An adventure ride down a section of China's Yangtze River could be the last before planned hydroelectric dams flood the rapids and alter the landscape. Video.

Braving long walks across frigid Arctic terrain, a group of British explorers is gathering vital ground-based data about the extent of sea ice shrinkage. Video.

Mount Everest has been the scene of many triumphs and tragedies. The formidable challenges presented by climbing into thin air and frigid temperatures have been fodder for many compelling stories of bravery, determination, and failure.

Three Sherpa brothers seek to break a time record by staying 24 hours on top. Another Sherpa may shatter his own record for most trips—19. Video.

Isn't it amazing what some people will do to get attention? Pancake stacks, pond skimming, and competitive yoga all make an appearance in this round-up of some of the weirdest competitions held so far this year.

A tiger, believed to have killed at least three people in Indonesia, has been captured. Conservationists hope the cat can be returned to the wild.

Microchip-implanted penguins in Argentina are helping scientists by just doing what comes naturally on the birds' favorite "highway" to the sea.

Spotters have recorded more than 470 great white shark sightings in five years at South Africa's False Bay beaches. Thanks in part to the spotters' alerts, there have been no related fatalities.

The world celebrated its last hours before the start of Lent on Tuesday with elaborate parade floats, llama sacrifices, fire-eaters, and more.

Aggressive radar, flashing lights, and reflective coatings built into planes may prevent bird strikes like the one that likely led to last month's "miracle" Hudson River landing.

Unearthed from the ruins of a 1,500-year-old, earthquake-hit Jerusalem building, the unprecedented marble figurine sports a short hairstyle indicating it depicts an athlete.

A landslide in Costa Rica, a giant wind turbine, and more in the week's best news photos.

Two 21-year-old climbers—including Rob Gauntlett, one of National Geographic Adventure magazine's 2008 adventurers of the year—died on the Alps' tallest mountain Saturday.

The aftermath of an earthquake, a friendly cow, and an ethereal Paris sunset are three of the six winners of the National Geographic International Photo Contest 2008.

See National Geographic News's most popular individual photos of 2008, including pictures of a giant stingray, a "smiling" sky, a lizard-snake standoff, and more.