Fool's Day: Why Is Today Prime Time for Pranks?
April 1, 2011
Plumb the murky origins of April Fools' Day—and find out how straight-faced scientific research can be sillier than the wackiest pranks.
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April Fools' Day Pictures: Six Animal Hoaxes
April 1, 2011
From a human-dog hybrid to a Tasmanian mock walrus, see pictures of famous animal hoaxes, including some used as April Fools' Day pranks.
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Ancient Tablet Found: Oldest Readable Writing in Europe
March 30, 2011
Found at a site tied to myth, the early Greek tablet bears the continent's earliest known readable writing—and survives only by accident.
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April Fools' Day Pictures: 4 Historic Science Hoaxes
March 30, 2011
These fakes weren't mere April Fool's Day pranks--even the silliest convinced the public that some very tall tales were true.
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Prehistoric Americans Traded Chocolate for Turquoise?
March 29, 2011
Talk about a sweet deal—prehistoric peoples of Mesoamerica may have traded chocolate for gems from the U.S. Southwest, a new study says.
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Rejection Really Hurts, Brain Scans Show
March 28, 2011
Maybe words can hurt you as much as sticks and stones: Romantic rejection, at least, causes physical pain, a new brain study says.
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First Day of Spring: Myths, Facts, and Equinox Science
March 21, 2011
Were day and night equally long on Sunday, the 2011 vernal equinox (or spring equinox)? Get the answer—and other first-day-of-spring facts and oddities.
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Is Japan Reactor Crew Exposed to Fatal Radiation?
March 17, 2011
What kind of radiation are workers at Japan's stricken nuclear power plant—and everyday people—facing? What exactly is radiation sickness?
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St. Patrick's Day 2011: Facts, Myths, and Traditions
March 16, 2011
Was St. Patrick Irish? What's an authentic shamrock? Sort history from myth this St. Patrick's Day and celebrate true Irish heritage.
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Ides of March: What Is It? Why Do We Still Observe It?
March 15, 2011
Once simply a time to settle accounts, March 15—the Ides of March—is linked to prophecies of misfortune, thanks to Caesar and Shakespeare.
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Daylight Saving Time 2011: Why and When Does It Begin?
March 11, 2011
Why do we spring forward? Should daylight savings be abolished? Get the facts—and a few controversial takes on turning back the clock.
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Pictures: Lifelike "Wet Mummy" Found During Roadbuilding
March 10, 2011
Freed from a liquid-filled coffin last week, the centuries-old Chinese woman had been found when roadbuilders stumbled upon a tomb.
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"First Skyscraper" Built to Fight Solstice Shadow?
March 10, 2011
Built below the mountain where Satan is said to have tempted Christ, the Tower of Jericho may shielded against the peak's solstice shadow.
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Pictures: Prehistoric American Skull Found in Sea Cave?
March 9, 2011
Divers in an underwater cave in Mexico may have found the skull of one of the earliest Americans—and maybe his or her mastodon leftovers.
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New Death Ritual Found in Himalaya—27 De-fleshed Humans
March 1, 2011
In high cliffside caves, explorers find 1,500-year-old de-fleshed skeletons—clues to an unknown Himalayan rite.
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Pictures: Otzi the Iceman's New, Older Face Unveiled
February 25, 2011
More Gandalf than Aragorn, the new face of ''Ötzi,'' the famous Iceman mummy, is more wizened and weathered than previous reconstuctions.
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Ice Age Child Found in Prehistoric Alaskan Home
February 24, 2011
A newfound Alaskan cremation site may offer clues to how the first Americans lived—and where they came from.
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To Stave Off Alzheimer's, Learn a Language?
February 18, 2011
Talk about the power of words—speaking at least two languages may slow dementia in the aging brain, new research shows.
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Amelia Earhart Spit Samples to Help Lick Mystery?
February 18, 2011
Geneticists plan to mine DNA from envelope seals to help identify remains of aviator Amelia Earhart, who vanished over the Pacific in 1937.
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Watson Wins Jeopardy!—6 Artificial Intelligence Milestones
February 17, 2011
IBM's Watson seemingly came from out of nowhere to win Jeopardy! But the computer is just the latest artificial intelligence sensation.
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Egypt Antiquities Missing
February 14, 2011
Egyptian officials—who earlier reported that no artifacts were stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo during a looting attempt last month—now say several items are missing from the museum, including some depicting King Tut.
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Valentine's Day Facts: Gifts, History, and Love Science
February 14, 2011
Where did Valentine's Day come from? (Think naked Romans, paganism, and whips.) What does it cost? And why do we fall for it, year after year?
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Pictures: 1823 Whaling Shipwreck Found in Hawaii
February 11, 2011
Nearly two centuries after it sank off a remote Hawaiian atoll, an 1800s whaling vessel that was a sister ship to the<em> Essex</em>, of <em>Moby-Dick</em> fame, has been rediscovered, blubber pots and all.
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Best News Pictures of 2010: World Press Winners
February 11, 2011
Whooper swans, a victim of the Taliban, and Bolivian wrestlers are among the winners of the 2010 World Press Photo Contest.
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Rare 1823 Wreck Found—Capt. Linked to Moby-Dick, Cannibalism
February 11, 2011
Linked to Moby-Dick and skippered by a man who ate his cousin, the Two Brothers whaling ship from Nantucket has long been lost on a remote Pacific reef.
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11 Thomas Edison Predictions That Came True—Or Didn't
February 11, 2011
Celebrated Friday with a Google doodle, Thomas Edison was the "nation's inventor philosopher." See how his predictions hold up in 2011.
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Photos: Time Capsule Mansion Opened After 100 Years
February 9, 2011
A French mansion shuttered for a century has become a museum of 19th-century life, thanks to the last wishes of an ''egocentric'' owner, a curator says.
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Egypt Antiquities Restoration Under Way
February 9, 2011
Restoration work is under way for antiquities damaged during a looting attempt at Cairo's Egyptian Museum in late January. Museum officials say very little was damaged and that nothing was destroyed or stolen from the museum.
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New Pictures Show "Uncontacted" Tribe "Well and Strong"
February 2, 2011
Last seen aiming arrows at an aircraft two years ago, an isolated Amazon group has now been photographed in unprecedented detail.
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Pictures: Ancient Bog Girl's Face Reconstructed
February 2, 2011
Working with skull fragments, a 3-D printer, and more, scientists have given several new faces to an Iron Age girl found in a peat bog.
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Egypt Antiquities Damaged, at Risk During Unrest
February 1, 2011
See Egyptian artifacts damaged during the current instability. Can Egypt's historic sites and antiquities be protected? Video.
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Groundhog Day 2011: Punxsutawney Phil Sees No Shadow
February 1, 2011
With ancient origins and modern media smarts, "immortal" rodent Punxsutawney Phil rules Groundhog Day 2011. Get the surprising facts behind winter's wackiest weather prediction.
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Pictures: Ancient Egyptian Artifacts Damaged in Looting
January 31, 2011
Mummies were decapitated and statues were snapped apart by looters at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo as mass protests seized Egypt.
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Egypt Treasures Looted, but Public Strikes Back
January 31, 2011
To save sites, everyday Egyptians and experts are forming human chains and inventing ways around Internet and phone shutdowns.
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Siberians Raided Rodent Caches for Food
January 18, 2011
To survive in winter, nomadic groups dug up stores of roots, seeds, and nuts gathered by small mammals, according to a new study.
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Oldest Domesticated Dog in Americas Found—Was Human Food
January 18, 2011
A skull fragment from a Texas cave shows that humans were breeding—and eating—dogs as early as 9,400 years ago, scientists say.
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Pictures: Blackbeard's Ship Yields Ornamental Sword
January 12, 2011
A gilded sword hilt has been recovered from Blackbeard's shipwreck off North Carolina. Could it have belonged to the 18th-century pirate?
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Haiti Earthquake Anniversary: Pictures Show Slow Recovery
January 11, 2011
A year after the Haiti earthquake that killed 220,000, nearly a million remain homeless, and before-and-after images are sadly similar.
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Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave
January 10, 2011
In the same Armenian cave where the oldest known leather shoe was found, barefoot winemakers were likely stomping grapes 6,000 years ago.
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Trust Your Gut—If You're Aware of Your Heartbeat
January 10, 2011
People who could accurately count their own heartbeats subconsciously caught on faster to a rigged card game, according to a new study.
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Fish as Good as College Students in Numbers Test
January 7, 2011
College students showed roughly the same numerical skills as mosquitofish when presented with a laboratory test, a new study says.
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Women's Tears Reduce Sex Drive in Men, Study Hints
January 6, 2011
Read it, but try not to weep, ladies—your tears may lower your man's sex drive, according to a new study.
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"Bodies" Make Up Fake Coral Reef
January 5, 2011
Sculptures of human figures are making a home for marine life in waters near Cancun, Mexico. The art is helping preserve the world's 2nd largest barrier reef system. Video.
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Pictures: Ancient Roman Spa City Reburied in Turkey
December 29, 2010
A well-preserved, almost 2,000-year-old Roman spa city has been reburied as part of a Turkish dam project that's triggered a flood of controversy.
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Ancient Maya Temples Were Giant Loudspeakers?
December 16, 2010
Ancient complexes in the Americas may have used sound design to enthrall—and disorient—audiences.
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Best Pictures: Nat Geo Photo Contest Winners, 2010
December 16, 2010
From a charging buffalo to an erupting volcano—see the winning pictures of the 2010 National Geographic Photo Contest.
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Best of Archaeology 2010: Nat Geo News's Ten Most Viewed
December 14, 2010
From Titanic to Noah's Ark—Nat Geo News's most viewed archaeology tales of 2010 told of vanishing treasures, rediscovered relics, and more.
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Pictures: Are These Prehistoric Game Boards?
December 13, 2010
See ''enigmatic'' semicircles that may be the earliest evidence of game-playing in Mexico and possibly North America.
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Prehistoric Dice Boards Found—Oldest Games in Americas?
December 13, 2010
dice, gaming, gambling, native american, indian casinos, science, archaeology
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New Bacteria Found on Titanic; Eats Metal
December 10, 2010
The metal-munching bacteria found on the famous wreck may help teach engineers how to protect deep-sea oil rigs, experts say.
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Stop Food Cravings Through Imaginary Eating?
December 9, 2010
Fighting an M&M's craving this holiday season? You can let that milk chocolate melt in your mind—not in your mouth, a new study suggests.
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Photos: Inside Qatar, Host of the 2022 World Cup
December 3, 2010
Get a glimpse into the conservative Islamic country that will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Pictures: Medieval Cave Tunnels Revealed as Never Before
December 1, 2010
3-D laser scans are revealing anew the man-made caves under Nottingham, U.K., including dungeons, secret tunnels, bowling alleys, and more.
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Top Ten Discoveries of 2010: Nat Geo News's Most Popular
November 30, 2010
A time-bending earthquake, a fish with "hands," and "Yoda bat" are among National Geographic News's most visited coverage of 2010 discoveries.
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400-Year-Old Personalized Pipes Found at Jamestown
November 29, 2010
Bearing perhaps the earliest printing in English America and an Indian design, the pipes may have been made to butter up British bigwigs.
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American Indian Sailed to Europe With Vikings?
November 24, 2010
Five hundred years before Columbus hit the New World, Vikings might have brought an American Indian woman home with them, DNA suggests.
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Thanksgiving 2010 Myths and Facts
November 24, 2010
Before the big dinner, debunk the myths—for starters, the first "real" Thanksgiving wasn't until the 1800s—and get to the roots of Thanksgiving 2010.
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Pictures: Bright New Mecca Train Ferries Hajj Pilgrims
November 17, 2010
New lime green light-rail trains launched in early November transport Muslim pilgrims to Mecca and other holy sites during the annual hajj.
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Pictures: 12 New Sphinxes Confirm Legendary Egypt Route
November 16, 2010
Long known from Egyptian texts, a storied stretch of the Avenue of Sphinxes has been confirmed by the discovery of 12 new sphinxes.
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Pocahontas's Wedding Chapel Found at Jamestown
November 15, 2010
The remains of the church where Pocahontas married an English tobacco farmer have been found in Virginia, archaeologists say.
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Veterans Day 2010: Why It's Today, How It's Changed, More
November 11, 2010
As the U.S. honors Veterans Day, find out why it happens in November, why it doesn't fall on a Monday, and some simple ways to mark the day.
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"Ghost Ship" Pictures: Gold Rush-Era Wreck Found
November 8, 2010
With boots thrown hastily on deck and cooking utensils scattered, the last moments of the crew aboard the gold rush-era paddleboat A. J. Goddard are preserved in the ship's recently found wreck, archaeologists say.
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Daylight Savings Time 2010: Why and When It Ends
November 5, 2010
Why do we fall back? Should daylight savings be abolished? Get the facts—and a few controversial takes on turning back the clock.
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Women Prefer Men With Yellow, Red Faces
November 4, 2010
Men, take note: A healthy glow is more attractive to women than a strong, masculine face, a new study says.
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Halloween Costume Pictures: Spooky Styles a Century Ago
October 29, 2010
From roller skates to swastikas, see how people in the early 1900s celebrated what one expert calls the United States' "rogue holiday."
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Chupacabra Science: How Evolution Made a Mythical Monster
October 29, 2010
Just in time for Halloween, scientists say they've cracked the mystery behind the "goat sucking" monster—and it's all too real.
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Headless Romans in England Came From "Exotic" Locales?
October 28, 2010
A mysterious cemetery filled with decapitated skeletons is offering hints that the victims lost their heads a long way from home.
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Halloween 2010: Top Costumes, History, Myths, More
October 28, 2010
Get the facts on Halloween 2010 and Halloween history, this year's most popular costumes, record-breaking pumpkins, and more in National Geographic News's Halloween roundup.
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Photos: Mummy Bundles, Child Sacrifices Found on Pyramid
October 25, 2010
Wearing a false head, a bundled mummy--and three child sacrifices--emerge from an urban pyramid in Peru.
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Pictures: 12 Ancient Landmarks on Verge of Vanishing
October 23, 2010
A Haitian palace, a Swahili port town, and a Maya complex are among the ancient sites disappearing due to modern neglect, a new report says.
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Odd Pyramid Had Rooftop Homes, Ritual Sacrifices?
October 21, 2010
Feasting on guinea pig, smelting copper, and perhaps sacrificing maidens, ''powerful individuals'' likely lived on a newfound Peruvian pyramid.
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Pictures: Dead Sea Scrolls Being Digitized for Web
October 20, 2010
With Google's help, the Dead Sea Scrolls are going online, and in multiple light spectra—''much better than the original.''
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Pictures: Egypt Priest's Tomb Found Near Pyramids
October 19, 2010
Buried in a painted cliffside tomb, the ''purification priest'' Rudj-Ka likely lived about 4,350 years ago and served in a dead pharaoh's cult.
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Pictures: King Herod's VIP Box Excavated
October 13, 2010
''There is nothing like this,'' says archaeologist Ehud Netzer of the vibrantly painted royal theater box excavated near Bethlehem.
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Pictures: Rare Roman Helmet Sells for $3.6 Million
October 11, 2010
An "extraordinary" Roman helmet, dating to the first or second century A.D., had been found "virtually intact" by a metal detector in England.
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Faces of Koro: Photos of "Hidden" Language's Last Speakers
October 5, 2010
See a few of the 800-odd remaining guardians of Koro, a ''hidden'' language recently documented in India and revealed Tuesday.
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"Hidden" Language Found in Remote Indian Tribe
October 5, 2010
A new language has been discovered in an isolated hill tribe in a northeastern Indian region considered a "black hole" for linguistics.
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Video: "Hidden" Language Revealed
October 5, 2010
In the mountains of northeastern India, a language spoken by only around 800 people has been recorded by linguists for the first time.
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Smarter Teams Are More Sensitive, Have More Women?
September 30, 2010
Individual smarts don't matter as much as being sensitive to others when making group-based decisions, a new study finds.
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Trampling Skews Artifact Dates by Thousands of Years?
September 29, 2010
Sorry, archaeologists. A new study says animal footsteps might have made artifacts seem thousands of years older than they are.
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Photos: 8 Moon-Landing Hoax Myths -- Busted
September 23, 2010
Forty years have passed since humans first walked on the moon, but many conspiracy theorists still insist that it was all an elaborate hoax. Examine the evidence, and find out why experts say some of the most common claims simply don't hold water.<br />
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Autumnal Equinox Pictures: Rituals of Fire and Light
September 22, 2010
Burning beasts, parading pagans, and glowing serpents usher in the first day of fall around the world.
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Autumnal Equinox: Why First Day of Fall 2010 Is Different
September 22, 2010
Wednesday, for the first time in more than a decade, the full moon will shine over the first day of fall. Get the facts in our autumnal equinox explainer.
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Undersea Cave Yields One of Oldest Skeletons in Americas
September 14, 2010
Divers have retrieved one of the oldest skeletons in the Americas from a deep cave in Mexico—a ritually placed, 10,000-year-old young man.
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Males Who Bulk Up as Babies Reach Puberty Quicker
September 13, 2010
Males who gain weight fast as babies reach puberty quicker, have sex earlier, and end up taller and more muscular, a new study says.
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Photos: Saddam AK-47, Ancient Artifacts Return to Iraq
September 8, 2010
An AK-47 with Saddam Hussein's portrait and ancient artifacts are among the hundreds of returned Iraqi artifacts displayed this week in Baghdad.
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Before & After: Wine-Cult Cave Art Restored in Petra?
September 8, 2010
Offering a window on a likely ancient wine cult, "magical" cave paintings at Petra have been rescued from millennia of soot, experts say.
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New Titanic Pictures Mark 25th Anniversary of Discovery
September 1, 2010
On the 25th anniversary of Titanic's rediscovery, high-resolution images from a new expedition are shedding light on the shipwreck.
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Human Meat Just Another Meal for Early Europeans?
August 31, 2010
For early Europeans, cannibalism was just another way to eat—and the meals may have given new meaning to "brain food," a study says.
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Pictures: World's Biggest Tent Rises in Kazakhstan
August 31, 2010
Kazakhstan's new Khan Shatyr evokes a traditional dwelling but boasts futuristic fancies such as an indoor "beach," a monorail, and more.
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Ancient Sorcerer's "Wake" Was First Feast for the Dead?
August 30, 2010
First feast? Packed with tortoise "leftovers," the earliest known shaman's burial hints that the first villagers made peace by partying.
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"Lost" Language Found on Back of 400-Year-Old Letter
August 27, 2010
Scribblings on a 17th-century letter reveal a native Peruvian language that was forgotten for centuries, an archaeologist says.
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Trapped Chile Miners Face 4-Month Mental, Physical Test
August 25, 2010
Entombed until Christmas, miners in Chile can expect sanitation challenges, malnutrition, and a struggle for sanity and solidarity, experts say.
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Friday the 13th Superstitions Rooted in Bible and More
August 13, 2010
They date back at least to ancient Roman times, but Friday the 13th superstitions won't be getting much of a workout this year. Luckily for triskaidekaphobia sufferers, today is 2010's only Friday the 13th.
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"Thor's Hammer" Found in Viking Graves
August 10, 2010
Seen as lightning repellent, "thunderstones" resembling the Norse god Thor's hammerhead were put in Vikings' graves for good luck, experts say.
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Ancient Human-Bone Sculptors Turned Relatives Into Tools
August 10, 2010
In what's now Mexico, thousands of bone pieces from freshly dead corpses were made into housewares in the ancient city of Teotihuacan.
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Wooden "Stonehenge" Emerges From Prehistoric Ohio
July 20, 2010
Built in prehistoric Ohio, "Woodhenge," like its British counterpart, was aligned with the summer solstice, new study reveals.
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Cocaine Submarine Pictures: New Seizure Shows Advances
July 13, 2010
Hand-built by drug smugglers, a "game changing," hundred-foot craft seized this month shows how far cocaine subs have come.
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Pictures: Ancient Egyptian Tombs Found With False Doors
July 9, 2010
Two newfound ancient Egyptian tombs built for father and son boast false doors, boldly painted portals to the afterlife.
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4th of July Facts: 1st Fests, Number of Fireworks, More
July 4, 2010
How did Founding Fathers Celebrate 4th of July? How many 4th of July fireworks explode each year? Answers and more.
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Diver "Vanishes" in Portal to Maya Underworld
June 29, 2010
An explorer "disappears" into the floor of a pool sacred to the ancient Maya, and divers find the first known fossils in Belize. Video.
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Aztec, Maya Were Rubber-Making Masters?
June 28, 2010
Ancient Mesoamerican cultures blended plant juices to make rubber bouncier or more durable, a new study says.
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Touching Heavy, Hard Objects Makes Us More Serious
June 24, 2010
Looking for a job? Print your resume on heavy paper, according to a new study that shows touch unconsciously influences our behaviors.
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Pictures: Oldest Apostle Images Revealed by Laser
June 24, 2010
Lasers have cut through previously unknown images of the Christian Apostles in a fourth-century-A.D. Roman catacomb.
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Father's Day at 100: How It Began, Why Dad Gets Fewer Gifts
June 20, 2010
Find out why Father's Day is no Hallmark holiday, why Dad doesn't mind getting fewer gifts, and more.
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Father's Day 2010 Is Centennial: How Did Holiday Start?
June 18, 2010
With Father's Day 2010 fast approaching, find out why it's no Hallmark holiday, why Dad doesn't mind being shortchanged on gifts, and more.
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World Cup Science: Soccer's Greatest Player Is ...
June 18, 2010
Could a new scientific system end arguments over who's the world's best soccer player? No. But researchers are naming names anyway—by the numbers.
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Father's Day Pictures: "Best" Animal Dads
June 17, 2010
"Pregnant" seahorses, ferocious egg-carrying water bugs, and midwife monkeys--meet some of the dedicated fathers that are rarities in the animal kingdom.
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Photos: Human Sacrifices Found at Ancient China Complex
June 15, 2010
How better to say "bless this house" than by sacrificing horse or human? A new dig in China sheds light on the ancient practice's beginnings.
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Jacques Cousteau Centennial: What He Did, Why He Matters
June 11, 2010
The late Jacques Cousteau's hundredth birthday is making headlines. Why is the late explorer such a legend? Here are five good reasons.
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World's Oldest Leather Shoe Found—Stunningly Preserved
June 9, 2010
At 5,500 years old, the "astonishingly modern" shoe was exceptionally preserved by sheep dung and dryness.
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Oil Spill Threatens Native American "Water" Village
June 8, 2010
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill threatens the existence of Native Americans who literally live on, and off of, Louisiana bayou water. Video.
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Singing 13-Year-Old Wins National Geographic Bee
May 26, 2010
A singing 13-year-old from Florida proved Wednesday that he could carry a tune—and the competition.
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Video: National Geographic Bee Final Moments
May 26, 2010
Quick—where do they speak Tswana? Get the answer in the tense final moments of the 2010 National Geographic Bee, hosted by Alex Trebek.
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National Geographic Bee Finalists Face Off Today
May 26, 2010
A "tough" preliminary round in this year's National Geographic Bee included seven tie-breakers—an unusually high number, organizers said.
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Pictures: 11 Most Endangered U.S. Historic Sites Named
May 21, 2010
A Jersey stadium and a scenic parkway are among the most at-risk sites of 2010, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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Pictures: Massive Maya City Revealed by Lasers
May 20, 2010
Within days, lasers "stripped" away tangled rain forest to reveal a sprawling Maya city bigger and more advanced than anyone had imagined.
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Headless Egypt King Statue Found; Link to Cleopatra's Tomb?
May 19, 2010
Unearthed at an Egyptian temple, the figure is likely of Egypt's King Ptolemy IV—suggesting a link to Cleopatra's tomb, dig leaders say.
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Pictures: Pyramid Tomb With Human Sacrifices Found
May 18, 2010
Jewel-adorned skeletons of ancient elites and remains of a sacrificial adult and child were found in the 2,700-year-old tomb in Mexico.
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Tibetans Evolved to Survive High Life, Study Says
May 13, 2010
Many Tibetans carry unique versions of two genes associated with the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells, a new DNA study says.
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Mother's Day Mayhem: "Worst" Animal Moms?
May 7, 2010
Meet the animal world's "worst" mothers—and find out why their tough parenting may not be so awful after all.
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Cinco de Mayo History: From Bloodshed to Beer Fest
May 5, 2010
Some U.S. partygoers may be surprised to learn that Cinco de Mayo history is short on beer, long on bloodshed.
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Noah's Ark Found in Turkey?
April 28, 2010
Explorers are "99.9 percent" sure they've found Noah's ark in Turkey. Others say the claim is all wet.
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Earth Day at 40: What Good Is It Now?
April 22, 2010
After 40 years, outsourced activism is replacing traditional Earth Day activities, and green's gone mainstream, experts say. So what's the point?
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Earth Day at 40: How it Began, Where It's Going
April 22, 2010
On its 40th anniversary, the once-grassroots Earth Day is now taking root on the Web. But some critics don't like it in any medium.
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Prehistoric Mummies Poisoned
April 16, 2010
Arsenic-laced drinking water caused the demise of some of the world's oldest mummies, found in the harsh northern deserts of Chile, a new study says.
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Japanese Guts Are Adapted to Sushi
April 8, 2010
Genes from a microbe that snacks on seaweed exist in Japanese—the first time external bacteria DNA has been found in human gut bugs.
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Pictures: New Seven Wonders of the World vs. Ancient Seven Wonders
April 6, 2010
Pictures of the seven new wonders of the world and the seven ancient wonders.
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Best News Pictures of 2009: World Press Winners
April 6, 2010
Rooftop protesters, a soldier in boxers, and drought-stricken wildlife feature among the winners of the 2009 World Press Photo Contest.
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Google-Topeka Trick Joins Historic April Fools' Hoaxes
April 1, 2010
Find out why Google has changed its name to Topeka—and get the facts behind historic April Fools' Day farces.
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April Fools' Day Mystery: How Did It Originate?
March 31, 2010
Plumb the murky origins of April Fools' Day—and find out how straight-faced scientific research can be sillier than the wackiest pranks.
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Lead "Burrito" Sarcophagus Found Near Rome
March 29, 2010
The 1,700-year-old lead sarcophagus found in an abandoned city could contain a gladiator or a Christian dignitary, archaeologists say.
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Vernal Equinox 2010: Facts on the First Day of Spring
March 19, 2010
Will day and night really be equally long on Saturday, the 2010 vernal equinox (or spring equinox)? Get the answer—and other first-day-of-spring facts and oddities.
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Vernal Equinox Pictures: First-Day-of-Spring Rituals
March 19, 2010
Druid celebrations, pyramid pilgrimages, and street fires are among the ways the world welcomes the first day of spring on the vernal equinox, or spring equinox.
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St. Patrick's Day 2010: Irish Shamrock Shortage & More
March 17, 2010
Fast facts for St. Patrick's Day 2010: the science behind the shamrock shortfall, the man behind the myth, and more.
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St. Patrick's Day Facts: Shamrocks, Snakes, and a Saint
March 16, 2010
St. Patrick was born in Britain, stout may be good for your heart, and there's a shamrock shortage in 2010. Get more facts in our roundup of St. Patrick's Day trivia.
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51 Headless Vikings in English Execution Pit Confirmed
March 16, 2010
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Earthquake Baptism Saves Chile Family
March 12, 2010
A christening celebration saved a Chilean extended family from the devastation of the February 27 Chile earthquake. Video.
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Daylight Savings 2010: When, Why We Spring Forward
March 12, 2010
When is the big daylight saving time (often called daylight savings time) switchover in spring 2010? Why do we spring forward in the first place?
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Headless Man's Tomb Found Under Maya Torture Mural
March 12, 2010
The tomb of a headless Maya man has been accidentally discovered beneath an ancient chamber famously painted with scenes of torture.
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Stolen Sarcophagus Handed Over to Egypt
March 10, 2010
Confiscated by U.S. Customs agents in Miami, a brightly painted, 3,000-year-old sarcophagus was handed over to Egypt's antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, on Wednesday. Video.
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Ancient Corpses Ritually Dug Up, Torn Apart, Reburied
March 9, 2010
For 4,500 years in what is now Mexico, decomposing bodies were pulled apart and reburied, according to what may be the first evidence for ritual "double burials."
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"Cove" Movie Assails Dolphin Hunt, Gets Oscar Boost
March 8, 2010
With its 2010 Oscar win for best documentary, the movie The Cove has reignited debate over annual dolphin hunts in Taiji, Japan.
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Photo: "Cove" Movie Seeks to End Japan's Dolphin Hunt
March 8, 2010
A dolphin hunt in Japan enrages activists. The Cove, an award-winning new movie, condemns it. So why do dolphin hunts go on elsewhere without much controversy?
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Turkey Earthquake Pictures: The Day After
March 8, 2010
A strong earthquake rattled eastern Turkey Sunday, killing at least 51 and crumbling minarets, barns, and flimsily built mud-brick houses.
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Chile Earthquake Video: Aftermath in Santa Cruz
March 5, 2010
Chile's February 27 earthquake caused an apartment building in this small city to collapse, killing 23. Video.
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Liberals, Atheists Are More Highly Evolved?
March 4, 2010
Evolution may have resulted in smarter people being more inclined to nontraditional values, a new study suggests.
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What's Best for Kids: Bottled Water or Fountains?
March 3, 2010
As sugary sodas fizzle in schools, kids are turning to bottled water instead of tap water, which is often contaminated by lead. But that may put an added strain on the environment, experts say.
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"Vampire of Venice" Unmasked: Plague Victim & Witch?
February 26, 2010
A "vampire" unearthed in a mass grave near Venice was unusually old for the Middle Ages, suggesting she may also have been accused of being a witch, according to new research that includes a reconstruction of the medieval woman.
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King Solomon's Wall Found—Proof of Bible Tale?
February 26, 2010
A 3,000-year-old defensive wall found in Jerusalem might be unprecedented archaeological support for a Bible passage on King Solomon.
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Did Olympic Athletes Peak in the 1980s?
February 26, 2010
As the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics draw to a close, future athletes will likely have to work harder than ever to beat any world records set during the games, says a recent study that found the results from many events are now close to the limits of human performance.
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The Science of Hollywood Films: It's All in the Chaos Theory
February 25, 2010
A new study turns to chaos theory to explain why some Hollywood films are so engaging -- and why your attention wanders during others.
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Pictures: Shipwreck Discovery Yields Ancient Treasure
February 24, 2010
The discovery of a 3,000-year-old shipwreck—complete with gold jewelry and raw materials to make bronze—suggests prehistoric Britain had international trade links.
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Making Music Boosts Brain's Language Skills
February 20, 2010
Hearing people talk at cocktail parties may be easier if you've been musically trained, according to new research that shows music fine-tunes certain language abilities in the brain.
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King Tut Mysteries Solved: Was Disabled, Malarial, Inbred
February 17, 2010
The "frail boy" needed a cane to walk, had history's earliest genetically proven case of malaria, and was sired by siblings, says a new DNA study of King Tut and relatives.
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King Tut Was Disabled, Malarial, and Inbred, DNA Shows
February 16, 2010
The "frail boy" needed a cane to walk, had history's earliest genetically proven case of malaria, and was sired by siblings, says a new DNA study of King Tut and relatives.
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Vancouver 2010: Olympic Logo No "Friend" to Some
February 12, 2010
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic logo, Ilanaaq—"friend" in an Inuit language—has some native groups in Canada feeling left out in the cold.
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Valentine's Science: Why Gauging Sexiness Is Sophisticated
February 12, 2010
Deciding who we find sexy—even on a purely superficial level—is a much more complex process than an instinctual reaction, brain scans are revealing.
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Stonehenge "Hedge" Found, Shielded Secret Rituals?
February 11, 2010
A green barrier—dubbed Stonehedge—may have been planted around the sacred circle of Stonehenge to screen ceremonies from public view, archaeologists say.
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Valentine's Day Facts: Gifts, History, and Love Science
February 10, 2010
Where did Valentine's Day come from? (Think naked Romans, paganism, and whips.) What does it cost? And why do we fall for it, year after year?
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Lost Roman Codex Fragments Found in Book Binding
February 3, 2010
Scraps of paper recovered from a set of 16th-century books are from a compilation of 3rd-century Roman laws thought to have been lost to history, scientists say.
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Groundhog Day Pictures: Punxsutawney Phil, Now and Then
February 2, 2010
The groundhog has spoken, predicting six more weeks of winter in 2010. See Punxsutawney Phil through the years—plus Groundhog Day origins and a wild woodchuck.
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Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow--And Long Winter for 2010
February 2, 2010
On Groundhog Day 2010, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow—and six more weeks of winter, according to tradition. Get surprising facts behind the wacky weather prediction.
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Groundhog Day 2010 & Punxsutawney Phil: Facts Behind Forecast
February 1, 2010
With ancient origins and modern media smarts, "immortal" rodent Punxsutawney Phil rules Groundhog Day 2010. Get the surprising facts behind winter's wackiest weather prediction.
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Pictures: "Mythical" Temple Found in Peru
January 29, 2010
A thousand-year old temple complex, including a tomb for 33 tortured women, may be proof that a god's "descendants" really existed, archaeologists say.
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Running Barefoot Reduces Stress—On Feet
January 27, 2010
Running barefoot changes the way a person's feet hit the ground, reducing stresses than can lead to injuries, according to a new study.
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Photos: Queen's Cat Goddess Temple Found in Egypt
January 21, 2010
An ancient temple filled with about 600 cat statues was built for the goddess Bastet by Queen Berenike II, say archaeologists who found the ruins under modern-day Alexandria.
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Cleopatra's Eye Makeup Warded Off Infections?
January 14, 2010
Thick coats of black and green eye makeup partially made from lead may have boosted the immune systems of ancient Egyptians, a new study suggests.
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Mysterious Jamestown Tablet an American Rosetta Stone?
January 14, 2010
Discovered at the first permanent British settlement in America--Jamestown--the inscribed slate may have been a "bilingual dictionary" for colonist-Indian communication.
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Haiti Earthquake Pictures: Devastation on the Day After
January 13, 2010
The morning after a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Haiti, the capital is in rubble and thousands await aid.
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PHOTOS: Antarctic "Time Capsule" Hut Revealed
January 11, 2010
As snows threaten to bury the base forever, more than 8,000 artifacts—including butter and ketchup—have been revealed in the hut of ill-fated British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, according to preservationists.
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PHOTOS: 7 Major "Missing Links" Since Darwin
January 7, 2010
For the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, National Geographic News asked leading scientist for their picks of the most important fossil evidence for evolution.
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PHOTOS: Oldest "Human" Skeleton Refutes "Missing Link"
January 7, 2010
See images of Ardi, the new human ancestor that could rewrite evolutionary theory.
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L.L. Zamenhof: Who He Was, Why He's on Google
January 7, 2010
No, Google hasn't been taken over by a foreign country. The green-and-white flag over the Google logo today is the banner of the artificial language Esperanto, flying in recognition of the 150th birthday of its inventor, L.L. Zamenhof.
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APOCALYPSE PICTURES: 10 Failed Doomsday Prophecies
January 7, 2010
Just as some people today believe a Maya calendar pinpoints 2012 as the end of the world as we know it, people through centuries and across cultures have long forecast our collective doom.
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Isaac Newton: Who He Was, Why Google Apples Are Falling
January 6, 2010
isaac-newton-google-doodle-logo-apple
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Winter Solstice Monday: Facts on First Day of Winter
December 18, 2009
Winter Solstice Monday: Facts on First Day of Winter
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Shroud of Turin Not Jesus', Tomb Discovery Suggests
December 16, 2009
Archaeologists have found the only known burial shroud from a Jesus-era tomb in Jerusalem. Not only is it nothing like the Shroud of Turin, but it also held the world's earliest known leper.
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Top Ten Archaeology Finds: Most Viewed of 2009
December 15, 2009
Vampires, pirates, ghost ships, skeletons—if it isn't Halloween, it can only be one thing: National Geographic News's annual lineup of our most popular archaeology coverage.
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Viking Weapon-Recycling Site Found in England?
December 15, 2009
Today's recyclers can now conceivably lay claim to a rich, bloody, brawny heritage, if a new discovery is any indication.
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Ancient Tablets Decoded; Shed Light on Assyrian Empire
December 14, 2009
Meticulous ancient notetakers have given archaeologists a glimpse of what life was like 3,000 years ago in the Assyrian Empire.
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